Times of Oman - August 29, 2015

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‘OMAN COMMITTED TO CURRENCY PEG’ Oman is committed to maintaining the peg of its currency against the US dollar despite the drop of oil prices, according to a Reuters news agency report. >B1

SATURDAY, August 29, 2015 / 14 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH

GOOD SERVICE

HM’s confers honour on Sudan envoy MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said conferred Al Numan First Class Order on Awadh Mohammed Ahmed Ibn Ouf, outgoing ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to the Sultanate in appreciation of his good efforts in serving the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Order was handed over to the ambassador by His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said when he received him at his office on Thursday. -ONA

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Caesarean births in Oman Unless it’s medical

Percentage of indicators for CS in 2011

Percentage of caesarean deliveries in total births in 2013 Total deliveries

Total caesarean sections

Infections 0.4

emergency, surgical

Cord prolapse 0.7 Emergency

66,557

delivery should be puts the lives of both mother, baby at risk

11,822

73.1%

Total CS

11,822

discouraged as it

Maternal exhaustion

3.6

Chronic medical condition

3.7

Elective

26.9%

Cephalopelvic disproportion

8,140

Trend in CS and its different types 6,816

Emergency

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

No reason to worry over non-oil exports

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The decrease in Omani non-oil exports is no cause for worry, an economist has said. The value of Oman non-oil exports from January to April decreased 20 per cent against the same period last year. Its value during the first four months of the year was OMR1.008 billion against OMR1.0260 billion in the same period last year. >A3

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

Caesarean section must be the last resort: Expert 6976 7,173

4,200

4,643

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Promoting awareness about the benefits of natural delivery and risks of Caesarean section (C-section) is the key to discouraging unnecessary surgical births in Oman, say health experts.

Babies can enter this world either through normal delivery or

by C-section, but natural childbirth, is the way nature intended a woman to give birth, says an expert at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr Tamima Rashid Al Dughaishi, senior consultant in maternal foetal medicine, said that Caesarean section can save lives when

946

1,107 1,296

1,489

2006

2007

2003 2004 2005

6

Others

Elective 900

Bleeding

Caesarean section

12.4 20.1

Foetal distress

3,490 3,696

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

5.1

Previous 2 LSCS

5,086

1,764

1,965 2,139

2008 2009

2010

2,548 2,580

2011

2012

Benefits for mother Mother-child bonding Immediate breastfeeding Shorter hospital stay (24 hours) Quick recovery Less complications in future pregnancies

4

Dystocia

Malpresentation

5,765

OMAN

blog.timesofoman.com

26.3 17.9

Natural delivery Benefits for baby Baby comes when it is ready Lower risk of respiratory problems Stronger immunity system

Risks for baby Stillbirth (Baby being born dead) Sudden infant death syndrome Premature birth Low birth-weight Breathing problems Risks for mother Risks associated with anaesthesia Longer hospital stay (3 to 4 days) Excess bleeding Infection Blood clot Increased risk of complications in future pregnancies

Source: Ministry of Health, "Annual Health Report", 2012

medically required, but if it is performed unnecessarily, it can put women and their babies at risk of short and long-term health problems.

The numbers According to the data collected from institutions under the Ministry of Health in Oman, 19.6 per cent of all the deliveries in 2013 were through C-section. The total

number of deliveries in 2013 was 66,557, out of which 11,822 were

by Caesarean.

The World Health Organisation has stated that the Caesarean rate higher than 10 to 15 per cent is unnecessary regardless of location.

Dr Al Dughaishi, who is the president of the Omani Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, explained that a Caesarean delivery can be either planned in

Graphics

advance or performed as an emergency procedure. If a Caesarean is planned in advance, it is called ‘elective Caesarean’, she said.

Elective Caesarean She added that elective Caesarean is scheduled either due to medical reasons or when requested by mother in the absence of any medical indication, which is called ‘Caesarean on demand’.

‘Emergency Caesarean’ is performed when a natural delivery is planned but some complications occur during labour for either the baby or the mother, which make the surgery necessary, said Dr Al Dughaishi.

The Ministry of Health’s statistics show that in 2013, around 27 per cent of the total Caesareans were elective and around 73 per cent were emergency. >A3

EXERCISE CAUTION

‘Excessive use of bodybuilding supplements can harm health’ SPORTS

Oman juniors hope to clinch GCC trophy

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Fourteen years after they clinched the inaugural GCC Under-17 Championship, Oman juniors will be looking to lay their hands on only their second trophy when they play the final of the regional junior football championship in the Doha on Saturday. >A11

MARKET

Oman launches new floating oil facility

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A new floating storage facility, with a 2.1 million barrel capacity at Mina Al Fahal, for global customers of Oman Export Blend, was launched on Thursday by Oman Tank Terminal Company, a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company. The vessel itself will be operated by OSC. >B1

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Workout supplements, which are used in bodybuilding and athletics, can have consequences on one’s health if used excessively, says an expert.

Bodybuilding supplements are dietary supplements used for various purposes such as weight gain, muscle growth and improving athletic performance.

Those overusing these supplements should be ‘cautious’ as it may cause health problems including liver disorders, Dr Hisham Al Dhahab, senior consultant gastroenterologist, and head of endoscopy unit at Royal Hospital, told the Times of Oman.

Necessary permits The sale of these supplements is being supervised and shops have to get the necessary permits but people are advised to avoid excessive consumption, added Dr Al Dhahab, who is the chairman of the Oman Gastroenterology Society.

According to research presented at the American Psychological

Dr Hisham Al Dhahab, senior consultant gastroenterologist, at Royal Hospital.

Association’s 123rd Annual Convention, which was held recently, more men are turning to legal over-the-counter bodybuilding supplements to the point where it may qualify as an emerging eating disorder.

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organisation representing psychology in the United States (US), with more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.

Richard Achiro, PhD, California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles, US, who presented the research, said that a combination of factors appears to be driving risky misuse of legal workout supplements.

These factors include dissatisfaction with the body, low selfesteem and gender role conflict, in which an individual perceives that he is not living up to the strict limitations of masculinity dictated by modern culture, noted Achiro, according to the American Psychological Association.

The chairman of the Oman Gastroenterology Society said that in general, gastrointestinal disorders are prevalent in Oman.

There are several causative factors, but they are basically associated with the change of lifestyle, which include lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, eating late at night and eating fast, said Dr Al Dhahab.

He advised people to exercise and adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet to avoid these disorders and consult the doctor if they face any health issues. >A3

STUNNING SCENERIES AND PERFECT GETAWAYS Oman is a country blessed with relaxing getaways with stunning vistas. The beaches near Fins, along the coast between QuriSee also >A2 yat and Tiwi, are wonderful places for camping. Photo -Sarah MacDonald

A picture is worth a thousand words

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T H R E AT E N S AC T I O N

Municipality warns against poor quality fruit, vegetable sale TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Companies selling fruits and vegetables in the Mawaleh fruit and vegetables market would be penalised heavily by the Muscat Municipality if they flout health and hygiene standards.

The municipality has warned merchants in the markets over storing and packing substandard fruits and vegetables in cartons.

Officials destroyed 3,071 cartons of grapes and 671 cartons of apples at the Mawaleh market after they were found unfit for human consumption. It was discovered that they were packing fresh fruits over the rotten ones.

Cheating consumers “The recent trend in the Sultanate where food merchants and distributors have been compromising on the health and hygiene of people has caused wide resentment among people,” said a customer. It is alleged that the company along with the vendors was found cheating on consumers.

Jumaa Al Amri, assistant to the Director of Health Affairs in the market’s administration said, “We have destroyed the grapes and apples since they were found unfit for human consumption.

One of the companies sold poor quality grapes to food vendors, repackaged them and sold them to customers.”

He explained that the vendors

Muscat Municipality official during and inspection drive.

would cheat customers by keeping good quality grapes on top and poor quality grapes beneath them inside wooden boxes.

Legal action “The market’s administration will initiate necessary legal action against the company. As for the vendors, we will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Manpower to prevent them from cheating on customers,” said Al Amri.

In 2013, the municipality officials destroyed over 27,000 kilogrammes of unfit fruits and vegetables during an inspection at the Mawaleh market and issued notices to the vendors.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

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Breathtaking beauty of Fins beach Oman is a country filled with relaxing getaways with stunning vistas.

The beaches near Fins, along the coast between Quriyat and Tiwi, are wonderful places for camping or just spending a few hours chilling.

Wherever you look you will find dramatic skylines and pristine turquoise waters.

It’s a favourite destination of Times of Oman journalist Sarah MacDonald who always goes there, camera in hand.

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'Slide in non-oil exports not a cause for concern'

C I V I L AV I AT I O N

An economic expert and academic researcher said that the decrease in Omani non-oil exports is no cause for worry as it is linked to oil exports ECONOMIC IMPACT: Reliable statistics showed a 33 per cent decrease in the value of re-exports from January to April against the same period last year. – File photo

The rate of Oman nonoil exports is linked to oil exports, particularly to government support for companies exporting non-oil products Dr Nasser Al Ma’wali Economic expert

Times News Service MUSCAT: The decrease in Omani non-oil exports is no cause for worry, said an economist.

The value of Oman non-oil exports from January to April decreased 20 per cent against the same period last year. Its value during the first four months of the year amounted to OMR1.008 billion against OMR1.0260 billion against the same period last year.

Reliable statistics showed a 33 per cent decrease in the value of re-exports from January to April against the same period last year, whereas the value of re-exports amounted to OMR1.694 billion compared to OMR1.034 billion.

Speaking to Al Shabiba, sister

publication of the Times of Oman, Dr Nasser bin Rashid Al Ma’wali, economic expert and academic researcher, said that the rate of Oman non-oil exports is linked to oil exports, particularly to government support for companies exporting non-oil products.

Al Ma’wali explained that as long as our oil exports are affected, the other sectors would also be affected, which included non-oil exports.

He said that reduction in the value of the non-oil exports remains as expected with no material effect on Oman’s economy, as non-oil exports do not represent a huge figure in Oman’s total exports.

The list of countries to which Oman exports non-oil products includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United States of America (USA).

Imports come down These countries are affected by the decrease in oil prices which led them to reduce the value of their imports, said Ma’wali.

Ma’wali added that the reduction in value of Oman non-oil exports may affect the Muscat Securities Market as it could affect the financial positions of a number of companies.

To avoid the impact of a de-

crease in oil prices, we need to rationalise our expenses to diversify our sources of income and enhance the performance of the private sector, he said.

As of the end of April this year, Omani non-oil exports to the UAE amounted to OMR206.4 million, registering a decrease of 9.6 per cent against the same period last year. During the same period, nonoil exports to the KSA amounted to OMR136.2 million, a decrease of 18 per cent against the same period last year. Omani non-oil exports to the USA during the same period stood at OMR93.7 million, an increase of 10. 9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

TRAVEL HUB: There were 6,246,329 passengers travelling through the Muscat and Salalah airports till the end of July.-ONA

Airports register more than 5.7 million fliers MUSCAT: The number of travellers who passed through the Muscat and Salalah international airports till the end of July recorded an increase of 11.8 per cent and 19.5 per cent, respectively, compared to the figures in the same period in 2014.

There were 6,246,329 passengers travelling through the two airports during the same period, according to initial data released

by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The number of travellers passing through Muscat International Airport till July, including transfer and transit passengers, increased to 5,707,270 on 53,483 flights.

There were 47,230 international flights that passed through Muscat International Airport till July last, an increase of 14.4 per cent, as compared to figures in 2014.-ONA

BODYBUILDING

< FROM

A1 Avoid supplements Dr Al Dhahab was the guest of honour at a multi-country live surgery medical conference, held recently by Lama Polyclinic, which updated doctors in Oman on the latest techniques and developments in the field of gastroenterology.

The conference, held in association with India’s non-profit Kread Foundation,provided a platform for members of the medical community to learn and ask questions from world-renowned Indian speakers and surgeons performing the operations.

H E A LT H A D V I S O R Y

< FROM

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Higher birth rate has pushed up number of Caesarean deliveries in Oman, says Expert

Dr Al Dughaishi said that the number of Caesarean deliveries in Oman has increased over the past years, but fortunately the increase has not been very sharp compared to some other countries.

The expert attributed the increase to a number of reasons, including the overall increase in the birth rate in Oman, the increasing complexity of cases due to lifestyle-related health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, and the fact that a woman who has had a Caesarean is at increased risk of having it again in a future pregnancy.

Thankfully, the number of women who demand a Caesarean delivery in the absence of medical need is not very significant in Oman as Omani culture still favours natural childbirth, said Dr Al Dughaishi.

In Omani culture, mothers are educating their children that they should deliver naturally, she noted, adding that it is a good thing as families in Oman are large and many mothers have multiple childbirths.

Dangerous trend “It is a very dangerous trend that in some countries a C-section is being considered a sign of openmindedness and mothers are too concerned about their figure,” she said.

Dr Al Dughaishi added that such an attitude will have other consequences, such as women being discouraged to breastfeed their children, which is crucial for the baby.

The expert says that if a C-section is not medically required, natural delivery has numerous advantages both for the mother and the child in the short and long term.

Natural birth benefits One of the advantages is that babies emerge when they are ready, she said, adding, “If labour starts naturally, then you know the foetus is ready to be born. It means its lungs and other major parts have finished maturing and the baby is able to survive without any medical intervention.”

The baby is also at a lower risk of respiratory problems, said Dr Al Dughaishi.

When a baby is born through the natural process, the pressure helps to expel the amniotic fluid in the baby’s lungs and makes it easy for the baby to breathe, she noted.

Also, there is always some bacteria in the birth canal and passing through it, the baby passes through picks up protective bacteria that would help strengthen its immune

The birth process itself, despite being painful, is a journey of maturity and the experience will make the mother more mature to accept the child and take care of it. In addition, if the mother delivers the baby naturally, she is fully awake and will be able to get the skin-to-skin contact immediately and also breastfeed the child shortly after the delivery. The main risks to the mother when having a C-section include excess bleeding, infection of the wound and infection of the womb lining, which can cause fever, womb pain etc Dr Tamima Rashid Al Dughaishi Senior consultant, maternal fetal medicine at SQU Hospital

system, she added. Natural birth is also important for the bonding between the mother and the child.

“The birth process itself, despite being painful, is a journey of maturity and the experience will make the mother more mature to accept the child and take care of it,” said Dr Al Dughaishi.

In addition, if the mother delivers the baby naturally, she is fully awake and will be able to get the skin-to-skin contact immediately and also breastfeed the child shortly after the delivery, she said.

This is while the woman who has had a C-section, might be still under the influence of anaesthesia and will not be able to start breastfeeding immediately, she added.

Natural delivery also has many benefits for the mother, including a quick recovery and a shorter hospital stay.

The average duration of a stay for a woman who has had natural delivery is 24 hours while it is around 3 to 4 days for a woman who has had C-section, Dr Al Dughaishi said, and added that the recovery time after natural delivery is also much shorter.

A shorter hospital stay means that the mother and the baby get back home faster, lowering the stress levels for the entire family,

she added. Natural delivery also gives reassurance of similar deliveries in the future and means no scar risk in future births, said the expert.

Risks of Caesarean Dr Al Dughaishi also spoke about the risks of having a C-section both for the baby and the mother during the pregnancy and in the later stages of life.

A C-section is performed under anaesthesia, either local or general, which may have some risks associated with it, she said, adding that the mother will also not be able to walk around immediately after the operation.

She noted that the main risks to the mother when having a C-section include excess bleeding, infection of the wound and infection of the womb lining, which can cause fever, womb pain and abnormal discharge.

“Also, there is always a risk of blood clots happening in the legs, which can be dangerous if part of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs,” she said.

Damage to the bladder or the tube that connects the kidney and bladder is another risk, which may require further surgery, said Dr Al Dughaishi. She added that one or

more Caesarean sections can also increase a women’s risk of developing complications if she gets pregnant again.

In addition, if a woman has delivered through C-section in her two previous pregnancies, she is indicated for a repeat Caesarean section for all her deliveries.

Some studies have shown that women who have had one or more Caesarean sections are at a slightly higher risk of infertility and also ectopic pregnancy where a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, she added.

Asked if women are more likely to die during a Caesarean delivery than a natural birth, Dr Al Dughaishi said that problems can arise in any birthing incident but some studies show that Caesarean increases a woman’s risk of pregnancy-related death.

High-risk pregnancy However, she said it must be taken into consideration that sometimes a C-section is performed because the mother already has a high-risk pregnancy which has resulted in the need for the surgery.

So it cannot be generalised, she added. Commenting on the risks of a Caesarean for the baby, Dr Al Dughaishi said that the baby may

be at a two-fold increased risk of stillbirth, a birth in which the baby is born dead.

Also, there are some reports showing that there is an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome after the delivery itself, added the expert.

Having one or more Caesarean sections can also increase the risk of the baby developing complications in later pregnancies.

However, the risk of serious complications from a Caesarean section is only slightly higher than having a natural birth, she said.

Other complications may include premature birth, neonatal intensive care admission and low birth-weight, she added.

“Babies born by Caesarean section may be more likely to have breathing problems at birth and even during childhood, such as asthma,” said Dr Al Dughaishi.

She also noted that some studies have suggested a link between babies delivered by C-section and a greater risk of becoming obese as children and even as adults for reasons that remain unclear.

One possibility is that women who are obese or have pregnancy-related diabetes may be more likely to have a C-section, she clarified.

Life-saving Caesarean Dr Al Dughaishi said that a C-section can be necessary and life-saving when natural delivery poses a risk to the mother or baby.

According to her, medical complications which may make it necessary to perform a C-section include abnormal issues related to placenta, a too narrow pelvis, pelvis fracture which may have been caused by an accident, foetal heart abnormalities, bleeding, and uterine rupture, apart from infections, foetal distress, which is commonly caused by lack of oxygen to the baby, and failure to progress in labour. Also, a Caesarean might be necessary if the baby is not in an optimal delivery position, its head is too large or it has been diagnosed with a birth defect.

“If a woman has had two previous C-section operations, she is indicated for a repeat C-section for all her deliveries,” noted Dr Al Dughaishi.

Twins may be delivered naturally depending on their positions and some other factors, she said, adding that multiples of three or more are indicated to be delivered

by C-section.

More awareness Dr Al Dughaishi believes that although great efforts have been made to promote natural childbirth, more campaigns are required to raise public awareness about both natural and Caesarean delivery.

According to her, sometimes it is difficult to convince a woman not to have C-section when it is not necessary and in some cases it is hard to persuade the family of a woman when she requires Caesarean. When a woman is adamant to have C-section when it is not medically required, health educators in different health institutions counsel them several times and even speak to the husband, she said.

Some women change their minds after learning about all the risks and benefits and the services offered to them for a safe natural delivery.

The Omani Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has also been established to promote awareness and encourage natural childbirth among women, she added.

Besides, there are contraception campaigns which help increase the interval between two pregnancies, said Dr Al Dughaishi.

In her message to women she said that they should read a lot about natural and Caesarean delivery.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

REGION

Abadi orders easier access to Baghdad’s fortified area concrete barriers have blocked bridges and highways leading to the neighbourhood for years, symbolising the disconnect between Iraq’s leadership and its people

Combat corruption He has announced several measures this month to combat corruption and mismanagement including scrapping layers of senior government posts, cutting security details and other perks for offi-

DEMAND FOR BASIC RIGHTS: Iraqi people shout slogans during a demonstration against the poor quality of basic services, and power outages and calling for trial corrupt politicians in Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday. — Reuters

cials, and encouraging corruption investigations.

On Friday, he directed military commanders to ease civilian access to the Green Zone, the central Baghdad district home to many government buildings and several Western embassies.

The 10-square-kilometre area on the bank of the Tigris River once housed the headquarters of the US occupation and before that one of Saddam Hussein’s republican palaces.

Checkpoints and concrete barriers have blocked bridges and highways leading to the neighbourhood for years, symbolising the disconnect between Iraq’s leadership and its people and wreaking havoc on traffic in the city of 7 million people.

Abadi also ordered the elimi-

C I V I L WA R

nation of no-go zones set up by militias and political parties in Baghdad and other cities in response to more than a decade of car bombings.

High priority But Friday’s edicts showed that security remained a high priority.

Abadi called for a plan “to protect civilians... from being targeted by terrorism”, according to online statements, but did not identify specific measures or a timeline.

Bomb attacks, many of them claimed by IS, continue to strike the Iraqi capital.

At least six people were killed on Friday morning in a car bomb attack in the southern district of Zafaraniyah, police and medical sources said.

Abadi pledged in November to

remove concrete barriers from the capital, but movement in many areas remains constrained by the blast walls. He has managed to reduce the army’s security role in the city and lifted a nighttime curfew.

Illegally gained assets Abadi also ordered on Friday the formation of a legal committee to review the ownership of state properties and return illegally gained assets to the state. Critics say some officials have abused their authority to appropriate state-owned properties for personal use.

Top majority sect cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, who wields authority few Iraqi politicians would openly challenge, has called on Abadi to “strike with an

iron fist” against corruption.

On Friday, he cautioned protesters against letting personal goals distract from their demands while urging politicians to provide tangible results of reform measures.

“The citizens have tried previous promises and found nothing in reality that would solve the problems they have suffered from for so long. They saw that these promises were only aimed at temporarily relieving their suffering,” Sistani said in a sermon delivered by a spokesman.

The governors of Muthanna and Qadisiya, in Iraq’s oil-producing south, offered to resign on Friday, officials said, following allegations of administrative and financial wrongdoing. It was not immediately clear when they would leave their posts. — Reuters

Next round Speaking in Morocco, UN envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon said he expected both sides to return to the next round with names for the new unity government.

“I do not think it makes sense for any institution that wants to play a relevant role in Libya not to bring names,” Leon told reporters.

In the turmoil after the uprising against Gaddafi, a former rebel faction called Libya Dawn took over the capital Tripoli last year, setting up its own government and reinstating the old parliament.

The internationally recognised government and its elected parliament now operate out of the east of the country, allied with another coalition of former anti-Gaddafi rebels. The UN deal on the table calls for a one-year-long government of national accord, where a council of ministers headed by a prime minister, and two deputies, will have executive authority.

The House of Representatives will be the legislative body, but the accord also sees the creation of a 120-member State Council, consisting of 90 members of the Tripoli parliament. — Reuters

LEBANON DEMO

50% of Syrians displaced, 20% have fled country BEIRUT: Syria’s four-and-ahalf year conflict has driven half of the country’s people to flee their homes, with the number of those who have left the country approaching 20 per cent of the pre-war population.

At least 7.6 million people are displaced within Syria, which counted 23 million inhabitants at the start of the civil war.

More than four million have become refugees.

According to the head of UN humanitarian operations, aid in Syria continues to be blocked by belligerents, particularly in difficult-to-access zones or those occupied by regime or opposition forces.

Some 4.6 million civilians live in these areas and 422,000 are living in a state of siege.

“This is the biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation,” UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres said in July.

“It is a population that needs the support of the world but is

UN plans new Libya talks next week in Switzerland SKHIRAT (MOROCCO): The United Nations plans a new round of talks between Libya’s warring factions next week in Geneva in an effort to form a unity government and end the country’s crisis, a UN spokesman said on Friday.

Western governments see a UN-backed peace deal as the only solution to chaos in Libya where two rival governments battle for control, leaving a security vacuum which has been exploited by migrant smugglers and militants.

Months of negotiations have been stalled by hardliners on both sides and fighting among armed groups siding with the two loose factions that emerged four years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

In the latest delay, delegates from Tripoli’s self-declared government dropped out of talks in Morocco this week, saying they needed a new negotiating team after a chief member resigned. But they said they would attend the next round with the rival internationally recognized government.

Checkpoints and

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi on Friday ordered security forces to ease access to Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone and main streets, in an apparent bid to improve daily life for ordinary Iraqis as the country braces for fresh protests.

The capital and many southern cities have witnessed demonstrations in recent weeks calling for provision of basic services, the trial of corrupt politicians, and the shake-up of a system riddled with graft and incompetence.

Thousands of people were heading to join Friday’s protests following a call from powerful majority sect cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. Security forces deployed in force to prevent violence, which has been limited in past weeks.

Partly in response to the protests, Abadi is pushing reforms to a system he says has deprived Iraqis of basic services and undermined the fight against IS militants.

CONFLICT

instead living in dire conditions and sinking deeper into poverty,” he said.

In July, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the number of refugees had surged by one million in 10 months, forecasting that the total will reach 4.27 million by year end.

Assistance Most of the refugees have gone to neighbouring countries but, with a lack of jobs and inadequate humanitarian assistance, thousands are now seeking to emigrate to Europe. Turkey, at 1.8 million, and Lebanon, at 1.1 million, have so far taken in the largest number of refugees.

The UNHCR says another 600,000 are in Jordan, but the government there puts the number at 1.4 million, a figure equal to 20 per cent of the kingdom’s population.

There are also 225,000 Syrians in Iraq and 137,000 in Egypt. — AFP

‘You Stink’ protesters spell out demands BEIRUT: Lebanese protesters who first took to the streets over a trash crisis said on Friday they will call for new parliamentary elections and the environment minister’s resignation at a weekend demonstration.

The “You Stink” campaign has called for a massive protest in central Beirut on Saturday to follow demonstrations last weekend that targeted not only a trash collection problem but also Lebanon’s stagnant political scene.

At a news conference, the group said the demonstration would urge the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Mashnuq and new parliamentary elections.

The demonstrators would also call for trash collection to be handed over to local municipalities, and for accountability for the use of violence against protesters last week.

Asaad Thebian, a member of the campaign, said the protest would be non-partisan and open to all.

“We’re going out tomorrow from all areas, from all affiliations,” he said.

The “You Stink” campaign began in response to a trash crisis that started with the closure of Lebanon’s largest landfill in mid-

At a news conference, the group said the demonstration would urge the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Mashnuq and new parliamentary election CIVIC WOES: A firefighter sprays water on a garbage pile that caught fire on a street in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday. — AFP

July. The closure left trash piling up in the streets of the capital and beyond and saw public anger rise to unprecedented levels.

Fall of regime Last weekend, several thousand demonstrators turned out on Saturday and Sunday for protests that included chants seeking the “fall of the regime,” in an echo of protests elsewhere in the region.

On both days, the initially peace-

ful protests descended into violence between some demonstrators and security forces.

The campaign blamed “troublemakers” for the unrest, which saw security forces pelted with rocks and lit fireworks, and protesters hit by rubber bullets and water cannon fire.

The group said Friday it had organised a team to monitor Saturday’s demonstration and prevent violence from breaking out.

The protest is to start at 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) with a march from the interior ministry towards Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut.

Though the demonstrations began with frustration over the trash crisis, they have evolved into an outlet for anger about Lebanon’s entire political system. The country’s parliament has twice extended its mandate since the last elections in 2009, and has been unable to elect a president since the post was vacated in May 2014. — AFP

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INDIA ONE RANK ONE PENSION

PRESIDENT GREETS PEOPLE ON RAKSHA BANDHAN Sand artist Manas Sahoo makes a sand art on the eve of Raksha Bandhan with a message to protect mankind at Puri beach on Friday. President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday greeted people on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, saying the festival underlines the need to enhance efforts for welfare of women and a duty for men to ensure their safety and security in society. - PTI

Ex-servicemen reject government offer, boycott celebrations NEW DELHI: Agitating ex-servicemen on Friday boycotted the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war after rejecting Government’s latest offer on resolving the vexed issue of one-rank-onepension OROP over which they started protests 75 days ago.

“Whatever they have finally offered is not acceptable to us. Yesterday what was told to us is nowhere close to the definition” that had been decided and accepted by Parliament,” Maj Gen Satbir Singh (Retd), Chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement said.

He said that the ex-servicemen have turned down government’s offer to increase pension every five years instead of annually. “They were saying it will be done after five years which is totally incorrect because it will defeat the very definition of One Rank One Pension,” Satbir said.

M AT E R N A L A N D C H I L D H E A LT H C A R E

USAID India to launch $5m project : Verma NEW DELHI: USAID India will soon launch a five million dollar project aimed at improving maternal and child health care by aggregating best practices from both public and private sector.

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said the project will be called ‘global linkages’ that will serve as a sharing and learning platform on maternal and child policies and innovations.

“I am excited to announce that USAID India will soon launch a five million dollar project called global linkages that will serve as a sharing, learning and partnership platform on maternal and child care practices, policies and innovations. “Based in India, the global linkages platform will aggregate best practices and innovations in maternal and child health from both public and private sector here (India) as well and other countries,” Verma said during the concluding session of the two-day “Global Call to Action Summit 2015- ending preventable maternal and child deaths”.

Verma also said that US is fully committed to partnering “closely” with Indian government, private sector and civil society to identify “ground breaking” approaches that can leapfrog conventional efforts to reduce child and maternal deaths.

He said that in India, one has

already seen “compelling evidence” that by scaling up key interventions, one can save 4.3 million children and 128,000 women’s lives by 2020.

USAID is the lead US government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.

“The US-India strategic partnership is a significant contributor to regional and global stability and prosperity. The two governments are working together and leveraging the combined capacities to assist other developing countries. “The triangular assistance which entails US-India collaboration addresses the challenges of the developing countries, showcases Indian leadership and knowhow and benefits developing countries in areas including health, energy, food security and women’s empowerment,” the US Ambassador to India said.

He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview in a magazine recently in which he (Modi) had said that “US-India relationship is not just about finding ways in which we can help each other but rather its what India and US can do together for the world.”

He also applauded India for hosting the summit for the first time outside the US. - PTI

Gujarat near normal as quota row toll rises to 10 Ahmedabad District Collector Rajkumar Beniwal said the Army continued flag march on roads in some city areas on Friday. “Army’s flag march continued today in sensitive areas where violence was reported,” Beniwal said.

Hardik Patel said his sole objective is the inclusion of Patel community in the OBC category and not the abolition of the quota system

AHMEDABAD: Soldiers and paramilitary forces remained deployed in Gujarat, where the situation was near normal on Friday even as the death of a policemen took the toll in violence to 10.

Curfew has been lifted in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Mehsana, Palanpur, Jamnagar, Visnagar and Unjha, which bore the brunt of violence in the wake of the Patidars’ agitation demanding caste-based reservation in education and employment. The army, paramilitary forces and Gujarat Police personnel kept a close watch as people trooped out for work and shopping for Saturday’s Raksha Bandhan festival.

UNEASY CALM: Central Reserve Police Force soldiers march in market areas as life returns to normalcy in the sensitive Bapunagar area after the clashes, in Ahmedabad on Friday. - PTI

Director General of Police P.C. Thakur told media persons that the deployment of the army and other security forces will continue for some more time. Government offices and private establishments opened on Friday.

Shops and commercial enterprises reported bustling business for Raksha Bandhan and Janmashthami festival next week.

However, most schools and colleges across the state remained closed as a precaution. They will

BIHAR

Nitish counters Modi’s special package with seven-point development plan PATNA: To counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rs1.25 lakh crore special package for the east Indian state of Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday unveiled plans worth Rs2.70 lakh crore in the next five years that include free electricity and drinking water connection to every household and a toilet in each house.

Taking a jibe at the PM’s special package, Kumar told a press conference here, “unlike the much hyped package which is nothing but repackaging of old schemes, my vision comprises programmes which are doable and I have worked out mobilisation of resources for it.”

Unveiling his seven-point development plan at the press conference, Kumar clarified it was not a manifesto of either JD(U) or that of the secular alliance. “Its my ‘dil ki baat’ (talks from heart) and not ‘maan ki baat’ (talks of mind),” Kumar said. The sevenpoint development plan was in addition to the ongoing schemes in different sectors, Kumar said.

Commitment Faced with flurry of questions if it was the manifesto of JD(U) or secular alliance comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress, Kumar answered in negative and said “its my commitment towards people and I know they have faith on me that I do what I say.”

When further grilled if RJD

1.5 crore youths in the state. The plans for youths would cost about Rs 49,800 crore in next five years, he said, adding “he has in mind from where to mobilise the resources.” To give pace to women empowerment, Kumar said 35 per cent seats would be reserved for women in all state jobs. Presently, 35 per cent reservation is given to women in recruitment in police from constable upto Inspector level and this would be extended in all other state jobs, he added.

POLL SOPS: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressing a press conference in Patna on Friday. - PTI

and Congress share his vision, he said “I am the leader of the secular alliance in the coming Bihar election.” Kumar’s seven-point development, has special focus on youth, women, unemployed, young entrepreneurs and on infrastructure needs like drinking water, electricity and toilet.

Elaborating on the 7 points in his development plan, Kumar highlighted five new programmes for youths, who constitute the bulk of the state’s population. The CM said youths in the age group of 20-25 would get Rs 1,000 monthly allowance twice for a period of nine months each to meet expenses during search for jobs.

Every youth who has passed class XII would get a student

“We are also firm on our stand that the base year has to be 201314 and that payment should begin from April 1, 2014. OROP should not be left to the 7th Pay Commission and the definition has to be the same as accepted by Parliament.”

Government is insisting that 2011 be made the base year while making it clear that there will be no three per cent annual increase.

It also wants payment to begin from April 1, 2015, which has been rejected by the veterans.

Unhappy with the prolonged delay by the Government in setting a timeframe for OROP, the veterans boycotted Friday’s golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar drew flak from the veterans for his remarks that Government needs “some time” to fill “small gaps” for implementation of OROP. - PTI

credit card with the help of which a loan of Rs 4 lakh from any bank could be availed. The state government would provide 3 per cent interest subvention on the loan taken from this credit card, Kumar said. The state government would establish a Rs 500 crore Venture capital fund from which young entrepreneurs would get start up capital to set up manufacturing units, he said. The CM promised to provide free wi-fi facility in all colleges and universities in the state.

He further said registration and modern employment consultancy centres would be opened in all 38 districts to provide basic computer education, language training and skill development to

Power issue With electricity emerging as a major election issue in Bihar, Kumar said all left out villages and habitations would be connected with electricity in next two years and after that state government on its own expenses would connect every house with the electricity.

“Through increased availability of electricity the dream to illuminate every house in the state with 24 hour electricity would be realised,” Kumar said.

Future power projects would cost Rs 55,600 crore in five years, he said. All houses in rural and urban areas would be connected with drinking water pipeline in next five years, the Bihar chief minister said. A total of 1.95 crore households in rural areas and 16 lakh in urban areas would be benefitted by this, he added. The project would cost Rs 47,700 crore in five years. -PTI

reopen on Monday, an official said.

Twenty-two-year-old commerce graduate Hardik Patel, who has galvanised the dominant Patel community in Gujarat on the reservation demand, on Friday threatened to intensify the agitation and decided to rope in Gujjars for support. Hardik in an interview to PTI also said his sole objective is the inclusion of Patel community in the Other Backward Class(OBC) category and not the abolition of the quota system.

‘Not for abolition’ “We do not want reservation system to be abolished as it is being talked. We just want OBC quota for Patels,” Hardik said when asked about reports quoting him as saying that if Patels are not included the OBC category there should be total removal of the reservation system. Congress on the second day Friday tried to raise the issue in the state Assembly.

Three Congress MLAs were suspended by the Gujarat Assembly speaker while others walked out in protest from the House for shouting slogans against senior minister Nitin Patel, who had alleged that opposition party was responsible for the recent violence in the state.

On Thursday, 54 Congress MLAs were suspended for the day when they raised slogans over the quota stir. According to ADGP (Law and Order), P. P. Pandey, as many as 95 FIRs have been registered in the state including around 40 FIRs in Ahmedabad in connection with violence in which 10 people were killed. - Agencies

A6

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015 I will extend full cooperation to Mumbai police.

I will get justice for her Mikhail, brother of Sheena Bora

INDIA

SHEENA BORA MURDER CASE

ONAM CELEBRATED WITH FESTIVE FERVOUR Women make a floral rangoli ‘Pookalam’ on the occasion of Onam festival in Coimbatore on Friday. Keralites across the south Indian state as well as those living in others states or abroad on Friday celebrated the festival with traditional fervour and gaiety. People offered prayers in temples early in the morning while the day was marked by feast and festivities, including programmes organised by various cultural organisations and institutions. - PTI

Indrani’s ex-husband remanded in police custody till August 31 MUMBAI: Sanjeev Khanna, former husband of prime accused Indrani Mukerjea, was on Friday remanded in police custody after being charged with murder in the sensational Sheena Bora case and taken to an undisclosed location for joint interrogation with her and her driver.

Brought here from Kolkata last night, Khanna was produced in Bandra court and remanded to police custody till August 31 after being charged under Sections 364 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 120-B (conspiracy) of the IPC. In what could be crucial in taking the probe forward, police collected a few pieces of bones from J J Hospital, where it was sent in May 2012, a month after Sheena’s body was burnt and dumped there.

“The hospital sent its report in 2013 saying it can not determine the age, sex or cause of death on the basis of the bones sent by the Pen police,” Hospital Dean Dr T P Lahane said.

“Today, Khar police came to the hospital and collected the bones

PROBE ORDERED

Accidental deployment of oxygen masks forces Jet flight to return CHENNAI: A Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight carrying 165 passengers and seven crew members onboard was forced to return here on Friday after the sudden deployment of oxygen masks in two rows of the aircraft.

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe into the incident, which happened this morning, sources said.

The probe would look into the reasons for the sudden deployment of the oxygen masks on Jet Airways flight 9W-820,which could also be because of some maintenance issue, they said.The aircraft remained airborne for almost twenty minutes before landing back at the Chennai airport at around 1030 hours, they said.

“The Oxygen masks came down from the ceiling panel above the seats in the two rows of the aircraft after some 20 minutes of the take off, forcing the pilot to return the plane back to Chennai,” the sources said. Jet Airways, in a statement said that the flight came back to Chennai without completing its journey due to accidental deployment of the oxygen masks. The aircraft was changed and the flight departed for its destination later on, the statement added. - PTI

Sanjeev Khanna

from us”, Lahane said declining to make any comment when asked whether the samples could be vital forensic evidence in the case.

Sheena’s brother Mikhail, who had stated that the victim was Indrani’s daughter and not her sister, also landed here from Guwahati and promised to cooperate fully with the police in the probe.

“I will extend full cooperation to Mumbai police. I will get justice for her,” Mikhail said.

The police alleged in the court that Khanna had played an active role in the conspiracy and murder of 24-year-old Sheena and he had to be taken to the spot where she was killed on April 24, 2012. - PTI

Government plans special session to pass crucial bills “There is no point for the Congress and its allies to oppose the GST for the sake of opposition as passage of this crucial bill is necessary to reform taxation for benefit of all,” he said.

He ruled out convening of joint

There is no point for the Congress and its allies to oppose the GST for the sake of opposition as passage of this crucial bill is necessary to reform taxation for benefit of all

session of Parliament for passing the crucial legislations saying that most of these bills were

M Venkaiah Naidu

amendment bills

Parliamentary Affairs Minister

which ‘have to be passed by both houses separately’

PATNA: Observing that reform measures were required to sustain the economic growth of the country, the Centre on Friday said that it might convene a special session of Parliament next month to seek passage of the GST and other bills with cooperation from the opposition.

“It’s imperative that reforms measures like the GST bill, Land

Acquisition (amendment) bill, Negotiable Instruments (amendment) bill and others related to taxation has to be passed by Parliament to sustain economic growth in the country for which the Centre may convene special session of Parliament next month,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

He ruled out convening of joint session of Parliament for passage of crucial legislations saying these bills were in the nature of amendment bills which “have to be passed by both houses separately”.

Stating that the NDA government has “done its best” to accommodate the opposition by referring most of bills being objected to them to the select committees for examination of their objections, Naidu said that it was the turn of the opposition, more so the Congress and its allies to reciprocate and cooperate with the government in passage of these bills, including the GST, during the special session.

Observing that the NDA government has succeeded to bring the economy, marred by fiscal, revenue, current account and trust

deficits of the pre-BJP dispensation, “back on rails”, the Union Minister said that more reformist measures, including roll out of the GST in 2016, was required to sustain India’s growth story.

Noting that the government has succeeding in getting the crucial reform bills, including the GST, passed by the Lok Sabha, Naidu said that these bills were pending in the Upper House where the Congress-led opposition had been stalling its passage by not allowing the Rajya Sabha to function at all during the just-concluded monsoon session.

Antagonistic stand Similarly, he said, the “antagonistic stand” of Congress and some other opposition parties on the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 2013 was “baffling” as the government has incorporated nine amendments suggested by the opposition even as 28 states have voiced their view favouring passage of the said bill so that infrastructure projects could be taken up at the earliest.

Justifying amendment moved by the NDA government in the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, Naidu said that the Congress had kept 13 key points out of the legislation which was necessary for acquisition of land for speeding execution of infrastructure projects.

Slamming Congress for its adversarial approach to pro-reform measures being proposed by the NDA government, Naidu said that the main opposition has not been able to “digest” the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “so it does not want him and his government to succeed at all”. - PTI

A Q U A C U LT U R E

Noted Indian agriculture scientist awarded first Sunhak Peace Prize SEOUL: Noted Indian agriculture scientist Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta, who has done pioneering work in aquaculture in India and several other countries, was on Friday awarded the first Sunhak Peace Prize, billed as an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize, which he shared with the President of Kiribati Islands.

Gupta, 76, shared the $1 million prize with President of Kiribati Islands Anote Tong here at a glittering function which was attended

by invitees from all over the world.

Tong, 63, the head of the Pacific Ocean island nation which is facing dire prospects of being engulfed by rising sea waters by 2050, was chosen for the award for his dogged fight to end the carbon emissions which are spelling doom for small island nations.

The awards were presented by South Korean religious leader Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of late Rev Sun Myung Moon, who instituted the awards to recognise and

highlight the work of individuals making big efforts for the betterment of the people.

Hailing from Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh, Gupta, a biologist, was also the recipient of the World Food Prize in 2005 for development and dissemination of lowcost techniques for freshwater fish farming.

Before his retirement, he served as the Assistant Director General at WorldFish, an international fisheries research institute under

the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research based in Penang, Malaysia.

Aqua technology Starting his career as a scientist in Indian Council Agriculture Research over three decades ago in Kolkata, Gupta worked in Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand pursuing his belief that the aqua technology which can provide food security and improve livelihoods of rural poor.

“I believed throughout my career that all the advanced fish farming technology which we created in laboratories should be taken to people, then only it can make a difference to their lives,” he told PTI after receiving the award.

Regarded as a rebel within the ranks of the agricultural scientist community in India, Gupta mostly worked with the UN and agriculture related international organisations in different countries.

His work with rural commu-

nities in Bangladesh, a nation bestowed with lot of water resources, has made fish farming a major source of livelihood for millions of rural poor, according to the organisers.

As a scientist advocating sustainable alternatives, Gupta said aquaculture should be seen as a major source of food security.

“There can be no peace without food security in the world.

You cannot talk peace to a hungry man,” he said. - PTI

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

A7

PAKISTAN IMF probing Pakistan claim on last year’s fiscal deficit Speculation about the accuracy of the government’s figures grew after the IMF published a glowing report, praising the Nawaz Administration’s reform efforts

The International Monetary Fund is investigating Pakistan’s claim of restricting the federal budget deficit to 5.3 per cent of the total size of the national economy or Rs1.45 trillion in the fiscal year 2015

ISLAMABAD: In a move carrying far-reaching implications for a $6.2 billion bailout package, the International Monetary Fund is investigating Pakistan’s claim of restricting the federal budget deficit to 5.3 per cent of the total size of the national economy or Rs1.45 trillion in fiscal year 2015.

The IMF’s resident mission decided to reopen the books after several independent experts publicly questioned the authenticity of the figure, claiming the deficit was Rs1.8 trillion when

including the circular debt.

The resident mission has gone back to the drawing board and re-calculating the budget deficit figure for the last fiscal year 2014-15 that ended on June 30, said sources.

The Express Tribune sent a question to the IMF’s resident mission on Monday, asking whether it was true it was recalculating the 2015 budget deficit figure.

After three days, the office of resident representative Tokhir Mirzoev gave a brief statement

saying that they “would not comment at this point.”

Speculation Speculation about the accuracy of the government’s figures grew after the IMF published a glowing report, praising the Nawaz Administration’s reform efforts.

In an op-ed piece appearing in a local daily, former State Bank governor Shahid Kardar stated that despite Pakistan’s failure to meet two key performance benchmarks of the programme, the IMF took a lenient view and granted waivers.

He said that in less than two years, the IMF gave 12 waivers to Islamabad, the largest number of waivers under any IMF programme. He argued that the government was practicing an “unashamed manipulation of data” to show a lower budget deficit, an act in which the IMF was complicit.

“This decision of the Fund staff has, for the first time in recent memory, reinforced the widening perception that the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank are abettors of the government’s window-dressing scheme,”

KARACHI

he wrote. Kardar was not alone in his scathing criticism.

In an article published in the London-based Financial Times on Sunday, economist and former finance minister Hafiz Pasha expressed similar views, saying, “In our close to 70 years’ history, we’ve never had a government that fudged statistics to the extent of this one.”

He said the actual 2015 budget deficit including circular debt was closer to 8.5 per cent of GDP, not the 5.3 per cent the government claimed.

According to sources, during the IMF’s earlier analysis, it had treated the $1 billion raised through the secondary market offering of the government’s shares in Habib Bank as revenue, even though the 2000 Privatisation Ordinance requires such proceeds to be treated as financing, not revenue.

In addition, the IMF excluded the $1 billion Islamic Eurobond issued by the government from its external financing.

A meeting of the Executive Board of the IMF is tentatively scheduled for early next month to allow the disbursement of next loan tranche of $500 million.

If 5.3 per cent figure turns out to be incorrect, the country may face problems in getting further loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. - Express Tribune

PLIGHT OF DRUG ADDICTS

Resham’s film ‘Swaarangi’ banned by censor board KARACHI: Pakistani film Swaarangi which was all set to release on September 11 has been banned by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

“A panel decided that the film can’t be screened in its present form for public viewing,” Chariman CBFC, Mobashir Hasan said.

Based on real life events, Swaaraangi has been directed by Fida Hussain and shot in distant locations near Kalabagh, Punjab.

The storyline highlights the plight of drug addicts in Pakistan.

While the CBFC chairman did not go into details, rumour has it that the Resham-starrer has been banned for representing an ‘inappropriate’ image of Pakistan.

However, none of the CBFC officials could confirm this.

The decision was made by a panel of the CBFC and later a fullboard meeting was called to reconsider the decision in the presence of an extended 11-member panel.

All cinemas in the Islamabad Capital Territory and cantonments around the country fall within the CBFC’s ambit.

Cinemas in other parts of Pakistan will receive certification orders from their respective provincial censor boards. Besides Resham, the film stars Ayub Khosa, Naveed Akbar, Waseem Manzoor, Hamza Mushtaq and Shahzaib Johar. It was initially slated to release on August 28, but was later pushed to September 11. - Express Tribune

BIGGEST-EVER

Government to address PPP’s concerns on PIA plans to lease former minister’s arrest, Rangers action seven new jets, ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: A day after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) urged the government to respect the law and to adopt transparency in the way it is acting against the corrupt, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that they will address concerns of the main opposition party over former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s arrest and the ongoing Rangers crackdown in Sindh.

Rashid assured that the law enforcement agencies will work within the ambit of law when carrying out operations in the province.

On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah warned of ‘open war if anyone dared to touch PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.’

“Law will take its due course, government does not believe in any sort of retaliatory action against any political party,” Rashid said while speaking to the media in Lahore on Friday, Express News reported.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Friday expressed concern over the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain.

Expressed displeasure The Sindh chief minister expressed his displeasure over the arrest during a meeting with Sindh Director General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, saying he should have been informed before the arrest, official sources told The Express Tribune.

“Sindh CM and DG Rangers discussed matters pertaining to the law and order situation of the metropolis, as well as the recent arrest of Dr Asim Hussain,” sources said.

Further, the source added, DG Rangers also presented authentic documents to the provincial chief minister regarding the involve-

expand fleet size

CRACKDOWN: Paramilitary Soldiers display weapons and bomb-making material seized during an operation, at Rangers Headquarters Karachi. Officials of the paramilitary force informed the Karachi ATC-III that they had taken former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain into preventive custody for 90 days on charges of embezzlement and using misappropriated funds in terrorist acts. - Reuters file photo

ment of Dr Asim in various cases.

“It was decided earlier that all information regarding the Karachi operation will be shared with me and no action will be taken without my consent,” sources quoted Qaim Ali Shah as saying.

On the contrary, CM House spokesperson termed the meeting ‘routine’ in the context of the ongoing Karachi operation.

Rangers levelled terror-financing charges against Dr Asim Hussain while presenting him before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday. Officials of the paramilitary force informed the Karachi ATC-III that they had taken Dr Asim into preventive custody for 90 days on charges of embezzlement and using misappropriated funds in terrorist acts.

Dr Asim — who is currently serving as the chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC)

in Sindh and is a close confidante of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari — was picked up from his office a day earlier by law enforcers clad in plain clothes. The arrest, at the time, was thought to be part of an anti-graft campaign which has already seen several individuals associated with PPP arrested on corruption charges. However, no government agency claimed responsibility for the arrest.

Meanwhile, as PPP bigwigs like Dr Hussain face charges of corruption, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started probing the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar by Pakistan State Oil (PSO), officials say.

Though Pakistan and Qatar have not signed any LNG supply deal, PSO has bought the fuel from Qatargas on spot-purchase basis.

In the first phase, NAB started

investigation into the Engro LNG terminal deal and in the next phase focus has shifted to the purchase of six LNG cargoes by PSO and its sale to consumers.

According to officials, NAB investigators visited head offices of PSO and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and questioned some officials.

They also seized the record pertaining to LNG purchase and its handing at the LNG terminal.

Being a public-sector procuring agency, PSO must strictly comply with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules for LNG import.

No procurement is allowed from only one supplier without giving a fair chance to others through an open and transparent tendering process like that undertaken by PSO for the import of all other products. - Express Tribune

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to lease seven new jets by year-end, aiming to increase the size of its fleet to 42 aircraft; one of the largest ever, airline’s Chairman Nasser N. A. Jaffer said on Thursday.

Despite massive debt and accumulated losses that have wiped off its entire equity, the national flag carrier has already leased 14 jets and turbo props in recent years.

“Not everything is right but we are trying to improve the situation by bringing in changes,” he said at a media briefing.

“With these aircraft we will serve more passengers. This is the first time in PIA’s history that so many planes have been inducted in the fleet in such a short span of time.” Right now the airline has 35 aircraft including 11 ATRs, nine Airbus 320s, nine Boeings 777s and six A310s.

Out of these, 30 aircraft are operational while five await repair work. The jets that will join the fleet over the next few months also include three Boeing 777s.

Jaffer said PIA has approached the government, which is the majority shareholder, to restructure its balance sheet.

Shrinking share “Fortunately, we have people on our board who have some suggestions on how to restructure the airline’s debt of Rs295 billion.”

About the continuous decline in PIA’s frequency and shrinking share in international passenger traffic, he hoped the problem will be addressed with the addition of new aircraft.

However, the chairman, who was flanked by Managing Director Shahnawaz Rehman and other senior officials, did not respond

RESTRUCTURING: PIA Chairman Nasser N. A. Jaffer said right now the airline has 35 aircraft including 11 ATRs, nine Airbus 320s, nine Boeings 777s and six A310s. - Reuters file photo

to a question about how the airline intends to counter growing penetration of Middle East-based airlines.

“The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has allowed these (foreign) airlines to operate more flights because it says we are not able to serve passengers. Obviously, if there is a demand for five flights from a city and we can manage only two, then someone would come in to meet the demand.”

Without discussing much the proposed privatisation of PIA, he said the government was supporting the management’s restructuring efforts as evident from the $52 million it gave to lease the aircraft.

The renewed effort to take PIA out of losses has coincided with a sharp decline in jet fuel price.“We are lucky on that count. And that is how we have been able to offer discounts to customers.”

Addressing criticism that surrounds the hiring of flight instructors on contract, Managing Director Rehman said it was a requirement as pilots needed training for the A320s. - Express Tribune

A8

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Morally reprehensible to celebrate China woes

Location: Sur/Photo: A. K. Reegan

W

ith the Chinese economic miracle coming to an end, as shown by “Black Monday” and the devaluation of the renminbi, one can feel a sense of relief in the West about this unexpected turn of events.

After all, most predictions indicated the Chinese economy would be able to overtake the US economy in the years to come. Political power would soon follow – the Chinese would “rule the world”, as some experts predicted. They would “buy up Europe”, the think-tank ECFR argued, after having already gobbled up chunks of Africa.

A rising China was something to be feared, according to China-bashers. Low pay and poor working conditions would await us, as European workers in the Greek port of Piraeus and the Italian textile industry of Prato, both dominated by Chinese investors, already can testify.

In the long run West’s most fundamental values (human rights, democracy) might even be undermined as a result of the economic power of a country whose leaders show little respect and even contempt for these values.

This analysis might seem over the top, but it is harder to counter the argument that China under its leader Xi Jinping has taken a course in the past three years which is at odds with western values.

The infamous “Document no. 9”, adopted by the Central Committee of the CCP in 2013, views “universal values” as the West defends them as an attempt to weaken China. Within its own borders, the Chinese authorities have increased repression of human rights activists, Tibetan nationalists and dissidents. Censorship on the internet and in the media is rising. Internationally, China has taken up the habit of teaming up with Russia in the Security Council against the West, hindering a solution to the Syrian civil war, for instance. In its own region China’s new assertiveness, shown by its island-building activities and propped up by its increasing military strength, has brought fear to neighbouring countries. So how could we not feel secretly relieved about China’s economic setbacks and the apparent end to their enviable growth era?

China’s economic misfortunes might not be so bad – it might tone down their increasing arrogance, one could be inclined to think.

In reality, China’s economic downturn will be far

from beneficial to the West. Our interdependency is currently illustrated by the downturn of European stock markets in the wake of the collapse of the Shanghai Index. Ask American and European corporate leaders who have been able to sustain their profits in recent, difficult years thanks to excellent results in China.

Their biggest worry today is that China - despite a slight uptick - will not be able to stabilise its economy. A further slide might force CEOs of a wide variety of sectors (car makers, producers of luxury goods, industrial good companies) to cut jobs, both in China and at home. A large number of western small and medium size companies will suffer equally, as their exports to the Chinese market decline. Given the fact that China has contributed more than a third of global growth since 2008 the impact will be broad. If the country can no longer perform its role as engine of the world economy, job losses in the West are inevitable.

Apart from this rather selfish reason to wish China more economic health, it is important to note that China still has the largest number of poor people in the world, after India, despite decades of growth. From that perspective any feeling of relief about China’s woes is morally rather reprehensible. Not to mention the situation concerning human rights in China. True, its economic success did little to improve the plight of human rights activists, dissidents and others, but it is not hard to predict that an economic downturn will be even more unfavorable to them.

The Chinese population as a whole will be confronted with rising unemployment, increasing social tensions in an already tense country.

Official unemployment figures do not reflect this and remain low (at 4 per cent for urban unemployment) but cannot be trusted. Certainly, unemployment will rise, if the economic downturn persists. That would be an ominous development, not only within China, but also for its foreign policy. When economic trouble becomes really serious, deflecting attention to an enemy abroad might become tempting for China’s leadership.

Suchstarting an international conflict for internal reasons, could lead to disruption of trade flows around the world that would damage western interests even more.

Therefore, think twice before getting gleeful about China’s demise. — The Independent

READERS’ FORUM Adults need to understand and accept that children have deeper level of thinking This refers to the online story, Tech toys inspire (August 27). The article accurately describes present day life. It is not just technological tools, which can be made through seeing children work them out. But it is just about everything. With the number of hours spent on toys and electronic devices children of today have a much deeper level of thinking. Universally, children of today are more advanced in many types of thinking.

This is something which adults need to understand and accept.

— Saleem Memood, Darsait

People are beginning to worry that a new wave of technological change will erode job security even more.

Information technology facilitates outsourcing, so that much more work can be divided among armies of independent contractors bit.ly/shiftingtogigeconomy

Pakistan needs a debate to work out its system of governance Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi).

This refers to the online story, Pakistan arrests Zardari aide in Karachi operation (August 26). The military crackdown has been very successful. It has been something required for the 20 to 30 years. The politicians are behind the mess in the country and with that in mind a different mode; of governance is needed. A debate on this needed. — Ali Mir, Muscat

Educate the political class This refers to the online story, Pakistan arrests Zardari aide in Karachi operation (August 26). The authorities need to be lauded for pursuing the crackdown. In my opinion, in order to mitigate the problems real education of the political class is needed.— Zahid Dilshad, Muscat

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES AUGUST 2000

PICTOGRAPH

OMAN POPULATION PERCENTAGE 2015

March

4.3% rise in export of crude oil MUSCAT: According to the statistical bulletin issued by the Ministry of National Economy, Oman’s crude oil export during the first five months of the current year reached 130,221,900 barrels compared with 124,897,700 barrels during the corresponding period in 1999, showing a 4.3 per cent increase. The bulletin says that the crude oil price rose at the end of May this year by 102.2 per cent to $25.20 per barrel compared with $12.46 per barrel during the corresponding period last year.

Citizens 56%

Expatriates 44% April

55.8%

44.2% May

TODAY IN HISTORY

55.1%

44.9% June

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

1776: The Americans are defeated by the British at the Battle of Long Island, New York.

56.4%

43.6%

1813: The Allies defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Dresden.

July

1941: The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumimaro Konoye, issues an invitation for a meeting with President Roosevelt.

2003: Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing within 34,646,418 miles .

56.4%

43.6%

Source: National Centre for Statistics & Information

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WORLD

Nuclear arms secured pact: Kim Jong-Un

UNPOPULAR DEFENCE BILLS

The agreement, reached after marathon day-night NEW PACIFIST: Aki Okuda, right, founding member of the protest group Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy talks to supporters in central Tokyo, recently. -Reuters

talks in the border truce village of Panmunjom, pulled both sides back from the brink of an armed conflict and committed them to starting an official dialogue

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said nuclear weapons -- not negotiating skills -- secured this week’s “landmark” agreement with South Korea, as he dismissed a number of officials from a top military decision-making body.

Chairing a meeting of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), Kim credited the North with striking the deal that ended a tense military standoff with the South, Pyongyang’s official KCNA news agency said on Friday. The agreement, reached after marathon day-night talks in the border truce village of Panmunjom, pulled both sides back from the brink of an armed conflict and committed them to starting an official dialogue.

But Kim made it clear that sitting down to talks would not entail North Korea discussing the end of its nuclear weapons programme, which the young leader

RELYING ON MUSCLE: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un holds an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang on Friday. -Reuters

said was key to maintaining peace in the first place.

The Panmunjom agreement “was by no means something achieved on the negotiating table but thanks to the tremendous military muscle with the nuclear deterrent for self-defence”, Kim reportedly told the meeting.

The CMC, which is the ruling party’s top military policymaking body, handled the recent crisis, and the KCNA report suggested Kim may have ordered a mini purge afterwards.

The meeting “dismissed some members of the Central Military Commission and appointed new ones and dealt with an organisational matter,” it said, without elaborating on the reason for the dismissals. Since taking power in North Korea following the death of his father, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011, Kim Jong-Un has repeatedly reshuffled his senior military leaders.

The latest inter-Korean crisis had its roots in landmine blasts earlier this month that maimed two South Korean soldiers on

patrol along the border with the North. Seoul blamed Pyongyang and responded by switching on banks of giant speakers, which had lain silent for more than a decade, and blasting propaganda messages into North Korea.

Propaganda units The North denied any involvement and threatened to attack the propaganda units as cross-border military tensions soared.

The agreement reached in Panmunjom saw the North express regret -- but not admit responsibility -- for the maiming of the two soldiers, while the South ended the high-decibel broadcasts.

The talks were initiated by North Korea -- a fact that some analysts took as a sign that Pyongyang had blinked first in an escalating showdown that included a rare artillery exchange across the land border.

In his speech to the CMC, Kim acknowledged and embraced the fact Pyongyang had sought the negotiations as evidence of its moral and strategic strength.

North Korea’s initiative, “put under control the situation which inched close to an armed conflict, thereby clearing the dark clouds of war,” he said.

He underscored the need to channel “top priority efforts” into strengthening North Korea’s military capability further.

While playing up Pyongyang’s role, Kim stressed that the pact was a “crucial landmark occasion” that offered both Koreas a chance to move forward to better ties.

South Korea meanwhile, flexed its military muscle on Friday, staging its largest-ever, live fire drill with the United States that included a simulated mechanised assault into North Korean territory.

Some 3,000 US and South Korean soldiers, around 100 tanks and armoured vehicles, 120 heavy guns, 45 helicopters and more than 40 jet fighters took part in the exercise -- 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the demilitarised zone, which splits the Korean peninsula between North and South. -AFP

Okuda, fresh face of protest against Japan premier Abe TOKYO: Wearing shorts and a baggy T-shirt and clutching a microphone, Aki Okuda stands before a crowd, the pyramid-shaped roof of Japan’s parliament lit up against the night sky behind him.

“No War”, “Protect the Constitution”, “Abe - Quit!”, he chants in a hip-hop rhythm, echoed by the crowd.

Okuda, 23, is a founding member of a group of students that has become a fresh face of protest against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push to enact a more robust defence policy - steps critics say violate the pacifist constitution and could ensnare Japan in US-led wars.

Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs) is also denting the image of Japanese students as either apolitical introverts, who left protests to their elders, or right wing geeks.

Japan has not seen significant student protests since the 1960s, and civic demonstrations since then have been peopled primarily with greying left-wing activists.

That changed when SEALDs sprang to public notice by sponsoring weekly rallies near parliament against unpopular defence

A N T I - G OV E R N M E N T D E M O N S T R AT I O N S

IN HONOUR OF THAILAND PREMIER

Malaysia blocks site on rally eve

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, left, smiles as Thai First Lady Naraporn Chanocha, right, reacts while watching a Bamboo orchestra, during a welcoming ceremony for visiting Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha (not pictured) in Manila on Friday. -Reuters

NAT U R A L C A L A M I T Y

Five killed in Nepal landslides KATHMANDU: Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least five people in central Nepal, four of them in a shelter for survivors of a devastating earthquake, police said on Friday.

Rescuers in Nepal’s Nuwakot district are still searching for a nine-year-old boy missing since an overnight landslide crushed two bamboo and tin shelters built for families displaced by the April 25 quake.

“The landslide occurred around 2.00 am, burying the shelters while the victims were sleep-

ing inside,” said district police chief Siddhi Bikram Shah.

“We have recovered four bodies and have been searching for the missing boy since early morning,” Shah said.

Six quake victims injured in the accident have been taken to hospitals in Nuwakot and neighbouring Kathmandu for treatment, he said. In a separate incident, an 80-year-old woman died when a landslide slammed into her house in Nuwakot, he said.

Scores of people die from flooding and mudslides during the an-

nual monsoon season in Nepal.

Experts warn that the Himalayan nation could see more landslides this year after the 7.8-magnitude quake.

Heavy rainfall is also hampering delivery of relief to mountainous villages reeling from April’s massive earthquake, which killed nearly 8,900 people and destroyed some 600,000 homes.

More than three dozen people lost their lives last month in multiple landslides in western and southern Nepal, including a student. -AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities have blocked access to the website of a civil society group that called for massive anti-government demonstrations this weekend, while a domestic news portal said the military could intervene if the protests get out of hand.

Pro-democracy group Bersih is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at debt-laden state fund 1MDB and a multimillion-dollar donation made into his personal account.

Bersih’s web page, www.bersih. org, was not accessible in Malaysia on Friday, a day after the government said it would block sites that spread information and encourage people to join the two-day rally in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and two other cities.

Kuala Lumpur authorities have rejected Bersih’s application for a permit to protest, setting the stage for a possible showdown with security forces. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters at Bersih’s last big rally in 2012.

The Star newspaper said armed forces would intervene if the government declared a state of emergency during the rally. A military spokesman declined to

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. -AFP file photo

comment on the report.

Security will be beefed up in Kuala Lumpur and many roads will be closed as thousands of yellow-shirted protesters gather at five sites on Saturday and prepare to converge in a central area.

On Friday, Najib criticised the rally organisers for holding the protest so close to independence day celebrations on Monday.

“There may be differences of opinion and belief among us, but the National Day should not be made a stage for political disputes,” he said in a blog post. “If they want to gather, they should pick a time and place that does not cause provocation.” -AFP

bills that Abe’s ruling bloc pushed through the lower house last month. The bills, based on a cabinet resolution reinterpreting Japan’s pacifist constitution, could let troops fight abroad for the first time since World War Two. “If one government can change things just with their interpretation, then the constitution itself is altered and the government can do whatever it wants,” Okuda, wearing a T-shirt with the motto “Destroy Fascism”, said.

Unlike the Marxist students who took to Japan’s streets in the 1960s, SEALDs members shun violence. Their manifesto urges respect for the constitution, a robust social safety net and peaceful security policies - concepts that opinion polls suggest resonate with many 70 years after Japan’s defeat in World War Two. Public angst over the defence bills has eroded support for Abe, with polls showing those who oppose him outnumbering his supporters. But SEALDs is getting under the skin of right-wing nationalists, with blogs hinting that the group may harbour Chinese spies. -Reuters AHEAD OF VOTE

Thai opposition slams draft constitution BANGKOK: Thailand’s main opposition party denounced a military-backed draft constitution on Friday saying it “totally disregards the sovereignty of the Thai people”, a week before a junta-appointed council is due to vote on it.

The army seized power in a bloodless coup in 2014, toppling the remnants of the Puea Thai Party-led government of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army chief led the coup, has ruled largely unchallenged since.

“This charter totally disregards the sovereignty of the Thai people,” the Puea Thai Party said in a statement. “The true power belongs to agencies and mechanism which are designed to maintain the junta’s power without checks and balances.”

The National Reform Council (NRC) will vote on the draft on September 6 and if it passes, it will be put to a referendum in January.

It needs the support of just over half the NRC’s 247 members.

Of particular concern is a proposal for a 23-member National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation committee dominated by the military that allows security to intervene in a time of crisis. “Many provisions are contrary to global democratic principles and the rule of law,” Puea Thai said. -Reuters

A 10

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

WORLD ELECTION IN NOVEMBER

FAST FORWARD Palestinian riders compete during a local horse race near the West Bank city of Jenin on Friday. According to the organisers, some 50 horses participated in races throughout the day, attracting jockeys from across the West bank. — Reuters

Myanmar parliament suspended YANGON: Myanmar lawmakers on Friday held their last meetings at parliament as the body was suspended ahead of crucial general elections set to redraw the former junta-ruled nation’s political landscape.

The combined houses of parliament will reconvene only after the November 8 vote, the first nationwide poll in a quarter of a century to be contested by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s hugely popular National League for Democracy (NLD).

“There will be no legislative meetings before the election in November,” Soe Yin of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) told AFP, adding that parliament would only reconvene in an emergency.

Under Myanmar’s electoral system the current parliament will still be active until the end of January 2016, when it will hand over to a new legislature that then selects a president.

Suu Kyi barred Suu Kyi is barred from the top political job by the constitution, drafted by the country’s former junta rulers, who kept her locked up for some 15 years as they tried to quash the democracy movement. — AFP

SNAP POLLS

Caretaker government formed in Turkey ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday approved the make-up of the provisional cabinet that will run the country until November 1 elections, including for the first time two pro-Kurdish party MPs. “Our president... approved the interim cabinet formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr Davutoglu,” the presidency said after a nearly one-hour meeting between Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The lawmakers are from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) -- which is the first time a Kurdish party has been represented in government.

Repeat elections The newly appointed cabinet will not have to seek a vote of confidence in the parliament according to the constitution. The president’s approval is considered enough. The repeat elections come after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) co-founded

by Erdogan failed to win an overall majority in a June vote and subsequent talks to form a coalition government broke down.

Pro-Kurdish lawmakers The formation of a caretaker government to lead Turkey up to the polls is unprecedented in the country’s political history -- never before have post-poll coalition talks ended without results.

The pro-Kurdish lawmakers are Ali Haydar Konca, who will act as EU affairs minister, and Muslum Dogan, tapped to be development minister, Davutoglu said in a press announcement. — AFP

Hungary arrests 4 as bodies of 71 migrants found in Austria “This is a warning to us to tackle this migrants issue quickly and in a European spirit, which means in a spirit of solidarity, and to find solutions,” she said.

European Union leaders have struggled to get to grips with a crisis that has seen nearly 340,000 migrants cross the bloc’s borders this year -- not counting August -- and many have come from hotspots like Iraq and Syria.

Millions of other refugees have sought refuge in places like Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.

Among these 71 people, there were 59 men, eight women and four children including a young girl one or two years old and three boys aged eight, nine or 10, a police official said

VIENNA: Hungary said Friday it has arrested four people over the discovery of 71 decomposing bodies in an abandoned truck in Austria, another grim tragedy involving migrants desperately seeking refuge in Europe.

In the horrific incident -- a rare occurrence on land in a prosperous country when so many migrants have died at sea -- Austrian police said the dead were likely Syrians and included a toddler and three young boys.

“Among these 71 people, there were 59 men, eight women and four children including a young girl one or two years old and three boys aged eight, nine or 10,” police spokesman Hans Peter Doskozil told a news conference.

He said the time and cause of death still had to be determined but there was a “certain probability” they had suffocated in the

TRAGEDY: Body transportation trucks park next to a truck, right, in which more than 70 bodies were found at a customs building with refrigeration facilities in Nickelsdorf, Austria, Friday. — Reuters

truck, found Thursday on a motorway near the Hungarian border.

Meanwhile, Libyan rescue workers recovered 76 bodies from yet another capsized boat crammed with people fleeing across the Mediterranean from conflict in the Middle East and Africa. The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said as many as 200 people on two boats were feared dead near the western port of Zuwara.

Hungarian police said they had arrested three Bulgarians and an Afghan and had raided several addresses and confiscated items over the Austria truck discovery.

A spokesman for Hungary’s chief prosecutor told AFP a court would decide on Saturday wheth-

er they would be detained beyond an initial 72-hour period.

Austria will likely seek to have the suspects extradited, possibly even on murder charges, the country’s public prosecutor Johann Fuchs said.

Owner, driver Doskozil said those arrested included the owner of the vehicle and two drivers, and were likely “low-ranking members... of a Bulgarian-Hungarian human-trafficking gang”.

Austrian motorway maintenance workers alerted police after noticing “decomposing body fluids” dripping from the vehicle, Doskozil said.

Police were then confronted

by an overpowering stench and a mass of tangled limbs and forensics experts worked all night to clear out the vehicle.

The state of the corpses suggested that those inside had been dead for some time. Television images showed flies buzzing around the back of the vehicle in the baking sun. Austrian newspaper Kurier carried a black front page with the headline: “Who will stop this madness?”

Shaken German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Austria on Thursday for a summit with Balkan leaders on the migrant crisis, said those present were “shaken” by the “horrible” news.

Special summit Merkel said on Friday that EU leaders could hold a special summit on the crisis, but that such a gathering “must be able to take certain decisions”.

European interior and transport ministers gathering in Paris Saturday to discuss security measures following the thwarted train attack in France will also touch on the migration issue.

“If the stink from our car parks gets stronger perhaps we will finally understand, not just in Austria... that it is time to create safe routes to Europe, fast registration and a swift and a fair sharing out (of migrants),” said Amnesty International’s Austrian chief Heinz Patzelt.

The United Nations said the number of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe has soared past 300,000 this year.

Over 2,500 men, women and children have drowned trying to reach EU nations after rickety overcrowded boats operated by often unscrupulous people-smugglers capsised. — AFP

SEEKING CONSENSUS FOR BAILOUT DEAL

Greece vote set for September 20; poll sees Syriza ahead ATHENS: Greece geared up on Friday for a snap election next month, with an opinion poll showing the leftist party Syriza ahead despite a wave of defections over the country’s massive new bailout.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed a decree dissolving parliament and confirming the widelyexpected date of September 20 for the crisis-hit country’s fifth election in six years, a parliamentary statement said.

A caretaker government appointed by Pavlopoulos to organise the election took office earlier on Friday with Greece’s top judge Vassiliki Thanou as prime minister, replacing Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras who resigned last week.

Tsipras, who rode to power in January on a wave of popular

anger over austerity, is seeking re-election to implement more reforms demanded under the new 86-billion-euro ($96-billion) international rescue package.

3.5-point lead A poll in leftist newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton gave Syriza only a slim 3.5-point lead over the conservative New Democracy. The survey by pollsters ProRata said 23 per cent of voters would support Syriza over 19.5 per cent for New Democracy. But more than a quarter of those polled said they were undecided. “Today the great electoral battle begins. The Greek people will give a strong mandate for the present and the future,” Tsipras said in a statement to the Syriza newspaper Avgi.

“Greece cannot turn back and will not turn back. It will only go forward,” he said For now however, the country faces more recession, despite posting growth in the second quarter of the year, the new interim finance minister said on Friday. “The Greek economy has already entered a recessionary phase. We hope it will not last long,” said George Chouliarakis, head of the state economic advisor council, and the top negotiator with Greece’s creditors.

Troubled economy The past eight months since Syriza came to power have proved a rollercoaster for the troubled Greek economy. As talks broke down in June between Athens and its international creditors and Greeks

rejected austerity proposals in a referendum, the European Central Bank restricted its assistance to Greek banks, forcing the government to shut them down and impose capital controls to avert a run on deposits. Chouliarakis said his main aim over the next four weeks was “not to lose valuable time.”

He said he planned to “move forward with strengthening the Greek bank system as fast as possible, further consolidate credibility and confidence in the economy... and raise capital controls as fast as possible”. Until today, there was only one known photograph in circulation of Chouliarakis, a low-profile ecoomics lecturer at Manchester University in England who prefers to work in the background. — AFP

STUTTERING DEMOCRACY: Greece’s newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Vassiliki Thanou, right, and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, second right, attend the new government’s swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Athens, on Friday. — Reuters

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

S P O R

Oman face Saudis with eye on second GCC U-17 crown Two years ago Oman came close to add to their first GCC U-16 title they won back in 2001. On that occasion they were beaten via penalties by the UAE. On Saturday against Saudi Arabia, they will be looking to make amends and lay their hands on the coveted trophy

S CHINA DEFENDER

Chelsea chase Zhang: report BEIJING: Chelsea have made an offer for China and Guangzhou Evergrande defender Zhang Linpeng, Chinese media reported on Friday.

The Premier League champions sent a contract on Wednesday and hope to secure the 26-year-old right back before the summer transfer window closes on September 1, Titan said.

“I’m very happy and very excited to finally have this formal invitation,” the newspaper quoted Zhang as saying. - Reuters

MUSCAT: Fourteen years after they clinched the inaugural GCC Under-17 Championship, Oman juniors will be looking to lay their hands on only their second trophy when they play the final of the regional junior football championship in the Qatari capital on Saturday.

But at Doha’s Aspire Academy, Yacoub Al Sabahi-coached Omanis will be up against four-time champions Saudi Arabia.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm Oman time.

The final will be preceded by the third place play-off between Qatar and Kuwait, who were beaten in Thursday’s semifinals by Oman and Saudi Arabia respectively.

In the last four stage, Oman edged hosts Qatar 3-2 while Saudi Arabia accounted for Kuwait in a 4-0 result.

In the last edition played in 2013, Oman came close to winning their second title but were unfortunately beaten in the final by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It was an heartbreaking experience for the young Omanis back then as they lost on penalties after the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the regulation time.

On Saturday, they will be looking to make amends to that unfortunate loss to arch-rivals UAE. Though they will be up against a traditionally strong Saudis, who have so far won four titles same as the UAE, the Sultanate will carry the good form and will be more confident than their rivals thanks to their performances so far.

The Saudis had mixed results

CONFIDENT LOT: Members of Oman under-17 team pose for a group after their semifinal victory over Qatar in the GCC Under-17 Football Championship in Doha. Oman take on Saudi Arabia on Saturday. – Supplied photo

The team are ready to continue with their good work and they are ready to give their best to seal the title Yacoub Al Sabahi Oman U-17 team coach

in their Group B engagements as they won their first match against Qatar but lost their second against the UAE before showing their true potential against the Kuwaitis in the semifinals.

On the contrary, Oman have

been steady with their performances. They started their campaign with a 2-1 win over Kuwait and then outplayed Bahrain 2-0 to top Group A. In the semifinals, they had to dig deep to defeat hosts Qatar 3-2.

Focussed Obviously, Oman team are now more confident and look more motivated.

But the need is to focus on the job at hand and that seemed to be the point stressed by coach Yacoub

Al Sabahi and assistant Hailal Al Aufi during Friday’s training.

The duo cautioned the players against repeating a few mistakes they committed during their semifinal victory against Qatar.

The coach also urged the Omani boys to exploit the weakness of their Saudi counterparts. And those very aspects were also the main focus of their their training on Friday.

Meanwhile, coach Yacoub Al Sabahi said the team are ready to win the title. “The team are ready to continue with their good work and they are ready to give their best to seal the title,” he said.

“We will try to produce a better performance, it will be different from the one we saw in our semifinal against Qatar,” he said.

The coach also revealed that the team are completely ready to provide a good match worthy of their reputation.

“We started the tournament with a good performance and maintained that level till now. And now it is time to give cap that performance with the title,” he said.

CRICKET

Rain ruins play after Sri Lanka rattle India

FIRST STRIKE: Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad, center, celebrates after dismissing India’s Lokesh Rahul on day one of their third Test match in Colombo on Friday. – AP/PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka gave India a scare before bad weather washed out a major part of the opening day’s play in the series-deciding third and final Test in Colombo on Friday.

Just 15 overs were bowled in the 75 minutes of play possible before lunch, during which Sri Lanka grabbed two early wickets after sending India in to bat on a greenish pitch under overcast conditions.

The tourists slipped to 14 for two in the fourth over before moving to 50 without further loss, but heavy rain that lashed the Sinhalese sports club prevented any further play in the day.

Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on 19 and skipper Virat Kohli was on 14, the pair having put on 36 for the third wicket to stymie the Sri Lankan attack.

The series is locked at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India drew level with a 278-run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Monday.

The hard-working groundstaff, who had covered the entire field, tried to dry the surface but their

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings: L. Rahul b Prasad 2 C. Pujara not out 19 A. Rahane lbw Pradeep 8 V. Kohli not out 14 Extras (w-1, nb-1, pen-5) 7 Total (2 wkts, 15 overs) 50 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14.

Bowling: Prasad 4-0-16-1 (nb-1), Pradeep 6-0-16-1 (w-1), Mathews 4-2-7-0, Herath 1-0-6-0.

efforts were hampered by overcast skies. Bad weather has been forecast for the duration of the match, but India’a batting coach Sanjay Bangar predicted a “hard-fought” Test on what he said was a sporting wicket.

“We have hardly had one full session, so it is premature to even think of a result at this stage,” Bangar said. “This is going to be a really hard-fought and tight Test.

“We definitely want to bat well in the first session tomorrow and take it from there.”

India lost second Test century-

maker Lokesh Rahul off the second ball of the game, bowled by Dhammika Prasad with a sharp in-swinger that the batsman wanted to leave.

Ajinkya Rahane made eight when he was given out leg-before off seamer Nuwan Pradeep in the fourth over. India would have been in further trouble at 33 for two had debutant wicket-keeper Kusal Perera not dropped Kohli down the leg-side off Pradeep.

The missed catch also cost the hosts five penalty runs as the ball hit a helmet lying behind the ‘keeper.

The tourists were forced to make two changes for the series decider, replacing the injured duo of opener Murali Vijay and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha with Pujara and 32-year-old debutant Naman Ojha.

Sri Lanka replaced the retired Kumar Sangakkara with another left-hander, Upul Tharanga, and also included Pradeep and Perera.

The hosts left out Jehan Mubarak and Dushmantha Chameera from the side which lost the second Test. - AFP

A 12

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

SPORTS NARROW WIN

Al Mashari strikes as Oman edge Yemen in friendly match MUSCAT: Oman recorded a solitary goal victory over Yemen in a friendly football match played at the Seeb Sports Stadium on Friday.

Frenchman Paul Le Guencoached Omanis played the match as part of their preparations for the forthcoming joint qualifiers for 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asia Cup. Oman took control of the proceedings from the beginning and scored a goal as early as 11th minute thanks to a fine effort by experienced midfielder Mohammed Al Mashari.

However, Le Guen’s failed to take advantage of the early lead.

Try as they did they could not break the Yemen defence and the scoreline remained the same till the final whistle.

Oman, who have started their campaign in Group D with a 2-1 victory over India, will play their next World Cup and Asia Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan at home on September 3.

Oman team will, however, be strengthened by that time with the arrival of their talismanic captain and goalkeeping great Ali Al Habsi.

Ali, who is busy with his engagements with English Championship side Reading, will join the team on Saturday.

U19s begin training Meanwhile, Oman under-19 national team began training ahead CRICKET

England’s Bell quits one-dayers

FIRST STRIKE: Oman’s Imad Al Hosni tries to dribble his way past two Yemen defenders during their friendly football match at the Seeb Sports Stadium on Friday. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

of their participation in the GCC Under-19 Championship to be organised in Doha.

According to information provided by the Oman Football Association (OFA), Rasheed Jabercoached Omanis will train till September 1.

After that the team will leave for Qatari capital to take part in the

GCC championship, which will take place from September 3 to 12.

Oman are scheduled to begin their campaign on September 5 against Kuwait before meeting Qatar two days later.

Al Arouba included Meanwhile, the OFA has announced the fixtures of the delayed

Omantel Professional League (OPL) and OPL Mazda Cup and interestingly Al Arouba, who refused to play in the recent Super Cup match, feature in the list.

The OFA is expected to take action against double winning Al Arouba who skipped the prematch press conference and also failed to turn up for the Super Cup

Schippers scorches Beijing Schippers, the

LONDON: England batsman Ian Bell is retiring from Oneday Internationals (ODIs) to concentrate on prolonging his test career, the 33-year-old said on Friday.

Bell, who has scored an England record 5,416 runs in 161 One-dayer Internationals, was left out of the squad for the fivematch series against Australia starting next week.

He helped his team win this year’s Ashes, a record-equalling fifth Test series victory for him over the Australians, but averaged only 26.87 with the bat.

“Deep down I probably knew I wasn’t ready to call time on my test career,” Bell wrote in the Metro newspaper.

Bell has scored 7,569 runs in 115 Tests at an average of 43, including 22 centuries.

“I’ve a huge amount still to give in the test arena and still have so many ambitions left to achieve, both from a personal and a team perspective,” he said.

“I would love nothing more than to go to Australia in two years’ time and right the wrongs of our last Ashes tour there,” the right-hander added in reference to the 5-0 whitewash last year.

“I’m not afraid of being dropped. I’m looking forward to challenging myself and putting myself into difficult situations against the best players in the world.” - Reuters

match against Fanja. Al Arouba, who won both the OPL title and His Majesty’s Cup last season, refused to attend both as they were not happy with the scheduling with most of their key players busy with either national teams or military football squads.

Al Arouba officials also complained of lack of funds to clear the

dues of some of the players as there was no financial assisstance coming from the OFA. However, Al Arouba are included both in the OPL and Mazda Professional Cup fixtures.

In the Mazda Professional Cup, which is scheduled to start on September 5, Al Arouba are placed in Group B along with Sur and Muscat.

Group A comprises Al Nahda, Sohar, Saham and Al Khabourah.

Fanja, who were declared the Super Cup winners following Al Arouba’s refusal to participate, are in Group B along with Al Musannah, Al Shabab and Suwaiq.

Dhofar, Al Nasr and Salalah are in Group D. The OPL will start on September 13 when Al Nasr take on Suwaiq in the first match.

Mazda Professional Cup (first two matchdays): Sept 5: Fanja vs Al Musannah; Suwaiq vs Al Shabab; Sohar vs Al Nahda; Saham vs Al Khabourah; Al Nasr vs Salalah; Sur vs Muscat. Sept 6: Al Musannah vs Suwaiq; Al Shabab vs Fanja; Al Nahda vs Saham; Al Khabourah vs Sohar; Salalah vs Dhofar; Al Arouba vs Muscat.

OPL fixtures( week one): Sept 13: Al Nasr vs Suwaiq; Fanja vs Muscat; Al Nahda vs Al Musannah. September 14: Sohar vs Sur; Al Khabourah vs Saham; Al Shabab vs Dhofar; Salalah vs Al Arouba.

100m silvermedallist, clocked an electrifying 21.63sec, as she lunged at the line to beat Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, who timed a personal best of 21.66sec

BEIJING: Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers ran into the history books after scorching to world 200m glory on Friday, but there was no golden send-off for Aries Merritt before next week’s kidney transplant.

Schippers, the 100m silvermedallist, clocked an electrifying 21.63sec, the fourth fastest time in history, as she lunged at the line to beat Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, who timed a personal best of 21.66sec — the fifth fastest time ever.

It was a remarkable win for Schippers, 23, who eclipsed the European record of 21.71sec set by Marita Koch in 1979 and matched by fellow East German Heike Drechsler in 1986.

Only Americans Marion Jones and world record-holder Florence Griffith-Joyner have run the 200m

faster than Schippers, who won hepathlon bronze at the Moscow worlds two years ago.

But Schippers was quick to distance herself from doping allegations that plagued Koch, Drechsler, Jones and “Flo-Jo”.

“I know I’m clean and I work very hard for it,” said Schippers. “I do all the dope controls and I don’t want to say more than that.”

The Dutchwoman added: “I’m very happy with my time and the European record. I hoped coming here for the gold medal and a time under 22 seconds. I did it but I can’t believe it.”

Chinese gold However, there was no golden send-off for Merritt in the men’s 110m hurdles, his final race before returning Saturday to the United States for a kidney transplant.

The Olympic champion and world record holder won bronze medal behind two-time European champion Sergey Shubenkov of Russia and Jamaican star Hansle Parchment.

“It means the world to me to be back here and to get a medal,” said Merritt, who will receive a kidney from his sister on Tuesday after

being diagnosed with a rare disease in the wake of the 2013 worlds in Moscow.

“I am looking forward to my kidney transplant. My sister will give me one and this is why she did not come to Beijing — she didn’t want to endanger the transplantation.”

The evening’s two other medal events were shared between Jamaica and the US, Danielle Williams winning the 100m hurdles for the former and Tianna Bartoletta crowned long jump world champion thanks to a final effort of 7.14 metres. The first gold medal of the day broke a win drought for hosts China as Liu Hong led Lu Xiuzhi to a one-two in the women’s 20 kilometres walk.

Liu timed 1:27.45 for gold with Lu on her shoulder. Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Olyanovska took bronze at 28 seconds.

American Ashton Eaton sat in pole position of the gruelling multi-discipline decathlon.

The world record-holder and defending champion, also reigning Olympic and two-time world indoor champion, timed 10.23sec in the opening 100m before leaping a best of 7.88m in the long jump, both leading performances.

Eaton, whose Canadian wife Brianne Theisen Eaton claimed silver behind Jessica Ennis-Hill in the women’s heptathlon, then managed a best of 14.53m in the shot put, 2.01m in the high jump and a scintillating 45sec dead for the 400m to leave him on 4,703 points overnight.

Canadian Damian Warner sat in second with 4,530 points, with Germany’s Rico Freimuth third (4,406), with Saturday’s second day of action comprising the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and final strength-sapping 1500m.

“I was just trying to have fun!” said Eaton. “It’s all about having fun.”

Bolt mulls retirement Meanwhile, Usain Bolt said he might end his glittering career at next year’s Olympics after he completed a world sprint double in Beijing — and got clattered by an electric scooter into the bargain.

The towering Jamaican said he was only 50-50 about running at the next world championships in 2017 in London, and could retire at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games instead. “After Rio, as I said, my sponsors want me to go one more year, but my coach said, ‘Listen to me, if you’re not going to be serious about going to the world championships in London,’ then I shouldn’t do it,” he said.

“So it’s all about how I feel after Rio, if I feel I can really put my body through one more season.

“If I’m going to be focused and I’m going to be determined. That will determine if I compete after Rio. So we’ll see how it goes.” - AFP

MAKING HISTORY: Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers celebrates after winning the women’s 200 metres gold at the at the World Athletic Championships at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium in Beijing on Friday. – AFP

I S C TA B L E T E N N I S

Subramanian squares off against Sagayraj in veterans’ final MUSCAT: Top seed R. Subramanian and fourth seed Sagayaraj S. Advanced to the final of the veterans’ singles at the Annual Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat and co-sponsored by Muscat Insurance Services (MIS) and Oman United Insurance Company (OUIC).

After overcoming resistance fourth seed Anoop Bheda in the opening game, Subramanian was on top of his game and wrapped up the next three games to win the semifinal with scores of 12-10, 114, 11-1, 11-5 for a place in the final.

In the second semifinal, third seed Sagayaraj S had to work hard before overcoming a resolute Per-

cy Pereira with a 11-7, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 verdict. Percy had come into the semi final with a hardfought 12-10, 15-13, 7-11, 7-11, 13-11 victory over fancied Simon Joseph and Sagayaraj earned his place in the last four with a convincing 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 win over Sanjeev Vyas and R. Subramanian downed Rajesh Mehta 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 in

the quarterfinals. P. Sai Saran who finished on top of Group A of the round-robin league in the boys under-15 singles will take on Shounak Kelkar in the semifinals. The second semifinal will be between M.V. Sai Prem who defeated Shounak Kelkar in the last crucial league match to go to the top of Group B and he will take on Sanskar Dubey.

In a thrilling match of the boys under-17 singles, P. Sai Saran defeated Armaan Sattikar 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 and qualified for the semifinals. In another league match of the same category Yash Tanna played aggressive table tennis and held his nerves to score a fine 14-12, 11-2, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8 victory over Armaan.

In another round-robin match, Pranav Vinod beat Shounak Kelkar 11-8, 5-11, 15-13, 12-10 while Kenneth Vaz outp;layed Subash Pillai 11-5, 12-10, 11-5. Subash had earlier defeated Pranav Vinod 11-6, 11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7 and Shounak Kelkar 11-7, 11-7, 11-9. Kenneth and Subash both qualified for the semifinals from Group A.

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

MARKE

‘CHINESE ECONOMY IS NOT FALLING OFF A CLIFF’ China’s economy may be slowing but it is “not falling off a cliff ”, the chief executive of Southeast Asia’s biggest bank said Friday. >B2

MOODY’S REPORT

C O M M E R C E D E PA R T M E N T

‘Oman’s economic growth projected to slow’ $57 per barrel in 2016, suggesting fiscal deterioration if oil prices remain subdued. According to Moody’s, the Sultanate’s high levels of current government spending are not sustainable under a multi-year, low oil price scenario.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s economic growth is projected to slow to around three per cent over 20152016 period, down from the 4.9 per cent average between 2005 and 2014, international rating agency Moody’s Investor Service has said in a report.

The decline in economic growth projection is mainly due to pressure on revenue amid multi-year low oil price scenario. Crude oil revenue accounted for 48 per cent of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) on average between 2005 and 2014.

Lower oil prices Moody’s also projected that Oman would report substantial fiscal deficits in 2015 and 2016, at around 12 per cent of GDP, as government revenues will be negatively impacted by lower oil prices.

“We expect Oman’s fiscal deficits to widen from 2015 onwards, as hydrocarbon-related government revenues drop by more than 40 per cent this year. However,

FISCAL DEFICITS: Moody’s also projected that Oman would report substantial fiscal deficits in 2015 and 2016, at around 12 per cent of GDP, as government revenues will be negatively impacted by lower oil prices. — Times file picture

Oman’s low government indebtedness — at around 5 per cent of GDP in 2014 — gives it room to increase debt issuance to finance budget deficits,” said Steffen Dyck, a senior analyst at Moody’s Investor Service.

While solid economic growth

continues to support Oman (A1 negative), its very high economic and fiscal reliance on the oil and gas sector and limited scope for fiscal reforms will add pressure to public finances in 2015-16, noted Moody’s Investors Service.

Moody’s estimates Oman’s

fiscal breakeven oil price — the price of oil at which the budget can be balanced — at $105 per barrel in 2015.

This is high compared to its peers, and almost double Moody’s base case projection of $55 a barrel for Brent in the same year, and

Sizeable financial buffers However, Moody’s notes that Oman has sizeable financial buffers which the rating agency estimates at 82 per cent of 2014 gross domestic product.

In addition, Oman’s high domestic savings and healthy banking sector will continue to provide stable funding for the government, added Moody’s. As a result, liquidity risk is unlikely to significantly affect government debt sustainability.

Moody’s notes that regional geo-political events pose lowprobability but high-impact risks for Oman.

However, these risks are to some degree mitigated by Oman’s position as a neutral, mediating nation in the region, as well as its close relations with major global powers.

US consumer spending rises in July WASHINGTON: US consumer spending picked up a bit in July as households bought more automobiles, offering further evidence of strength in the economy that could keep the door open to a Federal Reserve interest rate hike this year.

The Commerce Department said on Friday consumer spending increased 0.3 per cent after an upwardly revised 0.3 per cent rise in June.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, was previously reported to have gained 0.2 per cent in June.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending rising 0.4 per cent last month.

It was the latest report indicating momentum in the economy as it confronted recent global financial markets turbulence, sparked by concerns over a slowing Chinese economy, which has diminished the chances of an interest rate increase next month. — Reuters

New floating storage facility at Omans’ Mina Al Fahal launched hub that gives them unprecedented flexibility and control to capitalize on favourable market conditions. We congratulate OTTCO on this landmark initiative which will dramatically augment the capacity for storage and exports of the Oman blend,” he added.

Oman Tank Terminal Company’s floating storage facility has been developed in partnership with Oman Shipping Company, Petroleum Development Oman and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange

Times News Service MUSCAT: A new floating storage facility, with a 2.1 million barrel capacity at Mina Al Fahal, for global customers of Oman Export Blend, was launched on Thursday

by Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO), a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company (OOC).

Three customers — China Oil,

STORAGE FACILITY: China Oil, Glencore and Oman Trading International have won bids for access to the facility on board a Very Large Crude Carrier, which will be provided and operated by Oman Shipping Company. — Bloomberg files (Picture for illustrative putpose only)

Glencore and Oman Trading International (OTI) — have won bids for access to the facility on board a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), which will be provided and operated by Oman Shipping Company (OSC). OTTCO’s floating storage facility, which was initiated and supported by Oman’s Ministry of Oil & Gas (MOG), has been developed in partnership with OSC, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME).

While the vessel itself will be operated by OSC, scheduling and nomination for the loading of crude oil will be managed by PDO. Shipto-ship (STS) transfers will be ex-

ecuted by Fendercare Marine, an international specialised STS firm.

The initiative makes OTTCO the first storage company in the world to provide floating storage linked to an energy futures contract.

This initiative also makes DME the first exchange in the world to incorporate floating storage at delivery point for customers, thereby supporting the trading of DME Oman crude oil futures on the exchange while strengthening its strong trading ecosystem to create more efficiencies.

This new facility will also enable buyers on the DME to store their oil and optimise market circumstances to their benefit giving

ECONOMY

Oman committed to currency peg despite cheap oil: Central bank chief Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman is committed to maintaining the peg of its currency against the US dollar despite the drop of oil prices, according to a Reuters news agency report. “We are committed to keeping the Omani rial pegged to the US dollar,” Central Bank of Oman (CBO) executive president Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali. He did not elaborate.

The plunge of oil prices since mid-2014 has put heavy pressure on Oman’s state budget, causing one-year dollar/rial forwards to rise as high as 1,000 points this week, their highest since 2006, as some investors hedged against the risk of an eventual rial devaluation.

Devaluing the rial could aid state finances by increasing the local currency value of oil exports.

However, it would also raise the cost of the many imports on which Oman depends and could shake investor confidence, so economists do not think authorities will abandon the peg.

UNWAVERING STAND: Central Bank of Oman executive president Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali. — Times file picture

They note that Oman has maintained the peg, set in 1986 at 0.3849 rial to the dollar, through past periods of extreme oil price weakness.

On Monday, credit rating agency Fitch cut its long-term issuer default ratings for five Omani banks, saying the government had become less able to support the banking system.

But Zadjali noted that after the downgrade, Fitch had left the outlooks for the banks stable, and he said they did not face significant financial pressures.

“Omani banks are in an excellent position, and well covered financially. They don’t need the government support, and will not be affected with the recent downgrading,” he further said.

them additional flexibility. Moreover, the storage facility will enable buyers to face any unforeseen circumstances by providing a viable storage option for the oil they have purchased.

Nasser Al Jashmi, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME), said: “The floating storage facility will deliver improved convenience to customers of Oman Export Blend oil, and stands as a brilliant testimony to the Sultanate’s commitment to create a better, more efficient oil trading environment.”

“With the launch of this facility, buyers on DME will now have access to a world-class oil storage

Unique project Salim Al Aufi, Undersecretary of the Oman Ministry of Oil & Gas, added: “Linking floating storage to energy future contracts is what makes this project unique; with the commencement of this project we aim to support the positive growth trend demonstrated

by DME by introducing a new tool as well as creating value for Oman crude oil customers.”

Hilal Al Kharusi, Chairman of the Board of OTTCO, concluded: “OTTCO’s floating storage facility is an important step in the introduction of our organisation to the global oil trading community, and the strong interest that we have had from bidders has been encouraging. As we continue to make progress towards the development of Ras Markaz Crude Park, I am pleased to say that we are already serving the needs of our crude oil customers.”

“This is an exciting time for

OTTCO, and we expect the floating storage facility to add value to Oman Export Blend as a benchmark, as well as directly benefitting Oman’s crude oil market. I would like to thank the Ministry of Oil & Gas and the project stakeholders for their continuous support for the project,” he added.

Commenting on the announcement of the successful bids, Said Al Maawali, Project Director, OTTCO, said: “We are delighted to announce the award of our floating storage facility at Mina Al Fahal.

Ahead of the commissioning of the Ras Markaz Crude Oil Park, this is an ideal option for customers seeking to store Oman Export Blend in a strategic location on the Indian Ocean coastline. The OTTCO team has worked in partnership with MOG, OSC, PDO and DME to bring this project to the market, and I am proud to say that our joint efforts have now come to fruition.”

OTTCO’s floating storage facility has been introduced as an interim storage solution for select customers ahead of the commissioning of Ras Markaz Crude Oil Park. Once complete, the facility will cover an area of approximately 1,600 HA in Oman’s Al Wusta region, approximately 70-km south of the Duqm Port.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

MARKET BAILOUT PLAN

How the IMF’s Greek misadventure is changing the fund WA S H I N GT O N/AT H E N S : Many of the top brass of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) always had concerns about the plans to bail out Greece.

That much was clear as far back as May 9, 2010, when the IMF’s 24 directors gathered in Washington to sign-off on the fund’s participation in the first, 110-billion-euro ($125 billion) rescue alongside European institutions.

A Reuters examination of previously unreported IMF board minutes shows that a near majority of directors round the board table that day thought the Greek program would not work.

“We have serious doubts about the approach,” said Brazil’s then director Paulo Nogueira Batista.

He slammed IMF forecasts for Greece as overly optimistic — “Panglossian.” Arvind Virmani, the director from India at the time, said the programme imposed “a mammoth burden” that Greece’s economy “could hardly bear.”

But they and others who feared the IMF was walking into a quagmire had little room for maneuver.

No Plan B “Let me be clear on a couple of things,” said then Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky, who chaired the board meeting.”There is no Plan B. There is Plan A, and a determination to make Plan A succeed. And this is it.”

Five years later, after the biggest bailout in the fund’s history, Greece failed to make a $1.7 billion payment as required at the end of June — the first advanced economy ever to default on the IMF. Worse, after having received more than 240 billion euros in international aid, Greece’s economy is still in tatters. Europe agreed a further bailout of 86 billion euros this month. Fresh interviews with more than 20 senior officials, as

EUROPEAN UNION

Euro-area confidence rises MADRID: Euro-area economic confidence unexpectedly rose in August, defying a slowdown in China and renewed political uncertainty in Greece. An index of executive and consumer confidence increased to 104.2 in August from 104 in July, the European Commission said on Friday.

Economists predicted a decline to 103.8, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

The report follows a roller-coaster week for markets on concerns China’s slowdown is deepening.

While Chinese authorities have taken steps to stimulate the world’s second-largest economy, cutting interest rates five times in 10 months and devaluing the yuan, questions remain over whether it’s

given Greece a fresh start. And it shaped economic forecasts to fit political ends. The fallout still weighs on the fund.

The IMF now says it will not participate in the latest Greek bailout unless Europe allows debt restructuring on a scale Europe has so far rejected. Strauss-Kahn, who quit the fund in 2011, would not be interviewed for this article.

The fund’s powerful Managing Director, Dominique StraussKahn, and a handful of his advisers, feared Greece posed a threat to the wider euro zone financial system. They had already decided to plunge into the crisis.

The doubters were given a blunt retort, according to the minutes.

heading for a hard landing after decades of surging growth.

For the euro area, “the pick-up in confidence suggests the recovery is continuing consistent with positive domestic fundamentals,” said Nick Kounis, an economist at ABN Amro Bank in Amsterdam, while noting that the survey would not have captured the most-recent market turmoil.

Confidence in the services sector increased to 10.2 from 8.9 and beat the median estimate of 8.8 in a Bloomberg survey. Industrial confidence in the region weakened to minus 3.7 from minus 2.9. A business-climate indicator dropped more than forecast, sliding to 0.21 in August from a revised 0.41 in July. — Bloomberg News

MARKET JITTERS: The market jitters have raised speculation over whether the European Central Bank might need to step up its monetary stimulus to safeguard its inflation goal. - Bloomberg file picture

well as an extensive review of IMF board records, illuminate the turmoil and divisions within the fund, then and now.

Flawed course They show Strauss-Kahn and his top advisers set the fund, which by tradition has always been led by a European, on a course known to be flawed, and that non-European

shareholders doubted would work.

To drive through the Greek bailout, the fund bent its own rules. It lifted an International Monetary Fund ban on the fund lending money to countries — like Greece — that were unable to pay their debts. It also allowed European politicians to dictate initial terms in the Greek rescue, ruling out a debt restructuring that could have

Little choice But supporters of the fund’s actions say he and the fund had little choice other than to help in the Greek crisis. The fund went against its previous policy, they say, to prevent the Greek crisis causing wider financial chaos.

“With Europe hanging in the balance... to say the fund would not be involved... would not have been acceptable,” said Siddharth Tiwari, who was secretary of the IMF executive board in 2010 and is now the head of the fund’s strategy, policy and review department.

The Greek bailout did indeed stop “contagion” in financial markets.

European banks escaped poten-

tially disastrous losses, and other deeply indebted European countries stuck with their programs of economic reform. But Greece has paid a heavy price.

Worse off One senior IMF economist, while agreeing the fund had to intervene, said of the bailout: “Objectively we made Greece worse off... You’re lending to a country that is already unable to pay its debt, and that is not our mandate.”

One reason IMF’s participation was troubled was because initially Europe wanted to keep the fund at a distance. Created as a global lender of last resort to help European countries after World War Two, the International Monetary Fund rapidly moved to helping developing nations around the globe.

Its typical “customers” are small, emerging economies needing loans as they implement structural changes. Greece was different: Though small within Europe’s economy, it was an advanced country that shared the euro currency. — Reuter

‘Chinese economy is not falling off a cliff ’ DBS Bank chief executive Piyush Gupta also said he does not see a repeat of the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis arising from the turmoil in Chinese markets because the region is on a far stronger footing than it was 18 years ago DBS Bank chief executive Piyush Gupta. — Bloomberg file picture

SINGAPORE: China’s economy may be slowing but it is “not falling off a cliff ”, the chief executive of Southeast Asia’s biggest bank said Friday. DBS Bank chief executive Piyush Gupta also said he does not see a repeat of the 19971998 Asian financial crisis arising from the turmoil in Chinese markets because the region is on a far stronger footing than it was 18 years ago.

A slowdown in the Chinese economy, a sharp fall in share prices and the devaluation of the yuan against the US dollar have hammered financial markets worldwide, underscoring China’s rising role as a global economic growth engine.

Sectoral issues “We’re not seeing the country, the economy or demand falling off a cliff,” Gupta said during a luncheon with the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore, referring to China.

DBS is Singapore’s leading bank and the largest inSoutheast Asia in terms of assets. “There are sectoral issues, some sectors will suffer and the country is slowing but it is not falling off a cliff.”

Gupta said investors should take a broader look at China’s economy, noting that the drag came

mainly from the industrial sector, in particular construction.

China’s services sector, which has taken on a bigger role in the economy, is expanding, resulting in buoyant retail sales, he said. “If you look at the headline retail sales numbers for China, it’s still tracking 10-12 per cent (growth),” he said. “It used to be 12-14, it’s come off a tad but 10-12 per cent retail sales growth is not dramatically slow.”

Not a complete picture Gupta also noted that while there has been a focus on the decline in the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in the country’s manufacturing sector, less attention has been given to the PMI for services. China’s manufacturing PMI slumped to a 77-month low to 47.1 in August, according an independent survey.

The figure, which dipped from July’s final reading of 47.8, was the worst since a reading of 44.8 in March 2009. A figure above 50 signals growth, while anything below indicates contraction.

Gupta said manufacturing alone does not give a complete picture of the economy, which is shifting from a heavy reliance on exports to a greater role for domestic consumption. — AFP

Biggest China banks report flat first-half net profits SHANGHAI: Two of China’s biggest lenders, including the main foreign exchange dealer Bank of China, reported flat net profits for the first half of 2015, due to the weak domestic economy and growing bad loans.

Bank of China (BOC) net profit rose a mere 1.14 per cent year-on-year to 90.75 billion yuan ($14.18 billion), the bank said on Friday in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, where it is listed.

Sluggish growth The bank said the global economy experienced sluggish growth in the first half and it was also seeking to adjust to China’s “new normal” — the authorities’ preferred term for slower but hopefully more sustainable expansion.

China’s economy grew 7.0

per cent in each of the first two quarters, slowing from a 7.4 per cent expansion last year, which was its weakest since 1990.

BOC’s non-performing loans (NPLs) reached 125.05 billion yuan in the first half, for an NPL ratio of 1.41 per cent by the end of June, higher than 1.18 per cent at the end of last year, the statement showed.

The bank’s stock price fell 3.53 per cent in Hong Kong and was unchanged in Shanghai on Friday before the results were announced.

Another of China’s “Big Four” state-owned banks, Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), said its net profit for the first half rose only 0.3 per cent on-year to 104.32 billion yuan, a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange showed late on Thursday. — AFP

STOCK MARKETS

Asian stocks rise for second day HONG KONG: Tokyo shares led Asian stock markets higher on Friday after a surprisingly upbeat US economic growth report buoyed investors following a prolonged rout driven by concerns over China’s economy.

The dollar gained and oil prices rose on the back of the US growth report, while the yen came under pressure from data showing Japan’s inflation was flat last month.

Tokyo stocks finished 3.03 per cent, or 561.88 points, higher at

19,136.32, while Shanghai gained 4.82 per cent, or 148.76 points, to 3,232.35.

Sydney closed 0.58 per cent, or 30.30 points, higher at 5,263.60, and Seoul gained 1.56 per cent, or 29.67 points, to finish at 1,937.67.

Only Hong Kong down Hong Kong was the lone faller, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index dropping 1.04 per cent, or 226.15 points, to 21,612.39. The gains in Asia followed a second

straight day of advances on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 2.27 per cent, the broad-based S&P 500 rising 2.43 per cent and the techrich Nasdaq adding 2.45 per cent.

They were boosted mainly by a United States economic growth report that showed the world’s biggest economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.7 per cent in the second quarter, sharply higher than the initial appraisal of a 2.3 per cent gain. — AFP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

B3

MARKET Google rejects European Union’s anti-trust accusations as ‘wrong’ businesses of all sizes,” he said. In April, Vestager formally accused Google of abusing its dominance in Europe where the brand holds an imposing 90 per cent of the search engine market, greater even than the US, where Google stands at 76 per cent. “The Commission can confirm that it has today received Google’s reply to the statement of objections,” Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said in a statement.

“We will carefully consider Google’s response before taking any decision on how to proceed and do not want to prejudge the final outcome of the investigation,” he said.

Vestager, a former Danish finance minister, has launched another high-profile probe against Russian gas giant Gazprom and is also delving into the tax affairs of major multinationals, including Apple, Amazon and Starbucks.

We believe that the statement of objections’ preliminary conclusions are wrong as a matter of fact, law, and economics, Google’s general counsel Kent Walker said in a blog post EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. — Bloomberg file picture

BRUSSELS: US Internet search giant Google on Thursday rejected accusations by European Union (EU) anti-trust regulators that it illegally abuses its market dominance, in its first formal reaction to allegations by Brussels earlier this year.

“We believe that the statement of objections’ preliminary con-

clusions are wrong as a matter of fact, law, and economics,” Google general counsel Kent Walker said in a blog post, referring to the European Union’s official complaint filed in April.

By standing its ground in the formal response, Google leaves the daunting decision to further pursue one of the world’s most

far-reaching companies to EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, a steely Dane and Europe’s top anti-trust regulator.

The stakes are huge for Google which if found at fault under EU anti-trust rules, could face a fine of up to 10 per cent of its annual sales — in Google’s case, $66 billion in 2014. “We’ve taken seriously the

concerns in the European Commission’s statement of objections that our innovations are anti-competitive,” Walker said.

“The response we filed today shows why we believe those allegations are incorrect, and why we believe Google increases choice for European consumers and offers valuable opportunities for

TESLA P85D

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

E X P L O R AT I O N AC T I V I T Y

Consumer Reports gives best-ever rating to Tesla’s new electric car NEW YORK: A new Tesla electric car has earned the best-ever vehicle rating from Consumer Reports, sending shares of the automaker racing higher on Thursday. The new Tesla P85D “performed better in our tests than any other car ever has, breaking the Consumer Reports Ratings system,” said Mark Rechtin, automotive editor for the consumer group. “With a six-figure price tag, the P85D is expensive, meaning its virtues will be experienced by a rare few.

But its significance as a breakthrough model that is pushing the boundaries of both performance and fuel-efficiency is dramatic.”

The four-wheel drive P85D, which is a modified version of the Tesla S sedan, will cost upwards of $125,000 with typical equipment, Consumer Reports noted.

But the group said the breakthroughs suggest positive things for the sector, with Tesla due to introduce its Model X crossover in 2016, followed in 2018 by a “more attainable compact sedan,” the Model 3, estimated to start at about $35,000.

Consumer Reports gave the P85D a 100/100 rating, topping the 99/100 rating of the Tesla S two years ago. Rechtin said the vehicle “initially scored 103 in the

EU ‘ignores’ Amazon After three extensions, Google was given until August 31 to provide its response, which it did in a 150-page legal document that carefully details the reasons for standing its ground.

In the argument, Google rejects EU accusations that it offers priority to its own shopping services or paid ads thus diverting search traf-

fic from competitors such as Amazon and other national players.

But Google said the EU “doesn’t back up that claim, doesn’t counter the significant benefits to customers and advertisers, and doesn’t provide a clear legal theory to connect claims with its proposed remedy.” Google insisted that the EU especially ignores the impact of shopping giants “like Amazon and eBay, who are the largest players in the space” and against which the search engine must compete fiercely.

Moreover, Google said its search engine had helped bring “diverse new players, new investment and expanding consumer choice” with retail-driven traffic increasing by 227 percent over the past decade.

The European Commission, which polices EU competition policy, launched the initial investigation into Google in 2010 following complaints from rivals such as Microsoft and Trip Advisor that it favoured its own companies when customers ran searches. — AFP

READY FOR THE ROAD: A Tesla S P85D electric vehicle, manufactured by Tesla Motors, on a display by the Moscow Tesla Club at the Smolensky Passage shopping centre in Moscow. - Bloomberg file picture

Consumer Reports’ Ratings system, which by definition doesn’t go past 100... so we had to make changes to our scoring to account for it.”

The new vehicle was impressive in energy efficiency, safety and performance, the group found. “The P85D is brutally quick, with instant acceleration,” Rechtin wrote, noting that it could reach 60 miles (100 kilometres) per hour in 3.5 seconds.

“The car’s thrust is force-

ful and immediate. Its nearinstant g-forces can otherwise be achieved only by leaping off a building-literally. The acceleration “makes it frighteningly eerie in its silent velocity.

It’s so explosively quick that Tesla has created an ‘insane’ driving mode.”

Tesla shares jumped eight per cent in midday trade to $243.01, extending the spectacular market performance of the carmaker, which produces only a small

number of coveted vehicles. Earlier this month, Tesla reported a quarter loss of $184 million as the electric carmaker geared up for expansion.

Tesla plans to invest about $1.5 billion this year to expand production capacity, construct its huge “Gigafactory” for batteries and expand its network of charging stations. Tesla is also gearing up for a new project to adapt car batteries to store power in homes and businesses. — AFP

India planning to revive drilling off Vietnam coastline HANOI: India’s state-owned Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) plans to revive exploration activity in waters off Vietnam’s coastline that are also claimed by China, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The company has approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration to drill exploratory wells in a disputed part of the South China Sea that it acquired rights to in 2006, the person said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are confidential.

ONGC last attempted drilling in 2009, three years before China invited bids for the same area.

The move to assert India’s commercial rights in a contested area may be a sign Modi is joining the US and other Asia-Pacific nations to check China’s territorial ambitions. Previous efforts by Vietnam and the Philippines to explore in disputed parts of the South China Sea have led to clashes with China.

“It’s clear that India has interests in the South China Sea as is evident by deepening maritime relations with the US and Japan,” said Ralf Emmers, associate dean at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“And certainly China has been

more active in the Indian Ocean, making Delhi a bit nervous.”

China has stepped up efforts to assert claims to more than 80 per cent of the South China Sea, which hosts $5 trillion in annual shipping. It is building artificial islands and runways in the area, fuelling tension and protests by fellow claimants.

China on Thursday again warned India to avoid any exploration activities in disputed areas.

“It’s illegal if any foreign enterprise conducts activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction without permission,” the foreign ministry said in a faxed statement.

Related parties should “avoid taking actions that will make disputes complicated.”

The South China Sea is estimated to hold as much as 30 billion metric tonnes of oil and 16 trillion cubic metres of gas, which would account for about onethird of China’s oil and gas resources, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

ONGC Videsh — the New Delhibased explorer’s overseas unit — hasn’t drilled a single well in Vietnam’s oil and gas Block 128 since it was awarded rights nine years ago.

— Bloomberg News

B4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

FEATURE

FACEBOOK FACIAL RECOGNITION Facebook Inc. says this enhances the user experience. But privacy advocates say the company’s technology - which was shut off in Europe and Canada after concerns were raised - should only be used with explicit permission

FACIAL RECOGNITION IN PROGRESS..........

87%

W

hen you are identified in a picture on Facebook, biometric software remembers your face so it can be “tagged” in other photographs. Facebook Inc. says this enhances the user experience. But privacy advocates say the company’s technology - which was shut off in Europe and Canada after concerns were raised - should only be used with explicit permission.

As commercial use of facial recognition technology grows to replace password log-ins, find people in photos and someday even customise displays for shoppers as they browse in stores, it’s raised privacy questions. That’s one reason the US government is participating in a working group to develop rules for companies using facial recognition - even if those are voluntary.

“Face recognition data can be collected without a person’s knowledge,” said Jennifer Lynch, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Franciscobased privacy rights group. “It’s very rare for a fingerprint to be collected without your knowledge.”

Privacy groups such as Lynch’s last month cited the business community’s opposition to requiring prior consent as the reason they walked out on the government meetings. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration plans to continue the process without most of the privacy advocates. “The process is the strongest when all interested parties participate and are willing to engage on all issues,” said Juliana Gruenwald, an agency spokeswoman.

Prior knowledge Facebook defends its use of facial-recognition technology, a form of biometrics. It works by assigning numbers to physical characteristics such as distance between eyes, nose and ears in order to come up with a unique faceprint that can be used to identify someone when they’ve already been identified through tagging.

The technology powers a photo feature called “tag suggestions” that is automatically turned on when users sign up for a

Name : ________________ Password : ______________ Location : _______________

Facebook account. The suggestions are only made to a user’s friends.

“Tag suggestions make it easy for friends to tag each other in photos,” Facebook said in an e-mailed statement. “And when someone is alerted they’ve been tagged in a photo, it’s easier to take action, whether it’s commenting, contacting the person who shared it, or reporting it to Facebook.”

Users can opt-out at any time, Facebook said. But that requires that they change their settings.

Flawed policy “Facebook isn’t getting permission,” said Alvaro Bedoya, executive director of Georgetown University’s Center on Privacy & Technology, who walked out on the US meetings. “Facial recognition is one of those categories of data where a very prominent and a very clear consent is necessary.”

The US government’s approach to regulating use of face data by companies is inadequate, privacy activists said. They point to Europe, where strict privacy laws forced Facebook in 2012 to delete data collected for its tag-suggestion feature following a probe by Irish authorities.

Tag suggestions have also been turned off in Canada.

“Of significant privacy concern is the fact that Facebook has the ability to combine facial biometric data with extensive information about users, including biographic data, location data, and associations with ‘friends,’” Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner said in a 2013 report on facial recognition technology.

Google, Microsoft Bedoya, who formerly advised Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota on privacy policy, said other Web companies get consent. He mentioned Google Inc., which gives users of its Google application the option to use face identification by turning on the “find my face” feature.

Companies such as Microsoft Corp., which is building facial recognition into Windows 10, and MasterCard, with its plan for selfie verification for online payments, require the download of an app or the purchase of hardware. Those acts can

verify consent, privacy advocates say.

“It’s a complicated question,” said Carl Szabo, policy counsel for NetChoice, an association of Web companies such as Facebook, Google and Yahoo! Inc. “My concern is that if we go down this road, we’re not going to give this technology the opportunity to flourish and provide some of the really cool innovations that I can’t even think of today.” Facebook first started using facial recognition by licensing technology from another company, Face.com, which it acquired in 2012. Last month, Facebook introduced a new standalone app using the same technology as in tag suggestions called Moments, which groups photos in a user’s smartphone based on the faces identified. Photos can be shared with specific friends, as opposed to uploading them to Facebook. The Menlo Park, California company’s current policy on facial recognition has made it the subject of a pending lawsuit in Illinois, which along with Texas has some of the nation’s strictest biometric privacy laws.

Facebook lawsuit The lawsuit argues that Facebook didn’t notify users when updating its terms of service to disclose that the company collects facial data on users tagged in photos.

Photo publishing site Shutterfly Inc. is the subject of another pending lawsuit in Illinois that takes issue with the company’s photo tagging feature. The fear that facial data can be used to track people may be overblown. It reveals “less information about your habits than most customers would reveal by carrying around a mobile phone that also tracks and shares location data,” Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a non-partisan think tank, said in an e- mail. Coming up with rules for the technology is not “black and white,” said Nick Ahrens, vice president of privacy and cybersecurity at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which has members including Nike Inc., J. Crew Group Inc., Dillard’s Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “I think transparency is the name of the game,” said Ahrens. But, “I don’t know if a sign on the door is the answer.”

– Bloomberg News

B

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Avigyan Bhattacharya is just 13 but he has already taken his first step to conquer the world of art. A student of Indian School Muscat, Avigyan has been painting from the age of six.

His first Solo Art Exhibition was recently held in Muscat where he exhibited 35 paintings showcasing Oman’s breathtaking landscapes, abstract and modern painting, and portraits.

Here are few from his impressive collection.

PHOTOS BY SHABIN E.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

B6

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

PRAYER TIMINGS

@SHATTI

@SOHAR

2:30, 7:05, 9:00, 11:30PM Loham – 2D (Thriller) (PG) Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah 9:20PM

@RUWI

SHATTI Hitman – Agent 47 (Action, Crime)(PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 3:15, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45 pm The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Action)(12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 5:00, 11:55 pm Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 5:15 pm Evolution Man (Animation)(3D) PG Voice Overs : Jamel Debbouze, Mélissa Theuriau, Arié Elmaleh 1:00, 3:00 pm Southpaw (Action, Drama)(15+) Cast : Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence 1:00, 9:15, 11:45 pm No Escape (Action, Thriller)(12+) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 1:30, 7:15 pm Phantom (Action, Drama)(HINDI) PG Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL Hitman: Agent 47 2D (Action, Crime) (PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 5:00, 9:45 & 11:45PM Gold Class : 4:30, 9:15 & 11:15PM Southpaw 2D (Action, Drama) (15+) Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence 12:30 & 9:30PM No Escape 2D (Action, Thriller) (12+) Cast : Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 10:00AM & 11:55PM Evolution Man 3D (Animation) (PG) 10:45AM & 3:15PM Phantom 2D (Action, Drama, Thriller) (PG)

12:30 & 9:30 PM Southpaw(Action)(12+) Cast : Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams

3:15, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45 pm Hitman – Agent 47 (Action, Crime) (PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto

Cast : Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 7:00PM Gold Class: 1:45 & 6:30PM We Are Your Friends 2D (Drama, Music) Cast: Zac Efron, Wes Bentley, Emily Ratajkowski 5:15PM (TBC) The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 2D (Action ) (12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 2:45 & 7:15PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D 12:45PM

12:30, 9:15 PM Lohan - 2D (M) (PG) (Action) Cast : Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique

Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 3:20, 11:55 PM Evolution Man – 3D (PG) Animation 11:45 AM, 1:30, 5:15 PM Loham – 2D (TBC) Action Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique 4:15, 9:30 PM Thani Oruvan – 2D (PG12) Action, Romance Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara, Ganesh Venkatraman, 6:40 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – 2D (12+) Action Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 12:45, 7:15, 11:55 PM

AZAIBA RUWI SCREEN 1 Phantom (Action) – PG Cast: Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – 12+ Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 1.00, 6.45 PM Brothers (Drama/ Sports) – 12+ Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth M 3.45 PM Hitman Agent 47 (Action/Crimer) – PG12

Phantom - 2D (PG) Action, Drama, Thriller Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 2:15, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30 PM Hitman: Agent 47 – 2D (PG12) Action, Crime, Cast: Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 12:15, 3:00, 7:15, 9:15, 11:15 PM Southpaw – 2D (15+) Action, Drama, Sport Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence 11:45 AM, 2:00, 5:00, 9:30 PM No Escape – 2D (12+) Action, Thriller

3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Phantom (Action) – PG Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Hannah 9.45 PM SCREEN 3 Karachi To Lahore - Urdu(Comedy) – PG Cast: Shehzad Sheikh, Ayesha Omer 1.00, 6.45, 9.45 PM Hitman Agent 47 (Action/Crime) – PG12 3.45 PM

Phantom - 2D (H) (PG) Action, Drama, Thriller Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 12:30, 8:30, 11:15 PM Loham - 2D (M) (TBC) Action Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique 12:30, 9:15 PM Thani Oruvan - 2D (T) (TBC) Action Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara 6:55 PM

SOHAR Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - 2D (PG12) Action; 4:30 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 2D (12+) Action 2:15, 11:45 PM Hitman Agent 47 - 2D (PG12) Action, Crime Cast: Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary 12:30, 3:15, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 PM Southpaw - 2D (15+) Action, Drama, Sport Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams 12:15, 5:15, 7:00, 11:55 PM No Escape - 2D (12+) Action, Thriller Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 2:30, 6:30, 9:50 PM Evolution Man - 3D (PG) Animation 3:00, 4:45 PM Habib Al Arad - 2D (Arb) (TBC) Drama Cast: Faisal Al Omeri & Abdullah Al Torkoman 4:30 PM

BURAIMI The Man from U.N.C.L.E – 2D (Action) 7:10PM (12+) Hitman Agent 47 – 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Hannah 2:00, 3:35, 5:20, 9:45, 11:45PM Stung – 2D (Comedy/Horror/Romance) (15+) Cast: Clifton Collins, Florentine, Matt O’Leary 2:00, 7:20PM Evolution Man– 3D (Animation) (PG12) Cast: Jamel Debbouze, Melissa Theuriau, Patrice Thibaud 3:45, 5:15PM No Escape – 2D (Action / Thriller) (12+) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 5:30, 11:45PM Phantom – 2D (Action / Thriller) (PG) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

38 31

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

50-95%

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

JENNIFER MARY JASON August 28, 2001 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

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Loham (Mal) ( ACT ) Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea & Renji panikkar 3-00 & 10-00 Pm At Cinema Main; 6-30 Pm At Cinema-2 Thani Oruvan (Tamil) (Act\Drama ) Cast: Jayam Ravi,Nayanthara & Arvind Swami 6-30 Pm Cinema Main; 3-30 & 9-30 Pm Cinema-2 ; 9-45 Pm At Cinema - 3 Kick 2 ( Telugu ) ( Rom/Act) Cast: Ravi Teja & Rakul Preet Singh 3-45 & 6-45 Pm at Cinema- 3; 9-45 Pm Cinema- 4 Madura Naranga (Mal) ( Rom/com ) Cast: Kunchako Boban, Biju Menon & 3-45, 6-45 Pm At Cinema - 4 NEXT CHANGE: Double Barrel (Mal) Programmes are subject to change

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

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

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

ADARSH AJIKUMAR August 29, 2003

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

STAR CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D (Action, Adventure, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 5.45 pm CP No: 1953 (PG12) Brothers (Hindi )( Thriller ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra 1.30 p.m CP No: 2110 (12+) MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Action /Adventure) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavil, Armmie Hammer 2.00 p.m. & 8.15 p.m CP NO: 2121 (12+) No Escape ( Action/ Thriller ) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 4.15, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 p.m.

CP No: 2128 ( 12+ ) Stung ( Comedy/Romance/Horror ) Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Jessica Cook, Tony de Maeyer 4.00, 6.15, 10.15 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2129 ( 15+ )

WITH LOVE

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

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

SALALAH Hitman Agent 47 (2D) (PG12) (Action) 10:45AM, 12:00, 7:00, 10:00, 11:45PM Southpaw (2D) (15+) (Action/Drama/Sport) Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, 2:00, 7:45, 9:40PM No Escape (2D) (12+) (Action/Thriller) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 10:00AM, 3:30, 11:55PM Evolution Man (2015) (Original French Movie) (3D) (PG) (Animation) 10:15AM, 1:45PM Phantom (2D) (PG) (Hindi) (Action/Drama) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 4:15, 8:50, 11:35PM Loham (2D) (TBC) (Malayalam) (Action) Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique 7:15PM Thani Oruvan (2D) (PG12) (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara, Ganesh Venkatraman 2:15PM We Are Your Friends (2D) (15+) (Drama) Cast: Zac Efron, Wes Bentley, Emily 12:30PM Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation (2D) 5:25PM (PG12) (Action) The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2D) (12+) (Action) Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander 11:50AM, 5:05PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

BAHJA CINEMA

SUR Hitman Agent 47 (Action | Crime) (PG12) 5:45, 10:00, 11:55 PM No Escape (Action | Thriller) (12+) CP# Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 5:00, 11:45 PM Phantom (Hindi) (Action | Drama) (PG) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rajesh Tailang 12:00, 7:00, 9:30 PM Evolution Man (3D) (Animation) (PG) CP# 2:15, 4:00 PM Loham (Mal) (Action) (TBC) CP# Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique 11:45am, 7:30 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E (Action) (12+) 2:30 PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

Destination

12.13pm 3.40pm 6.34pm 7.46pm 4.30am

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

@MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

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

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

B7

LIFESTYLE

HAPPINESS DOUBLES WHEN YOU SHARE

J

amila and Aasila’s giggles were loud enough to be heard in the corridors.

School had just reopened after a long break and they were very excited to meet their friends. But these were not the only reasons that made the twins happy. Their cute little cousin, Aarshi, was coming on a visit.

Aarshi was six years old and Jamila and Aasila loved her. “We are surely going to have a great time, isn’t it Jamila?” Aasila asked.

“Of course, you remember last time when we had visited them she was so small and would always chatter, Jamila said.

Remembering the beautiful memories the sisters soon dozed off to sleep.

The next day Aarshi and her parents arrived late in the afternoon. Jamila and Aasila jumped out of joy seeing their little cousin.

Jamila ran and hugged her tight.

“Oh! Aarshu, you look so cute and so is your ponytail,” she said.

The house soon echoed with laughter, as the children got busy with their games and play.

Aarshi had brought with her

a bag full of her favourite toys.

Jamila’s eyes suddenly fell on a little doll in her bag. The blonde hair, the pink dress and the cute little shoes of the doll attracted her. The moment she reached over to take the doll Aarshi gave a loud scream. “It’s mine, don’t touch it!”

Saying this she snatched the doll from Jamila’s hands and sat in another corner of the playroom. Jamila was taken aback by such a rude behaviour from her cousin whom she loved so much. She stood still for a while, staring at Aarshi.

“You should learn to share Aarshi,” saying this she rushed out of the room.

Aasila was silently watching all this and didn’t like Aarshi’s behaviour at all. She went near her and lovingly tried to explain. But Aarshi was in no mood to listen.

“That’s my doll. No one can play with it,” she scowled.

Aasila knew there was no point talking to Aarshi and she too walked out of the room feeling hurt.

The same evening Jamila and Aasila’s father decided to take them to the park. Aarshi was delighted to

see so many children in the park and as soon as she entered the gates she ran to play with the ball that some children were playing with.

After some time she got tired and sat on the mat that their parents had spread. Jamila and Aasila were busy discussing the Powerpuff Girls. Aarshi gave a pleasant smile and took out a big packet of candies from her bag.

Wow! Jamila jumped! “These candies look simply yum.” She ex-

claimed in delight.

“Hey Aarshi, from where did you get them? We have been searching for these candies for quite some time but couldn’t find.

“One uncle from papa’s office came home for dinner and he had given me,” she said.

Aarshi’s mother heard their conversation said, “Aarshi, give some to Jamila and Aasila. You all can have a nice candy treat,” she added.

Suddenly Aarshi’s expression changed. “These are mine. Why should I give it to anyone? She wrapped her arms around the packet and frowned.

Aarshi’s mother felt embarrassed at her child’s behaviour.

She was just about to say something further when Aarshi walked away with the packet.

A week had past and Aarshi continued behaving in similar manner. Jamila and Aasila initially tried to explain their little sister but seeing her tantrums they just avoided her.

One day Aarshi barged into her mum’s room as her mother was talking her afternoon siesta. “Mom, I am getting bored,” Aarshi said loudly.

“What happened dear?” her mom enquired.

“Mom, I have finished playing with my doll, colouring my drawing sheets, arranging the blocks.

Now I don’t know what to do. I even built a house with the blocks but no one seems to be interested in seeing it,” she complained.

“My dear, you spent the whole day playing all by yourself. You built a house with the blocks but no

STORY TIME

By Swati Dasgupta

one is there to appreciate it. That’s because you are not sharing,” her mum explained.

“But why should I mom. They are mine, isn’t it!” Aarshi argued.

“Yes, they are but when something belongs to us it doesn’t mean that we will keep it to ourselves.

Happiness doubles when you share. If you had shared your toys with Jamila and Aasila they would have played with you and together you would have had a great time, isn’t it!” her mom explained.

Mom, is it too late now? Aarshi looked upset. “It’s never too late when you do something good in life.

Aarshi ran to Jamila and Aasila’s room and knocked hard. “I am sorry.

Please come back and play with me.

I promise to share my toys with, said Aarshi innocently.

Aasila smiled. “Okay, as long as you share. We will also bring some games we have and we can play with them too.” They played together happily for hours.

Aarshi was happier because she’d shared her toys and her sisters allowed her to play with whatever she wanted.

-swati@timesofoman.com

Omani Sunny Days Endless Counting

by Cdur Carloman

Questions & Answers

When I’m in doubt...

I browse the Net One thing that puts me off...

When others tell me that I have put on weight

If I win a lottery...

I would venture out for a small business

I go crazy when...

I don’t find the size of the dress of my own choice One movie/book I can watch/ read over and over again...

Titanic

Crossword Puzzle ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

It’s better not to argue with...

Elders

The scariest thing that I have done...

I don’t get scared when I decide to do something

If I met an alien I would...

Smile at it

ACROSS

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

Walter Elias Disney

One skill I would like to learn...

Mimicry

AARTHI KANNAN

If I had treasures I would hide them...

Not to be disclosed If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be...

Strawberry

One person I would trade places with (real or ficitional) Steve Jobs

The best way to my heart is...

Generosity

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

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Put back in the archives Hi’s comic-strip wife Night hunters Entrance Comedy Psychic’s intro (2 wds.)

LP speed Navajo or Hopi Sushi-bar selection Road map no.

11 17 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 32

Glove sz.

Client mtg.

Mesh Colony member Electrical units Singer Lane Thumbs-down votes Very willing Construction toy Elongated circle Chasing game Boot-camp sentence ender

33 35 36 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Auto safety device Get ready to eat Couple Knowing looks Call from the Alps Wacky Earthen jar Teeth supporters You bet!

Fussy dresser Pindar forte Spoil Help-wanted abbr.

1 5 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 45 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Beat with a stick Balsam — Contract proviso Missouri neighbour Viper Solar plexus Cheerful tone Forwarded Gist Lead, in the lab Minuscule Tarzan’s moniker Rub it in Explosive Cable network Tariff Gathered dust Chenille item Turkish potentate Good disguise Rx amounts Buck Mongkut portrayer “It,” in Innsbruck Wildlife study Temple neighbour “—Suede Shoes” Nose stimulus Compass dir.

— mater Household members Olive in the comics Reckless

B8

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2015

LIFESTYLE Children up to the age of 15 who would like to have their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Art for the Ages

Children’s Poetry

The Story of Life Vidhika Shah Grade X Indian School Al Ghubra CBSE i

Divya Soni, Grade 9, ISM

Hani Jääskeläinen, Grade 7, BSM

Joy Rion D’Souza, Grade 5, ISM

Be the anchor of your own life Life is hard, life is tough But nothing should bring you down Except yourself.

Make friends, be carefree Have fun, create memories Change and modify But never let anyone else kill your personality tonight.

An anchor is meant to stop you But make sure that the anchor is only you Don’t let that anchor be anyone else Because you’re the captain of your ship.

Friends will enter and leave Grades will go up and down Life is a rollercoaster But my friend, it is a wonderful one.

You will love the ride Regardless of the drops and spins You will scream your lungs out But will have the satisfaction That you made it through, once it’s over But just make sure to remember That life is not yet over.

Be who you are and never change If you aren’t accepted Then it’s time to be the change.

For everyone possesses a beauty of some kind It’s time you find yours Because it’s your time to shine.

Make sure to wake up every morning And remember to thank the sun For it has given you A shine to kill the numb.

Anusha Jose, Grade 9, ISM

Manya S Talati, Grade 6, ISWK Send your contributions for Children’s Poetry to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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

SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

Teleword All the words below appear in the puzzle - horizontally, vertically, diagonally, even backward. Find them and circle their letters.

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

E Y T T O C S U L U V Q N V D

U N L I N D E L O F U A B O R

N H T B N N O G N I L K Y K A

I V K K U R E R K R I C S M S T NM U C C A N A M E E H O B

CLUE: STAR TREK (2009 FILM)

E O R I A P O O A A N Y D C A

R G O U K P R P Y R R R A H T

S A B S B R T I S A F B C R T

E G N U E R B E J I AW MT E E S C I E MB L A A E I S L E

A R T N I D N T G X S A R E K

Y B O N E O I R E E A P N D T

O A O E B O L S E N N M A A S

V N P T N P I N E C N E I C S

A S S T A R S H I P K K I E E

SOLUTION: 8 LETTERS

Aboard, Abrams, Academy, Bana, Battle, Bennett, Bones, Bryan, Burk, Captain, Chekov, Chris, Drama, Enterprise, Fiction, Gene, IMAX, James, Kirk, Klingon, Kogan, Lindelof, Nimoy, Olsen, Pine, Quinto, Robau, Roberto, Romulan, Sarek, Science, Scotty, Space, Speed, Spock, Starfleet, Starship, Sulu, Tiberius, Uhura, Universe, Urban, Voyage, Vulcan, Warp, Winona.

Answer: Trekkies

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, AU G U S T 2 9, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

C2

S AT U R D AY, AU G U S T 2 9, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

We have small building for rent in Bowshar commercial building can be used as staff accommodation or store. # 93782735 / 99208033 We have 2BHK in Ghubra 18th November Street near sea 2 rooms sitting, hall, Kitchen & 3 bathrooms.

Contact : 93782735 / 99208033 We have flats, offices, shops, warehouse, basement for rent in Ghubra, Al Khuwair, Ghala, Azaiba, Maibela.

Contact : 93329476 / 99208033 We have offices for rent in Ghala brand new building.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 Brand new 1, 2 BHK flats in Al Ghubra & Ruwi. Contact: 97616158 Room with A.C Al Khuwair R.O 120/-.

Contact: 97799175 1BHK Al Falaj. Contact: 97799175 / 92144045 1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-. Contact: 97799175 Barka store 100 m2 available.

Contact: 93393967 1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse etc.

Contact: 24700120 / 92584715 2 BHK flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181 3 BHK flat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

Shop/ comm./ Resi building 1&2 bed flat available in Wadi Kabir (near Lulu) one bedroom flats 200/- Wadi Kabir & Misfa land for rent 1000 SQM Al Khuwair 6 bedroom villa 900/- . Contact: 99451168

Readymade office space for rent (100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building, MBA area Ruwi opposite Center Point. Contact: 99011352 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975

3BHK Flats & 6BHK Villa in Azaibah.

Contact : 96775026

2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/-.

Contact: 97799175 / 92144045

250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi.

Contact 99326339

1,2,3 BHK flats. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

1 BR flat at Darsait, near ISM. Contact 99237971 / 99320633 We have 3BHK fully furnished villa in Ghubra 18th November near Automatic Restaurant. Contact: 93782735/ 99208033 We have 2BHK fully furnished in Bareeq Al Shatti Qurum near Opera House. Contact : 93782735 / 99208033 New 1 & 2 BHK Flat in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 3, 4, 5 BHK villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181 New 1 & 2 BHK Flat in Ghobra.

Contact 99792181 2BHK villa for rent RO: 250/month, near Galfar Training Institute and beach in North Al Hail.

Contact 99745628 / 99314242 2000 Sqr mtrs Store in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99792181

Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 250 Sqr mtrs showroom in CBD. Contact 99792181 Spacious 2BHK Flat with Split A/c’s behind Sultan Center, Azaiba – RO.425/- p.m. Contact: 99824803 / 99849325 3BHK well maintained flat (villa type) G. floor split A/C separate entrance, parking, and compound available in Al Khuwair behind Sagar Polyclinic Way no. 3922, Block 239, Villa No. 1839. Contact: 99253125 5000 & 10000 Sqr mtrs in open Land in Wadi Kabir. # 99792181 Deluxe 1, 2, 3 bedroom flats in Wadi Kabir, Ruwi, Al Khuwair area.

Contact: 24707340 / 95282986 /99472457

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126 2BHK with split A/C in MSQ Opp. Al Fair. Contact : 96708000 1 BHK with split A/C in Darsait, opp. Muscat Municipality.

Contact : 96708000 3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market.

Contact: 99259977 / 95033008 1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 2BHK at Al Khodh 2 rooms, 1hall, 2 bathrooms & kitchen.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 3 bedrooms, 1 hall at Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

2BHK Mumtaz R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045 /97799175

Flats for rent in Al Khuwair, Al hail, Wadi Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD, and Muttrah. Contact: 99119699 / 95250300 / 24813002

House for rent in Sidab 8 rooms, 6 toilets RO 550/-. Contact: 96606679 / 99856551

2 BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi 1BHK , Ghubra near Al Maha hotel.

Contact: 99269751

2 BHK Apartment for rent near MSQ area. Contact 92888063

Villa for rent, 4 spacious bath attached bed room, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) electrical equipment with free maintenance secured command at Madinat Al Illam. Contact: 98027975

Darsait next to ISM, 2 bedroom brand new building R.O 300/-.

Contact: 93393967 4 bedroom villa with 3 maid room, big compound & parking area. Ideal for kindergarten or expat tenants residency. Contact:24566217 / 24564686 2BHK near Indian School Darsait RO 275/-. Contact: 95094028 Commercial / residential 2 BHK flat and 1BHK at Honda road residential 2BHK flat at opposite to Al Nadha hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

2 BHK close to Indian School Kindergarten Wadikabir RO 320.

Contact: 99476728 / 98484415 Spacious 1 BHK flat opp. Muscat Municipality Darsait with 2 bathrooms available for rent OMR 250 per month direct from owner from Sept1st onwards. Contact 97785037 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454

S AT U R DAY, AU G U S T 2 9, 2 0 1 5

C3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

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

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully furnished sharing Executive bachelor at Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99325387 Family sharing accommodation available in Al Khodh. Contact : 98292798 Separate room with A/c, Small Fridge and Bed, for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell filling station, Ghoubra round about.

Contact: 94263390

Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque.

Contact: 99366624 Room with toilet in Bowshar.

Contact: 96961306 Flat and show room for rent Al Khuwair 33, Al Ghubrah, Darsait and Jibroo. Contact: 24485240 / 24485241 / 93651633 / 92109563

Semi furnished rooms in AL Khuwair with car parking.

Contact : 92888337

Shop/ office, near Khimji H.O. Muttrah. Contact 99233116 2 BHK near Khimji H.O. Muttrah.

Contact 99233116 2BK Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Mosque. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 Brand new bldg in Walja 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shops. Contact 98218279

Room for rent. Contact Farahat 98020768, Hilal: 96541263

2 rooms, 2 toilets, kitchen in Al Ansab. Contact 94229023

House in Muscat, near Muscat temple. Contact : 97711551

Basement available in MBD, Ruwi.

Contact 99713489

Used Fabrication machinery for sale : Fabrication machinery and tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. Contact 94652485/ 99273774/ 99202278

WANTED

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Indian coca requirement with experience. Contact: 99209264

FOR RENT

Forklift sale. Contact: 99763831

3 bedrooms villa excellent area at Mobilah. Contact 99879872

FOR SALE Flat for rent penthouse Al Amerat Al Mahaj. Contact: 92738298 Apartments for Rent in Nizwa behind Nizwa Hospital. 99530985 92513668 Office & retail space available Alasfoor Plaza, Qurum.

Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 1bedroom attached toilet, kitchen, family in Al Khuwair RO 140.

Contact: 95154331

Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir near Indian Primary School 2 B & 1K. Contact 92222922 Pent house for rent 1 sitting, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen RO 225/-, location Al Khuwair, near DHL Courier. Contact 95620900 / 92976722 Brand new flat 2 bedrooms with 1 Majlis, 3 bathrooms, kitchen in South Ghubra behind Oman oil RO 350/-.

Contact 95367767

1BHK in Darsait, RO 220.

Contact: 99342661

Flat 2bedrooms+majlis in Ghubra.

Contact:99242119

2BHK in Ghubra South 330 R.O with A/C. Contact: 99342661

4 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis mart. Contact: 24700120 / 92584715

2 BHK pent-house having very spacious balcony with sea & city view RO 325 and 1BHK RO 240, adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait.

Contact : 99476728 / 98484415 Flats in Al Khuwair 33 & Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 92800007 Flat for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital in Hamriya. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 Flat in Al Khuwair 3 rooms + Majlis ground floor. Contact: 99242119 3 Bedroom flat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand new available, behind Kims Hospital.

Contact 95225662 A flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 2 rooms and sitting room and all the necessary things. Contact: 92277419

BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99385835 / 99428143 Flats shops & stores for rent at Al Amerat. Contact: 96278724 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158 I BHK Flat -4 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 200/- . 2 BHK - 2 Nos / 1 BHK- 2 Nos, at Wattayya R/A near the mosquefor Families. Contact 96457757 9 am to 7 Pm.

Flat for rent with AC in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95555162 /95755953 3 BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balcony, nr. Al Hassan W/Kabir RO 330/-.

Contact :99384640 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240 2BHK & 1BHK flats available in Darsait. Contact : 99357586 / 97500025 Flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports.

Interested candidates please Contact 00968-92225523 1 &2 BHK flats for rent at Wadi Kabir, Wadi Adai, Hamriya and Al Khoud areas, shop for rent at Wadi Adai Round about.

Contact: 24834644, GSM 93994401 /02/03 lines

We have complete office furniture for sale very nice & affordable price .

Contact : 93782735 / 99208033

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

An Amazing excellent land for sale in Barka at Al Muraysi attached to road open from 3 sides and surrounded by houses and commercial shops and others. Ready for construction to build twin villa for good investment from owner land size 677. Contact: 91010668

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

Expat leaving bedroom set, fridge, table, sofa etc. Contact: 93393967

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Pest control and cleaning building company for sale with all permit and office. Contact : 96996938

SELL/BUY JCB boom loader 540/170, 17 MTR 2008 model excellent condition.

Contact: 97677133

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

Contact: 95755953

Fully equipped Beauty Parlor for sale in Amerat behind Sultan Center.

Contact : 98600130 / 24881211

Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699

2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034

House for rent in Sidab at reasonable rent. #: 95555162 / 95755953

Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

1 & two bedroom flats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible.

Contact 97677170

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

Shop for sale in Ruwi High street, Contact 96078411

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2.

OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Looking for purchase of a residential building with minimum 25 unoccupied flats in Ghala, Bousher, Azaiba, Ghubrah. Contact: 99261522 Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373 /96642500

FOR EXPATS From owner plot of land near Zanzibar, airport price RO 15000.

Contact 99348943

Furnished room for IND EXE bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A. Contact : 99659513 Furnished room available in Ruwi.

Contact: 92435784 Sharing accommodation for Filipina on Seeb for couple / working ladies.

Contact: 92959251 Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera Hypermarket, Azaiba, RO 150/-. Contact 99455735 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair RO 225/- for family only.

Contact 99251975 Single rooms with attached bath available at Ruwi.

Contact 98049288 / 8091089 Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500 1 bedroom, hall, kitchen & toilet available for family near ISD Darsait (Indians only) with wi-fi facility.

RO 150/- per month + Electricity & Water. Contact 93661570 Sharing accommodation in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors, wifi free, advance deposit.

Contact 91852710 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206 Room for rent with sharing bathroom & kitchen at Al Khuwair, behind Golden Spoon Restaurant.

Contact 92994415 Furnished room for Indian Bachelor in Al Falaj area (Ruwi) & Lady in Wadi Kabir (near Al Maya).

Contact 96761960

LOST

Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai.

Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

Mohammad Yosub has lost Bangladesh passport No AC 4249971. Finder please handover to ROP.

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95345537

C4

S AT U R D AY, AU G U S T 2 9, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male having 5 years of experience in Oman as accountant cum office administrator with Omani driving license looking for a new placement. Contact: 94173818, email: nibinkjames@gmail.com Fresher looking for a career opportunity B.Com good physique, quick learner English speaking.

Contact: 93368464 Accountant with more than 6 years experience in SAOG company looking for middle management position.

Strong English/Arabic correspondence. Valid DL. NOC available.

Contact 91116924

ADMIN A well established organization in Muscat is looking for an experienced lady Administrative Assistant.

Candidate with around 6 years of experience and excellent command of English language is requested to send CV to: recruitmentmuscat@yahoo.com

Indian CA with 15 yrs exp. working as Head of Finance for US MNC. NOC Available - 94047434

Urgently required Accountant Gulf experience to handle accounts up to finalization. Contact : 99658756

Filipino, 29 years, Male, BS Commerce major in Financial Accounting, 5years experience: Accounts PAYABLE/RECEIVABLE/PAYROLL, Excellent Communication/MS Office/Accounting Software skills.

Contact: 95057206/ patrick110486@yahoo.com

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

Indian male B.Com Graduate 24 years looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97219505

ACCOUNTANT

25 years male BBA (Hons) CFAC ACCA having 3 years experience as top management operations, Accounts seeking suitable placement. Contact : 92829595 Email: saqib4u1@hotmail.com

BEAUTY Required Beautician for a beauty salon in Muscat (visa available).

Contact: 97605308 Required experienced Hairdressers / full beauticians with exp in Ghubrah. Contact:97964519 / 94241385

DRAFTSMAN K.Design LLC requires “2d & 3d Draftsman” with minimum 3 yrs experience. Send CV to k.designoman@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Required a House Maid preferably Muslim for a very reputed Omani Family in Muscat. Should be able to speak in Hindi / Arabic.

Contact 95216563 Indian family required full time Indian Housemaid, visa available.

Contact : 93228657 Wanted housekeeper at a Nursery – Muscat – Amerat, skill and commitment and behavior. Fax: 24700677 Tel: 99085844 /99010504 Email: school.oman@yahoo.com Require qualify caregiver for an orderly mother. Contact 99425200

DRIVER Experienced Driver with car or without car. Visa available.

GSM 942 888 63 / 9905 3844 Driver required for a Company, 2 yrs experience. Visa available. Contact 24479922 Experienced Expat Driver with valid Oman driving license required immediately for an Omani family in MSQ. Contact 24607772 / 99054998 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

EDUCATION A well known private school is in need of Physics, English, Mathematics, Science and Kindergarten Teachers. Contact: 96910649 Email: staffing.oman@gmail.com Post Graduate researcher required.

Contact 99229700

ENGINEER

ENGINEER Urgently required Network & Security Engineer with minimum experience of 5 years, valid driving license & NOC, the candidate should have experience in the following data & voice cabling design structure, network project management, Data Center cabling installation, CCTV & Security Systems installation, operation, and maintenance.

Email: hussainmrj@gmail.com

M.Com female good knowledge in computer and tally 4 years experience in accounts and Administration seeks suitable placement on visit visa. Contact: 96992431 / 99450130 Accountant Indian male B.Com 7 years experience (Accounting) finance costing, auditing with NOC & valid driving license seeking placement. Contact: 96722257 Email: mudassir.pal@gmail.com

Leading construction company requires two Civil Engineer with minimum 5 years site experience in gulf. require gulf license and NOC. Send your CV to degree.engineer2015@gmail.com

Indian CA 10yrs of Oman experience in treasury, financial reporting, consolidation, ERP implementation in Trading, construction, Oil & Gas sectors. NOC available.

Email: caramdas.s5@gmail.com GSM: 91310237

MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement.

Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om Automatic block factory requires qualified Engineer (Electromechanical) degree & diploma to operate new stationary block factory. Contact 97092070, email : alomranmcpllc@yahoo.com

12 yrs of Oman experienced Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 99513082 10+ yrs UAE experienced Fin. Controller looking for a job change.

Contact 98006226 Email: devan801@gmail.com

INTERIOR DECORATING Interior design & fit-out company based on Muscat Grand Mall looking for : (part/Fulltime) Project manager , Site Engineer , Site Supervisor CVs to be sent to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com

IT Leading IT Company in search of computer professionals with hands on experience in PC & laptop repair.

Send CV to vacancyready@gmail.com

MEDICAL

C.A article ship completed Indian female presently on visit visa looks for opening in Sur, finance/ Audit / Accounts. Contact: 93915733

MISCELLANEOUS Established real estate company looking for male or female property agents for leasing and sales of the property. Applicant must be Graduate, possess Omani or GCC driving license.

Having oman market experience.

Apply with NOC. Attractive salary +commission. Send your CV: property@ labdmarkmuscat.com

Urgently required for a Medical Centre GP doctor, Gynecologist, Male Nurse, female Nurses, Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license, salary negotiable. Send your CV: moc.hrd2015@gmail.com, Contact 92681842

Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493

Dental Surgeon, Orthodontist, Staff Nurses (female) with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent salary & commission. Contact 99006915, Email : alhinaee.clinic@yahoo.com

Waterproofing technicians required. Contact 92888337

Required Foreman (MEP) with 4 to 5 Years experience, for maintenance of Building, Having valid Omani Driving License.

Contact 94422083 email : moolankara@yahoo.com

Medical CARE Centre, Multi Specialty Clinic, Seeb, requires General Practioner, Medical Lab Technician & Pharmacist. Send CV at Email : sarita_h23@yahoo.com or call 97884856

Urgently required for leading company: Civil Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Planning Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Surveyor : 8 yrs experience, Draftsman & AutoCAD : 5 yrs experience. Fax: 24478522, email : gh1.careers@gmail.com

Urgently Required Experienced GP Doctor, Gynecologist, Female Nurses with MOH license & NOC for a reputed specialized center based in Muscat. Please forward your CV to alqaimtrd@gmail.com

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Young, energetic 24 yrs, ACCA finalist, Advanced diploma in Accounting and business, seeking suitable placement in accounts, finance or audit. Contact: 92430152 Email: rau_dey@yahoo.com

Immediately required lady Doctor (DGO) or GP with Gynecology experience & lab technician.

Contact 99310590.

Email : tjmaluke@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Rig Operator/Technician/Driver/ Security Positions in Musandam.

Must have Oil field experience Good Communication Skills. Please email your resume in Arabic and English to HR@petroteloman.com

SALES / MARKETING IT – pre sales & marketing in Oman Governmental organizations. Send CV to masoud@iranrayaneh.com Accomplished Sales Executives/ Telemarketing Executives for leading Digital Media Enterprise. jobs@interacoman.com Furniture field experienced Salesman with license.

Contact - 99345159, 91398378 , E-Mail - agsan2005@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING A reputed printing & advertising firm in muscat urgently requires male / female sales executives Contact : 99619552 , email : hocsigns@gmail.com Required urgently Energetic Marketing executive for acquiring new customers. Should possess a Valid Omani DL. Contact 96545020.

Business intelligence / Global Marketing management specialist with 9 years of experience developing brand value & managing overall projects to achieve business objectives seeking suitable position on family visit. Contact: 91902154 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Required Marketing Executive.

Contact 24816774 / 99020458 Sales Executive Industrial products : 2-3 yrs of exp. with good communication & computer skills. D/L is must.

Send resume to salescvv@hotmail.com

SITUATION SIT. WANTED WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 7 yrs experience as Store keeper in Pakistan, 2 yrs experience as Accounts Assistant, B.Com from Karachi University, MS Office, operating system 98,2000, XP professional Windows 7, Internet.

Contact 91235746

ACCA and MBA (finance) from UK, 3.5 years experience in operation, holding D/L (Oman) looking for suitable position ready to join immediately. Contact : 95575614, Email: ahammadmds@gmail.com Indian male B.Com looking for Accounts, indoor sales, Office Assistant, Store keeper, Contact - 98295101 Indian Male MBA with Experience in Accounts, Admin, Sales, Contact – 91520930 Indian male MBA Graduate 24 yrs, 1 yr. experienced Accountant seeking suitable job. Contact: 94083260jithinnambiar777@gmail.com Female (Filipina) Accountant, Audit, Finance, Bookkeeper, 15 yrs experience, on tourist visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96944976, email: precyr_tupasi@yahoo.com Indian male MBA Finance / HR 1 yr experience in Indian currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93416031 Email: ashin.shams@gmail.com Certified Public Accountant, Filipino Male 26 years, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 yrs. of experience now on visit visa, Looking for suitable opening.

Contact: +968 91409308 Email: kennethalcedo07@gmail.com Accounts finance Indian male 35 yrs B.Com, M.B.A tally exp 9.7 yrs exp 1.5 yr Oman family visa N.O.C available. Contact : 93257426.

Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com

Indian Female Chartered Accountant [ACCA] looking for suitable placement. Contact: 99342077 Indian male, 10 yrs experience, 6 yrs in Oman, with Oman driving license, having NOC, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973 Accountant, Indian male, B.Com, PGDSE with 12 yrs of experience currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 92750853, email : vinoykjospeh@gmail.com Accountant with more than 30 years experience in both financial and cost accounting seek part time assignment in Muscat or Sohar.

Contact 98598099 Finance Manager, 22 yrs Oman experience. NOC available. Contact 91302906 / 91335205 Part time accountant services available. Contact:93438100 Chief Financial Officer 16 yrs of Management exp with MNCs in Pakistan, expert in financial reporting sap/ oracle implementing & optimization, Treasury, taxation, team work and change Management. #91936637 Email : rizwanfarooq.pk@gmail.com Indian 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98222753 Email - shemeejup@gmail.com FMCG professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience in commercial / operations looking for opening.

Contact 92787747 / 92168401 Indian female B.Tech (EEE) MBA finance with 1and half years experience as Bank Officer in India seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91358676 / 98157895 Email: sujivu88@gmail.com Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization.

Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 14 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598 Indian male 27Yrs, Having total 6 yrs of experience in HR/ Admin looking for suitable position.

Contact 91507099.

Indian male MCA, MSCE 2012 certified and Microsoft Exchange server administration with experience as System Administrator (windows) looking for a job currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92745708 Email: nabeelmmkty@gmail.com Purchase, Admin, Indian male, 15 yrs Gulf experience. #95435370 Indian female MBA, 3 Year Experience in Admin MIS , Family Visa. #98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Female 25, MSc (Wood Science & tech) MBA HRM, fresher well versed in English, Hindi and Malayalam, seeking for suitable placement in any related industries. #98401389 Email: thajnakp@gmail.com An Indian lady, MBA in HR & marketing with 4 yrs experience in teaching, seeking suitable placement. Contact 91108766 / 97447825 Chartered CIPD HR Professional having 5 years of experience in Oman seeking suitable job.

Call +971552071501.

Master degree HRM professional having excellent experience in finance and management and having 8 yrs experience looking for suitable placement. # 92955453 / 91213269 Oman/Qatar experienced Indian lady available for immediate placement HR / Admin/ front office/ reception/ document controller/ insurance coordinator. # 0097470057238 shinuemil@gmail.com

DRIVER H.T. V Driver, Pakistani experience, 6 yrs, seeks work in company only.

Contact 93985087 Light duty driver, 8 yrs exp.

Contact: 96736744

S AT U R DAY, AU G U S T 2 9, 2 0 1 5

C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER Driving job. Contact: 99109458 Light duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 95032692 Light vehicle Driver 5 years of experience, with Oman driving license looking for a job. Contact: 97319805 / 92171166 Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in Oman. Contact 96420742 Looking for driving job driving experience more than 3 years.

Contact: 97459022 Indian light duty driver.

Contact: 94269229 Indian driver, 30 years, 8 years in Oman exp GCC, D/L with NOC. Contact: 93100297 / 92547440 Driver with car able to do documentation work & documents delivery.

Contact : 95365938 Looking for driver job English, Arabic, and Hindi Lang, 8 years Muscat experience. Contact: 98802079 Looking for a job as light driver 3 years experience in Oman, languages Arabic, Hindi, and English.

Contact 97311715 Driver light. Contact: 94182497 Light duty driver with 3 months experience requires suitable placement. Contact: 96409814 / 97384115 Driver available with car.

Contact 96771598 Light Driver. Contact 95779594, Ruwi Sri Lankan driver. Contact: 97387112 Indian male, looking for Heavy Driver job, holding Kuwait driving license. Contact 98136170

DESIGNER Indian male, 24 years Graphic designer one year experience, B. Sc Multimedia Animation on visit visa in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93681417

DRAUGHTSMAN Autocad Dman , Diploma in civil, exp, knows 2d, 3d, revit PH:98195161

DOMESTIC HELPER House maid looking for job.

Contact: 99879576 House maid cum cook Keralite .

Contact: 94297839 Philippina Maid is looking for Domestic job or Baby seater with experience on Nursing age and all work in the house. Call : 96369299

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian 22 years male, Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech has done internships, born and brought up in Oman with Omani driving license, seeking suitable jobs. Contact: 92791637 Email: ashwinsureshkotturethu@gmail.com Indian mechanical Engineer 31 yrs, 8+ experience in sales & BD including GCC, having Oman driving license & NOC. Contact: 97116858 Email: menonamit1984@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, B.Sc. degree/B. Tech, 4 years experience. Looking for suitable placement. Available in visit visa. Contact: 94739355, Email: mahin.eee@gmail.com MSC Electronics Female, 24 years, 1 year experience in MR Scan Testing on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 91111675 B.E in Mechanical post Graduation Diploma in piping Engineering.

Contact : 94786570 Email: asim.hajwani6@gmail.com Indian job in procurement & contract, have “13” years purchase & contract experience in infrastructure & energy sector. NOC is available.

Contact-91237036 25 years experience in Civil Engineering looking for job at consultancy from for suitable position.

Contact : 97803710 Civil Engineer 7 years experience in Oman also have vehicle driving license. Contact: 92480604

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

MISCELLANEOUS

Young BA looking for a job as Secretary / document controller, typewriting 40 W.PM shorthand also available. NOC from the present co. available. Contact: 93085851

Rent a car Incharge 39 yrs, Indian 15 yrs experience in UAE with UAE D/L seeks placement in any suitable post. Contact 99431708

Net working & Hardware Engineer on visit looking for immediate placement. Contact: 95634573

HOSPITALITY

Civil Engineer (diploma) 3.5 yrs exp, seeking for placement.

Contact: 95200650

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Diploma holder in Aviation Hospitality & travel management, Indian male seeking for suitable position, presently in Oman. Contact 97309707

Electrical Engr, female, B Tech (Elec), experienced in all LV/ HV systems, currently working, NOC available for local transfer. phone-92109335

Sudanese Electrical Engineer.

Email : mohamedkarrar.mk@gmail. com, contact 97452159

Jordanian Mechanical Engineer, Expertise in Manufacturing, Design, Steel Work, AutoCad, SolidWork 3D. Nesting/ Plasma Cutting, Sales. Speaking English & Russian.

GSM#90198575/99201710

BE Mechanical Engineer, 22 yrs, Indian male on permanent visa & valid driving license looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact 91652927 / 99680181, Email : fawaris.09@gmail.com

NETWORK/NETWORK SECURITY ENGG. Graduate in B.Tech CS. Have 5.3 years of experience in Network and Security devices. Certified on CCNA, CCNP, MCITP and CCIE Sec. Written passed. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact +974-55297089, e-mail: rejad.hashim@gmail.com

Indian fresher BE Mechanical engineer having work in project of design and development of biodiesel plant seeks immediate placement. At present on visit visa.

Mo- 96636035 email - ashishthanki14@gmail.com

Bangladeshi male, BSC Engg in Civil, total 3 years experience, 2 years in Oman, looking for job.

Contact: 00968 94038642 ; email: shaikhhasib.ce@gmail.com

Looking for a job as IT Administrator having 3 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact : 95850691

(BS Electronics) Electronics Engineer searching for job experience with Huawie & HNL as Intern in site maintenance. Contact: 91803545 A male Civil Engineer with 10 years experience (03 years in Oman) in building projects execution, billing, contractual correspondence & tendering of projects is available.

The interested person can Contact: 968 91320917 Indian male 24 years B.Tech computer science & Engg fresher, having valid Oman D/L fluent in English & Hindi, smart & dedicated to work seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97327551 / 99330159 Indian Mechanical Engineer with PG diploma in Quality & Management, 3 yrs experience seeks placement. Contact: 99493890 mail: subashpalamittam@hotmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 2 years experience in HV AC and plumbing - nikhilchandpm@gmail. com ; GSM: 97654489 Civil Engg, B.Tech fresher Indian male currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. # 91702450 Email: tijoct2015@hotmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 B.E in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years experience seeking for suitable job. Contact 919946739156 Email: ram332096@gmail.com B.Tech Electrical & electronics with 1 year experience seeking for suitable job. Contact: +91 949788348 Email: rakesh1.mohan@gmail.com Pakistani B.E (Chemical) Engineer having more than 02 years experience in process Industry seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa. Contact: 94350586 / 97637840

Pakistani male, Diploma in civil, total 6 years experience , 4 years in Oman, with valid D/L, looking for job.

Contact: +968 98568934; Emai: eng.arfan54@yahoo.com SUPERVISOR: Indian male site supervisor (AIR CONDITIONING) 25 years of experience with valid Oman Driving license, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97498809, 93391910 Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male, Supervisor Electrician Diploma 8 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 95057068, jratheesh@yahoo.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Indian male, B.Tech, B.Tech (Electronics) MBA (Marketing) having 1 yr experience as Deputy Manager Sales in Fortune 100 MNC currently on visit visa seeks suitable job.

Contact 96967234, Email: lijotitus111@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 29 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF yres) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92789995, Email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Civil Engineer Indian male 10 yrs exp having Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94194399 (shiblyrock@gmail.com) Indian male, 30 yrs, Diploma in Civil Engineer, 5 yrs exp. at building construction & consulting company with Oman driving license. NOC available seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95989500, cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com

Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian female, 2 yrs exp (1 yr in Oman) seeks suitable position. Contact: 93911895

Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available.

Looking for(Store,Coordination,Admin ,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885

Instrumentation Engineer, nearly 4 yrs experience in oil & gas industry, seeks job in Oman.

Contact 90198210, Email : terinsam@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer, 2 yrs experience in Automobile services.

Contact 98182081

Indian male 31yrs BE. Mech. 8 yrs exp Sales & marketing. Valid D/L NOC available. Contact : 97116858 Indian male, B.Tech, Mechanical Engineer having 2 yrs experience seeking suitable job. Contact 94768977, syedomer363@gmail.com Indian Male, 24, UK Graduate - MSc (Eng.) Environmental Engineering and Project Management with B.Eng. Biotechnology. Holding Valid Omani Driving License, looking for suitable placement. Contact +968 99452305 Civil Engineer Pakistani 12+ 2 yrs Oman exp. Oman D/L seeks placement. Contact: 94392616 Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained field on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, 23 yrs, male, having knowledge in HVAC seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95434381, Email : shuhaibusman313@gmail.com

Indian Mechanical Engineer (QA/ QC) Engineer with 5 yrs of experience in oil & gas, mining & manufacturing sector, keyskills – NDT, Welding Inspection, Quality control, inspection etc. Contact 91176122, Email : khajanaseer07@yahoo.co.in Electrical and Electronics Engineer with one year experience and GCC licence holder seeking a job mail – shyjalpk@gmail.com

EDUCATION M.A, B.Ed Indian female 27 yrs, looking suitable teaching profession having 2 years experience.

Contact: 95838183 Email: manslyas916@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY 4 Years experienced (Money exchange services & Hospitality services in Oman & India) - Indian male 27 years, graduate in Hospitality science, fluent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks suitable placement.

Contact 91383167

IT

Indian female, B.Tech, IT (now in Muscat on visit visa) with total 2 yrs experience (1.3 yrs in TCS, India) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 93949541 / 93738083, email : joantoms91@gmail.com B.E (Computer) degree Engineer, complete schooling in Muscat, male, Indian with 1 yr experience needs job in software / networking / Java/ Web design or Marketing.

Contact 97136248 / 99313821 Sudanese female IT Tech. Support, Demographic, English fluent exp.

11.6 yrs. Contact: 96659392

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Procurement Manager 25+ yrs experience Indian with NOC+ D/L seeks placement. Contact: 97073942

29 years femaile (MBA-Finance) with 4 + years experience (India & Oman) in administration & teaching seeking suitable placement in an established organization. # 96371655.

PROJECTS Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC, open for Sales & Marketing also.

Contact 95245057

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED Building construction supervisor looking for small Omani company to handle independently or suitable placement in good company with Oman D/L. Contact 93061107

TOURS & TRAVELS Five years experience in Travel field ,BCom., IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India, looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast. pls contact 9470 5767 11 yrs experience in travel field B.Com, IATA, MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales reservation ticketing driving license & NOC available. Contact 92954613

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 8 yrs experienced construction purchase seeks suitable placement with NOC. Contact 95621614

Project Program & Service Management Indian male looking for suitable placement having 15 years of experience. Contact : 9686678027 Email: dileepmnair@yahoo.com

MBA (Marketing and HR) Indian male looking for a suitable job 2 years experience in Oman with a valid GCC driving license Contact : 97353936 Email: shimithpg@gmail.com

Supervisor fabrication. 30 years experienced in oil and gas industry with thorough knowledge of PDO procedures. contact 99365694, 92362946, 99208102 email: tapasroy21@yahoo . com

US, MBA, looking for job in Sales and Hospitality, 2 years experience in Oman with driving license and NOC Currently on notice period.

Contact: 95585345 Email: jobyisaac@gmail.com

Supervisor / Forman interior / electrical with Oman driving license.

Contact: 98767559

Indian male with five years experience of call centre in customer service and sales looking for suitable position. Contact: 90198176

MEDICAL Male NURSE, FILIPINO, with MOH LICENSE and NOC. Contact: 94756418 email: rojiebrian.moral@yahoo.com M.Sc Microbiologist, Indian female, 3 yrs experience seeking suitable placement in Medical Lab food or water. Contact 92302719 Male Nurse, B.Sc Nursing, experienced, passed prometric exam PH : 93837973 Veterinary Doctor with 10 yrs experience, looking for job.

Contact 92533579 BA degree Nursing professional having excellent looking for suitable placement. Contact 92955453 /91213269

MISCELLANEOUS WELDER, TIG, ARC, 6G experienced in GCC PH :95068064

Sales and marketing - male 27 yrs, 2 years experience seeking suitable placement with Oman D/L. Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com Post graduate 6+ yrs of experience in credit controller marketing looking for suitable job, valid Oman driving license, own car. NOC available.

Contact 95327018 Indian male, MBA, Marketing having 5 yrs experience in Sales/ Marketing in Oman seeks suitable placement. D/L & NOC available.

Contact 93815477 Sales man, experienced , knows arabic , hindi ph : 99506977 Indian male Graduate with 2 yrs exp in sales advertising, presently on visiting visa looking for suitable opening. Contact: 95462921 Indian male, 2 yrs exp. in Sales with D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92055093

Upholsery / Sofa makers GCC well experienced, knows Hindi and Arabic ph :99506977

MBA, HR & Marketing, Indian, male, 25 yrs, fresher, on visit visa seeks placement. Contact 94736649 / 98207564, Email : dvengels8191@gmail.com

36 yrs, Indian, male, X Ray, Welder looking for job, 8 yrs experience in TIG & ARC Welding, presently on visit visa.Contact 91360190 / 91843992

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian looking for Supervisor, Safety officer, Camp boss or Sales Executive. Contact 94003617 Management Professional accountable, responsible for profitable management can handle the entire operations, HR/Recruitment, Business development & Sales & marketing & etc, Great organizational skills with over 23+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai-UAE & Oman(11yrs) as General Manager - Publications, Printing,Media. open to any industry, can Join immediately w/NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

Housemaid looking for job. Cont : 95587492 Filipino (Male), 33 yrs/old, 9 yrs. experience in marine transportation (seaman/deck crew), & 3 yrs. in sales (electronic devices) currently on visit visa & looking for a suitable employment. GSM: 94750459 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 7 years of gulf experience in fasteners and building material. Having a valid driving license. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available mob : 95253640 . email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com Indian-22 years Male, Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, has done internships, born and brought up in Oman, with Omani Driving License, seeking suitable jobs. Contact 92791637.

E-mail: ashwinsureshkotturethu@gmail.com Senior Accountant Indian male Graduate CA Articleship completed 18 years of experience currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement contact.97498809,93391910 Email.hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male, 30 yrs, B.Com with Tally, 8 yrs experience with Oman driving license experience in Accounts & sales seeks suitable placement. Contact 96470171 Electrical Maintenance Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact - 98440637. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com Indian male 22 years, Looking for suitable placement in Hardware and Networking field, 1 year exp. in india an have done training in al ameen computers. With good communication skill, Qualification is Diploma in Electronics and Communication.

Contact : - 95632209,95068075, Email- fairozhuded13@gmail.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science, diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience , dba oracle pl-sql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network, Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic. Email:chastity643@gmail. com, Mob:91415886 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864 Having 9+ years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement.

Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:95983711.Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian male 24 years,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 2 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482, Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement.

Contact no. 98045482 Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Male, 32, having 7 years experience in New Car sales and rental. Currently working for one of the most reputed Brand in India is seeking a suitable change.

Contact +91 9045232273 Looking for managerial post (full time ) ,More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training ,Planing, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics.

Contact 91076608 /+919048648108 NOC available Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 7 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. Having a valid D/L. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings.NOC available. mobile: 92700670, email:catanalur131@gmail.com Accounts Head/Manager looking for job with Gulf Experience (NOC available). Contact : 94164650. email: msaleem.kr@gmail.com Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864

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DAILY GUIDE

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

TOURS

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Car for rent. Contact: 92516090 Butter cup rent a car competitive prices new car 2016.

Contact: 97249449

Diplomat used car for sale Toyota Corolla 2010 model, mileage 19,950/, price R.O 3500 /- (negotiable).

Contact: Mohamed Azgar 95751844 / 95863739 Nissan Xterra 2010 Expat owned 90,000 k, clean car.

Contact: 93393967

HONDA CR-V 2008, purchased 2009, 4WD, Full option, No.1 model, Cruise control, leather seats, Sun roof, 1,23,000KMS, OMR 5000/-, expat leaving, for sale at SOHAR, Contact Samuel 99108311 Mazda 3,1.6, 2008 Automatic, accident free, single owner.

Contact: 92030516

Sportage, 2013. Contact 99336093 Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093

Land Cruiser 2012.

Contact 99336093

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Working partners required for Farm Based Trading. Contact: 94151791 Seeking financial investor / partner for short term Governmental construction project of 1.5 million Riyal Omani. Contact : 99881303

WEBSITE

COMPUTER

New company seek partnership.

Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

MATRIMONIAL Seeking alliance for our son from Muslim families. Interested families Contact: 99889590 A respectable Sunni Muslim family from Hyderabad, India invites proposal for their daughter, 26 years, MSc, very fair. Contact 93671857 Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East.

Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

CLASSES

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. # 95983711.

Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian male MBA finance and marketing. Having 2 year experienced in accounting, looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit can join immediately. Cont: 94676974 Email: anfalruk@gmail.com SALES MANAGER (MECHANICAL ENGINEER)-Over 5 yrs in Oman, with experience in Industrial Products & Services with Noc & driving license looking for the challenging opportunities. Notice period Ends on 27th August -2015 . GSM - 95291830

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

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

INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement.

Contact no. 98045482

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Admission started in a private school, Darsait (Mount Zion Group of Institutions CBSE 1) for KG and grade 1 to 4 please register soonest.

Contact: 92088325 / 24799938

21 years, B. Com, graduate male ‘fresher’ well versed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam with Driving license looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 96799287 Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping & Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.#97121525

GOOD NEWS Ayuredic massage backache, joint pain, neck pain etc. # 98254909

An NRI wants to sell his properties, in Ernakulam (6 cent villa near Amrita hospital), Trivandrum (plot near Kowdiar Palace), Trivandrum (plot near Kumarapuram Jn.) and Pandalam (opposite Ayyappa temple by the side of MC road).

Please call: 94052733 or 94070407

FOR HIRE Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

DRIVING

Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

NRI

Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 5 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. with good communication skills.

Contact: 00968 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.com

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Split window cassette AC unit servicing, maintenance.

Contact: 99540621 One stop shop business services : Public Relation (PRO) formation new companies, LLC companies, Investor visa, business setup, prepare businesses & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company.

Contact: Saleh : 96723485 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 All maintenance & repairs.

Contact Rizwan: 99429071, RMPM Trading.

A/C Technician, all refrigerator items, installation.

Contact: 92279370 Pest control Treatments, Cockroaches, Ants ,Rodents & Termites. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99357908 / 99344723.

Air condition maintenance split and window A/C split a/c ducted and package type units.

Contact: 98667326

Driver for Automatic Transmission. Contact: 99040813

TRANSPORTATION Driver with car. Contact: 94004667 Pick & drop anytime in Al Ghubra.

Contact: 97681599 Transport available in Ghala, Ruwi , Ghubra, Al Khuwair & Azaiba.

Contact: 91495819

General cleaning in buildings villas all types interior, exterior, polishing dry cleaning carpets, rugs, marble etc. #94134784 / 98598280

Transportation. Contact 99664703

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Transport. Contact: 95190627

Transportation available.

Contact 95570429

Transportation. Contact: 96538078 General cleaning & Shampooing.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 / 99357908 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

House shifting & packing.

Contact: 99657644 /98518013 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. # 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. #97014786

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DAILY GUIDE

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