Times of Oman - August 31, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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MONDAY, August 31, 2015 / 16 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH

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Tragic hiking death sparks safety appeal 20km

Explore the beauty of Oman, urge

Bu Baqarah

To Dubai

Sea of Oman

Hatta

experts, but make sure to stay safe

Shinas

UAE

WADI SAMINI

and use guides on unmarked routes

Liwa

Mahdha Sohar

To Abu Dhabi Buraimi

REJIMON K/TARIQ AL HAREMI

Al Ain

Saham

OMAN

reji@timesofoman.com tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Hikers exploring unmarked terrain in the mountains and valleys of Oman should be escorted by experienced guides, warned police and experts following the death of a British woman in her thirties who went missing in Wadi Samini near Mahdha, Al Buraimi, on Saturday. “Safe trekking paths on mountains in Oman are marked by the Ministry of Tourism. Those paths that are unmarked are unsafe. Hiking on those unmarked mountain trails should be done only with the help of guides who have safety gears, or else hikers will be risking their lives,” said Khalid Al Anqoodi, an experienced mountaineer who leads bi-weekly group hikes for the Oman Mountain Club and has scaled several mountains in and around the region, during an interview with the Times of Oman. The British woman, belonging to a 12-member hiking group including Arab and non-Arab nationals, had gone missing on Sat-

To Muscat

To Ibri

urday evening in the mountains of Wadi Samini near Mahdha. The Royal Oman Police found the woman’s body on Sunday morning after an extensive search was launched with the help of helicopters. The woman died from dehydration and exposure to extreme heat. An official from the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulances described the area as “a mountainous and rocky region where people can get lost easily if they don’t know the area”.

POLLS IN OCTOBER

To Yanqul

Graphics

“These kinds of trips are risky. Adventurers should always go in a group with people who are experienced in these kinds of ventures. They should also collaborate with people who are not part of the group by using social media and let people know where they are. When you feel you are in danger, call the police immediately,” said the official. On Saturday, four of the 12-member group were initially reported missing. However, by late in the evening police had rescued three of the hikers. >A6 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

Campaign for Shura elections hots up

OMAN

11,200 pilgrims from Oman to perform Haj

A total of 11,200 pilgrims, including 10,015 Omanis, 580 Arabs and 605 nonArabs, will be performing Haj this year. >A3

INDIA

Land bill not to be re-promulgated CAMPAIGNING: Billboards put up by Shura candidates. – Taleb Al Wahibi

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As the October elections for the Majlis Al Shura approach, candidates are getting busy with their campaigns, using social media, signs, and other techniques to woo voters. There are 654 candidates vying for the 85 seats and to beat their competitors a visible and active campaign is very important. Candidates need to market themselves by creating a personal brand and showing which

The Hyper Wars

causes they stand for, such as environment, health care, equality or good governance, said Tahseen Anwer Arshi, a marketing specialist from the Faculty of Business Management at Majan College. “Like any ad campaign people will like those who stands out and catches their attention. From a marketing perspective, candidates need to brand themselves. They can choose a cause for which they stand for or believe in build their campaign around a theme,” said Arshi. >A6

Faced with stiff resistance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not repromulgate the controversial Ordinance on Land. >A8

MARKET

Islamic bank assets set for strong growth

Islamic banking could achieve around 15 to 17% of the total banking assets within the next ﬁve years in normal market. >B1

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REPORTED CASES

CABLES

More people take HIV test due to awareness Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Reducing social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS is one of the factors responsible for higher number of cases being reported in Oman, the Ministry of Health has said. Increased health education at all levels helped reduce the stigma, the ministry stated in its Annual Health Report 2013. “Though Omani cases had decreased in 2013, overall cases of HIV/AIDS increased compared to 2012,” the report said. The total number of cases registered among Omanis during 2013 stood at 103, with 75 of them being males. A total of 127 cases were registered in 2012. The report shows that 31 deaths took place due to AIDS during 2013, down from 36 in 2012. Of these 31 deaths, 23 were related to cases registered in previous years and eight were related to cases registered in 2013. By the end of 2013, 1,511 Omani individuals were living with HIV, according to the ministry’s report. In addition to reduced stigma, the ministry attributed the increase in overall number of registered cases to the application of medical protocols of conﬁdentiality regarding the results of examinations and the use of records only for management purposes. Availability of treatment at health institutions is another factor, the report said, adding that this encouraged patients to visit health institutions for HIV testing. According to the report, continuing high risk behaviour in

ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company

HIV IN OMAN AIDS/HIV cases registered among Omanis over the years 1986 –2013 1986-1990

2013 416

ALIVE 234

248 190

Total cases 1986-2013

169

142

103

273

199

DEAD

131 116

2,394

Source: Ministry of Health

95 8

883 DEAD 1,511 ALIVE Graphics

certain sections of the community led to an increase in overall reported cases as well. AIDS control programme The AIDS control programme was established in 1987 and 2,394 were registered among Omanis between 1986 until the end of 2013. The ministry has repeatedly warned people against high-risk practices and advises those engaging in such behaviour to have themselves tested and undergo treatment to prevent the transmission of this disease to others. Experts say early diagnosis can result in timely treatment, prevention of complications, and an improved prognosis for people infected with HIV.

His Majesty sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to King Almu’tasimu Billahi Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah of Malaysia on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to King Mu’adzam Shah and the Malaysian people further progress. Kyrgyz Republic His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also sent a cable of congratulations to President Almazbek Atambayev of the Kyrgyz Republic on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health and happiness to President Atambayev and the friendly people of his country further progress and prosperity. Trinidad and Tobago His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Anthony Thomas Carmona of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes to President Carmona and his country’s people. -ONA

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

OMAN

Our operations have not been affected. Our Dubai office has conﬁrmed that the chairman will brief the media about the developments Official of UAE-based jewellery company in Oman

TOURISM

Salalah Festival 2015 set for conclusion after big success Times News Service SALALAH: Salalah Tourism Festival 2015 will conclude on Monday. The closing ceremony will be held at the Municipality Recreational Centre, under the patronage of Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, and in the presence of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar. Salalah Tourism Festival 2015 opened on July 23rd under the theme ‘Oman: Love and Peace’. This year’s festival, considered one of the major festivals in the region, showcased traditional villages and highlighted Omani handcrafts, arts and games, along with food and costumes. The festival included several activities highlighting the nation’s religion, economy, heritage, and social lives, in addition to culture, sports and entertainment. Also, the festival hosted several exhibitions representing the government and private sectors in the cultural, arts, technical and communication sectors. The Khareef season attracts tourists each year from many governorates in the Sultanate and other GCC countries. Official and public agencies

NATURE’S CHARM: Salalah Tourism Festival 2015 opened on July 23 under the theme ‘Oman: Love and Peace’.–File photo

worked overnight to ensure the success of the tourist season this year and to receive visitors, as well as provide facilities and services. The Khareef season is looked forward to by residents of coastal wilayats and neighbouring mountains in the Dhofar governorate from June 21 to mid-September every year. All coastal areas from Dhalkout in the west to Mirbat in the east come under the inﬂuence of this

season during that period. There has been a surge in the number of visitors to Khareef Salalah this year, according to ﬁgures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). As many as 462,424 visitors were recorded in the Dhofar Governorate during the period from June 21 through August 18. The number of visitors, as of August 18, surpassed the 450,511 visitors reported during the Khareef season in 2008, making 2015 the most successful year, in terms of Khareef visitors. Omani nationals numbered 342,579, constituting about 74% of total visitors to the governorate. Emirati visitors placed second, at 47,833 persons, or 10% of total visitors, forming the largest group from the GCC, excluding Oman. Saudis came in third, with 17,189 visitors, constituting 4% of total visitors. Visitors from Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, respectively, stood at 3,152, 3,060 and 2,154 persons. Meanwhile, Asian visitors made up 8% of visitors at 35,639; while visitors from other Arab countries reached 8,252 persons. There were 1478 European visitors, as well. Visitors from America, Africa and Oceania numbered 636, 244 and 155, respectively.

UAE-based group not hit in Oman The group, founded three decades ago, currently has more than four dozen stores in UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman operations of the UAE-based jewellery-cum-hospital group have not been affected, the group’s officials in Muscat said, refuting reports that had earlier made claims to the contrary. Last week, an English daily in Dubai had reported that the owner of this big jewellery chain in Gulf countries, an Indian businessman, had gone missing and was in default of payments of around OMR55 million, due to 15 banks in Dubai. “Our operations have not been affected. Our Dubai office has

GOLD FACTORS: Last week, an English daily in Dubai had reported that the owner of this big jewellery chain in Gulf countries, an Indian businessman, had gone missing.

conﬁrmed that the chairman will brief the media about the developments,” the officials said while brushing aside the rumours that the group’s hospital in Oman would be sold. “After blindly believing the rumours, clients are calling us to know the truth. We have only one thing to say to them and that is that operations in Oman are going on ﬁne,” the officials added. According to the news report, officials of 15 banks met in Dubai

on Wednesday to discuss growing concerns over the financial health of this jewellery chain that owes an estimated OMR55 million to them and has allegedly defaulted on payments. The news report also added that some banks were planning to lodge a formal complaint of financial fraud with the Central Bank. The group, founded three decades ago, currently has more than four dozen stores in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and has also diversified into health care.

ROP ACTION

Cigarette smuggling attempt foiled; 68 inﬁltrators arrested Times News Service MUSCAT: An attempt to smuggle illegal cigarettes into Oman was foiled by Customs officials at the Wadi Al Jizi border post. Officers found 132 cartons of cigarettes hidden in different parts of the vehicle. The driver was detained. Inﬁltrators arrested “In cooperation with military and

security forces, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) arrested 68 inﬁltrators and deported 65 during last week,” revealed an ROP official. The inﬁltrators were of different nationalities and were arrested in various Wilayats in the Sultanate. Goat thieves nabbed Seven Omani nationals were arrested by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations for

stealing goats in Wilayats Sohar and Khaboura. An official said, “Upon receiving numerous reports from citizens about livestock being stolen in the governorate, the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations formed a search and investigation team to ﬁnd the stolen goats and collect evidence.” “The thieves were eventually identiﬁed and 40 goats were

found in their possession,” added the source. Auto thieves Two Omani citizens were arrested by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations in North Al Batinah Royal Oman Police for grand theft auto of a vehicle in Liwa. An official source said, “The suspects stole a car belonging to a

company after it stopped in front of a representative’s house.” “The suspects confessed that they broke the window in order to get into the vehicle and sold the car in a neighbouring country,” explained the official. Farms raided Buraimi Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the Special Task Force, raided farms in Wilayat

Mahdha and other locations in Wilayat Buraimi which resulted in the arrest of 108 people of Asian origin who were found having violated the labour law and residency law. Furthermore, they arrested 74 inﬁltrators. This operation comes as part of the efforts the ROP to arrest the inﬁltrators, and those violating the labour law and residency law in different parts of the Sultanate.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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CAMELS BATHE IN COOL WATERS OF AL HAJAR VALLEY Camels bathe in the waters of Al Hajar mountain valley in Amala, near Bahla, some 190kms from Muscat. Wadis in the interiors have been ﬁlled with water following the rains in these areas. Picture and video by Times of Oman reader Sainul Abid Maruthayoor in Samail.

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— Times of Oman Reader Sainul Abid Maruthayoor in Samail.

OMAN Haj facilities improved; 14 firms de-listed The number of companies transporting pilgrims from the Sultanate stood at 61, including 54 companies for transporting Omani pilgrims, three for Arab resident pilgrims and four for non-Arab residents HOLY PILGRIMAGE: The Ministry has urged the Haj campaign operators not to overstress drivers, and avoid putting behind wheels men who are exhausted, to avoid accidents during the pilgrimage.

Times News Service

G C C M I L I TA RY PA R T N E R S H I P

RAO Commander receives chief of Peninsula Shield MUSCAT: Major Gen Matar bin Salim Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), received in his office at Mu’askar Al-Murtafa on Sunday Maj Gen Hassan bin Hamza Al Shehri, Commander of the Joint Peninsula Shield Forces. The meeting exchanged viewpoints and discussed matters of common concern that serve march of the GCC military partnership. The meeting was attended by senior RAO command officers and the defence delegation accompanying the military ofﬁcial. -ONA ECOLOGY

Radio active substances safety in focus MUSCAT: A training session on building the capacities of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs on the control of radioactive materials and radiation safety started on Sunday at the Diplomatic Club. The session will last until September 3. The training session comes as a result of coordination between the Civil Nuclear Technology Office at the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs on the one hand and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The training session aims to review, evaluate and update the procedures for licensing and inspection of activities and practices of the circulation of radioactive sources in various applications in the Sultanate. The IAEA has dispatched four experts for this training session to train the participants on the best ways to issue licenses and manage the inspection operations of radio active substances. -ONA

MUSCAT: A total of 11,200 pilgrims, including 10,015 Omani pilgrims, 580 Arab pilgrims and 605 non-Arab pilgrims, will be performing Haj this year, according to Issa bin Yousef Al Busaidi, Head of the Omani Haj Mission for 1436 AH. At a press conference held by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs on Sunday, Al-Busaidi said the number of companies transporting pilgrims from the Sultanate stood at 61, including 54 companies for transporting Omani pilgrims, three for Arab resident pilgrims and four companies for non-Arab resident pilgrims. He pointed out that 13 companies were de-listed last year from the list of those permitted due to violations and one company was excluded for not meeting requirements of Haj missions. Al-Busaidi said the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has developed an e-programme for the pilgrim’s smart card. He afﬁrmed the necessity to obtain the Saudi Haj permit before leaving the Sultanate. In 2012, around 14,000 pilgrims had performed Haj but in 2013 the number came down to around 11,200. The Ministry has already urged the Haj campaign operators not to overstress drivers, and avoid putting behind wheels men who are exhausted, to avoid accidents during the pilgrimage. Safety regulations “We have called on the Haj campaign operators to adhere to road safety regulations,” Shaikh Issa bin Yusuf Al Busaidy, Head of the Omani Haj Delegation, said recently. He also said, “It is a common tendency for drivers to overspeed while leaving Makkah.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Four roundabouts on Batinah road closed for development

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: The ministry has recently completed, as part of its development project for current Al Batinah road the ﬂyover project.

MUSCAT: Four roundabouts on the road to Al Batinah were closed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications for work to develop the pathways and the main road in the Al Maladah, A’Suwaiq, Al Khabourah and Saham. The ministry has recently completed, as part of its development project for current Al Batinah road, the ﬁrst and second

stages of the overflies project on the Al Batinah Road. The first stage included four flyovers in the Wilayat of Barka, in the areas of Asim, Al Haram, Al Numan, and Al Sawadi. The second stage included three flyovers in the areas of Al Bidaya in the Wilayat of A’Suwaiq, Soor Al Shiyadi, and Majaz Al Soughra in the Wilayat of Saham which were all opened

to traffic. Work on the third stage, parts one and two, continues to build tunnels on the Al Batinah Road, and the project includes seven tunnels in Qasbiyat Al Busaid, Deil Al Abdul Salam, Mkheleif, Al Zahiya, Al Numa, Soor Bani Hamad, Saih Al Salahat and Al Farfarah, bringing the total number of completed and under-construction sites to 14 sites on the road.–ONA

We have called on the Haj campaign operators to adhere to road safety regulations. It is a common tendency for drivers to over-speed while leaving Makkah. That is because almost everyone feels very tired and they want to return home Issa bin Yousef Al Busaidi Head of the Omani Haj Mission

That is because almost everyone feels very tired and they want to return home as soon as they can.” A head-on collision between a truck and a bus carrying Omani pilgrims in Al-Ahsa (near Khuraiss) in Saudi Arabia had left nine people dead and 41 others injured. Saudi Arabia sees a road accident every second and 17 people are killed in crashes every day, as revealed by the Saudi Health

Ministry last year. According to Al Busaidy, Haj campaign’s prices have increased by approximately OMR100, compared with last year. The highest price registered has surpassed OMR3,600, while the lowest price is OMR1,800 (ﬂying) and OMR1,200 (driving). He also revealed that the ministry is studying a plan that would possibly reduce Haj costs in the coming years.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

OMAN

Aug 27

was a day of colours and culture as Indian schools in Oman celebrated the Onam festival

Indian schools celebrate Onam festival

COLOURS OF KERALA: Students of Indian schools in Oman learnt lessons on brotherhood, happiness, sacriﬁce and sharing. The festival was also a time of recalling childhood memories for adults. –Supplied photo

Times News Service

Indian School Rustaq, Indian School Darsait and Indian School Rustaq held special functions on the occasion of Kerala’s festival, Onam

MUSCAT: Indian School Rustaq celebrated Onam —the harvest festival of Kerala— in a festive manner in the school premises on Thursday. A special assembly was conducted and the Principal Suja Jacob lit the traditional lamp. The school captain Kousar Ibrahim delivered a speech on the day’s signiﬁcance which was followed by melodious and meaningful songs by the school choir. The teachers and students participated in a short, colorful,

cultural programme which consisted of laying down mesmerising ﬂower carpets called ‘Pookkalam ‘on the school ground. Popular Onam songs were sung and the children welcomed Mahabali in the traditional style with the beats of ‘Panchavadyam’. Girls dressed up in traditional costumes performed ‘Thiruvathirakali’ and ‘Thumbithullal’ which was followed by a stunning performance of ‘Pulikali’ by the boys. The centre of attraction was a boat race by the boys that reminded the Keralites of the snake boat race in Kerala known as ‘Vallamkali’.

STUDY TOUR

ISD’s focus on culture At the Indian School Darsait’s primary section, Grade V and KG II B students conducted a special function to create awareness of the culture and tradition of the South Indian state of Kerala. The students of Grade 5 set the festive mood by improving their skills in the Pookkalam competition. The celebrations began when Principal, Dr Sridevi P. Thashnath, lit the special lamp, followed by the Vice Principal for the primary section, Leena Francis. The main highlights of the day were Onam songs, dances, skits,

Vallamkali, Pulikkali, Vadamvali, Thumbithullal and, for the ﬁrst time, the students performed Onathalle. Jaleel, a teacher from the Malayalam department, recited the real story of Onam and urged the students to bring about the goodness and values associated with King Mahabali that raise any imperfect human being to a higher level. The other attraction was the graceful traditional dance, ‘Kaikottikali’, performed by the teachers. The Principal and Vice Principal praised the performances by the staff and students, as well

as the variety of talent on display each year. Indian School Mabella Students of Indian School Mabella celebrated Onam with gaiety and fervour on Thursday. Various cultural items of Kerala like ‘Pulikali’ (tiger dance), exotic ‘Kaikotikali’ (clap dance) and ‘Vallankali’ (boat dance) were the highlights of the function. The skit on legendary King Mahabali and enthralled the audience. The celebration was highly appreciated by the huge gathering of parents and guests.

IGCSE EXAMS

Pakistan school students clock outstanding results Times News Service

ACADEMIC HORIZONS: GUtech students with their supervisors and DAAD representative Andrea Cornelissen (second row, right).– Supplied photo

GUtech students in Germany to study language, culture Times News Service MUSCAT: A group of 15 Omani and international students of the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) is currently attending a three-week Language and Culture Course at GUtech’s partner-university RWTH Aachen University (Germany). The entire course is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and has been conducted on an annual basis since 2008. The culture and language programme includes a German language and inter-cultural training

course at RWTH’s language centre in the mornings as well as visits to important cultural sights in the city of Aachen, in Cologne and in the neighbouring Dutch city of Maastricht. Meeting professors Moreover, there is a possibility of the students visiting their departments at RWTH Aachen University and meeting with professors and German and international students studying there. The students will also present Oman and their native country during a special International Night, held at RWTH Aachen University where professors and

GUtech alumni currently studying at RWTH Aachen University will also be invited. For the threeweek course, the 15 students were selected according to their academic performance and their overall motivation. The group is accompanied by two supervisors from GUtech. RWTH Aachen University is located in the city of Aachen, in the west of Germany, close to the borders of the Netherlands and Belgium. The RWTH Aachen is one of the leading universities of technology in Europe. More than 42,000 students were studying at the university during the winter semester 2014-2015.

MUSCAT: Setting yet another benchmark, Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) marked the session of Year 2014-2015 of the Cambridge University Examinations-IGCSE with the impressive distinctions of its students. The Cambridge University Examinations were taken by 30 students whose success rate was 100 per cent over all. Students scored 9 A plus and 10 As in physics; 7 A plus and 8 As in mathematics; 5 A plus and 8As in chemistry; 4 A plus and 5As in biology; 3 A plus and 6As in ICT and 3 A plus and 6 As in English. The front-runners of the school results were Aleena Majid and Saad Bin Altaf with 6 GPA securing 1st position. Sarwa Jalees secured 2nd position with the GPA of 5.86 and Muhammad Sohaib ul Haq with 5.60 GPA stood on the 3rd position. The students were congratulated by the school management and staff for their impressive results. They wished the students to fulﬁll their ambitions in their higher education endeavours.

A R T A N D C U LT U R E

Left Bank restaurant to partner with Gailani Art Retreat Times News Service MUSCAT: Left Bank Restaurant and Lounge Oman, and Gailani Art Retreat have formed a strategic partnership that will see the restaurant venue as the new home for the bi-monthly art retreats run by Muscat-based artist Ibrahim Gailani. This partnership goes into effect with the commencement of the new 2015-2016 season of the Gailani Art Retreat, with the ﬁrst one being held on Saturday at the Left Bank Restaurant. Gailani, who has held 30 art retreats and attracted over 500 participants in Muscat, felt that this new venue aesthetically added another ingredient to the art retreats. “Set on top of a hill overlooking the beach of Shatti Qurum, the Qurum National Park on one side and the Royal Opera House on the other, the venue itself becomes an added quotient to the creativity of our participants. It is a unique location, away from the hustlebustle of the city, and follows the essence of a retreat, seclusion, and a get-away to disconnect,” stated Gailani. “The added beneﬁt of this

expression,” elaborated Mulcahy. This move has been a strategic one for Left Bank who wanted to align with an art movement that the retreats have embarked upon. The Left Bank team had initially met Gailani a year back to work on certain art activities, and when the opportunity of partnering with the art retreats presented itself it seemed like the perfect ﬁt. “At Left Bank we pride ourselves on supporting the talents of the aspiring artists from our beautiful cities. We want to create an environment that encourages and promotes self-expression and believe we have all the elements to achieve our vision in pushing our venue towards being the hub for art, culture and inspiration,” stated the Left Bank team.

unique location will allow our participants to enjoy both indoor and outdoor settings as that has been a much requested option by most of our attendees. We are conﬁdent that the outdoor patio and gardens will add ﬂavour to the creative juices of our participants,” elaborated Huma Gailani, manager of the Gailani Art Retreat. Left Bank Restaurant and Lounge will close down its operations to the public and will be exclusively booked for the art retreat participants on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Participants will also enjoy the award winning hospitality of Left Bank and their delicious cuisine. Culinary delights “We aim for this to become a unique experience that merges culinary delights, with an elegant ambience, soulful music and expressive art – a complete package for a successful art retreat,” said Luke Mulcahy, manager of Left Bank Oman. In addition, this new partnership aims to give a platform to emerging and established artists who come to the art retreat. As part of this deal the art created at

ART CONNECT: Left Bank Restaurant and Lounge will be exclusively booked for the art retreat participants on Saturdays. – Supplied photo

the retreats will be exhibited for sale at Left Bank in an ongoing exhibition curated by Gailani. “We have been looking for cultural opportunities to add to the experience of our patrons and

make Left Bank not only a leisure destination but also an artistic one. We are thrilled to convert some key parts of our space into an “Art Lounge” showcasing the artists’ works of talents and self-

Gailani Art Retreat The Gailani Art Retreat is a fullday “artistic escape” retreat that is held once a month and brings together creative souls to paint to global music rhythms. Participants meditate, connect with their inner consciousness, and paint their feelings on canvas, and then share with the entire group. One does not need to be a trained art-

ist for these retreats, just willing to let creativity flow. Photographers, musicians, and writers, in addition to doctors and lawyers, also attend to let the blockages of their world be released through art. It is a full-day retreat where a topic of the day is discussed and explored, with initial meditation, followed by a painting to world music, and then a group discussion. Gailani, attended one art retreat himself and it really transformed both his art and his outlook, and hence decided to start his own retreats. Each retreat has a specific topic, and a customised music designed and arranged specially. These retreats are always held on a weekend and are of an eight hour duration, with five hours of painting, two hours of discussions, and an hour for meal breaks. Gailani, who conducts these retreats, is a self-taught contemporary artist. Gailani lives in Muscat where he operates his art studio. He also manages and markets art-related events and is a guest lecturer and teacher conducting art workshops for art colleges and students at different schools in Muscat.

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OMAN

H I G H E R E D UC AT I O N

Expo to focus on prospects of studying in Sultanate Times News Network MUSCAT: To highlight the surge in the Sultanate’s higher education sector, EduTraC Oman 2015, a three-day event, will take place under the patronage of Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Civil Services and Ministry of Manpower. EduTraC Oman 2015 will feature a pavilion focussed on the prospects of studying in Oman. The expo will be open to visitors from 12-14 October, 2015 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from 10am to 1pm and 4:30pm to 9pm. “Education has been one of the first and most prominent benefits accompanying the development of modern Oman. Significant developments are occurring in higher education arena under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the architect of modern Oman,” according to a press statement issues by the organisers. “The Sultanate has been instrumental in introducing these education reforms since the dawn of modern renaissance - a new era in the development of modern education,” the statement said. This year, the Ministry of Higher Education declared 28,000

scholarships for Omani Students, thus triggering an increase in the number of students pursuing higher studies in Oman’s leading educational institutions,” it added. International support EduTraC Oman 2015 is supported by Education USA, Embassy of the United States of America, Education Malaysia, UK Trade & Investment, British Council, Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), and the Ministry of Education & Culture Cyprus. For the ﬁrst time, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA) will participate as the Associate Partner and Apple Inc as the Education Technology Partner. Said Amur Al-Rahbi,-Director of Qualiﬁcations Equivalence & Recognition Department, Ministry of Higher Education, was quoted as saying, “EduTraC Oman 2015 will feature a focused pavilion for “Study in Oman” offering an opportune platform for the local universities to connect with students and offer information about the college/university’s quality programmes, courses and curriculum. “The Ministry of Higher Education is extremely delighted to support the second edition of

EduTraC Oman and invites all local institutions to participate at the ‘Study in Oman Pavilion’ and strengthen the institution’s presence in Oman’s vibrant higher education market.” Sponsors at EduTraC Oman 2015 are Majan College (University College) as the Diamond Sponsor. College of Banking & Financial Studies, International College of Engineering and Management, Caledonian College of Engineering, Gulf College, National Automotive Higher Institute and IE Business School as the Platinum Sponsors. The Gold Sponsors are University of Dundee, Leeds Beckett University from the United Kingdom, Swiss Education Group & its consortium of hotel management schools from Switzerland, Education Zone, Emirates Aviation University from United Arab Emirates and Hult International Business School from USA. Al Ahlam Higher Education Services - Oman’s leading student placement service provider licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education, will participate as the UK & Irish Counselling partner. “EduTraC Oman 2015 seeks to provide a platform to aspiring students to come and have a face-to-face interaction with the

OPPORTUNE PLATFORM: EduTraC Oman 2015 will feature a focused pavilion for ‘Study in Oman’ offering an opportune platform for the local universities to connect with students and offer information about quality college and university programmes, courses and curriculum. -Supplied photo

university representatives and get answers to all their queries,” said Muktar Mirza, Project Director of EduTraC Oman 2015. “The expo will provide multiple resources to pursue and explore

Students invent device to make kitchens safer The Omani invention

your educational interests. It is an open platform for all students to gauge their prospects, apply directly to the institution of their choice and get ﬁrst-hand information on courses, scholarships

etc, Mirza added. EduTraC Oman is organised by Al Nimr International Exhibition Organizers — Sultanate’s leading organiser in the exhibitions and conferences industry.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Saraya Bandar Jissah supports Qantab school programme

serves as the ﬁrst line

Times News Network

of defence against

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MUSCAT: As part of its commitment to meaningfully contribute and serve the community, Oman’s newest integrated tourism complex, Saraya Bandar Jissah, has set out to make a lasting impact on the Qantab Public School by supporting a professional development programme for its teachers. Presented by the Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education (CCSCE) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the training programme was held from August 17 to 20, on the eve of the new academic school year. A number of topics were discussed during the training programme, which covered learning and teaching-related techniques. The courses were presented by two CCSCE faculty specialists. The programme began with a speech by the school principal, as she welcomed participants and thanked Saraya Bandar Jissah for their ongoing support of the Qantab community. Shareefa Yousef Al Wahaibi, principal of Qantab Public School said, “It has been a pleasure conducting the ﬁrst of its kind initiative at the school. Ongoing training and professional development for teachers ensures they are up to date with contemporary teaching methods. Not only is it critical for teachers to know their materials, they must also be able to help students in order for them to truly succeed. This professional development workshop has provided just that, highlighting the best ways to instruct and motivate students for the best possible outcomes. We are appreciative of Saraya Bandar Jissah’s contributions to our school and must say that our teachers are looking forward to a new year of

ARTICLE, PHOTOS

fire incidents. It sends a warning notification to the user before any blaze may occur. In case of any hazardous leak, the device automatically notifies the Public Authority for Civil Defence

INNOVATION: Consumers can also beneﬁt from the device by protecting themselves from fraud when

replacing a gas cylinder as it detects the volume of gas inside the new cylinder. – Supplied photo

and Ambulance

HASAN ALI SHABAN

MUSCAT: Students of the Higher College of Technology (HCT) have launched a state-of-the-art safety device making working conditions in kitchens safer by controlling cooking gas cylinder wirelessly via a smartphone application. The device facilitates detection of gas leakage. “We named it ‘Shield’ to showcase its ability to protect homes from any possible gas leakage from cylinders that may lead to ﬁre incidents,” said HCT student Al Hussain Al Farei during a ceremony to launch the device at Delmon hotel. ‘Shield’ integrates three features which can be utilised by a smartphone app. It includes an alarm attached to an (open-close) widget that controls the ﬂow of gas. This feature reminds the user to

shut off the valve when not using gas, as it ensures usage of gas for cooking purpose only, thus reducing the dangers of any gas leakage. The Omani invention serves as the first line of defence against fire incidents. It sends a warning notification to the user before any blaze may occur. In case of any hazardous leak, the device automatically notifies the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance. Fraud protection Consumers can also benefit from the device by protecting themselves from fraud when replacing a gas cylinder as it detects the volume of gas inside the new cylinder. This feature helps avoid running out of cooking gas by notifying the user through the app. Impact, the student-run company, is made up of five departments and supervised by Executive Manager Marwa Al Hanai who decided to tackle this issue after a series

of home ﬁre incidents in different parts of the Sultanate. “Scores of properties in Oman have been destroyed due to lack of kitchen safety. I think that it is our responsibility as inventors to introduce a simple and practical solution to the save the society from human and economic losses” said Al Hanai while adding that this technology can reduce chances of ﬁre by 70%. “Our company’s vision is to be a global leader in the industrial security sector to achieve high safety measures in all housing units in the world,” added Al Farei. ImpactInc., well known for its concern about safety, recently organized a workshop on ‘Fire and ways to combat it,’ presented by Badr , a lecturer at the Faculty of Fire and Safety. On August 11, it also cooperated with the Consumer Protection Board to impose its products and reduce fraud.

‘Shield’ integrates three features which can be utilised by a smartphone app. -Supplied photo

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

fun and learning.” Saleh bin Khalifa Al-Hinai, head of continuing education at CCSCE, SQU stressed the importance of the professional development programme. He noted that SQU - represented by CCSCE - is providing several services to different organisations in the educational sector. Prof. Ali bin Huwaishil Al Shuaili, director of Omani Studies Centre (OSC) and a professor at the College of Education, conducted the ﬁrst session, entitled ‘curriculum and capacity building’ and discussed general concepts related to school curriculum concerns, the basics of designing and implementing a curriculum, and its role in building cognitive, mental and behavioural capabilities of learners. He highlighted models of school curricula, mechanisms of teaching and school atmospheres in a number of developed countries. He also shed light on curriculum reform movements in some developed countries, existing international studies on student achievements, and variables associated with students, the school and, in particular, the PIRLS and TIMSS study. On the second and third days, Prof. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, dean of post-graduate studies at SQU, presented the strategies of Active Learning for trainees. On the last day of the training programme, Prof. Ali discussed teachers’ roles in caring for students and encouraging a balanced nutrition during school hours.

MILLENNIUM RESORT MUSSANAH

New attractions lined up for Oman International Dragon Boat Festival Times News Service MUSSANAH: After the highly successful ﬁrst Oman International Dragon Boat Festival held at the Millennium Resort Mussanah in May this year, the resort will officially sponsor and host the second edition from 18-19 September. The event is being organised by Dragon Dynasty and registration is now open to join the men’s, women’s, mixed and corporate categories. The festival will include the famous dragon boat race along with the ﬁrst stand up paddle (SUP)

sprint race, tug of war competition, family carnival, a BBQ party and a fun-packed day for the entire family. “Our resort is not just the perfect getaway for families, but the Sultanate’s leading host of water sport events. After the ﬁrst edition earlier this year, we will once again offer industry-leading hospitality services that complement our unique location on the Al Batinah coastline and its pristine beaches,” said Maurice de Rooij, General Manager of the Millennium Resort Mussanah. “The Festival is open to paddlers

of all levels, local and international, with special rates for participants and spectators, ” Rooij added. Accommodation rates for the Dragon Boat Festival Weekend start from OMR70 net for a single/ double Deluxe Garden View room or OMR76 for a Superior Sea View room on a half board basis. Rates are inclusive of 17 per cent taxes and daily breakfast and dinner. He added, “We have put together a host of packages speciﬁcally designed for the event in order to deliver a spectacular experience for athletes and water sport enthusiasts alike.”

Over the years, Millennium Resort Mussanah has emerged as a premier destination for regional sports events, having been built on the site of the 2nd Asian Beach Games and retaining the worldclass leisure and sporting facilities constructed for the event. Today, its roster of international events includes the FIFA Asian Beach Soccer World Cup Qualiﬁcations in 2011, the 2013 Laser World Championships, and the 2014 edition of EFG Sailing Arabia-The Tour, Oman Bike Week 2015, Oman Bike Week 2015 and the 2015 Tour of Oman.

FUN EVENT: The event is being organised by Dragon Dynasty and registration is now open to join the men’s, women’s, mixed and corporate categories. – Supplied photo

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 The signs are part of the campaign and also I’m focusing on social media Mohammed Salim Al Busaidi Incumbent Shura candidate

OMAN B I TT E R B ATT L E A H E A D

Candidates use social media to reach out to voters

VISIBILITY: Campaign signs are useful as they increase the visibility of candidates, says one of the contestants ﬁghting the Majlis Al Shura polls. – Taleb Al Wahibi

The campaign tactics should make it clear why the voters should support that candidate and be built on the same theme and visual elements, he added. One approach many candidates use is campaign signs and throughout Muscat more and more of these signs are being put up every day. In Wilayat Bausher, for example, candidates including Malik Al Yahmadi, Aziz Al Hosni, and incumbent Mohammed Al Busaidi have had signs up for several weeks. Campaign signs are helpful since they increase the candidates’ visibility and put a face to the campaign, said Arshi. In this day and age, social media is very important for campaigns because many people can be reached. Arshi suggested candidates could create hashtags around their campaign themes and get a lot of traffic that way. Incumbent Mohammed Salim

Al Busaidi told Times of Oman, he is using signs to generate publicity and using a lot of social media, including platforms like Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. “The signs are part of the campaign and also I’m focusing on social media. Social media now is very important and you can pass your information and interests very fast to a big number of people. It’s cost effective. I’ve already started leaving some video clips where I’m talking about my campaign, and we designed some electronic brochures,” he said. Since he is running for re-election, Al Busaidi said he has the experience needed for the position and has visited many parliaments internationally so he understands how the system works. He said people can evaluate his performance and understand what he can do for the country. “I feel the output will be better for me for the second term if I

SALALAH PORT

Training on port security begins SALALAH: In coordination with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the second training session in port security and port facilities began at the Training and Development Centre, Salalah Port on Sunday. Sheikh Said bin Ali bin Niﬁl Al Mashali, Advisor at the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, presided over the opening ceremony of the training session, which will continue until

get re-elected. People know who I am now and what I can do,” said Al Busaidi. Al Busaidi said this campaign is different from the last since there are now municipal councils to help people with local matters in the wilayats. National issues The Majlis Al Shura candidates need to focus on national issues, he said, adding that his areas of focus for the campaign are education, public health, youth, community and the economy. Another candidate in Wilayat Bausher, Issa Said Al Salti, has not yet put up signs, but has been using social media and meeting publicly with voters. He said many people are not interested in voting so by talking to them directly he hopes to change that. “First of all I’m meeting with youth on my age, and meeting with elites to change their negative

points of view and make them realise the importance of their votes in the upcoming Majlis Shura. There are lots of negative views now on Shura and I don’t blame them, so one of my main goals in my strategy is changing this concept, by action and not merely words,” said Al Salti. He said he believes the Majlis Al Shura is a forum for constructive criticism, renovation and modernization of laws which should serve the country and the citizens’ public interests. He said his education and experience would make him a strong member and that he would consider the role it a way to serve Oman. Al Salti said his aim is to run an open and honest campaign in which he doesn’t make promises he can’t keep. He added that he isn’t relying on family ties to secure votes and hopes other candidates won’t either. He said he has been encouraging his relatives to vote

with reason and impartiality, and consider which candidates represent their views rather than considering personal connections. “Becoming a member of Al Shura council is not something that is built based on vanity, but with rightness, principles and solid values. This is an invite to all my fellow candidates to always bear these values and cherish them close to their hearts and act on them accordingly,” he said. Malik Hilal Al Yahmadi is running in Bausher, too, where his campaign signs are dotting the roads. His slogan is “The best amongst people is the best for people.” In addition to his signs, he also has a website and Facebook and Twitter accounts to reach out to voters. He believes he has the qualities needed for a member of the Majlis Al Shura including a Master’s degree in Management, a lot of experience in education development, administration and manage-

ment, trading and economy, and social services. “I believe that every single human is not created for himself only, we are created to work for the community, to help and assist eachother; from my point of view I think that anyone who just thinks that he is created for himself is a selﬁsh person. Moreover, I think I have the competence to represent people in Majlis Al Shura,” he said. Regardless of the tactics used, the most important aspect of the campaigns is that the candidates differentiate themselves from the competition, Arshi said. “Differentiation is the key. How different are you from others and why should you be supported? This should be clear. The candidates are just not people; they have ideologies and philosophies for which they stand,” he said. Al Yahmadi, who is also on the Municipal Council, said he would encourage people to vote for him because Bausher is a central wilayat which deserves high attention and sustainable development since it serves not just its own people but much of the nation, and as such needs a representative with experience. “Through my service at the Municipal Council, I have done my best to serve Bousher people at all towns and villages. The excellent relations with the different communities becomes a source of reliability, trust and pride between me and people. My vision for Bousher is to be the leading and role model wilayat for all other wilayats in Oman in all life aspects,” he said.

Municipality to install fire alarms in Mawaleh

September 10, with the participation of a number of security ofﬁcials and officers of companies, ports and port facilities in Oman. The training session has been organised as part of the plans of the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs in carrying out and enforcing articles and international agreements signed by the Sultanate, such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security and others. -ONA

ADVENTURERS

‘Seek help from A1 licensed guides’ < FROM

“Adventure tourists should seek help from a licensed tour guide who is an expert in the ﬁeld before starting a trip, rather than just googling and hiring inexperienced guides. The Ministry of Tourism has clearly posted all marked trekking sites in Oman on their websites. Tourists should follow those, rather than risking their lives,” said Sajad Ahmed, a registered tour guide for nine years at Universal Travels and Tours in Oman. “The ministry even provides training for tour guides who want to lead adventure tourists,” Sajad added. The three recognised trekking paths in Oman, according to the ministry, are paths to the southern summit of Jabal Shams

from ‘The Plateau’, a path to Mutrah or Riyam and a path to the western Hajar Mountains. Trekking season In Oman, the official trekking season runs from September to May, but the best time for hiking is between October and April. Despite the rough terrain, hiking remains the best way to enjoy the Sultanate’s striking mountainous sites. SAFETY MEASURES: Hundreds of tonnes of fruits and vegetables are sold at Mawaleh Central Market every day. – Jun Estrada

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Muscat Municipality is planning to set up fire alarms and fire fighting systems in the cold stores at the Al Mawaleh Central Market for the safety of traders and shoppers

Times News Services MUSCAT: In a bid to safeguard shoppers and traders, Muscat Municipality is setting up fire alarms and fire fighting systems in the cold stores at Al Mawaleh Central Market. As a first step, the Municipality has called for a consultancy to set up the services in a tender issued (PRE/15/141) on August 30, 2015. “The last date of buying the ten-

der document is September 17, 2015, while the last date for submitting tender is September 27, 2015,” according to a notiﬁcation issued by Muscat Municipality. The tender fee is ﬁxed at OMR25. “This will be a very good move, as it will safeguard shoppers, as well as businessmen, from any type of danger,” said Abu, a trader at Mawaleh Central Market. Hundreds of tonnes of fruits and vegetables are sold at Mawaleh Central Market every day. Home-grown Omani products, as well as imported products such as watermelon, sweet melon, oranges, bananas, papayas, man-

goes, coconuts, carrots, cucumber and honey, are much in demand. According to traders, shopkeepers from throughout Oman come to shop at Al Mawaleh Central Market, along with local residents. In fact, Muscat Municipality was planning to shift the wholesale fruit and vegetable market from Mawaleh to Barka to reduce congestion at the existing market. Plans called for the Mawaleh market to be redesigned into a retail site, the Municipality had announced. “But with new fire alarm and fire fighting systems in place, I

don’t know what happened to that plan,” traders said. The present market cannot be expanded further, as it is already overcrowded. “The market has seen a many-fold rise in services over the years. It was felt that the wholesale segment needs to be separated from the retail section to make shopping an enjoyable experience for buyers,” they said. Initially, it was decided that once the wholesale segment is shifted to Barka, the existing area in Mawaleh will become a retail market selling all Omani produce. “The redesigned Mawaleh market will have shaded displays and sales areas for Omani and imported products,” the traders said, while the new wholesale market in Barka will be spread over 100,000sq m. Meanwhile, to ensure adequate availability of food items and prevent a rise in prices, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has initiated several procedures at the Mawaleh Central Market. PACP teams ensure that importers and distributors of food items, particularly fruits, vegetables, poultry, ﬁsh, meat and milk, abide by established rules in the market.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

REGION A R A M C O O I L FA C I L I T Y

11 dead, 200 injured in Saudi fire RIYADH: At least 11 people were killed and 219 injured in Saudi Arabia Sunday when a fire broke out at a residential complex housing employees of oil giant Saudi Aramco, authorities said. The fire started in the basement of a tower in the eastern city of Khobar, the kingdom’s civil defence said on Twitter. It added that several of the injured were in a “critical condition” and that the casualties were from “various nationalities,” without giving details. Photographs published on the civil defence website showed plumes of black smoke rising from the windows of one of the buildings. Authorities said that residents of nearby towers were evacuated as helicopters took part in the firefighting operations. Footage posted online showed helicopters hovering over the site of the blaze. Other images showed firefighters using ladders to access the building. Firefighting teams “are combing all towers to ensure there are no people” trapped inside, said the civil defence. “The incident is currently under control and cooling operations are ongoing,” it said in another tweet later in the afternoon. Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company in terms of crude production and exports, released a statement confirming the fire at the residential complex, adding that the incident was being investigated. — AFP

36 civilians killed in Saudi-led coalition air strikes in Yemen Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri denied the strike had hit a civilian target, saying it was a location used by the Houthis to make improvised explosive devices and to train African migrants whom they had forced to ﬁghts CONFLICT: People stand at the site of a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday. — Reuters

SANAA: An air strike by warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition, which said it targeted a bombmaking factory, killed 36 civilians working at a bottling plant in the northern Yemeni province of Hajjah on Sunday, residents said. In another air raid on the capital Sanaa, residents said four civilians were killed when a bomb hit their house near a military base in the south of the city. Launched in March The attacks were the latest in an air campaign launched in March by an alliance made up mainly of

Gulf states in support of the exiled government in its ﬁght against Houthi forces. “The process of recovering the bodies is ﬁnished now. The corpses of 36 workers, many of them burnt or in pieces, were pulled out after an air strike hit the plant this morning,” resident Issa Ahmed told Reuters by phone from the site in Hajjah. Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri denied the strike had hit a civilian target, saying it was a location used by the Houthis to make improvised

explosive devices and to train African migrants whom they had forced to take up arms. “We got very accurate information about this position and attacked it. It is not a bottling factory,” he said. He accused the Houthis of using African migrants, stuck in Yemen after arriving by sea before the war in the hope of crossing the Saudi border and ﬁnding work in the oil producer, as cannon fodder in dangerous border operations. Human rights group Amnesty International said in a report this

R A R E L O N G - D I S TA N C E V I S I T

Bashir to visit China to attend parade KHARTOUM: Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is to make a rare long-distance visit to China, the foreign ministry said Sunday, despite an International Criminal Court indictment for alleged war crimes in Darfur. Bashir is to attend September 3 celebrations marking Japan’s defeat in World War II and meet his Chinese counterpart, a foreign ministry spokesman said. “President Bashir will travel to China tomorrow (Monday) on a visit lasting four days,” Ali Al Sadeq told reporters. The International Criminal Court indicted Bashir over war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2009 and genocide charges in 2010, all relating to the Darfur conﬂict.

Omar Al Bashir

He has since regularly travelled to Sudan’s neighbours but rarely makes long-distance visits. He last travelled to China in 2011. China is not a signatory to the ICC but is a permanent mem-

The International Criminal Court indicted Bashir over war crimes and crimes against humanity in 2009 and genocide charges in 2010, all relating to the Darfur conflict ber of the UN Security Council, which referred the Darfur case to the court. A South African court ordered authorities to stop Bashir from leaving the country when he at-

HISTORIC MOMENT

Saudi women allowed to run in local elections JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia allowed women to register to stand in local elections on Sunday. It came after women started to register as voters for the December local elections at centres run by all-female staff, separate from registration facilities for Saudi males. Saudi blogger Eman Al Nafjan, who has registered as a voter in Riyadh, told AFP that taking part in the elections is “a positive step”. The late king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2011 granted women the right to vote and to stand as candidates in this year’s local elections. Saudi newspaper Al Hayat reported this month that around 200 women had expressed an interest in standing as candidates in the December 12 vote. Candidate registration is to run until September 17, while voter registration ends on September 14. Out of 1,263 polling stations in 284 municipalities across the country, 424 have been reserved for women voters. “I am very excited to take part in this new experience,” said Amal Mohammed, 35, as she registered to vote in the port city of Jeddah. Abdullah introduced municipal elections to Saudi Arabia in 2005 when he was crown prince. This year, two-thirds of municipal council members will be

Saudi newspaper ‘Al Hayat’ reported this month that around 200 women had expressed an interest in standing as candidates in the December 12 vote. Candidate registration is to run until September 17, while voter registration ends on September 14

elected and the rest appointed by the authorities. In the last all-male vote in 2011, half of the members were elected. As he registered at an office in Jeddah, 35-year-old Fawaz Abdullah said his wife would “of

course” take part in the vote. “A woman’s vote is essential and her role must not be marginalised,” he said. In February 2013, Abdullah also for the ﬁrst time named women to the country’s Shura Council. — AFP

tended an African Union summit in Johannesburg in June, but he was allowed to fly out. The government said Bashir had immunity from arrest because he was attending an AU summit. The Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 when ethnic insurgents mounted a campaign against the Khartoum government, complaining of marginalisation. It has left 300,000 dead and some 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures. — AFP

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month that the coalition bombing campaign had left a “bloody trail of civilian death” which could amount to war crimes. Air strikes killed 65 people in the frontline city of Taiz last Friday, most of them civilians, and the bombing of a milk factory in Western Yemen in July killed 65 people including 10 children. More than 4,300 people have been killed in ﬁve months of war in Yemen while disease and suffering in the already impoverished country have spread. Militias and army units loyal

to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, currently taking refuge in Saudi Arabia, have made signiﬁcant advances toward the Houthicontrolled capital in the last two months but the group remains ensconced in Yemen’s north and casualties mount in nationwide combat every day. Also on Sunday, a bomb exploded near the vacated US Embassy in Sanaa and unknown gunmen shot and killed a senior security official in the southern port city of Aden. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula the deadliest branch of the global militant organisation - has been attacking the Yemeni state and plotting against Western targets for years. A powerful bomb detonated in front of a gate on the wall surrounding the embassy around midnight on Sunday but claimed no casualties, residents and officials said. The United States and other Western countries closed their missions in Yemen in February as the political feud between the Houthis and the Hadi government led to war. The Houthi-run state news agency Saba quoted a security official calling it a “terrorist and criminal act”. In Aden, the local director of security, Colonel Abdul Hakim Snaidi, was shot dead outside his home by gunmen in a passing car, a security official said. His death is the ﬁrst such killing of a senior security official since the city was recaptured by pro-Hadi militiamen in July. — Reuters

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 We hope the initiative should now rest with the state governments. We expect some of the progressive states would come forward with their own laws, since land is a state subject D. S. Rawat, Assocham secretary general

INDIA

T H R E AT O F T E R R O R I S M

RAIN HITS NORMAL LIFE IN ASSAM A woman crosses a ﬂooded area over a raft made of banana tree trunks at Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur district of Assam on Sunday. Incessant rains for the last three days led to severe water logging in all the 22 municipal wards of the tea city of Dibrugarh on Sunday which affected 50,000 people, prompting the district administration to order closure of all educational institutions on Monday. - PTI

India pitches for anti-terror treaty NEW DELHI: Asserting that no country could be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with emergence of IS, India on Sunday made a strong pitch for finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN during a meeting with the Presidentelect of the global body. UN reforms During her talks with Presidentelect of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, who is here on a two-day visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stressed on the need for UN Security Council reforms on the occasion of 70th anniversary to reflect current geopolitical realities and increasing role of developing nations. The Indian sides also strongly pitched for early finalisation of the CCIT, a treaty proposed by India in 1996 to ban terrorists and make it binding for countries to deny funds and safe haven to them. “No country can be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with the emergence of IS.

G I R L S T U C K I N PA K I S TA N

Indian social worker seeks Geeta’s custody KARACHI: An Indian social worker has ﬁled a petition in a court here to seek the custody of Geeta, a deaf and mute Indian girl stuck in Pakistan for more than a decade. The petition was ﬁled by Momineen Malik with the district and sessions court (south) which summoned Abdul Sattar Edhi, the chairman of Edhi Foundation — a charity which is taking care of her, others as respondents in the application. Court judge Ahmed Saba issued notices to the respondents with direction to appear in court along with Geeta on Monday. Malik is the petitioner in the case and will be represented by a local lawyer. Geeta, 23, is believed to have mistakenly crossed into Pakistani territory as a child. Malik, who is also a lawyer, has moved an application under Section 552 (power to compel restoration of abducted females) of the criminal procedure code and asked the court for the custody of the woman in order to hand her over to her parents in India who are yet to be located in India despite the Indian government efforts. Section 552 states that if a complaint is made to a sessions judge on oath about the abduction or unlawful detention of a woman, or of a female child under the age of 16 years, for any unlawful purpose, he may order the woman or girl to take a decision out of her own free will to be reunited with her husband, parent, guardian or other person having the lawful charge of such child, and may compel compliance with such order, using such force as may be necessary. Geeta was found sitting alone and disorientated on Samjhauta Express in Lahore and police believed that she had come from India after crossing the Wagah border through the train. She was later shifted to the Edhi home in Karachi after the authorities failed to locate her family and relatives as she can’t speak or hear. Geeta’s story came into the limelight after Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan mirrored a similar story about a Pakistani girl lost in India and brought back to Pakistan by Khan. - PTI

It is important that there should be a collective effort to deal with this menace,” Swaraj conveyed to the UN President-elect, while referring to the terror organisation IS. In this regard, she also conveyed India’s expectations to achieve concrete forward movement under his presidency on the ﬁnalisation of the CCIT. Lykketoft was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly as the President of the 70th Session on June 15 and is scheduled to assume his new responsibilities with the commencement of the Session from September 15. Earlier, Lykketoft was the Speaker of the Danish Parliament and has served as Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark. “The minister had productive and good discussions with the visiting dignitary. It is also signiﬁcant given that he will be playing a pivotal role as we discuss key issues during the 70th session of the UN,” the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said. - PTI

Won’t renew ordinance on land acquisition, says Modi that I am ready to accept any suggestion for the beneﬁt of farmers.”

The government had issued the Ordinance

We had promulgated an Ordinance on Land Acquisition Bill which will expire tomorrow. I have decided that it should be allowed to expire. It means restoration of the situation that prevailed before my government took over

thrice so far, as the Land Bill could not be passed in Parliament due to stiff resistance from most of the opposition parties

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

as well as some ruling NDA allies

NEW DELHI: Faced with stiff resistance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the government will not re-promulgate the controversial Ordinance on Land Acquisition which expires on Monday and declared readiness to incorporate any suggestion in the bill on it which is pending in Rajya Sabha to beneﬁt the farmers. Apparently referring to the political opponents, he said lot of doubts have been created over the land bill and fear instilled among farmers even though states had suggested amendments to the Act of 2013 for the beneﬁt of villages and villagers. “We had promulgated an Ordinance on Land Acquisition Bill which will expire tomorrow. I have decided that it should be allowed to expire. It means restoration of the situation that prevailed before my government took over,” the Prime Minister said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Stiff resistance The government had issued the Ordinance thrice so far, as the Land bill could not be passed in Parliament due to stiff resistance by most of the opposition parties as well as some ruling NDA allies.

‘Land acquisition ordinance lapse setback to reforms’ NEW DELHI: Government’s decision to allow the Land Acquisition Ordinance to lapse and return to the previous Act is a “setback to economic reforms”, industry body the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (Assocham) on Sunday said. Assocham said this would also make acquisition of land for crucial industrialisation a “herculean task”. “We hope the initiative should now rest with the state governments. We expect some of the progressive states would come forward with their own

The bill, which seeks to amend the Act of 2013, is currently being scrutinised by a Joint Committee of Parliament, to which it was referred by Rajya Sabha during Budget Session in the wake of strong opposition by several parties. Modi’s announcement makes it clear that the government will try to use the legislative route to enact the law, instead of the executive mechanism.

laws, since land is a state subject,” Assocham Secretary General D. S. Rawat said. If, accompanied with labour reforms, land reforms should help these states attract greater industrial investment, he added. Attract investment Giving up the ordinance route, government had issued an order to include 13 central Acts like National Highway and Railways Acts to extend beneﬁts to those whose land is acquired under land law. The order issued by the gov-

Highly-placed sources later explained that the decision of not repromulgating the Ordinance was taken against the backdrop of the recommendation of NITI Aayog that enacting law on land acquisition should be left to states, since the subject is on the Concurrent List of the Constitution. The sources pointed out to PTI that the bill on land acquisition was still alive in Rajya Sabha and

ernment under the removal of difficulties clause (Section 113) in the Land Act now extends the provisions relating to the determination of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to all cases of land acquisition under 13 central acts which were left out in the 2013 law. By using the clause, government has done away with the need to issue the controversial land ordinance for fourth time. The ordinance will lapse on August 31, six weeks after the commencement of the Monsoon Session on July 21. - PTI

the government is awaiting the report of the Joint Committee of Parliament on it. Controversy Insisting that the voice of farmers matters the most to him, the Prime Minister said, “the government has an open mind on Land Acquisition Bill, about which there is a lot of controversy. I have said it again and again

Fear instilled on farmers The prime minister, during his 20-minute address, maintained that the suggestions to “improve” upon the Land Act of 2013 had come from states which wanted the law to be freed from the “clutches of bureaucracy” and ensure development of villages and welfare of farmers by providing irrigation canals, electric poles for electricity, roads, houses and help poor villagers get work. However, after the government brought the Land bill, “a lot of misapprehensions were created, so much fear was instilled among the farmers. The farmers should neither have doubts nor any fear and I will not give any such opportunity to anybody....Now there is no cause for any doubt and if anybody tries to create fear, you should not be scared,” he said. Modi referred to the government’s decision few days back to notify rules on 13 aspects of land acquisition for the relief of farmers. “The matter got complicated because of the controversies,” he said, adding that since the Ordinance is being allowed to expire, the government notified rules for these 13 aspects which will come into effect from Sunday to address this “incomplete work”. “We are doing this so that the farmers do not stand to lose, including financially,” he said. “I want to assure the farmers that for us, ‘jai jawan, jai kisan’ is not just a slogan but our ‘mantra’. That is why I announced creation of a ministry for farmers’ welfare during my Independence Day address,” he said. Sources said these 13 points were not new but formed part of the 2013 Act. Meant for “removal of difficulty” in land acquisition for certain government works, these could have lapsed along with the Ordinance if not notified, they explained. With the notification of rules, farmers will get compensation for land acquired as per the existing Act of 2013, the sources said. - PTI

ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Medical student commits suicide in hostel NEW DELHI: A 17-year-old MBBS student allegedly committed suicide early Sunday by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her hostel room in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, police said. Police said they were called after Khushboo Chaudhary’s hostel inmates spotted her hanging in her room from the room’s window around 2.50 am. and approached hostel security. “The room was locked from

inside. We broke open the door and found Khushboo hanging. The body has been sent for a postmortem,” a police official said. A resident of Bikaner in Rajasthan, Khushboo took admission in MBBS ﬁrst year on July 10. Meanwhile, AIIMS authorities informed the student’s family about her death. AIIMS also conducted an internal inquiry to ﬁnd out the exact cause for her action. “A preliminary inquiry by AIIMS ruled out ragging or any

adjustment difficulties as a possible cause for her alleged suicide as she had been a student at the AIIMS for six weeks only,” AIIMS spokesperson Dr Amit Gupta said in an official statement. Police seized Khushboo’s mobile phone to look for clues. No suicide note was found in her room. According to Khushboo’s friends, she was a cheerful girl and spent Saturday evening with most of her friends, shopping and going out. - IANS

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INDIA

‘Secular’ alliance slams Modi for insulting Bihar In hard-hitting speeches, the leaders raised the issue of Bihari pride and said that people would give a beﬁtting reply to Modi as he had ‘denigrated the legacy of the state’ with his DNA remark RARE BONHOMIE: Congress president Sonia Gandhi with Bihar Chief Minister and senior JD(U) Leader Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav during the Swabhiman rally at Gandhi Maidan, in Patna on Sunday. - PTI

PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday came under scathing attack from Grand Secular Alliance in poll-bound Bihar with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress President Sonia Gandhi accusing him of “insulting” the state and failing to deliver on any of his promises. In hard-hitting speeches, the leaders raised the issue of Bihari pride and said the people would give a beﬁtting reply to Modi as he had “denigrated the legacy of the state” with his DNA remark. Sonia alleged Modi government has done nothing other than “show-baazi” despite completing one-fourth of its time. Kumar said Modi had remembered Bihar only now after 14 months as elections are due in the state. The three leaders, who shared the dais at (Swabhiman) (Honour) rally here in a show of unity, also praised each other, forgetting their past rancour. “Some people take pleasure in mocking Bihar. Whenever they get opportunity they comment about its DNA and culture. They also call it

Bimaru,” Sonia said, targeting Modi. Demanding that Modi take back his DNA remark, Kumar said, “This is the place from where Gautam Buddha, Mahavir and Aryabhatta came... My DNA is the same DNA.” “Today when ‘Swambhiman rally’ is being organised in Patna, the prime minister was forced to bend and retreat his steps on land acquisition Bill,” he said. Speaking at a rally earlier, Modi had said, “There seems to be some problem with his (Kumar’s) DNA because the DNA of democracy is not like that. In democracy you respect even your political rivals.” DNA barb A ‘Shabdwapsi’ campaign was launched by Kumar in a bid to capitalise on the DNA barb against him. Countering Modi’s comment that the JD(U)-RJD alliance would bring ‘Jungle Raaj-2’, Prasad on Sunday termed the JD(U)RJD-Cong-SP coalition as ‘Mangal Raaj Part-2’. The RJD chief said the BJP wants to “create tension between

Hindu-Muslim. I know their design. Modi called us “Jungle-Raaj Part-2 but this is Mangal Raaj Part-2,” he said. Kumar said, “No jungle raj is coming, its only that poor and the deprived have awakened to their rights which BJP is calling jungle raj.” Describing Narendra Modi government as ‘anti-farmer and anti-youth’ at the rally’ here, Sonia said that in 14 months tenure of its term which is one-fourth of the total duration of ﬁve years, the Union government has virtually acted “opposite to what it had promised during election.” “You had promised to provide one crore jobs to youth every year... forget about new jobs you have put a stop on the existing ones,” the Congress president said. About farmers, she said Narendra Modi had promised to enhance Minimum Support Price (MSP) by one-and-a-half times “but acted just opposite to it and is trying to snatch land from farmers to distribute them among a few rich friends.”

SHEENA BORA MURDER CASE

Indrani, Khanna blame each other during interrogation MUMBAI: Indrani Mukherjea’s former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai were on Sunday taken to Raigad district to ‘recreate’ the crime scene in the Sheena Bora murber case by Mumbai Police as investigators sought to gather evidence. Accused Sanjeev Khanna was brought to Khar police station and later taken to the forest in Pen tehsil, along with the driver, police said. In a new twist to murder saga, Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna have blamed each other for the crime during police interrogation. Indrani, her driver Shyam Rai and Khanna were interrogated at Khar Police Station on Saturday. During the course of the grilling, they blamed each other for the crime, a police official said. Police said Khanna and Indrani were giving evasive replies during interrogation. Indrani’s son and Sheena’s brother Mikhail Bora was also questioned at a hotel in Bandra on Saturday. Police are also probing Mikhail’s claim that just hours before Indrani and Sanjeev met Sheena on April 24, 2012 and took her for what would be the last drive of her life, Indrani had also allegedly drugged him. By the time they came back, the suspicious, groggy Mikhail had ﬂed. Car traced Meanwhile, the car in which Sheena Bora was allegedly killed was on Saturday traced, while questions cropped up about a cover-up by police in not registering a case of murder or accidental death three years back when a partially-burnt body, believed to be hers, was found. “We have traced the car. The car had changed many hands in three years and we are yet to recover it,” said a senior police official. The police also sought call data records of the three accused. As the investigation focused on forensic examination of the skeletal remains found in Pen tehsil

QUESTIONING: Sanjeev Khanna at Khar Police Station in Mumbai on Saturday in connection with Sheena Bora murder case. - PTI

of Raigad, the police also admitted that no due procedure was followed when the body was ﬁrst found on May 23, 2012. Raigad police virtually confessed to the casual way in which they treated the case when a burnt body was spotted, a month after Sheena was believed to have been murdered. “Neither a crime, nor a report of accidental death was registered when Raigad police sent recovered skeletal remains to JJ hospital (in Mumbai) in 2012,” Raigad’s current Superintendent of Police Suvez Haque told reporters in Alibaug, the district headquarters. “I have been ordered to probe all the wrongs or lapses that were committed,” said Haque. “We have given a factual report to our seniors. Inspector General of Police (Konkan Range) yesterday ordered an inquiry. We will complete it at the earliest and produce our report,” he said. As the Raigad SP’s disclosure raised question whether there was any cover-up of the crime back in 2012, Maharashtra DGP Sanjeev Dayal said an inquiry has been ordered, and action will be taken against the erring officials. Though Sheena was allegedly murdered in 2012 and the body disposed of in Raigad district, the crime came to light only recently. The remains found from the forest in Pen tehsil have been sent for DNA testing.

The JJ Hospital had on Friday handed over to Khar police a few bones it had received from Raigad police in 2012. The blood and hair samples of Indrani and Mikhail Bora have also been collected and sent to Forensic Science Laboratory and the report is expected in three to four days. Confessed According to Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, who is personally involved in the grilling of the accused, Khanna had confessed to his complicity in the murder. On Friday, the police also briefly questioned Indrani’s husband Peter Mukherjea. While seeking Khanna’s custody, police had contended in the remand plea that Indrani, her driver and Khanna abducted Sheena in a car and took her to a forest in Pen tehsil where they strangulated her and burnt the body. Indrani used to claim that Sheena was her sister, but during her interrogation it emerged that Sheena was her daughter, as also stated by Sheena’s brother Mikhail. Police had earlier questioned Rahul Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea’s son from another marriage, who allegedly had a relationship with Sheena which Indrani disapproved of. The investigators are also looking into ﬁnancial issues as the motive behind the murder which took place on April 24, 2012. -PTI

The leaders asked the people of Bihar not to fall in his “trap” again and made a appeal to the people to ensure the defeat of BJP-led NDA in the state Assembly elections. The Congress President hailed Nitish Kumar and also Lalu Prasad for taking Bihar forward on the path of development for which, she said, her party had “contributed signiﬁcantly”. Kumar displayed bonhomie with “Bade Bhai” (Lalu Prasad) and strongly rubbished BJP accusation of a return of “jungle raj” due to RJD entry. Speaking of ‘Mandal Raj-II’, the RJD chief said, “I and Nitish Kumar are two sons of backward castes. After Lalu it is Nitish.” Prasad also told Kumar that he need not worry about elections as all the four parties together would ensure victory of the secular forces in the Bihar electoral battle. Shivpal Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party and Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad were among the leaders of the alliance present at the rally. - PTI

O T H E R B A C K WA R D C A S T E R E S E RVAT I O N

Patel quota stir to be expanded to other states, warns Hardik NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: The agitation for quotas for Patels in government jobs and educational institutions will be expanded to other states and include castes like Kurmis and Gujjars, Hardik Patel, who led the stir that plunged Gujarat into violence said on Sunday. “Whatever has happened in Gujarat, we want to take it to the national level and there are (people of ) around 12 states who are connected to us,” 22-year-old Patel, leader of the upper caste Patidar community, which wants to muscle its way to the quota list, told journalists in Delhi. Patel, who met some leaders of the Kurmi, Koeri and Gujjar communities among others with whom he said the Patidars of Gujarat had kinship, said the agitation for reservation was “a marathon and not a 100-metre race”, which had to be run over 1-2 years. Kurmis and Koeris, about whom Patel talked, already ﬁgure in reservation list in key Hindi heartland states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which also has Gujjars in that category. The ﬁrebrand young Patel leader of Gujarat, whose photographs brandishing a gun had been published in some national dailies a few days ago, had led a massive rally of his castemen in Ahmedabad on August 25 to seek quotas for them. His detention was followed by widespread violence which claimed 10 lives, including that of a police constable, forcing the rare deployment of the army to bring the situation under control. Wherever the Patel community needs me, I will go. “During this time, if we feel there is the need to show the muscle power of the community, we will do. Whenever required, they (these communities) will block the highways,” Patel told

Hardik Patel

a news conference at the Delhi Press Club. “We intend to organise a mega rally in Lucknow, at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.... we will give a call to the Patels of India (to join the movement),” he said. Patel favoured reservation for the poor belonging to all communities as he denounced castebased quotas. Blueprint on reservation “The country has gone back 60 years because of reservations and this has hindered its prospects of becoming a super power. Those who score good marks but are still unable to get admission require reservation. “The day there is a proper blueprint on reservation, we can strengthen our country and take it to a new level,” he said. Hardik Patel also lashed out at the Gujarat Police for its action during the agitation and said he will be holding a mega-rally in Madhya Pradesh on Monday against it. Noting that while there was too much talk of the Gujarat model, no such thing existed in the state where, Patel claimed, 8,900 farmers, all Patels, had committed suicide. “The Constitution should change for all of us. If reservation is given amicably, we will accept it otherwise we know how to snatch it,” he said. - PTI

A 10

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

PAKISTAN GROWING ‘HARASSMENT’

Pakistani diplomats conﬁned to Kabul embassy compound ISLAMABAD: Pakistani diplomats in Kabul have abandoned their residences and have been living in the embassy compound for past one week in the wake of growing incidents of ‘harassment’ on the streets of the Afghan capital, sources revealed on Sunday. Dozens of staff members at the Pakistani embassy in Kabul have joined the ambassador and other diplomats to live in the compound, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune. “The embassy has shared all incidents with the Afghan officials that also include an attempt of kidnapping of a Pakistani embassy’s official,” the source added. Although Afghan government officials have assured maximum security to the Pakistani mission and the staffers; however, the diplomats are not ready to leave the embassy premises until they witness a substantial improvement in the city’s situation, The Express Tribune has learnt. Despite verbal assurances, Afghan officials are yet to visit the Pakistani embassy to apprise the diplomats of the security measures being taken by the Afghan government. “The situation for the Pakistani diplomats in Kabul is now like ‘hostages’ as they have not left the embassy compound for a week over serious security threats,” the source further said. Hostile statements Pakistani officials were forced to move to the embassy following hostile statements issued by top Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Vice President General Rashid Dostam, and the Afghan spy agency, NDS, as they directly blamed Pakistan for a series of recent blasts in the Afghan capi-

UNDER REPAIR A labourer walks on scaffoldings erected on the Merewether Tower, which was built in the British Raj era, while working a maintenance project in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday. — Reuters

RENEWED TENSIONS: A displaced Pakistani child plays outside his tent at a refugee camp in Khost province July 2, 2014. Thousands of refugees ﬂeeing an offensive by Pakistan’s army have poured across the lawless border into ramshackle camps on rugged hills in Afghanistan. — Reuters

tal and other cities this month. Pakistan condemned the attacks and rejected the allegations levelled by the Afghan government as ‘baseless’. Pakistani diplomats, along with other staff members, shifted to the embassy compound when “unidentiﬁed people in cars started chasing Pakistani embassy’s vehicles” during their movement between the embassy and their residences, a source said. “We are not moving back to residences as we do not see any change in the hostile environment.” Meanwhile, some officials believe that Afghan security officials could be behind what they call an ‘organised’ campaign of harassment of everyone in the Pakistani embassy’s vehicles on the streets of Kabul. According to official sources, Pakistan has less than 20 diplomats in its embassy in Kabul and its four consulates in Afghanistan while Afghanistan has nearly 55 diplomats in Islamabad and its

consulates in Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta. Earlier this week, Pakistani diplomats and staffers were forced to restrict their movement following the kidnapping bid of an embassy official and growing incidents of harassment; however, they have now limited themselves to the embassy’s compound to avoid any untoward incident. Due to heightened security concerns, the Pakistani embassy also postponed a test for Afghan students seeking Pakistani scholarships last week. The embassy had expressed its inability to arrange security measures for the students who were supposed to appear for the compulsory English language test. — Express Tribune

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Obama invites Sharif to visit US US National Security Adviser Susan Rice is on a visit to Islamabad, which comes amid uncertainty over whether the United States will release

Nawaz Sharif

Dr Susan Rice expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the efforts to root out terrorism and extremism and the success achieved so far. Rice underscored the importance of strong PakistanUS relations. She noted the positive direction of ongoing cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of defence, economy and energy sectors, said a statement by the Prime Minister’s House

Susan Rice

$300 million in military aid

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: President Barack Obama has invited Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit the White House in October, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a tweet on Sunday. Rice travelled to Pakistan to meet with senior officials to “advance our mutual interests and address areas of concern, particu-

larly terrorist and militant attacks emanating from Pakistani soil,” a senior US official said on Saturday. “Conveyed @POTUS invitation to PM Sharif to visit the @ WhiteHouse in October to continue discussions” said the tweet at m.twitter.com/AmbassadorRice.I: Meanwehile, in the Pakistan capital, Rice met Nawaz to press concerns over attacks launched by militants based in Pakistan, ofﬁcials said.

B A L O C H I S TA N

The visit to Islamabad, part of an Asian tour that included an earlier stop in China, comes amid uncertainty over whether the United States will release $300 million in military aid to Pakistan. Haqqani network Media reports suggested the money could be held back if the United States determines Pakistan was not doing enough to combat the Haqqani network,

which has launched some of the deadliest attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan. “Dr Rice expressed deep appreciation for the sacriﬁces made by Pakistan in the efforts to root out terrorism and extremism and the success achieved so far,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s House said. “Rice underscored the importance of strong Pakistan-US relations. She noted the positive

direction of ongoing cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of defence, economy and energy sectors.” The premier said the United States was an important partner of Pakistan in all areas especially economy, defence and counterterrorism. “Pakistan sees its relations with the US as a partnership which is in the interest of the two countries, the region and the world.”

Nawaz said he was looking forward to his visit to the US in October this year as an opportunity to further strengthen ties between the two countries. Rice was accompanied by US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson and Senior Director for South Asian Affairs at the US National Security Council Dr Peter Lavoy. Earlier, Rice met on Sartaj Aziz, Prime Minister’s adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, a Foreign Office statement said. “Wide-ranging discussions were held on the regional situation especially in the wake of emerging security environment in Afghanistan and current stalemate in Pakistan-India dialogue process,” the statement said. She also called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to a military statement, matters of mutual interest including regional security situation were discussed in the meeting. Rice acknowledged Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts and sacriﬁces in the war on terror, the statement added. — Agencies

CRACKDOWN

Two killed as gunmen Detained PPP leader Asim’s aide arrested attack Jiwani airport Four officials – three in uniform and one in civilian clothes QUETTA: Gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked Jiwani airport near Balochistan’s Gwadar district, killing two, ofﬁcials said. Up to a dozen attackers torched navigation equipment at Jiwani airport in Gwadar district before entering the building, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. “The attackers entered the building and killed a superintendent and injured a supervisor critically,” spokesperson Pervez George told AFP. “Around 12 armed men on six motorcycles attacked the airport at around 4:30am killing a CAA engineer,” Gwadar Deputy Com-

missioner Abdul Hameed Abro said quoting a police official. “The assailants also kidnapped airport manager, Mehmood Niazi.” Later during the day, Niazi’s body was found from near the airport. Radar destroyed Further, the deputy commissioner said, “The airport radar system was also destroyed in the attack.” The airport has not been in use for the past 20 years. Abdul Hameed Abro, a senior government official in Gwadar, conﬁrmed the incident and told AFP that security forces had launched a search operation to recover the engineer and ﬁnd the attackers. — Express Tribune

KARACHI: Just days after arresting Dr Asim Hussain, a close conﬁdante of former president Asif Ali Zardari, the paramilitary Rangers also detained his close associate on Saturday. The fresh arrest came a day after Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah called Dr Asim’s arrest ‘an attack on Sindh’s autonomy’. Four officials – three in uniform and one in civilian clothes – picked up Dr Yousuf Sattar, the deputy managing director of the Ziauddin Hospital, from his office in the hospital’s North Nazimabad campus on Saturday, witnesses said. According to unconﬁrmed reports, the officials also examined documents and data available with the hospital’s administration and IT department. Law enforcers dressed in plain clothes also reportedly picked up

– picked up Dr Yousuf Sattar, the deputy managing director of the Ziauddin Hospital, from his office in the hospital’s North Nazimabad campus on Saturday, witnesses said the maintenance department incharge of the Clifton chapter of the Ziauddin Hospital late Saturday evening. According to reports, some important documents were also recovered in the raid. However, there was no immediate official conﬁrmation of the raid. Meanwhile, the Rangers told a Karachi anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday that Asim was ‘ﬁt and healthy’. The response came after Asim’s family informed the court that he suffered from

diabetes and hypertension, and requested they be allowed to meet him with a physician. The paramilitary force assured the Anti-Terrorism Court that Asim’s condition was normal and that he was being provided the best medical care. “A doctor and two nurses have been looking after him round-the-clock in detention,” stated the report the Rangers submitted in the court. According to the Rangers’ law officer, Asim had also been provided with the

medicines he asked for. The Rangers took Asim, the chairman of the Higher Education Commission in Sindh and a confidante of Zardari, into 90-day preventive custody following a raid on his office on Wednesday on charges of terror financing. The arrest has sparked furor among the PPP leadership, who have accused to government of carrying out ‘political victimisation’ of their party. Rangers also informed an ATC on Saturday that they have taken three top officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) into 90day preventive custody. The paramilitary force’s law officer, while presenting SSGC Deputy MD Shoaib Warsi, Zuhair Siddiqui and Kamran Ahmed in the court, said they had had credible evidence that theyhad facilitated terrorist activity. — Express Tribune

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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ASIA

Pressure rises on Najib as former Malaysian leader backs protests If the government ignores the law, we have to demonstrate, Mahathir Mohamad who remains an inﬂuential ﬁgure, said

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday accused current Prime Minister Najib Razak of clinging to power to avoid prosecution over a ﬁnancial scandal, as he lent his weight to protests gripping the capital, as the government threatened action against organisers. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have turned out this weekend for demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur and other cities to demand Najib’s resignation. Participants were electriﬁed by

a Sunday afternoon appearance in the capital by Mahathir, 90, who remains an influential figure. “I think he (Najib) will not step down,” Mahathir told a hastily arranged press conference. “He knows when he has no power, he may be made to face the court. The court may find him guilty and he may have to go to jail.” Fierce critic Mahathir has been a fierce critic of Najib’s rule for more than a year. But his attendance at the demon-

E R AWA N S H R I N E B L A S T

Bomb suspect part of people smuggling gang, say Thai police

FAKE DOCUMENTS: Documents found at the house of a man arrested for being a suspect of the recent Bangkok blast are seen in this Thai Royal Police handout released on Sunday. -Reuters

BANGKOK: Thai police said on Sunday a foreigner arrested in connection with the deadly Bangkok bombing was part of a peoplesmuggling gang who may have launched an attack in response to a crackdown on their trade. The unidentified foreigner, who is being held in military custody at an undisclosed location, was seized during a Saturday morning raid on a flat on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok. Investigators say he was found with bomb-making equipment and dozens of fake passports. National police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said officers believed the suspect was part of a crime group who helped illegal migrants obtain counterfeit documents -- and that the bomb attack was retaliation for a recent crackdown by Thai authorities. “They (the gang) are unsatisfied with police arresting illegal entrants,” he told Channel 3 in a telephone interview without elaborating how investigators knew this. “It’s a network that fakes nationalities and sends them (illegal migrants) on to third countries,” he added. The blast that hit the Erawan shrine in a busy Bangkok shopping district on August 17 was Thailand’s worst single masscasualty attack, killing 20 people -- most of them ethnic Chinese tourists from across Asia. Expanding probe Thai authorities have played down any suggestion the attack was launched by international terrorists or specifically targeted Chinese tourists. Authorities have yet to say what nationality the detained man is but they believe he had accomplices for whom they are now searching. Outside police headquarters Prawut told reporters that investigators were sifting through more than 1,000 phone numbers

as well as hundreds of passport pages to track the gang, while DNA samples had also been taken from the suspect. Investigators are also working “with several embassies” to ascertain the man’s identity as well as using multiple translators, he added. Refusing to cooperate Asked which languages, Prawut conﬁrmed English but would not be drawn on the others. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan also told AFP the suspect is known to speak some English. However the suspect appeared to be refusing to cooperate with investigators. “The interrogation is not making progress because the suspect is not really giving useful information,” army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr told AFP. “We have to conduct further interrogations and make him better understand so he will be more cooperative -- while we have to be careful not to violate the suspect’s rights,” he added. On Sunday afternoon police searched a ﬂat in a northeast Bangkok suburb near the previous day’s raid but no arrests were made, an AFP reporter on the scene said. Forgery hub Bangkok’s crime groups have long had a reputation for producing counterfeit documents, while Thailand has been a major regional hub for both people-smuggling and people-trafficking. Police have made no major recent announcements about busts against counterfeiters. Earlier this year they cracked down on the regional people-trafficking trade. But trade centres around impoverished Bangladeshi and Myanmar migrants, usually held in jungle camps and on boats -- a demographic unlikely to be rich enough to buy forged passports. -AFP

stration has surprised many who remember the uncompromising stance he took against dissent during his 1981-2003 rule. “If the government ignores the law, we have to demonstrate. If you look at (former Philippine president Ferdinand) Marcos, when he was ruling the Philippines they had to overthrow him through demonstrations,” said Mahathir, who also apologised for his role in aiding Najib’s rise to power. Incident-free The two-day rally, which has seen central Kuala Lumpur turned yellow one of Malaysia’s largest in years, has been mostly incidentfree even though police declared it illegal, blocked the organisers’ website and banned their official bright yellow T-shirt and logo. The numbers appeared not to match Saturday’s, when organisers -- electoral-reform activist group

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Bersih (the Malay word for “clean”) -- said 200,000 turned out, while police put the number at 29,000. “I am here to demand transparency. I want to protect the rights of my children. This country is heading for bankruptcy, and we must stop Najib and topple the corrupt regime,” said Mustapha Abdul Jalil, 40, a businessman. Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister in charge of domestic security, warned organisers face possible charges under assembly, sedition and other laws. “What is important is that I am empowering the police to take action,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysian media. -AFP

ON WARPATH: Tens of thousands of demonstrators have turned out this weekend for demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur and other cities to demand Najib’s resignation. –AFP

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TIMES O F O MAN

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Hail the new Troika of Pakistan politics!

Location: Wadi Bani Khalid/ Photo: Ravikumar Kannaiyan

t’s official. Pakistan has a new ‘Troika’: Sharif, Sharif and Khan. Is this combo going to drag us kicking and screaming towards a new Pakistan? The new troika signifies changing times in Pakistan. The term was originally coined in the early 1990s to describe the three men who together wielded power and ran the country. The three were the all-powerful Eighth Amendmentarmed president, the popularly elected prime minister and the army chief. Through the nineties, this troika shared a rocky relationship that shaped the turbulence of the era. The troika ended when General Musharraf took charge. He ruled alone. On his departure, a new troika emerged during the PPP rule: President (Asif Ali Zardari), army chief (General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani) and chief justice (Iftikhar Chaudhry). The prime minister had all the powers since the annulment of the Eighth Amendment, but in reality he remained subservient to Mr Zardari, and therefore, out of the troika. The president was knocked off the list once Mr Zardari left office. Yet another troika emerged: Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif ), Army Chief (General Raheel Sharif ) and Chief Justice (Chaudhry). The three most powerful men in the country co-existed in an uneasy powersharing arrangement. The chief justice was struck off the list on the retirement of Chaudhry. And now we have the latest troika: Nawaz Sharif, Raheel Sharif and Imran Khan. This is clearly the most interesting, and perhaps the most defining troika to date. Between the three, these men are defining the present, and the future of our country. And this is possibly the first troika that is deliberately upending the status quo — for all the right reasons. Here’s the key: they get it. Yes, these three gentlemen actually get it. As heads of the two largest political parties and the powerful army, they know what needs to be done and why. They also know if what needs to be done is not done we will face a very long, and a very dark night in the years ahead. And they know that the

time to do what needs to be done is now. Right now, right here. This is the good part. The bad part is that among the lot, these three are probably the only ones who actually get it. The others are paling into irrelevance. The so-called liberals like the PPP, the MQM, the ANP and a smattering of also-rans have caved under the weight of their own contradictions, incompetence and visionless existence as political entities. They are gradually transforming themselves into the litter that needs to be swept clean for the new Pakistan to emerge. They are the status quo. The alphabet soup that defines the religious right represents the archaic, anachronistic, primitive and outmoded world view that hangs around our necks like a 500-tonne millstone. Their relevance lies in their fossilised world thinking, shared unfortunately, by a significant number of citizens. The religious parties have a strong constituency, and yet they are part of the problem. They, too, are the status quo. Sharif, Sharif and Khan together, and perhaps inadvertently, are carving a new path for Pakistan. It is yet too early to know whether the path will broaden into a shiny eight-lane highway, or crash into the side of a mountain. At this stage, it matters not. What does matter is that three powerful men have converged on to a moment that can define a new reality wrapped in a fresh narrative. What does matter is that Sharif, Sharif and Khan have been catapulted into a game-changing position, and their shots are connecting. In their own separate ways, the three men are smashing, bashing and crashing old idols of a decadent political culture that fed itself fat on inequality, injustice and privilege for the few. Today, here in Pakistan, these three men, and these three men alone, matter. Forget the Bhuttos, the Walis, the Maulanas and Allamas and Sardars and Makhdooms, and Khawajas and Chaudhries and Rajas. They are irrelevant to the moment that is upon us. Sharif, Sharif and Khan can do for us what no other troika, or diarchy or even a sole ruler has been able to do. They can show us a glimpse of the future we so desperately desire, and so richly deserve. Hail the new Troika! - Express Tribune

READERS’ FORUM Hope Malaysian rulers will prevent upheaval This refers to the online story, Mahathir denounces Malaysian PM Najib; government warns protesters (August 30). I am surprised it has taken the people of Malaysia so long to protest against the prime minister. The abject mishandling of the MH370 and MH17 disasters were strong enough reasons. However, I believe the graft charges against the current prime minister has deﬁnitely made the Malaysian people furious. I hope the rulers of the country see reason and prevent an upheaval of the kind being witnessed globally. — Stephen Livingstone, Muscat

Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, or the spectacle of US presidential politics, often force to the surface the true character of the players. The Mexicans proved they were neighbours we can count on. One can only speculate how Trump would have handled the Mexican ‘invasion’ bit.ly/mexicoarmytrumpedUS

All of Tolkien books on world of hobbits need to be in ﬁlm form

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

This refers to the online story, Tolkien’s ﬁrst, ‘undeniably darkest’ prose to be published (August 26). The writer of the iconic Lord of the Rings is, in my opinion, a far greater writer than Mark Twain. This new book will deﬁnitely be well received worldwide. The whole hobbit world of which the ring’s tale is just a chapter, should be put into movie form. This is so because, unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced world, nobody has the time to read books. — Sadaf Karimi, Muscat

US athletes have no excuse This refers to the online story, Treble top for Bolt as bungling USA disqualiﬁed (August 29). I am amazed that the American athletes messed up a good race. There can be no excuse for such things. — Suad Ali, Muscat

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES AUGUST 2000 Goysca working camp opened MUSCAT: Abdullah bin Saleh Al Ya’arubi, deputy president of the General Organisation for Youth Sports and Cultural Activities (Goysca), presided over the opening ceremony of a working camp for youths organised by the Goysca in association with the Unicef at Holiday Inn Hotel here yesterday. The Unicef representative in the Sultanate, in his address, highlighted Unicef’s efforts in developing the capabilities of Omani youths.

PICTOGRAPH

OMAN-CHINA TRADE EXCHANGE From February to April 2015, not including oil or re-exports (In million rials)

February

31.8 OMAN EXPORTS TO CHINA

TODAY IN HISTORY

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

March

April

26.9 2.9

CHINA EXPORTS TO OMAN

1976: General George Washington retreats during the night from Long Island to New York City. 1882: Australia defeats England in cricket for the ﬁrst time.

36.8

1950: International Olympic Committee votes to allow West Germany and Japan to compete in 1952 games.

47.6

1992: Thousands of Germans demonstrate against a wave of racist attacks aimed at immigrants.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

54.8

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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SPECIAL

It’s really important to get the forecast right, but it’s also really important to communicate the certainty of the forecast so there aren’t those 36-hour lags Peter Neilley, head of global forecasting services of The Weather Channel

More accurate forecasts can help avert hurricane disasters repeat A range of technological advances, from a new generation of satellites to supercomputers and unmanned drones, promises more accurate forecasts that would increase public officials’ conﬁdence in weather experts’ advice

MIAMI: The science of predicting hurricanes has come a long way since Katrina caught New Orleans officials off guard 10 years ago. A range of technological advances, from a new generation of satellites to supercomputers and unmanned drones, promises more accurate forecasts that would increase public officials’ confidence in weather experts’ advice. In turn, that could lead to a more urgent response that would save lives. If authorities were quicker to heed warnings about the devastating potential of Katrina before it made landfall in Louisiana on Monday, August. 29, 2005, some of the nearly 1,800 lives that were lost may have been saved, forecasters speculate. More than two days before the costliest storm in US history struck, government forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre in Miami put out an advisory showing New Orleans could take a direct hit. But it was not until 36 hours later that the city issued mandatory evacuation orders, as experts had urged, leaving many at risk from flooding after levees broke. Max Mayfield, the centre’s director in 2005, recalls placing an urgent call to New Orleans’ then-mayor, Ray Nagin, with a plea to take urgent action on Saturday evening. “I wanted to go to bed that night knowing we had done as much as we could to spare lives,” Mayfield said. Nagin, currently serving a 10year prison sentence on bribery and money laundering charges related to Hurricane Katrina contracts, was not available for comment. Kathleen Blanco, Louisiana’s governor at the time, said Nagin was slow to issue the mandatory evacuation order but recalled how he had joined her on Saturday in urging voluntary departures. “To be fair, we had gotten the majority of people out,” she said, “but Max Mayfield did a very valuable service to give us a call and spur us all on more avidly.” Blanco recalled a false alarm in 2004 when Hurricane Ivan appeared to threaten New Orleans, prompting an evacuation that choked highways. Stranded drivers were irate when no storm arrived.

STARK REMINDER: A ﬁle picture taken on September 11, 2005, as ﬂoodwaters continued to recede around the Superdome in New Orleans, two weeks after hurricane Katrina hit the city. New Orleans remembered the dead and celebrated its painstaking comeback from disaster on Saturday, a decade after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the ‘Big Easy’ leaving devastation and chaos in its wake. - AFP

IN REMEMBRANCE: Former US president Bill Clinton, left, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu speak during a Hurricane Katrina 10th anniversary event at the Smoothie King Centre on Saturday in New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina killed at least 1.836 people and is considered the costliest natural disaster in US history. - AFP

Cost concerns Because of past errors like these, Mayﬁeld said, city officials were overly concerned about the cost of shutting businesses and schools. “It’s really important to get the forecast right, but it’s also really important to communicate the certainty of the forecast so there aren’t those 36-hour lags,” said Peter Neilley, head of global forecasting services of The Weather Channel, which is owned by The Weather Co. Still, most experts agree there is no such thing as 100 per cent accuracy in forecasting hurricanes, regardless of improvements in data collection and raw computing power.

“The atmosphere is fundamentally chaotic and unpredictable,” said Jeff Masters, a private forecaster with The Weather Co’s Weather Underground division. “There’s a limit to how much certainty we can have in the modelling.” While forecasting the track of hurricanes has improved steadily over two decades, advances in gauging a storm’s intensity have lagged, experts say. Government forecasters struggled this week to predict the strength of Tropical Storm Erika as it swept through the Caribbean toward Florida because mountainous islands and hostile winds interfered with the weather system.

SECOND LINE PARADE: Phillip Clay dances in front of Charity Hospital, closed and vacant since Hurricane Katrina, during a second line parade to mark the tenth anniversary of the storm in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday. - Reuters

TENTH ANNIVERSARY: Members of the Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indian Tribe parade past Charity Hospital, closed and vacant since Hurricane Katrina, in a second line parade to mark the tenth anniversary of the storm in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday. Creole Wild West is the oldest Mardi Gras Indian Tribe in the city. - Reuters

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In 2005, forecasters were notably slow in detecting Katrina’s sudden intensiﬁcation, said Mark DeMaria, the National Hurricane Centre’s technology and science chief. In response, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began a project in 2009 to improve hurricane forecasts by 50 percent by 2019. NOAA said it was starting to see progress because of major advanc-

es in computer modelling. Real-time observations of ocean conditions, such as sea surface temperature and height, are improving as well. Starting next year, new satellites known as GOES-R will feed back images more quickly and with four times the resolution of earlier generations, DeMaria said. GOES-R satellites transmit infrared thermal imagery to detect sea temperature, which helps determine the intensity of storms, which draw energy from the water’s heat. NASA also began construction this month of suitcase-sized “microsatellites” capable of measur-

ing winds in and near the eye wall of hurricanes. NOAA and NASA are experimenting with an unmanned aircraft, Global Hawk, to provide better weather readings, while drones are now being used to get closer to the interior core of a storm than traditional Hurricane Hunter planes can. Also, Congress funded an upgrade of the National Weather Service’s IBM supercomputer system after Superstorm Sandy in 2012, bolstering capacity to crunch data by 25 times. “If Katrina occurred today,” said Neilley, “every aspect of the process...hopefully is a lot better.” - Reuters

PARADE: The Original Big 7 Junior Steppers parade through the Central Business District in a second line parade to mark the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, on Saturday. - Reuters

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SETBACK

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE DISAPPEARED Question marks placed on chairs are displayed in Pristina on Sunday, as part of the International Day of the Disappeared. There are around 1,700 people most of them Kosovo Albanians listed as missing since the end of the Kosovo war (1998-99). — AFP

Qatar exports plunge 40% as oil prices plummet DOHA: Energy-rich Qatar’s exports plunged more than 40 per cent in value in the year up until July 2015, on the back of a slump in petrol and hydrocarbon sales, official figures showed Sunday. State news agency QNA, citing figures from the development planning and statistics ministry, said exports for July totalled 23.5 billion Qatari riyals ($6.5 billion, 5.8 billion euros). Massive fall The figure represented a drop of around one per cent on June, but a massive 41.7 per cent fall compared to July 2014, QNA said. Petrol and hydrocarbon exports slumped by 40.5 per cent to 15.6 billion riyals. Imports rise The figures also showed that imports had risen by 13 per cent month-on-month, and Qatar’s biggest imports were helicopters, planes and cars. Japan was the top exporter to Qatar, with 4.3 billion riyals worth of products. — AFP

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L E G I S L AT I V E P O L L S

Egypt to hold elections from October 17 to December 2 CAIRO: Egypt’s legislative elections, the ﬁrst since President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi took office, are to be contested in phases between October 17 and December 2, the electoral commission announced on Sunday. The polls had initially been scheduled for early 2014 but were repeatedly delayed on legal grounds amid charges from rights groups of repressive measures by Sisi’s regime which has cracked down on the extremist opposition. In a complex electoral system for the 568-member parliament, a sector of the electorate living abroad will vote on October 17, followed on the following two days by voters in 14 of the country’s 27 provinces. Runoffs in the same constituencies will be held on October 26, 27 and 28. Remaining voters abroad and inside the Arab world’s most populous country will take part in a ﬁrst round on November 21, 22 and 23, followed by runoffs on November 30, December 1 and 2. The polls are to start more than two years after the military under Sisi, who was then army chief and won a presidential election last year, toppled extremist president Mohamed Morsi, whose nowbanned Muslim Brotherhood had swept Egypt’s last legislative vote in late 2011. The court had ruled in March that part of the electoral law was unconstitutional, prompting the latest delay before the electoral commission started work on setting new dates. — AFP

Calls grow for Europe to act on spiralling migrant crisis European Union home affairs ministers are to hold emergency talks on September 14 in Brussels to try and ‘strengthen the European response’, Luxembourg, which holds the rotating EU presidency, announced HUMAN TRAGEDY: A mother feeds her child at a registration camp in Presevo as Syrian refugees and migrants arrived in Serbia on Sunday. — AFP

RÖSZKE (HUNGARY): Calls multiplied on Sunday for Europe to finally get to grips with its ever-deadlier migrant crisis after Austria’s horrific truck tragedy, as people continued to pour into Hungary from Serbia despite a newly completed razorwire barrier. Hungarian police said a fifth suspected human trafficker -- a fourth Bulgarian -- had been arrested over Thursday’s gruesome discovery of 71 decomposing corpses in an abandoned truck on an Austrian motorway.

The truck tragedy, plus yet another Mediterranean shipwreck claiming at least 111 lives, have served as chilling reminders of Europe’s failure to cope with the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have fled conflict and hardship in the Middle East and Africa for a better life in Europe this year alone. Millions more sit in camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.

Some 2,500 have died in the treacherous journey, most drowning in the waters of the Mediterranean after being crammed into unseaworthy boats. European Union home affairs ministers are to hold emergency talks on September 14 in Brussels to try and “strengthen the European response,” the government of Luxembourg, which holds the rotating EU presidency, announced Sunday. “Europe needs to stop being

moved and start moving,” Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said, calling again for a fairer distribution of migrants among the European Union’s 28 members. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said that people “ﬂeeing war, persecution, torture, oppression, must be welcomed” and should be treated with “dignity”. And French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius slammed as “scandalous” the attitude of certain EU members in eastern Europe in re-

fusing to accept more migrants. Pope Francis meanwhile called for “effective cooperation” against “crimes that are an offence to the whole of humanity.” The migrants crossing the Mediterranean head either for Italy -- where another 513 arrived on Sunday, adding to some 108,000 this year -- or Greece, which many also reach overland via Turkey. Lots then try to come north, in the case of Greece trekking up through the western Balkans -Macedonia called a state of emergency two weeks ago -- bound for EU member Hungary. The journey is exhausting -and expensive. “We can’t afford this at all, and every step of the way we have to pay,” Samar, a 40-year-old from Damascus, told AFP as she waited in the sun for hours at a ﬁlthy reception camp in Presevo, Serbia. “We are in a labyrinth, going from queue to queue, and here in Serbia, the police are shouting at us like we are animals,” the mother of two teenage boys said, tears welling in her eyes. Hungary, which this month has recorded 50,000 new arrivals, has responded by completing on Saturday a barrier of three rolls of NATO-standard razor wire along the entire 175-kilometre (110-mile) border with Serbia, patrolled by border police with dogs and 4x4s. Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government is also building a four-metre-high fence and wants to stiffen penalties for people entering illegally. — AFP

YOU S T I N K C A M PA I G N

‘Your time is up,’ protesters tell Lebanon’s government BEIRUT: Pressure was growing Sunday on Lebanon’s government after a protest campaign spurred by a trash crisis gave political leaders a deadline to meet their demands. “Your time is up,” the “You Stink” campaign behind Saturday’s huge demonstration in central Beirut said on Facebook. At the mass rally, “You Stink” threatened to escalate its protest movement if the government does not meet the demands by Tuesday evening. The ultimatum calls for a sustainable solution to a trash crisis that ﬂared in mid-July, the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammad Mashnuq and new elections to replace a parliament in power since 2009.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the capital’s iconic Martyrs Square to express their rage at endemic corruption in the government and lack of basic services, including power and water. Men and women of all ages ﬂooded the square in a rare example of non-partisan mobilisation in the divided republic. “You Stink” organiser Lucien Bourjeily called the rally “a really big victory”. “It also shows us that it’s a big responsibility for us. We have to achieve the demands that we have set out,” he told AFP. Newspapers on Sunday noted that for once the protest was organised by civil society instead of the divided political elite.

ON A MISSION: A protester gestures during a protest against corruption and against the government’s failure to resolve a crisis over rubbish disposal, in front of the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday. — Reuters

“The Saturday of the people,” headlined As Saﬁr newspaper. An Nahar daily said the demonstration “points to the certainty of change... under the pressure of

a street that has been freed of the division between March 8 and March 14”. It was referring to Lebanon’s main rival political blocs. March

14 is supported by Washington and Riyadh, while March 8 is headed by Hezbollah, which has the backing of both Damascus and Tehran. The protest movement was initially launched to demand a solution to the crisis that has seen rubbish pile up uncollected. But it has since expanded to call for a total government rehaul. Bourjeily said he could not reveal what the “escalation” promised by his movement would be, but said “there would be a role for all citizens”. He said “You Stink” would meet later to discuss the next steps, “taking every possible scenario into consideration”. There has been no official government response to the ultimatum.

But Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the demands could only be met through “the preservation and activation of the government”. Speaking at a rally of his Amal movement, Berri also called for fresh dialogue to discuss the presidential vacuum and the work of the cabinet and parliament. Druze leader Walid Jumblatt tweeted that Saturday’s protest “expressed the true pains of the Lebanese citizen... that no party dares to respond to”. Political rivalries have undermined change in Lebanon for years. The 128-seat parliament has twice extended its mandate since 2009, and has been unable to elect a president since May 2014. Any effective work by the cabinet has been paralysed. — AFP

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WORLD

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Thousands protest against Abe’s move to expand military’s remit A growing number of people have joined opposition against the controversial bills as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party gears up to pass them in the current parliament session

TOKYO: Tens of thousands rallied outside Japan’s parliament on Sunday to protest against planned new laws that could see troops in the officially paciﬁst nation engage in combat for the ﬁrst time since World War II. A growing number of people, including university students and young parents, have joined a swelling opposition against the controversial bills as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party gears up to pass them before the current session ends late next month.

VOICING DISSENT: People shout slogans as they hold banners during an anti-government rally in front of the National Diet in Tokyo on Sunday to protest against Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s bills to expand the remit of the country’s armed forces. -AFP

Holding placards reading “No war,” “Peace not war” and “Stop the security bills”, chanting demonstrators ﬁlled the street in front of the Diet building in downtown Tokyo despite drizzly weather. A huge banner reading “Abe should step down”, adorned with black and white balloons, was carried through the crowd. “I cannot stand idly by when I

think of the excesses of the Abe government -- Japan could become a country capable of going to war again,” said protester Kenichi Ozawa. Under the planned changes the military -- known as the Self-Defence Forces -- would be allowed to ﬁght to protect allies such as the United States even if there was no direct threat to Japan or its people.

Under a US-imposed constitution following WWII, Japan’s military has been limited strictly to self-defence. While the restrictions were ushered in by an occupying force, many Japanese have become strongly attached to their country’s paciﬁsm over the decades -- outlined in Article Nine of the constitution -- and they fear any

change to that status will lead them down a dangerous road. “For 70 years, thanks to Article Nine of our constitution, Japan has not engaged in war or been touched by any aggression. Article nine is our foundation,” said demonstrator Masako Suzuki. In the central city of Nagoya, home to automaker Toyota, a group of mothers staged a rally near the main train station as they shouted “protect our children!” - Distant wars - Organisers said about 120,000 people took part in the rally in Tokyo, but police put the ﬁgure at 30,000. Similar demonstrations were held across Japan. Abe and his supporters say the bills are necessary for Japan to deal with a changed security environment in the face of a rising China and unpredictable North Korea. Washington has welcomed the move to change what some see as a one-sided security alliance that

compels the US to protect Japan if it were attacked. But opponents say the reforms will drag Japan into distant American wars, and many legal scholars have said they are unconstitutional. The legislation is deeply unpopular among the general public and support for Abe’s government is declining. Among the protesters Sunday were popular Japanese musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and opposition party leaders including Katsuya Okada, head of the Democratic Party of Japan. Relatively small street demonstrations are frequent in the capital. But on Thursday a group of Tokyo university students staged a rare hunger strike outside parliament to protest at the legislation. They said they would continue as long as possible. On Wednesday the national bar association took part in a Tokyo protest rally with academics and citizen groups. -AFP

ZOHR PROJECT

‘Largest ever’ Mediterranean gas ﬁeld found off Egypt: Eni The discovery could hold 30 trillion cubic feet of lean gas

CAIRO: Italian energy giant Eni on Sunday announced the discovery of the “largest ever” offshore natural gas ﬁeld in the Mediterranean inside Egypt’s territorial waters. The discovery, conﬁrmed by Egypt’s oil ministry, could hold a potential 30 trillion cubic feet (850 billion cubic metres) of lean gas in an area of about 100 square kilo-

metres (40 square miles), it said in a statement. The so-called Zohr project is “the largest gas discovery ever made in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Sea,” it said, adding the ﬁnd would meet Egypt’s own natural gas demands for decades. The “supergiant” ﬁeld -- potentially one of the world’s largest

natural gas ﬁnds -- is located at a depth of 4,757 feet (1,450 metres) in the Shorouk Block, Eni said. Historic discovery It said Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, has visited Cairo and discuss the discovery with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.

“This historic discovery will be able to transform the energy scenario of Egypt,” Descalzi said in the statement. The ﬁrm said it will “immediately appraise the ﬁeld with the aim of accelerating a fast track development of the discovery”, giving a timeframe of four years. In March, British energy giant

BP unveiled plans to invest $12 billion in Egyptian offshore gas fields with Russian partner DEA, despite the slump in world oil prices. It said the investment in the West Nile Delta fields aims to develop five trillion cubic feet of gas resources and 55 million barrels of condensates, with output expected to begin in 2017. -AFP

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Islamic bank assets Salalah Mills plans OMR7.5m ﬂour mill set for strong growth E X PA N S I O N P L A N

Times News Service

Assuming a normal market condition and recovery with some stability in the oil price, it is fair to assume that Islamic banking could achieve a level of 15 to 17 per cent of the total banking assets within the next ﬁve years, said chief executive officer of Bank Nizwa

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Islamic banking in Oman could achieve around 15 to 17 per cent of the total banking assets within the next ﬁve years in normal market conditions with recovery and stability in the oil market, says a bank official.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr. Jamil El Jaroudi, chief executive officer of Bank Nizwa, said it is ‘difficult’ to estimate the share of Oman’s Islamic banking operations at this juncture due to the volatility in oil prices, which is affecting the country’s growth. According to the Central Bank of Oman, the combined assets of

Islamic banks and window operations surged ahead by 64.08 per cent to OMR1,832.6 million by end-June 2015, from OMR1,116.9 million for the same period last year, while conventional banks’ total assets moved up by 11.22 per cent to OMR27,391.9 million, over the same period of 2014. “This is an important variable that would determine the nature of the competition for the banking sector going forward,” El Jaroudi further added. However, assuming a normal market condition and recovery with some stability in the oil price, it is fair to assume that Islamic banking could achieve a level of around 15 to 17 per cent of the total banking asset within the next ﬁve years, he added. “This level would be similar to the other markets in the region including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain,” said the CEO of Bank Nizwa.

ECONOMY

‘Political economy a reality for central banks in framing policy’ WASHINGTON: Terming politics an important force in determining tactics of economic policymakers, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has said the framework in India allows the central bank a “protection” to some extent and its policy has been to take the heat away from the “political economy”. Rajan said RBI’s policy process involves trying to “take the heat away from the political economy and put it on frameworks, technical models, projections, et cetera, and say, ‘What we are doing is disinflation without worrying too much about distribution’. “To some extent, that framework allows us protection”. Addressing the famous Jackson Hole economic symposium of the Kansas City Federal Reserve in Wyoming, Rajan said politics and history both have been important forces in determining the economic policymakers’ goals and tactics globally. Policy analysis “Political economy is not an aberration, but a reality that should be accounted for in our policy analysis,” he said. Interestingly, it is the same summit where Rajan had once famously presented a paper that talked about an imminent global financial crisis, which eventually hit the world markets in 2007-08. Rajan was IMF’s chief economist when he made that famous ‘prediction’. At this year’s symposium, which ended last night, Rajan said when it comes to the modern central banks’ focus on targeting inflation, it is the “history and political economy” that determines which side of the inflation band needs to be emphasised. It has been argued that the US was focussing on costs attached to low inflation or deflation because of the bankruptcies in the 1920s and 1930s, while the Germany’s experience with high inflation in the 1920s explains their focus on protection against high inflation. Talking about Japan’s aging population, Rajan wondered

Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan.— Bloomberg News

whether the political power of the elderly were the reason for the country’s tolerance for deflation. He was speaking at a panel discussion on global inflation dynamics. On the sidelines of the event, Rajan also told Wall Street Journal in an interview that the growth in global economy has still not picked up in a significant way, except for the US and the UK. “Emerging markets were still down. There was some questions about China’s growth. And I think it was time for reassessment, and I think we saw some volatility as a result. There’s still the playing out of the Chinese growth story. Is it gentle? Is it a drop? How does it go? When does it recover? And then there’s the emerging markets story. And finally, there’s this big question mark about when industrial countries start picking up much more strongly. So lots of uncertainty still.” Asked about the Chinese crisis, Rajan said it was hard for an outsider to gauge exactly the seriousness of Chinese economic problems and there was “a whole lot of uncertainty to come from a country”. “What goes for China is the extraordinary skills its authorities

had displayed in the past in dealing with their various problems,” he said. When asked what could be the impact on India of the uncertainty about the potential for an interest-rate increase by the US Federal Reserve, Rajan said the Fed’s move can exacerbate the volatility of it comes at a time when there is already a lot of volatility in the markets. “But if volatility calms down by then, then the real question is, you know, would you rather take the volatility now or take it later? “And my sense is in that — from the perspective of emerging markets — one could argue it’s preferable to have a move early on and an advertised, slow move up rather than, you know, the Fed be forced to tighten more signiﬁcantly down the line. “My guess is this is the same kind of trade-off that Fed policymakers are looking at — move early and have a long period over which you can raise the interest rates gently versus have a more abrupt transition. “That said, I think it’s to nobody’s interest to get a US moving back into difficulty or into harder times. It is appropriate that the interest rate move be attuned to the conditions in the US economy,” he added. — PTI

Remarkable growth Commenting on the performance of Islamic banking in Oman, El Jaroudi said, “If you look at the industry reports, both fullyfledged Islamic banks in Oman and Islamic windows combined saw an average growth rate of over 40 per cent year-on-year, in terms of total assets.” The average growth for conventional banks on the other hand was around nine per cent for the same period, he added. “In terms of financing portfolio growth, it is even more remarkable, as we have grown by more than 300 per cent on an average during the same period, compared to the conventional banks’ average of approximately 15 per cent,” he noted. El Jaroudi further added that these figures are in line with the other countries in the region which are experiencing the same challenges in growing their Islamic banking industries. > B4

MUSCAT: Salalah Mills Company is planning to build a new flour mill with a production capacity of 600 tonnes per day in a move to develop the company as the biggest flour mill in Oman and one of the largest in the Gulf region. The company’s board has decided to proceed with the expansion plan, following a feasibility study conducted by Expert House. “The project cost will be about OMR7.5 million. The new mill is expected to commence production in the first quarter of 2017,” Salalah Mills said in a disclosure statement posted on the MSM website. The current production capacity of Salalah Mills is 1,500 tonnes per day. The company’s board also decided to raise paid capital by 10 per cent by way of a right preference issue to shareholders in the first quarter of 2016, at a price of OMR0.750 per share. “The new production expansion project comes within company’s

strategy to promote the company as the biggest flour mill in Oman and one of the largest flour mills in GCC countries and exploit the company’s earlier investment made in increasing grain storage capacity and higher discharge rate of wheat in the Port of Salalah,” added the statement. As many as 50 per cent of the cost of the new project will be financed by the facility from the machinery supplier and the balance 50 per cent by issuing new shares. Salalah Mills reached 94 per cent capacity utilisation last year and has attained 100 per cent utilisation in the first half of the current year. The expansion project will provide flour for growing demand in the domestic market and export markets, which is sold under the brand name ‘Al Khareef,’ known for its premium quality. Salalah Mills Company early this month said that it is also setting up a project for manufacturing polypropylene bags with a capital expenditure of OMR4 million.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

MARKET Oman’s sovereign wealth fund, Oman Oil join hands The partnership between State General Reserve Fund and Oman Oil focuses on human capital development, knowledge transfer, and enhancing in-country value

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s sovereign wealth fund, State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), and Oman Oil Company (OOC), the government’s investment arm in the energy sector, have signed a cooperation agreement to build a strategic cooperation partnership. The announcement of this strategic cooperation came in light of the commitment of both sides to contribute in developing the national economy through diversifying the national income, and enhancing in-country value. The partnership between SGRF and OOC will focus on a number of areas such as the development of human capital, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and knowledge transfer.

On this occasion, Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, executive president of SGRF said: “this partnership has been established because we, at SGRF, believe in the importance of the cooperation and integration between various investment bodies in the Sultanate, to serve the objectives of the fund in building national capacities, localising knowledge and expertise, and enhancing the In Country Value.” Human resources “This partnership between the two powerful institutions, State General Reserve Fund and Oman Oil Company, will work to maximise the use of human, ﬁnancial, technical and administrative resources and international networks for both parties to beneﬁt,” he added.

Commenting on this cooperation, Isam bin Saud Al Zadjali, chief executive officer of Oman Oil said: “This strategic partnership with SGRF will serve the company’s goals towards making more efforts and initiatives to develop Human Resources related areas, encourage Innovation, acquire technologies, and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to Oman. “Additionally, it further enhances the national efforts in supporting ICV, which in turn works to promote Small and Medium Enterprises. The Partnership will open horizons and integrates efforts towards the continued support of the Sultanate’s efforts to diversify the national economy,” he added. Both partners will announce a number of strategic investment initiatives that promote integration among the largest sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate, and the investment arm of the government in the oil, gas and energy related sectors.

Oman Textile bags government order MUSCAT: Oman Textile Holding has bagged an order to supply 600,000 metres of fabric to a government institution, the company said in a disclosure to the Muscat Securities Market on Sunday. The details of the order are under ﬁnalisation, it said. The company is conﬁdent that this order could have positive impact on the operations and performance in the next few months. Meanwhile, Oman Textile Holding shares resumed trading on Sunday.

Oman Education names top official MUSCAT: Anis Mohammed Marhoun Al Maamary has been appointed chief executive officer of Oman Education & Training Investment Holding with effect from September 1, the company said in a disclosure on Sunday.

Renault, Nissan halt investment

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BRIEFS

NEW ERA: The announcement of this strategic cooperation between State General Reserve Fund and Oman Oil came in light of the commitment of both sides to contribute in developing the national economy. – Supplied picture

NEW DELHI: Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. have halted plans to invest Rs. 50 billion ($756 million) in India because of payments the companies say they are owed by the Tamil Nadu state government, the Hindustan Times repported. - Times News Service/Agencies

G L O B A L I N N O VAT I O N

Gulf companies need to take more risks and drive innovation: Survey Times News Service MUSCAT: Managements in the Gulf states need to take more risks and develop its employees to think creatively, according to a new global innovation survey designed to help companies stop wasting their best ideas and ﬂushing hundreds of billions of dollars down the drain. Announced in the UAE emirate of Abu Dhabi by PA Consulting Group, the report highlights an overwhelming view that leadership of organisations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar is not good at nurturing innovation. It says that companies in three Gulf states are not big risk-takers when it comes to innovation, and only 27 per cent are striving to be pioneers or pursuing risky but high potential innovations. The survey ﬁndings have been revealed following the announcement by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, of a new UAE Innovation Week, set to take place November 22 to 28. The overriding message of the PA Consulting Group global innovation survey of 750 senior executives, spanning 15 countries and nine sectors is that innovation, one of the key factors that determine productivity levels, is broken.

Seven years on from the global financial crisis, many executives still refuse to invest in projects that do not guarantee a strong ROI. Yet these tight expenditure controls are actually stifling growth by preventing potentially brilliant ideas from making it to market Jason Harborow Head, PA Consulting Group, Middle East and North Africa

Speaking from his company’s regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Jason Harborow, head of PA Consulting Group, Middle East and North Africa, said: “Seven years on from the global ﬁnancial crisis, many executives still refuse to invest in projects that do not guarantee a strong ROI. Yet these tight expenditure controls are actually stiﬂing future growth by preventing potentially brilliant ideas from making it to market.” According to 67 per cent of survey respondents in the Gulf, less risky types of incremental innova-

tion deliver greater value to them than breakthroughs. Only 22 per cent say they talk more about innovation than they do it. Low failure rate “These ﬁgures are encouraging, but a low failure rate does not mean the best ideas are being developed in the Gulf,” said Harborow. “Managers in the region appear to acknowledge the need for more creative approaches, with 78 per cent saying they need to develop staff to think more creatively,” he explained.

The PA Consulting Group innovation study is based on an international survey conducted between March and May 2015 involving 750 senior business and government executives from Denmark, Germany, the Gulf (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE), Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UK and the US. Private sector respondents comprised 75 per cent of the total, and of these 47 per cent had annual revenues between $100 million and $1 billion, and 32 per cent had revenues exceeding $1 billion. The research identified five common ‘innovation killers’ that are stopping organisations from realising the potential of their innovation activity. These are fear of backing high potential risky innovations, lack of focus and a clear innovation strategy, failure by organisations to develop and commercialise their best ideas at pace, difficulty in measuring ROI and reluctance to invest. “Our overall view is that companies need to shake up the board and bring in new skills and talent, create a chief innovation officer role; focus on value, not profit and loss; make innovation a wholecompany priority by making innovation part of their total reward.”

NEW APPOINTMENT

Durrani to manage global research team at Cluttons Times News Service MUSCAT: Cluttons, an international real estate consultancy, has revealed ambitious plans to expand its international capabilities by appointing Faisal Durrani as its new global head of research, a role which will see him lead a new research team to enhance the company’s development of market analysis and forecasts across the Middle East and other international locations. Having previously held the position of international research and business development manager, Durrani will now be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of a ﬁrm wide research strategy. He will also lead in the development of Cluttons’ international research material, which is produced for markets in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Raising the global proﬁle of the business through research led projects, he will play an active role in business development. Speaking about the appoint-

Faisal Durrani .– Supplied picture

ment, Steve Morgan, chief executive of Cluttons Middle East said: “Faisal has shown an incredible knowledge of the Middle East real estate industry since joining Cluttons in 2010. Born and raised in Dubai, his understanding of local markets is invaluable and we believe that the new research team will help to reinforce our position as the Middle East’s leading real estate consultancy.”

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

MARKET Oman, Gulf bourses recover as crude touches above $50 “There’s no doubt that the main reason for the Saudi market rally is the signiﬁcant increase in oil prices on Friday,” said Riyadhbased Mohammed Al Suwayed, the head of capital and money markets at Adeem Capital. “I am waiting for the August close on Monday to make sure that there is no retracement in prices, but I’m cautiously optimistic for the rest of the week.”

Muscat Securities Market recovered 1.51 per cent or 88 points to close at 5,904.44 points on buying support at lower levels

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman stock market, along with other Gulf bourses, staged a smart rally after crude oil prices had the biggest weekly jump in more than six years. The Muscat Securities Market recovered 1.51 per cent or 88 points to close at 5,904.44 points on buying support at lower levels. Brent crude closed 10 per cent higher last week, trading above $50 per barrel after data showed second-quarter growth in the United States exceeded economist forecasts, spurring renewed investor optimism over the global economic outlook. The Sultanate’s government generates 79 per cent of revenue from hydrocarbon resources. The market volume was on the higher side with turnover touching OMR4.28 million on 21.85 million shares changing hands. Major gainers on the bourse on

IN GREEN ZONE: The market volume was on the higher side with turnover touching OMR4.28 million on 21.85 million shares changing hands. – Times ﬁle picture

Sunday included Oman Textiles Holding, Al Anwar Holding, National Aluminium Products, Al Madina Investment, Oman Investment and Finance and Gulf Investment Services. Saudi Arabia lead rally Saudi Arabian stocks led a rally in most equity markets across the Middle East after oil prices had the biggest-weekly jump in more than six years. The Tadawul All Share Index gained 1.98 per cent to 7,754.69 in Riyadh, headed for the largest two-day increase since December. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, one of the world’s biggest

petrochemicals manufacturers, added 5.8 per cent to lead the advance. Dubai’s DFM General Index climbed 1.13 per cent to the highest in more than a week. “It’s an unbelievable rally considering the battering oil took in the past few weeks,” said Wadah Al Taha, the Dubai-based chief investment officer of Al Zarooni Group, who favours investing selectively in regional markets over the short term. “The positive close in international markets, especially with China rallying again and United States equities ending the week on a positive note, is also helping sentiment,” he added.

AV I AT I O N

Etihad Airways plans to raise $500 million to expand fleet DUBAI: Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi state-owned airline, is seeking to raise as much as $500 million for fleet expansion, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The fundraising may include financing from export credit agencies, operating leases and bank loans for five aeroplanes, the people said, asking not to be identified as talks are private. Several groups of local and international banks are bidding to provide the financing, the people said. An Etihad spokesman declined to comment.

Etihad is the third-biggest carrier in the Gulf after Dubai’s Emirates Airlines and Dohabased Qatar Airways. The airline has invested in minority equity stakes in eight carriers from Australia to Italy as it seeks to funnel traffic through its Abu Dhabi hub and compete with larger regional peers, especially in markets where aviation rights are restricted or competition is tough. Etihad, which has more than 200 aircraft on ﬁrm order, took delivery of one Airbus A380 in August and is set to receive another in November. It will take

four Airbus A321s from August through to November and a Boeing 787 in April 2016, the spokesman said. New York flight The A380 scheduled to fly to New York will feature the Residence, its uber-luxurious offering, starting December 1 for $32,000 flights between Abu Dhabi and the United States city. The airline has 111 passenger and cargo destinations worldwide, which it serves with a fleet of 118 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. - Bloomberg News

More clarity The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.9 per cent last week, masking a volatile period in which the US benchmark plunged the most since 2011 to enter a correction, only to rally more than 6 per cent over two days. The gauge is down 5.5 per cent for the month, the most since May 2012. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark equity index entered a bear market last week, and the DFM General Index recorded daily losses of as much as 7 per cent and gains of as much as 4.6 per cent in the same period. Brent crude closed below $45 per barrel for the ﬁrst time in six years on August 24.

Abu Dhabi index falls Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index fell 0.17 per cent, while Qatar’s QE Index rose 0.87 per cent. Kuwait’s SE Price Index added 0.47 per cent and Bahrain’s BB All Share Index slipped 0.09 per cent. Today’s move “doesn’t mean that we are in an uptrend,” Al Taha said. “We need more clarity in terms of global economic numbers and stability in oil prices to be able to determine that.” Egypt’s EGX 30 Index added 0.3 per cent. Emaar Misr for Development, which in June held the country’s biggest initial public offering since 2011, climbed 9.5 per cent. That pares the stock’s loss since its trading debut to 33 per cent. Next month, Saudi Arabia will provide Egypt $2.9 billion of aid in the form of petroleum products and grants for economic development, Al Mal newspaper reported. – With inputs from Bloomberg News

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ENDING DEAL

Volkswagen to sell back $3.8b stake in Suzuki TOKYO: Volkswagen will sell a Suzuki Motor stake valued at about ¥463 billion ($3.8 billion) back to the Japanese carmaker following a decision from arbitrators that ended a four-year dispute over a failed partnership. Volkswagen will sell its 19.9 per cent holding to Suzuki after the arbitrators upheld the Japanese automaker’s request to end the cooperation, the companies said in separate statements on Sunday. The value of the stake, which VW bought from Suzuki in 2010 for ¥222.5 billion, is based on Friday’s closing price. Damages Suzuki also faces the prospect of having to pay damages after arbitrators ruled the Japanese company breached the agreement. The amount of any penalties would be addressed in a further stage of the arbitration proceedings, Suzuki said. The Hamamatsu-based company said it wouldn’t amend proﬁt forecasts as a result of the ruling. The end of the dispute provides Suzuki with the opportunity to ﬁnd a new partner. Toshihiro Suzuki, who succeeded his father Osamu as president of the company on June 30, is pursuing a goal to boost annual revenue to ¥3.7 trillion by March 2020. “It’s like taking out a tiny bone stuck in my throat — I feel refreshed,” Osamu Suzuki, who is now the chairman, said at a press conference in Tokyo. The dispute stemmed from the breakdown of a deal brokered in 2009 by Osamu Suzuki and Ferdinand Piech, who was then VW’s supervisory board chairman. - Bloomberg News

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

MARKET US plans to raise rates

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,904.65 .............. 5,830.54 ...................5,904.44 ................... 5,816.80..................87.64 ................... 1.51 Financial Index ..................................... 7,150.41 .............. 7,040.50 .................... 7,148.77 ................... 7,009.38............... 139.39 ................... 1.99 Industrial Index .................................... 7,641.19 ............... 7,557.50 ....................7,635.96 ....................7,557.50................. 78.46 ................... 1.04 Services Index ...................................... 3,275.40 .............. 3,222.49 ................... 3,274.98 ................... 3,218.65..................56.33 ................... 1.75 MSM SHARIAH INDEX...................... 922.80 ...................911.76 ...................... 922.80 ....................... 911.76..................11.04 ................... 1.21 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 21,846,612 ................. 4,277,334 ..................1,672 ............... 14,695,350,331 ................34 ........................2 ..................... 7 ..........................43

United States inﬂation will likely rebound as pressure from the dollar fades, allowing

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

gradually, said Federal Reserve vice-chairman REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 4,082,781 ...... 795,537...................370 ............0.191 ........... 0.197 ...........0.191 ............0.195 .............0.180 ............0.015 ............. 8.333 ................0.195 ..............0.194...................0.195 ...................29,264,625.........0.100

JACKSON HOLE: United States inflation will likely rebound as pressure from the dollar fades, allowing the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates gradually, Federal Reserve vice-chairman Stanley Fischer has said in a speech careful not to overreact to a possible Chinese slowdown. The influential US central banker was circumspect whether he would prefer to raise rates from near zero at a much-anticipated policy meeting from Stanley Fischer, vice-chairman September 16 to 17. But he said of Federal Reserve. – Bloomberg News downward price pressure from the rising dollar, falling oil pricAt the same time, Fischer, Cares, and slack in the US labour ney and other policymakers are market is fading. The cautious confidence from wrestling with the world’s stubFischer, as well as from Bank of bornly low levels of inflation, and England governor Mark Carney recognising that the rapid pace of who spoke at a conference along- globalization over the last quarside him, suggests at least two ma- ter century may have made it jor central banks are poised to look harder for any individual country beyond a week of financial-market to move inflation higher. turmoil brought on by fears that Inflation targets China’s economy is faltering. “Given the apparent stability “There are profound secular and of inflation expectations, there cyclical disinflationary forces is good reason to believe that in- at work in the global economy,” flation will move higher as the Carney said, making it harder for forces holding down inflation central banks in London, Washdissipate further,” Fischer told ington and elsewhere to reach a central bankers’ conference in the inflation targets they have set as a core policy goal. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Fed has said it wants to be reasonably confident that Monetary policy “With inflation low, we can inflation, which has been stuck probably remove accommoda- below its 2-per cent target for tion at a gradual pace,” he added. a few years, will rebound in the “Yet, because monetary policy medium term. The pickup in influences real activity with a prices could stall, however, if a substantial lag, we should not slowdown in China and falling wait until inflation is back to 2 commodity prices drag down the global economy. per cent to begin tightening.” “At this moment, we are followCentral banks and governments globally are bracing for the ing developments in the Chinese Fed decision, which could weak- economy and their actual and poen foreign currencies and put tential effects on other economies even more pressure on emerging even more closely than usual,” markets already reeling after the said Fischer, a close ally of Fed chair Janet Yellen. - Reuters volatile global stocks selloff.

OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ...............21,400 ............... 5,148........................5 ........... 0.242...........0.242 ...........0.240 .......... 0.241 .............0.225 ............0.016 ..............7.111 .................0.240 ............ 0.220...................0.225 ................... 8,090,719 ..........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 417,410 .............25,794..................... 23 ........... 0.062 ...........0.063 ...........0.060........... 0.062 .............0.058 ........... 0.004............. 6.897 ................0.063..............0.061...................0.063...................12,843,386 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 1,538,980 ...... 277,575...................106 ............0.175 ........... 0.182 ...........0.175 ........... 0.180 ............. 0.169.............0.011 ............. 6.509 ................0.181 ..............0.180................... 0.181 ...................36,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 869,500 ............ 99,713......................71 ............0.113 ........... 0.116............0.112 ............0.115 .............0.108 ........... 0.007............. 6.481 ................0.114 .............. 0.114................... 0.115 .................... 6,766,970 ..........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 210,205 ........... 22,376..................... 35 ............0.105 ........... 0.108 ...........0.105 ........... 0.106 .............0.100 ........... 0.006.............6.000 ................0.107 ..............0.106...................0.107....................3,180,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 707,750.............75,337..................... 68 ............0.105 ........... 0.109 ...........0.105 ........... 0.106 ............. 0.101............ 0.005.............4.950 ................0.105 ..............0.104...................0.105...................30,737,948 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 1,110,100 ........122,771..................... 63 ............0.110 ........... 0.112............0.110 ............0.111..............0.106 ........... 0.005............. 4.717 ................0.110 .............. 0.110................... 0.111 ................... 13,528,125 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ...................................................67,173 .............35,133......................19 ........... 0.526 ...........0.530 ...........0.520........... 0.524 .............0.506 ............0.018 ............. 3.557 ................0.520..............0.520...................0.526...................27,510,000 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 622,780 ......... 164,107......................61 ........... 0.260...........0.266 ...........0.260 .......... 0.264 .............0.255 ........... 0.009............. 3.529 ................0.264..............0.263...................0.264 ..................26,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 183,194 .............40,141......................19 ............0.216 ........... 0.221 ...........0.216 ........... 0.219 .............0.212 ........... 0.007............. 3.302 ................0.221..............0.218...................0.221..................147,800,347 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 178,641 .............39,156.....................22 ............0.215 ...........0.220 ...........0.215 ........... 0.219 .............0.212 ........... 0.007............. 3.302 ................0.219 ..............0.218...................0.221..................156,454,988........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 280,377 ........... 49,637......................11 ............0.177 ........... 0.178 ...........0.177 ............0.177 ............. 0.172............ 0.005.............2.907 ................0.177 .............. 0.177...................0.179 ..................255,134,880........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 951,500 ......... 170,397..................... 89 ............0.177 ........... 0.181............0.175 ............0.179 ............. 0.174............ 0.005............. 2.874 ................0.175 .............. 0.175...................0.178 ...................52,026,533.........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING ........................................... 50,000 ............ 37,400........................1 ............0.748 ........... 0.748 ...........0.748 ............0.748 .............0.728............ 0.020............. 2.747 ................0.748 ..............0.748...................0.768..................149,327,429 ........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 2,577,247 ..... 294,008................... 177 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............0.113 ............0.114 ............. 0.111 ............ 0.003............. 2.703 ................0.114 .............. 0.114................... 0.115 ...................10,260,000.........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ...............................................................9,000 ...............2,947........................4 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.322........... 0.328 .............0.320 ........... 0.008.............2.500 ................0.330..............0.322...................0.330 ..................16,400,000.........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 113,200..........192,440..................... 28 ............1.700 ........... 1.700 ...........1.700 ............1.700 .............1.660............ 0.040............. 2.410 ................1.700 .............. 1.700................... 1.710 ................1,275,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 290,382 ............25,637..................... 36 ........... 0.089 ...........0.089 ...........0.088........... 0.088 .............0.086 ........... 0.002.............2.326 ................0.088..............0.087...................0.088...................15,400,000.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 683,400 ......... 497,427.....................24 ............0.720 ........... 0.728 ...........0.720........... 0.728 ............. 0.712.............0.016 .............2.247 ................0.728 ..............0.720...................0.732..................473,887,399........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...................................29,700 ............ 60,885........................3 ........... 2.050 ...........2.050 ...........2.050........... 2.050 .............2.005 ............0.045.............2.244 ................2.050............. 0.000...................2.080 .................194,750,000........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................10,000 ...............3,700........................1 ........... 0.370 ...........0.370 ...........0.370........... 0.370 .............0.362 ........... 0.008............. 2.210 ................0.370..............0.372...................0.374..................109,599,062........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ......................................................87,200 .............10,275........................7 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............ 0.117 ............0.118 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.002............. 1.724 ................0.117 .............. 0.116................... 0.117 ................. 236,036,909 .......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 189,430............ 49,069......................18 ........... 0.259 ...........0.265 ...........0.259........... 0.259 .............0.255 ........... 0.004............. 1.569 ................0.259..............0.259...................0.264 ...................5,439,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 368,840 ..........112,175.....................24 ........... 0.306 ...........0.306 ...........0.304 .......... 0.304 .............0.300 ........... 0.004............. 1.333 ................0.304............. 0.304...................0.324 .................407,575,916 ........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 200,000...........40,400........................2 ........... 0.202...........0.202 ...........0.202 .......... 0.202 .............0.200 ........... 0.002............. 1.000 ................0.202 .............0.198...................0.202 .................287,857,301 ........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 583,928 ......... 299,176..................... 85 ............0.512 ........... 0.516 ...........0.512 ............0.512 .............0.508 ........... 0.004............. 0.787 ................0.514 .............. 0.512...................0.514.................1,173,413,170.......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .........................................................................3,156 ...............1,464........................1 ........... 0.464 ...........0.464 ...........0.464........... 0.472 .............0.472 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.464..............0.464...................0.480 .................260,950,695 .......0.100 OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS.............................................................3,000 ...............4,350........................1 ............1.450 ........... 1.450 ...........1.450 ............1.495 ............. 1.495............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.450 ..............1.450...................0.000 ..................72,003,781 .........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ..............................................3,000 ............... 1,074........................1 ........... 0.358 ........... 0.358 ...........0.358........... 0.358 .............0.358 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.358..............0.334...................0.358................... 21,911,130 .........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ............ 500 .................. 985........................1 ............1.970 ........... 1.970 ...........1.970 ........... 1.970 .............1.970............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.970 ..............1.970...................2.050 .................135,930,000........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH...................................................1,414 ...............3,563........................2 ........... 2.520 ...........2.520 ...........2.520........... 2.520 .............2.520 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.520..............2.520...................2.550..................240,552,131 ........1.000 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 266,108 ........... 42,391..................... 28 ............0.159 ........... 0.161............0.158 ............0.159 ............. 0.161 ............-0.002 ........... -1.242 ...............0.159 .............. 0.158...................0.159....................15,111,360 .........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ..................20,533 ...............2,382........................4 ............0.116 ........... 0.116............0.116 ............0.116 ............. 0.118............-0.002 ............-1.695................0.116 .............. 0.110................... 0.116 ...................23,200,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 16,731,829 3,604,570................1,410 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......34........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING ....................................... 4,576 ................1,121........................3 ........... 0.245 ...........0.245 ...........0.245........... 0.245 .............0.223 ........... 0.022............. 9.865 ................0.245..............0.245...................0.000 ................... 1,470,000 ..........1.000 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 946,700 ........... 62,396..................... 49 ........... 0.065 ...........0.066 ...........0.065........... 0.066 .............0.062 ........... 0.004............. 6.452 ................0.065..............0.064...................0.065...................99,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 108,000 ............10,063......................14 ........... 0.092 ........... 0.095 ...........0.092........... 0.093 .............0.088 ........... 0.005............. 5.682 ................0.094..............0.093...................0.094 ...................6,994,344 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 219,341 .............15,126........................6 ........... 0.067 ........... 0.071 ...........0.067........... 0.069 .............0.067 ........... 0.002............. 2.985 ................0.070..............0.068...................0.070...................69,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001301 ............DHOFAR CATTLE FEED .......................................... 385,000 ........... 77,000........................8 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 ............. 0.195............ 0.005.............2.564 ................0.200 ............ 0.200...................0.205 ..................15,400,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ......................................................... 5,500 .................. 283........................2 ........... 0.053 ........... 0.053 ...........0.051 ............0.051 .............0.050 ............0.001 .............2.000 ................0.051 .............. 0.051...................0.053....................6,375,000 ..........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 3,359,131....... 503,616................... 169 ............0.149 ........... 0.151............0.148 ........... 0.150 .............0.148............ 0.002..............1.351.................0.150 ..............0.150................... 0.151 ..................219,390,219 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................85,885 ...............3,095..................... 10 ........... 0.038 ...........0.038 ...........0.036........... 0.036 .............0.036 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.036..............0.036...................0.037....................3,060,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,114,133 .......672,699...................261 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 8........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ECONOMY

Brazil says new tax needed to avoid becoming next Greece CAMPOS DO JORDAO: Brazil's Finance Minister Joaquim Levy has said he now favours reviving an old tax on financial transactions to cope with Brazil’s fiscal crunch in a slumping economy, and warned that without new taxation the country could face a crisis like Greece’s. “Nobody can agree that increased spending without increased taxation is viable,” Levy said at a financial markets conference organised by Sao Paulo bourse operator BM&F Bovespa. “If you want to become Greece and say no to any kind of tax, that will have consequences. The Brazilian government is planning to send Congress a bill reintroducing a tax known as CMPF, a 0.38 per cent levy on financial transactions, known as CPMF, to raise about 68 billion reais ($18.99 billion) a year to plug a gaping fiscal deficit. Levy had said in June that we was not planning to revive the CMPF, an unpopular tax that was abolished by Congress in 2007. But the world’s seventh largest economy has slid into a recession that is deeper than expected and fiscal revenues are dropping to

Joaquim Levy. – Reuters

the point where new taxation is vital to meet ﬁscal savings targets in 2016 and 2017. Great Depression The economy shrank 1.9 per cent in the second quarter, sinking into the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Many economists believe Brazil will not see signs of a recovery until well into 2016.

A senior government official told Reuters on Friday that Brazil will not reach its 2016 fiscal savings target unless Congress approves reinstating the CPMF, and he acknowledged Brazil is already struggling to meet this year’s fiscal goal as spending cuts reach their limit. Opposition leaders and even members of President Dilma Rousseff ’s main ally, the PMDB party, have said they oppose bringing back the CPMF and will vote down the government’s proposal to reinstate the tax. To avoid becoming the next Greece, Brazil must face the reality of its deteriorated fiscal situation and then create the bases for a return to growth, Levy said. He dismissed views that the austerity drive he is leading has pushed Brazil into recession, which he said is the result of the uncertainty prevailing among investors and businesses. Levy told reporters he does not believe the recession will last two years, and some industries are showing signs of recovery and will see a turnaround by the end of the year. He cited the paper, glass and non-ferrous sectors. -Reuters

ISLAMIC BANKING

< FROM

B1 Islamic assets in UAE, Qatar “For example, the ﬁve-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in Qatar was 31 per cent which is 1.8 times faster than its conventional banking with $54 billion worth of Islamic assets representing 24 per cent market share,” he said. In the UAE, it is lower at 14 per

cent but still three times faster than its conventional banking sector with $83 billion worth of Islamic assets representing 17 per cent market share, El Jaroudi explained. He added that in some other countries, the Islamic banking sector has experienced more

challenges that curtailed its growth altogether, although it could be due to geo-politics or that Muslims are not the majority in those markets. “So we have to look at the growth of this growing sector in Oman and appreciate its achievements thus far,” the CEO of Bank Nizwa concluded.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

Fujifilm finds a ‘second life’ Fujifilm’s chairman Shigetaka Komori is venturing further into unchartered territory, with plans to spend more than 400 billion yen on acquisitions by 2017, add new product lines and make a push into healthcare. Other new ideas he is testing include

WIDE VAREITY: An employee arranges Fujiﬁlm Holdings Corp.’s Astalift brand skincare products on

a ﬁlter for natural

display at the company’s showroom in Tokyo. Over the last decade, Fujifilm chairman Shigetaka Komori diversified into new businesses as demand for the company’s trademark green photo-film boxes plummeted and archrival Eastman Kodak went bankrupt. — Bloomberg News picture

stem cells capable of regenerating tissue in the human body.

It’s like in the military. Leaders need to be briefing their men every day on what is going on and what needs to be done, and make sure everyone acts all the way down

uring a recent magazine shoot in Japan, Fujifilm Holdings Corp.’s chairman Shigetaka Komori posed in a white lab coat, wielding a test tube in his hand. Komori is no scientist, but the image embodies the Japanese brand’s shift away from photo-film and to new science and technology markets: Ebola drugs, anti-ageing lotions and stem cell research. Over the last decade, Komori diversified into new businesses as demand for the company’s trademark green photo-film boxes plummeted and archrival Eastman Kodak went bankrupt. Fujifilm this year reported record profit of 119 billion yen ($950 million) and analysts expect a jump of more than five per cent by next spring. Last month it announced a 100 billion yen share buyback — its largest ever. Now, the 75-year-old executive is venturing further into unchartered territory, with plans to spend more than 400 billion yen on acquisitions by 2017, add new product lines and make a more aggressive push into health care. Among the new ideas he is testing: a filter for natural gas purification and stem cells capable of regenerating tissue in the human body. “I wouldn’t say we’ve won yet,” said Komori, who is also chief executive officer. “It’s difficult for any company to declare that because everything is changing so fast. We’re going to keep going.” In an interview on the 12th floor of Fujifilm’s Tokyo headquarters, Komori laid out his ambitions for

P R O D UC T U P D AT E S

iPhone 5c to be discontinued, no plan for replacement Apple is to drop the iPhone 5c after it launches the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus — and nothing will replace it, at least immediately. Every other iPhone will get upgraded or become cheaper after an event in September. But the iPhone 5c will be killed off. The phone was released alongside the iPhone 5s in 2014. It packed the insides of its predecessor, the iPhone 5, into a new colourful case and became Apple’s cheapest handset. But now it will be dropped, leaving Apple likely to keep selling the 5s, according to 9to5mac. It could be replaced by an iPhone 6c — but not immediately. Many had hoped that the iPhone 6c would keep the smaller form factor of previous iPhones around. Apple expanded the size of its iPhones with the 6 and 6 Plus last year — a move that increased sales, but displeased some who preferred the smaller screens. That 4-inch phone could debut later in the year. But it isn’t ready to arrive alongside the new phones, which are expected to launch at Apple’s September event. The phone would probably pack the capabilities of the iPhone 6 into a smaller case, according to the reports. The 5c might stay on in some markets, where Apple will keep it as a cheaper option in locations where they need to keep prices low. But otherwise the 5s will take its place, below the 6 and 6 Plus — which will drop in price — and then the new phones at the top. Killing the iPhone 5c follows rumoursof its demise as early as November last year. — The Independent

Google Chrome to kill Flash auto-play, stop annoying ads

more aggressive

gas puriﬁcation and

FACEBOOK GETS 1 BILLION USERS IN A DAY One billion people use Facebook in just one day — making it far bigger than most countries, and easily the most used technology product on Earth. Mark Zuckerberg announced that for the ﬁrst time, the site had passed the milestone number that meant that one in seven people on Earth used the site. “We just passed an important milestone,” Zuckerberg wrote in a post on his personal Facebook. “For the ﬁrst time ever, one billion people used Facebook in a single day.”

Shigetaka Komori Chairman, Fujifilm the next stage of the company’s makeover, which includes plans to double health-care revenue to one trillion yen by 2018. A part of that mission, he says, will be driven by regenerative medicine, which uses cells and other methods to repair damaged body organs. While the science is nascent, Japan’s regulatory climate has just turned more favourable. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government recently eased approval rules, making Japan one of the world’s fastest places to get a regenerative medical product on the market. In March, Fujiﬁlm agreed to pay $307 million for US-based Cellular Dynamics International, a producer of iPS cells, types of stem cells capable of morphing into any body part. Another Fujiﬁlm unit called Japan Tissue Engineering already has regenerated cartilage and skin products on the market, used by burn victims and others. The hope is that these businesses could someday create cells to help damaged organs like the liver or pancreas grow again. “Think about it like this: we’re a company that specialises in managing cells,” says Yuzo Toda, the chemist Komori has entrusted to lead the push into cosmetics and

pharmaceuticals. “We look for game changers, areas which Fuji can win at. Controlling microenvironments? We know that.” Other Japanese tech companies are also trying to reinvent themselves. Walkman inventor Sony has morphed into a supplier of camera sensors for smartphone makers. Panasonic has branched off into supplying batteries to Tesla Motors. Komori’s efforts began a decade ago, when the ascent of digital cameras and smartphones began cannibalising film sales. That led him to push the company’s engineers and executives to take a long, close look at the technology that helps perfect the dozens of layers and compounds in photographic film. Fujifilm went on to reapply that expertise to new businesses, including skin care and film that holds LCD screens together. The company made deals, including the acquisition of drugmaker Toyama Chemical, maker of an antiviral drug that was used by some Ebola patients last year. Photocopier machines and printers became its largest source of revenue after the slump in film. While these are likely to remain the biggest businesses, Komori sees the newer biotechnology and pharmaceuti-

cal operations as future drivers of growth. Investors have so far applauded the strategic shift. “I can praise their efforts for revenue diversification with businesses such as regenerative medicine, cosmetic items,” said Minoru Matsuno, president of Value Search Asset Management, a Tokyo-based investment advisory firm. “For another stage of growth, they need more aggressive acquisitions and strategic alliances.” With his investments in unproven new areas, Komori faces risks: the possibility of unsuccessful products and a long wait for any payout. “The field of regenerative medicine is difficult, but it’s one to look forward to,” said Tetsuya Wadaki, an analyst with Nomura Securities. A lifelong Fujifilm employee who took over as CEO in 2003, Komori has sometimes likened his role to that of a general going into battle. He talks about taking calculated risks, and in his memoir “Innovating Out of Crisis” mentions reading Winston Churchill’s World War II account several times. Yuuki, the Japanese word for courage, is framed on a conference room wall where he receives guests. — NATASHA KHAN & KIYOTAKA MATSUDA/Washington Post-Bloomberg News

Google Chrome is to stop Flash ads from auto-playing in people’s browsers, helping further kill off the much-hated software. The company will let the kinds of Flash videos that people might actually want through. But everything else will be auto-paused, meaning that it won’t start playing until it’s clicked. That will mean that the annoying and sometimes dangerous ﬂash ads that start playing when navigating to a website will be over for Chrome users. As well as stopping ads, the change could also help Chrome take up less memory — important, especially on less powerful computers. Big web pages can often slow down Chrome completely, which can in turn bring computers to a halt. And Flash has been often criticised for being a security concern in the way that it has previously been exploited to let people run malicious code on users’ computers. As such, many have prophesised — and hoped for — its death. Chrome’s settings already allow people to block such content, by heading to the settings and checking the “Detect and run important plugin content” option, which can be found in “Advanced settings”. But now Chrome will be turning it on by default — and potentially killing off the use of the software when it does so. — The Independent

BMW not to give domain to Google’s new Alphabet BMW won’t give Google the website for its new name, Alphabet, and might look into suing the company for stealing its brand. Google launched its re-branding this week to huge interest, announcing that the main company would change its name to Alphabet and that Google will just be one company underneath that umbrella. But it did so without having the website Alphabet.com, or the Twitter account @Alphabet. The website is owned by BMW, which owns a ﬂeet services company also called Alphabet. Google’s new company is instead operating at abc.xyz. Alphabet.com broke shortly after the news was announced, and has not come back up since. A BMW spokeswoman told Reuters that it is “examining whether there are any implications over trademarks”. It doesn’t have plans at the moment to take legal steps, Reuters reported. BMW told the New York Times that it wasn’t planning to sell the name and that it is a “very active” part of the Alphabet business. Google is likely to steer clear of legal challenges because Alphabet won’t actually make products or work as a brand in its own right. Instead, it will own the rest of the brands currently owned by Google, many of which will now stand on their own. As Reuters points out, there are 103 different trademarks in the US alone that use the word Alphabet or a variation on it. — The Independent

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

ROUND-UP New India Assurance opens new branch in Oman Avenues Mall that with the customer friendly attitude, New India will scale new heights in the Oman general insurance market in the days to come and ensured all support and cooperation from Indian Embassy as part of Indo Oman bilateral business relationship.

The Al Khuwair branch office was inaugurated by Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman

MUSCAT: New India Assurance Company opened its Al Khuwair branch in the Oman Avenues Mall, next to Lulu hypermarket, Ghubra recently to serve the general public in an elegant manner and also to reach the customers closely. The new branch office was in-

augurated by Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman, in the presence of Dr K. P. Sebastian, chief operating officer, New India Assurance

Company, Oman Operations, I. M. Jacob, general manager, Wilson Raj, chief ﬁnancial officer, Abdul Aziz & Brothers and Majid Group Companies, says a press release.

The inaugural ceremony was also witnessed by specially invited guests and customers. In his address, Indra Mani Pandey acknowledged the excellent

COLOURFUL ACCESSORIES

service parameters adopted by New India Assurance and conveyed best wishes for the new branch office operation. The ambassador went on to add

Customised services Dr Sebastian reaffirmed that the company is committed to give more customised services to its valued customers and the general public based on their speciﬁc needs and requirements. Further, Dr Sebastian expressed his gratitude towards the support and business relationship extended by expatriate community and the Omani nationals and hoped for further growth and prosperity for the company in the days to come. He also thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and citizens of Oman for their support to the New India Assurance Co.

I N D I A N I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY

I-Day celebration at Indian School Rustaq

Home Centre adds new arrivals to its ‘Back to School’ collection MUSCAT: With the new academic year around the corner, children and their parents are gearing up for another eventful school term ﬁlled with fun, laughter and academic achievements. To give the young achievers a head start, Home Centre’s specially assembled ‘Back to School’ collection has been designed to keep kids inspired and refreshed through the year, says a press release. This year, the Home Centre ‘Back to School’ collection features colourful accessories, furniture, and storage compartments showcasing the latest prints and colour trends. The furnishings speciﬁcally include a range of storage units for stationery and books, clothes hangers, comforters, beds, rugs, lamps and wall stickers that are certain to appeal to children and

young adults. Some timely advice from Michelle Dinsmore, head of Visual Merchandising, Home Centre: “By slightly revamping your child’s room to include extra storage space, or by jazzing up the colour

SPECIALIST

responsibilities, but also encourages them to associate their space with a new personality which is vital for high energy and growth.” Home Centre’s ‘Back to School’ collection is available across all its outlets in Oman.

tance of celebrating the Independence Day. He also stressed the need for maintaining unity among the citizens. A powerpoint presentation depicting the freedom struggle and events leading to India’s Independence was also shown by him to the audience. Children dressed up as freedom ﬁghters presented a declamation, paying tribute to the great leaders and martyrs who had laid down their lives and contributed to the freedom struggle. School captains Ajmi Sultana and Kousar Ibrahim spoke on the importance of the day. The cute performance to an action song by the tiny tots of kindergarten enthralled the audience. Students were also shown a documentary A Glimpse of India: Proud to be an Indian. Veena Reji, the English teacher, conducted the programme and also proposed the vote of thanks.

INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME

Apollo Muscat welcomes new orthopaedic surgeon MUSCAT: Apollo Medical Centre, part of Apollo Group of Hospitals, India — a leading quality healthcare provider in the Sultanate of Oman — has expanded its Department of Orthopaedics by having Dr Raghavan Sivaram on board. Dr Raghavan earned his master’s degree from Ramachandra University, Chennai, India in 2008 and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, says a press release. Dr Raghavan was part of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai where he was worked with leading names in the knee and joint replacement space like Dr P. Suryanarayanan, Dr Lenin. Later Dr Raghavan has also worked with Dr Sajan Hegde at Apollo Chennai, one of the renowned names in the Orthopaedics (Spine) in India. In 2012, he moved as an independent specialist orthopaedic surgeon to Meenakshi Mission Hospitals, a 650-bedded centre with large inﬂow of trauma cases. In 2014 he got trained at Frankfurt University Hospital, Germany with prof. Rauchmann, a renowned spine and knee replacement sur-

palette with a new bed or lamp, you’ll notice a change in the enthusiasm levels of your child. Children and teens alike need a space where they can see their clothes, accessories and stationery clearly. This not only helps them manage their

RUSTAQ: Indian School Rustaq celebrated the 69th Independence Day of India with great patriotic fervour and enthusiasm. The school premises was adorned with tricolour balloons and ﬂags. The programme started with the unfurling of the national ﬂag by Dr Mathew Varghese, president of School Management Committee, which was followed by the prayer song and National Anthem, says a press release. Members of the School Management Committee, Abdulla P, Dr Ashok Manavazhi and Mohammad Riyaz Khan; principal, staff, parents and students were present on the occasion. Principal Suja Jacob welcomed the gathering. The melodious songs sung by the school choir evoked a sense of pride and patriotism in the gathering. Dr Mathew Varghese in his address highlighted the impor-

With Dr Raghavan Sivaram’s addition the orthopaedic panel at Apollo Hospital strengthens to four full time experts geon. The special interest of Dr Raghavan includes all kinds of knee disorders, trauma surgeries, arthroscopies and spine surgeries (both lumbar and cervical) routine general orthopaedic care including hand, foot and fracture treatment. “Orthopaedics and sports medicine is what distinguishes Apollo Muscat and enables us to continue to provide excellent care for a growing population that is desiring to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Dr Raghavan’s addition will strengthen our ability in orthopaedic sports medicine space,” said Abhilash Pillai, chief operating officer at Apollo Muscat. With Dr Raghavan’s addition, the orthopaedic panel at Apollo strengthens to 4 full time experts.

BankDhofar trains branch heads on fund transfer pricing systems MUSCAT: As part of its investment in the development and professional growth of its human capital, BankDhofar recently conducted an intensive training programme on Fund Transfer Pricing with the participation of 13 managers from branches across the Sultanate. The programme aimed to further enhance the professional capacities of branch managers in order to further enrich customers’ experience, says a press release. The training programme was developed and delivered by experts within the bank, and it focused on understanding the interest rate risk, role of central funding desk, various type of funds transfer pricing systems and its impact of segment proﬁtability. The workshop also highlighted risks in the balance sheet structure, assessment and mitigation. Commenting on the intensive training programme, Khalid Al Riyami, executive manager/acting head, Learning & Development at BankDhofar, noted: “This programme is part of our long-term training strategy that aims at en-

hancing our staff performance on all levels in order to enrich BankDhofar customers’ experience and provide the best banking services and products in the market. Managers from branches across the Sultanate joined this training programme which included in-class seminars and workshops at the bank’s Training Centre as well as practical on-the-job assignments.” Staff training and development is one of the key pillars in BankDhofar operational strategy. The combination of the thorough vision of BankDhofar’s executive management, the compre-

hensive operational strategy that revolves around following best international banking practices and providing best customer experience, as well as commitment to community development and contribution to the growth of the national economy, placed BankDhofar on top of the list of best banks in the region. In 2015 alone, BankDhofar received a number of prestigious awards from leading international organisations, including ‘STP Award 2014’ by Commerzbank, Germany, ‘Best Mobile E-Commerce Bank 2015’ and ‘Best SME Bank Oman 2015’ by Global

Banking & Finance Review, ‘Islamic Bank of the Year – Oman 2015’ by The Banker, ‘Best Mobile Banking Oman 2015’ and ‘Best Islamic Window – Maisarah, Oman 2015’ by International Finance Magazine (IMF), ‘SME Bank of the Year – Oman’ and ‘Website of the Year – Oman’ in the ABF Retail Banking Awards 2015, ‘Oman Domestic Project Finance Bank of the Year’ and ‘Oman Domestic Cash Management Bank of the Year’ in the ABF Wholesale Banking Awards 2015, ‘Best Branch Automation Project in Middle East 2015’ by The Asian Banker.

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MGM: The coffee capital of Muscat With 11 prominent coffee companies already operating in the mall, Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) announced that organic coffee brand Coffeöl will soon open its doors to the MUSCAT: Boasting an enviable list of food and beverage brands, Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) has also burgeoned into becoming the hub for coffee connoisseurs

public

in the Sultanate. With 11 prominent coffee companies already operating in the mall, MGM announced that organic coffee brand Coffeöl will soon

open its doors to the public. Buzzing with caffeine, the mall is home to international coffee outlets such as Tim Horton’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Costa Coffee,

RECRUIT CAREER COACH

Tips on how to land in a cybersecurity job THE demand for cyber knowhow is only likely to grow. The World Economic Forum placed cybersecurity as one of the top five global risks in 2012, and it has been ranked as a top concern in federal chief information officer surveys. So what would it take to meet that demand? The Maryland Cyber Jobs Report listed qualifications for these positions, which spanned educational levels and experience. Of the open job requisitions that specified a level of education, the majority (76 per cent) required a bachelor’s degree, 17 per cent required only a high school diploma, and just 4 per cent required a master’s degree or doctorate. Thirtythree per cent required experience in the range of 10 to 15 years.

Sandor Boyson, a research professor at the Smith School of Business and an expert in the ﬁeld of cybersecuirty, said organisations are looking for more than just technical skills: “There is an emerging need for cyber expertise than can be applied to business, policy, and international issues.” Dave Cassano, IBM managing director at Altria Group, agreed, saying clients are looking for skilled professionals to design and implement comprehensive information security that covers a wide range of business security priorities. There is concern that there are not enough people in the pipeline. Clearly, more education is needed to entice young people to pursue careers in the cybersecurity space. This is important

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because the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium reported this year that existing IT security professionals are feeling overwhelmed due to staffing shortages, leading to more data breaches. While some students are nervous about the technical aspects of the career, they need to recognise that problem-solving skills, teamwork, and creativity are also important skills in order to be successful in a cyber career. Tips to help land a job in the field of cybersecurity include: Get certified to show mastery of a body of knowledge (e.g., Certified Information Systems Security Professional). Have experience in the military or law enforcement.

Get IT security experience through volunteer work and internships; offer to help IT professors at a local college or university to gain experience. Read up on IT security topics. Do your own background checks in advance of seeking employment to know what will be reported about you (in case there are things flagged that you would need to explain) Be willing to work in fast-paced environments with some unpredictability in job hours. Of course, in any field it is important to stay current with the latest thinking and practice. This is especially true in the field of cybersecurity, where things change rapidly. — Joyce E.A. Russell/The Washington Post

Gloria Jean’s Coffee and Starbucks, among others. With the opening of Coffeöl, Muscat Grand Mall will truly become the onestop destination for those looking

for that perfect cup of coffee, just the way they like it. Muscat Grand Mall endeavours to ensure that their customers and visitors benefit from the freshest and most exciting ingredients that are available in the international market. The mall’s retail offerings are matched by its range of food and beverage outlets – making it one of the most popular destinations in downtown Muscat. Home to over 140 international brands, many of which have entered the Oman market for the first time - Muscat Grand Mall has increasingly become the retail destination of choice among the people of the Sultanate. With this influx of new global outlets, increasing the choice for customers, the Mall has witnessed a steady boost of visitors. MGM is Oman’s most dynamic shopping destination.

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SHORT-TERM FINANCE

Bank Muscat najahi starts PoS receivables financing MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has launched a first-of-its-kind point of sale (PoS) receivables financing for micro and small businesses as part of its commitment to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives. The specially designed shortterm finance is aimed at meeting the working capital requirements of small businesses and maintaining cash flow, says a press release. The key features of najahi PoS receivables financing include short tenor (ranging from one to six months) with daily instalment repayments. A small amount is automatically deducted daily from customers’ bank account to repay loan. For example, a najahi customer who avails PoS receivable financing of OMR1,000 for six months (180 days) can opt for a daily repayment value as low as OMR5.725. The evergreen facility allows najahi customers to keep

repaying and replenishing the loan, thereby ensuring assured cash flow. Customers are also not required to provide any collateral guarantee for PoS receivables financing, which can be facilitated through simple documentation. The convenience and speed of najahi PoS receivables finance help customers to meet their urgent requirement of funds. In a quick and hassle free process, najahi customers with 1-year PoS track record are eligible to avail the collateral-free finance. The new value-added najahi products and services are aimed at offering a major boost for small businesses in Oman. Bank Muscat has taken major initiatives to provide the required support for entrepreneurs, especially youth, who constitute the future of Oman. The bank’s commitment stems from the strong belief that entrepreneurial ventures help boost the local economy, contribute to the

GDP and create self-employment opportunities for youth. The range of specially designed najahi products for the small business segment include credit facilities without collaterals to establish and develop business. With najahi, Bank Muscat fulfils the primary need of finance for the micro and small business segment. The najahi suite of products comprise flexi loan to support working capital, business expansion and other business needs; contractors loan to help complete contracted jobs; contractors bill discounting for completed contracted jobs; and the newly launched value added current account. Bank Muscat has launched a series of initiatives to strengthen the SME sector in Oman. Serving as building blocks for entrepreneurs, these initiatives assume importance in the backdrop of the priority accorded by the government to develop the SME sector in Oman.

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Dhofar Auto opens new Fiat-Chrysler service showroom Fiat-Chrysler Service Centre in Azaiba has been conceived to offer a convenient and exciting ‘FiatChrysler experience’ to customers

MUSCAT: In pursuing its strategy to create a benchmark in customer experience and service, Dhofar Automotive (DA), sole distributors of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles in Oman, opened its second customer interactive Fiat-Chrysler service facility at Azaiba recently. With the launch of the Azaiba service centre so close on the heels of its Mabelah facility, Dhofar Automotive not only reiterates its excellence in providing stellar customer experience, but also emphasises its dominance in creating complete and superior service facilities for its customers, says a press release. Located behind the Dhofar Automotive showroom in Azaiba, the Fiat-Chrysler Service Centre at Azaiba, has been conceived to offer a convenient and excit-

ing ‘Fiat-Chrysler experience’ to customers. Centralised booking process, meet and greet service, a 45-minute express lane, engaging audio-visual displays, a customer lounge with free Wi-Fi, six-minute service diagnostics, avant-garde wheel balancing bay and ultramodern painting booth are some of the customer facilities provided at this new facility. “With the inauguration of our second customer interactive service facility in Azaiba we have now moved even closer to providing our customers state-ofthe-art ﬁrst class leading service that they deserve,” averred Chris Edwards, general manager, Dhofar Automotive. “The centre is built with the customer in mind and to deliver outstanding service, ensuring that we expand on the Mopar experience to the most important element of our business – our customer. Facilities like the ones provided by this service centre make us optimistic in our outlook and we are conﬁdent that each of our technicians with their proven skill set and thorough market expertise will create new standards

in service,” he added. Roderick Lloyd, head of Aftersales at Dhofar Automotive commented: “Our goal is to strategically expand our Mopar service and parts distribution network in order to support our brands and customers. For this reason, it was important to set up the new service centre equipped with stateof-the-art facilities to further improve the services we offer. It is noteworthy that Mopar parts are unique given that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorised vehicle speciﬁcations for Chrysler and Fiat vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.” Furnished with high quality equipment and Fiat Chrysler trained professionals, Dhofar Automotive’s Azaiba Service Centre has been built at par with the brand’s global benchmark. The service centre is equipped to undertake general repairs, spares and maintenance work, and will employ hand-picked personnel who are well-trained and dedicated to ensure the customers have an enriched car ownership experience. I N D I A N R E A L E S TAT E

Crescent Builders to showcase many new projects at Home Fair MUSCAT: Crescent Builders, the most preferred home maker of Calicut, is going to present a number of new projects in the upcoming HDFC presented India Home Fair, the annual twoday exhibition that showcases projects by leading developers from India. The fair, scheduled to start on September 4, will be held at Al Falaj Hotel. As a leading builder, with over a decade of experience, Crescent Builders has successfully completed and handed over 14 residential project, says a press release. “Our unwavering commitment to deliver superior value has brought us a number of recognitions including the ISO certification, OHSAS 18001:2007, certification for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems and CRISIL 5-Star Rating for Platinum Crescent,” said K. V. Haseeb Ahamed, managing partner. “Crescent Iris, our project at Kovoor, has been completed and handed over before schedule,” he added. Crescent Builders has four projects under construction namely Crescent Tulip, near Sarovaram, Platinum Crescent on Wayanad Road, Near Malabar Christian College, Crescent Aster at Karaparamba and Crescent Zinnia, off Thondayad Junction, Bypass road, Calicut. Apart from offering a bouquet of quality residential projects, Crescent Builders pamper their customers with an innovative loyalty scheme Crescent Solitaire, a first in the industry. Moreover, customers can also make use of the services of our Crescent Home Care Division to resell or rent their home. The two-day event will showcase properties and real estate developments in different parts of India by more than 40 reputed builders. The pan-India presence of properties ensures that there is something in store for all Indians who are staying in the Sultanate. This is for the first time that a reputed bank in India is showcasing all the major builders from India at an exhibition in Oman.

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SPOR YOUR GAME

ROSSI WINS BRITISH GP TO RETAKE TITLE LEAD Italian great Valentino Rossi won a rain-hit British Grand Prix to take a 12-point lead over Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo on Sunday as Marc Marquez’s hopes of retaining the MotoGP title all but vanished. >C3

OMANI HEROES RETURN HOME WITH GCC UNDER-17 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY The jubilant Oman junior squad, who won the GCC Under-17 Football Championship in Qatar, returned home with the winners trophy on Sunday. The team were given a warm reception at the Muscat International Airport by the officials of the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the Oman Football Association. The Omani boys won the title for only second time in the history of the championship when they defeated Saudi Arabia 5-3 via penalties in Saturday’s ﬁnal at Doha’s Aspire Academy.

FOOTBALL

OFA chief Sayyid Khalid

OFA chief lauds Oman U-17 team for winning GCC crown MUSCAT: Oman Football Association (OFA) Chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi, on behalf of OFA board members and staff, congratulated the junior national team on winning the GCC Under-17 Football Championship in Doha on Saturday. In a press statement, the OFA chief said: “Yet, another victory added to the Omani sports excellence in this prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ reign whose endless support is paying off in all aspects of Omani sports, and we are pledged to continue the hard work for more success and victories to come.” “A word of appreciation goes to the young heroes along with the technical and administrative staff who fought till the end, and in spite of all the challenges and obstacles, took the full responsibility and proved that they were up to the challenge. Wishing them all the best in your future endeavors.” TENNIS

Fatma wins two titles in Tunisia

MUSCAT: Omani tennis ace Fatma Al Nabhani won both singles and doubles titles at the just concluded $10,000 El Kantaoui ITF Pro Circuit tournament in Tunisia. According to information provided by the Oman Tennis Association (OTA), in the singles summit clash the third-seeded Omani defeated unseeded Russian Ekterina Kazinova 6-1, 6-4. Earlier in the semiﬁnals, Fatma overcame Slovakian second seed and her doubles partner Michaela Honcova 7-5, 6-4. In the doubles ﬁnal, second seeds Fatma and Michaela thwarted a late charge by topseeded pair Margarita Lazareva of Russia and Sofa Luini of Argentina to seal the title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

SPORTS

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Swansea comeback ends United’s unbeaten start After an entertaining

C L O S E R C O - O P E R AT I O N

Bank Muscat backs equestrian events at Salalah Festival MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the ﬂagship ﬁnancial services provider in the Sultanate, as part of its commitment to preserving the country’s rich traditions, heritage and culture extended lead support to an endurance race for Arabian horses and tent pegging competition organised by the Oman Equestrian Federation from August 9 to 17 as part of Salalah Festival. The event attracted participation of equestrian units and teams from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Kingdom. The endurance race and tent pegging competition served as an opportunity to forge closer co-operation among equestrian enthusiasts in the region. The event helped to raise awareness on equestrian wealth which contributes to sustainable development and economic growth by generating income from horses bred for participation in races as well as other ac-

ﬁrst half ended goalless Juan Mata ﬁred Luke Shaw’s teasing cross into the roof of the net in the 48th minute before Swansea took control

LONDON: Swansea City came from behind to end Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season with an impressive 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. After an entertaining first half ended goalless Juan Mata fired Luke Shaw’s teasing cross into the roof of the net in the 48th minute before Swansea took control. Andre Ayew restored parity with a headed effort 13 minutes later before Bafetimbi Gomis maintained his superb form with a low shot five minutes later as the Welsh side registered their third successive 2-1 league victory over United. “It was a very difficult game,” Swansea captain Ashley Williams told Sky Sports. “We had to dig deep. Any time you can beat one of the top teams shows our improvement. We keep working every day and every week. We want to be a consistently good side.” Earlier, Dusan Tadic’s brace and a goal from Graziano Pelle gave Southampton’s stuttering league campaign lift-off with a comfortable 3-0 victory over promoted Norwich City at St Mary’s . Norwich defender Steven Whittaker was sent off having received two yellow cards within four firsthalf minutes for professional fouls as the south-coast club registered their first victory of the season. United’s solid yet unspectacular start to the season had been built on a steely defence which had yet to concede and had restricted opponents to just five shots on target in three matches this season. Swansea, however, achieved a Premier League double over United last season and had started

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tivities such as competitions and ceremonial functions. Oman is famous for its purebred Arabian horses and the support to the event came within the bank’s strategy to complement the government efforts in preserving the country’s heritage and culture as also to raise awareness on equestrian wealth which is of economic importance to the country. The partnership with Salalah Festival is an earnest attempt by Bank Muscat to propagate the core family values held dear by Omanis. As main sponsor of the annual festival, Bank Muscat aims to unite citizens, residents and visitors in sharing the good times and discovering the joy of being connected. The bank seeks to serve as a focal point in the preservation of Oman’s rich heritage and culture, encouraging people to maintain a strong link to the glorious legacy, thereby reinforcing the Sultanate’s distinct heritage and culture.

TA B L E T E N N I S

FOUL OR FALL: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney falls as Swansea’s Ashley Williams takes the ball away inside the penalty area during their Premier League match at Liberty Stadium on Sunday. – Reuters

the season unbeaten, including an impressive opening-day draw at champions Chelsea. United started brightly, though, with Memphis Depay and Mata sending early warnings of United’s attacking threat. Swansea began to grow into the game having weathered United’s early attacking raids with Gylfi Sigurdsson firing agonisingly wide before Bafetimbi Gomis curled an effort against the post. Wayne Rooney netted a midweek Champions League hat-trick but continued his underwhelming domestic form, squandering a host of inviting chances and having fewer first-half touches than every other United player. After the break Mata fired in before the hosts turned the game on its head. Ayew headed home Sigurdsson’s cross before the Ghanaian’s stunning pass created space for Gomis to slide home his

ninth goal in his last 10 Premier League matches. Southampton canter The surprise packages of last season having finished seventh, Southampton had been out-ofsorts, taking just two points from three games and failing to score since the opening day. Sunday’s first half was a microcosm of their season, plenty of possession and chances but a lack of killer instinct in front of goal. James Ward-Prowse, Fonte, Pelle and the impressive Sadio Mane all went close in a dominant yet fruitless opening 20 minutes before Whittaker was dismissed. After Pelle stabbed home in the 45th minute Tadic fired home Mane’s cross for a superb second then applied the finishing touch after Pelle’s header was parried into his path two minutes later. Jay Rodriguez, still making his

way back from a long-term knee injury, was brought on after the break and was lively throughout, forcing John Ruddy into a number of saves. “We haven’t had the start we wanted in the league,” Saints captain Jose Fonte told Sky Sports. “But the most important thing today was getting back to winning games. “We have massive responsibility now we are seen as a good team so we need to win and that’s the mentality we have to implant in every game.” Swansea, who have eight points from four games, leapfrogged United, with seven, into fourth. Southampton moved up to 10th with ﬁve points while Norwich sit one point adrift in 14th. Manchester City top the standings going into the international break with a maximum 12 points from four games, three ahead of Crystal Palace. - Reuters

Sai Saran, Subramanian in men’s A singles final MUSCAT: Talented teenager P. Sai Saran will take on veteran R. Subramanian in the final of the men’s A singles at the Annual Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat and co-sponsored by Muscat Insurance Services (MIS) and Oman United Insurance Company (OUIC). In the semifinals, Sai Sharan faced stiff resistance but showed tremendous will-power and resolve as he shrugged off a twogame deficit to defeat his doubles partner Yash Tanna with final scores of 11-13, 14-16, 11-3, 11-6, 116, 11-13, 11-9 for a place in the final. Attacking game Yash Tanna played brilliant attacking table tennis but ran short of luck against the determined effort put in by Sai Saran. When the chips were down, Yash fought hard to edge through the sixth game and take it to the decider.

Sai Saran opened up a comfortable lead as Yash held his nerves and fought back to close the gap before Sai Saran closed out the match. In the final, Sai Saran will take on experienced R. Subramanian who defeated teenager Pranav Vinod 11-8, 11-6, 11-9, 13-15, 11-7. In the men’s singles quarterfinal league matches, Kenneth Vaz lost his way in the third game but had no difficulty in defeating Yash Tanna 11-9, 11-8, 1-11, 11-7, P. Sai Saran beat R. Subramanian 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, Armaan Sattikar was given a scare before scraping past M V Sai Prem with final scores of 4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, Subash Pillai posted a 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 win over Simon Joseph, Kenneth Vaz overcame R. Subramanian 11-4, 11-9, 11-6, so did Yash Tanna who beat Subramanian 8-11, 11-2, 117, 11-9 and Subash Pillai beat Armaan Sattikar 11-7, 111-9, 11-7 to go to the top of his group.

C O N S T RUC T I O N C O M PA N Y

Al Turki to support NBO Golf Classic Grand Final MUSCAT: Omani construction company Al Turki have announced that they will be a supporting sponsor of this year’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, taking place at Almouj Golf at The Wave, Muscat from November 4 to November 7. The partnership with the National Bank of Oman includes Al Turki providing materials for scaffolding support over the duration of the event which involves provisions and technical support for the hospitality tent, viewing terrace and media centre. This year the event grows in stature, having been elevated to the European Challenge Tour’s season-ending grand ﬁnal, and the infrastructure is being enhanced accordingly. The hospitality tent is expected to dazzle guests due to its size, which will wrap around the 18thgreen of the course, and the whole tournament will deliver the look and feel of a fully-ﬂedged international event. Al Turki will support the structures by providing scaffoldings at a height of approximately two metres to overlook the spectacu-

PICTURE PERFECT: This photo dated November 2, 2014 shows action from the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic at Almouj Golf, at The Wave, Muscat. – Supplied photo

lar 18th green at Almouj Golf. Corporate clients and VIP guests will have the chance to watch the golf up close from the comfort of the viewing terrace which will be installed by Wicked Tents. The partnership further promotes the use of local companies in supporting the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final. Al Turki has established a reputation in the

Sultanate of Oman as purely Omani owned construction company known for delivering quality construction, products and services to customers. Since its conception in 1976, Al Turki Enterprises LLC has grown into one of the largest construction companies in Oman with a workforce of over 20,000 people. The NBO Golf Classic Grand

Final will take place at the stunning Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat from November 4 to 7 where only the top 45 players on the Road to Oman Rankings will be eligible to play. In addition to competing for the prestigious title, the top 15 players on the Rankings at the conclusion of play will also be promoted to play on next season’s European Tour.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

SPORTS C O M M E N TA RY

Series decider poised on a razor’s edge

he third Test and ﬁnal match of the India versus Sri Lanka series is turning out to be a real topsy-turvy one emphasising the uncertain nature of the game. The saying, “cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties” can be clearly seen by the way this match has turned this way, then the other, then back the other way and when the rains came once again just before the scheduled close of play the game was once again poised on a razor’s edge. India have their noses in front but not by much thanks to the lead that they have taken but the Lankans will be feeling after they captured the top three Indian wickets that they have given themselves a chance to get back into the game. It was clear at the start of the day’s play that India were not going to look to bat long but maybe for half an hour or so and get as many runs as they could in that period. It was important to try and take advantage of the moisture that may be under the surface and exploit it before it dried out and the pitch became easier for batting. Like India, Sri Lanka too, are unsure about their batting line-up so they had Upul Tharanga opening the batting in place of Karunaratne who had batted so well in the second innings of the second Test match. Tharanga’s technique is not really suited for the seaming deliveries and Ishant got him straightaway. It was noticeable that he bowled a line fuller than he had so far and the results were immediate as there was plenty of playing and

The saying ‘cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties’ can be seen by the way this match has turned missing, edges and catches taken and dropped too. He ended up with a ﬁve-wicket haul and was well supported by Stuart Binny who chipped in with the important wicket of Dinesh Chandimal, who was batting well and looking threatening. Amit Mishra wrapped up the tail though Dhamika Prasad smashed a few and reduced what otherwise would have been a 150 plus lead for India. Kushal Perera and Herath also batted with guts and it was their partnership like the Pujara-ishra one that gave their teams the extra runs that can make the difference in the game. India’s start in the second innings was shocking as Pujara got a real beauty from Prasad who once again took a wicket in his ﬁrst over and then Rahul and Rahane made mistakes in judging the line and length of the deliveries. Much will depend on the Kohli-Sharma partnership if India are to put up another 300 plus target for the Lankans to chase. - PMG

30-TEAM EVENT

Indo-Pak Friends to host cricket tourney MUSCAT: Indo-Pak Friends of Oman will organise an MRI ball cricket tournament to celebrate the Independence Day of both India and Pakistan. The 30-team tournament will have two categories — Indo-Pak Independence Champions Cup and the Junior Cup. In the senior event, the teams will be allowed to ﬁeld two players from Oman Cricket’s A and B Divisions while no senior player

will be allowed to play in the junior tournament. The matches will be played at Al Ghubra Power Plant ground. Attractive prizes will be given away for the winners and runners-up along with individual prizes along with cash awards. Twenty-two teams have already registered for the event. The draws will be conducted on Monday. For Further details contact Pritvi Raj (96433956) or Manu (96542929).

FIVE FOR: India’s Ishant Sharma celebrates after claiming the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga in Colombo on Sunday. – AP/PTI

Bowlers dominate to leave Test wide open SCOREBOARD

Play ended with India on 21 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 132 with seven wickets in hand on a seaming pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club

COLOMBO: The decisive third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka was on a knife edge after 15 wickets fell during a dramatic third day’s play in Colombo on Sunday. Play ended with India on 21 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 132 with seven wickets in hand on a seaming pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club. With the series locked at 1-1 and bowlers from both sides trying to press home the advantage, a fine rearguard action by Sri Lanka’s lower order stood out. India’s makeshift opener Cheteshwar Pujara carried his bat through his side’s innings to anchor his team to a competitive 312 before their first innings ended 25 minutes after the start of the day’s play. The hosts slipped to 47 for six in reply and were in danger of being asked to follow on before the last four wickets added 154 runs in a remarkable revival that helped them to 201 soon after tea. Indian seamer Ishant Sharma picked up five wickets, but Sri Lanka were saved by a defiant 79run partnership between debutant

EARLY STRIKE: Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad, right, celebrates after dismissing India’s Cheteshwar Pujara during the third day of their third and ﬁnal Test match in Colombo on Sunday. – Reuters

wicketkeeper Kusal Perera and tailender Rangana Herath. The pair joined hands with the hosts still 66 away from avoiding the follow-on and with Dhammika Prasad having retired hurt after being hit on the hand by a rising ball from Sharma. Left-handed Perera, making his Test debut after playing 48 Oneday Internationals and 20 Twenty20 games, smashed the Indian bowlers for 55 off 56 balls with the help of nine boundaries. Perera was dismissed by Sharma, top-edging a pull to mid-off, but 37-year-old veteran Herath

MOTOGP

Rossi wins wet British GP to retake title lead

MARCHING AHEAD: Valentino Rossi celebrates with his trophy

SILVERSTONE: Italian great Valentino Rossi won a rainhit British Grand Prix to take a 12-point lead over Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo on Sunday as Marc Marquez’s hopes of retaining the MotoGP title all but vanished. Pole-sitter Marquez fell on the 13th of 20 laps while running a close second, the Honda rider’s crash leaving Rossi clear to take his fourth win of the season and lead an all-Italian podium with Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizioso. Spaniard Lorenzo, who had seized the lead from second on the grid but then faded, ﬁnished fourth. Rossi now has 236 points to Lorenzo’s 224 with six races remaining. The pair had started the day level on points but with Lor-

enzo ahead on race wins. Marquez, now 77 points off the lead, conceded that his bid for a third successive title was effectively over. “We can say that maybe now the championship will be too difficult,” the Spaniard said. The start was delayed for 30 minutes when rain began to fall after the race had originally been declared dry. That led to riders returning to the pits for a change of tyres and setup. Lorenzo seized the lead at the start but Rossi, winning for the first time at Silverstone, passed him on the second lap to cheers from the 73,000 strong crowd. Only Marquez was able to take the fight to him until a front-end wobble threw the Spaniard into the gravel at Copse.

“When I saw Marc crash...I slowed down a little bit because I thought I had more advantage,” said Rossi, who finished three seconds ahead of Petrucci. “I hoped Danilo would not risk too much because it’s his first podium but anyway I had to stay concentrated.” Petrucci’s second for the Pramac Ducati team — after he started 18th — came at the expense of works Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, who had to settle for third. Rossi gave Petrucci a big hug after they stepped off their bikes. Scott Redding was the top British rider, finishing sixth for the Marc VDS Honda team after announcing his move to Pramac for the 2016 season. - Reuters

made 49 and Prasad, who returned to bat after being treated in the dressing room, chipped in with 27. Pujara, who marked his recall to the Indian Test side with an unbeaten 145 in the ﬁrst innings, was bowled by Dhammika Prasad for a second-ball duck in his second knock. Seamer Nuwan Pradeep then bowled Lokesh Rahul and trapped Ajinkya Rahane leg-before to leave India on seven for three wickets. Skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played out time before heavy rain ended play 35 minutes early. - AFP

India 1st innings: L. Rahul b Prasad 2 C. Pujara not out 145 A. Rahane lbw Pradeep 8 V. Kohli c Perera b Mathews 18 R. Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad 26 S. Binny lbw Prasad 0 N. Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal 21 R. Ashwin c Perera b Prasad 5 A. Mishra st Perera b Herath 59 I. Sharma b Herath 6 U. Yadav b Herath 4 Extras (lb-2, w-4, nb-7, pen-5) 18 Total (all out, 100.1 overs) 312 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-64, 4-119, 5-119, 6-173, 7-180, 8-284, 9-298. Bowling: Prasad 26-4-100-4 (nb-4, w-1), Pradeep 22-6-52-1 (w-3), Mathews 13-6-24-1, Herath 27.1-3-84-3, Kaushal 12-2-45-1 (nb-3). Sri Lanka 1st innings: U. Tharanga c Rahul b I. Sharma 4 K. Silva b Yadav 3 D. Karunaratne c Rahul b Binny 11 D. Chandimal lbw Binny 23 A. Mathews c Ojha b I. Sharma 1 L. Thirimanne c Rahul b I. Sharma 0 K. Perera c Kohli b I. Sharma 55 D. Prasad st Ojha b Mishra 27 R. Herath c Ojha b I. Sharma 49 T. Kaushal lbw Mishra 16 N. Pradeep not out 2 Extras (lb-1, w-2, nb-7) 10 Total (all out, 52.2 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-40, 4-45, 5-47, 6-47, 7-127, 8-156, 9-183. Bowling: I. Sharma 15-2-54-5 (nb-6, w-1), Yadav 13-2-64-1, Binny 9-3-24-2 (w-1), Ashwin 8-1-33-0, Mishra 7.2-1-25-2 (nb-1). India 2nd innings: C. Pujara b Prasad 0 L. Rahul b Pradeep 2 A. Rahane lbw Pradeep 4 V. Kohli not out 1 R. Sharma not out 14 Total (3 wkts, 8.1 overs) 21 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-7. Bowling: Prasad 4.1-2-8-1, Pradeep 3-1-62, Herath 1-0-7-0.

MONDAY, ONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

SPORTS

The towering

I’M A CHAMPION AND I SHOW UP WHEN IT MATTERS

Number of gold medals Usain Bolt won in Beijing when he anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m relay, adding to his wins in both the 100m and 200m races

BEIJING: Usain Bolt has warned arned that people write him off at their peril after the imperious Jamaican aican sealed another world treble gold despite an injury-hit season. Bolt anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100m relay to add to his wins in both the 100m and 200m, trumping his much-touted uted and controversial American rival ival Justin Gatlin. It was Bolt’s ﬁfth treble gold old showing in major championships, ips, having performed the same featt at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in Beijing and London, and world chammpionships in 2009 and 2013 in Bererlin and Moscow. His sole hiccup up came in the 2011 worlds in Daegu gu when a false start in the 100m saw w him return home with “only” the he 200m title and a relay gold. “This is even better, just to provee everyone wrong,” Bolt said of hiss treble in Beijing, where his domi-nance of world sprinting started d when he came to prominence in the 2008 Olympics. The towering 29-year-old has sat out six weeks of competitive action this season with pelvic joint pain, but he roared back despite a lack of outings on the circuit in the most impressive way. “This season has been rough,” he admitted. “I’m just hoping that next season won’t be like this. “I’m going to try my utmost best to really get on the right track early in the season and just hopefully can go on to Rio fully ready to run my best. “I was here to do a job and was much more focused than I normally am because normally I’m in great shape with more races under my belt.” After taking the baton from Nickel Ashmeade, Bolt had it all to

do. But a blunder between Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers saw the US quartet fall behind and later disqualified, leaving the way open for Bolt’s 11th world gold. ‘Never any pressure’ “It’s always a good way to end a championships like that,” he said. “It’s pretty much one of my best (results) because of what I’ve been through this season, the doubts that people have had, just everything. I came here and executed to the best of my ability and got three gold medals so I’m happy about that.” Bolt added, however, that there “was never any pressure”. “You can’t have doubts. The moment you have doubts creeping in you shouldn’t run. “I know what I want coming here. My coach (Glen Mills) is always confident in me and I’m confident in him so as long as we work as a team, I have no worry I’ll ever be defeated,” he said. “I came out here and proved everybody that you can never call Usain Bolt out. “I’m a champion and I show up when it matters.” Bolt insisted, however, that he would wait until after next year’s Rio Olympics before allowing himself the right to be called a legend of the sporting world. “I think I’m getting there!” he said with some understatement. “I won’t say that completely out of my mouth until after Rio. After Rio, then I’ll see (if I’m) comfortable enough to say I’m one of them. So we’ll see how Rio goes. “Ending the season on a good note and no injury is brilliant. It helps going into the season on a positive ositive note so (the road to Rio) should hould be good.” - AFP

29-year-old has 29-y out six weeks sat o of competitive com action this season actio pelvic joint with p but he roared pain, b a lack back despite d outings on the of outi circuit in the most impressive way impres

Number of times Bolt came up with treble gold showing in major events. He performed the same feat at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and 2009 and 2013 world championships

Bolt will leave ‘Ali-sized’ ‘A hole, says new IAAF IA boss BEIJING: Usain Bolt has done for athletics what Muhammad Ali did for boxing, but the sport will survive when the sprint king eventually retires, according to new IAAF President Sebastian Coe. The Jamaican superstar, who has captured a staggering 17 of the last 18 sprint gold medals at the Olympics and world championships since 2008, has suggested he could hang up his spikes after next year’s Rio Games. Bolt’s retirement would leave a gaping void for the crisis-hit sport as it continues to fight accusations of widespread doping, but Coe on Sunday expressed confidence in the next generation of track and field athletes. “I do sort of feel that I’m in sort of 1960s, 1970s time warp,” Coe told a news conference on the final day of the world championships in Beijing. “It’s the kind of conversation that was probably taking place in boxing at that time as to what happens after Muhammad Ali retires. “Well, after Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler happens. After Muhammad Ali, (Thomas) Hearns happen, Sugar Ray Leonard, (Floyd) Mayweather. It happens.”

However, Coe admitted How that Bol Bolt — who won yet another sprint treble in Beijing sp — would be a tough act to follow. “Yes, “Y what we have to concede, and what I believe is that I d don’t think any athlete, aany sportsman or woman si since Muhammad Ali has ca captured the public imagination imaginati and propelled their spor sport as quickly and as far as Usai Usain Bolt has,” said the British former Olympic champion. Bolt’s return from a pelvic pelv problem to crush twotwo-time doping offender Justin Just Gatlin came as a timely boost boo to under-ﬁre athletics officials. Usain Bolts of this “The Usa world will n not come along on a conveyor conveyo belt,” added Coe, hours b before officially taking up his duties as the new head of tthe sport’s governing IA IAAF. “We do need to make sure people understand understan we have extraordinary talent, which we’ve witnessed witness in Beijing. “We shouldn’t be concerned because we ha have a sport that is adorned by some of the s most outrageo outrageously superhuman, talented p people in any sport. Our challenge is to chal make sure the p public know there are other athletes in out sport.” - AFP

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SPORTS

Kiprop hat-trick puts Kenya on top F I N A L M E D A L TA L LY

Jamaica ﬁnished second on the medals table ahead of a US team who won only ﬁve golds, their worst tally in the 15 world championships

BEIJING: Asbel Kiprop produced a trademark sprint finish to win a third straight 1,500 metres gold and ensure Kenya topped the medals table at successive World Athletic Championships after the final night of action on Sunday. The United States men won a sixth straight gold in 4x400m relay but Jamaica’s Novlene WilliamsMills ran down tiring American Francena McCorory in the women’s event to claim a sixth gold in Beijing for the Caribbean powerhouse. That was enough for second place on the medals table ahead of a US team who won only five golds, their worst tally in the 15 world championships. Kiprop, Usain Bolt and his fellow Jamaican sprinter Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce were the only individual title winners from the Beijing Olympics to return to the Bird’s Nest and win gold again seven years later. “I am so proud of myself to become part of this exclusive club of three-time world champions,” Kiprop told reporters after clocking three minutes 34.40 seconds to win. “But I would dearly love to defend the title a fourth time in London in 2017. This allows me to join Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli but Hicham El Guerrouj still has one gold more and that is what I am aiming at.” Genzebe Dibaba’s bid to become the first woman to win both the 1,500m and 5,000m at the

KENYAN CLINCHER: Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop, centre, reacts as he crosses the ﬁnish line ahead of Kenya’s Elijah Motonei Manangoi, Moroc-

co’s Abdalaati Iguider (lower) and Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi in the final of the men’s 1500 metres athletics event at the World Athletic Championships at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium in Beijing on Sunday. – AFP

same world championships was thwarted by a stunning run from her teammate Almaz Ayana in the longer race. Ayana ran the last four laps on her own to better the championship record of Dibaba’s sister Tirunesh in a time of 14 minutes 26.83 seconds, leading Senbere Teferi and the younger Dibaba across the line in an Ethiopian sweep. “I had to win the gold medal,” said Ayana, who won by 17 seconds. “I was so surprised to get such so easy victory today. I can’t even explain how I did that today.” Ayana’s gold was the second of the day for Ethiopia after the unrelated Mare Dibaba won the women’s marathon in a thrilling sprint ﬁnish along the home straight.

Dibaba out-kicked Kenya’s Helah Kiprop to win the gruelling event by just one second, crossing the ﬁnish line in two hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds. To the delight of the crowd, hosts China looked to be on course for second title of the championships when Lyu Huihui led the women’s javelin with just one throw remaining. Germany’s Katharina Molitor, however, conjured up the longest throw of her career -- a world leading 67.69 metres -- to take her ﬁrst medal at a major championships. “This event is unpredictable and it is beautiful,” said South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen, who took bronze behind Lyu. “It was a very special performance from the Chinese

girl. And Katharina, wow, nobody expected that.” Jump-off Canada’s Derek Drouin won the men’s high jump gold with a 2.34-metre clearance in a suddendeath jump-off with defending champion Bogdan Bondarenko of Ukraine and China’s Zhang Guowei. After the trio had all failed at 2.36 for a fourth time, the bar was lowered to 2.34 and Drouin cleared it while his rivals failed and shared the silver. “I was ﬁrst in the list and I felt a big pressure,” Drouin said of his winning jump. “I knew I couldn’t make even one mistake as my rivals were very strong and they could use it to get the victory.”

Lashawn Merritt anchored the US team to their victory in the final event of the championships, seeing off an explosive start to the final lap from young Jamaican Javon Francis and crossing the line in two minutes and 57.82 seconds. “I wanted to control the race,” said the 29-year-old Merritt, who won his 11th world championship medal. “But I didn’t even know the guy from Jamaica who was on the anchor leg. I was in such a zone and focused on my people. But that’s the way he runs his race. “I wasn’t really fazed. I picked it up a little bit because he was running hard. Then he was still running hard, I just shifted a gear.” A fifth straight title defence was an appropriate end to a world

World Athletic Championships ﬁnal medals table (read as gold, silver, bronze, total): G S B T Kenya 7 6 3 16 Jamaica 7 2 3 12 United States 6 6 6 18 Britain 4 1 2 7 Ethiopia 3 3 2 8 Poland 3 1 4 8 Canada 2 3 3 8 Germany 2 3 3 8 Russia 2 1 1 4 Cuba 2 1 0 3 China 1 7 1 9 Netherlands 1 1 1 3 South Africa 1 0 2 3 Belarus 1 0 1 2 Colombia 1 0 0 1 Czech Republic 1 0 0 1 Eritrea 1 0 0 1 Spain 1 0 0 1 Slovakia 1 0 0 1 Australia 0 2 0 2 Croatia 0 2 0 2 Bahamas 0 1 1 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0 1 1 2 Ukraine 0 1 1 2 Belgium 0 1 0 1 Brazil 0 1 0 1 Egypt 0 1 0 1 Israel 0 1 0 1 Tajikstan 0 1 0 1 Tunisia 0 1 0 1 France 0 0 2 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 0 1 1 Bahrain 0 0 1 1 Finland 0 0 1 1 Greece 0 0 1 1 Grenada 0 0 1 1 Japan 0 0 1 1 Kazakhstan 0 0 1 1 Latvia 0 0 1 1 Morocco 0 0 1 1 Portugal 0 0 1 1 Serbia 0 0 1 1 Uganda 0 0 1 1

championships that altered very little in the landscape of the sport, despite nine days of sometimes spectacular performances. Despite an injury-ravaged season and the form of Justin Gatlin, Usain Bolt ﬁnished as he started as the dominant athlete of his age with a ﬁfth sprint sweep at a major global championships. - Reuters

TENNIS

Serena and Djokovic in opening day action at US Open NEW YORK: Top-seeded world No. 1s Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic help launch the US Open tennis championships on Monday’s opening day of the year’s ﬁnal Grand Slam. Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Djokovic closes the day programme at Arthur Ashe Stadium against 89th ranked Joao Souza of Brazil. Three-time defending US champion Williams, the Australian, French and Wimbledon champion seeking to become the fourth woman ever to complete a Grand Slam, opens the night programme against 86th-ranked Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia. The tournament’s ﬁrst match on the Arthur Ashe centre court pits seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia against Dominika Cibulko-

Djokovic closes the day programme against Joao Souza, while Williams opens the night programme against Vitalia Diatchenko

va of Slovakia, followed by twotime US Open winner Venus Williams against Puerto Rican Monica Puig. The second Opening Night match under the lights features two-times winner Rafa Nadal of Spain, the eighth seed, against upand-coming Borna Coric of Croatia, an 18-year-old ranked 35th. Ninth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia begins the defence of his men’s

title with a Louis Armstrong Stadium tilt against Guido Pella of Argentina. Cilic follows Japan’s Kei Nishikori onto the Armstrong court. Fourth seed Nishikori, who fell to Cilic in the 2014 US Open ﬁnal, faces France’s Benoit Paire. Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the third seed, closes the Louis Armstrong day session against Australian Daria Gavrilova. - Reuters

READY FOR ACTION: Serena Williams, centre, Rafael Nadal, right, at the Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City on Saturday. – AFP

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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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FOR OVER A DECADE, ONLY TWO BIKES HAVE RULED THE ROOST IN THE HYPER-SPORTS CATEGORY. WHILE THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA ALWAYS REMAINED ON TOP, THE KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-14 HAS NOW REVERSED THE EQUATION – FOR GOOD

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

LIFESTYLE

SUZUKI HAYABUSA GSX-1300R Engine 13400cc, 4-cylinder 4-stroke, Liquid cooling 197 Bhp @9500 rpm 155 Nm @7200 rpn Seat Height 810mm Fuel Tank 21 ltrs Dry Weight 250kg Ground Clearance 120mm 3.0 secs (0-100 kmph) 4.9 secs (0-200 kmph) 12.0 secs (0-250 kmph) 25.4 secs (0-300 kmph) 312 KMPH top speed 12.5 KMPL mileage

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“WHAT’S THE FASTEST BIKE YOU’VE GOT?” For long the answer had been just one: “The Hayabusa”. Suzuki’s big bird wreaked such havoc on its prey that some went extinct (Honda Blackbird) while others ran in circles (Kawasaki ZX-12R) looking for a defence. Other major players like Yamaha didn’t even bother with the hypersport class — the Hayabusa was that good. Suzuki was on a huge horsepower high, in fact, because just two years later its ridiculously quick GSXR1000 beat the rest of the literbike class into submission. Even the incredible Gixxer couldn’t keep pace in a straight line with the mighty 1346cc Hayabusa however, and it simply ﬂew on its own. More than a decade ago, Suzuki developed a machine so unique that it instantly attracted a devoted following around the world. Like its namesake, the Japanese peregrine falcon, the GSX 1300R Hayabusa is famed for cutting through the air with incredible agility and performance. No other bike ever got such a fan following or such recognition that any big size bike is labelled as Hayabusa by the layman. Ride out onto the street on any of the big size sportbikes, and you will be asked by a rookie or two on a corner, or at a traffic signal “is that Hayabusa?” or simply complimented for it, if not asked. The only challenge came from Kawasaki in 2006 with the introduction of the ZX-14, and while it won a few battles it ultimately lost the war. Kawasaki found the Busa’s long standing reputation hard to overcome, not to mention the seven years of beatdowns the Busa had under its beak alongside loads of aftermarket race and customisation parts. From wide tyre bling kings to turbocharged land speed racers, the Suzuki had the scene on lock. In what seemed to be another devastating blow, Suzuki answered Ka-

wasaki’s ZX-14 with a heavily updated Hayabusa in 2008 and it appeared the bird would rule the roost forever. But apparently Kawasaki grew weary of the tug-of-war and decided to end the trench warfare with the 2012 ZX-14R. Those supposed “gentleman’s agreements” to keep horsepower and top speed numbers in check were tossed out the window, and the fastest, most powerful production bike ever was released to an industry that never saw it coming. The outrageous new 1440cc, 210bhp inline 4 motor (upgraded from the previous 1350cc) is a total blindside that nobody could have predicted — it has nearly twenty horsepower over every other bike on the showroom ﬂoor, including the mighty Busa. Meanwhile, with the Busa, it seems Suzuki does not want to go any further. There have literally been no major upgradations on the beast since 2008, except for a few minor tweaks here and there. And while the ZX-14 is all tech loaded, the Busa even got the ABS only in 2015, which the ZX had already got in 2012. For 2015, the ZX-14, even packs the sporty Ohlin’s suspension, taking the race further a notch higher. The Busa lovers allege it is a punch below the belt, increasing the engine capacity, but hey what is all the fuss about? This is an open ground and nobody is stopping Suzuki from going up as well. The engineers and designers sought to combine the utmost elements of today’s motorcycle technologies, yet still provide a package that is both approachable-and practically usable. The ZX-14 delivers seamless power, a smooth ride, and friendly ergonomics. Together, these characteristics are manifested in a ride that is surprisingly nonintimidating, yet still maintains the heart of the rebel so much a part of Kawasaki’s brand heritage. When ridden back to back, the

The two are an exciting bunch; a bewitching mix of muscularity and sports, combining turbine-like torque with a frisky, freerevving nature, which is totally addictive. And the Busa fans refuse to give up on it yet. Their hearts still throb for the bulbous beauty; no matter what...

ZX-14R literally makes the ’Busa feel slow. A bold statement perhaps, but unfortunately for Hayabusa fans, that’s the reality. Although the ZX-14R comes in slightly heavier than the model it replaces, it has an uncanny ability to “lighten up” the moment it pulls away. This isn’t attributed to its freight train torque curve either, but a combination of just right ergonomics (the sensation from the old model of piloting a personal watercraft is gone), advanced electronics and a refined and sophisticated overall feel. On the flip side, the Hayabusa suddenly feels dated, sloppy and, well, a bit down on power. Prior to the new ZX-14R those adjectives were never once uttered when describing the Suzuki. But the common gasps of “wow,” and “incredible” after a first ride have all been transferred to the Kawasaki, leaving the Busa in a state of bewilderment. Both bikes have selectable power modes to reduce power during slippery riding conditions,

but the Kawasaki offers an even more beneficial feature — traction control. Dialing back the power is one thing, but controlling wheel speed while maximizing grip and forward momentum separates the two bikes further. Handling the Hayabusa requires a disciplined throttle, while the ZX-14R makes easy work of poor conditions with a quick flick to the next traction control level. A cold rear tyre is no longer of much concern either (for straight lining, that is) for the 14—but the Busa will break loose on command. And it’s not just the electronics that elongate the dividing line between the bikes, but also the Kawasaki’s uncanny ability to mimic a literbike that’s some 100 pounds lighter. Through fast sweeping corners it’s more stable than the Suzuki, allowing more corner speed simply through confidence, while slower corners allow its front end to float upwards under acceleration. Plain and simple, the Kawasaki ZX-14R is currently the most powerful production motorcycle ever built (let’s not bring the Kawasaki H2 in the middle please). Aside from its brute force it also offers intelligent electronics that make it easy for experienced riders to hop aboard and take full advantage of its power. The Hayabusa has had a longstanding rep for being the baddest on the block, but its days of bullying are over. For long the Busa Lovers have been predicting a more muscled version of the Busa to be launched soon. But years on, nothing as such has become reality. A meaner and smarter motorcycle has definitively laid waste to the Hayabusa’s pedigree. While still an amazing motorcycle in its own right, when ridden back to back with the 14R it simply falls short in all areas. The ZX-14R has succeeded in setting the performance standards for others to follow. faisal@timesofoman.com

KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-14R Engine 1441cc, 4-cylinder 4-stroke, Liquid cooling 210 Bhp @10000 rpm 162.5 Nm @7500 rpn Seat Height 800mm Fuel Tank 22 ltrs Dry Weight 268kg Ground Clearance 124mm 2.9 secs (0-100 kmph) 4.8 secs (0-200 kmph) 11.4 secs (0-250 kmph) 22.9 secs (0-300 kmph) 335 KMPH top speed 13.5 KMPL mileage

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

LIFESTYLE TECH SUPPORT

APPLE’S CURRENT FLAGSHIPS the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are deﬁnitely among the most desirable handsets to own. And though we only might be a few weeks away from the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus launch, there’s still much life left in the current top-ends from Apple, as recent history proves, that the upgrade might not be so radical. If you’re trying to weigh up the beneﬁts of going bigger or sticking with a ‘smaller’ iPhone, we’re here to help with a breakdown on both. Though same in storage, performance, and software, they still have got a lot many potent pros and cons of their own. BY FAISAL MOHAMMED NAIM

iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus Design

Screen

Camera

Battery Life

Both the 6 and 6 Plus look identical, but they do inevitably differ in the size and dimension departments. With the iPhone 6 Plus, you’re getting a 2cm taller, 1cm wider and 2mm thicker phone. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it clearly makes a huge difference when you handling the two iPhones. Using the iPhone 6 Plus one handed is a dramatically different experience to holding the iPhone 6, and is likely to be a major factor for most picking between the two. The Plus is going to be trickier for smaller hands. Reaching over the other side of the virtual keyboard is not easy to do for instance. You got little chance reaching your thumb to the top of the screen as well. Both phones are well crafted, but the smaller size of the iPhone 6 means it’s more ergonomic.

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. The 6 Plus has a bigger screen. That means you get more room to browse, watch ﬁlms and play your games. But there’s more to it than that and that’s because with the 6 Plus, you get a higher resolution display in comparison to the 6. The iPhone 6 Plus features a full HD 1080p screen and offers a 401PPI pixel density to deliver the exceptional clarity. The iPhone 6 has a 1334 x 750 resolution screen with a 326ppi pixel density. Hands down, the 6 Plus has the sharper display but that’s not to say that the one on the 6 is bad.

Apple’s phone cameras are among the best in the business. They’re easy to use, come with a really straightforward camera app and most importantly take really good photos. Starting from the front, both have identical cameras so you can expect to get the same level of selfie and Face-time quality. Low light photography is not fantastic, but then the same criticism could be levelled at most front-facing cameras you’d find on most flagships these days. The rear cameras are similar too. Both use 8 megapixel sensors with 1.5 micron sensor pixels, dual tone flash and include faced detection, which help the iPhones focus with speed. The major difference here is that the iPhone 6 Plus comes with optical image stabilisation (OIS). This helps you take better photos by eliminating the blur caused by the small hand movements you make when taking a picture.

If you think the larger iPhone comes with a larger battery then give yourself a pat on the back because you are absolutely right. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 2915mAh battery compared to the 1810mAh one on the iPhone 6. It means that the iPhone 6 Plus blows its little brother out of the water when it comes to stamina. If you are a normal user you will be able to make the 6 Plus last two full days. The 6 isn’t bad by any means; it just doesn’t come close to matching the Plus. You’ll easily get a day of use out of it but it’s a phone that you will likely want to charge daily.

6: 6Plus:

6: 6 Plus:

Conclusion Big or small? Apple has taken real pains to make sure the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus offer a consistent experience. Similar screen tech, the same processor and similar-grade cameras make sure there’s no weak link here. However, we do like that the extra display space of the iPhone 6 Plus and its greater battery life makes it more of a power user device. We’d opt for the iPhone 6 Plus over the smaller iPhone. If compactness scores above the rest, and you can live without two days battery life and far from fantastic low light images, then the iPhone 6 is a better ﬁt. Our verdict: Better display, battery life and camera; go for the 6 Plus. faisal@timesofoman.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

AZAIBA RUWI SCREEN 1 Phantom (Action) – PG Cast: Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Hitman Agent 47 (Action/Crimer) – PG12 Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Hannah 3.45, 9.45 PM Brothers (Drama/ Sports) – 12+ Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth 6.45 PM SCREEN 3

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

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

Karachi To Lahore - Urdu(Comedy) – PG Cast: Shehzad Sheikh, Ayesha Omer 3.45, 9.45 PM Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – 12+ Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 6.45 PM

8:30, 11:15 PM Loham - 2D (M) (TBC) Action Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea Jeremiah, Siddique 9:15 PM Thani Oruvan - 2D (T) (TBC) Action Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara 6:55 PM

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

BURAIMI The Man from U.N.C.L.E – 2D (Action) 7:10PM (12+) Hitman Agent 47 – 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Hannah 5:00, 9:30, 11:45PM Stung – 2D (Comedy/Horror/Romance) (15+) Cast: Clifton Collins, Florentine, Matt O’Leary 7:20PM Evolution Man– 3D (Animation) (PG12) Cast: Jamel Debbouze, Melissa Theuriau, Patrice Thibaud 5:15PM No Escape – 2D (Action / Thriller) (12+) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 5:30, 11:45PM Phantom – 2D (Action / Thriller) (PG) Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif 6:45, 9:00, 11:15PM Loham – 2D (Thriller) (PG)

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

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

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

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

40-90%

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

SAMHRUTHA SANYA M August 31, 2013

K.SHIVA SHAUNAK August 31, 2009

ANANT MAHESHWARI August 31

ABHISHEK LAL August 31, 2005

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

LISTINGS

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

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om Loham (Mal) ( ACT ) Cast: Mohanlal, Andrea & Renji panikkar 3-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema Main; 6-30 pm at Cinema-2 Thani Oruvan (Tamil) (Act\Drama ) Cast: Jayam Ravi,Nayanthara & Arvind Swami 6-30 pm at Cinema Main; 3-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema-2 Kick 2 ( Telugu ) ( Rom/Act) Cast: Ravi Teja & Rakul Preet Singh 3-45 & 6-45 pm at Cinema- 3; Brothers (Hindi) 9-45 pm at Cinema- 3 Madura Naranga (Mal) ( Rom/com ) Cast: Kunchako Boban, Biju Menon & 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema - 4 NEXT CHANGE: Double Barrel (Mal) Programmes are subject to change

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

STAR CINEMA

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D (Action, Adventure, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 5.45 pm CP No: 1953 (PG12) Brothers (Hindi )( Thriller ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra 1.30 p.m CP No: 2110 (12+) MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Action /Adventure) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavil, Armmie Hammer 2.00 p.m. & 8.15 p.m CP NO: 2121 (12+) No Escape ( Action/ Thriller ) Cast: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson 4.15, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 p.m. CP No: 2128 ( 12+ ) Stung ( Comedy/Romance/Horror ) Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Jessica Cook, Tony de Maeyer 4.00, 6.15, 10.15 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2129 ( 15+ )

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

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

34 30

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

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

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

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

BAHJA CINEMA

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.12pm 3.40pm 6.32pm 7.44pm 4.31am

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

@MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

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

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE REVERSE BLEEDER

ANDROID 6.0 M IS MARSHMALLOW

Reservoir Master cylinder

The air bleeds out Air bubbles pass from the master cylinder to the reservoir and escape

An effective method to bleed the brakes

Google shared some sugary news last week, Bleed screw

but how sweet is it?

Calliper

BY MAHRAN SHAUKAT ALI

AIR ALWAYS GOES UP

he newest version of its mobile operating system will be called Android Marshmallow and available to developers. I wonder what’s with the name when nearly every version of Android has been named after sweet treats. (The first two versions were however called Alpha and Beta.)

Reverse bleeder The bleeder uses new brake ﬂuid to push trapped air from the low point in a brake or clutch system. Just squeeze the handle.

New brake ﬂuid

Brake disc

Source: brakebleeder.com | brakebleeder.com

Graphics

BLEED to BRAKE BY FAISAL MOHAMMED NAIM

If you’ve got juice brakes on your rig, knowing this little trick could come in real handy, saving expensive bills, and more importantly, perhaps, you. If you have any modern bike, which means you have hydraulic disc brakes on it, you need to thank Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century mathematician and scientist, who came up with an idea that later became a scientific law and a technological breakthrough in the world of braking. He postulated that when pressure is applied to a fluid, the fluid transmits that pressure equally in all directions. And thus, all the motorcyclists in the world were blessed with the gift of stoppies and skid-stops by one square math nerd. When you squeeze your lever or stomp your pedal, a linkage connects to your master cylinder’s piston and exerts force on the juice within — brake fluid! The pressure expands equally in all directions, and the most movable item moves. That item would be the calliper piston. That expansion shoves the pads up against the rotors, dragging you to a halt. However, no goodies come without side issues. And here, the culprit is air. Since the whole mechanism is based on the science of pressure, seeping in air leads to sudden failure of the entire braking system, which could err… be quite hazardous (yeah you guessed it right. No prizes though). Air, a gas, is compressible. If there’s air in the lines, it compresses, and the lever or pedal moves, but the piston doesn’t budge. This manifests itself as “soft” or “squishy” feeling brakes — if you’ve got any braking power at all, that is. In such

If there’s air in the lines, the brake pistons don’t budge, leading to soft or squishy, or no braking at all. Bleeding chases the air out and seals the braking system, restoring efficient and precise braking

SCAN TO SEE THE VIDEO

a situation, bleeding – the process of chasing the air out and sealing the system once again, plays saviour. Quite easy a process, still many riders are not aware about how to do it, and put their woes at bay. The process is fairly straightforward on a bike that has had ﬂuid in it: Pump up the brake to achieve pressure, open the bleeder without releasing the brake to expel air, close the bleeder, and allow the pedal/lever to return to its resting position. Repeat until the brakes have good feel. Here’s the problem: folks get nervous about it. And they should. It is the brakes after all we are talking about. Inoperable brakes are indeed a very bad thing. Here are a few simple and believe me very effective tips, which could make the bleeding process a real easy going job and help keep the brakes tip-top:

Cover Up Unless you need new paint. Brake ﬂuid kills paint. If you value your bike’s shiny bits, cover them. Start Bleeding at the Farthest Port From the Master Cylinder

Your manual may have a specific order to do things, but if it does not, start at the farthest item from the master cylinder. For dual-disc front brakes, that usually means the left front calliper. Remember, Brakes Are A Sealed System If you are losing brake fluid regularly, something is wrong and needs more attention than a simple bleeding job. Similarly, since the fluid level drops as the pads wear, don’t just add fluid helterskelter. If you do, at your next brake job, you run the risk of pushing fluid out of the reservoir when

TECH NEWS

LG will unveil the first rollable keyboard In an effort to capture a larger share of the fastgrowing mobile accessories market, LG Electronics (LG) will unveil the industry’s first solid rollable wireless portable keyboard at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Unlike other portable keyboards on the market, LG’s Rolly Keyboard (model KBB-700) folds up along the four rows to create an easy-to-carry “stick” that fits into one’s pocket as easily as any purse or briefcase. The Rolly Keyboard will make its debut in September in the United States, followed by key markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia in the fourth quarter. Prices and details of availability will be announced locally at the time of launch. Visitors to IFA 2015 can see LG Rolly Keyboard up close in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin from September 4-9.

Less ‘geeky’ classrooms attract girls to computers Small changes in classroom design such as replacing Star Trek posters by that of art and nature pictures

help attract more girls to computer science, new research has found. The researchers have found that such changes do not impact boys’ level of interest in computer science. “Our ﬁndings show that classroom design matters — it can transmit stereotypes to high school students about who belongs and who does not in computer science,” said lead author Allison Master, a post-doctoral researcher at University of Washington. Women lag behind men in the lucrative computer science and technology industries, one possible contributors to this disparity is that they are less likely to enroll in introductory computer science courses.

Cheaper, better LED technology on the way Scientists including one of Indian origin have developed a new highly efficient and low cost light emitting diode that could help spur more widespread adoption of the LED technology. “It can potentially revolutionise lighting technology. In general, the cost of LED lighting has been a big concern thus far. Energy savings have not balanced out high costs. The new discovery could change that,” explained Zhibin Yu, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering at Florida State University. -IANS

you drive the calliper pistons back into their bores. Keep The Master Full Forget this rule, and air will get sucked into the fluid as you pump the brakes. You will then start all over again. Use The Right Fluid There are a lot of flavours of fluid out there. Some are based off of castor oil, some off of glycol, and some are silicone-derived. None of those bases play well together. Be sure you’re putting fluid with the correct formulation and boiling point in your bike. The Easy Way to Swap Fluid is to do an Extended Bleed Bleed out as much fluid from the master as you can without going dry, then refill it and do it again once or twice. — faisal@timesofoman.com

What’s New? Android M was first heard about early in May, it can now brag about its newest addition, the Google Now. This means, that Google Now will aim to solve some of your puzzles depending on the app that you use. Those familiar with Google Wallet can look forward to the improvised version which will be known as Android Pay. It will use NFC to initiate payments. Marshmallow will also offer support for the fingerprint scanner, a feature which Apple has offered since introducing Touch ID on the iPhone 5S. Other features include app permissions, Google by a tap, ‘Doze’ let’s Android device is in a rested state to help conserve power, simplified volume controls, direct share and floating tools, customisable Google Chrome. Why Does This Matter? Potential developers can get their apps ready for a final release.

There are a lot of new APIs (application programme interface), and permissions in Android 6.0, so this September builds gives some time for developers to cook the Marshmallow right. Developers can play around with the ﬁnal Android Marshmallow builds on the Nexus 5 and 6 smartphones plus the Nexus 9 and Nexus Player set-top box. It is now available for download on the developer pages of Android. Compared to the previous preview there is more bugﬁxes and stability improvements. The Android SDK has also been officially bumped up to version 6.0 which can now be updated via the SDK Manager. Documentation for all API 23 changes can now be found in the developer reference pages. Source: Android developer blog — mahran@timesofoman.com

C1 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015

LIFESTYLE

BY THE NUMBERS

9 Incredible Mobile Marketing Stats It’s no longer a case of asking whether mobile marketing is important, we know for sure it is. How do we say that? We don’t, the statistics do. Advertisers are missing out on mobile advertising if they aren’t seriously thinking about it. In 2015 mobile ad spending accounts for 49% of digital ad spending, which is only slightly behind the trends of how people are using their devices.

$28.7

26%

BILLION

48% Search is the common point from where consumers research on products, 48% start here.

The projected mobile ad spending in 2015 is $28.7 billion set to double by 2018.

26% research about products on branded apps.

7 hours

50.3%

60%

80%

80% of users own a smartphone.

60% of global consumers use their mobile device as their primary Internet source.

The average media consumption for a person is 7 hours, of which 1.8 hours are spent on a mobile.

50.3% of ecommerce website comes through a mobile device.

76% 76% are more likely to read an SMS/Text message than if it is an e-mail.

64% 64% consumers think it would be good if businesses communicate via a SMS/ text messages.

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Deluxe 1, 2, 3 bedroom ﬂats in Wadi Kabir, Ruwi, Al Khuwair area. Contact: 24707340 / 95282986 /99472457

Spacious 2BHK Flat with Split A/c’s behind Sultan Center, Azaiba – RO.425/- p.m. Contact: 99824803 / 99849325

2BHK at Al Khodh 2 rooms, 1hall, 2 bathrooms & kitchen. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

3BHK well maintained ﬂat (villa type) G. ﬂoor split A/C separate entrance, parking, and compound available in Al Khuwair behind Sagar Polyclinic Way no. 3922, Block 239, Villa No. 1839. Contact: 99253125 New 1 & 2 BHK Flat in Ruwi. Contact 99792181 3, 4, 5 BHK villa in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

3 bedrooms, 1 hall at Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/-. Contact: 97799175 / 92144045 1,2,3 BHK ﬂats. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 2BHK Mumtaz R.O 300/-. Contact: 92144045 /97799175

New 1 & 2 BHK Flat in Ghobra. Contact 99792181

House for rent in Sidab 8 rooms, 6 toilets RO 550/-. Contact: 96606679 / 99856551

1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse etc. Contact: 24700120 / 92584715

2000 Sqr mtrs Store in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181

2 BHK Apartment for rent near MSQ area. Contact 92888063

2 BHK ﬂat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

250 Sqr mtrs showroom in CBD. Contact 99792181

3 BHK ﬂat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

5000 & 10000 Sqr mtrs in open Land in Wadi Kabir. # 99792181

4 bedroom villa with 3 maid room, big compound & parking area. Ideal for kindergarten or expat tenants residency. Contact:24566217 / 24564686

2BHK with split A/C in MSQ Opp. Al Fair. Contact : 96708000 1 BHK with split A/C in Darsait, opp. Muscat Municipality. Contact : 96708000 3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market. Contact: 99259977 / 95033008 1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 2BHK near Indian School Darsait RO 275/-. Contact: 95094028 Commercial / residential 2 BHK flat and 1BHK at Honda road residential 2BHK flat at opposite to Al Nadha hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241 2 BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi 1BHK , Ghubra near Al Maha hotel. Contact: 99269751 Villa for rent, 4 spacious bath attached bed room, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) electrical equipment with free maintenance secured command at Madinat Al Illam. Contact: 98027975 2BHK in Ghubra South 330 R.O with A/C. Contact: 99342661 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. Contact: 99376454

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

We have complete office furniture for sale very nice & affordable price . Contact : 93782735 / 99208033

Room for rent. Contact Farahat 98020768, Hilal: 96541263 House in Muscat, near Muscat temple. Contact : 97711551 Flat for rent penthouse Al Amerat Al Mahaj. Contact: 92738298 Flats in Al Khuwair 33 & Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 92800007 Flat for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital in Hamriya. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 Flat in Al Khuwair 3 rooms + Majlis ground ﬂoor. Contact: 99242119 Brand new bldg in Walja 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shops. Contact 98218279 2 rooms, 2 toilets, kitchen in Al Ansab. Contact 94229023 Flat 2bedrooms+majlis in Ghubra. Contact:99242119

PDO approved 25 MT Crane, forklift with boom & bucket 8001G portable, brackish & sewage tankers & 6 wheel Prime movers are available for monthly & daily rent (LCC contractor to PDO). Contact: 98081969 / 98081699 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque. Contact: 99366624 Room with toilet in Bowshar. Contact: 96961306 Flat and show room for rent Al Khuwair 33, Al Ghubrah, Darsait and Jibroo. Contact: 24485240 / 24485241 / 93651633 / 92109563 Apartments for Rent in Nizwa behind Nizwa Hospital. 99530985 92513668 Office & retail space available Alasfoor Plaza, Qurum. Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 3 Bedroom ﬂat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand new available, behind Kims Hospital. Contact 95225662 1BHK in Darsait, RO 220. Contact: 99342661 2 BHK pent-house having very spacious balcony with sea & city view RO 325 and 1BHK RO 240, adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait. Contact : 99476728 / 98484415 Brand new ﬂat 2 bedrooms with 1 Majlis, 3 bathrooms, kitchen in South Ghubra behind Oman oil RO 350/-. Contact 95367767

4 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis mart. Contact: 24700120 / 92584715 2BHK & 1BHK ﬂats available in Darsait. Contact : 99357586 / 97500025 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 97616158 I BHK Flat -4 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 200/- . 2 BHK - 2 Nos / 1 BHK- 2 Nos, at Wattayya R/A near the mosquefor Families. Contact 96457757 9 am to 7 Pm. House for rent in Sidab at reasonable rent. #: 95555162 / 95755953 1 & two bedroom ﬂats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible. Contact 97677170

An Amazing excellent land for sale in Barka at Al Muraysi attached to road open from 3 sides and surrounded by houses and commercial shops and others. Ready for construction to build twin villa for good investment from owner land size 677. Contact: 91010668 Godrej diesel 3.0 ton forklift for sale, model 2014 in immaculate condition. Serious buyers – pl contact +968 9321 8310 / 93223382.

3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Aluminium workshop at Wadi Kabir with all machineries and 3 skilled workers. Contact: 99536206 / 99605915

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Restaurant For Sale: Excellent Location at Al Rustaq on Main Highway. Next to Qaboos Mosque and High Court Complex. Contact # 99227861. Pest control and cleaning building company for sale with all permit and office. Contact : 96996938 JCB boom loader 540/170, 17 MTR 2008 model excellent condition. Contact: 97677133 Fully equipped Beauty Parlor for sale in Amerat behind Sultan Center. Contact : 98600130 / 24881211 Expat leaving bedroom set, fridge, table, sofa etc. Contact: 93393967 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Wall papers, grass carpets sale & ﬁxing. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500 Shop for sale in Ruwi High street, Contact 96078411

Flat for rent with AC in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95555162 /95755953

400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

1 &2 BHK ﬂats for rent at Wadi Kabir, Wadi Adai, Hamriya and Al Khoud areas, shop for rent at Wadi Adai Round about. Contact: 24834644, GSM 93994401 /02/03 lines

Used Fabrication machinery for sale : Fabrication machinery and tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. Contact 94652485/ 99273774/ 99202278

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

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each. Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Fabulous AC ﬂat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699 Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

FOR RENT 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

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

WANTED Indian coca requirement with experience. Contact: 99209264

FOR EXPATS From owner plot of land near Zanzibar, airport price RO 15000. Contact 99348943

ACC. AVAILABLE Single room with AC, balcony and separate toilet for working women or non cooking bachelor near Rex Road, Ruwi. Contact: 92183404 Fully furnished sharing Executive bachelor at Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99325387 Family sharing accommodation available in Al Khodh. Contact : 98292798 Separate room with A/c, Small Fridge and Bed, for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell ﬁlling station, Ghoubra round about. Contact: 94263390 Semi furnished rooms in AL Khuwair with car parking. Contact : 92888337

MATRIMONIAL Seeking alliance for our son from Muslim families. Interested families Contact: 99889590 A respectable Sunni Muslim family from Hyderabad, India invites proposal for their daughter, 26 years, MSc, very fair. Contact 93671857 Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East. Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Furnished room for IND EXE bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A. Contact : 99659513 Sharing accommodation for Filipina on Seeb for couple / working ladies. Contact: 92959251 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair RO 225/- for family only. Contact 99251975 Single rooms with attached bath available at Ruwi. Contact 98049288 / 8091089 Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500

GOOD NEWS Ayuredic massage backache, joint pain, neck pain etc. Contact 98254909

Sharing accommodation in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors, wiﬁ free, advance deposit. Contact 91852710

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206

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

SELL/BUY Looking for purchase of a residential building with minimum 25 unoccupied ﬂats in Ghala, Bousher, Azaiba, Ghubrah. Contact: 99261522 Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373 /96642500

Furnished room for Indian Bachelor in Al Falaj area (Ruwi) & Lady in Wadi Kabir (near Al Maya). Contact 96761960 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai. Contact 96243086 at 5p.m. Furnished room available in Ruwi. Contact: 92435784 Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95345537

Required investors for different projects. Contact: 99674870 Working partners required for Farm Based Trading. Contact: 94151791 Seeking ﬁnancial investor / partner for short term Governmental construction project of 1.5 million Riyal Omani. Contact : 99881303 New company seek partnership. Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADMIN

SITUATION WANTED

A well established organization in Muscat is looking for an experienced lady Administrative Assistant. Candidate with around 6 years of experience and excellent command of English language is requested to send CV to: recruitmentmuscat@yahoo.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNTANT Urgently required Accountant Gulf experience to handle accounts up to ﬁnalization. Contact : 99658756 Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Required Beautician for a beauty salon in Muscat (visa available). Contact: 97605308 Required experienced Hairdressers / full beauticians with exp in Ghubrah. Contact:97964519 / 94241385

DRAFTSMAN K.Design LLC requires “2d & 3d Draftsman” with minimum 3 yrs experience. Send CV to k.designoman@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Required a House Maid preferably Muslim for a very reputed Omani Family in Muscat. Should be able to speak in Hindi / Arabic. Contact 95216563 Indian family required full time Indian Housemaid, visa available. Contact : 93228657 Wanted housekeeper at a Nursery – Muscat – Amerat, skill and commitment and behavior. Fax: 24700677 Tel: 99085844 /99010504 Email: school.oman@yahoo.com

DRIVER Need Heavy Drivers with valid GCC D/L.Contact.92252507 Email:- hamood@omankmtc.com Heavy Duty Driver with license & NOC. Contact: 95959494 or E-mail: jobdsint@gmail.com Experienced Driver with car or without car. Visa available. GSM 942 888 63 / 9905 3844 Driver required for a Company, 2 yrs experience. Visa available. Contact 24479922 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

EDUCATION Urgently required experienced Teachers for Mathematics and Science (physics) for a reputed bilingual School in Al Ansab. Send CV to Email – aleithar@hotmail.com or Contact - 24585343 A well known private school is in need of Physics, English, Mathematics, Science and Kindergarten Teachers. Contact: 96910649 Email: staffing.oman@gmail.com Post Graduate researcher required. Contact 99229700

ENGINEER Require experienced Electricians for immediate appointment in Dubai. Applicants must be able to work independently. Contact: 99869002, Email: fwi2009@outlook.com Leading construction company requires two Civil Engineer with minimum 5 years site experience in gulf. require gulf license and NOC. Send your CV to degree.engineer2015@gmail.com MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement. Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om Urgently required for leading company: Civil Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Planning Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Surveyor : 8 yrs experience, Draftsman & AutoCAD : 5 yrs experience. Fax: 24478522, email : gh1.careers@gmail.com

IT Business Development Manager/ Business Manager for Software Business. Gulf experience preferred. hamoudj@yahoo.com Required Marketing Manager for educational programs. Contact: 99674870

MEDICAL Vacancy for lady Doctor on morning shift for clinic at Ghala with Without MOH. Contact: 97746296 Dental Surgeon, Orthodontist, Staff Nurses (female) with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent salary & commission. Contact 99006915, Email : alhinaee.clinic@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING A reputed printing & advertising ﬁrm in muscat urgently requires male / female sales executives Contact : 99619552 , email : hocsigns@gmail.com Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts. Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Sales Executive Industrial products : 2-3 yrs of exp. with good communication & computer skills. D/L is must. Send resume to salescvv@hotmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 35 yrs male, MBA Finance with 5 years GCC Accounts & Admin experience. VDL.NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact:96763275 Indian male having 5 years of experience in Oman as accountant cum office administrator with Omani driving license looking for a new placement. Contact: 94173818, email: nibinkjames@gmail.com Fresher looking for a career opportunity B.Com good physique, quick learner English speaking. Contact: 93368464 B.Com, CA Inter (Indian) with 5 years experience (2 years GCC) in Accounts & Audit ﬁeld. Contact:95584531/ razikthumbe@gmail.com

Medical CARE Centre, Multi Specialty Clinic, Seeb, requires General Practioner, Medical Lab Technician & Pharmacist. Send CV at Email : sarita_h23@yahoo.com or call 97884856

MBA ﬁnance having 5+ years experience in accountant with UAE D/L & NOC available. Contact : 96970930 Email: tahirabbas85@hotmail.com

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

Indian female M.A Economics with diploma in Indian 8 foreign accounting having 1 year experience in Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95714285

MISCELLANEOUS Established real estate company looking for male or female property agents for leasing and sales of the property. Applicant must be Graduate, possess Omani or GCC driving license. Having oman market experience. Apply with NOC. Attractive salary +commission. Send your CV: property@ labdmarkmuscat.com Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493

Accountant 4 yrs experience looking for job. Contact 96182302 Email: rishad.sainudheen@gmail.com Accountant 36 yrs Indian male 10 yrs UAE experience in Accounts, Insurance currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 96334958 / 95217432 Indian CA 10yrs of Oman experience in treasury, ﬁnancial reporting, consolidation, ERP implementation in Trading, construction, Oil & Gas sectors. NOC available. Email: caramdas.s5@gmail.com GSM: 91310237

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Waterprooﬁng technicians required. Contact 92888337 Rig Operator/Technician/Driver/ Security Positions in Musandam. Must have Oil ﬁeld experience Good Communication Skills. Please email your resume in Arabic and English to HR@petroteloman.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

ADMIN

Indian CA with 15 yrs exp. working as Head of Finance for US MNC. NOC Available - 94047434

Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437

Indian 24 years MBA ﬁnance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98222753 Email - shemeejup@gmail.com

Indian Female MBA, 3 Year Experience in Admin MIS , Family Visa. Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com

12 yrs of Oman experienced Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 99513082

INDIAN(Male) MBA with 5+ years of experience in HR and ADMIN. Looking for suitable position. 96395254, shm1691@gmail.com

10+ yrs UAE experienced Fin. Controller looking for a job change. Contact 98006226 Email: devan801@gmail.com ACCA and MBA (ﬁnance) from UK, 3.5 years experience in operation, holding D/L (Oman) looking for suitable position ready to join immediately. Contact : 95575614, Email: ahammadmds@gmail.com Indian male B.Com looking for Accounts, indoor sales, Office Assistant, Store keeper, Contact - 98295101 Indian Male MBA with Experience in Accounts, Admin, Sales, Contact – 91520930

14 years of gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics ﬂuent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598 Indian, 16 yrs Oman experience in Admin / Office management and have D/L. Also have accounting knowledge. Contact: 99573353 32 years male, 11 years experience in indoor sales graphic designing, administration events looking for job. Contact: 98392508 Indian male 27Yrs, Having total 6 yrs of experience in HR/ Admin looking for suitable position. Contact 91507099.

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian Female Chartered Accountant [ACCA] looking for suitable placement. Contact: 99342077

Indian male MBA Finance / HR 1 yr experience in Indian currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93416031 Email: ashin.shams@gmail.com

Accountant, Indian male, B.Com, PGDSE with 12 yrs of experience currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 92750853, email : vinoykjospeh@gmail.com

Accounts ﬁnance Indian male 35 yrs B.Com, M.B.A tally exp 9.7 yrs exp 1.5 yr Oman family visa N.O.C available. Contact : 93257426. Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com

Driver looking for job, 20 years experience. Contact: 94795033

Indian male, 30 years, CMA (Inter), M.Com 8 years experience in Accounting, Auditing with NOC& valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com

Accountant with more than 30 years experience in both ﬁnancial and cost accounting seek part time assignment in Muscat or Sohar. Contact 98598099

Driving job. Contact: 99109458

Part time Accountant, up to ﬁnalization, looking for job after 5pm (location prefer - MSQ to Al Hail). Contact: 95694737

Part time accountant services available. Contact:93438100

Accountant with more than 6 years experience in SAOG company looking for middle management position. Strong English/Arabic correspondence. Valid DL. NOC available. Contact 91116924 Indian male B.Com Graduate 24 years looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97219505 25 years male BBA (Hons) CFAC ACCA having 3 years experience as top management operations, Accounts seeking suitable placement. Contact : 92829595 Email: saqib4u1@hotmail.com Young, energetic 24 yrs, ACCA finalist, Advanced diploma in Accounting and business, seeking suitable placement in accounts, finance or audit. Contact: 92430152 Email: rau_dey@yahoo.com M.Com female good knowledge in computer and tally 4 years experience in accounts and Administration seeks suitable placement on visit visa. Contact: 96992431 / 99450130 Accountant Indian male B.Com 7 years experience (Accounting) finance costing, auditing with NOC & valid driving license seeking placement. Contact: 96722257 Email: mudassir.pal@gmail.com

Indian female B.Tech (EEE) MBA ﬁnance with 1and half years experience as Bank Officer in India seeking suitable placement. Contact: 91358676 / 98157895 Email: sujivu88@gmail.com

ART DIRECTOR Art director / creative director/ 8 years experience with Omani license, NOC. Contact : 95136862 Email: aunmoeid@gmail.com`

ADMIN Indian male MCA, MSCE 2012 certiﬁed and Microsoft Exchange server administration with experience as System Administrator (windows) looking for a job currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92745708 Email: nabeelmmkty@gmail.com Purchase, Admin, Indian male, 15 yrs Gulf experience. #95435370 Female 25, MSc (Wood Science & tech) MBA HRM, fresher well versed in English, Hindi and Malayalam, seeking for suitable placement in any related industries. #98401389 Email: thajnakp@gmail.com Chartered CIPD HR Professional having 5 years of experience in Oman seeking suitable job. Call +971552071501.

DRIVER Looking job LTV D with car. Contact: 94436276 / 97433432

Light driving with 6 years experience in Oman. Contact: 94001751

Light vehicle Driver 5 years of experience, with Oman driving license looking for a job. Contact: 97319805 / 92171166 Looking for driving job driving experience more than 3 years. Contact: 97459022 Indian driver, 30 years, 8 years in Oman exp GCC, D/L with NOC. Contact: 93100297 / 92547440 Looking for driver job English, Arabic, and Hindi Lang, 8 years Muscat experience. Contact: 98802079 Indian light duty driver. Contact: 94269229 Driver light. Contact: 94182497 Light duty driver with 3 months experience requires suitable placement. Contact: 96409814 / 97384115 Light Driver. Contact 95779594, Ruwi Sri Lankan driver. Contact: 97387112 Indian male, looking for Heavy Driver job, holding Kuwait driving license. Contact 98136170 H.T. V Driver, Pakistani experience, 6 yrs, seeks work in company only. Contact 93985087 Light duty driver, 8 yrs exp. Contact: 96736744

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DESIGNER

TOURS & TRAVELS

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male, 24 years Graphic designer one year experience, B. Sc Multimedia Animation on visit visa in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93681417

Five years experience in Travel ﬁeld ,BCom., IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India, looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast. pls contact 9470 5767

Male, 32 years M.A. English M.SC psychology and B.Ed in English having 4 years experiences in teaching present company is ready to issue release letter. Contact : 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com

DRAUGHTSMAN

11 yrs experience in travel ﬁeld B.Com, IATA, MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales reservation ticketing driving license & NOC available. Contact 92954613

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Autocad Dman , Diploma in civil, exp, knows 2d, 3d, revit PH:98195161

DOMESTIC HELPER House maid looking for job. Contact: 99879576 House maid cum cook Keralite . Contact: 94297839

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Building Construction Supervisor looking for small Omani co. to handle independently or suitable placement with Omani D/L. Contact: 93061107 Civil Engineering Diploma, Site coordinator now preset in Oman, seeking job in Oman. Contact : 92887561 Email: jubincivileng@gmail.com Mech. Engg Indian male having 1 year exp looking for suitable job. Contact : 92835957 Indian 22 years male, Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech has done internships, born and brought up in Oman with Omani driving license, seeking suitable jobs. Contact: 92791637 Email: ashwinsureshkotturethu@gmail.com Indian male, 23 years Electrical & Electronics Engineer having 1 year experience in Google company need suitable placement. Contact: 91118694, Email: sharath2909@gmail.com Indian mechanical Engineer 31 yrs, 8+ experience in sales & BD including GCC, having Oman driving license & NOC. Contact: 97116858 Email: menonamit1984@gmail.com Indian male 27 yrs BE mechanical & W/diploma in automobiles 2 yrs teaching experience in designing (AutoCAD) seeking suitable position. Contact: 94183625 Indian male 29 yrs old B.E electronic & Communication Engg (5 yrs experience in Oman) with valid D/L. Contact : 96652145 Electrical Engineer, B.Sc. degree/B. Tech, 4 years experience. Looking for suitable placement. Available in visit visa. Contact: 94739355, Email: mahin.eee@gmail.com MSC Electronics Female, 24 years, 1 year experience in MR Scan Testing on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 91111675 28 years male diploma in Civil Engineer 6 years experience in Oman valid Omani driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98666735 /90289111 Email: engrjahedbd@yahoo.com Civil Engineer Pakistani 12 +2 years Oman experience D/L seeks placement. Contact: 94392616

Electrical Engr, female, B Tech (Elec), experienced in all LV/ HV systems, currently working, NOC available for local transfer. phone-92109335 Jordanian Mechanical Engineer, Expertise in Manufacturing, Design, Steel Work, AutoCad, SolidWork 3D. Nesting/ Plasma Cutting, Sales. Speaking English & Russian. GSM#90198575/99201710 Indian fresher BE Mechanical engineer having work in project of design and development of biodiesel plant seeks immediate placement. At present on visit visa. Mo- 96636035 email - ashishthanki14@gmail.com (BS Electronics) Electronics Engineer searching for job experience with Huawie & HNL as Intern in site maintenance. Contact: 91803545 A male Civil Engineer with 10 years experience (03 years in Oman) in building projects execution, billing, contractual correspondence & tendering of projects is available. The interested person can Contact: 968 91320917 Indian male 24 years B.Tech computer science & Engg fresher, having valid Oman D/L ﬂuent in English & Hindi, smart & dedicated to work seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97327551 / 99330159 Indian Mechanical Engineer with PG diploma in Quality & Management, 3 yrs experience seeks placement. Contact: 99493890 mail: subashpalamittam@hotmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 2 years experience in HV AC and plumbing - nikhilchandpm@gmail. com ; GSM: 97654489 Civil Engg, B.Tech fresher Indian male currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 91702450 Email: tijoct2015@hotmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 B.E in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years experience seeking for suitable job. Contact 919946739156 Email: ram332096@gmail.com

M.A, B.Ed Indian female 27 yrs, looking suitable teaching profession having 2 years experience. #95838183 Email: manslyas916@gmail.com

SUPERVISOR: Indian male site supervisor (AIR CONDITIONING) 25 years of experience with valid Oman Driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 93391910 Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 29 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF yres) seeks suitable placement. Contact 92789995, Email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385

MISCELLANEOUS WELDER, TIG, ARC, 6G experienced in GCC PH :95068064 Upholsery / Sofa makers GCC well experienced, knows Hindi and Arabic ph :99506977 36 yrs, Indian, male, X Ray, Welder looking for job, 8 yrs experience in TIG & ARC Welding, presently on visit visa. # 91360190 / 91843992 Management Professional accountable, responsible for proﬁtable management can handle the entire operations, HR/Recruitment, Business development & Sales & marketing & etc, Great organizational skills with over 23+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai-UAE & Oman(11yrs) as General Manager - Publications, Printing,Media. open to any industry, can Join immediately w/NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

PROJECTS 4 Years experienced (Money exchange services & Hospitality services in Oman & India) - Indian male 27 years, graduate in Hospitality science, ﬂuent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks suitable placement. Contact 91383167

Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC, open for Sales & Marketing also. Contact 95245057

IT SKILLED/ UNSKILLED NETWORK/NETWORK SECURITY ENGG. Graduate in B.Tech CS. Have 5.3 years of experience in Network and Security devices. Certiﬁed on CCNA, CCNP, MCITP and CCIE Sec. Written passed. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact +974-55297089, e-mail: rejad.hashim@gmail.com BE, ECE Mumbai university skills in C, C++, windows, linux, controller and processor RTOS, Electronics, Networking, 6 months experience in embedded software seeks placement. Contact : 917774864736 Email: sadatbtisekar@gmail.com SAP BW Analyst : Indian male, 26 yrs, B.Tech (CS & E) from ASET, New Delhi, worked as a Business Analyst in Software Industry. Contact 98008127 / 92878708, vaisakh.bhaskar@gmail.com

B.E (Computer) degree Engineer, complete schooling in Muscat, male, Indian with 1 yr experience needs job in software / networking / Java/ Web design or Marketing. Contact 97136248 / 99313821

Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained ﬁeld on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

HOSPITALITY

Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian female, 2 yrs exp (1 yr in Oman) seeks suitable position. Contact: 93911895

25 years experience in Civil Engineering looking for job at consultancy from for suitable position. Contact : 97803710

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

EDUCATION

Indian female, B.Tech, IT (now in Muscat on visit visa) with total 2 yrs experience (1.3 yrs in TCS, India) seeks suitable placement. Contact 93949541 / 93738083, email : joantoms91@gmail.com

Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Looking for(Store,Coordination,Admin ,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885

Indian male, Supervisor Electrician Diploma 8 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 95057068, jratheesh@yahoo.com

Electrical and Electronics Engineer with one year experience and GCC licence holder seeking a job mail – shyjalpk@gmail.com

Pakistani B.E (Chemical) Engineer having more than 02 years experience in process Industry seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa. Contact: 94350586 / 97637840

Indian job in procurement & contract, have “13” years purchase & contract experience in infrastructure & energy sector. NOC is available. Contact-91237036

Civil Engineer (diploma) 3.5 yrs exp, seeking for placement. Contact: 95200650

Indian Mechanical Engineer (QA/ QC) Engineer with 5 yrs of experience in oil & gas, mining & manufacturing sector, keyskills – NDT, Welding Inspection, Quality control, inspection etc. Contact 91176122, Email : khajanaseer07@yahoo.co.in

IT Engineer, 6 yrs exp in software projects & development (OCJA) on visit visa. Contact: 99487493

Instrumentation Engineer, nearly 4 yrs experience in oil & gas industry, seeks job in Oman. Contact 90198210, Email : terinsam@gmail.com

Young BA looking for a job as Secretary / document controller, typewriting 40 W.PM shorthand also available. NOC from the present co. available. Contact: 93085851

Mechanical Engineer, 2 yrs experience in Automobile services. Contact 98182081

B.Tech Electrical & electronics with 1 year experience seeking for suitable job. Contact: +91 949788348 Email: rakesh1.mohan@gmail.com

Indain male, 23 yrs, B.E in Mechanical post Graduation Diploma in piping Engineering, seeking job in relevant ﬁeld. Contact : 94786570 Email: asim.hajwani6@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 7 years experience in Oman also have vehicle driving license. Contact: 92480604

Civil Engineer Indian male 10 yrs exp having Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94194399 (shiblyrock@gmail.com)

MEDICAL Male NURSE, FILIPINO, with MOH LICENSE and NOC. Contact: 94756418 email: rojiebrian.moral@yahoo.com Lecturer in nursing(MSc) specialized in OBG, 3 years experience, on visit visa, seeking teaching opportunities Contact:90125347 Veterinary Doctor with 10 yrs experience, looking for job. Contact 92533579

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Project Program & Service Management Indian male looking for suitable placement having 15 years of experience. Contact : 9686678027 Email: dileepmnair@yahoo.com Supervisor fabrication. 30 years experienced in oil and gas industry with thorough knowledge of PDO procedures. contact 99365694, 92362946, 99208102 email: tapasroy21@yahoo . com Supervisor / Forman interior / electrical with Oman driving license. Contact: 98767559

Building construction supervisor looking for small Omani company to handle independently or suitable placement in good company with Oman D/L. Contact 93061107

SALES / MARKETING Senior Sales Engineer 4 years experience in Oman with D/L, Sales electrical products PDO OXY supply liaison with MEP contractors and consultants NOC available. Contact: 0091 9895799737 Email: thomasjmuscat@gmail.com Contact : 99447853 Indian male 8 yrs experienced construction purchase seeks suitable placement with NOC. Contact 95621614 Nine years UAE experienced Graduate Indian male with valid UAE/ GCC, D/L on visit seeks sales / admin position. Contact: 98826959 A male with 04 years experience & mobiles marketing in Oman & U.A.E available with own car (Camry 2012 model). Interested person can Contact : 968 98512523 PGDM in Marketing & ﬁnance and specialization in SCM in Belgium University, 14 months experience in cooperative relations looking for suitable job. Contact: 92050773 MBA (Marketing and HR) Indian male looking for a suitable job 2 years experience in Oman with a valid GCC driving license Contact : 97353936 Email: shimithpg@gmail.com US, MBA, looking for job in Sales and Hospitality, 2 years experience in Oman with driving license and NOC Currently on notice period. Contact: 95585345 Email: jobyisaac@gmail.com Indian male with ﬁve years experience of call centre in customer service and sales looking for suitable position. Contact: 90198176 Post graduate 6+ yrs of experience in credit controller marketing looking for suitable job, valid Oman driving license, own car. NOC available. Contact 95327018 Sales man, experienced , knows arabic , hindi ph : 99506977 Indian male Graduate with 2 yrs exp in sales advertising, presently on visiting visa looking for suitable opening. Contact: 95462921 Indian male, 2 yrs exp. in Sales with D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact 92055093

Store Supervisor or Site Supervisor . Indian male 30 years age. Looking for suitable placement in any reputed company. Having 5 years of gulf experience with good communication skills. Willing to work in any GCC country. Contact: 00968 97756269 , Email: razzakbmt@gmail.com 32 years Indian Male MSC, MBAHR having 7+yr Exp(HR and SAP operations) with Oman valid driving license, seeking suitable opening in Human Resource & Admin/backend jobs.Contact: 00968-99322978 Light duty driver, 23yrs. Can speak Arabic, Hindi, Bangla and understand English. Release available. Ph.92854775 / 93487450 Iranian male. ME Civil- structural Engineer, 8 Years Structural engineer experience, Looking for Structural Designer, supervisor or site engineer Position. Contact: 93696929 Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com Land Surveyor experience 6 years in landscape , construction and roads for contact : 0096895244840, 0096899703488, e-mail: eng.amr_salama@yahoo.com Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering.Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708/ 97357143 ACCA Affiliate, Oxford Brookes Bsc, 2.5 years experience in audit, ﬁnance in Big 6 and oil industry, NOC release available. a.saran891@gmail. com, 95140445 B.com .5 yrs exp. of oman Looking for an Accounts job work, preferred to do from home. Well versed with TALLY Accounting software. Contact 95482970 Pakistan Male: 24 years, M.Com Finance having 2.5 year experience as a accountant & marketing executive looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97670816, e.mail: naeem.ahsan68@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in IT Trainer, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:- 95983711. Join.mtmali@gmail.com Civil Engineer Indian 20 years experience (1 year in Oman) in management and construction seeks suitable placement. Contact: 91718976 , email : mdnaveed71@gmail.com Male, 32 years M.A. English M.Sc Psychology and B.Ed in English having 4 years experience in teaching present company is ready to issue release letter. Contact : 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Computer Teacher, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:- 95983711, join.mtmali@gmail.com ME Civil- structural Engineer, 8 Years Structural engineer experience, Looking for Structural Designer, supervisor or site engineer Position. Iranian male, Contact: 93696929 Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experience, presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available, seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170

Housemaid looking for job. Cont : 95587492 Filipino (Male), 33 yrs/old, 9 yrs. experience in marine transportation (seaman/deck crew), & 3 yrs. in sales (electronic devices) currently on visit visa & looking for a suitable employment. GSM: 94750459 Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available mob : 95253640 . email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com 29 years femaile (MBA-Finance) with 4 + years experience (India & Oman) in administration & teaching seeking suitable placement in an established organization. # 96371655. Senior Accountant Indian male Graduate CA Articleship completed 18 years of experience currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement contact.97498809,93391910 Email.hilariankj@gmail.com Electrical Maintenance Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in Oman. Contact - 98440637. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com Indian male 22 years, Looking for suitable placement in Hardware and Networking field, 1 year exp. in india an have done training in al ameen computers. With good communication skill, Qualification is Diploma in Electronics and Communication. Contact : - 95632209,95068075, Email- fairozhuded13@gmail.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science, diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience , dba oracle pl-sql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network, Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic. Email:chastity643@gmail.com, Mob:91415886 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available. #9719 4864 Having 9+ years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:95983711.Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian male 24 years,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 2 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482, Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482 Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Male, 32, having 7 years experience in New Car sales and rental. Currently working for one of the most reputed Brand in India is seeking a suitable change. Contact +91 9045232273 Looking for managerial post (full time ) ,More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training ,Planing, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. Contact 91076608 /+919048648108 NOC available Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 7 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. Having a valid D/L. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com

Indian-22 years Male, Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, has done internships, born and brought up in Oman, with Omani Driving License, seeking suitable jobs. Contact 92791637. E-mail: ashwinsureshkotturethu@gmail.com

BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings. NOC available. mobile: 92700670, email:catanalur131@gmail.com

Civil Engineer Indian 20 years experience (1 year in Oman) in management and construction seeks suitable placement. Contact: 91718976

Accounts Head/Manager looking for job with Gulf Experience (NOC available). Contact : 94164650. email: msaleem.kr@gmail.com

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 7 years of gulf experience in fasteners and building material. Having a valid driving license. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. # 95983711. Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact: 9719 4864 Indian male MBA finance and marketing. Having 2 year experienced in accounting, looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit can join immediately. Cont: 94676974 Email: anfalruk@gmail.com SALES MANAGER (MECHANICAL ENGINEER)-Over 5 yrs in Oman, with experience in Industrial Products & Services with Noc & driving license looking for the challenging opportunities. Notice period Ends on 27th August -2015 . GSM - 95291830 ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 5 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. with good communication skills. Contact: 00968 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.com INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482 21 years, B. Com, graduate male ‘fresher’ well versed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam with Driving license looking for a suitable job. Contact: 96799287 Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping & Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 97121525 24 years, ACCA affiliate, 2.5 years of experience in audit, finance in Big6 and oil industry, looking for suitable placement, NOC release available. Contact 95140445, Email: a.saran891@gmail.com Male available for a part time accounting & admin job, Contact:99196621. INDIAN MALE 24 YEARS, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic).Having 2 years experience as Electrical Site Engineer in Constructions. Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications. Seeking for suitable placement in constructions or in any related industries. Contact no: 98045482/ mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male, 29 yrs, B.Tech Electronics & Communication Eng. + diploma in SAP, 7 years professional experience, looking for a job in Oman / other GCC countries. Contact: 0091 973 928 5790, Email: rahul.rn198@gmail.com Indian Female Lawyer having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman seeks placement in Legal/HR/ Admin etc. NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED Indian male MBA ﬁnance and marketing having 2 year experienced in accounting. Having good knowledge in Tally ERP and advanced excel. Looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit visa can join immediately. Contact:94676974, Email : anfalruk@gmail.com

Advertising/media executive with 15 years gulf experience with oman driving license. Seeks good opening. Contact 93031168

Mechanical Engineer : Indian , male 23 years, 2 years experience, on visit visa . Seeking suitable placement. Contact : +968 91409712 , Email : nibin.nani@gmail.com

Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping&Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. GSM: 97121525

Babar Ali Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, No need of Visa, already working in of the Omani Construction Company. Contact:- 95983711.

Quantity Surveyor-MEP (Estimation/Project) ,Total 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, Looking for suitable job, Contact - 97906551

Indian Male, 37 Years , B Tech Graduate Electrical. Having 12 Years Experience of DCRP Works / Jobs in Oman with Driving License, Looking for an suitable opening, NOC Available. Contact – 92122338, Email saiviharvasanth@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact : 98803439 Masters in Information Systems and IT with more than 12 years experience seeks suitable placement. Contact: 98502793, email:jobsrs6@gmail.com Indian Female, 25 years, M.Sc Electronics + Multimedia, having one year teaching experience in Government college in India, seeks suitable placement. Contact GSM 99367448

AutoCad Civil Draftsman – Having 3 years- experience, looking for a placement.(Full- time or Part time) 99627427 / 96154564.

Indian female with MBA in ﬁnance on visit visa seeking immediate placement. Contact :968-93316493 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years , looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilﬁeld industries. Having 5 years of Gulf experience in FASTENERS and building material. with good communication skills. Contact: 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.comIndian

SITUATION WANTED Well qualified Indian Female Bsc, Computers diploma 9 years of experience as Executive Secretary seeks placement. Contact 95423692,91374217 Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 YEARS in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat. GSM:97475860 mail:yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com B.E Mechanical engineer,2 years job experience in Oman in pipeline field, having ASNT level ll in UT,RT,MT and PT, fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, with valid Omani driving license (light) searching for job. Contact +968 92745691

Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286

ACCOUNTANT: Indian male senior Accountant, Graduate & CA Article ship completed. 18 Years of experience. Currently on visiting visa. seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 99769743, Email: hilariankj@gmail.com

Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement. Contact : 97914340. Email: rajkv30@gmail.com

Indian male 35 yrs, 10 yrs UAE experience in FMCG, looking for a suitable position in sales and marketing, valid GCC license on visit visa. Contact 93438747, 95723635. Having exp in the following, MS Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 & EMail Client Administration,Linux Administration, Service Desk Administration, Network Management, Technical Support. Presently the candidate in India. Mob:97239854 Available for a part time accounting job. Contact 99196621 Software Developer, Indian female, B.Tech (AE & I), M.Tech (VLSI Design), asp.net, C#,.net, C++, Core Java, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpkku@gmail.com Electronics / Instrumentation Engineer, Indian female, M.Tech (VLSI Design), B.Tech (applied Electronics & Instrumentation), ASP.Net, C++.Net, C++, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpktu@gmail.com

Indian male, B.com, MBA, having 5 years experience (3 years in U.A.E) is currently seeking suitable opportunities within ﬁnance/ accounts/admin dept. Contact:93953613, allen.mathew83@gmail.com

Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 yrs in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat Email:yadhukrishnan08@gmail. com, GSM:97475860

B.Com graduate, 11 years experience in Accounts, 9 years Oman experience , Oman valid driving license, looking for suitable post. Mob:92758404 NOC Available.

Indian Male 22 Years , Graduation In Electronics Seeking Jobs In Supervisory , Sales & Sales Co-ordination Fields , Good Communication Skill # 96141317, E-mail: akhilek5@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available. Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Two year experience in Oman, experience in sales, purchase and system admin, Having GCC license. Contact number 97475860, Yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com Indian Male, 32 yrs, MBA-HR, Trainer & Faculty worked on Omanisation & nationals development activities with 10 yrs of experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 93891401 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science,diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience dba oracle plsql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba,network Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic Tel: 91415886 Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708/97357143 Indian male 27 years B.E & MS Mechanical Engineer working in Delhi for last 4 years inJcb India pvt. ltd., seeks placement in Oman. #93393768

Driver looking for job exp 2 yrs. Contact: 98522914 DIPLOMA+B.E.(CIVIL ENGINEER), Indian, 4 years of experience, currently on visit visa; Seeking Right Position. GSM:91570703. ME. Civil Engineer, Structural Designer, 3 Years Structural Design, 6 Years Str. Engineer Experience, Looking For Structural Designer Position. Iranian Male. Contact: 93696929, Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com B-tech Electrical Engineer with more than 2 years of experience in erection and designing of HT and LT electrical systems. Seeking for suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 98269366. Email: sijincleetus@gmail.com Male Graphic designer cum animation, non linear editing VFX, seeking suitable position. Contact: 97792661 / 96229406 Indian lady 30 years Graduate having work experience in India and Oman looking for Admin or any other suitable job. Contact : 95676957 Indian Female Accountant, CA Final (Group I cleared), 5+ year’s experience in the ﬁeld of Accounts, Audit and Financial ERPs. Currently available in Muscat and seeking suitable job opportunities.Ph:94704800 email id: vinithsavith@gmail.com

Female MBA gold medalist, with computer proﬁciency, Oman driving license looking for job opportunity in event management companies in Muscat. Ph : 99012949

Civil site coordinator, Diploma, Male 25, now present in Oman, Seeking job in Oman. # 92887561, jubincivileng@gmail.com

Indian female B. Com MBA ﬁnance ,5 years experience in oman as an account seeking suitable placement. Contact 99044292

B.E (IT) 1 year exp complete schooling in Muscat needs job in software / net working / java/ WEB design or marketing. #97136248 / 99313821

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SIT.WANTED Data Entry operator cum Buyer, Indian male,26years.BA, Computer proficiency :Operating system (Windows 2000xp & Windows7) E plus and Tally ERP9, 4 yrs Experience in Oman seeks suitable placements. Mob: 95360255 Indian Female BSC nurse with 8+ years of experience including 3 years of GCC exp. Oman Prometric passed with 57 %. Currently in Oman. Contact : 98034384 Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 36 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 9 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to finalization. Contact 9602 3965. Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking, 1 year sales experience. M. Sc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com Indian female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3 yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913 Indian, presently on visit visa in Salalah looking for job B.com failed UAE experience in accounts, commercial Admin & warehouse. Contact: 92754071 /93346931 Email: sathyanathanuk@gmail.com

WEBSITE

Indian male, 39 yrs, MSC Computer Science 10 years experience IT support, FMS Engineer, bank experience looking for suitable job. Contact: 94276449 MBA (Marketing /HR) with 45 years exp in business development and marketing, having valid Oman driving license seeks suitable placement currently available on family visa. Contact 97618033 Email: vjgeorge12@gmail.com

COMPUTER

Indian male 63 years have 30 years Muscat experience all office work sales business development insurance administration accounts with Oman driving license. # 99249412 Indian female LLB (Advocate) 2 years experience looking for suitable post legal advisor company secretary etc. # 93343190 / 94476387 Email: shafu1019@gmail.com Indian female, B.Sc, PGDCA, currently on family joining visa, 2 years working experience in oman as customer care / sales co-ordinator, immediate joining seeks suitable placements. Contact no. (968) 95573205 / 95949230 / 95800792 Indian male 22 years ACCA affiliate , BSc, Graduate in applied accounting 2 months working experience seeking suitable placement in Finance / Accounts / audit immediately. Contact: 97378607 / 92558734

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

CLASSES

DRIVING

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

B-tech Electrical Engineer with more than 2 years of experience in erection and designing of HT and LT electrical systems. Seeking for suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 98269366. Email: sijincleetus@gmail.com

Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422

Project Manager / Senior Engineer, Indian Male BE Civil, 21yrs experienced including Oman looking for the Job Contact +918939295181 Email I’D 58031_bala@yahoo.co.in

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

Indian male 26 , graduate in mechanical engineering having 2 years experience in fabrication production ﬁled in India, looking for a suitable job. mobile: +968-91384621 EMAIL : rmekhil@hotmail.com Sr. Sales Executive, Indian Male, Holding Valid Oman DL. Total experience in Oman of 15 years with 4 years Rent a Car Co. experience. Looking for Opportunities in any Industry for similar sales role. GSM - 95703233 email id “khetani_r@yahoo.com

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

NRI

Split window cassette AC unit servicing, maintenance. Contact: 99540621 One stop shop business services : Public Relation (PRO) formation new companies, LLC companies, Investor visa, business setup, prepare businesses & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company. Contact: Saleh : 96723485

An NRI wants to sell his properties, in Ernakulam (6 cent villa near Amrita hospital), Trivandrum (plot near Kowdiar Palace), Trivandrum (plot near Kumarapuram Jn.) and Pandalam (opposite Ayyappa temple by the side of MC road). Please call: 94052733 or 94070407

INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic). Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certiﬁcations. Looking for HSE engineer job in Oil Gas Sector, constructions or in any related industries. Contact 98045482

Driver 5 years exp know English, Arabic,& Hindi Education B.A. Contact : 91615715 / 99512270

Indian male. M.com holder with two year working experience as an accountant in India. Now at Muscat on visiting visa. Seeks suitable placement. Gsm:96947500,99463120, :mohamedshaﬁkk5@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854

SIT.WANTED Admission started in a private school, Darsait (Mount Zion Group of Institutions CBSE 1) for KG and grade 1 to 4 please register soonest. Contact: 92088325 / 24799938 *Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 General cleaning & Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 / 99357908 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 All maintenance & repairs. Contact Rizwan: 99429071, RMPM Trading. GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C Technician, all refrigerator items, installation. Contact: 92279370 Air condition maintenance split and window A/C split a/c ducted and package type units. Contact: 98667326 General cleaning in buildings villas all types interior, exterior, polishing dry cleaning carpets, rugs, marble etc. #94134784 / 98598280 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

TRANSPORTATION Driver with car. Contact: 94004667 Pick & drop anytime in Al Ghubra. Contact: 97681599 Transport available in Ghala, Ruwi , Ghubra, Al Khuwair & Azaiba. Contact: 91495819 Transportation. Contact 99664703 Transportation available. Contact 95570429 Transport. Contact: 95190627 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914

House shifting & packing. Contact: 99657644 /98518013 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 3 1 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

TOURS

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

RENT A CAR

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Car for rent. Contact: 92516090 Butter cup rent a car competitive prices new car 2016. Contact: 97249449

FOR HIRE Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

Diplomat used car for sale Toyota Corolla 2010 model, mileage 19,950/, price R.O 3500 /- (negotiable). Contact: Mohamed Azgar 95751844 / 95863739

HONDA CR-V 2008, purchased 2009, 4WD, Full option, No.1 model, Cruise control, leather seats, Sun roof, 1,23,000KMS, OMR 5000/-, expat leaving, for sale at SOHAR, Contact Samuel 99108311

Sportage, 2013. Contact 99336093 Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

*Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability