Times Of Oman - March 30, 2015

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MONDAY, March 30, 2015 /9 Jumada Al Thani 1436 AH timesofoman.com

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Road deaths drop but toll still runs to 15 per week Road accidents January 2014 Accidents

Deaths

568

January 2015

Deaths (January 2015) Females

Males

Omanis

39

483

69

59

Expats

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CABLES

HM receives greetings from Prince Charles MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received more cables of greetings on the occasion of the auspicious return of His Majesty to the homeland.

His Majesty the Sultan received cables from Prince Charles of Wales and David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK).

In their cables, they expressed their sincere greetings and best wishes of good health, well being and a long life to His Majesty, and Omani people further progress, prosperity and welfare under His Majesty’s wise leadership. -ONA

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Source: NCSI

While the dip is welcome, more needs to be done

REJIMON K AND FAHAD AL GHADANI

reji@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Road accidents and related deaths continued to track down last year, but despite the welcome news, an average 15 people lost their lives every week in 2014.

In 2013, the average deaths in road accidents were around 17 per week.

While authorities, road safety experts and parliamentarians have welcomed the dip in figures, they feel more needs to be done.

Pointing out that the dip in accidents is a positive sign, an official from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said, “The dip in road accidents in 2014 can be attributed to increased traffic control as well as the installation of speed radars.

“Road users have become more aware about the need to abide by traffic rules. Traffic awareness has led to a decline in the number of accidents.”

Commending the motorists and authorities, the ROP official said, “Better adherence to safety rules,

new roads, and patrolling by police have helped the cause.”

He asked motorists to continue following the road safety rules.

In 2014, 816 people were killed in 6,717 road accidents, while in 2013, 7,829 road accidents left 913 people dead.

Positive sign “Comparison between statistics is a positive sign. But while enhancing awareness among public to stay safe while driving, we should not forget that a lot has to be done to improve safety on the roads. The increase in the number of vehicles and lack of safer roads is a matter of concern,” Tawfiq Al Lawati, a Majlis Al Shura member, told the Times of Oman.

“Efforts should be made to bring

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REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Arab leaders have agreed to create a unified Arab force as Oman expressed hope for security and stability in the region on Sunday.

A tweet posted on the Arab League’s official Twitter account says that Arab representatives would meet over the next month to study the creation of the force.

According to a resolution adopted at the meeting in Egypt, which was dominated by talk about the Saudi-led offensive against rebels in Yemen, the findings of the coming meeting will be presented to defence ministers within four months.

Saudi Press Agency, the official

POSITIVE RESULTS: Representing His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin

Said, His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said expressed the hope that the meeting would yield positive results in the field of security, stability and prosperity of the Arab peoples. – ONA

news agency of Saudi Arabia, reported that representing His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said expressed the hope during his speech that the meeting would yield positive results in the field of security, stability and prosperity of the Arab people.

“The summit is being held at a time when the region’s secu-

SUMMER

rity, stability and social cohesion is being affected negatively.

The Sultanate emphasises the importance of solidarity and constructive dialogue among brothers to develop a shared vision and compatible solutions to address the problems in the region,” HH Asa’ad said, adding that the Arab nations will be able to overcome the challenges. >A6 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

Weatherman predicts OMAN Six-month entry rule rise in temperature

No chances of rain “As there are no chances of rain this week, temperature will continue to go up,” the official said.

He also said that in places such as Sur, Ibri, and Haima, temperatures have already reached 38

One week weather forecast

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MUSCAT: Westerly winds from the desert will send temperatures soaring in Oman in the coming days, said the Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (DGMAN), which monitors the weather conditions in the Sultanate.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, a DGMAN official said the temperature is likely to touch 40 degrees in various parts from this week because of westerly winds from the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

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degree Celsius on Sunday. “It will become very hot in the desert areas because of these winds,” he explained.

In Oman, summer normally sets in by mid-April and continues until October. >A6

Though, you have exceeded the absence limit, your visa and resident status will remain active unless your employer cancels it. >A3

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Tourist information

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More tourist information centres will be set up to ease visitors’ access to important information on Oman and its tourist spots. >A5

MARKET

Duqm project tender

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A prequalification tender for building facilities for cooling plants has been floated by Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority. >B1

down the number of accidents and casualties even further,” the Shura member added.

The ROP statistics of 2014 show that there were 2,995 collision accidents, 1,613 accidents due to collision against fixed objects, 1,114 accidents in which the vehicles overturned, 790 pedestrian runover accidents, and 175 animal run-over accidents.

A road safety campaigner said that although the numbers reflect a reduction in both accidents and fatalities, it is still disappointing that so many individuals are still losing lives in accidents on the roads of Oman.

“The statistics are very positive and reflect the efforts initiated by the concerned authorities to reduce speeding via the use of

speed cameras, the running of red lights cameras and enforcing fines when drivers are not obeying the law,” Daryle Hardie, CEO of Safety First, a road safety organization, said.

“With continued efforts to highlight the dangers of being behind the wheel of a vehicle in Oman, I hope we see the numbers reduce further, year on year,” Daryle said while adding that the key to reducing road accidents is driver attitude and education.

World Health Organisation statistics show that nearly 3,400 people die on the world’s roads every day. And United Nations reveals that globally road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between five and 44 years of age.

Aussies win fifth World Cup title

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M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

OMAN SAYYID ASA’AD RETURNS HOME FROM SUMMIT His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq bin Taimour Al Said, Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, returned home on Sunday evening after leading the Sultanate’s delegation on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the 26th regular session of the Arab Summit, which was held at Sharm Al Sheikh in the Arab Republic of Egypt. —ONA

L E G I S L AT I O N

State Council approves HR laws report MUSCAT: State Council’s Human Resources Development Committee adopted the Human Resources Committee’s report on ‘The revision of the laws and legislation governing the national workforce in the private sector’. The meeting, held in the Council’s building, was headed

by Saud bin Sulaiman Al Habsi, head of the committee.

The committee will submit the final report to the Office of the Council for presentation to the State Council.

The Committee on Human Resources Development is preparing its report to complement the efforts of the previous studies on the development of human resources in Oman.

The committee hosted several public and private sector officials for the study.

It also hosted an extended seminar in the beginning of March this year, which was attended by many public and private sector institutions. —ONA

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

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Exceeding 179 days of stay forbids entry

Times of Oman, in association with Khalifa Al Hinai Legal Consultants, will answer the legal queries of readers every Monday. Questions can be sent to readersclub@timesofoman.com I had been teaching at a private institution in Oman between 2011 and 2014. I left Oman on July 2, 2014 to return to my home country, South Africa. But before I left Oman I had a verbal agreement with my employer about returning on January 2, 2015 to resume my job. Before returning to Oman last year, I called my employer to ask for my flight ticket. He said my job position wasn’t available anymore but he would like to take me on board for the next academic year. Now I am stranded.

I am not sure whether the ROP will allow me to enter Oman in the light of the new visa laws. My employer, however, assured me that I could come at any time and that my belongings are safely stored in a room in an apartment. I emailed him stating I needed a letter from him to enter Oman again.

He replied that he needs a copy of my passport and of my residential ID. My residential identity card expires in October 2015. I have been out for almost six months. When I left Oman my visa wasn’t

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cancelled. I want to come back to Oman. Do I need a letter from my employer?

Should I send him my passport copy and residential ID? Will the ROP allow me to enter Oman?

If my residential visa has expired (automatically after 180 days), can I come on a visit visa? I need to know details.

Since you have exceeded your stay outside Oman for more than 179 days, you will not be eligible for entry into the country. Though, you have exceeded the limit, your visa and resident status will remain active in the computers unless your employer cancelled the same showing your continuous absence from Oman. In any case, you will need the support of your employer to re-enter Oman and to collect your belongings. If your employer has no objection to your re-entry, there is no reason that the ROP will disallow you to enter the country. Please contact your employer and provide him with copies of your passport and resident card (there are chances that he may not have copies of the same in his files) for follow up with the ROP.

Fixed line phones touch 381,000 mark MUSCAT: Subscribers of the fixed phone service in the Sultanate stood at more than 381,000 in February this year.

GSM lines reached more than 6.2 million, while the number of subscribers in fixed broadband internet increased by more than 182,000, compared to a decline in the number of mobile broadband.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) pointed out that subscribers of fixed phone service stood at 381,750 at the end of February against 378,210 subscribers in January. Subscribers of pre-paid fixed phone service (Sahl) stood at 34,271 against 34,143 at the end of January.

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The billed fixed phone lines stood at 292,928 in February, compared with 289, 893 in January. The number of public phones stood at 6,801. The number of integrated services digital networks (ISDN) witnessed a slight increase while fixed wireless lines which witnessed a slight decline.

Subscribers of billed GSM service

stood at 6,258,203 by the end of February against 6,234,069 during January. Subscribers of pre-paid GSM service stood at 5,721,879 at the end of February, compared to 5,702,522 by the end of January.

The total subscribers of internet at the end of February stood at 185,606 compared to 182,883 at the end of last January. –ONA

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M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

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More rallies held to celebrate HM’s return Wilayats continued to organise marches and celebrations to express their gratitude for His Majesty’s safe return to his homeland.

Reports of festivities have come in from the wilayats of Khasab, Hamra, Nakhal, Kamil Wa Alwafi, Saham, Jalan, Sadah and Barka.

Thousands of people, who participated in the marches nationwide, expressed their happiness over His Majesty’s return.

Folklores, national songs and dances were the highlights of these celebrations, which had an abundance of national flags and symbols PHOTOS ONA

I N S P I R AT I O NA L YOU T H

Blindness fails to deter Omani scholar in US varsity HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: What an ordinary day looks like through the eyes of a blind person is hard to imagine, isn’t it?

From making his morning coffee to using public transportation, 27-year-old Noah Al Hadidi, who is currently studying computer science at Colorado State University, in the United States of Ameriica (USA), shares how he spends his daily life while enjoying the company of his service dog, Amiga.

An interesting fact about this interview was that it was conducted via email. Advanced technology has definitely helped him continue to lead a normal life, but what stands out is strong will.

As a baby, Noah was perfectly healthy, though that was soon to change. Seven months after his birth, he lost his eyesight as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa and it never returned. “It is not curable, at least with the technology and science we currently have,” says Al Hadidi.

Noah starts his day waking up to his iPhone, which he uses as an alarm clock. Although he does have a talking alarm clock, Noah prefers his smart phone as is he can choose the tone of the alarm.

First thing in the morning, Noah uses a talking microwave and a touch screen espresso machine that has a fingerprint recognition option which helps him store his favourite drinks on the coffee maker’s profile. He puts sticky raised dots on each button to identify its function.

Ordering food can be a serious challenge in the life of a blind independent man, but Noah has pushed the envelope and cooks for himself and for his friends every day. His menu consists of chicken biryani, chicken tandoori, Enchilada and even cheesecakes.

BATTLING ODDS: Advanced technology has helped Noah Al Hadidi continue to lead a normal life, but what stands out is his strong will. –Supplied photos

But, how does he do it?

“I use the stove like a normal person, and my talking thermometer is more than enough to accomplish the daily task of cooking,” says Al Hadidi.

Ability defeats disability If you ever thought that sports is an intimidating challenge for a blind individual, Noah can prove you wrong as he practices several kinds of sport such as swimming, biking, hiking in addition to camping, skiing, ice skating, and playing goalball, an exclusive sport for athletes with visual impairments according to the paralympic movement website.

Noah usually organises things in order of importance. If he is not sure about an item, he uses his talking bar-code reader device (IDMate) or an app on his iPhone that does the same function to know what it is.

Asked about the process of choosing the colour of his wardrobe, Noah mentions that all his shirts have Braille tags that read the colour’s name and help him to match his shirt to his pants.

So, when it comes to money, is it

easy to fool a blind person?

Since US dollar bills are all the same size, Noah used to ask people about the currency to understand the denominations. Now, with the money reader app on his iPhone, he can easily recognise the money.

“Previously when travelling, I had to ask the driver about the bus number,” he says.

But since last year, the route numbers and information are automatically announced. Noah was one of the people who helped start this system in the city of Fort Collins. “We now also have an iPhone app,” he adds. He also uses taxis from time to time.

Since his bus ride lasts 45 minute, Noah does not mind reading the morning paper during the trip. “They do not have Braille copies at the news stand. Fortunately, I have other options,” he says.

Noah calls the NFB news line service via his cell phone and has the news read out to him automatically. As the Omani programmer reaches the computer science department at school, taking the elevator is a breeze as most of them have Braille labels by the buttons.

So, getting to the right floor is not

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a problem. Noah points out that while he has not seen any elevators without Braille in the USA, he has seen just a few in Oman.

With an iPhone and a computer which have screen reader software, Noah communicates with the outside world easily like anybody else. A screen reader is a software application that converts text to speech. “Most of the computers which the university has are useless to me. Nowadays, you can get a Mac, which comes with a screen reader by default. However, if I use a PC-based system with the most popular screen reader, it will cost about $1000.”

Noah says that it is very difficult to find an accessible cell phone because he cannot interact with most of the phones by default.

“I can either buy a simple phone which I can use without looking at the screen, but then I will be way behind the others, who are able to

use all the cool features and functionalities,” he says.

There are more simple phones which have a calendar or a contact list feature with speech functionality, but the problem is that they only relay part of the information.

Noah uses an OrCam, A breakthrough technology which is a camera device that responds to a simple intuitive gesture – a point of your finger or the press of a single button.

According to its official website, an OrCam is a “portable, wearable visual system with ‘human-like’ capabilities for blind and visually impaired persons, via the use of artificial computer intelligence and augmented reality.”

So for a blind person, what are the main differences between studying in the US and Oman?

“Education in the US is different from what it is in Oman. The major difference is the culture. There are a lot of international students from all over the world unlike universities in the Middle East where the majority of students are eastern,” said Noah. “People in the US are very friendly and helpful. If they know that you have a disabil-

ity, they will try to help as much as they can to make you succeed, not to mention that they are very respectful and they like to know about other cultures,” he adds.

Noah said that in order to make educational materials accessible, all the universities in US have resources or disability services for disabled students. “So, I will always get an equal opportunity along with everyone else to succeed,” he said.

Hopes and dreams Noah, who was recently accepted to the Master’s Programme in Computer Information Systems in the US owes his success to Her Highness Sayyida Aliya Al Said, patron of the Al Noor Association for the Blind and Barka Al Bakry, the IAVE national representative of the Sultanate of Oman.

He is hoping to get a scholarship to help make the final stretch towards his goal.

“After I graduate with my Master’s degree, my goal is to continue developing technologies for the blind. I would like to start here in the US, but I hope to bring equal access to Oman.”

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Oman Air inaugurates direct flight to Singapore Times News Service

NEW AVENUES: Oman Air is upbeat over the high demand for seats that followed the announcement of the service. Oman Air is offering special promotional rates for flights.–Supplied photo

MUSCAT: Oman Air’s inaugural flight from Muscat to Singapore took off on Sunday. The new route has been designed to meet the strong demand for services between the two countries, and offers daily flights aboard Oman Air’s fleet of Airbus A330s.

His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asad Al Said joined the flight as Oman Air’s chief guest. He was welcomed by Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gregorowitsch, and senior airline managers.

Media representatives and other stakeholders were also welcomed aboard the aircraft. Throughout the flight, Paul Gregorowitsch and

his team were on hand to discuss the new route and describe the importance of the Singapore service to Oman Air’s growth strategy.

The guests enjoyed the opportunity of experiencing Oman Air’s award-winning onboard service, dining and inflight entertainment.

They also experienced the airline’s internationally-acclaimed Business Class seats. The seats offer a 17-inch personal monitor and a 77inch long, fully lie-flat bed – one of the longest in the skies.

Upon arrival in Singapore, an exciting programme of events got under way. The programme was attended on behalf of the Government of Singapore by Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and In-

New information units all set to boost tourism These centres will provide visitors important information about the country Salem Al Mamari, director general of tourism promotion

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: More tourist information centres will be set up across Oman to ease visitors’ access to important information about the country, including its tourism attractions, said a top official at the Ministry of Tourism.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Salem Al Mamari, director gen-

eral of tourism promotion at the ministry, said that there is need for more tourist information centres and that is why the ministry plans to set up ‘very comprehensive’ centres in some areas in the country.

“The plan is there, and we are studying it,” he said, adding that currently, there are some infor-

mation centres available in some locations, including at the borders, which are providing the necessary information to tourists.

During the Khareef season, information centres are available along the way to Salalah, in Salalah, at the Salalah Airport and also at some shopping centres, he said.

“We also have a centre on the border with the United Arab Emirates,” the official noted.

Al Mamari said that apart from the centre at the Muscat International Airport, there is only one tourist information centre available in Muscat, at Port Sultan Qaboos.

“We do not have as yet a solid information centre inside Muscat.

But now we are studying to have such centres not only in Muscat but also elsewhere in future.”

Marton, a visitor from Hungary, said that more information centres are required to offer a better experience for tourists

and make their trip more convenient. “I did not see any tourist information centre in the city,” he told the Times of Oman, while enjoying the landscape at the Muttrah Corniche.

Mohamed Ahmed Al Tawqi, an Omani tour guide, also talked about the feedback he receives from tourists, saying that they demand more tourist information centres. “More promotional material should be distributed at the airports and on flights,” he added.

Travel guidebooks Another tour guide, who asked not to be named, said that travel guidebooks should be available at all malls, which is not the case now.

She said that there is a need to develop more tourist information websites, and the number of tourist-related counters at the airport should be increased and they should become more efficient.

dustry. Paul Gregorowitsch commented: “Oman Air is proud to launch our latest, highly prestigious service, which now flies daily between Muscat and Singapore.

“I was particularly proud that we were joined on this inaugural flight by His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Asad Al Said. We were honoured to give His Highness, and our other valued guests, a very warm welcome to Oman Air. Furthermore, it was a pleasure to introduce each of our guests to Oman Air’s outstanding aircraft and authentic Omani hospitality as we flew from Muscat to Singapore.

“The high demand for seats that followed the announcement of the

service has been very satisfying to witness. It shows that Singapore is one of the most popular destinations in the world for both business and leisure travellers.

“It also shows that there is a strong desire amongst travellers from Singapore and South East Asia for discovering the unique charms offered by the Sultanate of Oman.”

“As a celebration of our new service, Oman Air is offering – for a limited time only – special promotional rates for flights between Muscat and Singapore.

Economy Class returns are currently priced from OMR234.8 per person, with Business Class returns starting from OMR814.8.

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M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

OMAN HONOUR

SQU academic’s book on health wins top award Times News Service MUSCAT: A book on health funded by the Research Council of Oman has won an international prize and the right to compete for the next global competition.

The book, co-edited by Dr. Mohamed Essa, Associate Professor of Food Science and Nutrition Department at Sultan Qaboos University, Dr. Mohammed Akbar (NIH, USA) and Dr. Mushtaq Memon (WSU, Pullman), titled “Food and Brain Health,” has won the award in the category of “The best health and nutrition book – institutions”.

It has qualified for the next world competition of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, which will be held in Yantai, China in June 2015.

This book is one of the outcomes of the project funded by The Research Council of Oman.

Benefit of food (fruits, vegetables and nuts) in case of brain related diseases are discussed in this book. It has a comprehensive collection of research studies and review articles that will benefit students at various levels, researchers in several disciplines,

such as alternative medicine, nutrition, neurosciences, agriculture, food science and medicine, and will benefit many others interested in the discipline.

The authors have accumulated several years of experience in their respective scientific fields, including natural compounds and their potential beneficial effects on human health. The articles have been written by experienced researchers from various countries including the USA, Australia, Japan, India, China and Oman. Of the 27 chapters in the book, researchers from SQU alone contributed 11 chapters.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau.

The competition is free and open to publishers in all languages and countries.

The Gourmand Awards celebrate global cookbook publishing and feature many world renowned chefs each year. It is sometimes described as the “Oscars of food awards.”

The main aim is to honour the authors and to increase knowledge and respect for food culture, which promotes peace.

This will encourage a lot of people to come to Oman and see its treasure. I’ve seen them with my own eyes.

Oman is one of my favourite places for diving Abdullah Al Mheiri, Emirati photographer

Photographers explore Oman’s marine riches photographers are looking forward to.

Headed by Omani

The other side “As an underwater photographer I have a chance to see the world from the other side of the mirror.

I have a chance to show people what is beneath the surface,” said Phil Simha, from Switzerland.

Simha said he hopes people who see his photographs don’t just admire the beauty of the underwater world, but appreciate the importance of protecting water and marine life, too.

“Through my work I try to make people more aware of the importance of protecting the underwater environment. Nature is truly important to the people of Oman and I’m more than happy to support that and help share the idea that we have to do something to protect Oman,” he explained.

photographer Maisa Al Hooti, ‘Oman In Focus’ aims to showcase Oman through the eyes of international photographers. It is supported by public and private sector businesses and organisations

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A group of photographers from eight different countries will be spending the next 10 days exploring the Sultanate’s marine riches in the second Oman In Focus project.

Headed by Omani photographer Maisa Al Hooti with the support of a number of public and private sector businesses and organisations, Oman In Focus aims to bring attention to Oman through the eyes of international photographers.

International group For this event Al Hooti and seven photographers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and the UAE who are also passionate about scuba diving will explore different dive sites along Oman’s coasts, taking

I want to focus on Oman as much as I can. Even for me, as an Omani, I don’t know about the waters in Oman Maisa Al Hooti Oman In Focus Head

their cameras below the surface with them, reaching depths as low as 40m. “I want to focus on Oman as much as I can. Even for me, as an Omani, I don’t know about the waters in Oman,” Al Hooti said.

The photographers will spend

time at dive sites around Musandam, the Daymaniyat Islands, Al Fahal Island and Bandar Khairan, where they will document the fish, turtles, corals and other marine life, as well as the occasional shipwreck. It’s an adventure the

Love of Oman Emirati photographer Abdullah Al Mheiri said he comes to Oman often to dive. He said he hopes he can share his love of Oman with the world and inspire others to visit the country he considers his second home.

“This will encourage a lot of people to come to Oman and see its treasure. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Oman is one of my favourite places for diving,” he said.

Al Hooti said she hopes the photographers will be able to promote tourism to Oman by showcasing its natural beauty, and she plans on having an active social media presence throughout their adventure for the public to follow.

The project can be followed on social media at the Twitter account @Oman_in_Focus and on Instagram at https://instagram.com/ oman_in_focus/.

On April 12 the results of the photographers’ underwater adventures will be unveiled at an exhibition at The Wave Muscat.

C H A N G I N G W E AT H E R

A1 Take more fluids to beat the < FROM

heat as summer takes hold

Since the hottest months are June to August, the Ministry of Manpower issues directives to all companies, especially construction firms in the country, to stop work at all sites between 12.30pm and 3.30pm during these months.

“People should avoid going out between 12 pm and 3 pm when the temperatures are climbing up,” warned Dr V.C.P. Mohammed, specialist, Internal Medicine at Atlas Hospital Ruwi.

He also said that infections and fever are common with a rise in temperature. “The most ideal word during this time is precaution,” he warned on Sunday.

He also advised people to take

enough fluids so prevent infections and heat strokes as peak summer approaches.

“People should also wear loose fitting cotton clothes in summer,” he advised.

There will, however, be some brief spells of cooler north-westerly winds that will help reduce the dry and hot spells by a few degrees. “This will help in reducing the temperature,” he said.

S Panja, an Indian expatriate in Muscat, said the city has started experiencing heat waves from this week. “We hope another low pressure will pop up and will eventually help in bringing down the temperatures,” he said.

Doctors also said citizens and residents will not face any problem till the temperature reaches 37 degrees. “Complications start after the temperatures cross 37 degrees as our body temperature is 37 degrees,” Dr V.C.P. Mohammed said.

For the next 24 hours, the DGMAN predicts, “Clear to partly cloudy skies over most of the Sultanate with chances of clouds development and isolated rain over Al Hajar Mountains and adjoining towards afternoon. Then there are chances of late night to early morning low level clouds over south Al Sharqiya and Al Wusta governorates.”

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A communiqué issued by the Arab League says that the Arab countries will work together to defend their rights, ensure a safe Middle East and a nuclear-free Iran. Later in the evening, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi also announced at the summit that the unified joint force will be formed. “Assuming the great responsibility imposed by the great challenges facing our Arab nation and threatening its capabilities, the Arab leaders had decided to agree on the principle of a joint Arab military force,” Sisi told the summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh.

Even though the decision was mostly aimed at fighting rebels in Iraq, Syria and Libya, Egypt had been pushing for the creation of the rapid response force to fight rebels.

The matter gained urgency this week after Saudi Arabia and Arab allies launched air strikes on Huthi rebels in Yemen. Despite the support for a joint-Arab force, it would still take months to create and then operate on an ad-hoc basis.

Sisi said in a recent interview that the proposal for a joint force was welcomed especially by Jor-

Egypt had been pushing for the creation of the rapid response force to fight rebels dan, which might take part alongside Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Arab League chief Nabil Al Arabi said the region was threatened by a “destructive” force that threatened “ethnic and religious diversity,” in an apparent reference to the rebels.

“What is important is that today there is an important decision, in the light of the tumult afflicting the Arab world,” he said.

Arabi added the offensive would continue until the Houthis withdraw from regions they have overrun and surrender weapons. Several Arab states including Egypt are participating in the

campaign, which the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia said on Saturday would continue until the Yemeni people “enjoy security.” Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, at the start of the summit, called for the campaign to end only when the Huthis “surrender.” Meanwhile, people in Yemen said that uncertainty is still haunting them.

“We have not been able to go back to Sanaa, which has now turned into a ghost town in the fight between rebels and Saudi-led coalition airstrikes. We are waiting for a safe transport,” Shibin Daniel Mony, a stranded Indian male nurse, said. Shibin fled to Bani Mater, a remote area far from Sanaa, to avoid risk. “It is at least two hours away from Sanaa. So, we are safe,” Shibin said while adding that they are waiting for help from the embassy to be evacuated.

Indian external affairs minister had tweeted yesterday (Sunday) that the Indian government is sending a ship with a capacity of 1,500 passengers to bring home Indians.

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

REGION

The fact is that we will conserve a substantial number of centrifuges, that no site will be closed, in particular Fordo. These are the basis of the talks Iranian diplomat

A L QA E D A’ S L O C A L A F F I L I AT E

Syrian forces regroup after Idlib city seized BEIRUT: Syrian troops regrouped on Sunday after a coalition including Al Qaeda’s local affiliate seized the city of Idlib, the second provincial capital to fall from government control.

The capture is a blow to the government and raises the prospect that the city will become the effective capital of territory held by Al Qaeda’s Syrian wing, Al Nusra Front, analysts said.

On Sunday, the city in northwestern Syria was largely quiet, after sporadic government aerial bombardment overnight, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

A security source in Damascus and Syrian media said the government forces were regrouping outside the city.

Repositioning “Forces are repositioning on the outskirts of Idlib in order to face the terrorist battalions... and be in the best position to repel their attack,” a security source in Damascus said. The Al Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said troops had carried out a “successful operation regrouping south of the city”.

“Army reinforcements were sent to start a military operation to regain control of the areas that were vacated after the evacuation of the local population to safe are-

as,” the daily added, citing a source on the ground. A coalition of rebel forces overran Idlib on Saturday, after an operation that began just five days earlier and killed at least 170 opposition and regime forces.

Touted victory The city becomes only the second provincial capital to fall from regime control after Raqa, in northern Syria, which was seized by rebel groups in March 2013.

Those groups were subsequently ousted from the city by the IS group, which has made Raqa the de facto Syrian capital of its selfdeclared Islamic “caliphate” on Syrian and Iraqi territory.

The group that seized Idlib calls itself the Army of Conquest and includes Al Nusra and the powerful Ahrar Al Sham group, as well as other smaller rebel forces.

They touted their victory on social media, with Al Nusra’s Twitter accounts posting photos of its fighters in front of government buildings.

Al Nusra also posted video of its forces entering a prison in the city, where they discovered the bodies of detainees apparently executed by government forces before their withdrawal.

The Observatory said at least 15 prisoners had been found dead at a military intelligence detention facility in the city. - AFP

TRIGGER HAPPY: Fighters loyal to Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate and its

allies gather outside the building of Idlib Governorate on Saturday in the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib. - AFP

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‘Tentative accord on key parts of Iran deal’ One of the diplomats in talks in Switzerland said Iran had ‘more or less’ agreed to slash the number of its centrifuge machines by more than twothirds and to ship abroad most of its stockpile of nuclear material

LAUSANNE: Iran and six world powers have reached tentative agreement on key parts of a deal sharply curtailing Tehran’s nuclear programme, Western diplomats said on Sunday while cautioning that the pact is by no means done.

One of the diplomats in talks in Switzerland said Iran had “more or less” agreed to slash the number of its centrifuge machines by more than two-thirds and to ship abroad most of its stockpile of nuclear material.

As negotiators in Lausanne raced to nail down by midnight on Tuesday the outlines of a deal, due to be finalised by June 30, the diplomats cautioned however that with some tough issues still to resolve, things may change.

Speculation Iranian diplomats denied that any tentative agreement on these points has been struck, saying

DEADLINE LOOMS: EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, left, meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during Iranian nuclear talks in Lausanne on Sunday. Global powers are seeking to pin down the broad outlines of a deal to rein in Iran’s suspect nuclear programme by a March 31 deadline. - AFP

that reports of a specific number of centrifuges and exporting its stockpiles were “journalistic speculation”.

“The fact is that we will conserve a substantial number of centrifuges, that no site will be closed, in particular Fordo. These are the basis of the talks,” the Iranian diplomat said.

A senior member of the Iranian negotiating team said that the “publication of such information by certain Western media is aimed at creating an atmosphere to disturb the negotiating process”.

Under the outlines coming together to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, the underground Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom would cease uranium enrichment, another diplomat said, hinting it would likely stay open for other purposes.

But diplomats stressed that everything was inter-related and there were still unresolved issues such as over Iran’s nuclear research and development programme, which Western nations fear could mask a cover path to seek nuclear weapons.

Hurdle Another hurdle is a network of US, EU and UN sanctions imposed on Tehran over the years for its nuclear activities and for violating the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran has called for the sanctions to be completely lifted. But a senior US official said there was general agreement about a phased approach between all parties, with different elements seen as having different timelines and durations.

It remained unclear how-

ever whether agreement on the broad contours of a deal could be reached by a Tuesday midnight deadline, the official said.

Centrifuges render uranium suitable for nuclear power generation but at high purities also for the core of a nuclear bomb. Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium could in theory be further processed to this level.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday denounced as “dangerous” a nuclear accord that world powers are negotiating with Iran, saying it goes beyond what his government had feared.

“The dangerous accord which is being negotiated in Lausanne confirms our concerns and even worse,” Netanyahu said in remarks at a meeting of his cabinet broadcast on public radio. - AFP

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M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

YEMEN CRISIS

We support the Arabs’ aspirations for a prosperous future and for the resolution of all the problems the Arab world faces through peaceful means, without any external interference Vladimir Putin, Russian President

Rebels face reversals on three battle fronts border, strikes hit Houthi military bases belonging to the militia and their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh who still controls most army units.

Saleh stood down after a 2011 uprising but still wields wide influence in Yemen. He appealed on Saturday to Arab leaders meeting in Egypt to halt their four-day offensive and resume talks on political transition in Yemen, promising that neither he nor his relatives would seek the presidency.

The Health Ministry, loyal to the Houthi fighters who control the capital, said Saudi-led air strikes had killed 35 people and wounded 88 overnight

ADEN: Yemeni fighters loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi clashed with Houthi fighters on Sunday in downtown Aden, the absent leader’s last major foothold in the country.

While the Houthi fighters and their army allies continued to make gains after the air strikes were first launched early on Thursday, they appeared to suffer reversals on Sunday on three fronts — in Aden’s northern suburbs, in Dhalea province north of Aden, and the eastern province of Shabwa.

In Shabwa, tribal sources said tribesmen killed 30 Houthis in a battle with the militia and its army allies at a military base. This also could not be independently confirmed.

Hadi loyalists in the southern port city reported a gun battle in the central Crater district in which three people were killed, and said they recaptured the airport, which has changed hands several times in several days of fighting.

The Health Ministry, loyal to the Houthi fighters who control the capital, said Saudi-led air strikes had killed 35 people and wounded 88 overnight. The fig-

TOWARDS SAFETY: A Yemeni family packs their belongings into the back of a truck in the capital Sanaa on Sunday as they escape clashes in the city. — AFP

ures could not be independently confirmed.

The Houthi fighters emerged as the most powerful force in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country last year when they captured the capital Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia has rallied Arab countries in an air campaign to support Hadi, who moved to Aden in February and is now in Riyadh after leaving Yemen in the past

week. The fighting has brought civil war to a country that was already sliding into chaos and which had been a battlefield for the secret US drone war against Al Qaeda.

Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck military targets at airports in the capital Sanaa and in Hodeida, the main Red Sea port.

In the northern city of Saada, a Houthi stronghold near the Saudi

Talk of losers However Hadi’s Foreign Minister Riyadh Yaseen dismissed his comments as “the talk of losers”.

Across the country, there were heavy clashes in seven southern and eastern provinces between the Houthis and pro-Saleh army units on the one hand, against majority sect tribesmen, pro-Hadi loyalists and armed southern separatists on the other.

Fighters loyal to Hadi said on Sunday they recaptured Aden airport after fighting which lasted all night. Heavy fighting in the area during the last week meant that foreign diplomats had to be evacuated from the city by boat, ferried

by Saudi naval vessels to the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Saturday.

An Aden port official said a Chinese warship docked on Sunday to evacuate Chinese diplomats and expatriate workers.

Witnesses in Aden’s northern Dar Saad district reported seeing two tanks destroyed by Hadi loyalists battling army units who are fighting alongside the Houthis.

Five members of the militia were killed in the suburbs, loyalists said. — Reuters

DEFIANT: Boys stand on a tank burnt during clashes on a street in

Yemen’s southern port city of Aden on Sunday. — Reuters/Stringer

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VIGILANT: Yemeni supporters of the separatist Southern Movement

stand guard at the entrance of the port in the southern city of Aden on Sunday. — AFP

LETTER TO ARAB SUMMIT

Saudi minister slams Putin over comments on strikes SHARM EL SHEIKH: Saudi Arabia accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy on Sunday, telling an Arab summit that he should not express support for the Middle East while fuelling instability by supporting Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad.

In a rare move, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi announced that a letter from Putin would be read out to the gathering in Egypt, where Arab leaders discussed an array of regional crises, including conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

“We support the Arabs’ aspirations for a prosperous future and for the resolution of all the problems the Arab world faces through peaceful means, without any external interference,” Putin said in the letter.

His comments triggered a sharp attack from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal.

“He speaks about the problems

Prince Saud Al Faisal

Vladimir Putin

in the Middle East as though Russia is not influencing these problems,” he told the summit right after the letter was read out.

than 200,000 lives in four years.

“They speak about tragedies in Syria while they are an essential part of the tragedies befalling the Syrian people, by arming the Syrian regime above and beyond what it needs to fight its own people,” Prince Saud said.

“I hope that the Russian president corrects this so that the Arab world’s relations with Russia can be at their best level.” — Reuters

At odds over Assad Relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia have been cool over Moscow’s support for Assad, whom Riyadh opposes.

The civil war between Assad’s forces and rebels has cost more

BATTLE AT HADI STRONGHOLD: An image taken on Sunday shows a burnt vehicle in Yemen’s southern Lahj province, the stronghold of embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, where tensions are high as the rebels clashed with the “popular committees” -- an anti-Houthi militia controlling parts of the city. — AFP

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

INDIA

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Ground ageing fleet of Airbus A320s: Pilots

SAFETY CONCERNS: Air India planes are seen parked on the tarmac at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The Indian

Commercial Pilots Association letter comes in the backdrop of a 24-year old Airbus A230 plane, operated by Lufthansa’s budget arm Germanwings, crashing into a mountainside in the French Alps last week, killing all 150 people on board. - AFP file photo

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association said the classic A-320 aircraft which are 26 years old are being operated with repetitive snags endangering flight safety

NEW DELHI: Voicing its concern over the 26-year-old fleet of Airbus A320s in the national carrier Air India, one of its pilots’ union has sought grounding of these planes from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which represents erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots in the now combined entity Air India, has said the airline continues to fly these A320s even after snags being reported regularly.

“The classic A-320 aircrafts which are 26 years old (one of the oldest in the world) are being UNUSUAL GIFT

Azam Khan ‘gifts’ broom, pen to MLAs; taunts Modi LUCKNOW: Minister of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Azam Khan, known for his frequent barbs against the Indian Prime Minister, surprised MLAs from all parties with unusual ‘gifts’ of a broom and a pen along with a letter asking them to decide which among the two can take on the evils in the society.

“I am giving two gifts (pen and broom). You all should decide which one could eradicate sins in the society and which reminds you that you can not treat the society only by slogans,” he said.

Khan’s gift is seen as a covert attak on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has given slogan for ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’.

The minister, earlier during the session, had attacked the PM on the issue by saying that he had given broom in people’s hand and took away pen from them.

The strolley bag, carrying pen, broom and his letter, was sent to legislators after the end of assembly session on March 26.

In the letter to MLAs, Khan also said: “You have seen and tested me. I am not the one what people say, but the one whom your heart knows. I know you are truthful and realise truth.”

Commenting on the ‘gifts’, BJP legislator Radha Mohan Das Agarwal said PM had given a good message in the society by launching the cleanliness drive, which he (Azam) could not digest.

“By gifting broom he has only propagated the ideology of the PM,” Agarwal said.

BSP legislator Ram Prasad Chowdhury said that he had received the ‘gift’ but he did not see the letter till now as he had left for his constituency after the session was over.

Tacit understanding Congress has termed the ‘gift’ as an admission of tacit understanding between Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. - PTI

operated with repetitive snags endangering flight safety... DGCA should not permit AI to operate these lethal snag-prone classic aircrafts in lieu of passenger safety,” ICPA stated in a letter to the DGCA last Thursday.

ICPA letter comes in the backdrop of a 24-year old Airbus A230 plane, operated by Lufthansa’s budget arm Germanwings, crashing into a mountainside in the French Alps last week, killing all 150 people on board.

The pilots’ body, in the letter, has also raised other issues including the show-cause notice by regulator for reporting late for

duty among others and has even “questioned” the regulator as to how could it ignore the plight of Air India employees in the face of salary delays. DGCA had recently issued show-cause notices to a number of pilots for reporting late for duty with one of them being served the notice for arriving one minute late.

“We wonder, how have you ignored the stressful working conditions and plight of our pilots, cabin crew, engineers and all other employees due to nonpayment of full salary and allowances for last almost 32 months, when you were very prompt in this aspect in regard of Kingfisher and SpiceJet employees. How is it that not receiving salary is a matter of flight safety for Kingfisher and Spice-jet employees but not for Air Indians?

“We request you to kindly also look into the working conditions of pilots and cabin crew in respect of Air India,” the letter said.

Urging the regulator to ensure the availability of the pilots after calculating their all leave entitle-

FIRECRACKERS UNIT

Six killed in Andhra explosion HYDERABAD: At least six people were killed and six others injured in an explosion on Sunday in a firecrackers unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam dis-

trict, police said. The accident occurred in Gokulapadu village of S. Rayavaram mandal, about 100 km from coastal city of Visakhapatnam. - IANS

A9

ments, the ICPA said, “We request you to ensure that availability of flight crew is calculated after taking into account entitled leaves, weekly off’s, mandatory training days etc and not just by considering them to be available 365 days a year.

The ICPA has also asked the DGCA to clarify about the minimum time before scheduled departure that a pilot must report for flying at airports.

“Our concern is that the above mentioned notice threatens about action to be taken in case of unsatisfactory or no reason given in reply to the show cause notices...

“We request you to kindly let us know where and what is documented in the rules as to getting late for a flight (inadvertently) is an offence and what is the penalty for it. There is an impression that DGCA is operator friendly and is willing to look the other way when short-coming of the operator is pointed out but unforgiving when employees are found even slightly wanting,” the ICPA in the letter said. - PTI

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A10

M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

INDIA

The paper leak incident should be probe by CBI and UPPSC Chairman Anil Yadav should be immediately dismissed. He was involved in anomalies in PCS last year too. The leakage of PCS paper is not a trivial incident as fate of thousand of students depended on it Manoj Mishra, BJP spokesman

P R E L I M I NA RY E X A M I NAT I O N

FLASH FLOODS DAMAGE ROAD, HOUSES IN SRINAGAR

A city municipal corporation van passes through a waterlogged road after the valley received heavy rainfall, in Srinagar on Sunday. Flash floods triggered by incessant rain have damaged scores of houses, school buildings and other structures besides snapping road connectivity in the Kashmir Valley, an official said. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed following landslides at a number of places on Sunday. - PTI

UP Civil Services exam paper leaked LUCKNOW: The question paper of Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Services (PCS) preliminary examination was on Saturday leaked just before the start of the examination, prompting Opposition parties to demand CBI probe and dismissal of the UP Public Service Commission (UPPSC) chairman.

“The paper was leaked at about 9.15am on WhatsApp messenger before start of the examination.It has matched with the original paper of PCS preliminary. We have informed the chief minister and chief secretary in this regard,” Director General of Police (DGP) A. K. Jain told reporters. He said police has got initial leads in the case.

“STF teams are working on it and we will soon work out the paper leak,” Jain said.

In Lucknow, the PCS prelim was held in 148 centres and over 70,000 candidates appeared in it.

Throughout the state 450,000 candidates appeared in 917 cen-

R AG I N G D E B AT E

Rahul Gandhi may replace Sonia as Cong chief by May NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, who Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said will be “back soon” from his sabbatical, could replace his mother in the top party post as early as May. The possibility of a meeting in May of the Congress Working Committee as also of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) either in Delhi or in party-ruled north Indian states of Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand is being talked about for that purpose with senior leaders saying the issue of the Congress chief’s post will gain momentum after the return of Rahul, the party’s vice president.

Amid a raging debate over Rahul’s prolonged absence, Congress on March 26 came out with the schedule for its organisational elections under which the next party chief would be elected by September 30.

Party leaders insist that after his return likely next month from leave, Rahul is expected to take a call on when to assume the party chief’s post.

They added that the earlier he does it, the better it will be. If Rahul decides to become party chief, Sonia will continue as the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and give her focus to parliamentary work.

The schedule for organisational elections was drawn up even as talk is growing within the party that sooner rather than later, Sonia will pass the mantle to Rahul, who was made Congress Vice President in January, 2013.

Rahul was elevated to that

AAP’s internal Lokpal Ramdas shown the door The AAP National Executive also sacked Prashant Bhushan from the disciplinary committee, deciding to replace him with a three-member panel

SPECULATION: Rahul Gandhi could any moment now be anointed the Congress president, but his departure on leave just ahead of the Budget session had raised questions about his future plans. - PTI file

post at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Jaipur, capital of the north Indian state of Rajasthan, with the decision having been ratified by AICC the next day. That same process could be followed if it is decided to make him the party chief and the organisational elections would not come in the way, said some leaders.

Sonia has created a record of being the longest-serving Congress chief as she completed 17 years at the helm of the country’s oldest political party.

During a visit on Saturday to Rahul’s Lok Sabha constituency Amethi, Sonia told the media that the Congress Vice President will be “back soon”. - PTI

tres. The PCS preliminary examination was being held across the the state. The first shift was from 9.30 am to 11.30am and second shift from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

District Magistrate, Lucknow, Rajshekhar said the examination was held as per schedule in both the shifts.

“The paper in the second shift was held as per schedule just like the first shift. As far as paper leakage is concerned, STF is probing the matter,” he said.

Taking serious note of the matter, BJP demanded CBI probe and dismissal of UPPSC Chairman Anil Yadav.

“The paper leak incident should be probed by CBI and UPPSC Chairman Anil Yadav should be immediately dismissed.

He was involved in anomalies in PCS last year too. The leakage of PCS paper is not a trivial incident as fate of thousand of students depended on it,” BJP spokesman Manoj Mishra said. -PTI

headed by AAP leader

OUT OF FAVOUR: AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan during a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

Dinesh Waghela

NEW DELHI: AAP’s internal Lokpal Admiral (retd) L. Ramdas was on Sunday shown the door while dissident AAP leader Prashant Bhushan was axed from the party’s disciplinary committee, a day after Bhushan and senior leader Yogendra Yadav were expelled from the National Executive (NE) for “backstabbing” and “hatching conspiracies” against the party.

At an “emergency” NE meeting here, the party removed Ramdas, a former navy chief, as internal Lokpal and set up a new Lokpal panel, comprising former IPS officers N. Dilip Kumar and Rakesh Sinha besides educationist S P Verma.

“All these people have given their consent to be part of the party’s Lokpal panel,” party’s national secretary Pankaj Gupta said. Voicing disappointment over being

dropped as internal Lokpal, Ramdas lashed out at the party leadership for not having the courtesy to inform him about the decision first. He said in an informal meeting last month the party had actually requested him to continue for additional five years.

Disappointed “It is with great surprise and sadness that I heard today from a reporter that the Aam Aadmi Party no longer requires my services as it’s internal Lokpal. Various media reports have subsequently confirmed this news.

“I am disappointed that the leadership of the party did not accord me the courtesy of informing me first before making this decision public. I still await their phonecall,” Ramdas said.

The former navy chief has been the party’s Lokpal since its inception in November 2012.

The removal of Ramdas came a day after he was sent an SMS by party national secretary Pankaj Gupta, asking him not to attend the National Council meeting to avoid “confrontation”.

“I am surprised because less than two weeks ago the party publicly reaffirmed its confidence in me. At no point in my tenure did the party express to me any dissatisfaction with my service,” Ramdas said.

The AAP National Executive, while sacking Bhushan from the disciplinary committee, decided to replace him with a three-member panel headed by AAP leader from Gujarat Dinesh Waghela. The other members are Arvind Kejriwal loyalist Ashish Khetan and Gupta.

AAP on Sunday made public Arvind Kejriwal’s speech at the National Council on Saturday with the video being posted on YouTube and tweeted on AAP’s

official twitter handle. In an emotional speech, Kejriwal said, “When the whole Delhi stood behind us, some friends of ours cheated us. I am saying this with a heavy heart that when the whole of Delhi was with us, some friends backstabbed us.

“Conspiracies were hatched to ensure our defeat in the Delhi polls. AVAM was formed and it was supported. It then came in the media that AVAM members were former BJP members and BJP was funding them.

“Prashant ji told many people that we think the party should lose then only can the party and Kejriwal learn a lesson. If you don’t do this then we will go before the press and destroy the party,” Kejriwal said.

Planting stories “Stories were planted. Senior editors of two big news channels have told me that Yogendra Yadav was planting stories against me.

“Many volunteers wanted to come to Delhi. They were stopped.

Many donors were stopped from campaigning. The limit was when our senior leader (Shanti Bhushan) of the party said that Kiran Bedi was his first choice, Ajay Maken was the second choice and Kejriwal is the third choice. I want to know then why are you into this party?

The AAP chief said, “There were attempts to weaken me, weaken the party. When I came back from Bengaluru, I spoke to members of my team and sent them the same night to speak to Yogendra bhai.

From that day to day before yesterday (Thursday), we tried our best to resolve the problem.” - PTI

RURAL AREAS

Modi’s popularity punctured by discontent, suicides VAIDI (India): Over a dozen debtladen farmers have committed suicide in recent weeks in India, and discontent in many rural areas against government policies is turning into anger against Prime Minister Narendra Modi less than a year after he swept into office.

Unseasonal storms have badly damaged the winter crop in large parts of the fertile northern plains, most likely contributing to the suicides, and villagers have blamed Modi for not stepping in to help the distressed farmers or ensuring that crop prices remained stable.

The farmer suicides in India’s most politically sensitive region are the latest in several setbacks for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is hoping to consolidate power by winning local elections in large, predominantly rural states over the next two years.

The government has delayed a comprehensive health plan as it shifts focus from subsidies to investment, while religious tensions have made minorities uneasy.

Nevertheless, Modi has made progress with economic reform in his first year — although not as rapidly as some investors would

DISTRAUGHT: Farmer Rajvir Singh shows sugarcane crop dam-

aged by unseasonal rains, at Sisola Khurd village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. - Reuters

like — and has reined in inflation.

In a village in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, Dharmendra Singh mourned his brother Babu Singh, who committed suicide after rain destroyed wheat growing on the five-acre farm he leased from a landlord.

Babu Singh, who had run up debts amounting to $13,000, soaked himself in kerosene and set himself on fire on March 19.

He succumbed to burn injuries six days later.

“My brother was banking on the crop so the loss came as the last straw,” Dharmendra Singh said

in his village, Vaidi, 185km (115 miles) southeast of Delhi.

“For God’s sake why hasn’t the government reached out to us? We overwhelmingly voted for Modi as he promised to take care of us but he has stabbed us in the back.”

In more than a dozen villages visited by Reuters this week across the state that sends the most lawmakers to parliament, farmers said there was a “crisis” in the countryside, where 70 per cent of India’s 1.2 billion people live. Angered by low farmgate prices and the lack of state

compensation for crop damage, some villagers said they have ostracised local members of Modi’s BJP and barred them from attending weddings.

Parties crushed by the BJP in last year’s general election have coupled the discontent with street protests against a land acquisition bill that will make it easier for businesses to buy farmland, a potent issue in the countryside.

For the BJP, the next major election will be in November in the large, mostly rural state of Bihar, and a poor performance will be a huge setback.

India’s states send representatives to the upper house of the federal parliament, where the BJP is struggling to form a majority to match its domination of the lower house. With global food prices low, an anti-inflation policy that has hit rural incomes and the shift from subsidy to investment spending, debt-laden farmers were already suffering when rain devastated standing winter crops across north India.

Over 10 million hectares of crops were damaged, but the government says there is no clear link to the suicides. - Reuters

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

A1 1

PAKISTAN

The militants who have been killed or injured were carrying out terrorist attacks in the area and recently torched five oil tankers carrying fuel for the Saindak project in the area Khan Wasay, Frontier Corps spokesman

MASTUNG AREA

Five rebels killed in Balochistan

ANNUAL FESTIVAL AT SUFI POET’S SHRINE

Pakistani devotees dance at the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Hussain, popularly known as Madhu Lal Hussain, in Lahore on Sunday. The annual festival was held at Madhu Lal’s shrine on the 426th anniversary of his birth. — AFP

KARACHI: At least five suspected militants were killed on Sunday in a clash with Pakistani security forces in the country’s restive Balochistan province, where a search operation is underway following a recent attack on oil tankers.

Six others were also injured besides the five militants killed during a search operation in Mastung area of the province, said Khan Wasay, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps.

Backed by helicopters The forces were backed by helicopters from the interior ministry during the search operation that was launched after five oil tankers carrying fuel for a Chinese company working on the Saindak Project in Balochistan’s Chaghi district were set ablaze on last Monday. The attackers, suspected to be Baloch separatists, also kidnapped four drivers. — PTI

Altaf alleges bid to ‘eliminate’ MQM The Nine Zero operation was an attempt to eliminate the Muttahida Qaumi Movement but those who want to crush the party won’t succeed, said party leader Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Altaf Hussain has claimed the March 11 Rangers raid at his party headquarters was the initiation of a conspiracy aimed at eliminating the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The MQM chief was speaking to a gathering of his party workers early Saturday morning at Nine Zero, where he asked the participants if they wanted the party to run without him.

He warned them that if they continue to support him as a leader, they may be put in jails.

‘Genocide’ He called upon his workers to prepare for jihad, as genocide of Mohajirs has been started. “Our genocide is being carried on,” Al-

Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain alleged the wanted men arrested by Rangers from Nine-Zero were brought to the party headquarters from somewhere else, and even the licensed weapons were presented wrongly in the media

taf proclaimed. “The Nine-Zero operation was an attempt to eliminate the MQM. But those who want to crush the party won’t be successful.”

He lamented that no house of

any other political leader, except his, had been raided. “Why was Nawaz Sharif’s house not searched for Gullu Butt?” he questioned, referring to the notorious Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz activist

arrested in Lahore for destroying vehicles during a political rally in Lahore.

Blaming the government for trying to crush the MQM, Altaf claimed the Nine-Zero operation was carried out under the supervision of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who had the support of the prime minister and the interior minister as well.

He alleged the wanted men arrested by Rangers from NineZero were brought to the party headquarters from somewhere else, and even the licensed weapons were presented wrongly in the media.

Altaf also lashed out at Chaudhry Nisar and Nawaz Sharif, and asked about the committee

which was to be formed to monitor the Karachi operation. “Why has it not been formed?” he asked.

Vehemently criticising Imran Khan, Altaf showed a video of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman mocking the Pakistan Army generals.

Imran Khan “No action was taken against Imran Khan,” he said referring to the video and his nomination in a case registered by Rangers for hurling threats.

Talking about the Yemen turmoil, he believed that Pakistan should not jump into the war. “Dialogue should be held at the diplomatic level to sort out matters,” he said. — Express Tribune

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US slows withdrawal from Afghanistan

N

ow that President Obama has decided to slow the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, he and the new Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, have an obligation to prove that the additional American investment will be worth it. It will not be easy, and it may not be possible. For more than a decade, the Afghan government has stubbornly resisted taking most of the political, economic and military steps needed to put the country on a firm footing. Obama’s decision to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan at least through 2015 is a change from his previous plan to cut that force in half by the end of the year. Administration officials said it was a response to the expected resurgence of the Taliban in the spring fighting season and the need to continue training and assisting the struggling Afghan security forces.

The decision means that two military bases from which the Central Intelligence Agency and military special forces conduct secret drone strikes and other operations — in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, and in Jalalabad, in the east — will stay open.

After the first White House meeting between the two presidents, Obama said at a news conference that he still planned to honour his commitment to reduce the force to about 1,000 when he leaves office in 2017. With America headed into a presidential election campaign in which Republicans are already taking a tougher line on security issues in general, Obama’s decision to slow the pace of the withdrawal should not be an excuse for keeping troops in Afghanistan indefinitely. Ghani, an American-educated, former World Bank official who is widely perceived as more serious and responsible than his erratic predecessor, Hamid Karzai, made a convincing argument that delaying the withdrawal would give him security support while he pursued economic, political and military goals.

His thanks to American troops who served in his country and to American taxpayers, who are still footing a hefty bill, was especially well received during a speech to Congress.

Although there is little sign that talks with the militants could make progress anytime soon, Ghani has taken an important step by trying to improve relations with Pakistan, whose lawless border region has long provided a sanctuary for militants who have targeted Afghan and American forces. He described the stakes in remarkably blunt terms, saying the problem was not making peace with the Taliban so much as “peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Ghani has big visions. He told Congress he aims for the country to be self-sustaining, and weaned of international assistance that now is central to the economy, within this decade. He talked of Afghanistan’s being an Asian hub crossed by pipelines, rail lines and modern telecom and banking services. Those are worthy goals, but they are still based mostly on hope. - The New York Times News Service

COMMENTARY

British poll campaign ignores vital issues CHRIS PATTEN

Taking fright and flight

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eople seek asylum in another country for a variety of reasons, and the UNHCR report “Asylum trends 2014” is illuminating in a number of ways. As a result of multiple conflicts triggered by the Arab spring, the influx of asylum seekers, particularly to Europe, is the highest since the Bosnian war of the 1990s. In particular, the wars in Syria and Iraq have triggered massive human movements, with countries such as Turkey finding they are almost overwhelmed. The number of people fleeing Pakistan has also grown, up by 4.3 per cent to 26,300 in 2014 from 25,200 in 2013; the fourth consecutive annual increase for Pakistan. The increase may be small but the fact is that in two years alone, 51,500 people have fled Pakistan. Globally, Pakistan is the sixth-largest source of asylum seekers.

All of those taking fright and flight from their countries of origin end up elsewhere, and their burden falls on mainly developed nations in the West, which is considerable, and not all are willing to receive them. Australia registered a 24 per cent drop in requests, with fewer than 9,000 in 2014 according to the UNHCR, which noted its tougher immigration policies that have seen many asylum seekers warehoused in remote offshore islands, and many failing completely in their goal of entering the country.

There are unknown but reportedly significant numbers of Pakistani Christians in the UNHCR system in Thailand. Minority groups are likely to make up the bulk of those seeking to leave Pakistan on the grounds that their lives have become too dangerous or simply unbearable. Pakistan is steadily emptying itself of its minorities, not all of whom go down the asylum route, choosing instead to make their unassisted ways out of the country. The seeking of asylum is an act of individual and collective desperation. The numbers seeking refuge are growing dramatically by the year and with the conflicts that fuel the surge showing little sign of ending, the trend will continue upwards.

We expect no early ebbing in this tide of misery. - The Express Tribune

Theme park will add to Muscat city’s attraction This refers to the news story, Biggest theme park to be ready in 2017 (March 29). It felt really good to learn about the theme park with so many developments taking place in the country at present. I have been living in the Sultanate for the past nine years and I am sure the new project will make Muscat a more attractive place for children and teens to live in.

John Lazar Muscat

Bickering within the Aam Aadmi Party is unfortunate The open war of attrition in Aam Aadmi Party barely weeks after it made history in Delhi is really unfortunate. The workers are clueless as to where this rift between

the ideologues and party managers will lead the party to.

Usha Devi Rao Suddapalli Ruwi

No team is likely to beat Australia’s record now The 45-day long cricket carnival, the ICC World Cup 2015, ended in a result which was probably known to many. Australia won the title for the fifth time, creating a record which would probably be unchallenged by any team for a long time. Australian captain Michael Clarke gifted himself the best retirement gift he could think of. In fact, Australia won the ICC World Cup as the most deserving team in the fray. They played well throughout the tournament.

James D’Costa Muscat

The UK has a long track record of scolding its European Nato partners for not spending the two per cent of GDP that each has pledged to dedicate to defence; now it appears that Britain itself risks falling short

T

he United Kingdom’s general election is a little more than a month away, but already the campaign seems to have been with us forever, rolling implacably forward, but with little evidence of any genuine excitement — or even significant movement in the polls. Support for the two main contenders — the Labour Party and the ruling Conservative Party — seems stuck in the low-to-mid 30s. The Conservatives hope that the government’s record on the economy will convince undecided voters to break in their favour late in the campaign. Maybe they are right; they deserve to be.

In the meantime, Labour seems to be hoping for who-knows-what to turn the tide, while keeping their collective fingers crossed that they will not be eviscerated in Scotland, where the Scottish National Party is threatening to sweep the board.

One surprise is the election campaign’s insularity. A dark cloud, in the form of a possible referendum on whether the UK will remain in the European Union hangs over the outcome, but no one talks about it much. Prime Minister David Cameron has said that a referendum is needed in order to prevent the country from sleepwalking toward an accidental and disastrous EU exit. And so it must come as a surprise to some of Britain’s EU partners that none of the country’s politicians seems to be making any effort to wake a somnambulant public.

More broadly, while much of the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket, there has been little talk about Britain’s international role and responsibilities. The UK was once famous for punching above its weight in global affairs, but perhaps the country no longer really matters much — if only because it does not want to matter. The closest anyone has come to putting some international fizz into the campaign was when US President Barack Obama fired a couple of warning shots across the UK’s bow. The Obama administration seems bent on proving that the so-called “special relationship” goes beyond raucous backslapping.

The first salvo — a warning that Britain should not be overly accommodating toward China — followed the UK’s decision to join China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. But the problem is far broader than the AIIB. In any case, it is doubtful that anyone in London will take much notice.

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These days, policy on China is driven entirely by the Treasury, which subscribes to the view that one can do business with the Chinese only from a position of servility.

The second barrage was over a more serious matter, regarding defence spending. The criticism was directed at all European members of Nato, but it was clear that the US government believes that Britain bears a special responsibility to maintain its military commitments. The UK has a long track record of scolding its European Nato partners for not spending the two per cent of GDP that each has pledged to dedicate to defence; now it appears that Britain itself risks falling short.

There is an economic argument against assigning a fixed percentage of national wealth to a given departmental budget. The British economy is now growing fast by current European standards, so two per cent of GDP is becoming a larger sum. (The same is true of the UK’s similar commitment to the United Nations to spend 0.7 per cent of its GDP on international development assistance.)

Government officials presumably recognise the embarrassment that would be caused were Britain to fall short of the two per cent target, so they seem to be looking for programmes that can be squeezed into the Defence Department’s budget to pad spending. This is exactly the sort of behaviour the UK has criticized in others: lumping all sorts of pension payments and intelligence commitments into their calculations of defence spending.

There is a very real risk in all of this. The fact that neither of the major parties is prepared to make the case for increasing defence spending sends the wrong sort of message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The proper response to Russian adventurism in Ukraine should not only be to work with the rest of the EU to help the government in Kyiv steady its economy; it should also include ramping up defence spending and convincing Nato members to do the same.

It is unfortunate that some of the most important issues facing the UK are being ignored in the country’s current election campaign. Whatever the outcome when voters head to the polls on May 7, the next government will have to deal with reality.

The country’s defence posture and Russia’s threat to European security are sure to be near the top of the next prime minister’s agenda. - Project Syndicate

Australia won the match in the first 13 overs only We thought the final match of the ICC World Cup between Australia and New Zealand would be a match to watch. What turned out was just the opposite of what we thought and looked forward to. New Zealand, despite having played well throughout the tournament, simply collapsed against Australian bowling. They did not put up even a semblance of fight. In fact, New Zealand lost the match in the first 13 overs of their innings. At the end of the thirteenth over, the Kiwis were 39 for three wickets down. Their run rate was dismal and their top order batsmen were back in the pavilion by then. As for the turning point of the match, I would say the fifth delivery of the first over that Mitchell Starc bowled to New

Zealand captain McCullum. Starc won the match for his country in his very first over.

Ashok Panicker Seeb

McCullum is responsible for New Zealand’s defeat What an over did Australian pacer Mitchell Starc bowl! In his first over of the match he bowled with fire conceding one run and sending the dangerous Kiwi captain back to the dressing room for zero. Kiwi captain McCullum, never known for responsible batting, showed how irresponsible a captain can be. He was swinging his bat to anything and everything. In a way, he paved the way for New Zealand’s defeat in the final.

Vishal Mishra Muttrah

Letters, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

T I MES O F OM AN

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE Britain’s flawed defence cuts When I was will give Russia an advantage almost killed T

he banking crisis required Gordon Brown’s Labour government to bail out major British banks during 2008, incurring a significant government budget deficit. Following the election of a Conservative coalition government in 2010 an austere budget deficit reduction programme implemented public sector financial cuts impacting defence expenditure.Unsound defence cuts and asymmetrical expenditure followed; and not since the Labour government’s nineteen sixties defence cuts has Britain witnessed such serious, and defective, defence procurement decisions. Britain’s defence capability should be founded on national rather than strategic interests; and this fine distinction is magnified when defence funding is tight.

Perhaps for political reasons this process has been inverted, with Britain’s strategic interests being advanced ahead of national defence wellbeing.

Such juxtaposition has historically resulted in neither defence interest being properly served.

During 2002 new aircraft carriers should have been ordered. However, the financial impact of the Iraq war, on Britain’s defence budget, lethally delayed this order along with that for a replacement maritime anti-submarine aircraft.

Additionally, HMS Gannet in South West Scotland — from where anti-submarine helicopters safeguarded the Clyde approaches to Britain’s nuclear submarine facility — was also closed. This 2002 defence cut left Britain’s nuclear submarine facility unguarded from Russian intelligence gathering activities. Consequently, aircraft carriers, destined for Royal Navy commissioning during 2008, were only ordered prior to the 2008 banking crisis, with a revised service entry date of 2016: eight years late.

The Conservative coalition government confirmed this carrier order in 2010: the coalition’s first major defence blunder; and to fund these aircraft carriers the Ministry of Defence (MOD) hastily implemented defence cuts in areas critical to Britain’s national security. The Royal Navy’s Harrier fighters were prematurely retired. The entire RAF Nimrod anti-submarine maritime surveillance aircraft fleet was withdrawn from service; and the replacement AEW Nimrod programme cancelled: effecting in the Conservative coalition’s second significant error of judgment. Consequently Britain’s only Nimrod base, RAF Kinloss in Scotland, was closed leaving Britain devoid of anti-submarine, maritime surveillance aircraft.

Additionally the RAF axed 20 fighter squadrons, including the legendary Dambusters maritime strike force based at RAF Lossiemouth; and RAF Leuchars near St Andrews was closed.

The Scottish nationalists described this as a Min-

GARY SMITH

Britain’s defence capability should be founded on national rather than strategic interests; and this fine distinction is magnified when defence funding is tight. Perhaps for political reasons this process has been inverted

istry of Defence asset strip of Scotland. If correct, this was short sighted politics; leaving the entire Scottish coastline almost undefended as a Nato frontier; and open to unfettered Russian military activity. Moreover, should an independent Scotland join Nato, as it undoubtedly would; British RAF and Royal Navy assets might be based in Scotland as a part of a Nato obligation, just as the RAF currently operate from the Baltic state of Lithuania, with the British Rhine Army based in Germany and operating in Poland and Norway.

Faced with an independent Scotland, as a Nato member, it is inconceivable that the Britain would refuse similar common defence provision to their closest neighbour; thereby defaulting on Britain’s international Nato treaty obligations.

Evidently a high cost has been paid by Britain’s military forces to fund these costly aircraft carriers, with the Army also suffering a loss of 20,000 soldiers. These defence cuts have impacted heavily on Britain’s national defence capability.

Overly large and capable of housing 40 fighters and over 30 helicopters, each supercarrier shall carry only 6 fighters and 12 helicopters , whilst requiring considerably greater frigate escort capability than is available to the Royal Navy. These aircraft carriers shall therefore rely on Nato provided escort ships to ensure their safety. This folly has profoundly compromised Britain’s national security without enhancing its strategic global capability. Last week President Putin ordered the entire ‘Northern Fleet’ to mobilise in a huge Russian military exercise. This involved 40,000 troops, more than 41 warships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft.

This Russian exercise flooded the Arctic to dwarf Nato’s long planed Norwegian exercise, whilst Britain has 12 Typhoon aircraft based in Scotland to address this Russian threat. Also, last December the Russians anchored their largest aircraft carrier within sight of the Moray coast — where we earlier closed our maritime Nimrod base and disbanded the Dambusters — and held a Christmas party, which they posted on YouTube. A Russian submarine was likewise believed to be within British territorial waters off the Scottish coast, forcing Britain to request four of our Nato allies to provide anti-submarine, maritime surveillance, aircraft. Not since the Cold War has Britain national security been so vulnerable to Russian military activity; best defined by the disbanded Dambusters’ motto: ‘Après moi, le deluge’ — ‘After me, the flood.’

The author is a freelance contributor based in Britain.

All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely his and not of Times of Oman.

So you think teaching is easy. Do you?

ELLEN E JONES

N

o need to worry about what Top Gear presenter James May will do next.

He’s already got a plan: “(I might do) something outside of cars,” he informed the press last week.

“I always wanted to be a teacher.”

Sure, teaching, why not? It’s not like its hard or anything.

That much was demonstrated in the most recent series of HBO’s Girls, when Lena Dunham’s character Hannah, flunked out of her writing course and took up a post as a supply teacher instead.

“I can’t do, so I’ll teach!” she announced to her fellow incompetents over brunch. Meanwhile in real-life Cornwall, a fake professor has been prosecuted, but only after running a bogus psychology course for 18 months and swindling thousands out of her student-victims.

Teaching remains a popular second career choice among know-it-alls who like the sound of their own voices and fantasists who have seen the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. Actually qualifying as a

teacher and then surviving the reality of working in a classroom is a different matter. That’s why, despite all the wannabes, there’s still a recruitment crisis in education.

The profession is hugely respected in the abstract — teachers are so noble and self-sacrificing aren’t they? — yet in practice teachers are still underpaid, overworked and blamed for everything that goes wrong in education.

Would Alan Milburn’s new plan change that? The former Labour health secretary and current government social mobility tsar has proposed using a 25 per cent pay rise to encourage “the best teachers to work in challenging schools in the hardest-to-recruit areas”.

There is no word yet on how the “best” teachers will be selected, but if the scheme has anything in common with another government favourite, Teach First, “best” will mean those who graduated from the poshest universities, regardless of their ability to connect with pupils.

Or, if it goes by the results of league tables “best” will mean

those who have presided over the highest exam grades, regardless of how many other educational advantages their pupils had. The ability to inspire a young mind is, of course, a skill that’s much harder to measure. Even once we’re settled on the definition, are bad teachers really the greatest challenge faced by schools in deprived areas?

By suggesting that a financial incentive is all that’s needed to improve educational outcomes for this generation of cheated children, Milburn’s plan both insults professionals and underestimates the barriers to social mobility.

The schools in Britain do need better paid teachers but they also need more out-of-school support for children whose home lives make it almost impossible to concentrate, an Education Secretary who makes changes based on evidence, not ideology, and a fair share of all those resources which have been diverted to free schools and private education. The list goes on, as May will perhaps one day discover. - The Independent

RAZA RUMI

A

year ago, I suffered the fate of thousands of Pakistanis who have been attacked, maimed and terrorised by violent extremism. I was lucky to have physically survived but my driver Mustafa was not.

An innocent human life lost but at the end of the day, he made for a mere digit. This is the brutal reality of a country where a mighty state appears unable to protect its citizens.

I was once a civil servant and a mandarin in Pakistan’s powerful administrative service.

I ventured into international development and worked for the Asian Development Bank.

I had secure careers lined up with attractive promotions and stable retirement plans. I gave up these comfortable options and opted for journalism and public engagement, in the naive hope that public narratives could be changed. I chose a path that would allow me freedom of expression to wade in the murky waters of what is known as ‘public opinion’ in Pakistan.

I cannot complain much as within a few years I had carved my space and engaged with old and new media, happily discovering that there were thousands of other likeminded men and women of my country who agreed that religious extremism and xenophobia masked as patriotism needed to be challenged.

Above all, human rights — especially the right to live and worship freely — mattered.

But I sensed the limits and the dangers. And on March 28 last year, I did pay a price. Unknown men, later identified by the police as operatives of a Taliban affiliate, the Lashkare-Jhangvi (LeJ), tried to kill me. A rather drastic punishment for my views and what I stood for.

Before the attack, I was warned and threatened, especially on the social media.

Unknown accounts told me that I would have to pay a price with my blood. I was called an apostate, an infidel. My views on normalising ties with India were taken by some as a sign of being unpatriotic, for perennial hostility with the neighbour is the ultimate marker of our nationhood.

This is also a cynical ploy, for what could be more telling than Fatima Jinnah, celebrated as the mother of the nation, also being accused of being an Indian agent when she chose to show dissent in the 1965 elections. Concurrently, friends and family also insisted that I should not talk about ‘sensitive’ issues.

I remember that a caller in one of my TV shows attacked me for protesting against the ghastly 2013 attack on a Peshawar church and said that Muslims were also being killed by the ‘Christian’ West!

Is there no freedom in Paki-

I salute all the hardworking journalists and media workers who perform their duties in difficult situations, especially in Balochistan and other conflict zones stan to say that the colonial blasphemy law is being misused? Should we let mobs burn pregnant Christian women and others, and attack Christian settlements and churches because there is a mere accusation of blasphemy?

What sort of media reporting and commentary can take place if you can’t raise such issues on the most influential medium, i.e., TV? I do remember the unofficial advisories and the counsel by peers and producers on what not to say on TV. I caved in sometimes and for the times I did not, I guess, was taught a lesson.

I have been away from the country of my birth and my beloved city of Lahore for 11 months. I have lived abroad but never for so long. This has been a forced separation, mainly driven by the fact that those who tried to kill me can easily try it again.

There have been threats sent my way directly and indirectly and the extremists have even threatened my murdered driver’s family not to show up in court. I never knew that in my quest for freedom I would face this dilemma: should I risk my life or let anyone else get hurt?

I am neither a suicide bomber nor eager to be ‘martyred’. We have enough martyrs in Pakistan. I certainly don’t want to travel around in bullet-bomb-proof cars (unaffordable to begin with).

There are a few friends and foes who accuse me of ‘running away’. This is part of the larger desensitisation and intellectual confusion that permeates Pakistan. I am quite happy to take that opprobrium than face bullets. The bravery of those who question my decision can only be tested if they (God forbid) had to face the situation I am in.

Freedom of expression is invaluable and non-negotiable. I have done enough of self-censorship in my ruptured media career. But I have no plans to give up. I also have no regrets for taking positions.

I salute all the hard-working journalists and media workers who perform their duties in difficult situations, especially in Balochistan, Fata and other conflict zones. I will rejoin them one day. Pakistan is part of my identity and will always remain so. For now, I need to feel secure.

The right to life, after all, is inviolable. - The Express tribune

Black box unveils secrets of crashed Flight 9525 Black box flight recorders Located in tail as front of plane expected to act as crush zone, increasing likelihood that black box will survive Flight 9525 cockpit voice recorder retrieved from crash zone in battered condition

TODAY IN HISTORY 1840 “Beau” Brummell, the English dandy and former favorite of the prince regent, dies in a French lunatic asylum for paupers.

50

cm

32

cm

Cockpit voice recorder (cvr) Records voices of pilots and other sounds from cockpit for two hours

Circuit board Processes data from up to 3,000 parameters collected by sensors throughout fuselage

OPINION POLL

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Flight Data Recorder (Fdr) Records technical data, including airspeed, altitude, engine performance, status of key systems – autopilot and autothrottle – and position of wing flaps and rudder. FDR of Flight 9525 not yet found

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Stacked memory boards Thermally insulated solid-state flash drives can store several gigabytes of data

Crash Survivable Memory Unit Stainless steel or titanium CSMU can withstand impact 3,400 times force of gravity and temperatures up to 1,100C for 60 minutes

Source: IASA, L-3 Aviation Recorders

Graphic News /

1941

Russian Baron Stoeckl and US Secretary of State Seward completed the draft of a treaty ceding Alaska to the United States. The treaty is signed the following day.

In Afghanistan, Russian troops inflict a crushing defeat on Afghan forces Ak Teppe despite orders not to fight.

The German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel begins its first offensive against British forces in Libya.

HISTORYNET.COM Graphics

FROM OUR ARCHIVES GEO-ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE BEGINS

MUSCAT: Dr Khamis bin Mubarak Al Alawi, minister of regional municipalities and environment opened the Geo environment International Conference 2000 at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) yesterday. The four-day conference, orgasnised by the faculty of engineering, will endeavour to produce recommendations that would help scholars and researchers study changes in planet earth. The minister said he was pleased to open the conference, the first of its kind to be organised in the Sultanate.

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UNITED STATES: A view of low water levels at Lake Powell on Saturday in Lake Powell, Utah. As severe drought grips parts of the western United States, a below average flow of water is expected to enter Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two biggest reservoirs of the Colorado River Basin. Lake Powell is currently at 45 per cent of capacity and is at risk of seeing its surface elevation fall below 1,075 feet above sea level by September, which would be the lowest level on record. The Colorado River Basin supplies water to 40 million people in seven western states. — Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

TAIWAN: In this handout photograph provided by the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), demonstrators tussle with police during a protest in Taipei on Sunday. Taiwanese demonstrators threw eggs and slippers to protest against China’s launch of a controversial new flight route, accusing the government of failing to stand up to Beijing. — AFP/TAIWAN SOLIDARITY UNION

CHINA: Labourers transport steel bars toward a full-scale replica of the Sphinx at an unfinished movie and animation tourism theme

park, in Chuzhou, China, on Saturday. — Reuters/China Daily

CHILE: Handout picture released by Chile’s National Geology and

Mining Service (Sernageomin) showing smoke billowing from the Villarrica volcano, in Pucon some 800 km south of Santiago, on Saturday. — AFP/SERNAGEOMIN

JAPAN: People row canoes past cherry blossoms trees in full bloom in Tokyo on Sunday. — AFP

UZBEKISTAN: Uzbek police officers stand guard near a polling station in Tashkent on Sunday, as people arrive to cast their votes in Uzbekistan’s presidential elections. — AFP

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WORLD

The Tunisian people have proven that they will not give in to terrorism. My thanks go out to all and I tell the Tunisian people: ‘Forwards. You are not alone.’

Beji Caid Essebsi, Tunisia President

Thousands march for peace in Tunis Chanting ‘Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!’, the demonstrators marched in a sea of red Tunisian flags to the capital’s Bardo Museum, where 21 foreign tourists were killed in the March 18 extremists shooting rampage

TUNIS: Tunisia said Sunday it had killed the leader of the extremists behind the massacre at its national museum, as foreign leaders joined thousands of Tunisians in a march against extremism.

Chanting “Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!” the demonstrators marched in a sea of red Tunisian flags to the capital’s Bardo Museum, where 21 foreign tourists were killed in the March 18 extremists shooting rampage.

“The Tunisian people have proven that they will not give in

DENOUNCING EXTREMISM: Tunisians wave their national flag and chant slogans during a march against extremism outside Tunis’ Bardo Museum on Sunday. — AFP

to terrorism. My thanks go out to all and I tell the Tunisian people: ‘Forwards. You are not alone,’” President Beji Caid Essebsi said after joining the march with foreign dignitaries.

French President Francois Hollande, whose country held a similar march after January’s attacks in Paris, was among the figures attending along with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Pales-

CONTROVERSY

DEMAND FOR CANCELLATION: All Progressives Congress Party’s supporters march towards the Independent National Electoral Commission Office in Port Harcourt during a demonstration calling for the cancellation of the presidential elections in the southern oil-rich Rivers State on Sunday. — AFP/Stringer

Violence, chaos mar Nigeria’s tensest presidential poll PORT HARCOURT (NIGERIA): Confusion and sporadic violence blighted Nigeria’s tensest presidential election since the end of army rule, with opposition supporters disputing results on Sunday from a turbulent southern state even before they were announced.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state accused supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan of being behind killings of its campaigners, and denounced the vote there as “a sham and a charade”.

Disputed outcome Dismissal of the vote in Rivers the centre of Africa’s biggest oil industry - raises the prospect of a disputed national outcome and the risk of a repeat of the violence that erupted after the last election in 2011, when 800 people were killed and 65,000 displaced in the mainly Muslim north.

Hundreds of protesters chanted “APC” outside the main INEC electoral commission office in Port Harcourt, watched by doz-

ens of police. Senator Magnus Abe accused the ruling party of intimidation.

“There was no election in Rivers,” APC polling agent Achinike William-Wobodo told Reuters, calling for a fresh ballot.

In a sign the opposition will challenge results elsewhere, the APC governor of southern Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, denounced on television the conduct of the election in his region and accused the military of meddling in the result.

There was no immediate comment from INEC. Kano and Kaduna, the northern cities worst-hit by the 2011 violence, were calm.

Voting in Saturday’s election was extended into Sunday at a relatively small number of polling stations after technical glitches hit voter ID machines.

Boko Haram militants also killed more than a dozen voters in the northeast, while at least two people were shot dead in Port Harcourt, a city with a long history of political thuggery. — Reuters

TA N Z A N I A

Kikwete warns of rising tensions DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s president said tensions between Muslims and Christians were rising ahead of a constitutional referendum and elections and warned religious leaders against political meddling, saying this could stoke violence.

Jakaya Kikwete told a meeting of religious leaders in a speech

seen by Reuters on Sunday that the referendum slated for April 30 and presidential and parliamentary elections set for October had raised the spectre of violence.

“The threat to peace is high,” he told the gathering, held late on Saturday in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. — Reuters

tinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

“We must all fight against terrorism,” Hollande told reporters after the march. “Tunisians wanted this international solidarity.”

Mastermind killed Tunisian authorities earlier said Lokmane Abou Sakhr — an Algerian who allegedly masterminded the museum attack — was killed along with at least eight others

from the notorious Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade.

Officials had accused Abou Sakhr and his group of organising the attack on the Bardo National Museum carried out by two gunmen who were shot dead, despite a claim of responsibility from the IS group.

Tunisian forces “were able yesterday (Saturday) to kill the most important members of the

Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade including its head Lokmane Abou Sakhr,” Prime Minister Habib Essid told reporters.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told AFP that security forces had killed “nine terrorists” in an operation in the west-central area of Sidi Aich.

Authorities say Okba Ibn Nafaa has been behind a series of attacks on security forces that have left some 60 dead since late 2012.

During the official march, a stone tablet was unveiled with the names of the foreign tourists and a Tunisian policeman killed in the attack.

The authorities gave no immediate estimate for the number of participants in the march, which took place amid tight security.

“Tunisia is not a country of extremism and terrorism!” yelled Majda Friga, a participant wrapped in the Tunisian flag.

“Let the terrorists leave our lands. Let them go to hell and leave us in peace,” said Fadhila Lahmar, a woman in her 60s.

Ben Ali overthrow Tunisia has seen an upsurge in extremism since overthrowing longtime strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, but has taken pride in forming a democratic government since the upheaval -- in marked contrast to countries such as Libya, Syria and Yemen.

The extremist Ennahda main opposition party called on its sup-

porters to join the march “as an expression of Tunisian unity in the face of this danger and of their determination to defend their country and... preserve their freedom”.

The country’s powerful UGTT trade union also urged its supporters to take part.

However, the leftist opposition Popular Front called for a boycott, accusing some participants of “hypocrisy”, referring to accusations that the moderates extremists in power after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution had failed to act against extremists.

Paris demonstration The march in Tunis echoed a similar anti-extremism demonstration in Paris after the deadly attacks on the ‘Charlie Hebdo’ satirical weekly and a kosher supermarket.

The dead tourists were from Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Colombia, Australia, Britain, Belgium, Poland and Russia.

Officials have described the attack as “a big blow” to Tunisia’s crucial tourism industry.

Authorities have arrested nearly two dozen suspects in connection with the attack and fired senior police officials over alleged security failures. — AFP

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MONDAY, MAR CH 30, 2015

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

Prequalification tender for Duqm project floated intake structure, seawater pumping station, seawater supply, return channels and beach well system.

Contract is for building facilities for supplying seawater for cooling industrial plants in Duqm economic zone – Times file picture

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A prequalification tender to select a specialised engineering, procurement and construction contract for building facilities for supplying seawater for cooling industrial plants in Duqm area has been floated by Duqm Special Eco-

nomic Zone Authority (Sezad).

The facility will provide seawater to all end users (industrial projects within the industrial zone, including the proposed Duqm Refinery, which is coming up adjacent to the Duqm port. The contractors will

have to carry out detailed design, which will be based on a front-end

engineering design (FEED) provided by the owner.

The construction of the seawater system will start in the fourth quarter of 2015, with the handing over scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2017, according to a tender floated by Sezad.

The project will include marine

Like Sohar, a seawater system for cooling industrial plants is of utmost importance in Duqm area since several industries are in the planning stage.

Port of Duqm last year launched a new subsidiary to help support the development of industrial clusters for investment within the adjoining special economic zone.

Port of Duqm Company has been allocated 2,000 hectares of land for petrochemical and medium and heavy industries to develop and manage as part of its concession agreement with the Oman government.

PDC’s strategy is to develop two zones each of 500 hectares within the special economic zone reserved exclusively for medium industries, the other is earmarked for heavy industries, while the remaining 1,000 hectares will serve

the downstream petrochemical industries.

According to recent reports, twenty-three projects in various fields have been planned for the period from 2015 to 2020 in the fast developing port town of Duqm.

Also, eight projects are in the tendering process and the scope of work and preparation for 20 projects are underway.

The projects planned for the period from 2015 to 2020 are for coastal development, roads’ network system and rail road project (phase 2), marina project, communication supply network system (industrial zone), custom checkpoint facilities, town centre, street light, commercial centre building, water supply network for commercial and residential, communication network system for commercial and residential, and electrical supply network for commercial and residential.

REGIONAL SEMINAR

Central bank to host forum Times News Service MUSCAT: A regional seminar on ‘Regulating and Supervising Systemic Banks,’ will be held on Monday. Central Bank of Oman (CBO) executive president Hamood bin Sangour Al Zadjali will launch the regional seminar. It is being organised by the CBO in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Financial Stability Institute (FSI) of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

The BIS officials will conduct the seminar, which will continue for four days. A number of banking examiners from all the central banks and monetary agencies of the GCC countries will participate in the seminar.

The seminar aims at enhancing the manpower skills of the GCC regulators, as well as boosting the supervisory and regulatory systems of the GCC countries. The seminar will also focus on supervision and control of the domestically systematically important banks (DSIBs).

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M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

MARKET India is among top source markets for capital into Dubai Out of a total of 41 source countries, the top ones — US, UK, India, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy — generated a total of Dh23.9 billion

DUBAI: India was among the top source market for Dubai whose infrastructure development initiatives and the services industries remained the major drivers of capital into emirate in 2014.

The emirate witnessed $7.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). Estimates by Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economic Development, shows that the United States, the UK, India and other European countries, such as France and Germany were major source markets.

Out of a total of 41 source countries, the top ones — the United States, the United Kingdom, In-

dia, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy — generated a total of Dh23.9 billion throughout the year across 141 projects.

In terms of investment, these countries represented almost 84 per cent of the total foreign direct investment for the whole year and 59 per cent of the total in terms of the number of projects.

Real estate sector With clear signs of recovery and iconic projects on board, the real estate sector, financial services, hotels and tourism, alternative/ renewable energy, business services, software and IT services were the top sectors together accounting for 78 per cent of investment, or Dh22 billion in 2014.

These sectors also claimed 133 projects, half of the total FDI projects in 2014.

“The latest foreign direct investment figures once again prove

that Dubai remains the preferred and ideal destination for investors and businessmen, who have confidence in the national economy, which is witnessing steady growth in various sectors.”

“Dubai hosting the Expo 2020 has stimulated a major influx of investors and growth opportunities. We welcome all kinds of investments and global companies that are looking for stability and business development in an integrated investment environment,” said Sami Al Qamzi, director general of DED. Projects aimed at the regional market captured 84 per cent of the investments in 2014. — PTI

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B I L AT E R A L T I E S

ECONOMY

China wooing Nepal with infrastructure, hydro projects BEIJING: Firming up ties with Nepal, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the two countries should strengthen cooperation in interconnectivity, infrastructure, and hydropower development as Kathmandu pledged to keep up the crackdown on Tibetans supporting the Dalai Lama.

China is willing to initiate talks on Free Trade Agreement with Nepal at an early date, Xi said.

He suggested that the two countries should work on traffic interconnectivity, infrastructure, hydropower development, modernisation of agriculture and science and technology.

Silk Road projects The Chinese President on Saturday met his Nepalese counterpart Ram Baran Yadav on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi welcomed Nepal’s participation in the Silk Road projects unveiled by him at the forum to improve China’s connectivity to Europe through a maze of road, rail and port network.

Though no specific projects were mentioned with Nepal, the two sides are planning to beef up the connectivity with rail and road links, amid concerns in India over China’s growing influence in the Himalayan country.

Early this month, China had increased its annual aid to Nepal to $128 million from $24 million.

Yadav was one of the 13 heads of states and government who took part in the conference. - PTI

Beijing urged to be vigilant on deflation BEIJING: China must remain vigilant against the possibility of deflation, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said at the Boao Forum for Asia, as he signaled further steps to prop up an economy that has slowed ‘a bit too sharply.’

There is still ‘room’ for monetary policy action, Zhou, 67, said in a speech on Sunday on the southern island of Hainan.

While monetary policy isn’t unconventional now, China ‘had experience’ with non-conventional measures after the Asian and global financial crises, he said.

The head of the People’s Bank of China has pledged prudent policy recently even after joining global counterparts with monetary easing as he seeks to cushion a slowdown in the world’s second-biggest economy. Premier Li Keqiang set a 2015 growth target of about 7 per cent, the lowest in more than 15 years, and pledged to take steps if growth slows toward the lower limit of that range, and cuts into jobs and income.

Growth has declined “a bit too sharply,” Zhou told an audience that included central bankers from Japan and Germany.

Interest-rate cut “China’s inflation is also declining, so we need to be vigilant to see if the disinflation trend will continue, and if deflation will happen or not.”

The central bank announced its first interest-rate cut in two years in November and followed with another reduction on February 28. It also lowered banks’ reserve ratio requirements last month.

China’s disinflation eased in

Zhou Xiaochuan has pledged prudent policy recently even after joining global counterparts with monetary easing as he seeks to cushion a slowdown in China

February after the central bank stepped up easing and the Lunar New Year holiday pushed up food and transport costs. The consumer-price index rose 1.4 per cent from a year earlier, compared with January’s 0.8 per cent, data from the statistics bureau show.

The government set a 2015 consumer inflation target of 3 per cent in its annual work report earlier this month.

The room the country has to move on monetary policy “is not necessarily for quantitative easing,” Zhou said.

“China can have room to act on both the price side and the quantitative side.” - Bloomberg News

Don’t litter a beautiful country like OMAN. Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

B3

MARKET COMPLIANCE RULES

Middle East firms face rising costs to fight financial crime DUBAI: Companies in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) are facing rising costs to fight financial crime, with more than half reporting a climb of higher than 25 per cent in the past two years, according to a survey.

In a region where the risk of money laundering and terrorism looms larger than in some other parts of the world, many businesses are under pressure to tighten anti-financial crime and compliance rules.

their companies were spending more personnel hours in meeting compliance objectives, with a further 25 per cent saying they had increased staffing within compliance activities.

In the next two years, 54.8 per cent of companies said they expected growth in either the number of personnel hours handling compliance or staffing levels combating financial crime.

Cmpliance costs RESTRICTIONS: The UAE banks have been banned by the government from doing business with The survey by Thomson Reuters organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, IS and the Houthi movement, which is fighting for and Deloitte of more than 160 control of Yemen. The picture is used for illustrative purpose only. – Times file photo people working across the corporate and financial sector showed A further 27.85 per cent of those increasing, with 49.69 per cent of casting a rise of over 50 per cent. that 33.54 per cent believed inThe growing costs reflected a vestment in combating financial surveyed said compliance costs respondents expecting such incrime and compliance had risen had surged by more than 50 per vestment to rise by more than 25 rise in compliance activity in the per cent over the next two years, past two years. A total of 25.61 by more than 25 per cent com- cent over the same period.

And these costs will only keep with a further 24.84 per cent fore- per cent of those surveyed said pared to two years ago.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Denmark wants to join investment bank backed

by China

Omani firm buys back stake from Sharakah

Ben Bella Trading received equity financial BEIJING: Denmark has applied to join the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Bank (AIIB), China’s Ministry of Finance said on Sunday, becoming the latest European power to join the institution despite misgivings of the United States.

The Ministry of Finance said that Denmark has written to China to “announce its intention to apply to be a founding member” of the AIIB. “China welcomes Denmark’s decision,” the ministry said in a statement on its website, adding that China will first seek the views of other members. If the decision is approved, Denmark will officially be a founding member of the AIIB on April 12, the ministry said.

Danish Minister of Trade and Development Mogens Jensen called China’s establishment of the AIIB “a significant and exciting development in the world order”. “Since many Danish trade interests as well as development cooperation interests will be at stake in AIIB, there are many reasons to engage in and influence AIIB’s investment decisions from its beginning,” Jensen said in a statement.

On Saturday, Russia, Australia and the Netherlands became the latest countries to say they plan to join the AIIB, adding clout to an institution seen as enhancing China’s regional and global influence.

Founding member China has set a March 31 deadline to become a founding member of the AIIB, which is seen as a significant setback to US efforts to extend its influence in the Asia Pacific region and to balance China’s growing financial clout and assertiveness.

The AIIB has been seen as a challenge to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, institutions Washington helped found and over which it exerts considerable influence.

The United States has urged countries to think twice about joining the AIIB until it could show sufficient standards of governance and environmental and social safeguards.

But the US’ European allies Britain, France, Germany and Italy announced this month they would join the bank, leading US to reassess stance. - Reuters

Breaching sanctions Several businesses in the United Arab Emirates have been fined by United States and local regulators in recent years for breaching sanctions against Iran. Meanwhile, UAE banks have been banned by the government from doing business with organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, IS and the Houthi movement, which is fighting for control of Yemen.

support from Sharakah in 2011

Times News Service MUSCAT: Ben Bella Trading has officially exited from the Fund for Development of Youth Projects (Sharakah) with the promoters buying back all shares owned by Sharakah. Ben Bella Trading received equity financial support from Sharakah in 2011.

The project was originally a fish specialty restaurant called Ocean & Earth and subsequently expanded its business to provide

catering services to large corporates. They currently provide catering services to students and faculty members at German University of Technology (GU-tech) and at the new Muscat International Airport construction site.

Ben Bella, partnered with Mohammed Al Habsi and agreed to rope in Sharakah as equity partner for setting up the business.

The restaurant in its initial startup phase planned for slow and cautious growth and later

Ocean & Earth started developing its catering unit to serve the evergrowing event market in Muscat.

Overall, the business is doing well and has created around 16 jobs.

“We would like to congratulate and thank Ben Bella for his commitment and hard work in making the business a successful venture.

He, in a record time, has paid the full amount and we (Sharakah) have formally exited the company, which is an indicator of the project’s success and growth,” said Dinkar Kishor, deputy general manager at Sharakah.

“When I established my project, I faced difficulties to have sufficient capital and understand other issues in the business environment. I approached Sharakah for support and I knew that I would be receiving the much

EXPORT DEVELOPMENT

Oman is gearing up for local products’ expo in Saudi Arabia Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman is planning to conduct an exhibition on local products in Jeddah, which will provide a platform to eventually boost the country’s exports to Saudi Arabia.

To achieve this, Oman is participating on the fourth Omani Products Exhibition — Opex 2015 scheduled to be held from May 18 to 21, at Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events in Saudi Arabia.

The organising committee of Omani Products Exhibition (Opex) met recently with owners of companies and industrialists in Raysut Industrial Estate in

the presence of Eng. Said bin Ali Al Maashani, director general of Raysut Industrial Estate.

In line with the preparation, the companies were briefed on the participation process, the advantages and provided support that will be offered for the participating companies in the event.

Dubai promotion The organising committee in cooperation with Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry aim at inviting Saudi businessmen and residents in Saudi Arabia to hold business-tobusiness meetings with Omani investors during the event to discuss deals, offer fur-

ther facilities, and meet the existing challenges.

It should be noted that Omani Products Exhibitions were held in Dubai, Doha and Riyadh by the committee comprising the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (ITHRAA), and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

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needed guidance and financial support. Sharakah has helped me to run my business successfully. I currently have 16 staff.

“Operationally, I am now dedicating my effort to provide better service and open new branches in other locations besides GUtech University and the airport.

I appreciate and thank the entire group of Sharakah for their continuous support and encouragement to continue performing well to achieve success in my field,” said Ben Bella.

Sharakah’s support is not limited to financial support and goes beyond that to ensure businesses’ sustainability and growth. Its ultimate objective is to provide support to small and medium enterprises in Oman and help them grow nationally and regionally.

The survey showed that antimoney laundering was the top priority for most companies in combating financial crime, with 82.50 per cent of firms saying they had such policies in place.

This was followed by policies to protect against fraud (73.13 per cent), comply with sanctions (66.88 per cent), for counter-terrorism financing (63.13 per cent) and to stop bribery and corruption (56.25 per cent). But only 33.13 per cent of firms said they had cyber crime policies in place.

Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Saudi Aramco was hit by a cyber attack in August 2012 that targeted 30,000 computers in a bid to stop oil and gas production in the kingdom. In the months after this, both Rakbank and Bank Muscat disclosed cyber-criminals had stolen debit card data from customers. - Agencies BRIEFS

Muscat National Holding appoints new chairman MUSCAT: Muscat National Holding Company board of directors at its meeting on Thursday, unanimously agreed on the appointment of Aimen bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Hosni as the new chairman and Bipin Dharamsey Nensey as deputy chairman.

Ecuador GDP growth slowed QUITO: The rate of growth in Ecuador, South America’s seventh biggest economy, slowed for a third year in 2014 as falling crude oil prices and a refinery shutdown offset gains from higher fishing and electricity output. Gross domestic product rose 3.8 per cent in 2014 from a year earlier, less than the government’s 4 per cent forecast, the central bank said in a statement.

-Times News Service/Agencies

B4

M O N DAY, MARCH 3 0, 2015

MARKET MSM rises marginally

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,189.27 ................6,111.78 ................... 6,188.97 ....................6,112.91................. 76.06 ................... 1.24 Financial Index .....................................7,599.66 ............... 7,513.23 ....................7,587.65 ...................7,522.32..................65.33 ................... 0.87 Industrial Index ....................................8,187.60 ...............8,152.89 ....................8,187.53 ................... 8,153.22..................34.31 ...................0.42 Services Index ...................................... 3,405.97 .............. 3,382.94 ...................3,405.24 ...................3,383.60..................21.64 ...................0.64 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................950.70 ..................945.86 .......................950.70 ...................... 946.33....................4.37 ................... 0.46 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 23,298,007................. 4,882,126 ................. 1,069 ............... 14,701,245,596................ 19 ........................6 .................... 16 .........................41

Ahli Bank, up by 6.70 per cent, was the day’s top gainer while Al Sharqia Investments, down by 7.45 per cent, was the top loser

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 29 ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

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

MUSCAT: Oman’s general index - MSM30 Index - has opened the week on a bullish note to close at 6,188.97 points, up by 1.24 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 950.70 points, up by 0.46 per cent. Global Financial Investment was the most active in terms of volume while Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of turnover. Ahli Bank, up by 6.70 per cent, was the day’s top gainer while Al Sharqia Investments, down by 7.45 per cent was the top loser on Sunday.

A total number of 1,069 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR4.88 million with more than 23.29 million shares changing hands. Out of 41 traded securities, 19 advanced, six declined and 16 remained unchanged. Omani Investors were net buyers for OMR694,000 followed by Foreign Investors for OMR7,000 while GCC & Arab Investors were net sellers for OMR701,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index gained 0.87 per cent to close at 7,587.65 points. Ahli Bank, Global Financial Investment, Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar and Gulf Investment Services increased 6.70 per cent, 3.77 per cent, 2.73 per cent, 1.58 per cent and 1.46 per cent respectively. Al Sharqia Investments, Al Batinah Development, Bank Nizwa, United Finance and Al Anwar Holding decreased 7.45 per cent, 4.20 per cent, 1.23 per cent, 0.84 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index ended the day at 8,187.53 points, up by 0.42 per cent. Galfar Engineering, Gulf International Chemicals, Voltamp Energy, Raysut Cement and Al Maha Ceramics increased 4.24 per cent, 2.02 per cent, 1.02 per cent, 0.58 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively. National Aluminium, down by 1.84 per cent

was the only sector loser.

Services Sector Index closed the session at 3,405.24 points, up by 0.64 per cent. Omantel, National Gas, Ooredoo, OIFC and Al Batinah Power gained 2.73 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 1.81 per cent, 1.46 per cent and 0.56 per cent respectively.

Saudi stocks jump Saudi Arabian stocks jumped the most in six weeks, leading a rally in Arab equity markets, after the country pledged to restore stability in Yemen.

The Tadawul All Share Index, the main gauge for the world’s biggest oil exporter, added 1.9 per cent at 2:18pm local time, the sharpest increase since February 15.

Qatar’s QE Index climbed for the first time in three days, and Dubai’s DFM General Index added the most since March 23.

The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, a gauge of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s top 200 equities, was on course for the biggest advance in more than a month. Stocks in the region were caught in a selloff last week as a Saudi-led coalition started bombing targets in Yemen after Shiite rebels advanced on the southern port of Aden, where forces loyal to the president have rallied.

“The message from the Saudi king is very clear and it shows they have the willpower to go all the way,” Muhammad Shabbir, the head of equities at Rasmala Investment Bank in Dubai, said by telephone on Sunday. “This adds to the hope that the issue will be resolved.” Jabal Omar Development, a Saudi-based property developer, led 158 advancers on Saudi Arabia’s main equity gauge with a 5.8 per cent jump.

Two share declined, while eight stocks were unchanged.

OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 1,032,400...... 196,889.....................42 ............0.183 ........... 0.194 ...........0.183 ............0.191 ............. 0.179.............0.012 ............. 6.704 ................0.194..............0.196...................0.000 .................272,181,904........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 352,481 ........... 43,432..................... 49 ............0.119 ........... 0.129 ...........0.119 ............0.123 ............. 0.118 ............ 0.005............. 4.237 ................0.126 ..............0.126...................0.129................... 35,667,618 .........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 5,178,931........569,115.....................20 ............0.110 ........... 0.110............0.108............0.110 .............0.106 ........... 0.004............. 3.774 ................0.109............. 0.000...................0.109.................. 22,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 106,248 ........... 55,969..................... 26 ........... 0.520 ...........0.530 ...........0.520........... 0.526 ............. 0.512.............0.014 ............. 2.734 ................0.528.............. 0.512...................0.526................1,205,498,686 ......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 172,345 .........292,063.....................44 ............1.685 ........... 1.700 ...........1.685 ............1.695 ............. 1.650.............0.045............. 2.727 ................1.685 ..............1.680...................1.685 ................1,271,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................83,700 ............ 34,333......................16 ............0.412 ........... 0.412 ...........0.410........... 0.410 .............0.400 ............0.010 .............2.500 ................0.410 ..............0.404...................0.410...................20,499,629.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 381,200 ........... 95,933................... 110 ........... 0.250 ...........0.254 ...........0.249........... 0.252 .............0.247 ........... 0.005.............2.024 ................0.250..............0.250...................0.251....................5,292,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 199,450.......... 135,062..................... 28 ........... 0.664 ...........0.684 ...........0.664........... 0.676 .............0.664 ............0.012 ............. 1.807 ................0.684..............0.680...................0.684................. 440,038,299 .......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 2,893,463.......557,531..................... 59 ............0.194 ...........0.200 ...........0.190............0.193 .............0.190 ........... 0.003............. 1.579 ................0.200 .............0.198...................0.200 ................ 220,792,000 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 209,500 ........... 43,675..................... 26 ........... 0.205 ........... 0.210 ...........0.205........... 0.208 .............0.205 ........... 0.003............. 1.463 ................0.209..............0.205...................0.209 ..................41,600,000.........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,261,069 ...... 174,695..................... 73 ............0.137 ........... 0.142 ...........0.135 ............0.139 ............. 0.137............ 0.002............. 1.460 ................0.137 ..............0.134...................0.137 .................... 8,179,207 ..........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 980,479 ......... 387,901..................... 49 ........... 0.392 ...........0.400 ...........0.392........... 0.396 .............0.392 ........... 0.004............. 1.020 ................0.400............. 0.400...................0.428 ..................23,958,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 379,547 ............45,178..................... 43 ............0.118 ........... 0.121............0.116 ............0.119 ............. 0.118 .............0.001 ............. 0.847 ................0.116 .............. 0.116................... 0.119 ................... 14,503,125 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 1,398,297 ...... 183,043......................31 ............0.130 ........... 0.135 ...........0.130............0.131 .............0.130.............0.001 ............. 0.769 ................0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.140................. 262,040,975 .......0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...................................................... 181,213 .......... 315,259......................18 ............1.730 ........... 1.750............1.730 ............1.740 ............. 1.730.............0.010 ............. 0.578 ................1.750 .............. 1.750...................0.000 ................ 348,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ............................2,755 .................. 693........................3 ........... 0.250 ...........0.253 ...........0.250............0.271 ............. 0.271............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.253..............0.253...................0.275...................25,755,840 .........0.100 OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD........................... 280 ...................150........................2 ........... 0.540 ...........0.540 ...........0.530........... 0.546 .............0.546 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.530..............0.530...................0.540 .................120,120,000........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 400,000.........188,000......................11 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.470 .............0.470 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.470..............0.466...................0.470..................158,269,210 ........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................4,000 ...............7,520........................1 ............1.880 ........... 1.880 ...........1.880........... 1.880 .............1.880............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.880 ..............1.880...................1.960..................168,636,000........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .............................................................. 1,000 ..................470........................1 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.476 .............0.476 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.470..............0.472...................0.476.................. 157,495,410 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .................................... 38,202 ...............2,407........................3 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.063........... 0.063 .............0.063 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.063..............0.061...................0.063................... 13,050,537 .........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 219,623.............79,878......................16 ........... 0.364 ...........0.368 ...........0.362........... 0.364 .............0.364 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.368..............0.368...................0.370.................. 107,821,780 ........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 299,323 .......... 101,171.....................22 ........... 0.338 ...........0.338 ...........0.338........... 0.338 .............0.338 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.338..............0.330...................0.338..................454,015,868........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ................................................. 168,470 ............24,765........................6 ............0.147 ........... 0.147 ...........0.147 ............0.147 ............. 0.147............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.147 ............. 0.000...................0.146................... 37,277,730 .........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER............................................................ 102,350 ........... 38,886........................5 ............0.376 ...........0.380 ...........0.376........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.380..............0.380...................0.390 ..................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING ............................................15,200 .............10,032........................1 ........... 0.660 ...........0.660 ...........0.660........... 0.660 .............0.660 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.660..............0.660...................0.672.................. 131,759,496 ........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 3,192,897 ......825,658.................. 202 ........... 0.255 ...........0.262 ...........0.255........... 0.259 .............0.260 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.385 ...............0.259..............0.257...................0.259...................33,799,500 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .......................................................31,307 ............... 3,707........................6 ............0.118 ........... 0.120 ...........0.118 ............0.118 ............. 0.119 ............-0.001 ........... -0.840 ...............0.120..............0.120...................0.124...................36,670,263 .........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 100,000 ........... 32,100........................7 ........... 0.324 ...........0.324 ...........0.320........... 0.320 .............0.326 ...........-0.006 ........... -1.840 ...............0.320..............0.306...................0.320 ..................10,742,864 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............16,440 ...............2,446........................5 ............0.150 ........... 0.150 ...........0.148 ........... 0.149 ............. 0.161 ............-0.012 ............-7.453................0.148 ..............0.146...................0.149...................12,891,480 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 19,402,170.......4,447,959 .............925 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......30........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 1,426,514 ....... 115,713......................12 ........... 0.080 ...........0.083 ...........0.080........... 0.081 .............0.080 ............0.001 ............. 1.250 ................0.080..............0.079...................0.082 ..................14,175,000 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER...................................................15,817 ...............2,835........................3 ............0.178 ........... 0.180 ...........0.178 ............0.179 ............. 0.178.............0.001 ............. 0.562 ................0.180.............. 0.178................... 0.181 ..................120,804,850 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................. 17,234 ............... 8,614........................6 ........... 0.498 ...........0.500 ...........0.498........... 0.500 .............0.498 ........... 0.002.............0.402 ................0.500..............0.490...................0.498...................26,250,000.........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................30,582 .............71,577........................8 ........... 2.330 ...........2.350 ...........2.330........... 2.340 .............2.335 ........... 0.005............. 0.214 ................2.340 ............ 2.340...................2.370..................223,369,836........1.000 OM0000001426............OMAN REFRESHMENT .............................................. 9,997 ............ 24,493........................2 ........... 2.450 ...........2.450 ...........2.450........... 2.450 .............2.450 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.450..............2.450...................2.550................. 122,500,000 .......0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES ...........................................100 .....................64........................1 ........... 0.636 ........... 0.636 ...........0.636........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.636............. 0.000...................0.648..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING......................................2,940 .................. 353........................2 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.120........... 0.120 .............0.120 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.120.............. 0.118...................0.120....................9,024,960 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK............................................... 25,000 ...............2,075........................1 ........... 0.083 ...........0.083 ...........0.083........... 0.083 .............0.083 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.083..............0.083...................0.086...................83,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ......................................................8,044 ...............1,448........................2 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180..............0.180................... 0.181 .................. 128,593,141 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 2,042,300 ..... 163,409......................61 ............0.081 ........... 0.081 ...........0.079........... 0.080 ............. 0.081............-0.001 ............-1.235................0.080..............0.079...................0.080 ................ 120,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 317,309 ............ 43,588..................... 46 ............0.137 ........... 0.140 ...........0.135 ............0.137 .............0.143............-0.006 ........... -4.196 ...............0.136 .............. 0.136...................0.139.................... 4,110,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,895,837 ......434,167...................144 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 11........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/Bloomberg News

WOOING INVESTORS

India holds ‘Make in India’ fortnight in Germany FRANKFURT: Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Germany next month, a ‘Make in India’ fortnight has been held near here which included a series of events highlighting initiatives to make India a preferred investment destination.

The Indian Consulate in Frankfurt, in close cooperation with the city authorities of Cologne, about 190 kilometres from here, organised a grand road show on Friday which was the concluding event of the ‘Make in India’ fortnight series.

The series of events were organised by the Consulate in the lead up to Modi’s upcoming visit to Germany to inaugurate the Hannover Trade Fair where India will be the partner country.

Consul General Raveesh Kumar emphasised on the importance of this campaign and highlighted the positive developments that are being undertaken by the Indian government to make India a manufacturing hub and a preferred investment destination.

The Lord Mayor of Cologne Juergen Roters, while lauding the initiative of the Indian government, highlighted the special relationship that the city shares with India and invited Indian companies to invest in Cologne.

Subhra Singh, Joint Secretary, Department of Policy and Promotion (DIIP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, was especially invited from India to throw light on the various aspects of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and its relevance to the German investors.

India is participating as the partner country at Hannover Messe, April 13-17, under the theme ‘Make in India’. — PTI

GLOBAL ECONOMY

US labour market to add heat to Fed lift-off debate BRUSSELS: The state of the US labour market in March will consume economists and investors in the week leading up to Easter, adding to the seesaw debate over when the Federal Reserve will spring its first interest rate hike.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen made it clear on Friday that the US central bank is likely to start raising borrowing costs later this year, adding that continued improvement of the labour market would be an important factor in deciding when to move.

Labour market data are therefore likely to be the highlight of the economic week, providing a further signal to the Fed on the health of the US economy and its capacity to withstand rate rises.

The ADP National Employment Report, which focuses only on the private sector and is due on Wednesday, may provide a foretaste of the big event — non-farm payroll numbers on Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters are forecasting a healthy 244,000 rise in non-farm payrolls in March. If confirmed, it would be the 13th straight month of job gains of over 200,000, matching a run in 1994-95.

In the post-war period only the runs of 14 months in 1976-77 and 15 in 1983-84 have been higher.

Yellen said a significant pickup in core inflation was not a precondition for the Fed to pull the trigger on rates. Nevertheless, inflation remains stubbornly low, although consumer prices did rebound in February as the cost of gasoline rose.

For many economists the focus on Friday is less the jobs figures than average earnings, which are seen picking up after a muted three cent per hour rise in February.

I’m still in the June camp. But it’s been a weak Q1 and the Fed wants certainty that this it’s transitory and not related, for example, to the dollar Harm Bandholz

UniCredit’s Chief US economist

A spate of weak US economic data at the start of the year, from retail sales to business spending, has prompted economists to scale down their growth views and push back to September their expectations of a first rate hike since 2006.

Bullish economists say a harsh winter, a now settled labour dispute at the country’s busy West Coast ports and a natural moderation from a strong middle of 2014 imply the slowdown is just a temporary ripple.

However, there are some that cite the lack of wage pressure as a sign that the recovery is not complete and a strong dollar as a future threat.

The euro briefly passed $1.10 last week, having dropped just below $1.05 before the Fed’s March

meeting, when it downgraded its economic growth and inflation projections, pouring cold water on investor expectations of a June rate hike.

“I’m still in the June camp,” said UniCredit’s Chief US economist Harm Bandholz. “But it’s been a weak Q1 and the Fed wants certainty that this it’s transitory and not related, for example, to the dollar.”

Greek list, Chinese ebb In Europe, euro zone finance ministers will need to give their blessing to Greece’s long-awaited list of reforms if Athens is to secure further aid and stave off bankruptcy.

Rating agency Fitch cut Greece’s credit status on Friday due to uncertainty over the timing of the release of aid.

For the euro zone as a whole, the main data point will be March flash inflation due on Tuesday.

Since a record-equalling consumer price fall of 0.6 per cent in January, the year-on-year inflation rate is seen pulling back to minus 0.1 per cent in March.

Consumer and business sentiment figures on Monday should show the single currency bloc is steadily improving.

Indeed with low oil prices and a weak euro driving consumption and exports, there are some already questioning whether the European Central Bank will need the full one trillion euros ($1.09 trillion) of its bond buying programme. — Reuters

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M MONDAY, MAR CH 30, 2015

SECTION

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

Messaging apps offer to do it all, for more money

EMBEDDING A TWEET RIGHT IN YOUR BLOG Twitter includes a tool that lets you easily embed a tweet right in your blog. When your blog readers click the embedded tweet, they are sent to the Twitter page of the original author. To add a tweet, you admire to your own blog, find the original post on the Twitter website, click the three-dot More icon underneath it and choose Embed Tweet. A box appears with a chunk of pre-formatted code that you can copy from here and then paste into your blog post.

APP SMART

Such moves are part of a trend toward

Board games, reimagined for mobile screens

messaging apps becoming do-it-all services. The model, in many ways, comes from the

W

messaging giants popular in China and Japan

M

essaging apps do a lot more these days than send messages.

Fa c e b o o k ’s Messenger app is the perfect example. Last week, the company added the ability to let Messengers users send and receive money. And on Wednesday, the company announced that users of its standalone Messenger app would be able to download new apps that add extra features.

Right now, those new features are mainly limited to more advanced messages, like text messages that turn into songs or one that lets you animate selfie photos.

But the company announced tools for developers to build in even more capabilities, plus partnerships with stores, so that users can track online purchases and packages in Messenger.

Do-it-all services Such moves are part of a trend toward messaging apps becoming do-it-all services. The model, in many ways, comes from the messaging giants popular in China and Japan: Tencent’s WeChat (known as Weixin in China), and Line, which became a powerful alternative to text messaging after the devastating Tohoku earthquake of 2011.

“Facebook or these messenger apps, they’re wondering, what’s their future?” said Brian Blau, a research director at the technology research firm Gartner. “How are they going to engage? Are they going to risk having all their users in one app basket? Wouldn’t it be better if they were more of a platform and could have users in all sorts of areas and have businesses come to rely on them?”

For users, beefier and more powerful messaging apps could be a logical extension of the activities they’re already doing — or the apps could quickly overwhelm. It all depends on execution, and WeChat and Line appear to be getting it right.

WeChat, which has some 500 million users worldwide, lets users make voice and video calls, communicate with groups of up to 500 people and send and receive money.

But the app also includes a complete payments platform, like Ap-

ple Pay or the coming Samsung Pay, that lets people check out in stores and restaurants using the app, and also shop online.

Open to integration And because WeChat is open to integration with all kinds of other apps, Tencent has encouraged developers to create the ability to build many other functions within the app. Now you can use WeChat to check into hotel rooms and use the app as a digital key, schedule doctor’s appointments and track prescriptions, buy train tickets, pay school tuition fees and order items for delivery. (The app Call a Chicken lets people order chicken dishes for delivery.)

Tencent has also created its own games for WeChat and has licensed TV and movies to stream within the app. Similarly, Line handles messaging and voice, video games, mobile payments, TV shows and movie studios, ultrapopular stickers (that its users can create and sell on the platform), a taxi-calling service that rivals Uber and even a physical store in Tokyo.

In the United States, messaging apps are moving slightly more slowly. Facebook Messenger is getting closer, with the new payments service and third-party app announcements. You can make voice calls with the app over both Wi-Fi or a cellular data connection — although there’s no video calling and its sticker collection left a lot

to be desired, at least for now. The new apps introduced by Facebook this week include several sticker apps, which have proved popular in WeChat and Line. Users can also download a weather app from the Weather Channel and will have the ability to send video messages with special effects attached. Snapchat, which made its name with disappearing messages, also has a host of new features. The app has a payment service called Snapcash, and has a more traditional chat service as well as live video chat.

More recently, the company has moved toward becoming a media platform. Snapchat lets users create short videologues called Snapchat Stories. It has also partnered with media companies for its Snapchat Discover feature, which delivers short videos and even long text stories from companies like CNN, National Geographic and Vice.

WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, keeps it simple. The app is slowly rolling out voice calling features to Android users, but does little else besides chat, video and photo sharing, and audio messages.

That simplicity and focus on messaging with no texting charges (or ads) has made it the most popular messaging app in the world, with more than 600 million users.

So that raises the question: Does a messaging app need to do it all?

Blau at Gartner said e-commerce in an app, for example, “doesn’t feel like a natural progression.”

“We’ve always thought that e-commerce should fit in with social applications. It’s marketing; there might be impulse-buy opportunities,” he said.

“But are social networks ready for a shopping mall experience?”

On the other hand, mobile payments make more sense because, he said, “you’re standing in line at the grocery store; you’re chatting on WeChat, and you press the payment app and you pay.” “You’re using the app already,” Blau said. “It’s what you’re already doing.”

It’s true that we’re spending more time in messaging apps, but grafting on more features just because these apps have our attention could get annoying — especially if the features don’t work well or they make the overall experience cluttered and confusing. After all, when Facebook split off Messenger from the core Facebook mobile app, it said it did so to make both apps work well with fewer distractions. Throwing in thirdparty features like payments, hotel reservations, games or stickers might just add clutter.

Still, consumers may have no choice in the matter since more features are a way for companies like Facebook to make money off messaging.

WhatsApp may be simple, but when Facebook acquired it for $19 billion in 2014, many analysts wondered how the company would ever recoup those costs. — MOLLY WOOD/The New York Times News Service

e still play board games in my family, with real bits of cardboard and plastic. But we also love to play classic games that have had an app-based refresh. They’re frequently worth the money, sometimes for new features, but also because the apps do all the onerous scoring for you.

Take the classic board game “Monopoly.” EA Games has made an app version that’s $1 on iOS and $2 on Android. The app sticks closely to the rules of the original game (which, if you’ve never played, is about buying property and businesses with faux money and trying to outsmart your opponents). “Monopoly” has 3-D graphics and cute animations, which make playing on an app more entertaining that on a 2-D board. The pieces even move as you’d expect: The cat token saunters between properties, and the thimble awkwardly hops. You can play against a computer opponent, by passing your phone between friends in the same room or even with a friend on another device connected over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

I like this app for the life that EA has injected into it. But I do find the design slightly oldfashioned, and the game controls and menus can be confusing. It’s also probably better if you already know how to play the game because the pop-up instructions are not great. If you’re playing this app game with children who have never played the board game, you’ll have a lot of teaching to do.

Still, one nice feature is being able to choose the background music, including listening to your own tunes. And some of the rules can be customised: It’s neat to be able to double the $200 bonus for passing Go. If “Monopoly” isn’t your cup of tea, the family classic “Game of Life” is also available as an EA Games app. Like “Monopoly,” the app reinvention of “Game of Life” sticks closely to the original. It’s playable alone or with a group and has some nice animated 3-D effects — your car rolls along the map, for example. The 3-D number spinner is almost — though not quite — as satisfying to spin as the original.

Again, the in-game help is a little limited, so it’s best if you already know how to play. The app’s graphics also look dated,

but this doesn’t detract from the gameplay. “Game of Life Classic Edition” is $1 on iOS and Android. There’s also a $5 iPad special edition that lets you see the whole board on the bigger screen. You can play with as many as six people.

My favourite board game is “Carcassonne.” It’s a complex pieces-and-dice game played on maplike representations of a medieval city in France. Surprisingly, for such a classic tabletop game, it has transitioned into an excellent on-screen app.

The app, which is $10 on iOS, uses the same detailed painted images on the playing pieces as the board game, and its interface is elegant and easy to use.

The app also does a good job of helping you understand how to play. You can play with human opponents in person or over local Wi-Fi connections, and the app’s built-in opponents are also excellent. Best of all, the app takes care of “Carcassonne’s” difficult scoring. Expansion packs are available as $1 to $2 in-app purchases that add interesting aspects to the game (the “Princess and Dragon” one is great).

An Android version of “Carcassonne,” built by a different company, exists for $5. The two versions are similar, including the high quality of images and the gameplay.

Another tabletop board game, similar to “Carcassonne” in strategy and gameplay, is “Settlers of Catan” — think “Risk” crossed with “Sim City.”

The “Catan” app is faithful to the original, with great graphics. It’s $4 on iOS and Android.

The classic word game “Scrabble” really tests your thinking power, and the app version will, too. The board game works well on mobile devices because the perennial “shall we look up that word in the dictionary?” question is averted by an in-app dictionary that checks words as you play.

The app is free for iOS and Android and has some nice extra elements like being able to play with strangers online and chatting about your games in-app.

But this reimagining of a classic board game doesn’t feel as polished as some of its rivals.

Some iOS users also complain of crashes while Android users mention annoying in-app ads.

— KIT EATON/The New York Times News Service

B6

MON DAY, MARCH 30, 2015

ROUND-UP Lulu celebrates His Majesty’s return to Sultanate by cutting ‘longest cake’ Displayed extravagantly at Lulu Bausher, this great piece of edible wonder caught the eye of all as they gazed in awe and applauded this unique idea conceptualised and brought to life by Lulu

MUSCAT: Marking the homecoming of the beloved ruler His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Lulu Oman celebrated the glorious occasion in a big way by creating the ‘longest cake’. Measuring 137 metres long, the cake was a dedication to His Majesty who is the longest reigning ruler in the Middle East, says a press release.

This record breaking cake witnessed an even more elaborate cake-cutting ceremony on March 26 at the Lulu Bausher branch by the Wali of Bausher, Muhana Saif Al Mawali amidst a much enthused crowd that cheered through the entire ceremony and received an increasingly overwhelming response as people came in droves to be a part of this exclusive celebration that welcomed His Majesty the Sultan back to the country.

Displayed extravagantly at Lulu

HOME FINANCE

Spirit of patriotism “Banners, flags and photos are seen all over the country and a PROMOTION

Meethaq to finance real estate project

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, and Zain Development signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide attractive Meethaq home finance for Dar Al Zain phase 5 & 6 projects in Sur Al Hadid, Al Seeb.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, Group General Manager – Islamic Banking, and Mohammed Moosa, Chairman of Zain Development, signed the MoU at Dar Al Zain project premises, says a press release.

“Meethaq is proud to be associated with Dar Al Zain project and

Bausher, this unique piece of edible wonder caught the eye of all as they gazed in awe and applauded the idea conceptualised and brought to life by Lulu.

facilitate attractive home finance in line with Shari’a principles. The real estate sector is a major component of the national economy and Meethaq Islamic Banking is committed to extending all support aimed at offering citizens easy access to Shari’a based home finance,” said Sulaiman Al Harthy.

Meethaq home finance is designed to help families fulfil their dream homes. Meethaq offers attractive Shari’a based finance to suit everyone’s needs with simplified documentation and processing across the network of branches.

Sale starts at Joyalukkas MUSCAT: Leading jeweller Joyalukkas has announced a ‘part sale’ on its diamond and Polki jewellery collection, enabling customers to enjoy amazing discounts on a choice of exquisite jewellery designs with upto 65% off, says a press release.

“Shoppers can take this opportunity to gift their loved ones, add to their collection of jewellery or wear it for an upcoming special occasion. This offer will be valid for a limited period only, across all Joyalukkas showrooms,” said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group.

Polki jewelllery collection is made with uncut diamonds that has been naturally mined, with no artificial enhancements or laboratory and synthetic alterations. They are considered a great investment because they do not lose out on their value and are acclaimed internationally.

strong spirit of patriotism is felt amongst everyone. The country is alive with endless elation and celebrations seen across the Sultanate. A figure loved and respected not only by the Omanis but the entire expatriate community, His Majesty’s return is a joyous occasion for all of us,” said Ananth A. V,

Regional Director, Lulu Oman. “At Lulu, we decided to do something different and exciting as always and thus this 137 metres long cake was prepared as a tribute to His Majesty. It is expected to receive a warm response and is bound to touch hearts.”

The cake cutting was followed

by a generous slice served to all who attended the ceremony. The already running food festival at Lulu contributed to the festive feel of the entire event. Shoppers indulged in the scrumptious cake along with an array of food product stalls set to serve the most mouthwatering dishes to them.

E N V I R O N M E N T C O N S E RVAT I O N

OHI conducts beach cleanup drive MUSCAT: Oman Holdings International (OHI) together with Interserve organised a beach ‘Cleanup Drive’ recently as a way of empathising with the growing world advocacy on environmental protection and conservation, says a press release.

Starting with an introduction to OHI and Interserve’s commitment to sustainability and a comprehensive safety briefed

by RMD Kwikform Operations Manager, David Westwood, 16 teams of 10 individual from 12 participating companies (Douglas OHI, TOCO, Oman United Exchange, Budget, OHI Marine, OTI, G4S, OHI Advertising, OHI Electronics, Applus, RMD Kwikform, Drake & Scull) set off to their allocated area of Shatti Al Qurum beach armed with plenty of drinking water, together with bin bags, rakes, shovels and wheel barrows. “‘Give a Day of your Time’ comes to Oman as part of our commitment to the community

and to see so many willing helpers here today is very encouraging’,” remarked Ian White, OTI Defensive Driving Manager.

Low tide and the hot afternoon sun made hard work of the task, but all worked ceaselessly to ensure their section was left spotless by 5pm. TOCO Project Manager (Transport and Logistics), Sami Razek commented that it was ‘a fantastic afternoon which was well organised and in which everyone felt a lot was achieved.’

Adding that ‘it was brilliant motivation to see all Interserve and OHI companies working together as one team’.

Most of the cleanup centred

in the areas under the palm trees at the top end of the beach with some of the most common items found being cigarette butts, ring pulls from soft drink cans, plastic bottle tops, discarded plastic and paper wrappers. A number of lorries carried away dozens of bin bags, leaving behind a pristine beach for all to enjoy and hopefully consider using in a more responsible and sustainable way.

Vinod Iyes, Credit Controller at Budget clearly enjoyed his afternoon, but made a valid comment that is food for thought for everyone: “If everybody did a good job by cleaning up afterwards, we wouldn’t need to be here.”

RECRUIT CAREER COACH

Five video resume branding tips for job-seekers ONE way to reveal your personality is by creating a video resume to enhance your personal brand.

It’s a great way to stand out to employers and give your audience a feel for your real-life presence.

Before you create your video resume, check out these five video resume personal branding tips: 1. Have a plan. Before you even touch a camera, you should ask yourself — who is the audience for

this message? What do they want to know about me? How can I tell them my story in a compelling way? You should pull together the most important elements of your personal brand to create a clear and complete story of your professional life.

2. Script it out. Your thoughts will flow much more smoothly if you’ve practiced them beforehand, so be sure to write out what

you’re going to say before you start filming.

3. Keep it compelling. Remember, a resume is a marketing tool, so your video doesn’t have to entail you reciting a boring list of your professional history. Make it exciting.

4. Pay attention to visuals.

Your video resume is an important tool to demonstrate your

personality, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about visual elements like clothing, lighting and background.

5. Spread it around. It’s not enough to just create a video resume — you’ve got to promote it, too. Include the link in your email signature, on your paper resume, in your cover letter, on your online portfolio or personal website.

— Josh Tolan/www,quintcareers.com

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RECRUI JOB POSTINGS

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. — Beverly Sills

DON’T LITTER A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE OMAN.

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break down

QUOTES Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

— Helen Keller Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

— Swami Vivekananda Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

— Harriet Tubman Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. — H. Ford

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CLARKE LEADS AUSTRALIA TO FIFTH WORLD CUP TITLE Michael Clarke hit 74 in his last Oneday International to lead Australia to their fifth World Cup title with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in a disappointing final on Sunday. >C5

Oman dedicate Asian beach soccer title to His Majesty

HERO’S WELCOME: Oman beach soccer team pose for a group photo along with OFA chief Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi and other officials at Muscat International Airport on Sunday. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

The victorious team, coach Talib Hilal and his support staff were given a warm reception at the Muscat International Airport, while OFA chief Sayyid Khalid and team members dedicated the Asian trophy to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman, the newly crowned Asian beach soccer champions, returned to a hero’s welcome on Sunday with the Oman Football Association (OFA) and the members of the team dedicating the title to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

The team emerged the conti-

nental champions with a 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Japan in the final of the Asian championship in Doha on Saturday. Both the finalists and third placed Iran also booked their berths at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be hosted in Portugal in July this year.

The victorious team, coach Talib Hilal Al Thanawi and his support staff were received at the

Muscat International Airport by the OFA chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi and other officials as well as the representatives from the Ministry of Sports Affairs.

Speaking on the occasion, OFA chief dedicated the team’s Asian title to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said while thanking his government for the continued support to Omani youth and sports.

Sayyid Khalid also said the association and the entire country are proud of the team’s achievement and delighted with the success which is ‘first among Arab countries’.

Oman captain Hani Al Dhabit, meanwhile, credited the success to team work. “Obviously it was very satisfying to come back with as Asian champions. We have played some very tough matches and in the final we have overcome a strong Japan side,” he said.

The Omani skipper, who have been in fine touch scoring a goal in all most all the matches, said: “The secret of our success is team

work. I think we have been were confident because of the backing we have been receiving.

We are thankful to the support we have been receiving from His Majesty’s government.”

Great weekend Meanwhile, OFA Acting General Secretary Sultan Al Zadjali in a statement said ‘this weekend saw a huge amount of positive football activity take place in and outside Oman’. He hoped it is a sign of more success to come.

“The weekend started with Oman national team routing visiting Malaysia 6-0 at the Seeb Sports Stadium on Thursday,” the statement said.

“A day later a workshop with the Omantel Professional League clubs saw a number of positive actions agreed for the planning of the next season. The Oman beach soccer team clinched a berth in the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup en route to their Asian champion-

ships title in Doha.

“Finally, the weekend was completed with a very positive AGM that saw a more unified approach being adopted between the clubs and the OFA.” Al Zadjali heaped praise on all who had contributed to these successes. “We achieved a lot during this weekend and it was very enjoyable to see so much good happen in such a short space of time. Often, our achievements are not seen or recognised. But I wanted to say how proud I am of all the staff, players and coaches who work so hard to drive Oman football forward.

“There is lots of challenges ahead of us, and our aspirations are very high. So success will not always be achieved. However, the strategy and leadership shown by OFA chief Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi and the efforts of the board members are definitely leading us forward, and I am sure that there is more positive news to come for the OFA in the months ahead.”

Oman coach Talib Hilal poses with the trophy.

FORMULA ONE

Ferrari’s Vettel storms to victory at Sepang SEPANG: Sebastian Vettel showed again that form is temporary and class permanent when the four-time world champion put in a faultless display to record his first victory for Ferrari at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The triumph ended a long drought for Formula One’s most successful team, whose last win was at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2013, and was the 40th of the German’s career.

Starting from second place on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton’s seemingly unbeatable Mercedes, Vettel and Ferrari produced a tactical masterclass to overhaul the Briton and cross the line 8.5 seconds ahead of the double world champion.

“Numero uno is back, Ferrari is back,” Vettel was told over the team radio as he took the chequered flag.

“Grazie, grazie. Forza Ferrari” he shouted in reply as he celebrated his fourth win at Sepang, a circuit that has favoured the Italian team over the years with seven victories in 17 editions since 1999.

Hamilton’s teammate Nico Rosberg finished a distant third while 17-year-old Max Verstappen claimed seventh place for Toro Rosso to become the youngest ever points scorer in Formula One. Mercedes dominated last season and when Hamilton led a one-two in Australia two weeks ago the rest of the field looked even further behind in the second year of the V6 hybrid engines.

Vettel had cut a forlorn figure in his last season at Red Bull in 2014, unable to record a victory and way off the pace of the front runners.

HATEM STRIKES THRICE AS OMAN THRASH MALDIVES 5-0 Hatem Al Hamhami struck thrice as Oman thrashed a hapless Maldives 5-0 in a crucial Group A match of the AFC Under-23 Championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday.

Hatem completed his hat-trick after Omar Al Malki gave the Sultanate squad the lead as early as the seventh minute.

Hatem scored two goals in quick succession in 20th and 24th minutes before scoring his third and Oman’s fourth in the 56th minute. Ashaad Al Abdulsalam completed Oman’s tally in the 72nd minute. Oman now have seven points from three outings. Iraq, ahead of their third match against Bahrain in Sunday’s late kick-off, have six points from two outings. The top teams and five best second placed teams from ten groups qualify for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. — JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

FAULTLESS DISPLAY: Sebastian Vettel with the trophy.

He agreed to join a stuttering Ferrari last year, replacing Spain’s double world champion Fernando Alonso, and the union appears to have revitalised them both.

Third in Australia, though some way behind Mercedes, Vettel and Ferrari showed real potential in practice and qualifying and were able to carry that momentum forward into the race.

“It has been a while since I’ve been on top step and obviously the first time with Ferrari,” a beaming Vettel said in a podium interview. “I’m speechless. I’m happy and proud of today. We beat them fair and square and it is a special day - that is why I am emotional.”

His Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen overcame a tough qualifying session and an early puncture to finish fourth, well clear of Williams pair Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa. - Reuters

KEEPING THE PROMISE

Ali coaches kids in Earth Hour pledge MUSCAT: Oman football legend and goalkeeping hero Ali Al Habsi recently held a goal-keeping session at Al Khoudh football field as part of the ‘I Will If You Will’ Earth Hour campaign made last year.

The initiative was launched to encourage people to switch off unnecessary lights during Earth Hour and to that end Ali Al Habsi had pledged that if 2,500 people joined the cause online he would conduct a free goalkeeping lesson for children.

After receiving more than 2,600 pledges online, 25 lucky kids aged between six and 12 years were chosen to participate in the session with Ali eagerly sharing his wealth of knowledge.

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MARH, Sarco, Al Ansari, Caledonians in last eight Batting first, MARH piled up 210 runs for six in 20 overs.

A 10-member OCT Mabellah, in reply, were bowled out for 137 in 17.4 overs

MUSCAT: Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan (MARH) recorded a 73run win against OCT Mabellah to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Khimji Ramdas-sponsored Intermediate Cup T20 tournament.

Batting first, MARH piled up 210 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs with opening batsman Saif Shamsuddin scoring 52. Sarmad Ali chipped in with a blazing 51 off just 19 balls.

A 10-member OCT Mabellah team, in reply, were bowled out for 137 in 17.4 overs. Shabbir Ahmed Al Balushi remained unbeaten on 45.

Brief scores: MARH 210 for 6 in 20 overs (Saif Shamsuddin 52, Sarmad Ali 51, Vishal Shetty 26 n.o., Mohd Ayaz 21;

Vaibhav leads Muscat to victory MUSCAT: Skipper Vaibhav Wategaonkar made a brilliant unbeaten 98 in a man-of-thematch performance to lead Muscat Cricket Team to a 56-run win against defending champions Assarain A in a Muscat Pharmacy & Storessponsored A Division 50 overs-a-side league match.

Opting to bat first, Muscat scored 216 for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs. In reply,

Assad Muhammad Al Balushi 3/40) bt OCT Mabellah 137 in 17.4 overs (Shabbir Ahmed Al Balushi 45 n.o., Salim Ismail Al Balushi 25; Mohd Ayaz 2/16, Sukhpreet Singh 2/23, Khalid Moosa 2/29).

King Travels beaten In another T20 Intermediate Cup match, Sarco crushed King Travels easily by seven wickets and earn a place in the quarterfinals.

Batting first, King Travels were bowled out for 101 runs in 16.2 overs.

Sarco raced to their target scoring 104 for three wickets in 13.2 overs thanks to an unbeaten 54 from

Assarain A were bowled out for 160 in 45.2 overs.

Brief scores: Muscat CT 216 for 6 in 50 overs (Vaibhav Wategaonkar 98 n.o., Jatinder Singh 44, Aaqib Ilyas 38) bt Assarain A 160 in 45.2 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 41, Sindo Michael 32 n.o., Mohd Nadeem 28, Arun Poulose 23; Badal Singh 3/16, Hemal Mehta 3/18, Jatinder Singh 2/33). Points: Muscat - 5 (9 games, 34 pts), Assarain A - Nil (9 games, 30 pts).

opening batsman Satisha Achary.

Brief scores: King Travels 101 in 16.2 overs (Rageesh O.K. 27, Jayson Delboy 23, Zafar Ullah Ghulam Qadir Ali 21; Jeetesha Shridhara 3/22, Mathias Jacob 2/1, Aamir Merchant 2/18) lost to Sarco 104 for 3 in 13.2 overs (Satisha Achary 54 n.o., Hafiz Mohammed Zahid 28).

Ehtisham stars Mohammed Ehtisham claimed four wickets in four overs as Caledonian College registered a fourwicket win against ISC Kutchi Wing to enter the quarterfinals of the Khimji Ramdas-sponsored

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Junior Cup T20. Batting first, ISC Kutchi Wing with a player short were bowled out for 144 in 18.1 overs.

In reply, Caledonian College were reeling at 39 for five after five overs but got to their target scoring 145 for six wickets in 18.1 overs thanks to an unbeaten 53 from skipper Danish Zakria.

Brief scores: ISC Kutchi Wing 144 in 18.1 overs (Mohammed Ahmed 36, Kiran Joshi 29, Suketu Limbani 20; Mohammad Ehtisham 4/25, Ashique 2/19, Danish Zakria 2/23) lost to Caledonian College 145 for 6 in 18.1 overs (Danish Zakria 53 n.o., Mainul Islam 23; Sachin Mamnani 3/14).

Ameet slams ton In another Junior Cup T20 match, Al Ansari, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 100 from opening batsman Ameet Sampat, recorded a thrilling four-run win against Al Fairuz Trading and entered the quarterfinals.

Batting first, Al Ansari were restricted to 157 for six wickets. Al Fairuz Trading in their turn managed to score 153 for the loss of nine in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Al Ansari 157 for 6 in 20 overs (Ameet Sampat 100 n.o.; Rohan 2/18, Girish Kumar 2/29, Manikandan S.P. 2/38) bt Al Fairuz Trading 153 for 9 in 20 overs (Manikandan S.P. 44 n.o., Zaheer 43, Saravana Kumar 20; Sajid Tanwar 2/18).

Bank Muscat get the better of Bank Dhofar MUSCAT: Adil Vawda smashed a brilliant half century as Bank Muscat defeated Bank Dhofar by 12 runs in the ongoing Inter-bank Cricket Tournament at Al Amerat Grounds on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, ten-man Bank Muscat piled up 185 runs for the loss of six wickets. Adil Vawda scored 53 runs off just 27 balls. Abbas Al Balushi and Jebin James scored with 44 and 46 not out respectively.

For Bank Dhofar, Shafi Pasha and skipper Harikrishnan took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Bank Dhofar started their chase well with opening batsman Kather Meeran scoring 24 runs off 11 balls. Later,

Harikrishnan (57 runs) and Satish Karate (43 runs) continued the calculated chase.

But after the fall of the two set batsmen, Bank Muscat were able to restrict their opponents to 173 for six. For Bank Muscat, Benny Matthews and Jebin James took two wickets each.

The next match is scheduled for April 4 when Ahli Bank take on Bank Dhofar.

Brief scores: Bank Muscat 185 for 6 (Adil Vawda 53, Jebin James 46, Abbas Albalushi 44; Shafi Pasha 2/21, Harikrishnan 2/40) bt Bank Dhofar 173 for 6 (Harikrishnan 57, Satish Karate 43, Kather Meeran 24; Benny Matthews 2/29, Jebin James 1/19). Points: Bank Muscat (2), Bank Dhofar (0).

KEY ROLE

Almouj Golf and The Chedi Muscat sign agreement to drive tourism in Oman MUSCAT: Almouj Golf and The Chedi Muscat recently signed an agreement to enhance their ongoing partnership and commitment to driving tourism to Oman, according to a press statement issued by Al Mouj on Sunday.

Building on an existing business relationship, the two companies are dedicated to bringing one of the region’s most celebrated golfing destinations together with the luxury of Muscat’s 5 Star travel accommodations, offering better provisions to golf enthusiasts partaking in Almouj Golf’s Chedi Monthly Medal competition with a number of additional benefits for the club.

“Our recent agreement with

The Chedi Muscat demonstrates our continued focus on positioning Almouj Golf as a world-class golfing destination and Oman as a global tourism hub. As the most popular domestic course in the Sultanate, we have identified The Chedi Muscat as the right partner

to generate increased exposure for the club through branding, events and strategic communication,” Simon Duffield, General Manager of Almouj Golf, said.

Under the agreement, The Chedi Muscat embraces the game of golf and will continue to be a key facilitator for The Chedi Muscat Monthly Medal, in addition to leveraging a number of additional benefits.

The sponsorship will see the hotel maintain its naming rights on the monthly competition, as well as delivering products on competition days, and generating increased exposure for Almouj Golf through liaison with the media and other brand-based activities.

Christoph Girsch, Executive Assistant Manager at The Chedi Muscat, commented: “As one of the world’s leading hotels, The Chedi Muscat and Almouj Golf have together crafted an agreement that will serve to boost the experience of our guests, golfers and tourists alike.

“Driving tourism is not just about footfall, it is about the quality of the visit and the luxuries that come with it. The Chedi Muscat is one of those rare hotels that is both inspired and inspiring, and we believe that this recent enhancement of our business relationship with Almouj Golf can take our legacy to the next level.”

BADMINTON

Nehwal wins Indian Open NEW DELHI: Saina Nehwal, badminton’s new world No. 1, trounced her Thai challenger, Ratchanok Intanon, on Sunday to win the India Open women’s singles on home turf.

Nehwal defeated Ratchanok 21-16, 21-14 in less than an hour in the final of the Super Series tournament in front of an adoring crowd packed into the Siri Fort stadium in New Delhi.

Another Indian shuttler, K Srikanth, won the men’s singles final in a keenly contested match against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.

Srikanth defeated Axelsen 18-21, 21-13 and 21-12 in a 55 minute encounter.

Other results (all finals): Women’s doubles: Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) bt Luo Ying/Luo Yu (CHN) 21-19, 21-19. Men’s doubles: Chai Biao/Hong Wei (CHN) bt Conrad Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding (DEN) 21-18, 21-14. Mixed doubles: Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin (CHN) bt Christinna Pedersen/Joachim Fischer Nielsen (DEN) 21-19, 21-19. - AFP

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NEXT WORLD CUP WILL BE HELD IN 2019 IN ENGLAND AND WALES

OVER THE MOON MATCH REPORT ON

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Overawed Black Caps couldn’t hamper Clarke’s gleeful bow

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ver 93,000 squeezing into the sprawling Melbourne Cricket Ground stands.

Imagine the situation. Intimidating for anyone who are not used to the atmosphere.

Brendon McCullum called the coin right, but he just couldn’t imagine what would happen next. Just five deliveries into the first over and McCullum facing his third, Mitchell Starc steamed in with fury and castled the off stump with a swinging full length delivery which tailed in just a bit. The roar at unimaginable decibel level ever heard at the MCG gave a preview of what was in store thereafter.

Getting rid of McCullum, who the other day had called his countrymen and supporters to dream big, turned out to be dream start for Michael Clarke’s glorious bow from the ODIs. The failure of McCullum, who had shown all through the World Cup that he can take the bull by its horns, and the vociferous MCG shook up the Black Caps

batsmen (except Grant Elliott) to follow and the sad story was there for everyone to see.

So Clarke exited ODIs as the world champion.

And in what style did he do it!

After marshalling his resources in the first part of the match with aplomb, the ‘Pup’, with cool and calculated batting, put the team on path to the glory.

Surely he should be the happiest man on earth and a toast of the entire country as the proud Aussies resumed their domination of the global cricket with the fifth title triumph.

On the other hand, New Zealand had won many-a-heart worldwide with their display of free spirited and ‘all out attack’ brand of cricket. And the MCG surrender had left all of them disillusioned. They were in the final for the first time and may be the big occasion overawed them and also the big venue left them awe struck.

Though the best team, undoubtedly, won the coveted

Getting rid of McCullum, who the other day had called his countrymen and supporters to dream big, turned out to be dream start for Michael Clarke’s glorious bow trophy, McCullum’s men were not far from the best. They deserve all the plaudits. The team should take heart from the fact they have broken the country’s semifinal jinx and shown the way for the future generation of Kiwi cricketers. As they say, there is always a next time and four years from now, in England, the Black Caps may revel.

Saying that, let’s not take away the moment of pride from the Australians and especially their skipper Michael Clarke.

If the pace trio of Starc, Johnson and Hazlewood had rattled the Indian batsmen with good short stuff in their semifinal, they were a notch higher in the final. Adding to that man of the

match Faulkner’s disguised guile of slow deliveries foxed the Kiwi batsmen too. With the four bowlers doing a perfect job and Maxwell too doing his job well, Clarke was on a good wicket with hardly anything to chase.

The Aussie skipper’s glee at the end of the Kiwi innings was enough to say that at the break he was sure of realising his dream and retiring on top.

So analytically, the Australians were the best and the Black Caps second best in the tournament leaving India and South Africa to take the third and fourth spots respectively. India had positives and like Australians and the New Zealanders they had lost only one match in this edition,

while Proteas had lost to India, Pakistan and New Zealand.

If Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni rewrote some records like 11 consecutive World Cup wins and also his 100th ODI win as captain, the Indian bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami too finished among the top four with 18 and 17 wickets each. In batting, Shikhar Dhawan was the fifth highest scorer in the tournament. The 15 runs Martin Guptill scored in the final helped him to leapfrog Kumar Sangakkara as the highest run getter in the tournament. Guptill amassed 547 runs in nine innings, while Sangakkara had 541 runs in seven innings.

The top bowlers above the Indian duo were player of the tournament Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult, both claiming 22 wickets.

The left-arm pacers were the talk of this edition, but I vote Wahab Riaz of Pakistan as the best performer, especially after that intimidating spell against Shane Watson in the quarterfinal.

Now that this edition is behind us, it will be interesting to see whether International Cricket Council will stick to its 10-team plan for the 2019 World Cup. ICC chairman N. Srinivasan was heard saying during the final that the plan is to have eight top teams get automatic slots, while the others including associates go through a qualifying round before completing the line-up.

This discussion is bound to linger on for some time.

Leaving it there, let’s tune into a different bandwidth as cricket’s ‘ultimate circus’ — the Indian Premier League, is set to begin soon. — sportseditor@timesofoman.com REACTIONS

‘We saved our best until last’ MELBOURNE: Australia’s players said they had saved their best performance until the end of the tournament after beating New Zealand by seven wickets in the World Cup final.

“Unbelievable feeling, we said we wanted to play our best game towards the end of the tournament and to win this final three down, I thought the boys were outstanding tonight,” said Smith.

“The bowlers really set it up for us. They’ve done it all tournament.”

Coach Darren Lehmann, who won two World Cups as a player, paid tribute to the hard work his players had put in over the tournament.

“They just keep coming up and fronting up day in, day out.

They’ve been fantastic over the six weeks,” he said before his players emptied a tub of energy drink over his head, adding: “That’s why I love them.” - Reuters

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HIGH FIVE Australia captain Michael Clarke signed off in style from One-day International cricket on Sunday by top scoring in his country’s crushing seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the World Cup final. After dismissing New Zealand for 183 in 45 overs before an Australian record crowd of 93,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia cruised to their fifth World Cup with Clarke scoring 74 in the home team’s 186 for three from 33.1 overs

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ichael Clarke hit 74 in his last one-day international to lead Australia to their fifth World Cup title with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in a disappointing final on Sunday. A record crowd of 93,013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw power-packed Australia bowl out the Black Caps for 183 and then gallop to victory in the 34th over.

Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day format on the eve of the final, added 112 runs for the third wicket with his likely successor Steve Smith, who returned unbeaten on 56.

“I’m sure everybody standing on this stage will say we played this World Cup with 16 players,” said Clarke in reference to close friend and former teammate Phillip Hughes who died in November last year after being hit on the head by a bouncer in a first-class match in Sydney. “This victory is dedicated to our little brother Phillip Hughes.”

The emphatic win was set up by the left-arm fast bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Mitchell Johnson who shared eight wickets after the Kiwis elected to bat on a good pitch.

New Zealand messed up their maiden appearance in the title clash of cricket’s showpiece event, falling like nine pins against the hostile Australian bowling.

Inspirational captain Brendon McCullum fell off the fifth ball of the innings for a duck and two other frontline batsmen, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi, also failed to score.

South Africa-born Grant Elliott top-scored with 83, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 111 with Ross Taylor (40) after New Zealand had been reduced to 39 for three in the 13th over.

The massive crowd, which broke the MCG record of 91,112 on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against England in 2013, saw New Zealand lose their last seven wickets for 33 runs.

“We played some outstanding cricket in the tournament, but we ran into an outstanding Australia team tonight who continue to set the way in world cricket. Michael Clarke deserves to bow out as world champion,” said McCullum.

The scale of New Zealand’s defeat in the final led to questions over whether they should temper their bold playing style, a suggestion the skipper flatly rejected.

“No, no, you don’t change your style of play. Look, for us to develop into the team that we want to be in international cricket, we have to play like that,” he said.

Crumbled New Zealand crumbled after going into the final as the only unbeaten team in the 14-nation tournament, their eight wins including a onewicket success over Australia in a low scoring pool stage thriller.

CHAMPIONS AGAIN: Australian cricketers celebrate with the trophy after the winning the 2015 Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne. – AFP

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Australia’s previous titles came in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007 with coach Darren Lehmann, a twotime World Cup winner as a player, celebrating another success off the field.

New Zealand raised hopes of repeating their amazing win in the league when they removed Aaron Finch for a duck in the second over, Trent Boult taking an easy return catch as the ball lobbed off the batsman’s bat and pad.

Left-hander David Warner slammed seven boundaries in his 45 off 46 balls, adding 61 for the second wicket with Smith.

But the pugnacious opener was unable to build on his fine start as he pulled seamer Matt Henry down Elliott’s throat at deep square-leg.

Smith, who scored a century in the semi-final against India in Sydney last Thursday, continued his good form to help Clarke take charge of the match.

Clarke was bowled by Henry

when just nine runs remained for victory and was given a standing ovation by team-mates and fans as he returned with his bat raised.

Smith sealed victory by pulling Henry for a boundary, sparking jubilant scenes in the stands as Clarke and the rest of the team ran on to the field to embrace Smith.

Starc’s two wickets in the innings took his tally to 22, enabling him to emerge with Boult as the joint highest wicket-takers in the tournament.

Martin Guptill surpassed Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara’s 541 runs to become the tournament’s leading run-getter when he reached 10, but he managed to add just five runs more.

The tall opener, who hit a World Cup record score of 237 not out against the West Indies in the quarterfinals, was bowled trying to cut Glenn Maxwell’s second delivery.

Taylor and Elliott settled in to build a strong partnership and had taken the total to 150-3 when the batting powerplay began after the 35th over. Both sides fielded unchanged teams from their semifinal wins where Australia beat India and New Zealand downed South Africa in a penultimate-ball thriller. - AFP

NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill b Maxwell B. McCullum b Starc K. Williamson c and b Johnson R. Taylor c Haddin b Faulkner G. Elliott c Haddin b Faulkner C. Anderson b Faulkner L. Ronchi c Clarke b Starc D. Vettori b Johnson T. Southee run out (Maxwell) M. Henry c Starc b Johnson T. Boult not out Extras (lb-7, w-6) Total (all out, 45 overs)

15 0 12 40 83 0 0 9 11 0 0 13 183

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-33, 3-39, 4-150, 5-150, 6-151, 7-167, 8-171, 9-182, 10-183 Bowling: Starc 8-0-20-2 (1w); Hazlewood 8-2-30-0; Johnson 9-0-30-3 (2w); Maxwell 7-0-37-1 (1w); Faulkner 9-1-36-3; Watson 4-0-23-0 (2w); AUSTRALIA D. Warner c Elliott b Henry 45 A. Finch c and b Boult 0 S. Smith not out 56 M. Clarke b Henry 74 S. Watson not out 2 Extras (lb-3, w-6) 9 Total (3 wkts, 33.1 overs) 186

Did not bat: G Maxwell, J Faulkner, B Haddin, M Johnson, M Starc, J Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-63, 3-175 Bowling: Southee 8-3-65-0 (3w); Boult 10-0-40-1; Vettori 5-0-25-0; Henry 9.1-0-46-2 (2w); Anderson 1-0-7-0 (1w); Result: Australia won by 7 wickets Man of the match: James Faulkner Man of the tournament: Mitchell Starc Toss: New Zealand Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG) TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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Warner

Smith

MON DAY, MARCH 30, 2015

45

56

HOW THEY FARED IN THE FINAL

Watson

74

2

Guptil

12

Williamson

40

Taylor

83

Elliott

9

Vettori

11

Southee

13

EXTRAS

Australia New Zealand

186 183 Clarke

15

for 3 wickets all out

Source: espncricinfo.com Graphics

EXTRAS

9

DEJECTED LOT: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, centre, and his team stand after losing the final.

VICTORY CRY: Australian cricketers celebrate their victory in the 2015 Cricket World Cup

GLORIOUS MOMENT: Australian captain Michael Clarke receives the World Cup from ICC chairman N. Srinivasan.

COLOUR & GAIETY: World champions Australia is celebrating the glorious mo

after winning their fifth World Cup.

C O M M E N TA RY

World Cup triumph is a tr I

n the end, it was a horribly one-sided final. Australia just packed too many guns for New Zealand and steamrolled to another world title, their fourth in the last five championships. It is a tribute to their system which has consistently produced top class players and will continue to do so for years to come. There is accountabil-

ity at all levels; there is no room for sentimentality and only the deserving get to don the

country’s colours. At the junior level, Indian teams have shown themselves to be better than the Aussies in recent times, and even when India go to play the emerging players tournament in Australia every year, they come out on top. So what is it about Australia that makes them so good at the international level? It could well be

the compe grassroot level whic sense of c loyalty tow and teamm New Ze pletely ou perhaps th not ventu country fo

Starc award defies in bat-dominated to Michael Starc was adjudged player of the tournament, while James Faulkner was named man of the final

MELBOURNE: At a World Cup dominated by batsmen and huge scores, it was an old-fashioned fast bowler who ultimately played the biggest role in Australia’s success.

Mitchell Starc, whose devastating pace and movement troubled almost every batsmen who faced him, was named player of the tournament after Australia wrapped up their fifth title with a seven-wicket over New Zealand on Sunday.

Glenn McGrath (2007) is the only

other specialist bowler to have won the award but Starc was a popular choice after terrorising his opponents for the past six weeks.

“It’s nice to see bat dominate ball every now and again,” Starc told reporters. “There’s been some fantastic performances with both. Obviously, it’s been a couple of big scores, a couple of double tons... but it’s just been fantastic the whole tournament.”

Although New Zealand opener Martin Guptill and Chris Gayle scored double centuries during the World Cup, Starc was an obvious choice for the player of the tournament award.

He took 22 wickets, equal best with New Zealand seamer Trent Boult, but at a far better average of 10.18.

Perhaps the left-armer’s most telling contribution, however, came in the first over of Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when he cleaned bowled New Zealand’s captain and most destructive batsman Brendon McCullum with a yorker.

The Black Caps never recovered

TOP PRIZE: Mitchell Starc receives

award from Sachin Tendulkar. – AP/P

and were bowled out for just 183 i the 45th over.

“He’s been a key player for them right from the beginning, and he been fantastic for the Kiwis to ge them off to great starts,” Starc said.

“We knew we had to sort of asses him as he went because he’s very un predictable. I think personally it wa a bit of a planning game with (bow ing coach) Craig McDermott abou

T IME S O F O MAN

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p final. – AFP, Reuters

ment

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: An Australian player holds aloft the prestigious symbol of cricket supremacy.

TOP SCORER: New Zealand’s Grant Elliot staged a lone

battle.

HURRAH: Steve Smith in victory mode is carried by jubilant Shane Watson after the former hit the winning runs. – AFP

ribute to the excellent Australian cricketing system

titive nature of their cricket at the club h inculcates a fierce ompetition as well as wards the institution mates. aland were comt of their depth, and he fact that they had red outside their r any of the earlier

matches came back to haunt them, for suddenly they found themselves in the cauldron of the MCG and the massive crowd support that the Aussies get there. It can get too much at the easiest of times, and this was the final of the World Cup on the biggest day in the lives of New Zealand’s cricketers and cricket loving public. They

s trend ourney

TI

n

m s t

s s t

just bowling in pace and yorker to him first up.

“I’m not sure how that first one missed, but lucky the third one hit.

There’s a lot of luck involved, but just nice to see that plan come off.”

For Starc, his award was also a vindication of his rising status in Australia’s bowling ranks. One of three leftarm fast bowlers, he has often been overshadowed by Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner, who was named man of the match in the final.

He was also criticised this summer

by Shane Warne for not being aggressive enough but proved all his doubters wrong and now hopes his form in the one-day game will help him play more tests.

“Over the last sort of 12 to 18 months I’ve really felt a part of the one-day team, really felt at home,” he said. “I’d like to push into Test cricket now, but we’ve got a bit of a break now before any of the Tests, but still a lot of work to do with white and red ball.

Just going to really enjoy this moment.” - Reuters

just wilted under that pressure, and the relentless way that the Australia skipper applied it, meant that there simply was no way out.

Brendon McCullum did his team a huge favour by winning the toss which meant that, for the first time finalists, they did not have to undergo the pressure of an asking rate in a

chase. Their batsmen could bat freely, but it was crucial that they got a good start which is what they did not get. McCullum, looking to play the way he has throughout the tournament, was bowled by a beauty from Mitchell Starc, and when Guptill fell to part timer Glenn Maxwell, the writing was pretty much on the walls.

The partnership between Taylor and the hero of the semifinal, Grant Elliott, did raise some hopes but they had also consumed plenty of overs as they tried to repair the innings.

When Taylor and the dangerous Anderson were dismissed in the space of three balls, any hope that the Kiwis had of fin-

ishing strongly had vapourised.

Still, they would have tried to build their hopes by the coincidence of the total they had put up which was exactly what India had when they restricted the defending champions West Indies and won the trophy for the first time.

It wasn’t to be, as the man of the season Steve Smith

and skipper Michael Clarke, playing his last one-day game, ensured there were no alarms.

Though Clarke got out just before the winning hit, he had seen that he would retire as a winning skipper.

Australia are the champions again, and it will take something really extraordinary to wrest the cup from them again. - PMG

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M O N DAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Triumph a career pinnacle for Clarke Clarke will keep honouring former teammate Phillip Hughes who died last year by wearing a black armband in every match he plays

MELBOURNE: Skipper Michael Clarke shrugged off fitness fears, talk of rifts with team-mates, coach and selectors to spearhead Australia to a fifth World Cup crown. It was a fitting finale for Clarke, who played his 245th and last one-day international to lead Australia to a comprehensive seven-wicket over New Zealand in Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Clarke, 33, went out on a high, finishing with 74 off 72 balls — taking his career total to 7,981 runs —

after being largely a peripheral figure for the Australian team in the tournament scoring two halfcenturies in six knocks although his leadership and on-field strategy have not been questioned.

Clarke was stung when asked at his media conference following the 95-win semifinal victory over India if his batting style had become redundant for the modern game now stacked up against the audacious shotmakers in his side — David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch.

“I think I’m doing all right. I think my record is pretty good up against anybody in the world. I think my record holds its place. I’m not concerned at all,” retorted Clarke.

Yet his last ODI century came against England in Manchester in September 2013 and up to the World Cup Clarke had played in only six ODIs in the previous year.

Speculation over the state of his fitness also annoyed him after recent battles with hamstring and back problems. “I think everybody is sick of talking about my injury, my old injury, I should say,” said Clarke, who turns 34 next week.

While Clarke was on the sidelines, Steve Smith successfully

Michael Clarke

filled in as captain to lead Australia to a 2-0 Test series victory in the three remaining Tests against India and is expected to take over the ODI role full-time.

Reports at the time suggested the team had taken to Smith’s style, while speculation that Clarke wanted to have a strong say in when he was ready to return to the team from injury had caused friction with Cricket Australia.

“It seems like some people in particular are going to write what they want to write,” he scowled.

“I’m really happy and comfortable with my relationship with Cricket Australia firstly, certainly

with my teammates.

“It’s water off a duck’s back for me, I’ve copped it my whole career.

It’s another day, another newspaper sold. I don’t really care.”

There was even talk of a fall-out with coach Darren Lehmann and chief selector Rod Marsh over a deadline imposed on him to confirm his place in the World Cup squad.

“You won’t get headlines out of me,” Clarke told reporters.

Sunday’s World Cup final triumph was a career pinnacle for Clarke, who won 50 of his 74 ODIs as Australia’s skipper.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent my country, the time is right for to walk away from one-day cricket,” Clarke.

But he isn’t finished.

He will continue to play Test cricket looking to add to his 108 matches so far which have yielded 8,432 runs and a highest score of an undefeated 329. And he will keep honouring former teammate Phillip Hughes who died last year by wearing a black armband in every match he plays. “The band has got PH on it. I will wear it every game I play for Australia....this victory is dedicated to our little brother Phillip Hughes.” - AFP

N E W Z E A L A N D C A P TA I N S P E A K S

Retirements can wait: McCullum MELBOURNE: New Zealand have players who will retire from cricket but will be gracious in defeat and allow Australia to bask in their World Cup triumph, Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum said on Sunday.

In a refreshing dose of sporting humility, McCullum said the New Zealand team had no intention of grabbing the headlines off the rejoicing Australians and would do so when “the dust settles”.

Australian captain Michael Clarke, who announced his retirement from the one-day format on the eve of the final, hit 74 in his last one-day international, triggering what is expected to be a number of retirements across the competing teams.

Senior player Daniel Vettori, at 36, is one Black Cap rumoured to be quitting, and even 33-year-old McCullum has been mentioned, but the skipper would not divulge names in the wake of New Zealand’s defeat.

“There are maybe guys within our group who will retire,” McCullum told reporters after the final. “We’ll let the dust settle on this one and we certainly won’t look to grab any headlines over the next couple of days because they belong to Australia as they’ve deserve the right.

“We’ll let the dust settle, we’ll be gracious in defeat and then we’ll work a plan over the next couple of days for some of those guys who may look to retire.

“But it’s the right thing to allow Australia to bask in the glory of their success.”

McCullum, who earned applause from reporters at the conclusion of his post-match conference, conceded their trans-Tasman neighbours won convincingly. “All credit to Australia for the way that they were able to deliver on the biggest stage at the biggest occasion and at the key moments,” he said.

“We’ll take some lessons out of that, but sometimes you’ve just got to admit that you ran second in the race, and fair play to Australia for all their hard work and their success in the key moments.”

McCullum didn’t want to get into any criticism of verbal “send-offs” Australian bowlers gave to dismissed batsmen, notably Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill and Vettori. “Look, it wasn’t really discussed within the group. A send-off is a send-off.

It’s not something we are necessarily concerned about,” he said.

“I think the focus should be on Australia and I don’t want to go too deep into that.” - AFP

C O M M E N TA RY

How to beat the Aussies.

And why NZ couldn’t do it

A

s the entire Australian team sprinted onto the field to join Steve Smith and Shane Watson to celebrate the World-Cup winning moment, as Smith tried to sum up his unbelievable feeling to Shane Warne a little later, as James Faulkner collected his man-of-the-match award and indulged in the amazing new experience, as Mitchell Starc picked up the player-ofthe-tournament trophy and beamed about the fantastic 44 days, as Michael Clarke found himself over the moon, as the crowd roared each time the name of Sachin Tendulkar was mentioned at the presentation ceremony, as Brendon McCullum said ‘credit to Australia’ brilliantly disguising even a hint of disappointment, and as the Indians watching the fun on TV were trying to guess what was it that Sachin whispered that made Starc smile sheepishly while receiving his award, I was trying to think up an idea, a strategy, a plan that could have changed the script.

What could have been done, or done differently, by one of the three teams that found themselves standing close enough to deliver the punch that would have knocked the Aussies out of the 11th World?

Nothing, even if they got the chance to do it all over again, perhaps. But one idea that might have done the trick was pretty simple, and that was by way of effecting a change of venue.

Even then, I doubt moving the final to Auckland would have mattered – we had seen in the group stage how the Aussies fought to defend a small total (152) at Eden Park and nearly pulled off a victory, so the best bet was moving either the quarterfinal, against Pakistan, or the semifinal, against India, out of Australia. A quarterfinal in Dubai, and in the unlikely event of the Aussies surviving the spin and guile on the flat tracks of the emirate, then a semifinal in Mumbai on the dry, dusty Wankhede pitch.

That, at the moment, was the only way, ridiculous though, this Australian team could have been stopped in their tracks.

The resources at the disposal of Michael Clarke in batting and bowling were amazing, which was what other teams lacked. Shortcomings could be camouflaged in the group stage, but they get exposed and exploited in the knockouts.

Neither India nor New Zealand, nor South Africa, for that matter, have in their ranks guys like Mitchell Johnson or James Faulkner who could come in at first change to continue and complicate the miserable life of the rivals. They may have a Steyn or a Morkel or a Boult…but once they are done with their first spell, the opposition gets to breathe easy.

Similar is the case with batting. Whether David Warner

failed or fired, Smith remained almost always unperturbed, and then there are guys right up to No. 7 who could do a neat, perfect job.

It was more a matter of heart than head that made many— the four million-plus New Zealanders and the few millions in Asia, especially in India—fantasize about a New Zealand victory. The first over dealt the severest blow to such hopes when McCullum failed to bottle his testosterones. That’s the way he normally went about it, all right, but on a pitch he had not played on for years, and on the mightiest of all occasions, he shouldn’t have been flashing at the very first ball, and having failed in his first and second attempts, he should have kept his ego under check for an over or so. He didn’t, and that was the first, silliest undoing.

Viewed against the gloomy goings in the beginning, 150 in the 35th over with seven wickets intact offered thrilling prospects. And before all that got undone in the next over, there were hints of what was to come.

After ticking one of the boxes (100-plus-run partnership) that statistically beefed up their chance, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott seemed set for fireworks. And then we saw the signs of the impending doom: confusion crept into the hitherto peaceful partnership, and if Clarke didn’t miss the simple chance to hit the stumps, or had Brad Haddin managed to take the chance to his right, Elliott would have been walking back to the dressing room.

That the very next over, which was the 36th, Faulkner would dismiss both Taylor and Corey Anderson, and in the very next Starc would claim Luke Ronchi to reduce New Zealand to 151 for six, was hardly surprising, given the hints and the Kiwis’ failure to heed.

An Australian victory was expected. When it happened, it looked awesome, despite the obvious boredom normally associated with any such fifthtime event.

But viewed against the backdrop of the drama unveiled in the semifinal when the South Africans did everything to avoid the inevitable, and bitterly, unreservedly, cried when they couldn’t, the final was a big letdown. Full Member vs Associate kind of letdown.

The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

C

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MON DAY, MAR C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

MALIK’S NEW DIRECTION The singer talks about band rifts, Perrie Edwards and the possibility of 1D return

Z

ayn Malik has spoken of his decision to leave One Direction after being signed off with stress for the first time, saying that while it is “crazy and wild and a bit mad”, he’s “never felt more in control” of his own life.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun conducted six hours after news of his departure from the world’s biggest boyband broke, the 20-year-old singer indicated not only that the door has been left open for him to return to the band in the future, but also that he didn’t intend to bow out of the limelight completely in the meantime.

In fact, we could be set to hear material from Malik as a solo artist sooner rather than later. He is currently in a West London studio working on new music with producer Naughty Boy, who masterminded Sam Smith’s award-winning debut.

Malik also discussed rumours that a rift had formed between the band, his engagement to Perrie Edwards (who fans have since branded the ‘Yoko Ono’ of 1D), and whether he thinks One Direction will be able to continue without him.

-Jenn Selby/The Independent

On those rumours of a long-standing rift between the band…

They couldn’t be more wrong, to be honest.

On finally coming to the decision to throw in the towel…

It is crazy and wild and a bit mad. But at the same time I’ve never felt more in control in my life. And I feel like I’m doing what’s right — right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good.

On whether he’d ever consider returning to the band…

I don’t think I can really answer that really. I don’t know.

On knowing he wanted out for a quite some time…

You know, I did try to do something that I wasn’t happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people’s happiness.

And that was mainly the fans. And I only ever tried to do it for the fans, and it was only ever for them.

On confirming he is still engaged to Perrie Edwards…

Yeah, she’s always supportive. She’s always good, man.

On his acrimonyfree departure being easier than when Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls or Robbie Williams left Take That…

My band has been really supportive. They’ve been really cool about it. And they understand that, you know, it’s not real to me anymore.

On whether he thinks the band will stay together…

They still want to do it for a while, so they’re going to carry on doing what they want to do. And I think they’re going to do ok for a while, do you know what I mean? I think they’re going to be cool.

On feeling like he’s let his fans down…

That’s the main thing that I don’t want to happen. It’s not that I’ve turned my back on them or anything, it’s just that I just can’t do that anymore because it’s not real to me.

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MON DAY, MARCH 30, 2015

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are a highly creative individual, and that creativity is almost certain to make itself known at a very early age, prompting those around you to make big plans for you, eager to propel you to success.

It is important, however, for you to recognise when others are urging you to do things for their own gratification rather than for your growth and enrichment. Only by doing that which feeds your own soul are you likely to enjoy the success and contentment that are in your stars, and that you truly deserve. You may, in fact, change course many times as you make your way professionally, until you settle on that one line of endeavour that really makes you happy.

Ultimately, of course, you crave personal interaction, and it may be something that you have to do without for quite a time as you stake your claim to professional success.

Eventually, however, you will recognise that love and friendship are everything to you, and you will at last seek them out.

Also born on this date are: Celine Dion, singer; Vincent Van Gogh, painter; Eric Clapton, guitarist and singer; M.C. Hammer, rapper; Robbie Coltrane, actor; Piers Morgan, journalist; Norah Jones, singer; Francisco Goya, painter; Tracy Chapman, singer-songwriter; Warren Beatty, actor and filmmaker; John Astin, actor; Peter Marshall, game show host; Paul Reiser, actor and comedian.

W E AT H E R

M

WORLD

Max 31 Min 22 Max 10 Min 2

Max 29 Min 18

Max 32 Min 24 Max 4 Min -5

Max 32 Min 23

Max 2 Min 0

Max 36 Min 21

Max 36 Min 19

Max 38 Min 21

Max 38 Min 24

Max 35 Min 20

[March 21-APRIL 19] Max 33 Min 24

Max 26 Min 15

Max 33 Min 24 Max 24 Min 20

—www.met.gov.om

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

28 31 27 33 31 35

21 23 19 21 23 21

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

18 28 22 8 7 25 12 11 22 15 22 33 19 13 27 30 21 6

12 12 13 2 -1 10 10 5 20 9 14 25 10 11 16 25 11 -2

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[APRIL 20-MAY 20]

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] You’ll be put on the spot on at least two occasions — and very likely three. Each time, you’ll learn something new about yourself.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] It’s more important for you to forgive and forget than to carry any kind of grudge. Such negative feelings can only stand in your way.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] Despite the collaborative effort that you are involved in, the fact is that only one contributor can enjoy full recognition.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You’ve been letting bygones be bygones for so long that you may not recognise when an offence must be addressed directly.

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

[[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You won’t have the luxury of simply walking away from things when they get difficult. The easy way out is not an option!

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You may have the chance to show off just a bit more than usual, but you must be prepared. Not everyone will appreciate the effort.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] The clock is ticking away despite your efforts to slow things down.

You’re going to have to follow certain immutable laws.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You may be required to supply more information to those in authority, in spite of your sense that nothing will come of it.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You can move about with remarkable freedom, maximising your pleasure by doing only what you want to do at any given time.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] An impromptu decision has others scrambling to keep up with you. It’s not your intention to surge ahead, but to explore the terrain.

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

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

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

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

LIBRA L

High tide Low tide

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

MONDAY

Min

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

The errors you make today are, in effect, component parts of just one larger mistake, and it’s one that you can correct in the blink of an eye.

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) 6:37pm 12:53am

6:21pm 6.02am 6:16am 12:35am

Sea coast.

SEA STATE: Slight over most of Oman coasts with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

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

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate. Chances of early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of south Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta. Relatively increase in temperature over the Sultanate.

Max

OMAN

TAURUS

12.17pm 3.44pm 6.26pm 7.37pm 4.46am

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chance of convective clouds developments and isolated rain over Al Hajar mountains and adjoining areas during afternoon.

Chances of early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of south Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta.

EXPECTED WINDS: Over most governorates of the Sultanate winds will be northerly to northeasterly light to moderate becoming variable light at night along Oman Sea coast and southerly to southeasterly light to moderate along Arabian

ARIES You’ll be startled to discover that a rival actually has a great deal in common with you, despite your differences.

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

TUESDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

RIYADH 0005 CAIRO 0005 ABU DHABI 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 0100 DACCA 0145 SALALAH 0205 LAHORE 0215 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0255 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0610 BAHRAIN 0640 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 ZURICH 0720 MALPENSA 0720 JEDDAH 0730 DOHA 0735 KUWAIT 0735 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 DUBAI 0850 JAIPUR 0855 SHARJAH 0915 LAHORE 0920 DELHI 0920 HYDERABAD 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0930 COCHIN 0930 TRIVANDRUM 0940 DUBAI 0940 MADRAS 0940 BANGALORE 1000 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1035 DUBAI 1110 MANILA 1110 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 LAHORE 1215 ZANZIBAR 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 KARACHI 1230 BANGKOK 1305 DUBAI 1330 SALALAH 1445 KHASAB 1445 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 MUKHAIZNA 1730 DUBAI 1730 DELHI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 BANGALORE 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 DUQUM OMAN 1755 BAHRAIN 1810 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 DAMMAM 1910 RIYADH 1910 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 KUWAIT 1925 TEHRAN 1940 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 JAKARTA 2055 MUNICH 2105 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 DACCA 2115 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2120 DUBAI 2125 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 CHITTAGONG 2140 SALALAH 2140 COCHIN 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2200 AMMAN 2205 DOHA 2210 SALALAH 2220 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2250 ABU DHABI 2250 KARACHI 2255 AHMEDABAD 2300 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 DAMMAM 2350

WY636 WY406 WY682 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY910 WY916 NL768 PK281 PK225 TK774 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 WY658 4H562 WY638 WY902 WY678 WY686 WY412 WY114 WY144 WY154 WY692 WY674 WY668 WY132 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 FZ043 WY272 G9114 WY236 WY242 WY346 WY252 EK862 QR1128 EY382 WY3302 QR8550 WY604 WY918 G9841 GF562 WY424 WY372 FZ037 IX337 WY904 WY818 PK191 WY606 BG023 WY324 IX817 WY920 WY906 WY3304 KU677 WY632 FZ045 G9119 WY328 WY204 WY292 WY246 WY610 WY264 WY232 WY216 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 WY3306 SV534 WY822 G9116 WY646 TG507 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY224 WY124 WY386 4H561 AI973 WY624 6.00E+81 WY374 WY312 WY914 FZ049 WY254 AI907 QR1134 WY928 UL205 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY672 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY696 WY717

ABU DHABI 0005 CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 SALALAH 0125 LAHORE 0130 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0200 KARACHI 0215 ISTANBUL 0215 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 BAHRAIN 0640 JEDDAH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 MEDINA 0700 RIYADH 0700 AMMAN 0705 FRANKFURT 0715 MALPENSA 0720 ZURICH 0720 DAMMAM 0725 JEDDAH 0730 DOHA 0735 PARIS 0800 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 TEHRAN 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 DUBAI 0850 JAIPUR 0855 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 DELHI 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0930 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 MUKHAIZNA 1045 DOHA 1050 DUBAI 1110 KHASAB 1115 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 BEIRUT 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1200 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 BANGKOK 1305 GWADUR 1320 DUBAI 1330 CHITTAGONG 1345 KARACHI 1355 MANGALORE-ABU DHABI 1440 KHASAB 1445 SALALAH 1445 MUKHAIZNA 1445 KUWAIT 1525 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 SHARJAH 1555 LAHORE 1600 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DELHI 1730 DUBAI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 HYDERABAD 1740 TRIVANDRUM 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 BAHRAIN 1810 MUKHAIZNA 1845 RIYADH 1900 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 SHARJAH 1915 KUWAIT 1925 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1935 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 COCHIN 2045 MUNICH 2105 MALE 2110 DACCA 2115 DELHI 2125 DUBAI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 COLOMBO 2140 CHITTAGONG 2140 SALALAH 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2155 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 SALALAH 2220 COLOMBO 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 MEDINA 2250 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 DAMMAM 2350 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 WY715 LH619 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY281 WY345 WY341 WY241 WY271 WY643 WY637 WY657 WY821 WY123 WY371 WY667 WY383 WY901 WY847 4H584 BG022 PK230 TK777 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 GF561 WY603 WY3301 WY903 WY323 WY917 WY263 WY291 FZ044 WY283 WY245 WY231 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY337 WY253 EK863 WY311 EY383 QR1129 9W533 WY919 GF563 WY631 IX350 FZ038 PA451 WY683 WY3303 WY433 WY663 WY113 WY101 WY645 WY413 WY153 WY143 WY131 WY609 WY405 WY693 WY3921 WY675 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 WY325 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 EK865 WY695 WY653 WY653 G9117 WY909 WY611 FZ048 WY635 WY915 AI978 4H561 FZ050 KL442 WY817 9W529 WY411 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 QR1135 GF567 WY673 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 ZANZIBAR 0040 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 TRIVANDRUM 0110 MADRAS 0110 BOMBAY 0120 COCHIN 0125 HYDERABAD 0135 DUBAI 0150 BANGALORE 0150 ISLAM ABBAD 0150 LAHORE 0150 DELHI 0155 JAIPUR 0200 KUWAIT 0200 ABU DHABI 0205 BAHRAIN 0205 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 MUNICH 0210 COLOMBO 0210 DOHA 0225 MALE 0235 SALALAH 0240 JAKARTA 0245 DACCA 0245 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0250 LAHORE 0315 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0350 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 BAHRAIN 0745 DUBAI 0800 MUKHAIZNA 0800 SALALAH 0800 KARACHI 0800 KHASAB 0815 LUCKNOW 0920 CALICUT 0920 DUBAI 0935 BANGALORE 0940 DELHI 0955 HYDERABAD 0955 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 BOMBAY 1030 SALALAH 1030 DUBAI 1030 KATHMANDU 1040 MADRAS 1040 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 DOHA 1115 COCHIN 1135 KHASAB 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 ABU DHABI 1220 CALICUT 1310 DUBAI 1315 LAHORE 1315 RIYADH 1320 MUKHAIZNA 1330 TEHRAN 1330 DOHA 1330 FRANKFURT 1400 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 KUWAIT 1405 AMMAN 1405 ZURICH 1405 MALPENSA 1415 PARIS 1420 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 DAMMAM 1430 DUQUM OMAN 1455 JEDDAH 1630 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1735 DUBAI 1820 KARACHI 1830 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 KUWAIT 1900 DOHA 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 BAHRAIN 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2040 ABU DHABI 2040 SALALAH 2110 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 JEDDAH 2215 DUBAI 2225 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2230 BANGKOK 2235 TRIVANDRUM 2240 AMMAN 2240 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 SG062 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY423 WY201 WY235 WY601 WY345 WY241 WY431 WY271 WY657 WY821 WY637 WY123 WY371 WY667 NL769 WY691 WY901 PK282 TK775 PK226 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY3301 4H562 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY917 WY323 WY263 WY215 WY291 WY327 FZ044 WY385 WY245 WY231 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY373 WY337 WY717 EK863 WY311 EY383 WY3303 QR1129 WY919 G9842 GF563 QR8551 WY927 WY631 WY223 IX350 WY253 FZ038 WY663 WY101 WY113 WY645 PK192 WY143 WY131 WY609 WY405 BG024 WY3305 IX818 WY671 KU678 WY675 G9110 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY661 WY647 EK865 WY695 WY653 SV535 G9117 WY909 WY611 WY635 TG508 FZ048 WY915 4H561 FZ050 WY817 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 AHMEDABAD 0030 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 RIYADH 0105 MADRAS 0110 BEIRUT 0115 BOMBAY 0120 HYDERABAD 0135 DUBAI 0150 ISLAM ABBAD 0150 DELHI 0155 TEHRAN 0155 JAIPUR 0200 BAHRAIN 0205 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 ABU DHABI 0205 MUNICH 0210 COLOMBO 0210 DOHA 0225 LAHORE 0230 DAMMAM 0235 SALALAH 0240 SIALKOT 0300 ISTANBUL 0315 KARACHI 0315 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 MUKHAIZNA 0715 DACCA 0745 BAHRAIN 0745 SALALAH 0800 DUBAI 0800 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0920 LUCKNOW 0920 TRIVANDRUM 0920 CALICUT 0920 LAHORE 0930 DUBAI 0935 MALE 0940 DELHI 0955 HYDERABAD 0955 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 BOMBAY 1030 SALALAH 1030 DUBAI 1030 COLOMBO 1040 KATHMANDU 1040 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1045 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 MUKHAIZNA 1115 DOHA 1115 KHASAB 1145 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1220 SALALAH 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 COCHIN 1235 CALICUT 1310 MADRAS 1315 DUBAI 1315 DOHA 1330 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 FRANKFURT 1400 KUWAIT 1405 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405 MALPENSA 1415 PARIS 1420 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 CHITTAGONG 1500 MUKHAIZNA 1515 MANGALORE 1530 MEDINA 1535 ABU DHABI-KUWAIT 1625 JEDDAH 1630 SHARJAH 1645 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1735 DUBAI 1820 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DOHA 1900 KUWAIT 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 BAHRAIN 1920 RIYADH 2000 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 ABU DHABI 2040 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2040 DUBAI 2040 SALALAH 2110 JEDDAH 2215 DUBAI 2225 BANGKOK 2235 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 COLOMBO 2335 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY682 WY406 WY636 WY648 WY816 WY910 BG021 4H583 WY3916 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 WY114 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY154 WY144 WY674 WY668 WY644 WY602 WY202 WY102 FZ043 WY272 G9114 WY342 WY242 WY236 WY346 WY226 WY212 EK862 WY252 WY282 QR1128 EY382 9W530 WY604 WY844 WY918 GF562 WY372 FZ037 WY384 IX337 WY902 PA450 WY716 WY3302 WY324 WY818 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY632 FZ045 WY204 WY292 WY3304 WY610 WY246 WY264 WY284 WY232 WY664 QR1126 EK864 WY3922 GF564 WY822 WY694 WY684 G9116 WY254 WY646 WY434 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY848 WY124 AI977 4H561 KL441 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 WY312 WY914 9W534 FZ049 AI907 WY414 QR1134 WY928 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY326 SG061 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY696

ETA

ETD

ETA

ETD

MO N DAY, MAR C H 30, 2 0 1 5

C11

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menen SCREEN 3 100 Days of Love – Malyalam (Romance) – PG Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menen 3.45, 6.45 pm Valiyavan – Tamil (Action) PG 9.45 pm Cast: Andrea Jeremiah, Jai, Bala

10:30 AM Home (3D) (Animation) (PG) 2:15 & 4:00 pm Gold Class: 1:15 pm Ex Machina (Sci-fi/Drama) (15+) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall 12:15, 5:50 & 9:45 pm Gold Class: 7:15 & 11:15 pm Crazy Beautiful You (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo 5:30 pm Get Hard (2D) (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison 7:45 & 9:45 pm Gold Class: 3:15 & 9:15 pm A Little Chaos (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman 11:15 AM Clown (2D) (Horror) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Peter Stormare, Laura 1:30 & 11:45 pm Theeb (2D) (Adventure) (12+) 5:30 pm Gold Class: 7:45 pm

Get Hard (2D) (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison 1:45, 5:45, 9:45 pm Home (2D) (Animation) (PG) 3:45 pm Home (3D) (Animation) (PG) 2:00, 5:30 pm Ex-Machina (2D) (Drama/Sci fi) (15+) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson 3:50, 7:45, 9:45 pm Theeb (2D) (Adventure/Drama) (15+) Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Jack Fox 6:00, 7:50 pm Clown (2D) (Drama I Horror) (18+) Cast: Eli Roth, Peter Stormare, Laura 4:00, 11:45 pm A Little Chaos (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, 7:15 pm The Lovers (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton 9:30 pm Insurgent (3D) (Adventure I Sci Fi) (PG12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, 11:45 pm Insurgent (2D) (Adventure) (PG12) 1:45 pm The Gunman (2D) (Action) (15+) 11:30 pm

Insurgent – 3D (PG12) (Adventure) 7:15, 11:30 pm The Gunman – 2D (15+) (Action) 11:45 pm Ex Machina– 2D (15+)(Drama) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall 3:45, 5:45, 9:45 pm Get Hard – 2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison 4:30, 7:45, 9:30 pm Home – 2D (PG) (Animation) 2 pm Home – 3D (PG) (Animation) 3:45, 5:30 pm Charlie Countryman – 2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, 3:00 pm Haz West El Balad – 2D (Drama) Cast: Elham Shahein, Horeya Farghaly, 5:00 pm Theeb – 2D (12+) (Adventure) Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Jack Fox 7:15 pm Valiyavan – 2D (Tamil) (Romance) Cast: Jai, Andrea Jeremiah 9:15 pm The Lovers – 2D (12+) (Action) Cast: Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton, 2:30, 11:45 pm Clown – 2D (18+) (Drama |Horror) Cast: Eli Roth, Peter Stormare, Laura

SCREEN 1 NH 10 – Hindi (Suspense) (12+) Cast: Anushka Sharma , Neil Bhoopalam, Ravi Jhankal, Darshan Kumaar 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 pm SCREEN 2 Valiyavan – Tamil (Action) PG 3.45, 9.45 pm Cast: Andrea Jeremiah, Jai, Bala Saravanan 100 Days of Love – Malyalam (Romance) – PG 9.45 pm

Insurgent (3D) (Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort 11:45 pm Cinderella (2D) (Adventure) (PG) Cast: Lily James, Hayley Atwell, Richard 3:30 pm Home (2D) (Animation) (PG)

6:30, 11:30 pm 100 Days of Love – 2D (Malayalam) (TBC ) (Comedy | Romance) Cast: Nithya Menon, Sekhar Menon, Dulquer Salmaan 8:30 pm

The Lovers – 2D (12+) (Action) Cast: Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton 5:45, 9:30 pm Theeb – 2D (12+) (Adventure) Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Jack Fox 7:15 pm Ex Machina – 2D (15+) (Drama) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall 3:30, 8:00, 11:45 pm Get Hard – 2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison 6:15, 7:45, 10:00 pm Home – 3D (PG) (Animation) 4:00, 5:30 pm 100 Days of Love – 2D (PG) (Romance) Cast: Nithya Menon, Sekhar Menon, Dulquer Salmaan 9:00 pm The Gunman – 2D (15+) (Action) Cast: Javier Bardem, Sean Penn 11:45 pm Insurgent – 3D (PG12) Adventure, 4:00, 11:30 pm

Insurgent – 3D (PG12) Adventure, 6:30pm The Gunman (15+) (Action) Cast: Javier Bardem, Sean Penn 6:05pm Get Hard (Comedy) (15+)

8:40 pm Ex Machina (Drama | Sci-Fi) (15+) 4:15, 9:55 pm 100 Days of Love (Mal) (Romance) Cast: Nithya Menon, Sekhar Menon 10:30 pm (PG) Theeb (Arabic) (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Jack 8:10pm The Lovers (Action ) (12+) 11:45 pm Home (3D) (Animation) (PG) 4:45pm

Ex Machine (2D)(15+) (Sci-Fi) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall 4:00, 9:45pm The Lovers (2D) (12+) (Action) Cast: Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton 12:15, 9:30pm Insurgent (3D)(PG12) (Adventure) 1:45, 11:45pm The Gunman (2D)(15+) (Action) 11:30pm A Little Chaos (2D)(PG12) (Comedy) 11:30AM Cinderella (2D)(PG) (Drama/Family) 4:00pm Get Hard (2D)(15+) (Comedy) 12:00, 5:30, 7:30pm Home (2D)(PG)(Animation) 10:15AM Home (3D)(PG)(Animation) 2:00, 3:45, 6:00pm Clown (2D) (18+) (Drama/Horror) 2:15, 11:15pm 100 Days of Love (2D) (PG) (Mal) 8:20pm (Comedy) Valiyavan (2D) (Tamil)( Action) 5:50pm Theeb (2D) (12+)(Arabic) 7:45pm

The Lovers (Action) (12+) Cast: Josh Hartnett, Tamsin Egerton 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 813 A Little Chaos (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman 2:00 PM; CP No: 816 (12+) Has West El Balad (Arabic/ Drama) Cast: Elham Shahein, Zeina, Fathy Abdul Wahab 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 817 (15+) Ex- Machina (Thriller/ Sci:Fic) Cast: Oscar Isac, Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 815 (15+) Get Hard (Comedy) Cast: Will Farell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie 4.00 & 8.00 p.m.

CP No: 814 (15+)

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 100 Days Of Love (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menon 3:30, 6:30 & 9.30pm at Cinema Main Valiyavan (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Jai & Andrea Jeremiah 3:30, 6.30 & 9:30pm at Cinema -2 Fireman (Mal) Cast: Mammootty, Unni Mukandan 3:45, 6.45, 9.45pm at Cinema 3 Temper (Telugu) (Act) Cast: Jr Ntr, Kajal Agarwal 3:45pm Cinema-4 NH 10 (Hindi) (Act) Cast: Anushka Sharma, Deepti Naval 6:45 & 9:45 pm Cinema -4 Next Change: Komban (Tamil) Nannbenda (Tamil) and Detective Byomkesh Baksy (Hindi)

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

SUDOKU

Fight to retain partner’s entry

4 8 9 3 3 6 2 9

7

5

1 9 7 6 4 8 3 5 1 5 7 3 4 8 8 7

3 2 7 5 6

7 9 4 2

HOW TO PLAY Fill the empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

— Seven Galaxies

MOHAMMED REHAN March 30, 2010

3 5 1 6 7 4 9 8 2 9 4 2 3 8 1 5 7 6 7 6 8 5 2 9 1 4 3 1 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 5 8 2 3 9 6 5 4 1 7 6 7 5 4 1 2 3 9 8

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

1 5 8 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 24 26 28 29 32 33 35 36 37 38 40 42 43 46

“For — of a nail...”

Interest amt.

Hold up Garfield dog King, in France Toward shelter Neat (hyph.)

Like half of us Drain cleaner Does the trick Um-hmm (2 wds.)

Dressed to the — Holly feature Groove on Cohort of Curly Savings for one’s later years, for short Ancient port near Carthage Winner’s take Harden Sweet murmur Mr. Spock’s father Rascal Jam or pickle Target amounts Mineral deposit

48 Yen 49 Retrace one’s steps (2 wds.)

54 Brainstorm 55 Hot time in Paris 56 Diva’s rendition 57 Oater showdown 58 Family member 59 Command to Rover DOWN 1 Happy shout 2 Summer cooler 3 Zilch 4 Check casher 5 Admire oneself 6 Dirty Harry, for one 7 Ill-fated vessel 8 Mantra chanters 9 Jai — 10 Broker’s advice 11 Jeans go-withs 16 Frankfort’s st.

20 Slot machine city 21 Long-billed wader 22 Dried-up 23 QED word 25 Common phrase

27 29 30 31 34 39

Desert plant Adult filly Bullfight bravos Wapitis Said “Cheers!”

They have pseudopods 40 Pocket 41 Read intently 43 Tobacco wad

44 Language of Pakistan 45 Curved moulding 47 TLC provider 50 Ms. Hagen of films 51 Museum contents 52 Undercover org.

53 Round Table knight

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS

RUDRA SALUNKHE March 29, 2010

5 3 7 1 9 6 8 2 4 2 8 9 7 4 3 6 5 1 4 1 6 2 5 8 7 3 9

Previous puzzle Solution

JOE Henderson, commenting on the Boston Marathon, said, “The Chip (placed in the laces of a runner’s shoe) also reduces the damage done by bandits. They still steal drinks and cheers along the course, but no longer scramble the paying runners’ results. No entry fee, no Chip, no time or place.”

In bridge, when you have winners that could be cashed, no entry, no tricks.

This deal highlights a defensive play that would be missed by many.

What should happen in three notrump after West leads the spade queen?

West opened with a weak twobid, showing a good six-card suit and 6-10 high-card points. South, correctly assuming that his partner held six or seven points, jumped to three no-trump. (Yes, he might have made a takeout double, but he was worried that his partner would have gotten overenthusiastic about diamonds. Note that five diamonds could have been defeated if East gained a club ruff.)

Declarer started with eight top tricks: two spades, two hearts and four clubs. He needed to establish a diamond winner.

South correctly ducked the first trick and won the second spade.

However, then, since West was highly likely to have one of the top diamonds, declarer overtook his club jack with dummy’s queen and called for a low diamond.

East remembered that when partner’s suit is one lead from being established, do your utmost to win the next defensive trick. East correctly put up his diamond king.

Then he led his last spade. South tried a second diamond, but West won and cashed his spades for down two.

— By Phillip Alder

WITH LOVE

BORN LOSER

AARYAN KISHOR BADGUJAR March 30, 2008

ANUJITH P. M. March 30

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

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

C12

M O N DAY, MARCH 30, 2015

EXTRA H O L LY W O O D

Filming for latest ‘Pirates’ movie halted after Depp breaks wrist

Doubt I’ll play second lead again: Aditya Roy Kapur A

ditya Roy Kapur, who took the plunge into acting with 2009 film London Dreams that featured Ajay Devgn and Salman Khan in lead roles, hopes he doesn’t go back to the days when he used to be cast as second lead.

After his debut film, the 29-yearold went on to share screen space with Bollywood stars like Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar. Then in 2013, Aashiqui 2 — about a fallen singer Rahul Jaikar, portrayed by Aditya — “changed things” for him.

“I feel so grateful that Aashiqui 2 came to my life and changed things for me... I doubt I’ll play second lead again,” Aditya told IANS. “Right now I am going through a time where people are offering me good roles and films. If I con-

tinue to be lucky, work hard and do well, I guess I’ll continue doing this. But I’m not setting anything in head. If I’ve an interesting small role in a film with a director I’d love to work with, I might do it,” added the video jockeyturned-actor.

So far, he is content with his acting career, which he took up without “planning anything”.

“I was a VJ and it just happened with time,” he said.

He is filming Fitoor, helmed by Abhishek Kapoor, and he is not in a mood to go on a script signing spree. “I feel like I want to work more and like more scripts. But I have to find something that I like too. After Daawat-e-Ishq, it’s been a while on sets. I’m happy to be on

sets. For that reason, I want to do more films. That’s the best part of the job... Not film promotions or anything else,” said Aditya.

He is now eyeing comedy movies. “I would love to do a comedy.

You get to enjoy a lot. The environment is also different on sets.

People are not serious. My favourite comedy, which I’ve seen in the last few years, is Delhi Belly. That was amazing.

“The writing was so interesting. My brother (Kunaal) was there in the movie. He did such an amazing job. Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! were also nice,” he said.

Aditya grew up watching action films like Rambo and the actor wants to try that genre too.

“I grew up watching Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Lee. I would love to do an action film,” he said.

But producing films is something that the brother of Siddharth Roy Kapur, managing director of Studios, Disney UTV, wants to stay away from.

“I don’t think I’ve the brain to produce films. That’s a different ballgame. But the more films I do, the more I realise how tough it’s to direct. It’s man-management thing... you need to have knowledge about every aspect of filmmaking. “And most importantly you need to have something to say. Right now I’m still learning how to do this job properly. But I do have a passion for it. Maybe, someday,” he said. -IANS

FILMING for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean instalment has been halted after lead actor Johnny Depp broke his wrist go-karting. The 51-year-old actor, who plays Captain Jack Sparrow in the global fantasy film phenomenon, returned to the US on March 11 for surgery after he snapped his wrist during a weekend break.

It is believed that producers have been forced to scale back film operations with the absence of their leading man — with hundreds of crew members in Queensland, Australia, told they will not be needed for weeks while the actor convalesces.

“Everyone wants to get back to work as soon as possible,” a veteran crew member told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

He added: “The producers are hoping Johnny will get himself together, come back and get going again.”

Details surrounding Depp’s broken wrist, which has been pictured in a cast, remain unclear. It is believed that Depp injured himself while riding a go-kart on a private track at five-time Australian MotoGp world champion Mick Doohan’s Coomera property, where the actor has reportedly been staying during filming, on March 10.

Queensland police and emergency services confirmed to Mail Online Australia that they had no received any calls regarding an incident involving Depp. However, the services noted that Depp may have privately checked himself in for treatment.

Although Depp’s absence may push back production, it is hoped that the latest instalment in the multi-million dollar franchise will be released in the summer of 2017.

-Rose Troup Buchanan /The Independent

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

D2

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

OFFICES FOR RENT Premium offices to let a very good location on the main road very close to Zakher Mall, Al Khawiar. Business Center has offices with sizes of 50m2, 110m2, 180m2, 207m2, 230m2, 437m2.

Showroom also available at Business Center, Area 500m2 with central A/c.

Offices with Central Air-conditions, Security System with CCTV cameras, and Security presence in the building.

Contact: 97377355 / 97307476, Email id: aaleem@ggcoman.com

1bedroom, 2 bedroom + showroom, 18 November road Al Azaiba.

Contact 99565364 / 99617786

Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at Al Khodh, Rent 750/-RO.#92888115 Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

2 Bedroom Townhouse with Swimming pool, free Wi-Fi for Rent near British School in Madinat Sultan Qaboos. Contact: 92197959 / 92502497 Near Indian School Ghubra 2 bedroom flat for rent.

Contact 99427574 Qurum Flat infront Qurum park Fahud Road have 3 Bedroom +sitting room +Family hall +3 toilets +kitchen with AC For 500 Rials.

CALL#95999904 Brand New Flat in Bawsher near Muscat private hospital have 2 Bedroom +Family hall +3 toilets +kitchen with AC For 340 Rials.

CALL#95999904 New Villa in Baushar Heights have 5 Bedrooms +sitting room +Dinning +6 toilets +kitchen +maid room with AC & parking, Rent 700 Rial.

Call#95999904 Half Villa in Ghubra North behind Gulf Hotel first floor have 3 Bedroom +Sitting room +family hall +3 toilets +kitchen +balcony with AC for 450 Rial. Call#95999904 Luxury Villa in Ghubra south behind Royal Hospital have 6 bedrooms + sitting room with halls + toilets + 2 kitchen with AC for 1200.

Call#95999904

Brand new warehouses - 3500sqm (2800 sqm built-up area) at Rusayl Industrial area adjacent to Amiantit Oman. Contact 99202278/ 94652485/ 99273774 One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra with attach and common bathroom. For Indian family.

Contact - 92322096

2 BHK flat in Al Falaj Hotel Area (Ruwi). Contact: 99792181 Sharing Accomadation in Ruwi & Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99792181

2 bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman oil 18 November Street.

OMR 330. Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 2 Bedroom Centrally Air-conditioned flat at CBD. Contact : 94460790/ 24714625 2BHK at Honda Road Ruwi.

Contact 99224748 / 99332297 Looking for a cold room for rental.

Contact 99100146 Ghubra furnished room with attached bath, dish, internet, available for Executive person.

Contact 96117178 Printing press for lease.

Contact 97842797 Villa in Bosher behind Dolphin, 5 BHK hall living room with split A/C RO 650/- family only.

Contact 92479515

2BHK with split /AC in W.K behind Sanaa furnishing.

Contact 96708000 2BHK in Al Ghubra, near Indian School. Contact 96708000 We have 2BHK flats in Ghubra, Ghala, Boushar Azaiba & Qurum, Mabela very good price & locations.

Contact 93782735 / 99208033 Spacious villa, 2 floors with swimming pool garden, garage, servant room, 3 bedrooms with seaside view, three lounges, dining room, 5 bath rooms in Qurum area rent R.O 1500/per month, 1 yr advance. Contact 99335594 / 95501858 Villa for rent 4 rooms, 3 toilets behind Kuwait Mosque, Wadi Kabeer.

Contact 92925173

We have 2BHK flats in Ghala with large sitting hall & 3 toilets new building main road. Contact 93782735/ 99208033 We have 150 sqm office in Ghubra main road prime location Already Glass partition done, 2 toilets and pantry available. Contact 93782735 / 99208033 Flat Al Ghubra South first floor, 3BHK hall, living room split a/c for family only 500/-. Contact 92479515 Flat Al Azaiba ground floor 4BHK living room split a/c for family only parking 550/-R.O. Contact 92479515 1&2 BHK with split AC units, near Al Nahda Towers/ Vachas Hypermarket Azaiba. Contact 99202278/ 94652485/ 99273774

2 & 3 Bhk flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99792181 1 BHK fully furnish in Madina Qaboos. Contact: 99792181 Flats shops and store for rent in MBD area and Honda road. Contact 92433127/ 97293708/ 95150632 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir near Lulu 4BHK. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 300 Sq mts available in Wadi Kabir suitable for warehouse or workshop.

Contact 96001855 Studios starting from 160 in Qurum near Mars supermarket. Contact 96755180, 96755181 Al Ghubra small house for rent 160/-. Contact 95032152

Brand new warehouses – 750 sqm (500 sqm builtup area) at Wadi Kabir Sanaya warehouses are provided Warehouses with extract fans, ceiling fans, light fittings & provision for ACs apartments. Contact 99202278/ 94652485/ 99273774 2BHK with 5 split AC units in Ghubra near Al Maha Hotel & Indian School. Contact 99202278/ 94652485/ 99273774 Single room for rent at Al Khuwair area with attach bathroom for Executive bachelor / single family.

Contact 93941622 / 93835869 Warehouse for rent in Al Misfah Indl. area near Oman cement 1200 sq mtr to 3000 sq mtr.

Contact 99441688 2Bed room flat at Madinat Sultan Qaboos, office space - 2/3 bedroom type at Qurum. Contact 24566217/ 24564686 Good quality apartment with 3 bedrooms in Al Khoudh, located between University road and Al Khoudh Commercial Street. #99319829

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

Spacious 2 BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

Dental clinic for sale in Seeb area.

Contact 96903341

2 & 3 BHK Darsait School new building. Contact 99024730

Used window A/C. Contact 97752395.

2 BHK & studio flat at Darsait 1SM. Contact 99024730

Used furniture of readymade garments shop. Contact 96441670

2 BHK flats Muttrah near Oman House. Contact 97007934 / 92629232

Excellent condition Volks Wagen Caddy 2013, 145000 km, unlimited mileage warranty for 3 years for sale. Contact 99822843

2 bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman oil 18 November Street. OMR 330. Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3BR top class fitting flat , ideal for top Executives Mumtaz area, Ruwi.

Contact 91287824 Flat for rent in Wadi Al Kabir, 2 rooms & 3 toilets next to Platinum Gym. Contact 99210008 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. Electricity and boundary wall will be provided.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Flat 4 rent south Al Mabelah.

Contact 95331177 / 95230355

Land in Mawaleh for sale.

Contact 91155779 Industrial lands in (Mabella & Misfa) for (sale & rent).

Contact 91155779 Farms in Barka main road for sale.

Contact 91155779 Commercial lands for sale in Al Ghubra /Mabella. Contact 91155779 New dental chair & instruments for sale. Contact 92816015 Treadmill motorized in good running condition for sale.

Contact 99358025 1BHK C.B.D. Contact 99024730

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 1 Bedroom attached toilet Al Khuwair area only for ladies or husband and wife without children. Contact 9:00 pm to 7:00 am 95765719 Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send messages through Whatsapp or call – 99376454 Furnished room available on Seeb share with small family for couple working ladies.

Contact 96996938 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526

For sale work shop carpenter with 4 clearances in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99345137 Urgent sale man tipper, Tata Novus prime mover with trailer, Tata Daewoo tipper, Tata water tanker, Tata Hyup, Roller, Bitili, roller double drum bitili, PTR Roller Bitili, Titan paver, Volvo, back hoeloader, SDLG wheel loader. Contact 92964673 Building material shop for sale in Al Hail. Contact 98003111 Construction building material / equipment for sale on urgent basis.

Contact 95526871 Building material shop with material for sale in Al Musannah.

Contact 98053324 3 floor building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

FOR SALE

2 residential Lands together, one 610 and the other 600 sq mtrs, in Al Haram on way to Barka. OMR 49 Thousand both. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 558 Sq mtrs residential land in Barka behind Lulu and near to school. OMR 32 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

M.V. FOR SALE ACC. AVAILABLE 3 Bedrooms, with spacious hall & 3 bathrooms near ISM, Darsait from 1st April 2015. Gsm 94288861

Brand new UK made wheel balancer for sale with accessories, contact 94052713, 99885638

Fully furnished room with equipped kitchen with sharing bathroom sea facing balcony is available from 1st April in Azaiba near Muscat Bakery.

Contact 95450250

2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Tel: 97000155 or 92688692

Furnished single /sharing room for Executive bachelor at Rex Road.

Contact 91752474

Ready mix concrete for sale.

Contact 99054673 Land for sale residential commercial and residential and tourist and industrial, and hotels for sale in Muscat (Al Khuwair and the Qurum, and crushed stone, and Bowshar, and spite and Gala heights, and the heights of the airport) to deal with the buyer. Contact 99070093 Restaurant for sale well running with open area and good parking area. 3 new clearance also in Wadi Kabeer near Mars hyper market.

Contact 99656863 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

2 spacious rooms with balcony, separate toilet, kitchen sharing near Rex Road Ruwi. Contact: 92183404 Single room with attached toilet in AL Khuwair. Contact 94617422 Room available with kitchen near Al Shifa clinic at Rex Road for bachelor. Contact 99768952

Wanted a separate room near Lulu Darsait. Contact 92481082 Furnished accommodation wanted for April, May for Keralite family. Contact 99378397

ACC. AVAILABLE

Gubrah furnished room, attached bath dish TV, WIFI, kitchen available for Executive single person, couple.

Contact 99658689

2BR, 1BTR for Indian family ladies near Ruwi Church.

Contact 99746379

Sharing accommodation at Wadi Kabir attached room & sharing kitchen. Contact 95882866 / 96575016

Shop for sale at Ruwi. Contact 99103077

Furnished room for Executive bachelor at Ruwi. Contact 92435784

Looking for a contractor to build my house. If you wish to apply for the position, please feel free to contact the following number: 94488999

ACC. WANTED

Studio flat MBD Ruwi.

Contact 95698714

Bachelor Sharing Accommodation available in villa, rex road, ruwi.

Contact 94442157

Toyota Camry white 2011 km -51000 R.O 4800/-.Contact 99561562

BUYING/SELLING

Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970

Dental Clinic with license for sale in Sohar. Contact 92816015

WANTED

Toyota Fortuner Safari 2011July, 92000KM, Professor driven, OMR9000. Contact 98813910

Single room with furniture available behind Kamat Restaurant Al Khuwair. Contact 24125300 / 94158350 Single room attached bathroom with kitchen near Riyam park Muscat RO 70/-. Contact 95094028 1B/R available for bachelors in REX ROAD, Ruwi. Contact 99889590

Furnished room with attached bathroom for non-cooking bachelor in Ruwi RO 150/-. Contact 92478852

Room in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors free WIFI, Advance deposit.

Contact 95934642

Room with separate bath available for non cooking Executive at Al Khuwair. Contact 99224185

1 bedroom attached toilet in Al Khuwair bachelors/ family R.O 140/-. Contact 95154331

Used household & office furniture and electronic items. Contact 99834373, 97102699

AVAILABLE Freelance HSE Advisor. Contact 93637030 Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

LOST

D4

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant Indian male 10 years experience, 6 years in Oman with Oman driving license seeking suitable job. Contact 97123002 Professional Accountant Finance Manager Chartered acceptant 15 years experience in ERPS, MS office Contact 96264969

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant with NOC or release who can join us with in 15 days.

Send your CV with expected salary.

Email: dirbas.oman@gmail.com

Indian male 24years, 2+yrs exp. in finance/administration on visit visa seeking suitable position.

Contact: 24475596.

Indian Accountant, Female, BBM Graduate (Immediate joining) having 5years experience in India, Currently on Visit Visa Till 20th April’15.

Looking for suitable job. Contact94662416, E-mail: apurwaverma@gmail.com

Indian female M.Com Finance, DCA 3 years experience in Accounts / finance, knowledge in ERP & tally seeking suitable position in corporate finance / banking /consulting.

Contact 96953705 Email prapullasuvarna@gmail.com

CATERING

MBA (in HR & Finance) & BBA (in General Management) and 5+ years experience in Administration & Finance in Oman, looking for suitable opportunities.NOC available.

Contact: 93183137

Wanted cook / Tandoor /Shawarma / maker. Contact 97939688

DRIVER

Indian female 7 years experience as Accountant with good working knowledge in Sap, Fico, Tally, ERP9 and peachtree also having IELTS score 6.5 looking for immediate placement.

Contact +091 9495002094.

Email: cerowil121718@gmail.com

Wanted driver. Contact 95112461

DOMESTIC HELPER Part time maid required in Al-Khuwair 25 on Sunday and Wednesday, call 97093525

ENGI./ELECT./TECH..

Construction Company require Civil Engineer, minimum 2 years experience. Contact 93806556

ENGI./ELECT./TECH..

IT

Senior Project Engineer – Civil, Graduate in Civil Engineering with 20 years of relevant experience preferably 5+ years of experience in Oman. Strong command over written / spoken English & Arabic. Interested candidates send resume to hr@aljood-oman.com Fax: 24437007

Required qualified and IT teachers note: candidates for teaching should have minimum bachelor degree and having experience not less than 2 years. Please submit your CV through email till 29th of March 2015. For more information please contact with 24498423 Email: info@omrantraining.com

Architectural & Engineering Consultancy Office looking for : Manager / Civil Engineer 10 years experience of the related job.

Contact 99243100

MISCELLANEOUS Required Barber. Contact 96964767

A reputed Multi franchise Automotive centre in Oman is looking for experienced in G.C.C for the post of service manager / incharge, Accountant, Senior Mechanics and Lube technicians. Send your CVs to mapmct@gmail.com or fax to 24568146 immediately

Immediate placement (with or without MOH) - Pharmacist - 3 nos, Asst. Pharmacist - 2 nos.

Contact- 99338219 , 93240949

Urgently required Irrigation Engineers, B.Tech (Agri/Irri) for supervision 5 yrs experience.

Contact- secons.engineers@gmail. com Contact 99244481

Urgently required an Orthodontist with MOH to work at a reputed Dental Center in Muscat.

Contact 968 99694723, Email : dr.bdohc@gmail.com

Urgently required for leading company, Land Surveyor, Electrical technician, MEP foreman, Camp Boss. Fax: 24478522 E-mail: gh1.careers@gmail.com

Wanted female Nurse for Skin clinic in Muscat. Must have MOH license and NOC. Mail to clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com

MEDICAL

Sr. Accountant, B.Com, 10 years experience in Oman, knowledge in Tally & focus with D/L and NOC. Contact 96742564

SALES / MARKETING A leading group is looking for Sales Executives, min 2 years experience in Building materials & Electricals with driving license & release/ NOC. Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net.om or Fax: 24701683 Sales man for a printing press.

Contact 97842797 Sales Executives needed for marble & granite company with minimum one year experience with driving license. Good looking Indians only.

Email: anas@kenzostone.com / nabil@kenzostone.com Wanted Salesman with driving licence and car. Gsm : 98805474 or email id: jobssales2015@gmail.com

Need sales man for furniture showroom at Barka with valued Oman driving license. Contact # 91398380 / 91398378, email id agsan2005@gmail.com Kitchen Sales Executive Required:Qualified candidates must have a minimum 2year work experience in GCC with valid Oman driving license. Interested candidates please send your CV to abuqusaikitchen@gmail.com

TOUR Urgently required travel agent for travel agency having 1 year experience SABRE software.

Contact 91120003 or Email: line_travels@yahoo.com

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Wanted for immediate appointment linemen, Electrician, Duct fabricator, AC technicians, AC foreman HVAC, Procurement Asst. Engineer, minimum 2 years experience in Gulf for all posts. Apply with bio-data to hr_oman1@yahoo.com immediately.

Looking for Assistant Workshop Manager, Automobile Engineering with minimum 4 years experience in vehicle modification works.

Contact: 97441935

Urgently required Pharmacist.

Contact 94200385/ 95206905/ 97433142 Email: anitho@gmail.com

SKILLED LABOUR Operator of Mobile Concrete Pump up to 56 meters With a valid GCC driving license Required to work for a private firm.

Contact 94446669

Indian Accounts / Audit assistant with 2 years of experience currently on a visit visa looking for suitable job openings. Contact 94677338, 97041086 Email: ajeeshkcy1989@gmail.com

ACCA finalist and BSc from Oxford Brookes University UK, having 18 months working experience, currently in Muscat on visit, seeking immediate and suitable position. Contact : 95375282

Indian Male, 27 yrs MBA (Fin), SAP, 4 Yrs Exp in Finance Seeking Suitable Job with a Reputed Firm Currently on Visit Visa Contact 92481230

22 years of experience in Multinational Companies & reputed firms in Financial Management, Project Management, Budgeting and Cost control, seeking a strategic Financial/Management Accounting role in a dynamic organization .

Contact : +971-506178139, Email.georg_vargis01@yahoo.com

A Fresh ACCA Affiliate, Pakistani male, 24 yrs, open for positions of Accounts, Audit and finance.

Contact : 94541539 email: wasiqnasir_3@yahoo.com

Accountant B.Com MBA Indian male having 5 year G.C.C exp in similar field with valid Oman D/L & NOC available. Contact 91719385 Email: shinuyesodharan@gmail.com Indian male currently in Oman looking for a suitable placement experience in Accounts, Computer, AutoCAD , 3D studio Max, DTP software’s, Office works.

Contact 98788518, Email: karunakaranvimal@gmail.com Indian Chartered Accountant 15 years experience in KSA & Dubai.

EPR, Tally, Peachtree, SAP, MS Office.

Contact 0091 8086469422 Oman 99886373 Email: rahmanacc123@gmail.com Indian CA, male, having 12+ Years’ experience in the field of A/Cs, finance, auditing, consultancy and also knowledgeable in SAP B1,Tally ERP ,etc. Working as Finance Manager for last 2 years in Oman and have valid D/L of Oman. NOC available. PLZ contact: 98234761, Email:caraj700@gmail.com Indian male 24 yrs MBA marketing 21 days visit visa looking for marketing accounts and sales good communication skills. Contact 91379124 Email: rahmansahil3@gmail.com Indian male 28 years experience in Accounts & Admin with B.E, MBA finance seeks suitable placement with a reputed from on visit visa.

Contact 97409606 Email: mujtabaalam7@gmail.com Indian male MBA (fin & marketing) 9 years experience in business development, healthcare insuring fin & actng seeking suitable job on visit in Oman. Contact 98653962 Email: mdsaleem.r@gmail.com

Male, total 17 years experience in India & Oman - India - 9 years & Oman - 8 years In the field of procurement, material controller and accountancy Local release available (Noc) Cont no. 91680124 , 98606546 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact – 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com Bachelor degree in business (Accounting) from Majan College searching for job with D/L and 2 years exp . Contact 96132149 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Asst Accountant BBM, 2 yrs experience seeking suitable vacancy in accounts, operation logistics etc. 1 year experience in hardware & networking as well. Contact 97623267 Indian male with 7 years experience in customer service and banking operations looking for a suitable job right now on visit visa.

Contact 96169123 CA with 8 years Experience (6 in UAE & Oman) in A/cs, Finance & Audit. Contact: :98707434 / casmart007@gmail.com Indian 34 yrs B.Com CA Inter pass 12 yrs exp in Audit A/C, Finance on visit seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95585069 India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placement. Contact:93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Accountant 25 years experience M.Com Accounts up to finalization 14 years in Oman. NOC release available. Contact 99640490 email: mathutb@gmail.com Accounts part time works up to finalization, monthly report, balance sheet and finalization works.

Contact 96247295 Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com Senior Accountant, 10 years experience in Oman on visit.

Contact 98897581.

ADMIN/HR Indian male MBA (HR & Marketing) 2 years experience seeking suitable job now on visit visa.

Contact 96483964 / 98757816 Over 14 years of Gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L, looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598 Indian female B.Com with excellent communication available for immediate joining full time or part time in HR & Admin coordination.

Contact 98460262

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN/HR

SALES / MARKETING

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437

Marketing Executive + warehouse Manager male 24 yrs, 2 yrs exp with NOC available GCC driving license.

Looking for suitable placement opening. Contact - 97307863

Indian female (Aviation and hospitality management) with excellent communication skill, confident, dedicated to works and enthusiastic and 1 year experience in admin department looking for immediate placement .

Contact 93351256 email : hinakhan.hk88@gamil.com

Indian male 26 years (MBA) (Operations & Marketing) 2 years experience in administration, operations and sales and marketing looking for suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact 97920125 Indian male 36 yrs having 12 yrs of experience in Oman in the following fields- HR & Admin, Purchase, Logistics, Operation. NOC available.

Ph: 93885680 Indian female, 29 yrs, HR (MBA) BSC 3+ yrs in HR & Admin India & Oman seeking suitable placement.

Contact 95619537 Indian male, B.Com, almost 2 yrs exp in Accounts & Admin on visit visa. Contact 98546162 HR Manager Marketing Manager, 12 yrs experience in India seeks immediate placement in Oman.

Contact 95881471, Email : pradeeprajtb@gmail.com Indian male, MBA, 8 yrs experience in HR with Oman D/L. NOC available.

Contact 98692434 Indian male, 13 yrs Gulf experience in Admin / front office.

Contact 97941050

ARCHI./ DRAUGHTSMAN Diploma in Architect 2.5 years experience in Oman having driving.

Contact 92967404

CATERING Indian male 28 holding diploma in hotel management with experience looking for suitable job.

Contact 94388320 Email: rajeshsarseathy.kim@outlook.com

DRIVER Driver with car available.

Contact 96524904 Looking for a job as driver experience 9 years in Oman.

Contact 92517532 Diver available with car.

Contact 91553628 Bangladeshi Driver 18 years experience speak Arabic, English & Hindi also. Contact 99191270 Looking for light driver job.

Contact 95141473 Light driver with car available.

Contact 95520696 Light driver job.

Contact 91376612 Pakistani, light duty driver with 3 yrs exp. Contact 96756014 Driver heavy license looking for job with 7 years experience.

Contact 92073175 / 95606146 Looking for driving job with car 4x4. Contact 91331299 / 96157595 Bangladesh and Oman driver looking for job.

Contact 98503237 Six years experience in Oman driver seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99437236 Bangladeshi Driver looking for job.

Contact 93567263 Light/ heavy duty, driver (GCC valid D/L for company) looking for job. Contact 99531802 Light duty driver with 3 years experience in Oman +5 years in Saudi Arabia speaking Hindi Arabic English. Contact 96088707

Marketing Sales job Oman experience. Contact 91781286

Indian Male 27years, 5yrs exp. as QA/QC Civil Engineer on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact-94372711 Part time structural designer of Civil Engineering, villas, commercial building etc.

Email kashi579@outlook.com D.A.E Civil experience 4 years.

Contact 91197271 Electrical Engineer having 5 years of project experience up to 33KV, having valid driving license. NOC is available. Contact 94107952 /95538337 Mechanical Engineer Indian male (B.Tech, asme.ndt, level 2 piping course) having 1 year experience in Automobile industry is seeking suitable placement. Contact 97800807 / 95844631 Indian male, BE Aeronautical with MBA in production & operations management seeking suitable placement. Contact 97738182 / 95097270 M.Tech Computer Science & Engineering, Indian female, Fresher, looking for suitable vacancy.

Contact 96103071 Email: norajobai@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, B.Tech (MECH) on visit, 1 year experience as PPC Engineer looking for suitable placement. Has HVAC, AutoCAD and CATIA designing skills.

Contact 98925685 Indian Mechanical Engineer, 25 years with 5 years experience in fabrication (steel & pipe), machinery installation HVAC and Quality control in welding & mechanical working in Muscat and NOC available.

Contact 97270431 Email: akhilcnair1989@gmail.com D.A.E Civil 4 years experience D/L Oman. Contact 96719649 Indian male 24 years B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 2 years experience seeks suitable placement in reputed company.

Contact 99359887 / 94132536 Civil Engineer with MBA have 10 years exp in construction and roads projects management.

Contact 97046565 Omani Citizen BE Mechanical Engineer with 1 year Experience looking for job urgently. Contact: 95993315 email: eaz-s@hotmail.com Mechanical Engineer Indian male with one year experience also qualified in PDMS, Piping and NDT level two seeking suitable position currently in visit visa. Contact 98698682 Email: arundevchandran@gmail.com Electrical Engg, B.E Indian male 1 yr exp on visit visa. Contact 93700848 Email: quizzu.26@gmail.com Electrical Eng diploma 12 yrs exp HV /LV - UG & OHL having NOC with valid Oman D/L & Mazoon CEP. Contact 96274568 Mechanical Engineer (BE) done process piping, PDMS, Q.C welding N.D.T course fresher on visit visa looking for job. Contact 97359171 Email: sayyedz097@ymail.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Project Engineer, civil engineer BSC, Building Construction 5 Years Exp in Oman fluent Arabic, English and good Hindi .Contact - 97858589

DOMESTIC HELPER Female cleaner for school/kg, job (overseas). Contact 95175192 House boy/ cleaner looking job overseas. Contact 95175192

DESIGNER Modular kitchen designer with 4 years Bahrain /Dubai experience plus 10 years AutoCAD, 3D, Photoshop& 20-20 Fusion.

Contact -96467673, cristobabu@gmail.com

IT

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Sudanese Electrical plants equipment Engineer with 3 years Diploma degree of Electrical Engineer have 5 years experience in building constructing industry operation installation maintenance asphalt crushers stone plants and automation systems. Contact 94549609 B. Sc Civil Engineer with 5 years experience and valid Omani driving license and PDO driving and safety license and OSHA safety license looking for suitable job.

Contact 92548097 Sudanese chemist resident, 3 years experience in chemical industry.

Contact 97399073

Indian male 24 years, Mechanical Engineer,pdms.1 yr experience in pipeline,16years in oman seeking immediate placement Contact 95775742 M. Tech Civil (structure) with 3 years experience looking for a suitable job with reputed consultants or contracting companies.

Contact – 93137035 Email – mdshahzar.khan@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Sudanese Graduate with 3 years Diploma in Civil Engineering have 5 years experience in building construction industry materials, specification & testing.

Contact 96995670 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847

Indian male Graduate IT professional having 3+ years of experience in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & networking CCNA, MCITP, PHCE, looking for job on visit visa.

Contact 94647824 email id: azharpo@gmail.com

MEDICAL Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 MD with 4 years of experience in Trinidad Government Hospital West Indies. Prometric exam of Oman succeeded with 66% looking for GP anywhere in Oman.

Contact 96226787 Nazia Shahid Shah, General Dentist from India with 3 plus years of full hands-on experience including clinic management. Prometric exam passed in March 2015 63% Looking for a suitable placement in Muscat region. Contact 97469553.

Email :- nazianbaig@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS EDUCATION Environmental Marine Consultant 14 yrs PHD Nebosh EMS Auditor teaching experience working in Environmental consulting firm for 8 yrs in Muscat seeks posts like Environmental expert. NOC available. Contact +968 91099060 Email: ecoenergy242@gmail.com Indian female M.SC, M.PHIL, BIO, Informatics 1 yr experience in college level seeks suitable placement in schools and colleges.

Contact 92237504

IT Indian male 22 years BCA graduate, CLSCO certified Network Associate and COMPTIA A+ (Installing, Configuring and troubleshooting). Fresher with good computer proficiency seeking for suitable opportunities.

Ready to do other office routines and work anywhere in Oman valid Indian driving license. Currently on visit visa. Contact 99704508 / 91258708 Email chiran280293@gmail.com Indian male 28 yrs, trained in computer hardware and networking and certified CCNA MCSA, looking for suitable job.

Contact 94388320 Email: rajeshsaraswathy.kim@outlook.com BSC Computer Science 4 years Oman EXP, driving license MCSE, CCNA, MCITP. Contact 95874315 Indian male 25 years, bachelor in Computer Science with 3 years experience in basic hardware software and networking seek suitable placement now on visit visa.

Contact 92995706 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com IT Project Manager (PMP) available for immediate joining. Total 15+ years exp & 12 years of IT experience in SAP & Project management. Having working experience of UK, France, Germany, China, UAE, India, etc.

Currently on Visit Visa. Call 94300317 Website software developer Oman experience looking for job.

Contact 91781286 Email: hussainkhan201@gmail.com Indian male, 25 years BSC, (Computer Science) 2 years experience in computer, hardware & networking looking for suitable placement presently on visit visa. # 93243372 Network Engineer, BSc Communications, 5 years exp, CCNA, VAS, Data Center, working now at Alcatel Lucent, visit visa. Contact 91268787 Male Omani National, 27 years, holding Master in IT - Computer Sciences Engineering (India) and Master in Robotic Intelligency (Spain), looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 99211549.

3G , 4G Welding lead man Indian male, 33 years, having 15 years experience in American company, UAE and India, seeking for suitable placement. Contact 92122468 Email: shaji11@gmail.com

MBA male having experience of production operation administration looking for job immediately joining.

Contact 94670691 Electrician, Plumber, Gulf exp looking for job. Contact 99531802

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Projects / Contracts Manager 31 yrs (26 yrs Oman) experience in Management & coordination of multi-million R.O projects of Government & private sector, post Graduate Structural Engineer with QS Background looking for senior position in construction / Engineering consultancy / Government.

Contact +00968-91400599 Manager 16 years experience in Hypermarket with Oman driving license seeking suitable placement.

Release available.

Contact 00968 96913238 Indian male D/L looking job as Supervisor or safety officer/ camp boss. Contact 94003617 Indian male M.Tech MBA, 24 years experience working as Country Manager seeks employment.

Contact 92279972, NOC available.

PROJECTS Indian male, 4 years experience as Safety Officer with NEBOSH currently on visit visa.

Contact :99565910, E mail: yadavchandan287@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING Indian 45 years Sales Manager for European Modular kitchen & furniture. Contact 92284856 Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com MBA in marketing with more than 5yrs of experience in building material sales in Oman seek suitable placement D/L & NOC available.

Contact 96353095 Indian, male, 27 yrs, B.Com 5 yr exp in Sales & sales coordinator Excel, MS Office, word now on visit visa.

Contact 95612321 Email: jkadavil@gmail.com Indian male, 25 yrs MBA, HR , having 1.5 yrs exp in sales & marketing on visit visa seeking for a suitable job. Contact 98796877

Pakistani male MBA marketing 2 years experience need job in sales marketing export admin management sector. Contact 94009052 Indian male 23 with 2 years Oman experience looking for suitable placement in sales and marketing.

NOC available with valid D/L. Contact 96392009 18 yrs Oman experience in building materials seeking suitable placement, NOC available Contact 93105775

Hardware specialist B.Tech M.Tech electronics with 10 years experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations.

Contact 91289459 Email: shrn.shrf@gmail.com IT Prof, MCA having 6+ yrs exp, seeks suitable position.

Contact 94543668

Tunisian women looking for job, knows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838

B.Tech IT Professional, Indian Male with 3 yrs of Exp. In System Admin, IT Support, Networking, Installing Active Directory, DHCP, DNS,RAS, configuring maintaining and managing servers, configuring cisco routers, Exp in handling SQL database, With Valid Driving Licence. Contact - 968 98863507

Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc.

Holding valid Oman D/L .Contact 99054786

Indian male Graduate (BSc. IT) 25 years new on visit visa in Muscat.

1 year experience in Accounts looking for suitable position.

Contact 95752827 Email: mhdfsrn@gmail.com

Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5 years experience in Muscat.

Immediately available for joining.

Contact: 92139298

Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking.

Currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact – 94359564

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com M.Tech Civil (structure) with 3 yrs experience looking for a suitable job with reputed consultants or contracting companies.

Contact 93137035, Email : mdshahzar.khan@gmail.com Generator maintenance in charge with 4 yrs experience with Cummins, caterpillar, kirloskar and voltas. Contact - email: shibinmundakkal@gmail.com Experienced female Electrical Engineer. Contact 93800906 Civil Engineer with 12 years Experience Looking For Job. Contact 98162295 Aircraft Maintenance Technician with one year experience seeks suitable placement. Contact amaljohn2002@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer (Automobile)&Diploma in QC with 2yrs experience in oil & gas company seek suitable placement job currently on Visit Visa. Contact no.96071081, 99214308 , Email: rahulvarikkat@gmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 11 years exp in oil & gas industry.

Contact - 95928035 Telecom Engineer with 4.5 years Oman experience looking for a suitable opportunity, interested even in Marketing also. Possess valid Oman driving license. Contact 94145460 DAE (Civil) having 3.5 years Experience 2 years from Oman with driving licences, seeking for suitable position in Construction field NOC and release available . Contact 96968554 Email: mehranahmad26@yahoo.com Diploma of Associate Civil Engineering, Diploma of AutoCad, having 3.5 yrs experience, 2 yrs experience of Oman in Building Construction, valid transferrable ID Card.

Contact 94378581 Mechanical Engineer, Gulf Exp in Design and Manufacturing Ph: 97097688 Indian male, 26 yrs B-Tech (ECE) with MBA in Marketing / HR looking for a suitable placement. Currently on visit visa valid up to 30 January 2015. Contact 93754428, email : shijosirius709@gmail.com 24 years Indian female diploma in computer science and engineering now on visit visa seek suitable placement.

Contact 96314974/99107369 Accounting up to finalization, auditing & contact for tally ERP software Contact– 91720465 B.com doing CA Accounts/ office job male now working in Oman Noc, release available. Contact 92715465 Email: alsabathehm@gmail.com

Bangladesh male MBBS Doctor with 3 years experience for a private clinic. Contact 00968-94209634 Medical- Indian female, 27 yrs, masters in hospital administration, fellowship in HTA studied in a super specialty medical sciences and research center in India and done project in an established hospital in sultanate of Oman.

Contact 93200827, 91026506 Female pharmacist with 3 years experience and MOH license currently in Oman, CONTACT 92455124 Qualified Manager: (12+ yrs. Oman Exp.) Vast knowledge in A/c & Admin, Costing, Banking, Credit Control, Insurance, International Purchase/Logistics & Finance, With D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 93826090 Email: jskanchan01@gmail.com Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel. Contact: 91219787 Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934 1 year experience in teaching all subject to KG classes, currently working as a teacher in Oman, seeking suitable placement, Family visa. Contact 92178304 / 99036256 Welder, 3G, 6G, TIG, Exp in Fabrication , Gulf Exp Ph : 97103168 Care taker, Gulf Exp knows Hindi, Arabic Ph: 94238840 Keralite Bachelor professional building designer with AutoCAD, 3D Max & Accounts.

Contact 96535497, email : bhaviwky90@gmail.com Light driver looking for job.

Contact 92791678 Light driver looking for job.

Contact 91376612 LV Driver- 2 yrs Exp-know English- Contact 95292064 Indian cook, Tandoori cook, male, 32 yrs, having 4 yrs of experience in Muscat in India, looking for a cook job in Hotel. Contact 93753523 / 98744307 / 92175119 Young Indian male with 5 years Muscat experience in admin, purchase & Masters from UK seeks placement. Possess driving license.

Contact 94400671 Indian Male, 25 yrs currently in Oman on visit looking for suitable vacancies in accounts, B.Com completed 1 yr experience.

Contact 92024380 Pakistani male, 25 yrs, MBA Finance, 1.6 yrs exp in Accounts seeking placement in Accounts, Administration or Business Management. Contact 92651927 / 94250149 B.Com India. Languages : English, Hindi & Malayalam. #92954613

D6

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male 29 yrs, having 7year India + Gulf experience in Procurement Engineer, looking for suitable placements.

Contact:96035370, Email: samyram1986@gmail.com Indian male, 14 yrs experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available.

Contact : 95 25 36 40 Diploma in Fire and Safety Engineering, having 3.5 years of experience as an Safety Advisor.

Having PDO PASSPORT and IOSH. Have valid Omani driving license is looking for job. Contact number 968 96176872, 968 9808527.

Indian male, 22 years, B.com graduate, Knowledge of Tally ERP9, MS Excel & MS word. Currently in Oman on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 99894250, email: fouzishaque@gmail.com 3 years experience B. Pham Pharmacist, Passed Pometric written exam, require suitable post.

Mobile: 9561 3245 E.mail:saaji777@gmail.com Indian, male, Business Management graduate with 10 years UAE experience in supervisory/ administration position in Electronic Card Personalisation projects, seeks jobs in banking/ financial sector. Contact: 00971505250274/ naushers@yahoo.com Indian male, 14 yrs experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel ( Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). Contact 95253640 B.tech Mechanical Engineer, Keralite bachelor with B.tech looking for job in Oman with three year of experience on visiting Visa.

Contact no.-0096891296354, Email-manurpr88@gmail.com Indian Male 25yrs, having 3year Indian experience in Accountant Shipping Company, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 919632529484, Email: bangerasavan@gmail.com Pakistani Male having 5 years exp. Valid Omani Driving license working as a Logistic Officer looking for a suitable position. Salary is negotiable. Email : naveedmuhammad037@gmail.com, Mob: +96893363316 OPTOMETRIST, 27 years Indian female, 3 years experience looking for suitable placement in Muscat.

Contact: 92066532 Email: aradhanaarun88@gmail.com Civil Engineer Indian with 12years experience in building construction having valid driving license.sureshudreams@gmail. com, 91305025 /93839731 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately.

Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com

Pakistani Male having 5 years experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Logistic Officer looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. naveedmuhammad037@gmail. com Mob: +96893363316 /94202746 Indian female 25 years MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement.

Contact: +(968) 93316493 Indian Male, 58 years, Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position.Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 Part- Time Accountant, well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available Contact : 98803439 Looking for Network Engineer Job, NOC Available Immediately, CCNA, CCIE Collaboration Written Current Company: Global Solutions L.L.C, 3.5 Years experience. #97312044 engineerwaleedkhan@hotmail. com Female with MBA finance, financial and tax professional four and half years of experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations. Contact- 99792457 Email: msparveen1@gmail.com Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306 Indian male, graduate with 7 years experience in hospitality industry, sales & marketing .M.B.A in human resource management.

Contact 92115860 Indian male, 15 years experience in managing department stores, in Karnataka, India, looking for placement.Contact 93086105 or 99016546 Indian male- B.Com/B.Ed/15 years Exp – 5 in Oman, seeks job in Accts/Sales/Logistics have NOC and Oman D/L with car.

Contact – 92919625/93511425/ 93424828; Email- seshadricpioman@gmail.com Accountant: a well experienced Indian male, M.Com, more than 20 years experience in accounting field (GCC & India), looking for job as accountant or accounts manager in oman. presently working in India and ready to join immediately.

Contact :99087175 Indian male 26 years, with 4 years experience in accounts and administration looking for suitable placement. Contact 93008891 Indian male, B.Com, Accountant – 6yrs exp in Oman, NOC availableReady to join.contact: 98162671 ; email: prasanths3@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439

Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) mob : 95253640

Sr. Sales Manager (BE/MBA) 9 yrs in Oman; (GCC/omn-d/l); seeking immediate replacement in mktg, sales or, bdm profile, # 96040977, kvmssn@gmail.com

Indian Male 26 Years, having 2 year experience in accounting field Looking for suitable placement. Currently working in Oman.

NOC available, immediate joining.

Contact No: 94282980, Email: shirasvelliyath@gmail.com

Indian female, 24yrs, M.Com (Accounts) having 3 yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency seeks suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913

Indian male, 45+ yrs, 20 yrs exp. in Sales Supervisor looking for sales / stores / cash or any suitable placement, can join immediately on visit visa. Contact 93086105 / 99016546 Lab Chemist 10 yrs experience in gas and crude oil analysis Master degree in chemistry on visit visa 94403242 Indian male 23 years B.Com completed fresher with fluency in English, Hindi and Telugu looking for suitable job . Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact 96098174 / 98912870 Indian male total 17 yrs exp in field of procurement, inventory, controlling & accountancy. Local release available, seeking suitable placement. # 91680124 / 98606546 Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of Ms .Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in A/Cing & admin dept .looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 ACCA-UK, B.Sc (OBU-UK) having 2.8 years of experience in Accounts, Bookeeping and Audit.

Looking for job in Accounts/Finance department. Also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and Peach Tree. Email: AliRiazMughal@Outlook.com, Gsm: +968-95459936 Indian Male 28yr age having 6year gulf+ Indian experience in HR field, looking for suitable placement. Contact:97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian male, 11 years exp.

In accounting, knowledge in tally also. Looking for a part time job.

Contact . 98983122 Female Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary with 27+ experience, worked with top management/Board in financial services with shorthand skills & Omani driving license, seeks suitable placement. Call 95941515 Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available.

Capable to handle accounts up to finalization. Contact 9602 3965.

Indian female, Graduate, Certified in IATA, with 8 months experience in Travel and 2 and half years experience in Operations and HR looking for job in Field of Travel/ Office Management. Contact -92816803/ 92459686. Emailvijetadevilishangel@gmail.com MBA (international business) with 2.5 years experience in sales and also experience in vehicle spare parts (in-charge) looking for a suitable job presently on visit visa. Contact 93539456, 95765868, E mail: mathewsantony936@gmail.com British Beauty Therapist Looking for suitable position Mob: 97175240 INDIAN FEMALE ,Graduate, Certified in IATA, with 2 and half years experience in Admin/ Accounts and Office coordinator looking for job in Field of Travel/Office Management. Contact -92459686/ 92816803, Emailkrupa_patel1984@yahoo.com Part Time Accounting Job Complete Data Entry, Reporting and Finalization. Any Time Available.

Location Ruwi to Bharka. Please Contact- +968-92049215 Email:- aiafe.oman@gmail.com

AutoCAD draughtsman temporary available at the month of April (AR+ST+PL+HVAC) Contact – 91620107 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to finalization.

Contact 9602 3965.

Indian female 25 years MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement. Contact: +(968) 9843 0089, +(968) 97851940 Marketing Manager Indian male 11 years local market experience with Oman driving license and NOC looking for suitable placement.

Contact 93564959 Email: drmbuz@gmail.com Indian Male, 58 years, Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations, seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position.Visa transfer/NOC Available.

GSM: 95036410 Indian, Male 43, CA/ISA, Experience in Retail, NBFC, Logistics, Banking, Automobile, Investment and facility Management, seeking for a change.

Valid D/L. Release available.

Contact: aurosun@gmail.com AutoCAD draughtsman temporary available at the month of April (AR+ST+PL+HVAC).

Contact – 91620107 MCA, MBA, CCNA, MCSE, Indian male with 10 years of experience, holding Oman driving license on visit visa seeks any suitable placement. Contact 92716116 / 91266535 Email: sijuayur@gmail.com South African Teacher – male – Teaching Diploma , B.A. (Hons), B. Admin (Hons ). 18 years experience – seeking a primary teaching post – grades 4 to 7 (8 to 12 years). Can teach all subjects at this level.

On 30 day visitors visa.

Contact 93341047.

E- mail nadgov@gmail.com Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). Contact : 95253640 Accountant, Indian male 24 yrs, 2 years successful experience in Oman with Oman Driving License .

NOC Available. Seek a suitable opportunity. GSM : 9340 9315 Computer Teacher, MCA in Al Ghubra. Contact : 94231633 Indian male Executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 7 Years successful experience.

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, 29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Indian Male, 22 years, B.com graduate, Knowledge of Tally ERP9, MS Excel & MS word.Currently in Oman on visit visa, looking for suitable placement. Contact 99894250 email: fouzishaque@gmail.com

Indian, Male, 43 years, Chartered Accountant, 18+ years of experience, looking for a change. Valid Driving License. Release available.

Contact: aurosun@gmail.com Australian Network Engineer, with 4 years exp, BE in Telecom MS in Network Sys worked as a Network/WiMax Eng well versed with Cisco devices, available on contact 92606921 Email: akalu987@gmail.com Sri Lankan, female, 25 years, Graduate in Management, possessing 6 years experience in banking, financial, administration and risk management.

Currently on a visit visa seeks suitable immediate placement.

Contact 93462521. wathsala.perera1@yahoo.com Corporate Communication Professional, smart, quality English writing, double Masters, Oman exp in Corporate, Internal &Marketing Communication, CSR Programs, PRs, Ads, Events, Campaigns, Customer Relations. Immediately Available, Release.

Contact 91229392 Manager-Corporate Communications, pleasing personality, excellent English, Masters-Journalism, Mass Communication, Finance, expert in writing & publishing press releases, advertisements, website content, speeches, CSR, promotions, events. Immediate joining, NOC. Contact 91229392 Indian male, 25 years, now on visit visa in Muscat. One year experience in accounts , looking for suitable position.

Contact:95752827, Email id: mhdfsrn@gmail.com Indian Male 28yr age having 6year gulf+ Indian experience in HR field. Looking for suitable placement. Contact:97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com 30 years Indian male with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at five star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruiseliner as Butler . Currently in Muscat on visit visa. Contact 91075704 Senior Accountant Indian Male with 13 Year of Experience (7 years in Oman) in Accounts & Finance having valid Omani Driving License with NOC Available. Looking for suitable job. # 96001918 Indian Male, 27, Mechanical Engineer. HND, with exp. as Project coordinator in U.A.E, Valid GCC D/L, currently on visit, looking for a suitable position. Contact 97070427 Indian female (B.A. B.ed) seeks suitable placement as fresher primary teacher.(Specialization in social studies, currently pursuing M.A in English).Presently in family visa status. Contact:99713864.

Email:poojaavn@yahoo.com 28 year Indian male Art specialist with 7.5 yrs of experience in Healthcare industries in AR analyst (US Based Project - M.BA., Finance) seeking suitable placement. Contact +91 9841906431, E-mail: aru1986k@gmail.com Indian male, 25 years, now on visit visa in Muscat. One year experience in accounts, looking for suitable position. Contact:95752827, Email id: mhdfsrn@gmail.com Looking for job Tunisian Bachelor with experience 5 years in Network/IT. Cont.:91368102

CIVIL Autocad Draughtsman Looking for part time job. #95218737 Indian Teacher Female with two years experience seeks suitable placement in Indian or Omani Schools currently on visit visa please contact 99436826. Email id :- ineshdsouza31@gmail.com Diploma in Fire and Safety Engineering. Have 3.5 years of experience as an Safety Advisor. Having a valid Omani driving license is looking for job.

For further information please contact me at 96896176872, 9689808527.

Indian male 28yr age having 6 years Gulf+ Indian experience in HR field, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian Female, 24 yrs MS. Software Engg. Currently on family visa, 1 year experience in SAP WM & IT seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95490105 MBA fresher, with fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil & Malayalam, looking for suitable job.

Currently in Oman on visit visa.

Mob : +968-93730345 B.tech Mechanical Engineer : Keralite bachelor with B. Tech looking for job in Oman with three year of experience ,on Visiting Visa. Contact no.-0096891296354, Email-manurpr88@gmail.com Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 99709336 Indian male, 14 years Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel ( Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) mob : 95 25 36 40 27 years, Indian optometrist , female , 3years experience looking for suitable placement in Muscat. Contact : 92066532 mail: aradhanaarun88@gmail.com Indian Male 22 years, B.Com looking for suitable placement.

Contact no. - 99894520 email- fouzishaque@gmail.com ACCA+2.5 years of experience in Accounts, Bookeeping and Audit.

Looking for job in Accounts/Finance/Internal Audit. Also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and PeachTree. Gsm: 91717234 Email: xhoaib101@hotmail.com, Civil draughtsman expecting part time job.(civil infrastructure) and BBS. Contact :95914642 Planning Engineer 7 years of Experience in project planning and control in oil and gas, PDO & QP Approved Planner,PRIMAVERA-6,B. Tech in Mechanical engineering from CUSAT Contactullasprabhakaran@yahoo.co.in, ph-00974 70230223 Sales manager (be-mech/mba) in oman since-2005; (omn-d/l); seeking immediate replacement in marketing and sales or, bdm profile, contact-96040977, kvmssn@gmail.Com B.tech Mechanical Engineer, Keralite bachelor with B.tech looking for job in oman with a year of experience on Visiting Visa.

Contact no.-0096891296354, Email-manurpr88@gmail.com

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

TOURS

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION Pick & Drop Available @ 99159277 Transportation. Contact 98505294 Transportation. Contact 99664703 Transportation. Contact 98518979 Transport to ISWK. Contact 93172589 Pick & Drop any time.

Contact 97014786

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

D8

M O N DAY, M A R C H 3 0, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WEBSITE

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

MANPOWER

Canadian Manpower Co. Recruiting Construction, Hotel, Medical, Gas & Oil Staffs - 2 years contract, work visa, tickets, accommodation.

Free recruitment. Please send CV to margholdingoman@yahoo.com, www.margholdingimmigration.com, 93392630

Available construction workers, hospital staff with Oman parametric, housemaids Indian, Uganda. Contact 9629417/98408488 Email: alkubratrading@gmail.com

CLASSES

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

BUSINESS

MATRIMONIAL Jacobite boy, 28/175 fair, Diploma working in Oman M4 ID - 4003130.

Contact 99097785 / 93977526 Kerala Nair boy 40 year old divorcee, pharmacist in Oman, looking for suitable alliance from professionals.

Contact-93604151 Kerala Malankara Catholic girl 28/155 GNM, MOH Oman looking for suitable match from Muscat / Kerala (Pta dist) M4 ID 4002623.

Contact 96708960 / 95338210

DRIVING

GOOD NEWS Tile/marble/granite cutting, skirting & polishing please contact 94052713,99885638.

We are looking for a Muslim Girl for our son interested parents or daughter May. Contact 97664009 Keralite Syrian Christian Parents seeking alliance from any Syrian Christian Denominations Graduated working girls preferably in Oman or UAE for their son MBA 29/175-born brought up in Muscat working in a reputed organization.

Contact 97226324 email: m4proposal@yahoo.com

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

COMPUTER

Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi offers genuine & effective treatment for back pain, paralysis, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis, joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, allergic problems, varicose vein and all other health related problems. Kerala massage and rejuvenation package available. For details please contact: 92197920/ 24799689

SITUATION WANTNOTICE I, Francesca Frenchell Fernades (holder of Indian passport No. G 6643200) D /O Mathias Cosmos Fernandes having permanent residence in 304, Jupiter Apts, Yari Road, opp. St. Anthonys High School, Versova, Andheri (W) Mumbai - 400061 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Al Khuwair, P.O. Box 793, PC 112 Ruwi , Muscat, Sultanate of Oman (complete postal address in Sultanate of Oman) intend to marry Mr. Ajit Manjit Joginder Gill (holder of Omani Passport bearing No. 02799612) S/o Manjit Singh Gill in Embassy of India, Muscat. I swear that I am marrying him at my own free will and not under any duress and intimidation. Any objection towards this marriage may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.O. Box No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman within 30 (thirty) days of publications of this newspaper advertisement.

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 , www.siddhayur.com

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987

MATRIMONIAL Hindu Ezhava family, settled in Muscat looking for suitable groom working within Oman for their daughter 25 yrs (MBA) working with a reputed company in Muscat.

Contact : 98689663

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com

FOR HIRE 50 seater bus with PDO speciďŹ cation for rent or lease.

Contact 99839898

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 A/C service repair RO 10/-.

Contact 95084850 / 92230581 Ocean trading is Professional in auto A/C repairing since 35 years serving with high quality & best price.24817426 & 95206751 Pest Control Treatments, Termites, Cockroaches, Bedbugs. Contact Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99344723

A/C maintenance split A/C servicing. RO. 10 only. Contact 94217681/ 99210141

House shifting. Contact 99708138

AC service repair and maintenance.

Contact 95356877

Cheapest prices all types window, curtains and Blinds. Contact 99539521

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 / 92682970

A/C maintenance & servicing.

Fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing. Painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/ 24504281

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 We offer you the business services maintenance of buildings and villas for paint and carpentry and decoration works and installation of material awater Broof and cleaning services building management and leasing of real estate . Contact 99070093

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476

NRI

Water prooďŹ ng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

2 Nos prime plots of 20cents each in Haripad town Alapuzha (Dist) Kerala for sales. Contact 98088064 / 0091944 6168866