Times of Oman - April 30, 2016

SATURDAY April 30, 2016 22 Rajab 1437 AH

6 085010 120010

GLORIOUS SUMMER IN SIGHT FOR LEICESTER CITY AFTER MANY WINTERS OF DISCONTENT

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We would however, wish to draw the attention of our students studying abroad, to beware of being seduced by foreign ideas. We should make it clear that these elements are jealous of our achievements and progress, and they plan to retard the pace of our progress.

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Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 58

On the occasion of the 4th National Day, 1974

| 28 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

As Oman recorded its highest average temperature in five years, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has called upon people to rationalise use of power, water and plant more trees to help reduce global warming

‘USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT’ HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

Stress is on cutting greenhouse emissions and cleaner energy

MUSCAT: Oman’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) has advised people in Oman to use more public transportation, rationalise the usage of electricity and water, and preserve the environment by plant-

ing trees, after Oman recorded its hottest year in the last five years.

For the first time since 2010, the average temperature in the Sultanate has hit 28.7 degree Celsius in 2015, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

According to an official at MECA, global warming is an in-

Expats hope new e-visa norms will ease Dubai travel MUSCAT: Even as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made e-visa mandatory from Friday for expats travelling from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to Dubai, travel agents, airlines and the public are hoping that the process will be quick and prompt.

Mohammed Mubarak Al Shikely, vice-president, Marketing, Oman Air, is not surprised as he says e-transactions have become a global trend. “So knowing Dubai, I think this should work out faster, as they normally do things for betterment,” he told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market, which concluded in Dubai on Thursday.

He also said applying for an e-visa should make it easier for people as, “you can apply for your e-visa from your home and make things (happen) faster when you

change in climate. MECA said higher temperatures can result in many natural disasters, including heat waves, floods, and drought.

Desertification is also one of the impacts of climate change and can be a serious threat to food security, which, ultimately, can end up causing famines in many parts of world.

‘Parents want safe school transport, but won’t pay more’

land in Dubai. This is simply because online is the way forward.”

From April 29, expats in the GCC, with exceptions of certain nationalities, will be required to apply for a visa online before they travel to the UAE. Travel agents, however, feel that the traffic to Dubai may drop initially because of the e-visa requirement. “People are still not used to it. So it will take some time before they adapt to this new policy,” said a travel agent in Oman.

“I think this will affect last minute plans, as a lot of people make plans at the last minute to travel to UAE,” he said.

However, there are expats, such as Satish K, who are very happy with the decision. “I was rejected twice at the border and granted entry thrice to Dubai.

Now, if I am granted an e-visa, I am sure I will able to enter the UAE,” he stated.

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: While greater transport security for school-going children continues to bother parents, when it comes to paying for the same, they seem to be reluctant.

Close to 70 per cent of Indian School students’ parents are still not convinced to pay more for the enhanced bus safety measures for their children.

Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), Wilson George, chairman, Board of Directors, Indian schools in Oman, said around 70 per cent of parents are still not convinced that the new safety measures are the need of the hour because of the current financial situation.

“Affordability can be a factor, which prevents many from paying more, only 30 per cent are ready to pay more,” George said.

The other challenge the Board is grappling with is that the schools are trying to get into a business they haven’t been in before.

“They don’t have the experience or the expertise to do this job. So it is taking time for them to get attuned to the challenges of implementing the system,” he said.

There are still a number of issues that need to be addressed to make the existing school transport system safe in our three schools, which would satisfy the parents, George added.

He also spoke about some resistance on the part of the existing transporters when it came to implementing the safety and security measures as they are currently operating at lower price lev-

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The beauty of Jabal Al Akhdar TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Funfair to give a glimpse of Pakistan culture

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Anyone wanting to get a glimpse of rich Pakistani heritage, culture and cuisine must head to Al Bahja Hall in Qurum on Saturday, where the Pakistan Social Club Oman and the Embassy of Pakistan will be hosting the colourful “Pakistan Cultural Funfair 2016.” Initiated last year, the event serves as a window to the wonderful world of Pakistan’s rich heritage, culture, cuisine and will be a lot of fun for the families. >A2

REGION

MARKET

Iranians vote in 2nd round of elections

EU economic growth surges past US, UK

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The euro zone economy grew at its fastest pace in five years in the first quarter, driven by France and Spain. It now stands larger than it did at its peak before the financial crisis. >B1

Iranians voted in a second round of parliamentary elections on Friday, with allies of President Hassan Rouhani seeking to wrest more seats from rivals. Rouhani’s allies made big gains in elections. >A4

trial levels was set as a goal during the Paris climate conference, in December 2015.

“We need to reduce the human expansion of greenhouse gases and depend more on clean and sustainable energy,” he added.

Furthermore, international reports showed that human activities are the main cause for the

NEED OF THE HOUR

GLOBAL TREND

Times News Service

ternational problem, which has complex implications on the natural, economic, social and technological systems.

He further said temperatures are expected to continue increasing in the coming years as the long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average to well below 2 degrees above pre-indus-

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PARADISE FOR TOURISTS

Masirah, an island off the south-east coast of Oman, is a much sought after tourist spot. The island is an important hatching ground for loggerhead sea turtles.

This beautiful picture has been taken by Dennis Bagaporo during the low tide.

els and implementing such measures would directly impact their returns.

Meanwhile, a transporter named Rajeev, who has been in the business for the last 35 years, said they (transporters) will follow all regulations set by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and other ministries. “We are not reluctant to add any safety features to the vehicles transporting children. Schools should call for a meeting with us, safety experts and parents. Parents should be convinced about the extra cost for adopting safety measures,” Rajeev added.

Another transporter said school officials have not yet called for a meeting to discuss safety measures for school buses.

“Without calling us and parents for a meeting, how can school officials allege that we are not cooperating and are reluctant to adopt advanced safety measures in the buses?” Roy Joseph EK, a transporter for the last 27 years, said.

Extra burden Parents, however, feel the school should not pass on the extra burden on the students. “They have already raised the tuition fees by OMR3 from this month. I think the school should bear these expenses as the schools have started managing the school bus,” Kaveri, a mother of two studying in Indian School Muscat said.

However, M Saha, another expat said he is ready to pay the entire amount. “When it comes to the security of our child, I think we shouldn’t compromise on the money part,” he said. >A2

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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016 We are so thrilled to have found this new trekking route for tourists and residents during our exploration in Oman Ali Al Rasbi, chief operations officer at Omran

OMAN Funfair to give a glimpse of rich Pakistan culture Pakistan Cultural Funfair 2016 serves as a window to the wonderful world of the country’s rich heritage, culture, cuisine and will be a lot of fun for the families

SHAHZAD RAZA

shahzad@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Anyone wanting to get a glimpse of rich Pakistani heritage, culture and cuisine must head to Al Bahja Hall in Qurum on Saturday, where the Pakistan Social Club Oman and the Embassy of Pakistan will be hosting the colourful “Pakistan Cultural Funfair 2016.”

Initiated last year, the event serves as a window to the wonderful world of Pakistan’s rich heritage, culture, cuisine and will be a lot of fun for the families.

Sheikh Murad Al Hoothi, member Majlis Al Shura, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Scheduled to start at 11 am,

the funfair will continue till 9 pm and is likely to attract a sizeable crowd, including members of the Pakistani and diplomatic community in Oman.

When asked about the further details, Naheed Naveed Atif, charge d’affaires, embassy of Pakistan, said the funfair is being held to highlight the real Pakistan and its heritage and culture.

“This funfair is a manifestation of how good our country and its people actually are. By showcasing our world-class products, such as furniture, textiles, garments etc., we aim to highlight the gifts and talent of our people. I invite the people of Oman to come and see the wonderful performances by our youngsters

S P E C TA C U L A R T R E K

to know how good Pakistanis are, even in performing arts,” she added.

The funfair would have a number of stalls displaying Pakistani dresses, furniture, bed-sheets and a range of household products to woo the visitors.

A fashion show has also been lined up to display the new collection of Zam Zam fashion wear.

Entertainment is going to be the name of the game at the daylong event and the organisers are quite confident that the funfair would prove to be a source of great fun for the families, particularly children for whom many amusement activities have been planned.

Apart from the cultural and musical performances, other activities will include henna stalls, face painting, and a quiz competition. An exclusive kids corner will keep the children happy and engaged.

Raffle draws and various competitions for women and children promise a number of prizes, including gold coins, mobile phones, LED TVs, household items, return tickets and Umrah packages.

WY 635

Tyres of Oman Air flight burst MUSCAT: Two tyres of Oman Air flight WY 635 were burst while landing at Abu Dhabi airport on Wednesday at 21.07 local time.

The Boeing 737–800 was flying from Muscat to Abu Dhabi.

Thanks to the professionalism of the well trained crew, no further

discomfort was experienced by the guests on board, according the statement released by Oman Air. The statement added that the flight took off from Muscat at 20.25 local time with 150 passengers and 7 crew on board.

The statement affirmed that guests and crew were unharmed

and disembarked smoothly.

Spare parts have been sent to bring the aircraft back to base as swiftly as possible. The statement also affirmed that a full investigation will take place how this technical incident could occur despite the thorough maintenance planning and execution. -ONA

TOP PRIORITY

New trekking route for tourists developed at Jabal Al Akhdar Times News Service

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to providing safe transport’

George also said safety of school children is becoming the biggest concern and that the school board is committed to providing safe transportation for all.

Under the safe transport project, the children will be allowed in buses only as per the vehicle’s seating capacity.

Attendants will be compulsory in every bus. Cameras will be installed inside and outside the vehicle. The rear camera will help avoid any accident that may take place because of a child or other object behind the vehicle.

The vehicles will be covered by an In Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS). It will also help the safety committee monitor the bus speed, driving, etc.

NEW ROUTE: The spectacular new trek is about 7.5 kilometre-long and starts in the small village of Mahabis. – Supplied picture

“We have started this in three Indian schools till now and very soon we will start the same in Indian School Muscat,” he said.

Shiv Gupta, chief executive officer of Cirkle IT Solutions LLC, which has developed a student tracking software, said they are in talks with several schools to implement a safe transportation system to prevent any type of accident.

“This software will help in identifying children boarding school buses and verifying the boarding time and place of each student.

“The software will also help locate and verify the disembarking point and time for each student and will send updates to parents

that their children have safely reached school or home,’ he said.

He also pointed out that the software will alert the bus driver if any student tries to board the wrong school bus or if any student is left behind in the bus. “Besides that it will monitor the live location and path of each school bus on its daily trips and CCTV camera to record the events taking place inside the buses,” Gupta stated.

The software will also check the use of mobile phones while driving and issue alerts in case of reckless driving. “Some private schools have started implementing this and are now in talks with other schools to implement this feature for safe transportation of the children,” he said.

MUSCAT: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) and the Alila Jabal Akhdar resort have announced the development of a new trekking path in Jabal Akhdar, which is a five-minute drive from the resort.

The new trekking path has just been completed and marked with the national trail colours of red, white and yellow.

The spectacular new trek is about 7.5 kilometre-long and starts in the small village of Mahabis, passing through the abandoned village of Al Khutaymi before dropping steeply by 600 metres nearby to the beautiful plantations of Masirat Ash Shuraqiyn.

Here, deep in the wadi (valley), trekkers can enjoy a refreshing swim before the uphill hike back.

This is a full-day walk of five to six hours for most groups and deserves to be enjoyed and explored at a slow pace.

The development of the trekking path was led by Steve Jones,

The path’s development closely follows Jones and Abri’s exploration of the recently publicised cave on Jabal Al Akhdar and it is hoped that the cave can be opened to tourists in the future as well

development advisor from Omran; Ali Al Abri, the leisure concierge from Alila Jabal Akhdar and local community members.

The path’s development closely follows Jones and Abri’s exploration of the recently publicised cave

on Jabal Al Akhdar and it is hoped that the cave can be opened to tourists in the future as well.

“We are so thrilled to have found this new trekking route for tourists and residents during our exploration in Oman.

“The country is beautiful and has amazing potential for adventure, which is what many tourists are now looking for,” said Ali Al Rasbi, chief operations officer (COO) at Omran.

“We are excited about the new trekking path, which adds to the stunning beauty of the Jabal Akhdar region and we look forward to enhancing our Alila Experiences by adding more guided tours for our guests in the future,” commented Julian Ayers, Alila Hotels and Resorts’ regional vice president and Alila Jabal Akhdar’s general manager.

“I’m proud of these new tourism spots that show the stunning beauty of Jabal Akhar and showcase many other interesting natural treasures, which enrich adventure tourism in Oman,” Abri said.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

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Rugged beauty of Jabal Al Akhdar

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The extreme landscape of Jabal Al Akhdar located in the vast Saiq Plateau of the Sultanate is dotted with dramatic peaks. The two-hour drive to Jabal Al Akhdar from the Muscat offers enchanting views of plantations, wadis and much more. O K Mohammed Ali captured some images of the unsullied landscape

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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

REGION RISING TENSIONS

Political turmoil threatens economic reform in Tunisia TUNIS: Political divisions in Tunisia’s ruling coalition risk undermining economic reforms and paralysing the government as it tries to revive the country’s post-revolution economy and tackle militancy.

Until recently, compromise between secular and hardline parties in the governing alliance had helped keep Tunisia’s transition on track after the 2011 overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Consensus But that consensus looks increasingly threatened by squabbling among secular allies and splits within the coalition.

When lawmakers voted for part of an economic reform pack-

age last week, the ruling alliance managed to force the bill through by just two votes after many of its lawmakers opposed the motion or abstained. The vote on the bill to protect central bank autonomy was just one of the financial overhauls Tunisia’s international lenders are demanding to set the North African state’s economy on track after five years of upheaval.

But for ruling coalition parties to muster only 73 votes of the 150 they control in the 217-member congress underscored how political splits are starting to undermine those efforts.

Tunisia is struggling with lower tourism revenue after three militant attacks last year, protests

over unemployment and slow economic revival. “There are some in the coalition that think they can be in the government and the opposition at the same time,” said Ajmi Ourimi, a lawmaker with the Ennahda party, which is part of the coalition. “We’re in a crisis of coordination.”

After elections in late 2014, Prime Minister Habib Essid’s cabinet, including ministers from secularist Nidaa Tounes party, Ennahda and other minor parties, has struggled to make progress on economic reforms to match Tunisia’s political progress.

The International Monetary Fund this month reached a preliminary deal to assist Tunisia with a

four-year loan programme worth about $2.8 billion tied to economic reforms. That came after offers of aid from European partners.

But IMF Tunisia mission chief Amine Mati urged the government to start work immediately.

Splits in secular party Nidaa Tounes and its ally Afek Tounes have angered Essid, who felt the loss of political support as he seeks to pass more sensitive austeritystyle reforms needing consensus to overcome any popular reactions. “I feel frustrated after I saw the result of the vote on the Central Bank law. I held meetings with the four coalition parties in order to avoid the same scenario,” Essid told reporters. But it is far from

clear whether their positions will unify for new bills, especially with widening political divides among the four, Ennahda, Nidaa Tounes, Afek Tounes and Free Popular Union UPL party.

Nidaa Tounes, the party of President Beji Caid Essebsi, has already splintered over a dispute about the role his son might play in the party and its secretary-general and a group of lawmakers broke away to form a new political movement. In a sign of more rifts, Yassin Ibrahim, the leader of Afek Tounes party, has suggested the formation of a new parliamentary bloc which includes liberal parties but excludes Ennahda.

Although Nidaa Tounes leaders

rejected the proposal, Ibrahim’s comments could further weaken the fragile government. “There has been a crisis in the coalition since the announcement of possible new front in parliament and after the central bank law vote,” Abd Elaziz El Koti, a Nidaa Tounes lawmaker.

“We’re in talks over better coordination now.”

Political infighting could not come at a worse time.

Tunisia’s economy has faltered since the revolt against Ben Ali and problems have been exacerbated by last year’s attacks by militants who targeted foreign visitors and the tourism industry which accounts for 8 per cent of gross domestic product. — Reuters

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: A woman arrives at a polling station to vote in the parliamentary runoff elections at the city of Qods about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Friday. – AP/PTI

Iran votes in second round of elections Run-off vote to determine makeup of parliament; results expected to be announced today

ANKARA: Iranians voted in a second round of parliamentary elections on Friday, with allies of reformist President Hassan Rouhani seeking to wrest more seats from hardliners.

Rouhani’s moderate and centrist allies made big gains in elections on February 26 for parliament and a clerical body that will elect the next Supreme Leader, but they failed to win a majority of the 290-member assembly.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, speaking on Iranian state television, said people would vote on 68 undecided seats in constituencies where candidates failed to get 25 per cent of votes cast in the first round.

“We will start counting the votes immediately after the voting ends. The results are expected to be announced on Saturday,” he said. The current parliament is dominated by hardline allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But moderates won all 30 seats representing Tehran in the first round of elections. Gains

by Rouhani’s allies outside Tehran were more limited in the first round. Reformist former President Mohammad Khatami last Sunday called for a high turnout in the second round of elections to “repeat the epic”, a reference to moderates’ big gains in February.

Iranian media are banned from publishing the name or images of Khatami, president from 1997 to

2005. But he managed to publish a five-minute video on social media before the February vote that helped to change the balance in favour of moderates.

Khamenei also called on Wednesday for a high turnout, saying it would show Iranians’ trust in the establishment. The turnout was 62 per cent in February. An unofficial tally by Reuters of first round results showed conservatives won about 112 seats, reformers and centrists 90 and independents and religious minorities 29.

The figures are approximate because Iran does not have rigid party affiliations. Some candidates were backed by both camps. Moderates have set a target of winning at least another 40 seats.

More than a dozen women have also entered the election. If they win seats, the number of female parliamentarians would be more than 20 combined with those who secured seats in February. It will

be the highest number of women lawmakers since the 1979.

More independents with no clear affiliation are expected to enter parliament because of the disqualification of thousands of proreform candidates by the Guardian Council before the first round vote.

Voting in most towns and cities was extended two hours. “It might be extended further if necessary.

Counting will start immediately after the polls close,” Rahmani Fazli told state TV. The new parliament will begin its session on May 27. It has no direct control over major policy matters but it can back the policies of Rouhani to bolster the sanction-hit economy.

International sanctions were lifted in January in exchange for curbing Iran’s nuclear programme under a deal reached with world powers in 2015. A moderate-dominated parliament also can influence the re-election of Rouhani as president in 2017. — Reuters

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

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INDIA

INTERVIEW

No plan to return, says Mallya amid deportation move LONDON: Embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya has said he is in a “forced exile” and disclosed no immediate plans to return to India where things are flying at him “fast and furious”.

Mallya, whose passport was revoked this month, said he wants a “reasonable” settlement with creditor banks for his defunct airline, but they “are not getting any money” by taking his passport or arresting him. “I definitely would like to return to India. Right now, things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked. I don’t know what the government is going to do next,” he told the Financial Times.

Mallya said he remains an Indian

The Indian government on Thursday wrote to Britain seeking deportation of the business tycoon Vijay Mallya against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued in a money-laundering investigation patriot, who is “proud to fly the Indian flag”, but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK and has no plans to leave that country.

“It is important to understand the environment in India today.

The electronic media is playing

a huge role not just in moulding public opinion, but in inflaming the government to a very large extent,” he said in what FT termed as a four-hour interview in Mayfair, Central London.

The Indian government on Thursday wrote to Britain seeking

‘Notice served on those named in Panama Papers’ I have stated this earlier also under the provisions of section 138 of Income Tax Act, an individual matter cannot be discussed in public.

But in all cases

SPEAKING OUT: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI/TV GRAB

whatever actions are necessary are being taken, Jaitley said NEW DELHI: Notices are being served on those whose names figure in the Panama Papers leaks even as the newly-enacted black money act has resulted in “a certain level of compliance” and helped track black money parked overseas, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

“I would like to say only one thing that for what ever cases are coming before the tax departments and others; notices are being issued under Income Tax Act and other relevant laws and actions are being taken,” he told the Lok Sabha during question hour.

His statement came to supplementaries asked by members, including Nana Patole and Kirit Somiaya (both Bharatiya Janata Party) and B. Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal) on the tax evasion issue.

Jaitley, however, said any individual case could not be discussed. “I have stated this earlier also under the provisions of section 138 of Income Tax Act, an individual matter cannot be discussed in public. But in all cases

whatever actions are necessary are being taken,” he said.

Black money Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha informed members that the appointment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in 2014 had helped in the purpose of tracking black money both in the country and outside.

“SIT is doing a commendable job,” he said, adding that recommendations of the SIT had helped investigating agencies and the government, especially with regard to black money stashed overseas.

“We have received a wide set of recommendations from the SIT. The recommendations have been included and efforts have been undertaken through the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, which was passed in this august House. This has resulted in a certain level of compliance. There has been a series of investigations and it is because of disclosures which we got through HSBC as well as through the International Committee of Journalists and most recent has been the Panama Papers, as finance

minister has indicated, notices have already been sent out,” Sinha said. He said as far as domestic black money is concerned, a number of suggestions have been provided there including the disclosure of PAN card for transactions of Rs200,000, restrictions on real estate, and so on which have been implemented.

Mahtab wanted to know if in the wake of reports from SIT and other agencies, the government is proposing any changes in the law to keep an eye on tax evaders. “....has SIT suggested what new law is to be enacted which will minimise the creation of black money in the country?” he asked.

Somaiya however was pulled up by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan when he took the name of a popular Maharashtra leader, who is now in jail.

“You know everything, then why are you taking someone’s name,” Mahajan told him tersely.

Patole said the contention that agricultural income is growing cannot be true because, “if such is the case, then farmers would not be committing suicide” and Sinha agreed that there are instances of tax evasion by moneyed people when they show their income as agricultural income. - IANS

DECISION

Government raises EPF interest rate to 8.8% NEW DELHI: In the third rollback in two months, the Indian government on Friday raised the interest rate on employee provident fund (EPF) contributions to 8.8 per cent for 2015-16 against 8.7 per cent approved by the Finance Ministry last week.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dat-

tatreya announced the decision to raise interest rate on a day employee unions had called nationwide protests against fixing interest rates lower than 8.8 per cent decided by the retirement fund body EPFO as well as 8.75 per cent paid for the previous fiscal.

“I am happy that finance min-

istry has agreed to 8.8 per cent for 2015-16,” he told reporters here.

This is the third rollback on EPF. Last month the government was forced to withdraw the Budget proposal to tax a certain portion of withdrawals.

Subsequently, it withdrew tighter withdrawal norms. -PTI

deportation of the business tycoon against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued in a moneylaundering investigation.

Mallya, who flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 as a group of state-owned banks knocked on the door of the Su-

preme Court to recover about Rs 90 billion owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, said he was “absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that”.

The government, he said, can appoint the world’s best forensic auditor to audit the accounts of Kingfisher and audit how banks loans were utilised.

“I am sure they are not going to find anything, because that’s the truth.” He said he has always maintained that “notwithstanding anything else”, he was interested in settlement with Kingfisher bankers. Asked who was behind his woes, he said, “I wish I knew.”

Pressed if the people after him were bureaucrats or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “All I can say is the manner in which my passport was first suspended and then revoked was done in an extraordinary haste.” “First, notice of suspension came on a public holiday last week... I replied. And my reply was not considered and the passport was revoked on Saturday,” he said.

Harping on his image as a flamboyant businessman, Mallya said: “I was known as the King of Good Times for whatever reason and now of course, indeed the King of Bad Times. But it’s past me now to figure out what I should have or should not have done.” - PTI

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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

INDIA I N D I A N R A I LWAY S

Dial 139 for cancelling train ticket NEW DELHI: Now railway passengers can cancel their confirmed train tickets by just dialling 139.

The passenger has to dial 139 giving details of the confirmed ticket for cancelling it and the sender will get a one-time password (OTP).

Passenger has to reach the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter and reveal the OTP to claim refund.

Besides 139, one can also cancel confirmed tickets using Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation( IRCTC) website also and both the facilities were made operational from Friday.

This is an attempt on our part to provide relief to passengers for cancellation of tickets, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here after launching both the service.

He said both the initiatives were promised in the Railway Budget 2016-17 which were fulfilled on Friday.

After the change in refund rules, a lot of passengers were finding it difficult to reach counters to cancel the reserved tickets within the stipulated time and as a result they are losing money.

According to the new refund rules, railways has doubled the ticket cancellation charge with the aim of helping genuine passengers get confirmed tickets. - PTI

According to the new refund rules, railways has doubled the ticket cancellation charge with the aim of helping genuine passengers get confirmed tickets.

Government must come out with Agusta truth: Congress If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when Monsoon session of Parliament will commence”, Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters

NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday dared government to come out with the truth on AgustaWestland deal in next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a “malicious” campaign against it .

“If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when Monsoon session of Parliament will commence”, Leader

PROTEST: All India Women Congress members staging protest against BJP government over AgustaWestland chopper scam, at BJP head-office in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here.

Making light of the attacks on the party and its leadership, he posed the question whether the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance and their leadership would have taken several steps to unravel the truth in the matter if they had something to hide or if they had resorted to corruption.

Taking a dig at the prime minis-

ter and the government, he alleged that the entire government has been tasked to target the Congress and its leadership day in and day out on the issue.

“It is all disinformation, a malicious campaign”. “They have the entire government with them, the CBI, RAW and Ed...Why they are not finding out as to who is guilty, who has taken money”, Azad said.

He ignored threat of BJP member Subramanian Swamy to move

a Breach of Privilege against him for his remarks that UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica.

He said generally breach of privilige is moved against ministers if they mislead despite having all the information.

Asked whether Congress was ready to have a discussion in Parliament on the issue, he said, “we are ready for any discussion. We have nothing to hide. We are demanding an early decision by gov-

ernment” to find out the truth.

Dismissing BJP’s charge that the Congress had compromised national security in the chopper deal, he said that the national security had got compromised when in the Vajpayee government, the then external affairs minister had accompanied dreaded terrorists to Kandahar.

“National Security gets compromised when we see defence files are selectively leaked to TV channels”, he said in an apparent jibe at the Modi dispensation.

Party spokesman R. P. N. Singh accused the Defence Ministry of coming out with “half truths” in its clarification on the deal on Thursday.

Hitting out at the BJP, Azad said, “Those who stay inglass houses, do not throw stones”.

“The less he speaks, it will be better”, he said in a dismissive tone when told that BJP chief Amit Shah has come out with fresh questions for the Congress leadership. He claimed that the campaign against the Congress was aimed at diverting people’s attention from the “failure” of the government to deliver. “They had promised the moon, but (what people got) was drought and water scarcity”. - PTI WAT E R S T O C K

CRISIS: A view of almost

dried up Water Reservoir Dhurwa Dam posing major Water Crisis in Ranchi on Tuesday. - PTI

Water levels in country’s reservoirs drop to 21% NEW DELHI: With the mercury soaring, water stock in 91 major reservoirs across the country has plunged to 21 per cent of their total capacity, Indian government said on Friday.

According to the Water Resources Ministry, 32.3925 billion cubic metre (BCM) of water was available in these reservoirs for the week ending April 28 out of a total capacity of 157.799 BCM. The levels are 36 per cent less than the stock available in the corresponding period last year and 23 per cent shorter than the 10-year average storage levels for the same period, the Ministry said.

Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have reported lower levels of water in major reservoirs compared to last year. Only two states, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, have reported better storage. For the week ending on April 21, stock available was 34.082 BCM or 22 per cent of their total storage capacity. The estimated water storage capacity of all reservoirs in the country is 253.88 BCM. Out of the total number of major reservoirs, 37 major reservoirs have hydropower benefit with installed capacity of more than 60 MW. - PTI

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

A7

PAKISTAN PA NA M A PA P E R S L E A K

ICIJ admits error, removes name of Nawaz Sharif

World Bank praises efforts but with words of caution ful of key development challenges.

The report highlights that the pace of Pakistan’s economic growth will accelerate modestly through to 2019. However, significant risks remain and the country should guard against global slowdown by continuing to make key reforms, including expanding electricity supply, boosting tax revenues, strengthening the business environment and encouraging the private sector to invest.

Times News Service ISLAMABAD: International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has admitted that it had erroneously included the name of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while publishing details of persons who control offshore companies based on documents leaked from law firm Mossack Fonseea, said a spokesman of the Government of Pakistan.

The issue of Panama Papers became a subject of debate in Pakistan as the name of prime minister was wrongly included by the ICIJ and was flashed by the media.

The ICIJ on its website has now acknowledged the error and removed all data from its website carrying the name of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as the original Panama Papers never contained his name.

The admission of mistake by ICIJ is a clear vindication of the stand of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he had nothing to do with any off-shore companies.

The clarification issued by ICIJ should now put to rest all accusations made on the person of prime minister as they are patently wrong and baseless.

‘Pakistan has made great progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, but much more needs to be done to put Pakistan on a solid, economic growth footing’

KARACHI: The World Bank has applauded the government for restoring economic stability, according to its twice-a-year Pakistan Development Update released on Thursday.

However, it noted that much of the country’s economic growth was underpinned by external influences, such as low oil prices and strong remittances, while private and public investments continue to remain low.

GROWTH PATH: The report highlights that the pace of Pakistan’s economic growth will accelerate modestly through to 2019. – Reuters

“Pakistan has made great progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, but much more needs to be done to put Pakistan on a solid, economic growth footing,” said Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

“Persistent, steady progress on the structural reform agenda will

be necessary if Pakistan is to accelerate its growth recovery and lift millions more out of poverty.”

The latest Pakistan Development Update sets out recent developments across the economy and identifies risks and next steps facing Pakistan’s near-term future before focusing in on a hand-

I N N O VAT I O N AWA R D S

Activist wins Nelson Mandela award

HONOURED: Tabassum Adnan, founder of NGO Khwendo Jirga, or Sister’s Council, a women-only jirga. – Express Tribune/Facebook

JOINING HANDS

Netherlands to boost ties in agriculture field FAISLABAD: Netherlands Ambassador to Pakistan Jeanette Seppen has said that they are keen to enhance trade and investment relations with Pakistan, especially in areas of agriculture and agro-based businesses.

Talking to University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan on Thursday, Seppen said there were prospects for strengthened cooperation in livestock, agriculture and agro-based business, adding efforts were under way to encourage Dutch companies to invest in Pakistan. She pointed out that the Netherlands had a population of about 20 million whereas it was producing food for 70 million people. “We are getting more yield from less agriculture land with the application of modern technologies.”

She said the Netherlands was helping Pakistan achieve food security that would alleviate poverty. Though the Netherlands is the fifth largest trading country in

the world, its bilateral trade with Pakistan is just around $900 million. The ambassador suggested that agricultural ties between the two countries would help them benefit from each other’s experiences and cited the launch of a salt-tolerant potato growing programme in Pakistan with assistance of the Netherlands.

This can enable potato plantation in saline areas, which provides a great opportunity for Pakistan. She cited water, agriculture and energy as the major areas for cooperation between the two countries. “Pakistan is one of the most populous countries, it has talented people and if we polish their skills, the country can develop rapidly.” Seppen also stressed that women should come forward and actively take part in economic activities. She also pointed out that many Pakistani students were studying in the Netherlands as her country had one of the top universities of the globe. — The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani activist Tabassum Adnan won the prestigious Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Award 2016 on Thursday.

The winners of the 2016 Innovation Awards were publicly announced at Ceremony held on April 28, as part of International Civil Society Week (ICSW), which was hosted by CIVICUS, in collaboration with the Confederación Colombiana de ONG from April 25 to 28, 2016, in Bogotá, Colombia.

In 2015, Tabassum Adnan, founder of NGO Khwendo Jirga, or Sister’s Council, a women-only jirga was awarded the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award in recognition

of her services of women’s rights.

A victim of child marriage, Adnan was married when she was 13-years-old. After suffering 20 years of physical and mental abuse, Adnan divorced her husband, which made her lose her children, home, and money.

Khwendo Jirga Later she started the NGO, Khwendo Jirga, a first of its kind women-only jirga, where women meet weekly to discuss issues such as honour killings, acid attacks, and swara, or giving women as compensation for crimes. The jirga brought awareness to women’s security, their right to vote and offers free legal help to victims of violence. — The Express Tribune

Key supply-side drivers The report identifies services and large-scale manufacturing as the key supply-side drivers of growth. Services are expected to grow over 5 per cent in 2015-16 while large-scale manufacturing, benefitting from low global commodity prices, is expected to grow between 4-4.5 per cent. On the demand side, consumption is driving growth, fuelled by rising remittances and a loose monetary stance, the World Bank said.

The report is optimistic about recent progress in fiscal consolidation, highlighting 20 per cent growth in the revenues of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for the first eight months of 2015-16.

“Fiscal consolidation is one of the most significant reform challeng-

es facing Pakistan today,” said Enrique Blanco Armas, World Bank Lead Economist for Pakistan.

“The federal government has kept a tight rein on recurrent expenditure, while continuing to invest in Public Sector Development Program expenditure, a very positive development.”

Workers’ remittances and lower oil prices contributed most to the accumulation in foreign reserves, according to the report.

Remittances of $9.7 billion in the first half of 2015-16 more than compensated for the trade deficit, and oil prices delivered a 9.1 per cent fall in the import bill, it said.

The strong balance of payments headline figures, however, mask the structural weaknesses in Pakistan’s export competitiveness, the report noted. Exports fell by 11.1 per cent in the first half of 2015-16 as a result of softer global demand and domestic bottlenecks. Port charges in Karachi, for example, are nine times higher than those in Dubai and Singapore, it noted.

Shipping container dwelling times are three times longer than in East Asia, it added. Exporters who want to participate in global supply chains are hamstrung by these constraints, the World Bank said. — The Express Tribune

A8

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READERS’ FORUM Global warming behind heat wave across India This year India has experienced early summer in the month of April, with temperature exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. The country has experienced with very little or no rain at all which resulted in failure of crops. Due to these crop failures thousands of farmers committed suicide. India is experiencing water shortage and power cuts which is making summers even worse.

Schools have been shut down and holidays declared. All this is due to the increasing levels of global warming. When trees are cut at such a rapid rate and few measures are taken to plant trees , what else can we Scan this QR code expect ? — Lubna Fathima, Ruwi to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

GARETH EVANS

China’s adventurism in the South China Sea has prompted a change in Australian policymaking that merits wide international attention.

In making maintenance of a “rulesbased global order” a core strategic priority, Australia’s new Defence White Paper adopts language not often found at the heart of national defence charters.

Divide and rule in South Sudan This refers to the story, Machar sworn in as vice president of South Sudan, Kiir calls for reconciliation (April 26). It’s deplorable that the global community is accepting such a state of affairs. Most peace processes mediated through the UN look designed to freeze animosities and when needed by the so called powers to instigate a new one.

Africa’s borders are based in its colonial past. People of the continent must see through the design and thwart the neocolonialists’ divide and rule policy. — Albert Songa, Seeb

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.

STEVE JOBS

Saving the planet one light bulb at a time I

kea, the Swedish retailing behemoth, is installing “Solar Shops” in its UK superstores to sell solar panels. It’s a defiant move given that the British government has slashed subsidies for homeowners who sell surplus electricity to the national grid.

This suggests that the market is picking up where government aid left off; perhaps Britain will achieve its target of generating 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 after all.

Harnessing the sun to meet our energy needs, from portable chargers reviving our mobile phones to sun farms spreading across acres of desert, remains key for reducing carbon emissions. But there’s a much simpler way to help save the planet, in the form of the humble light bulb.

Science is transforming our ability to light buildings and streets more efficiently. An old-style fluorescent light tube, for example, consumes about 58 watts of power.

A year ago, LED bulbs typically needed between 25 and 27 watts. Today, that’s down to 22 watts, and will continue to decline. “The technology improves every year,” says Toby Costin, the founder of a London-based company called Social Power Partnerships.

Costin has put together a deal for a London charity called Doddington and Rollo Community Association, which provides business units and community spaces in North Battersea, to replace its existing light bulbs with energy-saving LED devices.

The total cost of switching out almost 600 bulbs is about £6,000 ($8,760), with replacing blown bulbs in the coming decade expected to cost about £1,000 per year.

But the charity will save some £6,500 on its electricity bills per annum, freeing up much-needed cash for its community activities. Social Power Partnerships is also working with UK housing associations, some of which control hundreds of households, to introduce similar “everyone wins” programmes, with tenants paying an upfront fee to their landlord to cover the initial cost of bulb replacement in return for longer-

term savings on their fuel bills.

Compact fluorescent lamps — the ones with a thick twirl of glass — started to challenge the dominance of inefficient incandescent bulbs about 10 years ago. Halogen bulbs briefly took the lead at the start of this decade, before light-emitting diodes claimed the top slot.

Switching out light bulbs may become more popular, given recent cutbacks in UK government subsidies to solar, which have reduced the amount households can make selling surplus electricity to power companies by about two-thirds. “Solar is kind of dead as a retail model,” says Costin. As a result, installations of small-scale solar power harvesters have collapsed.

Partly because of the subsidies, UK households had been almost three times as enthusiastic as companies in using photovoltaic panels on their roofs to generate power, according to figures compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. But if solar panels were installed on just half of the UK’s south-facing commercial roofs, the sun could provide 19 per cent of the country’s electricity needs, according to BNEF analysts Lara Hayim and Jenny Chase.

That would ensure the country met its renewables target by the end of the decade.

There’s no question that climate change is real, and that we humans are contributing to global warming even if long-term weather trends also play their part.

Some experts are already predicting that 2016 will be the warmest year on record; the 21st century has seen 15 of the 16 record temperature years.

Some 93 per cent of the Great Barrier Reef corals in Australia are now suffering ecosystem-destroying bleaching because of warmer oceans and the El Nino weather system.

IKEA’s “Solar Shops” and Costin’s light bulb programmes are two ways that the market, not government, is helping to address climate change.

That is the best hope yet that the global agreements reached in December in Paris will not be just paper targets. Many hands, as they say, make light work. - Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES APRIL 2001 Rowahi, OCCI president receive WTO candidate MUSCAT: Dr Ahmed bin Khalfan bin Muhammed Al Rowahi, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, received here yesterday in his office Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, the candidate for the post of the directorate general of World Trade Organisation and his delegation.

They discussed relations between the two countries in the fields of agriculture and fisheries and reviewed the new horizons of economic cooperation between the Sultanate and WTO. Sheikh Salem bin Hilal Al Khalili, president of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also received Dr Supachai in his office yesterday. During the meeting they received the affiliation of the Sultanate to WTO.

PICTOGRAPH

MUSCAT GENERAL PRICE INDEX December 2015

January 2016

February 2016

102.1 102.5 102.4

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Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1945: Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his bunker. Karl Donitz becomes his successor.

1970: US troops invade Cambodia to disrupt North Vietnamese Army base areas.

1972: The North Vietnamese launch an invasion of the South.

1980: Terrorists seize the Iranian Embassy in London.

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

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WORLD

Korean American sentenced to 10-year jail in North Korea Kim Dong Chul, 62, was arrested in North Korea in October and had admitted to committing ‘unpardonable espionage’

SEOUL: North Korea’s Supreme Court on Friday sentenced a Korean American man to 10 years of hard labour for subversion, North Korean media reported, in the latest conviction of a foreigner for crimes against the isolated state.

Kim Dong Chul, 62, was arrested in North Korea in October and had admitted to committing “unpardonable espionage” including stealing military secrets, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported earlier.

“The accused confessed to all crimes he had committed... and gathered and offered information

ON TRIAL: Korean American Kim Dong Chul is escorted during his trial in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on Friday. – KCNA/via Reuters

on its party, state and military affairs to the south Korean puppet regime, which are tantamount to state subversive plots and espionage,” it said.

State prosecutors sought a 15year sentence. His defence attorney requested leniency considering his old age, KCNA said.

Kim was shown in photographs handcuffed and wearing a tie and blue jacket. He looked distressed and was flanked by uniformed guards.

North Korea, which has been criticised over its human rights record for years, has used detained Americans in the past to extract

A9

high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

It has previously handed down lengthy hard labour sentences to foreigners, though eventually freeing them before they served their full terms.

Six foreigners, including Kim

and three South Koreans, are known to be detained in the North.

Kim, who has said he is a naturalised American citizen, had confessed to committing espionage under the direction of the US and South Korean governments and apologised for his crimes, according to the North’s KCNA news agency in March.

He told foreign media in March that he was born in 1953 in Seoul and moved to the United States when he was 19.

He said he set up a business in the North Korean special economic zone of Rason in 2008. China’s Xinhua news agency on Friday said his business was a trading company called Dongmyong.

Kim said his two daughters lived in New York and he had siblings in South Korea, KCNA said in March. Some foreigners held by North Korea have said after their release that their sometimeselaborate confessions were made under pressure while in captivity.

The North is holding an American, Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in March for trying to steal a propaganda banner. It is also holding a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor, who is serving a life sentence for subversion. — Reuters

FA C E B O O K P O S T

Thailand jails eight activists charged with sedition BANGKOK: A military court in Thailand on Friday jailed eight activists who posted comments critical of the ruling junta and a military-backed draft constitution, the latest opponents of the government penalised for airing dissent.

The military seized power in May 2014, throwing out an old constitution, clamping down on dissent and promising an election by mid-2017.

But a draft constitution drawn up under military supervision has drawn disapproval from both sides of the political divide, and the junta has responded by banning criticism of the charter in the run-up to an August referendum on it.

Detained The activists were detained by the military on Wednesday over Facebook posts criticising the draft and junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha.

They were charged with sedition and computer crimes.

“The court has approved the first phase of their jail term which will be 12 days. They are now being taken to jail,” Winyat Chatmontree, a lawyer for the group, told Reuters.

Under the law, suspects can be detained for up to 12 days, extended seven times, before they are formally tried in court. — Reuters

INSURGENCY

Australian aid worker believed kidnapped in Afghanistan SYDNEY: Australia is working closely with the Afghan government to secure the safe return of an Australian aid worker believed to have been kidnapped, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday.

Katherine “Kerry” Jane Wilson, a Perth native who runs an aid agency in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, was abducted from

her office early on Thursday by two armed men, officials said.

In uniform “Four men in government forces’ uniform abducted the woman, who is an Australian national and about 70 years old, from her office,” said Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

Australia at odds with Pacific neighbours over immigration policy SYDNEY: Lawyers for 850 asylum seekers held in a controversial detention centre in Papua New Guinea said on Friday they planned to seek potentially billions of dollars in compensation, as Australian officials prepared to travel to PNG for emergency talks.

PNG announced this week the closure of the detention centre it operates on behalf of Australia, which has pursued a hardline immigration policy criticised by the United Nations and international human rights organisation.

The closure of the Manus Island facility - which holds asylum seekers fleeing violence in the Middle East, Afghanistan and South Asia - has the two South Pacific neighbours at loggerheads at a politically sensitive time for Australia.

Each says responsibility for the detainees’ welfare rests with the other. The number trying to reach Australia is small compared with Europe, but immigration has long been a sensitive political issue.

Under Australia’s policy, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat after paying people smugglers are sent for processing to camps in Manus Island or the tiny Pacific island of Nauru, which holds another 500 people in detention.

They are told they will never settle in Australia.

The harsh conditions and reports of systemic child abuse at the camps have drawn wide criticism inside and outside Australia and have become a major headache for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during campaigning for July national elections.

Domestic opposition to the policy was stirred even more on Friday with confirmation that a 23-year-old man, who set himself on fire earlier this week in protest against his treatment on Nauru,

had died. Turnbull has warned against being “misty-eyed” over immigration and Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton reiterated on Friday there would be no policy change.

Dutton suggested one option was to transfer those held on PNG to the Nauru facility.

New Zealand on Friday repeated an earlier offer to accept 150 of the refugees but that was again rejected.

“Settlement in a country like New Zealand would be used by the people smugglers as a marketing opportunity,” Turnbull told Australian radio.

Will go to court Lawyers in PNG will go the country’s Supreme Court on Monday to argue for the immediate release of Manus Island detainees back to Australia, as well compensation for their detention.

The legal action has support, at least in part, from PNG’s High Commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, who said on Thursday responsibility for what to do with the men rested with Canberra.

PNG-based lawyer Ben Lomai, who represents more than 300 of the detained men, told the Post Courier newspaper he would file a compensation case on Monday after the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“We can go straight to assessing reasonable compensation without having to prolong the case any further,” Lomai said.

Refugee advocacy group Human Rights Watch described the death as “senseless” and a result of “Australia’s inhumane refugee policies”.

“Refugees who have fled persecution in their homelands don’t deserve a life in limbo in a detention centre or effectively imprisoned on a tiny remote island,” said the group’s Australian director Elaine Pearson. — Reuters

Attahullah Khogyanisaid Wilson had arrived in Jalalabad on Wednesday and had been staying in a hotel in the city before going early to her office.

Seeking details Bishop told reporters: “We have connections, networks in Afghanistan, and we will be seeking to confirm as many of the details

as we can, as soon as possible. In the meantime, we’re staying in close contact with her family,” Bishop said.

Wilson’s elderly father, Brian, appealed for his daughter’s return in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“I presume she’s a hostage and they’ll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her sim-

ply because they want to have something or other in return.”

Kidnapping has become a lucrative source of income for militant groups in recent years, and the topic of whether to pay for their release is hotly debated.

Last August, a German citizen working for the German development agency GIZ was kidnapped in central Kabul but was released

after two months. Canada and Britain will urge other nations not to pay ransoms to free kidnap victims, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday, the day after a Canadian hostage was found dead in the Philippines.

Bishop said that Australia does not, as a matter of policy, pay ransom to kidnappers. — Reuters

A 10

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

WORLD Paris protest marches turn violent, 27 people arrested said police have clear orders to act firmly as some opposition lawmakers and police union representatives urged a crackdown on demonstrations

S TAT E M E N T

Bouteflika returns after checkups ALGIERS: Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 79, has returned to Algiers after a brief visit to Geneva for medical checkups, his latest since a stroke three years ago that has mostly kept him out of the public view.

“The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, returned to the country on Friday,” the presidency said in a statement on APS state news agency. Bouteflika, who has governed the North African OPEC state for more than 15 years, left a week ago for “regular medical checkups”, state media said.

He has visited Paris and Geneva several times since the stroke in 2013 that left him in a French hospital for several months.

Since his re-election in 2014 to a fourth term, the veteran has only been seen in periodic state television images and photographs, usually greeting visiting foreign dignitaries at his palace. Bouteflika’s illness has prompted speculation about a possible transition from a leader who helped bring the country out of a 1990s war with hardline fighters and into more economic stability during the times of high oil prices. — Reuters

‘Saudi builder terminates 50,000 jobs’ DUBAI: Construction company Saudi Binladin Group has laid off 50,000 staff, a newspaper reported on Friday, as pressure on the industry rises amid government spending cuts to survive an era of cheap oil.

The total workforce at Binladin, one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest firms and among the Middle East’s largest builders, is around 200,000, according to its LinkedIn page.

Saudi newspaper Al Watan, citing unnamed sources, reported that the group has terminated the contracts of 50,000 workers - apparently all foreigners - and given them permanent exit visa to leave the kingdom.

French government

PARIS: French riot police arrested 27 people during overnight clashes with dozens of youths in central Paris, following a day of protest marches over labour law reforms that turned violent.

Some opposition lawmakers and police union representatives urged a government crackdown on demonstrations and said it was time for an outright ban on the daily, mostly peaceful, youth protests at the site of Thursday night’s skirmishes.

The latest trouble erupted when police moved in to clear a group of about 150 youths from the Place de la Republique square in the early hours of the morning.

Cars were set ablaze and lumps of concrete and cobblestones hurled at officers. Twenty-four of the 27 arrested were held in custody, police said. “These are largely people coming looking for a fight,” Interior Ministry spokesman PierreHenry Brandet said.

The unrest comes at a time po-

SPENDING CUTS

CLASHES: French riot police use tear gas to clear the Place de la Republique in Paris during a protest by the Nuit Debout, or ‘Up All Night’ movement who have been rallying against the French government’s proposed labour reforms on Friday. – AFP

lice forces and soldiers are working overtime to ensure security in the wake of last November’s deadly militant attacks on the capital.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets country-wide on Thursday to protest against labour law reforms aimed at making hiring and firing easier. Violent clashes broke out on the fringes of demonstrations in several cities.

Interior Minister Bernard Ca-

zeneuve said 214 arrests were made in all. Seventy-eight police were injured, with one in a serious condition after a skull-cracking blow from a paving block.

Paris police prefect Michel Cadot has said organised groups were behind the protest violence, which has mushroomed despite the state of emergency imposed after November’s attacks.

Some police union representa-

tives have called on police chiefs to issue fewer protest permits.

Nicolas Comte of the police union SGP police-FO said it was time to ban the Place de la Republique protest known as “Nuit Debout” - which roughly translates as “Up all night” - arguing gangs of hardcore troublemakers were hijacking the movement.

The French government has condemned the violence but, with

just a year to national elections, has appeared keen to avoid the curfews it has the power to impose under the state of emergency.

Cazeneuve said almost 1,000 people had been arrested since protests started in March and dismissed calls for an all-out crackdown.

“State authority does not mean you abandon the rule of law,” the minister said. — Reuters

Report The paper said the workers refused to leave the country without getting paid and some had not received wages for more than four months. They were protesting in front of the Binladin’s offices in the country almost daily, the paper added.

Binladin did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Friday, a day off in the Gulf region. The company has had a series of pay disputes with workers this year. In March, scores of workers gathered outside one of the company’s office in Saudi Arabia to demand unpaid wages.

Binladin prospered during Saudi Arabia’s economic boom in the past decade, employing around 200,000 workers as it built many of the kingdom’s flagship infrastructure projects including airports, roads and skyscrapers.

But like many other Saudi construction firms, it has been hit hard in the past year as low oil prices have prompted the government to slash spending in an effort to curb a budget deficit that totaled nearly $100 billion last year. — Reuters

O I L P L AT F O R M

13 killed as copter crashes off Norwegian coast OSLO: A helicopter ferrying passengers from a Norwegian oil platform crashed in the North Sea on Friday, killing at least 11 of the 13 people on board, rescue officials said.

The 11 passengers and two crew on the flight from the Gullfaks B oil platform, operated by Statoil, were all Norwegian except for one British and one Italian national, according to the Rescue Coordination Centre for Southern Norway. “The helicopter is completely destroyed,” it said. After several hours searching for survivors, 11 bodies were found and the remaining two people were presumed dead.

Several witnesses told Norwegian media they saw the rotor separate from the helicopter while still in the air.

“While I looked up, the rotor loosened and disappeared towards the north,” John Atle Sekkingstad told the website of local paper Bergens Tidende.

“After that, the helicopter turned north and I saw fire at the top of the helicopter, where the rotor had been attached. It caught fire before it crashed.”

The main body of the aircraft was lying under water, while its rotor was found on a rocky out-

CRASH SITE: Rescuers work at a site where a helicopter has crashed, west of the Norwegian city of Bergen on Friday. – Reuters

crop 200-300 metres (yards) away, state broadcaster NRK said, quoting the rescue centre.

Plumes of smoke rose from the scene, a stretch of sea with many small islands. Pieces of red debris could be seen on the rocks, TV pictures showed.

Another witness, oil worker

Chris Andersen, told NRK: “I saw the rotor separate .... It was horrible. There was a huge explosion that you could physically feel. You felt the vibrations.”

Norway’s king and the prime minister expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

“You are not alone in your sorrow,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg, dressed in black, said in an address to the nation.

The site of the crash, just west of Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, has frequent helicopter traffic to and from offshore oil installations. Weather conditions

on the day were normal.

The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority immediately imposed a temporary flying ban on type of helicopter involved, a Eurocopter EC225LP, but said it was too early to say anything about the cause of the crash.

The flight was operated by CHC Helicopter, owned by US private equity firm First Reserve, it said.

Airbus Helicopters, a subsidiary of Airbus Group, which is what Eurocopter is now known as, said it was “deeply saddened by this tragedy” and expressed its sympathy for the victims and their loved ones.

“Safety is Airbus Helicopters’ top priority and we are providing our full support to both the accident investigators as well as CHC. Airbus Helicopters teams are fully mobilized to understand the root cause of the accident.”

Now known as the H225 Super Puma, the aircraft is a long-range helicopter widely used in the oil and gas industry.

The company’s website says it “has accumulated more than 4.3 million flight hours during operations around the world and in all weather conditions, including highly challenging maritime environments.” — Reuters

VAT I C A N C O N F E R E N C E

Biden gets papal blessing for his global crusade against cancer VATICAN CITY: US Vice President Joe Biden took his crusade against cancer to the Vatican on Friday and heard Pope Francis call for an “economic paradigm shift” where medical research is dictated by need rather than profit.

Biden, who lost his 46-year-old son Beau to brain cancer last year, has vowed to pursue a global push to accelerate cancer cures and treatments by marshalling private and public sector resources to combat it as well as rare diseases.

FOR A CAUSE: Pope Francis, left, with US Vice-President Joe Biden at the end of an audience to the participants of the International Conference on the Progress of Regenerative Medicine and Its Cultural Impact, on Friday at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican. – AFP/Osservatore Romano/HO

Regenerative medicine Biden, who flew to Italy from an unannounced trip to Iraq, and the pope, made speeches to doctors and researchers from around the world who attended a Vatican conference on regenerative medicine called “Cellular Horizons”.

In his address, Francis called

on the scientific community to pay more attention to people afflicted with rare conditions, saying these patients often did not receive enough notice because the potential economic returns were deemed insufficient.

“We are called to make known throughout the world the issue of rare diseases, to invest in appropriate education, to increase funds for research, and to promote necessary legislation as well as an economic paradigm shift. In this way, the centrality of the human person will be rediscovered,” he said.

Biden, has said he believes the world could be on the edge of a breakthrough in harnessing supercomputing and data analysis to find cures and therapies. “The truth is that today, more than any point in human history, we have a genuine opportunity to help more

people across the world than ever before. And that’s our obligation,” Biden said.

Universal effort The vice president echoed the pope’s call for a universal effort to fight disease that put people before prestige and profit. “We should be sharing data the moment it’s published, immediately, not hiding it behind paywalls that prevent information from being shared for a year or more,” Biden said.

The pope called for research founded on “solidarity, generosity, magnanimity, sharing of knowledge, respect for human life.” The Church teaches that life begins at conception and condemns embryonic stem cell research and therapy because it involves destroying embryos. However, it permits adult stem cell research. — Reuters

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

S P O R

Smith’s ton in vain as Lions roar Chasing a challenging target, hard-hitting Smith and McCullum got Gujarat off to a rollicking start scoring 72 runs without losing any wicket after completion of powerplay

PUNE: Gujarat Lions rode on a commanding effort from openers Dwayne Smith (63 off 37) and Brendon McCullum (43 off 22) to beat Rising Pune Supergiants by three wickets in a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.

Smith and McCullum set the perfect platform as middle order batsmen delivered in bits and pieces as the visitors chased down the total posting 196 for 7 in 20 overs.

Chasing a challenging target, hard-hitting Smith and McCullum got Gujarat off to a rollicking start scoring 72 runs without losing any wicket after completion of power-

play. The duo put on a 93-run stand for the first wicket, before McCullum gave his wicket away trying to step up the scoring rate.

Earlier, Steven Smith blazed his way to a 54-ball 101 as Rising Pune Supergiants posted a competitive 195 for three.

Smith’s was the third century of this edition of the cash-rich league after Quinton de Kock and Virat Kohli had reached the landmark in the previous matches.

Invited to bat by Lions skipper Suresh Raina, Rising Pune Supergiants rode on opener Ajinkya Rahane’s 53 and Smith’s knock to set a challenging target of 196 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association

GREAT KNOCK: Steven Smith of Rising Pune Supergiants plays a shot during his century knock against Gujarat Lions in Pune. – BCCI

Stadium. The duo of Rahane and Smith was involved in a 113-run partnership for the second wicket in just 11 overs, after the home team lost Saurabh Tiwary with just 13 runs on the board in the third over.

While Rahane found the fence five times during his 45-ball knock,

MOTORSPORTS

Hamilton fastest in Russia

S

GOOD BEGINNING: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car

during the second practice session of the Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit. – AFP CRICKET

ICC has one rule for Windies, another for India: Viv KINGSTON: The legendary Viv Richards has lashed out at ICC for its official reprimand of the World T20 champions West Indies, stating that it has one rule for the Darren Sammy-led outfit and another for Indian cricket team.

Top cricketers like T20 captain Darren Sammy, all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels had come down heavily on West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the way it functioned.

At the ICC Board meeting recently in Dubai, the parent body came out with a statement that West Indies players had been “inappropriate, disrespectful and brought the event into disrepute”.

The reprimand has not gone down well with Richards, who is one of their greatest cricketing icons. “There are rules in the one-day game under the auspices of the ICC, like for instance the system where you go back to the third umpire and things like that,” he told the ‘Jamaican Observer’ newspaper.

“So, if you are the sole governing body of world cricket, then everyone should be coming under the same umbrella.

The Indians do not play certain things the ICC may have in its rules. They totally ignore that and they have been getting away with it for years,” Richards said, indicating that India get away because of their clout.

An angry Richards added: “I am only trying to hit back because of what they are trying to do because of Sammy’s comments. They are trying to be a body that if you say this, it’s out of order then you’re going to be this and you’re going to be that.” — PTI

SOCHI: Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton boosted his morale with the fastest lap in Russian Grand Prix practice on Friday after Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg set the early pace and Ferrari suffered reliability problems.

Rosberg, chasing his seventh win in a row and fourth of the season, was quickest in the morning around the Olympic Park used for the 2014 Winter Games in the Black Sea resort.

The championship leader dropped to third in the afternoon, however, with Hamilton setting a best time of one minute 37.583 seconds on supersoft tyres compared to Rosberg’s 1:38.450.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel

stopped on track during the second session. Hamilton is the only driver to have won in Russia since the race’s debut in 2014 and he needs to complete the hat-trick on Sunday to eat into his team mate’s hefty 36 point lead after just three of the 21 races.

The Mercedes pair, who have won 35 of the last 41 races between them, were comfortably ahead of the rest in the morning but Vettel was second fastest for Ferrari after lunch.

The four-times world champion, whose team have suffered power unit problems in two races this season, was halted by an electrical failure with an hour to go.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth in both practices.

STILL HOPE

Smith backs campaign for day-night Tests SYDNEY: Cricket Australia has bolstered its campaign to host a day-night Test against South Africa later this year by publishing an interview with captain Steve Smith in which he backed the proposed fixture. South Africa’s players balked at an invitation to play a day-night match in Adelaide in November after discussions with Australian players including Smith, Proteas skipper AB de Villiers said this week.

Smith, however, said his team would be happy to play a daynighter against South Africa at the famous South Australian venue, as well as the fixture already scheduled to be played under lights at the Gabba against Pakistan in December.

“I’m surprised that he named me,” Smith was quoted as saying from India on the Cricket Australia (CA) website. “The feedback we gave them was that Adelaide is the best place to play it, in our opinion. “We’re playing one in Brisbane now, but Adelaide is the best place to play it and I think

it could work there. “I don’t know where they’ve got their ideas from,” he added. “If they wanted to play one we’d be happy to.”

The Australian Cricketers’ Association, however, said on Friday that feedback it had received from the players indicated they would “prefer to only play one day-night test in 2016/17”.

“Pink ball tests are a fundamentally different game to traditional red ball test matches,” chief executive Alistair Nicholson said. “We continue to be concerned about the durability and visibility of the pink ball, both the changing light conditions and the specifically prepared pitches are altering the conditions that the players are used to at each venue.”

CA are determined to reprise the success of last year’s inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

The Test attracted huge crowds but lasted only three of the scheduled five days on a wicket especially prepared to offset durability problems with the pink ball. - Reuters

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who tested a new head protection device at the start of the session and has finished fourth in all three races, was sixth and fifth for Red Bull in the two sessions.

Russian team mate Daniil Kvyat was seventh, with McLaren’s Jenson Button eighth and Fernando Alonso 10th in a boost for Honda-powered McLaren as they fight their way back up the pecking order after a nightmare 2015 season. Renault’s Russian test driver Sergey Sirotkin, who will be competing in the GP2 support series this season, replaced Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen for the first session. He ended up 13th fastest with regular race driver Jolyon Palmer 18th. - Reuters

Australian captain Smith smashed the Gujarat Lions bowlers for eight boundaries and five sixes to lay the foundation for a strong total.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 30 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes.

He added 64 runs in double quick time with Smith before

Dwayne Bravo put the brakes on the third wicket stand.

Smith got to his century in 53 balls when whacked Bravo over midwicket for a four. However, the West Indian allrounder had his revenge when he clean bowled him in the next ball. Dhoni then finished off the innings with a boundary through mid-off.

Barring Bravo, none of the Gujarat Lions bowlers tasted success and the other two dismissals came through run outs. While the Smith-Rahane association laid the foundation after an early setback, it was the Aussie’s partnership with Dhoni that helped Pune increase their run rate. The duo managed almost 12 runs an over in the 5.5 overs they batted together.

Lions’ slow left-arm spinner Shivil Kaushik, playing in place of the injured Pravin Tambe, went for 32 runs in three overs.

Brief scores: Rising Pune Supergiants 195 for 3 in 20 overs (Steve Smith 101, Ajinkya Rahane 53; Dwayne Bravo 1-40) lost to Gujarat Lions 196 for 7 in 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 63; Ashok Dinda 2-40, Thisera Perera 2-41). - PTI

A 12

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

SPORTS Glorious summer in sight for Leicester City after many winters of discontent Now Leicester City

Ranieri to get £5m bonus if Leicester win title

are on the brink of becoming league champions for the first time in their 132-year history, with just three defeats all season

LEICESTER: When King Richard III was reinterred in Leicester in March last year 500 years after his death, fans of the English city’s unheralded soccer club might have thought it too was dead and buried.

Richard’s remains had been found beneath a municipal car park. Leicester City were also at a low point, bottom of the Premier League table having won just six games all season.

Then they embarked on an incredible run, winning seven of their last nine matches to comfortably avoid relegation.

Now are on the brink of becoming league champions for the first time in their 132-year history, with just three defeats all season.

Their exploits have thrust the provincial city into the global spotlight once again. “It’s a remarkable coincidence,” Wayne Harding, a season ticket holder for 34 years, said of the link between Richard’s reburial and Leicester’s meteoric rise. Rated 5,000-1 long shots by bookmakers last August, if “the Foxes” win at Manchester United on Sunday, the title will be theirs with two games still to go.

LONDON: Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri will earn a £5 million ($7.33 million) bonus if his team win the Premier League title, the Times reported on Friday.

Italian Ranieri also has a separate clause in his contract that guarantees him £100,000 for every place that his team finish above 18th, which will see him earn £1.7 million if the Foxes come first.

When Ranieri took charge of Leicester in the close season, he was tasked with keeping the team in the Premier League.

Leicester’s owners wrote a number of clauses into his contract to make a parting of ways easier if he failed.

Ranieri asked for clauses of his own, granting him incentives if the club qualified for the Europa League, the Champions League or won the Premier League. He currently earns about 1.5 million pounds a year,

“Everybody’s buzzing. If they do it on Sunday, it will be an absolutely banging day,” said Harding, 53, standing by a new statue of King Richard outside the city’s cathedral. Leicester, about 100 miles (160 km) north of London, has become a sea of blue and white, the team’s colours.

Bunting with the club crest flutters from poles in the main shopping thoroughfares and shop windows are adorned with huge Leicester flags and blue and white balloons. “It’s had a massive im-

DREAM SEASON: When Claudio Ranieri took charge of Leicester in the close season, he was tasked with keeping the team in the Premier League.

according to the report, and is in discussions with the club over a new contract.

Leicester need three points from their last three games to win their first top-flight title and will be crowned champions

pact, everyone’s talking about it whether you’re a fan or not,” said Ian Derry, 51, who went to his first game in 1969. In a league dominated for the last 25 years by a select few rich, glamour clubs such as Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal, neutrals and supporters from other clubs are also rooting for Leicester, said shop-worker Derry.

“The great escape surprised us all and then to push on to the top and possibly, possibly win it, is unbelievable. All the planets just seem to have aligned.”

if they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday or if second-placed Tottenham Hotspur lose to Chelsea on Monday night. When asked earlier in the season if Leicester’s players would also be entitled

All gone mad The highest Leicester have previously finished was second, way back in 1928-9. The club has also been FA Cup runner-up four times but never triumphed, although it has won the less prestigious League Cup three times.

Just eight years ago, it was languishing in the third tier of English football. “I’ve worked in Leicester for 10 years and never heard a word about Leicester football club until this year,” said Phil Wiley, 52, who hails from northeast England.

to a bonus if the team won the title, Ranieri said: “I don’t know if there is a clause (for players) and I don’t tell you. They made a mistake if they didn’t arrange it. I considered if I win the league.” - Reuters

“Now everyone is banging on about them. They’ve all gone mad.”

Billboards for the Leicester Mercury newspaper read “Biggest Game in Club’s History.

Restaurants are offering bluethemed food and drinks, a butcher is selling sausages named after Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, and pubs are pouring beer named in honour of top scorer Jamie Vardy. One restaurant is planning to give away 1,000 free curries to season-ticket holders if Leicester win the title.

Where is Leicester?

Like its soccer team, Leicester itself has rarely found itself in the headlines.

The city, which dates back to Roman times some 2,000 years ago, is one of Britain’s most ethnically diverse areas, with about half its 330,000 citizens nonwhite British, according to a 2011 census.

The tourist office’s list of famous residents past and present has few household names, featuring the likes of psychedelic rock band Gaye Bykers On Acid and crooner Engelbert Humperdinck.

“It’s not a high-profile city. We’re not really on the tourist map. When we went abroad and said we’re from Leicester, they didn’t know where it was,” said Bev Danson, 56, who has lived in Leicester all her life.

The discovery and reburial of Richard’s body was estimated to have brought an extra 59 million pounds ($86 million) to the local economy, attracting an extra 600,000 visitors to the city.

Resident’s believe the club’s success will have a far greater impact, with English soccer avidly followed by millions of fans across the globe and the team certain to play in Europe’s most prestigious competition, the Champions League.

“It seems as though all eyes are on Leicester,” said Pratik Master, managing director for Lilu Restaurant which is serving up dishes renamed after the team’s manager, who came in for a meal last week, and players.

The fact that the club has a Thai owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and a Japanese striker, Shinji Okazaki, has also ensured an eager following in Asia.

“We’ve had a great 18 months in Leicester with Richard III but now with the Foxes it’s brought the world even closer,” Master said. - Reuters

SAILING

AL SALAM CLINCH VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE CROWN Al Salam club topped the seven-team volleyball league with confortable cushion in points table and finishing ahead of Saham, Al Bashaeer and Seeb as the 2015-16 season climaxed at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. Sheikh Talal bin Said Al Maamari, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Telecommunications Company, presided over the final day and awarded Al Salam the shield, the symbol of volleyball supremacy. The teams in fray of the just concluded season were, Al Salam, Saham, Al Bashaer, Al Seeb, Sohar, Bidiyah and Al Ettifaq. — JUN ESTRADA / Times of Oman

APPEALING SIX-YEAR BAN

Platini appears before top tribunal LAUSANNE: Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini appeared before sport’s highest tribunal on Friday to appeal against his sixyear ban from soccer and said he was optimistic he would win his case, with FIFA ex-president Sepp Blatter among the witnesses.

Platini, who arrived in a taxi for the hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), is hoping that the ban will be overturned in time for the Euro 2016 tournament, which will be held in his native France in June and July.

CAS said a decision could even be made as early as next week, depending on how the closed, daylong hearing progresses.

“Today, we’re at the beginning of the game, a new game, in the final ... I hope the outcome will be good,” said Platini, who was the favourite to succeed Blatter as president of soccer’s global governing body FIFA before he was banned.

“Of course, I am optimistic that we are going to win,” he told reporters, smiling and appearing relaxed. Platini was banned for eight

years in December along with Blatter over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.08 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

FIFA’s ethics committee, which imposed the ban, said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing and had their bans reduced to six years by FIFA’s Appeal Committee in February. — Reuters

Oman Air hopeful of decent breeze to kick start ESS Act 2 MUSCAT: A forecast for the breeze to build in Qingdao never materialised so the foiling action on the opening day of the Extreme Sailing Series in China was restricted to one race giving Oman Sail’s GC32 Oman Air only the briefest glimpse of what lies in store over the next three days.

Qingdao, the Olympic sailing venue in 2008, is notorious for dispensing random and unpredictable conditions but a soft breeze, which nudged boats over the line to open the event, faded to nothing in race 2 and Extreme Sailing Series race director Phil Lawrence had no choice but to send the boats back in.

“It was supposed to be windy but the southerly breeze never appeared,” said Oman Air’s skipper Morgan Larson discussing a day in which little had gone their way.

They will start tomorrow in 7th place overall with plenty still to do to catch leaders LandRover BAR. At the start of the day’s only race, Oman Air touched a mark and were penalised which put them to the back of the fleet and conditions prevented any recovery.

“There was a bit of current and we hit the pin end mark so we had to do a penalty turn. We still had a chance because we were leading at the bottom mark but we didn’t play it right. We were one tough decision away from a good result – that is just the way it is sometimes.

“Tomorrow is supposed to be windy but who knows what will happen.”

HOPING FOR BEST: File picture shows the Oman Air team skippered

by Morgan Larson (USA) with team mates Pete Greenhalgh (GBR) Ed Smyth (NZL) , Nasser Al Mashari (OMA) and James Wierzbowski.

On the evidence of the one race, Larson admits that his old adversary Leigh McMillan, helming LandRover BAR Academy was looking like the man to beat.

“Leigh McMillan has so much experience in Qingdao that I think he will be the one who will be in there at the end so we have our sights set on him - maybe he and I can have one of our classic battles.”

McMillan was previously helmsman of Oman Sail’s The Wave, Muscat and for four years, he and Larson, who was then Alinghi’s skipper, were fierce competitors on the water. Their rivalry in the Extreme Sailing Series became one of the most famous

head-to-heads in world sailing and the signs clearly are for a continuation in the GC32 class.

It was a frustrating day all round, commented race director Lawrence but tomorrow was looking more promising.

“The forecast today was very good but the wind never materialised and we were only able to get one race completed.

“We did try two or three other races but we were forced to abandon due to lack of wind.

“The forecast is good tomorrow so hopefully we can catch up with the schedule.”

Racing continues on Saturday when the teams take to the Stadium inside Fushan Bay.

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

MARKE

FACEBOOK MAKES BOLD MOVES AS REVENUE BEATS ESTIMATES Facebook reported sales and profit that blew past analysts’ estimates, fuelled by businesses spending more to advertise in videos on its main mobile app. It was latest in a string of strong earnings that have built up investors’ confidence in the company’s future. >B3

UN SURVEY

India performing well compared to other nations: UN expert

ON RIGHT TRACK: The United Nations Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific-2016 report, released on Thursday, said that the Indian economy is projected to expand by 7.6 per cent in 2016-17 and grow further to 7.8 per cent in 2017-18. - Bloomberg file picture

JPMORGAN CHASE REPORT

Britain’s EU exit could cost each Briton 45,000 pounds LONDON: A vote to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum could cost each Briton around 45,000 pounds ($65,718), or around half the value of the United Kingdom’s housing stock, JPMorgan Chase said in a research report.

Some financiers say a British exit would sap London’s wealth, hammer sterling, undermine the world’s fifth-largest economy and prompt some traders to move their business to other centres such as New York and Singapore.

Using the British finance ministry’s central estimate that UK gross domestic product would be 6.2 per cent lower by 2030 after a Brexit than it would be if Britain stayed in the EU, JPMorgan said the impact on British wealth could be huge.

“To make it personal, each individual’s wealth would be lower than it would otherwise have been by around 45,000 pounds,” JPMorgan said in the note for clients.

“This is huge.”

“To put it differently, the hit to wealth would be equivalent to a loss of around half of the value of the UK’s housing stock and the land associated with it.”

JPMorgan also projected the impact on wealth based on a group of Brexit-supporting economists who on Thursday forecast a British exit would benefit the economy. Under that scenario, which sees a four per cent boost for gross domestic product after around 10 years, each Briton would get a wealth boost of about 29,000 pounds, equivalent to about 40 per cent of the UK housing stock, JPMorgan said. — Reuters

UNITED NATIONS: With India projected to grow at 7.8 per cent in 2017-18, a UN expert said cautious macro economic policy, reduced inflation and some structural reforms have helped the country perform relatively well in an environment of global economic slowdown.

The United Nations Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific-2016 report, released on Thursday, said that the Indian economy is projected to expand by 7.6 per cent in 2016-17 and grow further to 7.8 per cent in 2017-18, mainly on the back of domestic consumption demand aided by steady employment and a relatively low inflation.

Economic Affairs Officer in the UN Department of Economic and

Social Affairs, Sebastian Vergara told reporters at the launch of the report here that several demographic and structural factors are responsible for India performing in a “relatively very good way” as compared to economic growth in other countries.

“The macro-economic policy in recent years has been cautious, especially in the fiscal side. This has been a positive development to provide a good framework to increase the sentiment of consumers,” Vergara said.

He added that monetary policy has also played an “important role” in reducing inflation in recent years.

“That is also playing a positive role for the Indian economy.”

He however noted that the pic-

ture is “mixed” with respect to structural reforms being undertaken in the country.

“In some areas, the Indian government has made important efforts and those efforts are starting to pay off in terms of increase in investment but there are some areas where structural reforms are having some slow progress,” he said.

The report projects inflation for India at 5.2 per cent for the 201617 fiscal and 5.6 per cent for the 2017-18 year.

The report said that in South and South-West Asia, India’s economy is gradually gaining growth momentum “amid making steady, albeit uneven, progress” on policy reforms to attract foreign investment and revive stalled infrastructure projects. — PTI

Economic growth in EU surges past US, Britain Blowing past both the US and British economies, euro zone growth doubled from the previous quarter, beating even the most optimistic expectations on healthy household consumption and a rebound in investments.

UPSWING: Growth among the 19 countries sharing the euro jumped 0.6 per cent on the quarter, well

past expectations for 0.4 per cent and ahead of Britain’s 0.4 per cent. - Bloomberg file picture

BRUSSELS/BERLIN: Overcoming years of poor health and crisis, the euro zone economy grew at its fastest pace in five years in the first quarter, driven by unlikely stars such as France and Spain.

It now stands larger that it did at its peak before the financial crisis, albeit having taken eight years to recover. The bloc also slipped back into deflation in April.

Blowing past both the US and British economies, the latter weighed down by uncertainty over possibly leaving the Europe Union, euro zone growth doubled from the previous quarter, beating even the most optimistic expectations on healthy household

consumption and a rebound in investments.

But the surge, a welcome relief less than a year after Greece was nearly ejected from the bloc, may be just a blip; Europe is still weighed down by high debt, weak bank profits, high unemployment and vast excess capacity in the economy.

Nonetheless, growth among the 19 countries sharing the euro jumped 0.6 per cent on the quarter, well past expectations for 0.4 per cent and ahead of Britain’s 0.4 per cent.

The US economy grew 0.5 per cent on an annualised basis in the first quarter, implying only slight-

ly more than 0.12 per cent for the three months. Annual euro zone growth held steady at 1.6 per cent, more than three times the US rate in the same period.

The numbers defied expectations for a slowdown and were as improved sentiment, plunging energy costs and a slow but steady fall in unemployment and buoyed spending.

“The first months of the year were tumultuous with large stock market declines, growth concerns in the US, China and many emerging markets and plummeting confidence among businesses and consumers,” ING economist Bert Colijn said in a note.

“Clearly, businesses and consumers have not acted on their gut feelings,” Colijn said. “Domestic strength in the Eurozone economy is key to current economic growth. This is mostly because of improvements in the job market.”

Indeed, unemployment in the euro zone, though still high, fell to 10.2 per cent in March from 10.4 per cent a month earlier, its lowest in over four years, with Spain among the most improved.

Not all positive The news was not all positive, however, as fresh inflation data showed the bloc was back in deflation in April, giving the European

Central Bank (ECB) its single biggest headache as it struggles to boost prices.

Consumer prices fell by 0.2 per cent compared to a year earlier, moving down from an unchanged reading March, even after the ECB unveiled fresh stimulus in December and March in hopes of boosting inflation, which has undershot its two per cent target for more than three years already.

In a perhaps more worrying sign for policymakers, core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, also slowed, raising fears that low energy prices are feeding into the price of other goods and services.

The ECB is especially worried about this so-called second round effect of low crude prices because once they feed into wages, breaking the cycle of low inflation becomes especially difficult.

Still, ECB chief economist Peter Praet defended the bank’s measures on Friday, arguing that only a significant worsening of the inflation outlook would warrant more stimulus.

“Deploying negative rates again in the future would require a distinct worsening of the inflation outlook,” Praet told Spanish newspaper Expansión. “I don’t think we’re going to see these conditions materialising in the near future.” “We shouldn’t be talking of new instruments,” Praet added.

Heading into the second quarter, the euro zone appears to remain on solid footing. Indeed, sentiment improved more than expected in April, driven by across the board optimism among industry, services, construction sector and households. — Reuters

L A B O R D E PA R T M E N T D ATA

US economy stalls in first quarter as activity weakens broadly WASHINGTON: US economic growth braked sharply in the first quarter to its slowest pace in two years as consumer spending softened and a strong dollar continued to undercut exports, but a pick-up in activity is anticipated given a buoyant labour market.

Gross domestic product increased at a 0.5 per cent annual rate, the weakest since the first quarter of 2014, the Labor Department said on Thursday in its advance estimate. Growth was also held back by businesses stepping up efforts to reduce unwanted merchandise clogging up warehouses.

Cheap oil, which has pressured the profits of oil field companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton, remained a drag, sending business spending tumbling at its quickest pace since the second quarter of 2009, when the recession ended.

Almost all sectors of the economy weakened in the first quarter, with housing the lone star.

“The economy essentially stalled in the first quarter, but that doesn’t mean it is faltering,” said

WEAK GROWTH: Gross domestic product rose by 0.5 per cent annual rate, the weakest since first quarter of 2014, the Labor Department said on Thursday in its advance estimate. - Bloomberg file picture

Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania. “Some of the restraints to growth are dissipating. Growth is likely to accelerate going forward.”

The dollar’s rally is largely over, oil prices appear to be stabilizing and the bulk of the inventory liquidation is out of the way. In addi-

tion, the jobs market remains fairly robust. A separate report from the Labor Department showed first-time applications for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week and the fourweek average of initial claims fell to its lowest level since 1973.

Employment gains averaged 209,000 jobs per month in the first

quarter. The disconnect between GDP growth and employment implies productivity remained weak in the first quarter after sinking in the final three months of 2015.

Also hinting at a pickup in growth in the second quarter, the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing and nonmanufacturing surveys, which are closely correlated to economic activity, rebounded in recent months.

While the Federal Reserve on Wednesday acknowledged economic activity had “slowed,” it also said labour market conditions had “improved further.” The US central bank appeared to view the threats from the global economy and financial markets as having diminished.

The Fed left its benchmark overnight interest rate unchanged and suggested it was in no hurry to tighten monetary policy further.

It hiked rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade.

Economists had forecast the economy expanding at a 0.7 per cent rate in the January-March period after growing at a 1.4 per cent pace in the fourth quarter.

US financial markets were little moved by the data as investors digested the Bank of Japan’s decision overnight to hold off on expanding monetary stimulus. The dollar fell against the yen and US stocks were trading slightly lower.

Prices for US government debt rose marginally. Though the weakness in growth last quarter was broad-based, economists believe the model used by the government to strip out seasonal patterns from data is not fully accomplishing its goal despite steps last year to address the problem.

Residual seasonality has plagued first-quarter GDP, with growth underperforming in five of the last six years since the recovery started in mid-2009.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, increased at a 1.9 per cent rate. That was the slowest in a year and marked a deceleration from the fourth quarter’s 2.4 per cent rate.

Households have been frugal, cutting back on purchases of longlasting manufactured goods like automobiles, despite cheap gaso-

line. They socked away modest wage gains and the gasoline savings, and also reduced their debt.

Income at the disposal of households after accounting for taxes and inflation increased 2.9 per cent in the first quarter after rising 2.3 per cent in the prior period. Savings rose to a lofty $712.3 billion from $678.3 billion in the fourth quarter.

“Consumer spending will rebound in the second quarter on the basis of solid growth in income and lower energy costs, which are an under-appreciated tailwind that could offset much of the drag from weak global growth,” said Kevin Cummins, senior economist at RBS in Stamford, Connecticut.

Businesses continued to place fewer orders for goods in the first quarter, accumulating $60.9 billion worth of inventory, down from $78.3 billion in the fourth quarter.

The small inventory build cut 0.33 percentage point from firstquarter GDP growth. Trade subtracted 0.34 percentage point from GDP growth, with dollar strength weighing on exports and sucking in imports. — Reuters

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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

MARKET Asia’s clothing industry can create millions of jobs for region’s women It is already the most female-intensive industry in much of the region and women make up 71% of its workforce in Sri Lanka, 35% in India and 34% in Bangladesh. In Pakistan, its share of women workers is second only to agriculture

MUMBAI: South Asia’s clothing and textiles industry can create millions of jobs for the region’s working-age women, boosting economic growth and helping improve children’s health and education, a World Bank report said.

The industry is already the most female-intensive in much of the region, women making up 71 per cent of its workforce in Sri Lanka, 35 per cent in India and 34 per cent in Bangladesh. In Pakistan, its share of women workers is second to agriculture.

“South Asia needs to create jobs in labour-intensive industries where it enjoys a comparative advantage — such as apparel — to employ its burgeoning youth

and attract more women into the workforce,” the report released on Thursday said.

“South Asian households with women working, especially in the textile and apparel sector in India and Pakistan, tend to have fewer young children on average,” it said.

Higher wages in China, the world’s largest clothing exporter, are driving global brands to seek cheaper alternatives in countries including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

South Asia is best placed to lure these businesses with its lower wages and expanding young population, even though recent industrial disasters have raised questions about safety and the

FOCUS AREA: The industry employs 4.7 million workers in the formal sector, and several million more informally, making up about 40 per cent of the region’s manufacturing employment. - Bloomberg file picture

conditions of workers in these countries. The industry employs about 4.7 million workers in the formal sector, and several million more informally, making up about 40 per cent of the region’s manufacturing employment.

Its ability to lure unskilled and semi-skilled women is particularly important, as South Asia has one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in the world of about 32 per cent, compared with East Asia’s 62 per cent, the report said.

EUROPEAN UNION

More women workers Countries with greater female labour force participation generally see later marriages, fewer children, better nutrition and school enrolment, and higher gross domestic product, according to the World Bank.

“The apparel sector offers a promising and realistic entry point for women into the formal labour force, thanks to a high wage premium compared to agriculture,” the report said.

“As apparel exports increase, the rising demand for female labour pulls women from agriculture and other informal sectors.”

Average wages in the industry range from about $0.51 per hour in Bangladesh to about $1.06 in India, compared with $2.60 in China, according to 2012 data compiled by the World Bank.

As output increases to meet higher demand, a one per cent increase in the expected wage raises the likelihood of women joining

the labour force by between 16 per cent in Pakistan and 89 per cent in Sri Lanka, the World Bank estimates. Despite the large number of women the industry employs, however, female workers lack a voice and representation in Bangladesh, the region’s largest exporter by value.

Regulatory capacity is also weak in Bangladesh, even though scrutiny has increased in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster.

Three years after the disaster that killed more than 1,100 factory workers, the rights and safety of workers in the region are in greater focus, but progress in fixing problems in the supply chain is slow, experts and activists say.

In India, compliance is limited in the informal sector, where most workers are employed. Overtime is a serious problem, and child labour is common, with reports also of exploitation and sexual harassment of women.

In addition, the region faces growing competition from Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

But with stricter controls, better wages and higher-value products, South Asia’s apparel and textile industry can retain its competitive edge, the report said. — Reuters

ECONOMY

Greece, global lenders close to finalising bailout reforms deal BRUSSELS: Greece and its international lenders are close to a deal on a package of bailout reforms and are working to agree further contingency steps by May 9 when an extraordinary meeting of euro zone finance ministers will be held in Brussels, European Union (EU) officials said on Thursday.

Talks between Greece and its lenders have almost reached a conclusion on reforms agreed within the current bailout programme, while more negotiations are needed on further contingency measures that Athens must commit to in exchange for debt relief negotiations.

Pierre Moscovici .

Converged on most aspects “We are 99 per cent of the way there, we have converged on almost all aspects,” European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday on the original reform package, which includes a pension and income tax reform, a way to deal with bad loans and setting up a privatisation fund.

“As for the contingency mechanism, which in our view is not really justified by data but politically necessary, let’s work on that,” he added.

The work is expected to be concluded by May 9 when euro zone finance ministers will hold an ex-

— Bloomberg file picture

traordinary meeting to discuss progress on Greece.

There will be an “additional eurogroup on Greece on Monday 9 May at 3 p.m. in Brussels,” the spokesman of euro zone finance ministers’ chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said late on Thursday in a tweet.

Euro zone finance ministers had been due to meet on Thursday to sign off on the deal with Athens and discuss Greek debt relief, but the meeting was cancelled because of insufficient progress.

The main sticking point is on

the contingency measures that euro zone finance ministers requested last week, in addition to the reform package already agreed with Athens.

The original reform set is to generate three per cent of GDP savings for Greece.

But because of a difference in forecasts of Greece’s primary surplus in 2018 between euro zone lenders and the International Monetary Fund, euro zone ministers asked Greece last Friday to prepare a set of contingency steps to be implemented only if Athens misses targets.

The contingency package which is to provide two per cent of GDP savings — the difference between the IMF and euro zone forecasts — has to be legislated up-front and kick in automatically if Greece does not meet targets.

Greece argues that its laws do not allow it to pass contingency laws and offered to legislate an automatic mechanism for acrossthe-board spending cuts if it falls short of goals. “This deserves to be looked at, given due consideration,” Moscovici said.

“We have a few proposals on the table, which go in that direction, but we need to work on that,” he said, adding that the mechanism of contingency steps had to be compatible with Greek laws. — Reuters

ROBUST DEMAND: The French economy grew 0.5 per cent in the first quarter, beating even the most optimistic forecast in a Reuters poll, as consumers splurged on clothes, cars and housing equipment, the INSEE national statistics agency said in a preliminary estimate on Friday. - Bloomberg file picture

France growth accelerates as consumer spending surges PARIS: French growth accelerated more than expected at the start of the year, as the strongest increase in consumer spending since 2004 and a pick-up in business investment offset a drop in exports, a boost to President Francois Hollande who has been struggling to convince voters their lives are “going better”.

The French economy grew 0.5 per cent in the first quarter, beating even the most optimistic forecast in a Reuters poll, as consumers splurged on clothes, cars and housing equipment, the INSEE national statistics agency said in a preliminary estimate on Friday.

Consumer spending rose 1.2 per cent over the three months, outweighing a weaker contribution from trade and business inventories. In a preliminary reading of gross domestic product for the quarter, INSEE said the two

trillion euro economy had accelerated from the 0.3 per cent growth posted in the previous three months, with a 1.6 per cent increase in corporate investment offering hope the stronger growth could be sustained.

The stronger French performance also contrasted with a slowdown in the United States and Britain, which both reported lower growth earlier this week.

With one per cent of GDP carry-over at the end of March, the government’s 1.5 per cent growth target for the full year appears within reach, barring a sharp slowdown for the remainder of the year. Reaching that target is important for unpopular Hollande and his 2017 re-election bid because 1.5 per cent growth is generally considered by economists as the level where unemployment starts to ebb.

The data came at the end of a week that saw the number of jobless people drop by the most since 2000. “Solid growth has been set off,” Finance Minister Michel Sapin said in a statement. “Our action is bearing fruit.”

A poll of 30 analysts surveyed

by Reuters had forecast 0.4 per cent growth for the euro zone’s second-largest economy in the three months to March, with the lowest estimate at 0.1 per cent and the highest at 0.4 per cent.

Domestic demand, which includes the consumer spending surge, 0.9 points to GDP in the first quarter, up from 0.2 points in the previous quarter, while trade subtracted 0.2 points as both exports and imports suffered from a global slowdown. A drawdown in business inventories also shaved 0.2 points off GDP having added 0.5 points last quarter. — Reuters

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

B3

MARKET Facebook makes bold moves as revenue beats estimates

INDIA

Facebook’s main competitor, Alphabet, issued a special share class in 2014 that gives Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin a similar mix of company control and freedom to back risky new technologies. While some of Alphabet’s new bets have stumbled, Facebook must keep up to attract talented engineers capable of inventing new products and businesses.

“A large part of Facebook’s success is due to Mark’s leadership and this proposal will allow us to maintain that founder-led approach that has served our shareholders well,” Chief Financial Officer David Wehner said in an interview.

The company reported sales and profit that blew past Chanda Kochhar.

— Bloomberg file picture

ICICI’s profit plunges in second quarter MUMBAI: ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest lender by assets, reported the biggest drop in quarterly profit in at least 15 years after setting aside reserves on top of provisions to create cushion future defaults.

Net income fell 76 per cent to Rs7 billion ($105 million), or Rs1.2 a share, for the three months ended on March 31, from Rs29.2 billion, or Rs4.99, a year earlier, the Mumbai-based lender said in an exchange filing. That missed the Rs30.7 billion average of 25 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Future defaults Chief Executive Officer Chanda Kochhar is seeking to bolster ICICI’s balance sheet with additional reserves for future defaults at a time when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the nation’s financial regulator, is pushing lenders to ensure they have sufficient provisions against stressed assets. It is difficult to provide a guidance on defaults in coming quarters due to “volatility in the operating environment,” Kochhar said in a conference call after the results.

“Stressed assets will remain a drag on profit in coming quarters too,” Hatim Broachwala, an analyst at Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities Ltd. in Mumbai, said before the earnings were announced.

“It is a challenge to cut bad loans and boost profit in an economic environment like this.”

ICICI shares fell 1.3 per cent to Rs236.95 as of 12:52pm in Mumbai, extending this year’s losses to 9.3 per cent. In comparison, the S&P BSE India Bankex Index, which tracks 10 lenders, fell 1.6 per cent this year. — Bloomberg News

analysts’ estimates, fuelled by businesses spending more to advertise in videos on its main mobile app. It was the latest in a string of strong earnings that have built up investors’ confidence in company’s future Facebook’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. — Bloomberg file picture

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg picked a good time to ask for more freedom.

The company reported sales and profit that blew past analysts’ estimates, fuelled by businesses spending more to advertise in videos on its main mobile app. It was the latest in a string of strong earnings that have built up investors’ confidence in the company’s future. They responded by bidding up the shares as much as 11 per cent on Thursday, rising to the highest they’ve ever been since the 2012 initial public offering.

But if you own Facebook stock you’re not buying it now because of what they can do with video ads or Instagram, you’re buying it because of the potential with their long-term bets like virtual reality Mark Mahaney Analyst at RBC Capital Markets

Future technology The leader of the world’s largest social network took the opportunity to propose a new class of stock, subject to shareholder approval, that will help him maintain control and ensure he has the ability to keep spending on future technology, even as he gives his own shares away for philanthropic initiatives like seeking cures for disease.

Facebook’s first-quarter revenue, which grew 52 per cent to $5.38 billion, sent the stock surging toward a record in part

R E S U LT S

because most of the company’s money is still made by one property — the main social network, which now has 1.65 billion users.

Facebook has yet to try to generate sales from newer chat applications like WhatsApp, which has one billion users, and Messenger, which has 900 million. Instagram, the photo-sharing app that opened up to advertising globally last year, is still early in its financial potential, the company said.

The shares rose 10 percent to $119.85 at 10:01 a.m. in New York, bringing the gains for this year to 15 per cent on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is investing in other, more ambitious bets, including virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

“I see more bold moves ahead of us than behind us,” Zuckerberg said. With the new stock structure, “I’ll be able to keep founder control of Facebook so

we can continue to build for the long term.” Profit excluding some items was 77 cents per share, the company said Wednesday in a statement, compared with the 63-cent average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg. Facebook is benefiting by owning some of the more popular mobile applications, with the average user spending 50 minutes a day on its properties, excluding WhatsApp, the company said.

With Instagram and video, “they’ve got these two huge tailwinds to their business,” Mark Mahaney, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said before the results. “But if you own Facebook stock you’re not buying it now because of what they can do with video ads or Instagram, you’re buying it because of the potential with their long-term bets like virtual reality.”

Staying involved The new stock structure, if approved, will encourage Zuckerberg to remain involved in a leadership role at Facebook, even after pledging to give away most of his stock, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Existing businesses The strong performance of Facebook’s existing and emerging businesses is keeping most investors happy for now. Adding ads to Instagram is expected to drive $1.53 billion in revenue this year, or 15 per cent of the company’s ad sales, according to eMarketer. Facebook is expected to take about 18 per cent of the $102.5 billion mobile advertising market this year, eMarketer said. The company has also been investing in live video streaming and media content, aiming to make Facebook more of a place to find out what’s going on right now.

The company reported $1.51 billion in first-quarter net income, or 52 cents a share, almost triple what it made in the same period a year earlier. CFO Wehner said the main drivers of Facebook’s first-quarter results were video and mobile ads on the company’s main Facebook app. He described Instagram as “still early.”

Much of Zuckerberg’s attention these days is focused on longerterm initiatives. At a developer conference earlier this month, he laid out a 10-year vision. In the next couple years, he said, Facebook’s messaging products are going to usher in an age of talking to businesses through artificially intelligent bots, replacing the need to call them or download their app. Meanwhile, Facebook will work toward a future where virtual reality is at the centre of social interactions, allowing people to hang out with anyone in the world via an Oculus headset and feel a sense of presence. — Bloomberg News

PERFORMANCE

Amazon sales and profit top estimates

ON THE GO: LinkedIn also saw a record number of job seekers on its service, up 50 per cent from the same period a year earlier. - Bloomberg file picture

LinkedIn’s earnings rise in second quarter SAN FRANCISCO: LinkedIn forecast earnings that beat estimates on improved performance from its main recruiting tools, suggesting a surprise slowdown earlier this year was not as dire as analysts feared.

The operator of the largest online professional network said second-quarter profit, excluding some items, will be from 74 cents to 77 cents a share. That beat the 71-cent average analyst estimate.

First-quarter earnings topped expectations by a wide margin and the company raised its fullyear revenue guidance to $3.65 billion to $3.70 billion, fro m an earlier range of $3.6 billion to $3.65 billion.

“It was a good quarter with demand picking back up with recruiters and advertisers,” said James Cakmak, an analyst with Monness Crespi Hardt & Co. Earlier this year, LinkedIn said it miscalculated some strategic moves and that the company would grow more slowly than

expected, forcing some analysts to reconsider their positive opinions on the stock. That cut its market value almost in half and the shares had not recovered much. First-quarter revenue from its Talent Solutions business, the company’s main moneymaker, rose 41 per cent to $558 million as the company sought out large corporate customers that pay to track down potential job candidates. The company said this recruiting service can generate billions more by wooing new clients in markets like health care and staffing.

LinkedIn also saw a record number of job seekers on its service, up 50 per cent from the same period a year earlier. The company plans new offerings, such as salary data, to keep that number growing. It wants to give recruiting customers information on “confirmed hires” to prove their spending on the professional network is producing track-able results. — Bloomberg News

SEATTLE: Amazon.com’s sales and profit topped estimates on robust demand for quick-turnaround delivery, cloud services and gadgets like the Kindle and Echo, adding to evidence the e-commerce giant can make money even as it invests heavily in future hardware, software and entertainment.

The results were a validation of Jeff Bezos’s customer-centric philosophy and the Amazon Prime membership model, sending the shares up more than 13 per cent in late trading. The co-founder and CEO continues to invest to add services to the company’s $99-ayear subscription program by delivering products in as little as an hour and creating exclusive video programming for online streaming. Amazon is also working to keep consumers engaged with new products like low-cost tablets and the Echo voice-activated home assistant.

Sales climb The company posted its biggestever net income and said firstquarter sales climbed 28 per cent, including a 64 per cent rise at Amazon Web Services, its cloudcomputing division. Investors have been watching for signs that Bezos is balancing his ambitious spending with their desire for consistent profits.

Operating expenses rose by a quarter as Amazon pours money into projects such as expanding its network of US warehouses and building new data centers that power AWS, yet the strong sales growth may help thwart any renewed concerns about profitability.

“This allays investor fears that Amazon has embarked on another aggressive investment cycle tied to logistics,” said Victor Anthony, an analyst at Axiom Capital Management.

SHARES RISE: Amazon shares, which have declined more than 10 per cent this year, rose as high as $682.80 in extended trading following the report. - Bloomberg file picture

Stock jump Amazon shares, which have declined more than 10 per cent this year, rose as high as $682.80 in extended trading following the report. The stock had fallen less than one per cent to $602 at the close in New York.

First-quarter net income was $513 million, or $1.07 a share, and revenue climbed 28 per cent to $29.1 billion, the Seattle-based company said on Thursday in a statement. That compared with analysts’ average projection for earnings of 57 cents and sales of $28 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Amazon also gave a revenue forecast that exceeded some estimates for the current period.

The company’s Prime membership model, which includes deliv-

ery discounts designed to convert occasional shoppers into devotees, is showing similar success overseas as Amazon expands the service in Europe and Japan, Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said on Thursday. That shows that Amazon can replicate Prime’s success, said RJ Hottovy, an analyst at Morningstar.

“It’s not just a North American phenomenon anymore,” Hottovy said. “With Amazon Prime, customers have no reason to go anywhere else because there is nothing else like it. It’s a way to get customers and lock them in.”

Fast delivery By constantly upgrading its fast delivery options, the retailer aims to make buying something on its website comparable to the instant

gratification of a quick trip to the store. It recently offered free twohour delivery in big cities around the US and local restaurant delivery, and is offering a monthly payment option for those reluctant to commit to an entire year.

The new offerings have helped drive up costs, and Olsavsky said the company will continue to invest in video because it helps attract additional Prime members.

First-quarter total operating expenses increased 25 percent to $28.1 billion.

Amazon Web Services generated revenue of $2.57 billion, up from $1.57 a year earlier.

The company said second-quarter sales will rise to $28 billion to $30.5 billion. On average, analysts had predicted revenue of $28.3 billion. — Bloomberg News

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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

FEATURE

GROCERS NEED TO BE MORE LIKE AMAZON It is time for traditional grocers to get their act together. Amazon has made clear it is coming for your neighbourhood grocer. And based on the e-commerce giant’s track record of putting competitors out of business (ahem, Borders, Circuit City), traditional grocery stores had better hurry up and improve their online offerings, or prepare to meet their makers.

A

t least supermarket chains have two advantage booksellers and electronics stores did not. First, they have a head start: They are well aware of Amazon’s category-killing threat by now. Second, they have customer loyalty. Many of the book and electronics stores annihilated by Amazon were national chains people visited occasionally, while grocers are embedded in neighbourhoods and visited on a daily or weekly basis by people who need food to survive.

It has been easy for supermarkets to be complacent about the chances of Web clicks subbing for the weekly shopping trip. Americans go online for just 4 per cent of the $795 billion of food and beverages sold each year, according to estimates from research firm Cowen & Co. Unfortunately, there are not hard numbers on this; other estimates suggest online’s share of grocery shopping is as low as 2 per cent. By way of comparison, about 7.5 per cent of total US retail sales were online in the last quarter of 2015, according to the US Census Bureau.

But typically the migration from brick-andmortar to Internet shopping happens slowly, then all at once. Habits are already changing.

One in five US households surveyed late last year by consulting firm Brick Meets Click had bought groceries online at least once in the prior month. Younger people are even more likely to food-shop on the Web - half of people aged 25 to 34 in a recent Cowen survey said they bought or were likely to buy groceries online. And Amazon already rules food and beverage shopping online, with 22 per cent market share, Cowen estimates.

Traditional supermarkets Traditional supermarkets have taken a few general approaches to meet the budding interest in online grocery shopping. Some outsource online sales entirely. Some let shoppers buy online and pick up in stores. Some run a straight-up online delivery service. And some have tried a mix of all three. The approach that comes closest to the Amazon approach -- the delivery service -- is hard and expensive. But it is becoming an essential tool for warding

off the Amazon threat. Costco, Whole Foods and others have handed much of their online business over to delivery startups such as Instacart. Many US food sellers are no doubt haunted by the ghost of Webvan, the grocery pioneer that burned through more than $1 billion before shutting its doors in 2001. But outsourcing such chores also ignores the dangerous history of letting tech companies handle key operations. Target still has not recovered from letting Amazon operate its website starting in the early 2000s.

Other grocers have mixed-and-matched the benefits of physical stores and online delivery. Walmart has had some success letting customers order groceries online and pick them up in stores. Kroger launched a similar service, called ClickList; but early reviews complain of some of the same problems shoppers find at brick-and-mortar stores, such as coveted items being out of stock.

While letting customers pick up Web-purchased goods in stores is a sensible approach, it is not sufficient. The time has come for traditional grocers to also get good at delivery.

There is reason to hope such an expensive education will pay off in the long run. Customers who shop online are often higher-spending customers, according to Rich Tarrant, CEO of MyWebGrocer, which helps 140 grocers with delivery and tracks data from 55 million shopper loyalty cards. “Amazon will never take the whole grocery market, but they will take the top 10 per cent of the most profitable customers, and few retailers can afford to lose the top 10 per cent,” Tarrant said in an interview.

Shopping basket The average online shopping basket is $157 - more than three times what is spent on an average store trip, according to Tarrant’s research. That’s because, typically, after a shopper orders groceries online, the next time they shop on that site, their grocery baskets are al-

ready pre-populated with their previous purchases. It is easier for customers to just hit the reorder button than to cherry-pick daily price specials or comparison-shop at other stores.

Online shoppers also tend to buy a wider variety of items in one session, like bags of pet food they might previously have bought at a specialty pet store, or trash bags they would have stocked up on at Costco. The most popular time for ordering groceries online tends to be in the morning, when shoppers can be more relaxed and willing to try new things, as opposed to when they are darting into a store after work, Tarrant said.

In fact, online delivery does come with hefty costs. It requires employees to pick out, pack and deliver food, which is less profitable than just letting shoppers do much of that work themselves at a physical store.

On the surface, sinking a lot of money into something that is expensive does not make a lot of sense when the old model of shopping in stores works just fine for most people. Many traditional food retailers so far have not been willing to stomach Amazon-sized profits.

But these retailers have to look at how other categories, such as books and electronics, have mostly migrated online and ask themselves whether absorbing ballooning costs now is worse than facing extinction later.

Growing demand In the UK, British supermarkets such as Tesco, Walmart’s UK unit Asda, and online grocer Ocado aggressively embraced the growing demand for online shopping. That helped change consumer habits in the UK, where government statistics show 5 per cent of grocery shopping is done online. About 10 per cent of

Tesco’s grocery sales in the UK come from the Internet. It is still unclear how profitable online sales are for these companies, or whether their success will translate abroad. While Ocado’s revenue is growing faster than most traditional grocers, it is struggling to expand outside of the UK. But that could simply be a result of not enough grocers getting behind the effort.

For an example of what the future might hold for grocers who do embrace delivery, you might look to Peapod, the online grocery arm of Dutch grocer Royal Ahold (which runs US chains Stop & Shop and Giant Food). It is not profitable overall, a representative told Gadfly, but it is Ebitda positive in markets such as Chicago and Washington, D.C., where it has operated for years. Peapod also offers customers the option to order online and pick up items in more than 200 of Ahold’s stores. But the company said less than 10 per cent of total sales happen this way; when given the choice, most people prefer delivery.

Peapod has its own food warehouses and delivery trucks, but it combines forces with Ahold to jointly buy some merchandise, such as Tide detergent, for which bigger buyers get lower prices. Still, Peapod faces supply constraints and has not been able to add warehouses, trucks, and drivers fast enough to meet growing customer demand.

The transition to delivery service will obviously be challenging, and may not suit every grocer. But for many, the alternative will be much worse. – Bloomberg News

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SECTION

LIFESTYLE

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

EASY WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP ITEMS hen it comes to beauty rituals, we take care of every single detail but often forget about the cleanliness of our makeup utensils and the accessories. Regardless of how much you spend on them, germs and bacteria can lurk around, contaminating your skin. Here are some important tips to help you keep your items clean.

W

also apply conditioner to the brush hair once a month to maintain softness.

Synthetic Fibres: Mainly used for creamier products. To clean these brushes, wash with a non-alcoholic cleanser. There are plenty of instant cleaning liquids that does not require water, though, simply apply the liquid onto the brush and rub it with a clean cloth.

Makeup Brushes Keeping brushes clean is important for hygiene but also to avoid mixing it up with other colours and as a result, having the wrong blush colour on your skin. Ideally, wash your brushes as frequently as possible, after each use. If it’s tough to wash them this frequently, every 15 days would be the maximum time.

Makeup brushes comprise of two different types: Natural Hair: Mainly used with powders. To clean them, wash with a soap water solution at neutral pH and leave them drying. Don’t leave them to dry in a vertical position, it can damage the wood that holds the brush together. You can

Makeup Sponges For makeup sponges, disposable ones are the most hygienic option. However, if you, for any reason, prefer using other types of sponge: Disinfect with some dishwashing liquid and a spritz of rubbing alcohol. Alternatively, you can wash them with baby lotion. Let the sponge dry before storage or using it again.

Lipsticks (or Creamy Makeup Like Foundation) For those who apply lipstick with a brush, it’s important to keep it clean. To disinfect it, use a damp cloth that has been dipped in alcohol and give it a light go-over. No need to clean it very often, but once every 4-5 months should do the trick.

Makeup Bag The makeup bag is always left aside when cleaning, but really shouldn’t. In fact, it is constantly accumulating germs, contaminating your accessories all over again. To solve it, wash it every few months and keep it clean in between, by cleaning out the inside with a face wipe.

Extra Tip: Removal of makeup stains on clothes.

If you are a victim of a makeup stain, don’t worry. Soak your stained garment in a vinegar water solution and a squeeze of lemon. Leave it for a couple of minutes, then apply washing detergent onto the stain. Rub the affected area until the stain disappears and rinse the garment.

For lipstick stains, instead of the method mentioned above, soak a cotton ball in ammonia and rub it onto the stain before washing the affected area in hot water. — Courtesy of Helpling, an online platform for booking cleaners in the UAE.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

B6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

@ AZAIBA

@PANORAMA MALL

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Midnight Special – (2D) (Drama) (PG) Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton 3:00, 9:15 & 11:30PM I Am Wrath – (2D) (Action |Crime) (12+) Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 7:15& 11:30PM Take Down – (2D) (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Dominic Sherwood, Phoebe Tonkin 3:45 & 10:00PM Mother’s Day – (2D) (Comedy| Drama) (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson 5:30PM Dhay Fe Abu Dhabi – (2D) (Drama) (PG) Cast: Hassan Hosni, Eid Al Thahiri 7:45PM Green Room – (2D) (Crime |Horror) (TBC) Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots 11:45PM Precious Cargo – (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani 5:15 & 9:30PM The Jungle Book - (3D) Drama| Family) (PG) 3:30, 5:30 & 7:30PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Take Down – 2D (PG12) Thriller Cast: Dominic Sherwood, Phoebe Tonkin 4:00, 9:40 PM Precious Cargo – 2D (12+) Action Cast: Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani 6:00 PM The Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Adventure 12:15, 2:45, 5:00, 7:00 PM I Am Wrath – 2D (12+) Action |Crime | Drama Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 2:15, 7:50, 11:45 PM Gold Class: 9:00 PM Midnight Special – 2D (PG) Adventure Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton

Midnight Special – 2D (PG) Adventure Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton 12:30, 9:15, 11:30 PM Gold Class: 3:45, 6:45, 11:00 PM

Bastille Day –2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly 3:45 & 11:30PM

12:30, 9:15, 11:30 PM Gold Class: 3:45, 6:45, 11:00 PM

Hijrat (2D) (Pakistan|Romance|Drama) (TBC) Cast: Asad Zaman, Rabia Butt, Noman Ijaz 6:45 PM

10:00PM The Jungle Book (MX4D) (Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 & 9:30PM The Jungle Book - (3D) Drama| Family) (PG) 7:15PM

PANORAMA MALL Bastille Day –2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly 3:45 & 11:30PM Midnight Special –2D (Adventure| Drama | Sci-Fi) (PG) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst 3:45, 9:00& 11:15PM Midnight Special –2D (Adventure) (PG) 3:45, 6:15, 9:15 & 11:30PM I Am Wrath –2D (Action |Crime | Drama) (12+) VIP LOUNGE Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 6:45PM I Am Wrath –2D (Action |Crime ) (12+) 8:15 &11:45PM Top Cat Begins –2D (Animation) (TBC) Voice Overs: David Hoffman, Ben Diskin 3:30 & 5:30PM Baaghi –2D (Hindi| Action| Romance) (TBC) Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff 6:15, 8:45 & 11:15PM Precious Cargo –2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani

Cast: Asad Zaman, Rabia Butt, Noman Ijaz 6:45 PM Manithan (2D) (Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Udayanidhi Stalin, Hansika Motwani 8:45 PM Sarrainodu (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: Allu Arjun / Rakul Preet Singh 7:15 PM

AZAIBA Top Cat Begins (2D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: David Hoffman, Ben Diskin 3:15, 5:00 PM Synchronicity (2D) (Mystery | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Chad McKnight, Brianne Davis, AJ Bowen 3:00, 4:50, 11:30 PM The Huntsman: Winter’s War (3D) (Action |Adventure | Drama) (PG12) Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain 11:30 PM The Jungle Book (3D) (Adventure) (PG) 5:15, 6:45, 9:15 PM Fan (Hindi) (2D) (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 3:15 PM Baaghi (2D) (Action | Romance) (PG) Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor 2:45, 6:15, 8:45, 10:15, 11:15 PM Hijrat (2D) (Pakistan|Romance|Drama)(TBC)

RUWI Screen 1 Baaghi (2D) (Action) –PG Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 The Jungle Book (2D) (Adventure) –PG 3.45, 9.45 PM Hijrat (Urdu) Pakishtani (Action) –TBC Cast: Asad Zaman, Rabia Butt 6.45 PM Screen 3 Fan (Thriller) –PG12 Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 3.45, 9.45 PM The Jungle Book (2D) (Adventure ) –PG 6.45 PM

SUR Midnight Special (Adventure) (PG) Cast: Micheal Shannon, Joel Edgerton 3:30, 7:15, 11:45 PM. I Am Wrath (Action | Crime | Drama) (12+) Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 5:30, 11:55 PM. Baaghi (Hindi | Action | Romance) (TBC) Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor 1:00, 9:15 PM. The Jungle Book 3D (Adventure) (PG) 12:45, 6:15 PM. Bastille Day (Action) (12+) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly.

2:45, 10:15 PM. Synchronicity (Mystery | Sci-Fi) (15+) Cast: Chad McKnight, Brianne Davis 4:30, 8:30 PM. SOHAR Mother’s Day– 2D (Comedy/Drama) (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson 4:45PM Precious Cargo– 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani 3:15, 6:45PM I Am Wrath– 2D (Action/Crime/Drama) (12+) Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 5:00, 11:30PM The Jungle Book – 3D (Drama, Family) (PG) 3:30, 5:15, 7:15PM Green Room-2D (Action/Crime/Horror) (15+) Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots 11:55PM Midnight Special – 2D (Drama/Sc-fi) (PG) Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton 3:00, 9:00, 11:45PM Take Down – 2D (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Dominic Sherwood, Phoebe Tonkin 5:30, 7:15PM Bastille Day– 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly 3:00, 10:15PM Baaghi– 2D (Action) (PG) Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff 9:15, 11:15PM Manithan– 2D (Comedy/Romance) (TBC) Cast: Udayanidhi Stalin, Hansika Motwani 8:45PM Sarrainodu – 2D (Action, Masala) (12+) Cast: Allu Arjun / Rakul Preet Singh 7:00PM

BURAIMI The Jungle Book (3D) (Adventure) PG 7:30PM Top Cat Begins PG (Animation) Voice Overs: David Hoffman, Ben Diskin 3.15, 5.00 PM Green Room (Crime |Horror | Thriller) 15+ Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots 6:45, 11.45 PM Baaghi (Hindi) (Action| Romance) PG Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff 3:30, 8.30 & 11:00 PM Midnight Special (Adventure) PG Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton 3.30, 9.30, 11.30 PM Synchronicity (Mystery| Sci-Fi| Thriller) 15+ Cast: Chad McKnight, Brianne Davis, AJ Bowen 5:30 & 8:00 PM Take Down (Thriller) PG (12+) Cast: Dominic Sherwood, Phoebe Tonkin 6:00 & 9:45 PM SALALAH The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) (Adventure) 2:30, 6:30PM Midnight Special (2D) (PG) (Adventure) Cast: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton 1:00, 3:15, 9:00, 11:30PM I Am Wrath (2D) (12+) (Action |Crime) Cast: John Travolta, Rebecca De Mornay 5:30, 11:55PM Top Cat Begins (2D) (PG) (Animation) Voice Overs: David Hoffman, Ben Diskin 12:45, 4:30PM Precious Cargo (2D) (12+) (Action) Cast: Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani 1:15, 7:15PM Mother’s Day (2D) (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson 5:00PM Bastille Day (2D) (12+) (Action) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden 3:00, 10:00PM Baaghi (2D) (PG) (Hindi) (Action) Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Sudheer Babu Posani 8:30, 11:15PM Manithan (2D) (TBC) (Tamil) (Comedy) Cast: Udayanidhi stalin 7:15PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

36 26

Daily Daily

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

0

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

VAIBHAV CHABBI April 30, 2006

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

55-15% Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 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 lifestyle@timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Next Change: Jacobinte Swargarajyam (Mal) 24 (Tamil)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

Sarrainodo (Telugu) (Action, Drama) Cast: Allu Arjun &amp; Rakul Preet Singh 3:00 PM Cinema Main \6:45, 9:45 PM Cinema-3\ Kali (Mal) (Comedy\ Drama) Cast: Dulquar Salmaan &amp; Sai Pallavi 6:30, 10:00 PM Cinema Main \ 3:45 Cinema-3 Theri (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Vijay &amp; Samantha 3:30, 6: 30, 9:30 PM Cinema-2 Fan (Hindi) (Action\Thriller) Cast: Shahrukh Khan 6-45 PM Cinema-4 Manithan (Tamil) (Comedy) Cast: Udhayanidhi Stalin &amp; Hansika Motwani 3:45, 9:45 PM Cinema-4

Minimum

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

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

0

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

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

STAR CINEMA

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

I Am Wrath (Action / Crime / Drama) Cast: John Travolta, Amanda Schull 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 1109 (12+) Take Down: (Thriller) Cast: Dominic Sherwood, Phoebe Tonkin 4.00, 6.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 1110 (PG12) Green Room: (Horror / Crime / Thriller) Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat 2.00 & 8.00 PM CP No: 1111 (15+) Top Cat Begins: (Animation) Voice Overs: David Hoffman, Ben Diskin 2.00 & 6.00 PM CP No: 1112 (PG)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

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

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

Programmes are subject to change

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.09pm 3.35pm 6.39pm 7.55pm 4.13am

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

@ MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK) Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334 Apollo Medical Centre,

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 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 International Hospital, Al Ghubra 22004000, 94267068/97049520 Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

B7

LIFESTYLE

(Exploring History, Science, and Nature)

FACT FILE

I

s there anything more wonderful than sitting quietly by a pond, listening to the rustling of reeds and the buzzing of insects? A pond is a small area of still, fresh water and is different from a river or a stream. Being smaller and shallower than lakes, a pond’s water temperature is higher and are home to a diverse group of plants and animals.

Emergent plants, such as arrow-

heads and reeds, live at the edges of ponds. There are many kinds of water lilies. Lilies are a kind of floating plant.

Willowherb and meadowsweet grow in the bankside where there is damp. Some of the aquatic plants like duckweed and frogbit float with tiny roots dangling in the water. Water-lilies and crowfoot have their roots buried in the mud at the

bottom of the pond. Starwort and spiked water milfoil remain fully submerged in water.

Animals like frogs are commonly found in ponds. Frog eggs begin as single cells. After about three weeks, the embryo leaves its shell and becomes a tadpole.

Eleven weeks after the egg was laid, a fully developed frog emerges from the water.

Frogs eat insects, small fish and snails. Frogs are food for snakes, lizards, birds and small mammals.

Many frog populations are in decline, possibly due to pollution.

Another animal found near ponds are the red-eared terrapin. It is a turtle that prefers to live in still or slow-flowing water with plenty of underwater vegetation. It likes to sun itself on rocks and logs.

Water striders or pond skaters use their front legs to catch prey, their middle legs to paddle and their back legs to steer.

Dragonflies are found near ponds because their larvae, called nymphs, are aquatic. Beavers are large, nocturnal rodents. They build dams to create deep-water havens.

Wood ducks nest in trees near water. When it’s time, the babies

will jump from the tree into the pond. Channel catfish have excellent smell and taste receptors. They are found in rivers, lakes and ponds.

Males often darken in colour when spawning.

Diving beetles live in freshwater and feed on snails, tadpoles and small fish. They have wings and can fly from pond to pond.

— lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Questions & Answers

One thing that puts me off...

Discouragement

One skill I would like to learn...

To solve the mirror cube

When I’m in doubt...

I Google

I go crazy...

When I smell Hershey’s The scariest thing that I have done...

Held a python in my hands and it rested on my shoulder

If I win a lottery...

I would give half of it to the needy and retain half of it

One movie/book I can watch/ read over and over again...

Diary of A Wimpy Kid

CDUR

Crossword Puzzle ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

It’s better not to argue with...

My dad

If I met an alien I would...

Be scared and run away

If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be...

Vanilla

If I could go back in history, I would like to meet Mahatma Gandhi

DAKSHIN CK BHARATHI One person I would trade places with (real or fictional) Cristiano Ronaldo

Questions for quirky questions 1. It’s better not to argue with…

2. When I’m in doubt…

3. I go crazy when…

4. One thing that puts me off…

5. If I meet an alien…

6. If I win a lottery…

The best way to my heart is...

Truthfulness and affection

7. One person I would trade places with…

8. If I had treasures I would hide them in…

9. One movie/ book / I can watch /read over and over again…

10. One skill I would learn…

If I had treasures I would hide them...

Password protected, I will not tell now!

11. The best way to my heart is…

12. If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be …

13. The scariest thing that I have done…

14. If I would go back to history I would like to meet …

Send your contributions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com. A good quality photo is compulsory. Lifestyle reserves the right to publish the contributions.

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16

McCloud’s hometown Indigo plant Stiff wind Like a good sentry Hi-tech scan Tangy taste Conductor — Klemperer Toss about, as words Compass dir.

Make do with Novelty Dijon daddies

20 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 36

Codgers’ queries Lose interest Lay cement Move inch by inch Poor grades Unscrupulous beauty “Typee” sequel Salad bowl wood Flee hastily Jokey magic word Eye colour

38 41 43 45 46 48 49 50 51 52

Tokyo, once — salts Ooze out Fidel’s country Singles Vine valley Singer Redding Guitar part Come down with Ending for depart 53 Boss, briefly 55 Lah-di- —

ACROSS 1 Price ticket 4 Bullets 8 Gripe 12 Literary miscellany 13 Court summons 14 “Puppy Love” singer 15 Van Gogh medium (2 wds.)

17 Exigency 18 Well-fed 19 Angled a nail 21 Gym iteration 23 Overpraised 27 Say yea or nay 30 Peaks near Bern 33 Shelley offering 34 ISU location 35 Philosopher — -tzu 36 Colossal 37 Extinct bird 38 “Blondie” kid 39 Son of Hera 40 Elbowed 42 Tarboosh 44 Not much, in Mexico 47 Inert gas 51 Molar holders 54 Wave 56 As a result 57 Necklace part 58 Snapshot 59 Technical word 60 Memorable tennis champ 61 Try to find out

B8

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

LIFESTYLE

Children up to the age of 16 who would like to have their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Art for the Ages

Prayag Mohanty, Grade 8, ISM

Praise Chopde, Grade 4, ISG

Fayiza Fanees, Grade 3, ISN

M.L.Amitesh, Grade 1, ISWK

Children’s Poetry

The Wonders of Spring Ananya S. Ashok Grade IX Indian School Sur The birds fly High up in the sky.

The flowers bloom Without the shade of gloom.

The early morning sunrise Is a feast to the eyes.

Oh Spring! you are so beautiful, You make me feel wonderful.

The rivers flow The breeze is slow.

Oh Spring! you are so beautiful.

You make me feel wonderful.

A pictured art Spreads in my heart.

Oh Spring! you are so beautiful You make me feel wonderful.

Sona Sudhakar, Grade 4, Indian School Sohar

M. Abirami, Grade 10, ISM

Sudoku How to play Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

Send your contributions for Children’s Poetry to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Teleword All the words below appear in the puzzle - horizontally, vertically, diagonally, even backward. Find them and circle their letters.

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

N A K E D G U N H S C R U B S

AW A I N I A Y C O I I R D E A M R A P E I A M Y D R A P A

CLUE: LESLIE NIELSEN

E R B D R O G O O R M C A E C

H F E O A O L S P A A H U F E

C O R R O N S L T R S S Q F T

T R D A K E A T S A O A S O R

A C Y P S N L C N S G M E L A

K E R S E U A T O E R E C L V

S A Y D E V E N S L C A A N R I Y F M I O L V D I L E M E S

S U I S S O B E H T E R O S T

Y T L A S N O D I E S O P U Y

T S E W D L I W D L I W O H S

Z A D V E N T U R E N N U G R

SOLUTION: 8 LETTERS

Adventure, Air Force, Airplane, American, Canadian, Carol, Cars, Delivery, Drebin, Final, Frank, Gunner, Insult, Magoo, Mash, Naked Gun, Parody, Police Squad, Poseidon, Prom, Radio, Repossessed, Roles, Salty, Santa, Saskatchewan, Scary Movie, Scrubs, Show, Smell of Fear, Space Travesty, Stage, Study, Tammy, The Boss, Times, Wild Wild West, Word.

Answer: Zero Hour

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, A P R I L 3 0, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

A reputed Engineering & Contracting company in Muscat urgently require an

Omani Receptionist cum PRO To work in their office in Muscat.

Interested candidate with a minimum of 2 years working experience should send their updated CVs to: inteccllc@gmail.com *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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S AT U R D AY, A P R I L 3 0, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

FOR RENT

DĂĚŝŶĂƚ ^ƵůƚĂŶ YĂƐ ͗^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵͬKĸĐĞ Ăƚ 'ƌŽƵŶĚ &ůŽŽƌ͕ ϯϰϬ ^Ƌ Mtr. Facing main Road HAR Complex MSQ : 2,3-BHK Flats and 2 & 3 BHK villas with

ͬ ͕ĐĂƌ ƉĂƌŬŝŶŐ͕ ^ǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ WŽŽů ;'ĂƚĞĚ ŽŵƉůĞdžͿ Qurum : 6 BHK villa with garden, split Acs, shaded car parks, servant rooms DĂďĞůůĂ ͗ Ϯ ,< &ůĂƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ;ďƌĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐͿ Darsait : 1 & 2-BHK Flats with AC & Shop Ruwi : 2-BHK & 3-BHK Flats and shops Al Amerat : 2 & 3-BHK Flat , 3 & 4-BHK Villa with A/C

For viewing please call 99466729, 99316410, 92841690, 91313271, 24694088 or email us on :hartc@omantel.net.om

*Tourist visa arranged

3 BHK, 3 toilets near Indian School main Wadi Kabir & 2 BHK, 2 toilet near Honda road Junction.

Contact: 99737562 Office 55 SQ. Mtrs & 2 B /R new bldg in Bausher behind bank Muscat from owner. Contact: 92158031 Super deluxe 5 bedroom villa at North Ghubrah. Contact: 99369081 3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent.

18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi.

Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use. OMR 295/- month.

Call 94477222 1,2,3 BHK flats & villas.

Contact: 92144045 3 BHK without A/C Al Khuwair R.O 375/-. Contact: 92144045 2BHK with A/C Ghubra R.O 325/-. Contact: 92144045 1BHK M.B.D R.O 250/-.

Contact: 92144045 1BHK Mumtaz R.O 225/-.

Contact: 92144045 Room at Al Khuwair RO 110/-.

Contact: 95317247 1BHK with A.C Ghubra R.O 275/-.

Contact: 92144045 House for rent 1 bedroom & sitting room, 1 toilet & kitchen in Mawalah near City Center.

Contact : 96968104 House rent 2 bedroom, Majlis, 2 toilets, kitchen & parking in Mawalah near City Center.

Contact: 96968104 2 rooms flat for rent in Wattaya.

Contact: 99202602 Running beauty parlor for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact: 98689280 2 Bedroom flat near Kuwait Masjid, Wadi Kabir. Contact: 98498823 / 97608564

Two modern fully furnished & equipped offices available for rent at Jasmine Complex Al Khuwair:

FOR RENT IN RUWI

1) 152 M2 with reception, 1 GM Office, 2 meeting rooms, 26 working stations, pantry, network connection.

2) 132 M2 with reception, 7 offices, 6 working stations, 1 conference room, network connection.

1 BHK – SPILT A/C, BUILT IN WARDROBE &CENTRALIZED GAS. SPACIOUS 2 BHK.

FOR RENT

Commercial Space Commercial Space For Rent in Al Khuwair. Ideal for Coffee Shop / Restaurant / Office Space / Showroom 27sqm / 68sqm / 128sqm

Contact - 99469698

Contact: 96775026

Villa for rent 8 big room, 7 toilets, big hall, Kitchen & store Al Khoud.

Contact: 91153933

Brand new double bed room flats with two and three toilets, split ac, elevators available at Al Khoudh next to Al koudh health center.

Contact 99022675

Contact : 990 49 722 Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787 Flat for rent : flat available at Hamriya & Wadi Kabir. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 Warehouse 400 sqm behind Majan Hyper market near Bridgestone tyres, Ghala.

Contact: 95928800 / 98014921 Room for rent near Al Daser Rex road Ruwi. Contact: 92099367 / 99797645 Modern Office space for rent at MBD area near ATLAS Hospital with full local support by Omani if required. Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com Warehouse for rent at Ghala Ind. Area. 800 & 2500 approx sqms Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holiday, Ghala. Container can enter. Immediate access to roads & highways.

Contact : 94583320 Room or apartment for rent in Qurum. Contact: 99664703 Executive bachelor at Rex Road near Kamat Hotel telugu, kannada or Tamil. Contact: 99151508 New building 1BHK, 3 BHK flats with AC at Wadi Al Kabir behind Muscat Bakery. Contact: 99338133 / 92103604

Large Twin villa 6+6 rooms +2 halls +2 kitchens, Large independent compound, good for companies, staff accommodations /sharing families/executive bachelors.

Contact 98048207 2BHK Ghubra South with A/C, 300 R.O . Contact: 99342661 1BHK Darsait 200/- R.O. Contact: 94233661 2BHK Barka with A/C 160/-R.O. Contact: 99342661 2 bedroom Flat, semi furnished with spacious living areas comprising of 2 BR with attached bathrooms, a living room, separate bathroom and kitchen. The flat has Gym facility and secured under ground parking. Perfectly situated in Mumtaz Area nearby Temple and Church, rent RO 400/-. Contact 97487916 1BHK Ruwi & Qurum.

Contact : 99024730

Deluxe 1 & 2 bedroom flats, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 97721313 / 95070421 Luxury fully furnished 2 bedroom flat at Al Khuwair for short or long term lease contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC. Contact 94617563 / 92888376, tel : 24833848 / 24834888

Villa for rent, 4 rooms, big hall, 6 toilets, big living room, kitchen & store Bousher 750/-OMR. Contact: 91153933 Villa for rent room, toilet, hall, kitchen, store with furniture water & electricity included Bowsher OMR 300/-. Contact: 91153933 Room for rent big room, toilet, washing place including water & electricity Bowsher OMR 200/-.

Contact: 91153933

1 BHK at Walja. Contact: 95915154 1000 SQM industrial land in Misfah area with 3 rooms, 5 bathrooms, kitchen near Azaiba United 2 sides road facing large parking space. Ideal for workshop, staff camp, store. Contact: 99454425 1BHK new building with A/C curtains near Khimji Mart MBD. Contact: 99061408 / 99024039 Flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz area 2 bedrooms. Contact: 24291500 / 91409667

Villa for rent, big hall, 4 room, 5 toilets, kitchen, store living room in Ghubra OMR 650/-.

Contact: 91153933 Flat for rent in South Mabela.

Contact: 95331177 / 95230355

1 BHK in Azaiba. Contact: 99385835 / 99428143 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Office for rent in Mabela.

Contact: 99355330 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 New flat at Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact: 96130797 / 92130703

Office space small in Azaiba.

Contact: 99428143

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact 94051789 / 97201688

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact 97007934 / 92629232

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DAILY GUIDE

MANPOWER

FOR SALE Beauty Salon for urgent sale in Al Khoud/ Seeb prime location next to Rameez shopping centre. With sponsor and 1 staff and 1 ready visa clearance. Call: 95318629 / 95169411

FOR RENT

FOR RENT IN AZAIBA 4 Bedrooms excellent villa with car parking Directly from the owner

Contact - 97094797 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/in AL Khuwair. Contact 95154331 Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices in Ghala. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Shops / flats available in Honda Road, Ruwi & Mabellah Industrial area. Contact 24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street.

OMR 330 Monthly. Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel : 00 968 95158570 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Mutrah.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Duplex villa in QURUM 29.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Quality Warehouses for rent at Mizfa 550 sqm to 3400 sqm.

Contact

99332291 / 96046951 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Four bedroom two floors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842

FOR SALE

A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location. contact 99627621, 93240949

Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569 2BHK Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661 2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

New Rent house in Mabela.

Contact: 99880841/96053220 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241

92820665 / 24711734

Big showroom for sale and floor more than 200 SQM area in Ruwi main road. Contact: 93591485 or Whatsapp. Contact: 93333951 20 x40 containers.

Contact: 99354909 HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand.

Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Dental chair, mobile dental X ray, instruments, 5 year old, sale for 1000 Rials only in Al Buraimi.

Contact: 92737149 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact 92881849 /What`s up No 97290565

Star Travel

Villas in Al Khoud.

Contact 95056808 / 97201688

910 SQ FT, 1 B/R fully furnished flat at Quepem – Goa. Contact: 97094797

Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 95056808 / 97201688

4 To 1- cents of house plots in prime location- visible distance from Kakanad Info Park for sale.

Prestige mall & proposed metro station coming up in the locality.

Contact – 0091 8547767911 / Email: sayed.m.fazal@gmail.com

Furniture and other treatment items for Ayurvedic clinic.

Contact 97986525 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale.

Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter.

Photos can be sent 95865457 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

ACC. AVAILABLE Room available attached bath behind Honda showroom at Wattaya. Contact: 96390334

Single room available near Darsait Lulu. Contact: 92120626

Flats, shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD & Mumtaz. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

2BHK flat shops / ware house space available for rent behind new ROP building at Honda road.

Contact 91165807

Car accessories, upholstery, oil & battery shop for sale in Seeb.

Contact: 92262284 / 98737197

Expat leaving by 28th april,16, TV Philips 25 ‘’ with dish TV receiver, TV Trolley for RO.35 3 in one JVC CD, VCD, radio & audio player RO 25, dining showcase RO 15, 2 Godrej steel cupboards 25.

Contact 96764105

Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346

New building Wattayah main road, showroom & office space.

Contact 94300909

Ticket Reservation Hotel & Bus Tickets

Single room sharing B/K at Mumtaz area. Contact: 95212017

Fork lift Caterpillar (tool carrier cat it 28 f) oxy / PDO certified with excellent condition for sale.

Contact details: gsm: 99332937, land ph: 24446535

INDIAN RAILWAYS

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430

1100.00 m2 com. & Res. plot at heart of Ruwi. Contact: 93666944

Excavator Volvo 240 & Hydraulic Hammers. Contact: 99209427

NRI

Big room with attach bathroom, kitchen in Muscat near Riyam Park RO 75/-. Contact: 95094028 Big room opp. Al Nahda hospital for ladies. Contact: 92505321 Room with attached bathroom for working ladies in a flat in M.B.D. Contact: 99694307 Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM. Furnished room with A/bathroom in Al-khuwair33 for Indian Executive. Contact 95234062 A/C room rent 60 R.O Muttrah, opp. Khimji Mart.

Contact: 97477670 Furnished room / Bath for Executives Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99336206 Room for rent at Al Khuwair for bachelor 115 RO with A/C bed, Elect + water. Contact: 95190627 Studio type furnished room with small kitchen, bathroom and big balcony behind KIMS hospital Cont 95405033 Rooms available with Kitchen facility at Ruwi. Contact: 91214897 Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen. Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

Contact 99336776 Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 97167857

RESTAURANT FOR SALE

TAILORING SHOP

WITH TRADE LICENSE

WITH TRADE LICENSE

- Fully equipped, furnished & Recently Renovated - Size of the area - 359sq mtr - Under operation in a Prime location from 16 years

Under operation in a Prime location with experienced staff and stock

Mobile number:

FOR SALE

Mobile number:

9232 1411

9232 1411

DRIVING

MV SALE

FOR HIRE Crane trailer, hiab. Contact: 99354909 Quality concept trading LLC Crane rental daily monthly cranes available for rent at attractive prizes Contact: 92870992

ACC. AVAILABLE Separate entrance furnished bedroom with attached bath and kitchen for Executive bachelor in a villa opp. Star Cinema.

Contact: 99314807 ROOM for RENT for Filipino, spacious, new building in Al Khuwair near City Seasons. Water, Wifi, Electric Included. Call 97728418.

Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan village.

Contact: 93687466 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90.

Contact 96524717 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf

Hyundai Accent 1.6, 2014 model, good condition. Contact : 95212017 Geely 1.3 model 2012 manual gear used 72000.

Contact: 96778006

Sharing accommodation near ISD. Contact: 99657340 Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail.

Contact 96234708 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. CONTACT 96202458/96761960 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 93049849

ACC WANTED 1/ 2 BHK flat required in Al Khuwair/ Ghubra. Contact 96026943 Wanted one room.

Contact 98026234 Looking for a villa in Amerat area.

Contact : 95405033

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area. Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

Expatriate driver 4 WD Jeep liberty 2007 model in excellent condition 165000 K.M , 2,500 R.O. Contact: 97008026

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

FOR LADIES Offer!! Treading Gold Facial & Pedicure just for 10 RO, Al Doom Parlour Ruwi: Contact 99619409

Prado 2007, Mazda 2000, lancer 93, 3 ton truck double cabin. Contact: 99454425 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2012, expat owned, company maintained, 125000 KMS, warranty up to 2018, expected price E 8500.

Contact: 99330509 Honda CRV, 2015, white, expat lady driven, 9000 kms, No.2 expected price 10500.

Contact: 99330509

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash. #90202090

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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S AT U R D AY, A P R I L 3 0, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

Truck Mechanics With 3-5 years experience required for a leading commercial Workshop in Sharjah.

Fax CV to: + 971 6 507 2736

or Email: hr16info@gmail.com

Sales Representative for Food Services Candidates with the below requirements can apply ONLY. • Must have food services experience (HORECA) minimum 6 Months • English speaking proficiency and English writing is must • If expatriate then NOC is must.

• The candidates who are available in Muscat can apply only.

Last date of Submitting the Application: May 2nd, 2016 Send your CV with recent photograph on:

admiralsoman@gmail.com IT

Engineering consultancy office (new) looking for Architect with experience in Oman (portfolio needed) hadi@hadi.om - 99441122

Required Customer Support Engineer for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience in ERP software, MS Sql, Tally & Focus etc.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Required SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Graduate B.Com/MBA. Minimum 6 yrs of experience, Knowledge of Finalization & can handle accounts independently. Contact: mailoffice@fourseasonsoman.com

BEAUTICIAN Beautician required for Al Gazala beauty parlour, visa available.

Contact: 92534941

Required Shop Sales man + Hardware Technician for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

MEDICAL Urgently required Gynecologist& and General Practitioner with MOH license for polyclinic in Saham.

Contact: 91311990 Urgently required Staff Nurse with MOH license to work in a reputed clinic, permanent or for leave vacancy. Salary negotiable.

Contact 99048170

CATERING

Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com

Wanted Male/female Indian cook with experience in Omani & Indian food for Omani Family. Visa available. Contact : Antony 99889459

GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934

DRIVER

MISCELLANEOUS

Urgently requires Hiab Driver & JCB Operator with valid Omani / GCC driving license, Mason having 5 years experience.

Contact: 24594868/ Fax: 24593880 Mobile 93210740 Email: info@sajgloballlc.com

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred. Contact 99273774/99202278

Urgently required a Driver.

Contact: 99291154

DOMESTIC HELP Wanted female Muslim cook for family at Qurum, visa available.

93387962

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Construction company seeking Marketing Executives, Electrical Diploma Engineer & Civil Engineer. Should have Omani driving license. Email : info@greencover.net Required Indian Engineer road Construction 5/10 years experience Eligibility BE or Diploma Civil AutoCAD Estimation with Oman (D/L) & Indian Heavy Duty drivers.

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com A leading company in the field of construction Contracting excellent grade required buildings Engineer with min 6 years experience in Oman. Should have valid Omani driving license.

Candidate should send C.V to eng08vacancies@gmail.com Urgently required subcontractor in construction for big projects.

Contact : 99416162

EDUCATION English Teacher required for a private school in Barka. Degree + B.Ed + IELTS. Send CV: alburj@alhakkim.com / GSM: 93211417 A well known private school is in need of Laboratory Assistant, English, Maths, Science & Kindergarten teachers.

Contact: 96910649 Email: staffing.oman@gmail.com

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

(Male/Female) Any Nationality

ARCHITECT

One of a Leading Excellent grade group of Companies is looking for a “Junior Accountant” ( Omani Nationals only ) for their Duqum office.

Interested candidates may send their CV by email to mkh.almajali@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED

SALES / MARKETING We are looking for photographer with experience of handling Photoshop and a ticket booking person with knowledge of travel and tourism. Interested candidate can forward their CV to consultancyvisa82@gmail.com Wanted Staff with 3 years experience in Oman in real estate field.

Contact: +968 95910186 Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com Urgently required an experienced MARKETING EXECUTIVE cum PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR with minimum 5 to 10 years Gulf Experience, holding OMAN/GCC Driving License, for a Carpentry & Aluminium Division of a reputed Construction Company in Muscat.

Interested candidates those who can join locally may forward C.V. to e-mail: assaud@omantel.net.om or Fax: 24953530 Salesman required for electrical equipments with driving license & 5/7 years working experience.

Fax your C.V 24833043 (Jinan Enterprises) Urgently required Marketing Executive for a business agency at Barka. Graduate with D/L and minimum 2 years experience will be preferred, fresher can also apply.

Contact: 98908634 or Send CV to suntaka2015@gmail.com Omani Public Relations Manager / Marketing manager required for an office in Azaiba. Full time job. Omani citizens with Healthcare qualification or marketing experience only need to apply with English cv and photo to :arabhealth@alhakkim.com Required marketing / PR manager for a modern restaurant group in Oman , proficient in illustrator & Photoshop charismatic , proactive , creative & flexible excellent writing / Editing skills degree in relevant area fluent in English.

Send CV to marketingpr2016@gmail.com Sales man for printing press with driving license.

Contact: 92177095 / 93850727 Email: manager@dsdoman.com

SALES / MARKETING Sales Staff required for laundry.

Contact 92396884 after 6pm Salesman for a printing press.

Contact: 99498949 Looking for Salesman with experience in vegetable and fruits sales, good conduct, fluent in English.

Should have driving license. Email CV on: info@eigllcoman.com Contact - 96339339

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Required Indian Mason – 5 nos., eligibility (minimum 5 yrs experience in road construction field).

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com Thrust Boring contractor is required. Contact immediately99438397 Thrust Boring Supervisor is required. Contact immediately99438397 Electrician for Heavy Machines : experienced with mobile cranes and Wheel Loader (shovel) with a background in troubleshooting and reading a diagram .

Contact : 98856565 . email : hr@wadibaad.com Crane Hydraulic Mechanic : experienced with Mobile Cranes and should have knowledge with troubleshooting and hydraulic system diagnosis . Contact : 98856565 . email : hr@wadibaad.com

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job.

Contact 93953613, Email allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian female MBA in finance currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement in Accounts / HR / Admin. Contact: 92896110 Email: anoopodiyan@gmail.com 36 years, male with M.Com Finance having 15 yrs of insurance & banking experience in India, on visit visa for 15 Days seeks suitable jobs. #91159284 / 99429589 Jordanian Senior Accountant 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accounts. Contact : 92881223 Accountant 8 Years experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. # 97712084 Sudanese female Accountant excellent knowledge, MS Office, can work under pressure. # 97200130 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394 Indian male , 29 B.com ICWA (pursuing) 7 years experience in accountant / audit with valid Omani D/L seeking for suitable placement, NOC available. Contact: 94706954 Email: ajurn33@gmail.com B.Com 3 years business process outsourcing. Contact: 94657273 ACCA finalist with 2 years of experience in a Construction Company as an Accountant in United Kingdom here on visit visa for 3 weeks from 12 April - 3 May. Contact: 99171627 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com

Indian male good experience in accounts, admin and ERP Tally 9 seeking for suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 92650835 Pakistani male MBA finance 8 years experience in Accounting & Finance GCC , D/L on visit visa.

Contact: 95035011 Email: mibm_af@yahoo.com Indian male, M. Com with 3 yr Oman Exp in Accounts with valid NOC & D/L on Visit Visa.

GSM : 94744575 A Graduate of Alexandria in Accounting has freelance interior designing, experience in different design programs & recorded projects achievements, willing to join suitable job for his qualification and talents.

Contact: +201003966769 Oman: 99602608 C/o Osman. Email: shadyhenaawy@gmail.com A Graduate of Alexandria Mechanical Power Engineering and certified International Procurement Manager CIPM basics of supply chain management BSCM - APICS seeking suitable job for his Qualifications. Contact: 20 01222399139 Oman 99602608 C/O Osman Email: samer_henawy@hotmail.com Senior Accountant Indian male with 6 years experience up to finalization in Tally with good MIS reporting knowledge having Oman D/L, NOC. Contact: 94035577 Email: azu090@gmail.com Junior Accountant Pakistani female with more than 2 years experience in tally with good knowledge in Accounts receivable having Oman D/L. Contact: 95287396 Email: mariamnaaz92@hotmail. com Accountant Indian male with 7 years experience up to finalization tally & accounts receivable SAP R/3, good knowledge of payroll having Oman D/L, NOC. Contact: 93733996 Email: thmsb182@gmail.com ICSI & B.Com qualified Corporate Secretary (female) with 2 years experience handling compliance of 200 companies in Indian seeks placement in compliance field or company incorporation & allied fields. Contact: 94863182 Email: meghnasunil6@gmail.com

Indian male, 25 yrs, Accountant, 2.5 yrs in Finance & Accounts, MBA Finance & HR, exposure in SAP, Tally, ERP 9 on visit visa.

Contact 96715420 / 91265020, Email : jijosrgo@gmail.com, simonjosephjc@gmail.com

ADMIN With 15 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin / logistics looking for suitable position. Fluent in Arabic / English with D/L. Contact: 95824598 Indian male, 20 years experience in Oman as personal assistant / office manager / executive secretary / administrator / business development assistant looking for a change. holding Omani driving license. local release available.

Contact 99168054 Lady Expat looking for full time job with visa. Interested fields are Admin, teaching, HR, back office.

Contact: 91739424 Email: jinsijobs@gmail.com Indian male – Post Graduation in HR, having 18 years of experience.

Working in Oman since last 12 years. Capable of handling HR & Administration. Well Acquainted with Omani Laws. Valid Omani License & car. Contact 96442435.

A Young dynamic post Graduate with 10 years experience of Office Administration cum transport in charge in Oman to manage large fleet of PDO / Non PDO vehicles in addition having experience of managing the labor camp and staff with their mess valid Omani D/L. Contact: +968 - 92700274 Email: naqvi8084@gmail.com Indian looking for customer service, purchase front office Admin 5 years experience in UAE. Contact: 91744032 Indian female 26 years MBA (BBA, BIRLA Institute, Oman) seeking for full / part time job in Secretary / Admin / Customer Support / Office Assistant / HR. Contact: 93241466 / 92767450 Email: sujasunny2003@hotmail.com Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817

Indian male 7 years experience as Accountant in Oman having Oman driving license looking for job, currently in Oman. NOC available. Contact: 92859733 Email: parthasarathy67@gmail.com

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235

Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.

Contact: 96976240

Indian Male 19 years (8 Years in Oman) well experienced in HR / Admin in Oil & Gas, Construction fields with Oman D/L seeks suitable position. Release / NOC available call: 92854993.

Senior Accountant Master (Fin) ACCA (PART) 14 years of experience in accounts & payroll working or focus, familiar with tally having NOC & D/L, available on immediate basis. Contact: 98579882 Email: khalidbinfarid@yahoo.com ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance.

Contact: 99284193 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Accountant Indian male B.Com with 8 years experience in Oman knowledge in tally ERP, SAP AX MIS upto finalization, NOC available. Contact: 96989872 Email: radhakrishnank2007@rediffmail. com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Senior / Chief Accountant, having 12 years Oman experience in reputed firms seeks suitable job.

Immediate available. #99513082 Part time Accountant up to finalization audit & assignments.

Contact: 91126314 Part-time Accounting up to finalization, Auditing, Taxation and Project Finance assistance Contact: 91044655

Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288 Teacher female 27 yrs, MCA 5 yrs experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96709509 Email: viyannifd@gmail.com

DRIVER Experienced driver available 20 years in Oman. Contact: 99040186 Driver with car. Contact:91362320 Looking for job as light vehicle driver 5 years experience.

Contact: 92640278 3 years experience D/L looking for job. Contact: 94531957 Light driver wanted for suitable placement. Contact: 95656941 Looking for a job light duty driver.

Contact: 95141473 Light duty & heavy duty driver, GCC valid D/L looking for job (overseas). Contact 95175192, Email : oman.manpower@yahoo.com Looking for jobs light vehicle license, 5 years experience with Toyota Corolla car.

Contact: 96345442 / 96789570 Bangladeshi male light driver exp 4 years need job.#92681457

DRIVER Indian light driver having 2 years experience in Oman knowing language English, Hindi & Arabic need job. Contact: 97366822 Driver want job. Contact: 93822195 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 94357030 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 97855341 Looking for light driving job 2 yrs exp. Contact: 91625977 Looking for driving job experience 3 years Pakistani.

Contact: 93804176 8 years experience in driving heavy D/L (PDO) H2S. Contact: 92091528 Pakistani male seeks job, have Oman driving license, 6 years experience in driving. Contact: 96915494 Light Duty Driver looking for job.

Contact: 96250185 Light Duty Driver looking for job.

Contact: 96780325 Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 96798075 Light Duty Driver, 3 years 6 months experience. Contact: 95768440 Experience driver looking for job.

Contact: 95113612 Driver 3/6 years experience, I have 2 years experience out door sales man in led light, Pakistani, Oman experience 6 years.

Contact: 94565993 / 92627855 Family driver available.

Contact 92943094

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid/ baby sitter looking for job (overseas). Contact 95175192

Office cleaning boy available on contract basis. Contact: 94262954

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Young Indian female, BSc Interior Designer, with 2 years experience seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91102695 / 92191721 Architect Interior designers 3d Visualizer, 8 yrs exp, Indian male, have Omani D/L available.

NOC & local release.

Contact: 92710047 Architectural Draftsmen diploma in construction technology with 6 years experience in drafting and detailing as per British standard in Oman with valid Omani license looking for suitable opportunity Noc available. Call 94375897.

Free lance /part time autocad works (ARCH/ MEP) 2D/3D PH: 97103168 Piping designer with 14 years experience working with PDO, OXY for 10 years NOC available.

Contact: 92582356 Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.

Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

EDUCATION/TRAINING Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact : 99739415 / 92091528 Teacher Female , Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact – 99675828, Email Anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com Indian Lecturer M.Phil, M.Com, MBA DMM , 3+ years of exp in college & 2+ years exp in corporate seeks a suitable position.

Contact: 90369540 Email: abilashraji@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. An Electrical engineer with 4+ yrs of experience in Electrical network (MT, LT) with professional computer skills seeking for work.

Contact: 99841736 / 93955381/ +149922698343 Email: e.kmmh@hotmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Mechanical Engineer & Project Manager Sudanese 29 yrs, more than 3 yrs experience in Mining Company, Profession:Production & manufacturing, safety, fire fighting designing, Engineering Management, sales – Muscat, Oman.

Contact 968 93642704, Email : mohamedfdl87@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing specialist with 16 yrs experience in Oman in MNC retails telecom lubes construction related industry handled various projects, holding valid Oman driving license, release available.

Contact 96960991

INDIAN MALE, MARKETING & HR SPECIALIST,

Oman experienced Lawyer

25 yrs, Master degree with 2 yrs of experience both HR & Marketing, now on visiting visa.

Indian male, BA, Arabic, LLB, MBA Knows English, Arabic with over 9 yrs in legal field, now working as a legal advisor in Muscat, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 96972939 / 96096723 Email : lijubn@gmail.com, jerrin007@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male BE (ECE) having 1 year experience in Engineering and 8 years experience in medical transcription seeking suitable placement currently on visit visa. Contact: 90658764 Email: princekjohn555@yahoo.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release.

Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable.

Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma 3 years Sudanese National experience 4 years at construction sites.

Contact: 91183608 Telecommunication Engineer 35 years experience with Omantel company, Hindi , English & Arabic.

Contact: 91204243 / 94372096 / 99751612 5 years experience in supply chain (warehouse logistics) procurement.

Contact: 90644186 Indian male 24 yrs ITC Electrical 2 years experience looking for job.

Contact: 95428225 Email: basil064@gmail.com Electronics and Instrumentation Engineer, B.Tech Indian male 24 years with 2 years Indian experience looking for suitable position available in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 91228010 Indian male Structural Engineer (M.Tech) with 3 years Indian experience in designing searching for suitable job placement.

Contact: 98334396, Email: hashmath_ali@yahoo.com Quantity Survey works part time / freelance (civil). Contact: 95719108 Quantity Surveyor (Civil) 11 years with Omani driving license, local release available.

Contact: 95719108 Electrical Engg : M 32, having 8 yrs experience in MEP/ EPC projects with MEDC, OETC & PAEW, C.E.P holder with D/L, seeking for better opportunity.

Contact: 93949885 Email: vamshhikodela@gmail.com Associate Engineer Electronics with 3 years of experience in Satellite & CCTV searching for placement. Contact: 99832706 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer +13 years experience in heavy equipments maintenance experience in Oil field. Contact 96583270 Proposed position Safety Officer experience 04 yrs and 6 months qualification NEBOSH IOSH MS, OSHA, fire safety certificate, Master in Social Science.

Contact: 93644060 Email: saffar49@gmail.com B.Tech & Diploma in Mechanical having 3 years exp. in India looking for suitable job. Contact : 90542737 Electrical B.E.C Engineer Pakistani male 24 years looking for a job. Contact: 94049812 / 92958112 Civil Engineer having 7 years, 8 months experience with driving license immediately joining having NOC. Contact : 99294954 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973 Purchaser (construction) with 4 years experience & driving license.

NOC available looking for similar job. Contact: 98956725

Indian male, B.Tech, Software Engineer well knowledge in computer applications, android technology technical support on visit visa seeking suitable placement in IT or BPO. Contact: 99014938 / 93841724 Email: officialpakku@gmail.com B.E Mechanical Engineer, Indian male 34 years, having 10+ years experience in MEP building construction field (HVAC, Firefighting and Plumbing) with Omani D/L. NOC available.

96978380;prajithks@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience.

Contact: 90183630 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact: 91176187 syam036@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman.

Contact:98921022 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer 3 years experience in maintenance and commissioning of compressors, refrigeration system and other industrial Equipments in an engineering services company on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 91106765 Email: tamooraslam123@gmail. com Electrical Engineer having 16 years experience in switchgear / transformer / over head lines & trading for sales / procurement & project execution with valid Omani D/L. Contact: +968 95994727 Email: qurm340@gmail.com Diploma of Associate Engineering in Civil technology 14 years experience in project of construction works like buildings, roads, oil & gas field on visit visa expiry date 11/06/2016 looking for good job in Oman. Contact: 00968 92161978 Email: qazijahangeer@gmail.com Civil Eng exp 15 years NOC available looking job change Gulf experience over 12 years in Oman, 8 years experience handled MOH – project, MOS projects, MOS – projects. Contact: 98036290, cmsarasu@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, young dynamic looking for draughtsman in civil. Contact: 94553406 Email: choudharyibrahim93@gmail.com Female Electrical Engineer, excellent knowledge, Graduated with distinction, can work under pressure. Contact: 98133281 Indian female M.Tech in VLSI Design B.Tech in electronics with valid IELTS score 6.5 now in family visa experience in teaching & and admin. Contact: 90195131 Email: chinj.89@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 yrs, experience HAVC firefighting CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.in Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Mechanical Engineer (B Tech) Indian male with 1 year experience on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact : 90510800, Email : muhammedjaseem07@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization.

Contact 96570891

Indian male 26 B.Tech Civil Engineer 3 year’s 8 months Experience at building construction. In Oman 2 year’s experience N.O.C available seeking suitable placement Contact : 97396269 Email : usmanshaik42@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male 24 yrs having 1+ year experience in Industrial construction with good communication skills and software knowledge, looking for suitable position available on visit visa.

Contact 968 - 99779538 / 98694939 Email: arunsathyan92@gmail.com Male QC inspector Mechanical, NDT 20 years experience valid Oman D/L , release available.

Contact: 91001104 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in Indian (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Indian male B-tech 8 years experience as senior electrical project engineer / QC engineer on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94094543 Email: anwar425@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Indian male, 28 yrs, B.Sc Hospitality Science with 5 yrs experience in Hospitality & banking sectors in Oman & India seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 91383167

IT Software testing professional 6 yrs exp , Engg Graduate.

Contact: 91739424, Email: jinsijobs@gmail.com Procurement Coordinator Indian male 30 yrs B.Com (computers) 4 years experience in Saudi Arabia in Construction Company, looking for any suitable position on visit visa till 15 May 16.

Contact: 0968-98590811 Email: ibrahimhashmi220@gmail.com INDIAN FEMALE, 23 years, BSCCS Diploma in IAD graphics, well knowledge in computer applications 6 months experience presently in Sohar seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96670907.

Email: ammuch.4@gmail.com B.Tech Information Technology with one year experience in I.T field looking for job on visit visa.

Contact: 92312978, Email : quazi13026nehal@gmail.com Indian Electronic Technician 5 years exp CCTV, Telephone, video door phone, NOC available.

Contact: 99803912 Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. #98660672 Female 24 yrs, 3 years in IT programmer now in Oman looking for suitable job. Contact: 96350234 9 years of Software Test Consulting and business analysis experience in various CBS (Core Banking Solutions) and other Banking related solution implementations with deep understanding of Islamic Banking. Completed CDIF CIMA Diploma in Islamic Finance and ADIF - Advanced Diploma in Islamic Finance conducted by CIMA, UK. NOC available. Contact: manivannanbalaji@gmail.com GSM: 9393 8086

Qualified Certified Management Accountant (CMA-USA) and cost and management accountant (ACMAIndia) with over 25 years experience in Sultanate of Oman in finance, banking and administration is seeking a suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 97351649, advocatesharaf@gmail.com

Contact 95986767

IT

SALES / MARKETING

IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India. #94672759

Indian male, 29 years BSc, Graduate, with Omani driving license and 7 years of sales experience in home appliances, IT products, mobile and traffic safety equipments currently working on employment visa, NOC available seeking for suitable placement immediately.

Contact 97890607 Email: ashrafambar@gmail.com

B.Tech (IT) experience in Networking server & desktop management in corporate environment looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 92954613

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Filipino Male, 28 years Old. Looking for job, Have experience in Rent a Car/ Cargo & Logistics / Real Estate/ Customer Care Executive / Sale Executive & Marketing/ Shop In- Charge with driving license, w/ good computer and communication skill. GSM: 97761075 Male having visa, 3 years in Oman with valid D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95453393 Indian male 27 years BBA, Administration marketing & sales accounts, MS Office can work under pressure now on visit visa looking for suitable position.

Contact: 90739819 Indian female master degree one year experience seeking suitable placement in any field. #97792820 Email: pnjli.1991@gmail.com Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact: 920 66 523 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

MEDICAL Indian male BE (ECE) having nine years experience in medical transcription / health care & documentation seeking suitable placement as Medical Transcriptionist Insurance Coordinator or Medical Secretary, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 90658764 Email: princekjohn555@yahoo.com Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com

MANAGER Procurement / Contracts head Indian 20 yrs wide experience in top MNC areas Civil, MEP, Fire, road, PDO & oil field with Omani driving & NOC available. Contact: 93737496 Procurement and Projects Manager having 10 years UAE experience, MBA Graduate with 6 sigma & CPPM seeking suitable position.

Contact: 90772927 Purchase/Planning & Logistics Manager, MBA (Finance), 14yrs.

Oman Exp. with D/L, NOC available, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 93826090, Email: jskanchan01@gmail.com Egyptian male 36 years Warehouse Manager, 7 years in Sultanate of Oman, 1 year in UAE, and 3 years in Egypt.

Contact: +968 97200468 Email: ayman_mano1979@yahoo.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761

10 yrs experience in Oman in logistics / purchase have Oman D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact 96410767. email :harishkts@yahoo.com Procurement / Estimation male 15 years experience in Oman working with reputed company seeks suitable placements. N.O.C available.

Contact: 93508898 Email: reghunair01@gmail.com Indian Male, 30yrs, 7 year experience in marketing, (3 years Exp. in Oman & Saudi) seeking suitable placement in Sales & Marketing.

DL & NOC available, Contact: 93329021, gokulmohank85@gmail.com D/L, NOC available looking for salesman job, 1 year experience.

Contact: 91210380 10 years ICT Business development & project management exp in Oman looking for suitable senior position. Contact: 98987654 Senior Sales Executive, 10Yrs Exp, India seeking immediate job.

Contact #+968 98444359, +91 9880637906.

E: ahmed.shabbirsyed@gmail.com Indian female, BSc, B.Ed, MBA, Marketing having 3 years experience, seeks suitable placement in marketing field. Contact: 95041134 Email: divya.vini@gmail.com 35 years male, Lebanese holding British passport, 10 years of experience in procurement, Omani Government tenders, setup marketing plans & strategies, importing, Organizing events, management, have car, NOC available. Contact 94123939 Email: 002015r@gmail.com 24 years experience Sr. Management professional as Profit centre head. Industry electrical trade looking for a suitable position in Oman / UAE. Contact: 91195418 Email: ab_9616@rediffmail.com 26 yrs Indian male MBA Marketing Sales / Marketing Executive, 3 yrs experience now available in Muscat on visit visa seeking placement for immediate joining.

Contact: 95978874 Email: ansariafsar550@gmail.com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820

SKILLED LABOUR Electrician looking for a job, 6 years experience. Contact: 96001823 Shovel, JCB, Grader, Excavator, Operator GCC valid D/L looking for job(overseas), looking for job.

Contact 95175192

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, 24 yrs, B. Com Graduate more than 1 year experienced in accounts planning to come for a family visit in oman seeking for a suitable placement .

Contact : 99339544 / 99743709 Indian male : looking for any suitable position, Data Entry/ Secretarial/ Documentation Level. 10+ years working experience. Gsm: +968 - 90414827, Mail: devenjayanthnair@rediffmail.com Looking for a part time accounting & admin job. Contact 99196621.

Indian Female looking for a part time opportunity (Graphic Design/ Teaching/Research Assistant/ Business Development/Administration) Contact: 95811820 or sankarikm06@gmail.com

An experienced Chartered Accountant With over 25 years in varied industries, presently working with a reputed group in Muscat, looking out for a suitable change.

Contact - 96491030

MISCELLANEOUS IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support/Retail sales.

Contact 91496939.

Indian male, Fire & Safety Engineer having 1 year experience on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 95208305 Email: nirmalk558@gmail.com A/C & Fridge Technician 25 years experience in Oman India seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95680380 Indian female, 27 yrs, B.E (Telecom) with 3 yrs exp in IBM (India) as Senior Security Delivery Analyst. Now on family visa seeking for suitable position.

Contact: 95600437 Tea boy looking for job Name: Man Bahadar Contact No. 97859837 Indian male, M. Com with 3 yr Oman Exp in Accounts with valid NOC & D/L on Visit Visa, available to join immediately .

GSM :94744575 Electrical & Electronics diploma engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience currently in visit visa. Contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com Indian Female, 29 Yrs Age, M.Sc Microbiology, looking for Job any reputed organization / Hospitals, seeks suitable position.

Contact : 95218424 / 9610 6604.

On Family Residence Visa.

Indian male 34 years MBA finance & marketing 7 years experience in India accounts & Administration, currently in Muscat on family visa. Contact: 98104991 Email: sureshkr01@gmail.com Indian Female, M.Sc Computer Science, Seeking suitable placement in Muscat Area. Contact : 98660672 Indian B-Com Graduate 1 year Experience in market survey, Valid Driving License, looking for any suitable post. Contact: 92567020 / 96930392, shwayanad@gmail. com Indian male, M. Com, 11 years experience in the field of accountancy and Stores. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, oracle, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 Senior Accountant, NOC available, more than 5 years exp., born & bought up in Oman, Accounting upto finalization, computer skills tally9, Sage ERP ACCPAC 500(6.0A), Vcams, Audit ,valid Oman driving license, languages known English, Arabic, Hindi. Can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599, E-mail(ahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com) Indian male, M.Com, 7 years Oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC . Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, oracle, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 Indian male 42, BE-Civil 13 years experience in Road construction. looking for suitable placement. having valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 95225214, Email: Sudheerrokkala73@gmail.com Indian Male 28 years, Mechanical Engineer (Diploma) with 2 years’ experience, Automobile ITI NCVT, CSWI-BGAS Painting QC Grade-2, NDT Level-2, ISO Lead Auditor QA (IRCA), Piping QC & Isometric Drawings, WPS & WPQR, available on Visit Visa, looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 90653733, libinthomaslt@gmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Exp. 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash flow & marketing projects & investments & tenders & real estate. #92385033

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas, Working in Shclumberger, NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail.com Mobile- +91 9867016808 Indian female 27 yrs, Diploma in Aviation & Hospitality management, seeking suitable placement.

Curnetly in Oman, NOC Available.

Contact 94880684 Safety Officer 3 years of experience in safety certifications: BE (Electrical and Electronics Engineering),NEBOSH, IOSH, DHSE, first aid.

Contact +97474018995, email:midhunmich@gmail.com skype:midhunmike Bachelor in Hotel Management Having 13 years experience in Catering Industry in all aspects of Operations with D/L looking out for a suitable placement.

Contact 90654826 Email: mailingsaikiran@gmail.com Indian Female on a visit visa having master degree seeking suitable placement in any field, 1 ,5 year experience in HR .

Contact+968 91467576.

Indian male network cabling technician (19-years Gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian female, MBA, Diploma in Aviation & Hospitality mgt (IATA), having 4 yrs of exp, on family visa seeks job in Oman.

Contact-9910 4529, 95679557, e-mail-jkramya91@gmail.com 27 years old Indian male looking hospitality jobs in Hotel. Experience in customer service, front desk, housekeeping supervisor, captain, cashier,guest relation manager.

Contact. +968-90351742Email. samubaid6@gmail.com

9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job.

Contact: 93790601

Indian male physiotherapist with 3 years of experience, with (moh license and NOC available. seeking suitable placement.

Contact 99767528, 91317863

LAND SURVEYOR: Male, more than 12 years’ experience in land/ pipe line surveying in Oman and UAE. Looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 91215843

Indian, 32 years, passed M.A. English M.Sc Psychology, DHM & B.Ed in English with 4 years experience seeking for part time or full time job. Contact: 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Indian/ male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Communications,ITI,1.7 Years experience as Service Technician in India, on visit Visa, looking For a Suitable Placement.

Contact :92794176 , E-mail: prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Indian with 3 years for experience in sales and marketing fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam looking for suitable job.

Also hold valid Driving License, currently in oman Mob : 93451439

Marketing Communications Coordinator Indian, 25 years GCC experience in Media, Advertising & Marketing ATL + BTL branding. Contact: 93031168 Email: arn14256@gmail.com 27 yearsold Indianmale looking Jobs in documents Collection executive.Experience in collection executive.

Contact. +968-90358068 Email wasimsaif04@gmail.com Indian male, 26 years old BA Graduate having 1 year experience in accounts finance field. Looking for suitable Job On visit visa immediately available.

Contact. 9565 9415 Anishkhan991867@gmail. Com

HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 Plus years exp. in Oil & Gas, Working in Shclumberger, NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. #krish.569@gmail.com, Mobile- +91 9867016808 Indian Male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally &ERP- looking for suitable placement ( Local release and Oman driving license available. Tel- 92469789 Electrical diploma Engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience in control panel contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com

Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont. 00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont. 00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm,1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India. On visit Visa, Looking For a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176 E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Female Dentist with MOH license and NOC, 7 years experience 2 yrs out of them in Oman looking for a job. Contact 97401243

Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. #99514286 Indian male Kerala, B.com & B.PE. Currently on visit visa, looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store keeper etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact:-93301023, email:- sajith3969@gmail.com NOC available, Indian Male - MBA (HR) and B.E (E.I.E) with total 9 years of experience in HR & Admin and Business Development (3 yrs of Gulf exp.) can join immediately Contact 91240251 / kvaradhan@hotmail.com

IT System Administrator 6 yrs experience, male, Filipino Desktop, Laptop and printer Support, Backup administrator, Router and switch Network, Server Administrator. +968 94134295 Female dentist with MOH license and NOC ready to join 7 years experience 2 of them in Oman.

Contact 97401243 M. Sc Computer Science – 2 year Experience – in India, looking suitable Placement. Email:-elvisgt6@ gmail.com, Mob:-+91 9497482305 (INDIA), Oman:-98291626.

Indian, 30 years, B. Com with 2 years Oman experience in Tally ERP-9 available in Muscat seeking suitable positions. Contact on 95186652

Having 10 years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement.

Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm, 1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India, On visit Visa, looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176, E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com B-tech Civil with honours, Civil Engineer (structures) Experience more than six years.

Contact 91431483. Email mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas .Working in Shclumberger NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail.com contact +91 9867016808 PART TIME ACCOUNTANT available, well experienced in accounting up to finalization. knowledge in tally also. contact. 92643875 Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/full time accountant job.

Contact: 95598477 / 98803439

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Indian/ male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Communications,ITI,1.7 Years experience as Service Technician in India. On visit Visa, Looking For a Suitable Placement.

Contact :92794176, E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com Pakistani male 23 years old experience in travel agency - ticketing looking for a suitable job, NOC available. Contact: 93253759

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMP./WEB.

CATERING SERVICES We do industrial catering service, Canteen / mess, 3 times packed meals and all types of catering events.

Contact: 92188777 / 99249899 Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

PALEST CONTROL TABA SERVICE LLC 100% Professional Aīordable Rate !!!

Ants, Rodent, & cleaning On monthly, Harmless & Odourless

CALL - 91464586 Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 96236476 Split unit & widow unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 95323517 / 93769089

SERVICES

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

Split & window A/c installation & maintenance specialist package & ducted units. Contact 98667326 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C Maintenance & Servicing, Fridge, Washing machine & Dish washer repairing, Painting & Cleaning services, Electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 we do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. contact 24793614/ 99314807 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC Contact 99344723 House shifting.

Contact 99708138

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

Complete building maintenance Midawa Trading Est. Contact: 94614479

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

House Shifting Packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 /99210141

Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC Contact: 99344723

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. Contact 99344723

All MEP & Civil shop drawings.

Contact : 93070771 Email : designjob2014@gmail.com

Muscat Driving School established for over 15 years drive safe with MDS. Meet our professional friendly Instructor. Contact: 99773651 / 95840670 Sohar 26844412 Ruwi / Darsait 24781123 MGM 24399951 AL Khudh 24536348

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting.

Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available on rent 10 ton Hiap Trailers. Contact 94207475 / 95649231/ 97982842 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

TOURS

Moon Travel L.L.C

Saudi Arabian Government approved agent

Umrah Package by Road & Air Bus Departures- Apr 19, May 03, 17 & 31.2016 Ramadan Schedule - Jun 06, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 & 30.2016 Contact: Tariq Al Balushi - 99218069 Ahmed Maseehuddin - 99353611, Oĸce: 24790746/24706217

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS Investment Required Minimum OMR 500,000 to transfer 5 Excavators big + 5 Tippers 2015 Astra, working on good profitable Excavation projects. Assured income 36 %.

98867530 / 99120532 engrfaheem@hotmail.com

Required partner investor to build an apartment in Al Mobelah.

Contact: 99355330

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, Spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact: 24475280 / 95371664 / 2504980 www.siddhayur.com FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

RENT A CAR

Investment opportunity for lucrative building and decorative product. Contact: 99421513 Email: borderlineomn@gmail.com

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact: 99839898

MATRIMONIAL Keralite Muslim parents invite proposals for their daughter 22 yrs with MSC Psychology + MBA HR, residing with parents in Oman. Good alliance sought form boys from well to do settled family preferably working in Oman / GCC. Interested Contact: 00968-94443037 27 years RC Girl working as a staff nurse in MOH Sur seeks suitable alliance from Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode. Contact: 92115860

TRANSPORTATION Driver with car.#93346085

Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact 96059801.

TRANSPORTATION Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

Transportation. Contact: 95190627 Transportation. Contact 92015894

Transportation. Contact 99508282

RENT A CAR Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

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DAILY GUIDE

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

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