T weekly 5 july 2018 pdf by Muscat Media Group

VOL 11 ISSUE 29 / JULY 5, 2018

ART BEAT

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Art from a can and a celebration chock-full of chocolates Art represents our most subtle feelings, and the works of an Omani artist have proven just that. Despite having no formal training in subjects related to art, he nurtured his passion for an art form that is not widely recognised and accepted. He knew deep within that if showcased in the right manner, his art may one day be appreciated and loved by all. Meet Abdulmalik Al Maskari, the graffiti artist from Oman, who has managed to display his artworks without violating the rules of the country by spray painting only on interior walls and canvases. Graffiti art originated in the late 60s in the US, where artists would spray paint on the walls of trains. It soon caught the fancy of many around the world, though it did not get any official acceptance and was often considered a form of vandalism. It was during this time that a book called “Subway Art” was published, opening up a new perspective to this art form. The book turned graffiti art, whether in the form of elaborate paintings on a wall or a simple word written artistically, into a globally-recognised phenomenon. Abdulmalik keeps this spirit alive by breathing life onto his canvases, his work simultaneously reﬂecting his sensitivity and zeal. Embark on a colourful journey this week with this artist who creates magniﬁcence with his spray can. World Chocolate Day is just a few days away, but do we really need a day to celebrate the sweetest treat on earth? Some may answer in the negative, but commemorating the day surely makes chocolates only more desirable. So this week, sink your teeth into anything that has a hint of chocolate in it. From the epic hot chocolate drink to your favourite choco candies, cakes, and ice-cream, it’s raining chocolates this week. While you relish these delights, make sure to read our Special Feature to learn interesting facts about chocolates. More in store for foodies and fashionistas. — Swati Dasgupta

Founder: Essa bin Mohamed Al Zedjali Chairman: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali CEO: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Editor: Charles Lavery Features Editor: Swati Dasgupta Research Editor: Ashish Dubash Associate Editors: Salim Al Afifi, Shruthi Nair Copy Editor: Gautam Bhargav Viswanathan Online Editor: Christopher Isaac Chief Sales Officer: Richard Pakenham Production Manager: Shafi Shaik Graphics Editor: Antonio Farach Design Editor: Sahir K.M. Lead Designer: Geri B. Sonny Designer: Gregory Fernandez Photography: MMG Photographers On The Cover: Photography by Salim Al Afifi For general enquiries or comments: swati@timesofoman.com

Muscat Media Group AN ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED COMPANY Post Box: 770, Postal Code: 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman EDITORIAL 24726600/24726666 Ext 214 swati@timesofoman.com ADVERTISEMENT 24726600/24726666 Ext 432 ajayraj@timesofoman.com

CIRCULATION 24726600/24726666 Ext 135/136 circulation@timesofoman.com

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 14 MARCH 22, 2018

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WHAT’S ON 08 THIS WEEK SUNDAY

5.00pm Burn Some Omani Incense Oman is known for its sweetsmelling incense that the locals use to cense their houses, clothes, and even cars. Take time to explore the varieties at your nearest traditional souq in your wilayat.

MONDAY

THURSDAY

8.00pm Dine at the Opera Galleria There’s no way you would miss this concrete beauty that sports a modern-yet-traditional exterior and luxurious interior whenever you drive by Qurum. The restaurants inside are worth trying, including French, Indian, and Omani cuisines, all on offer.

5.00pm Visit Old Muscat One of the most fascinating places in Muscat is old Muscat, where you would spot some of the oldest roads, buildings and shops that occupy the olden city. Make sure to stop by Al Alam Palace; it’s majestically beautiful.

FRIDAY 9.00am Learn About Islam Head over to the Institute of Islamic Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University and learn about Islam from religion experts and speakers. Each Friday is dedicated to a new and informative topic.

07 SATURDAY

10.00am Buy Some Fish The Muttrah Fish Market is a onestop-shop for everything fish. Head over there and get yourself buckets of fresh-out-the-water seafood that make for a great soup.

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WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

05.00pm Jog by the Beach Exercising doesn’t have to be dull. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a jogging session while indulging in beachy views of Shatti Al Qurum? Not us.

4.00pm Take your Kids to the Library The Children Public Library is a great place to spend your time with the kids. Their extensive books and entertaining edutainment facilities will keep the children happy while having a true learning experience.

Gemini (Film) Genre: Mystery, Crime Cast: Lola Kirke, Zoë Kravitz, John Cho In Darkness (Film) Genre: Comedy, History Cast: Natalie Dormer, Emily Ratajkowski, Ed Skrein A blind musician hears a murder committed in the apartment upstairs from hers that sends her down a dark path into London’s gritty criminal underworld.

A heinous crime tests the complex relationship between a tenacious personal assistant and her Hollywood starlet boss.

(Genre

Acrimony (Film) Genre: Thriller Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Lyriq Bent, Crystle Stewart A faithful wife, tired of standing by her devious husband, is enraged when it becomes clear she has been betrayed.

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The art form that has been popularised by the likes of Banksy, an an England-based graffiti artist, is now making a buzz in Oman, tha Abdulmalik Al Maskri, one of the few artists who has dived into th of graffiti. While in Oman this art is prohibited in public places, art found a way to pursue their art and they spray on interior walls and STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

anonyn, thanks the world tists have canvases.

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raffiti is the most recognised form of contemporary street art and has a unique appeal, said Abdulmalik while sharing his passion for this street art. While writings or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed artistically on a wall or other surfaces in a public place has been very common worldwide, it isn’t allowed in the Sultanate. But that hasn’t stopped artists from chasing their dreams. As the saying goes, true dreamers always find a way to practice their passions, and while graffiti as an art form has yet to grow in Oman, a number of hardcore fans have found a way around the prohibition by spending their time spraying on canvases and walls at home. “Having artwork on a wall is a great reminder of how good of an artist you are, as the art will remain forever on that wall,” said the artist who has managed to find alternative ways to practice this art form without vandalising properties or ruining the walls in Muscat. THE JOURNEY Abdulmalik, who hails from Ibra in Al Sharqiyah and is now a resident of Muscat, pursued his higher studies in IT and architecture, although street art was always his ﬁrst love. His passion for art began at a very young age, when he would spend hours drawing beautiful objects using his favourite, well-sharpened pencil. He has loved ﬁne arts for as long as he can remember, and used his skills to transform his imagination into actual art on paper. Popular in school as a creative kid, Abdulmalik participated in several drawing competitions from elementary to high school and had won many awards, which helped convince him that he was destined to become an artist. However, at that point in his life, he had no idea which field he wanted

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to specialise in, so he attempted to master pencil art and learn about watercolours and oil paintings. Little did he know, however, that his true passion lay in a completely different field — one that required the use of spray cans and gas masks. So how did his journey as a graffiti artist begin? In 2009, when he was still in high school, Abdulmalik was asked to come up with a project that showcased his true potential. He was already known as a great painter, but he wanted to try some more adventurous forms of fine art. After researching, he fell in love with the idea of drawing on walls. It was, at the time, a new and unfamiliar territory that needed to be explored, so he immediately dived into it. He was then asked to provide photos of this so-called graffiti art, but he couldn’t find a wall in town that had beautiful creations or poetic stories, and the walls that had art on them were not artistic enough to make Abdulmalik fall in love with them. That made him turn to plan B, which was to find a clean wall in a secluded area where he could work his magic. He bought a couple of cans of spray paint and went to a secluded location to craft out inspiring artwork. Once he was finished, he grabbed his camera and took a photo for his high school project. It was then that graffiti as an art form sparked a fire in his heart. That day marked the beginning of his mission to become a great graffiti artist. “I admire the effect that comes out of graffiti,” Abdulmalik said. “It gives me a final result full of beautiful details. You can even express your feelings and share them on a wall forever,” he adds. One day, a store owner approached him and suggested that they collaborate on a project. At that time, he had just acquired the best spray paints from Germany, so he realised that this could be a golden opportunity. He packed his cans of spray paint and headed over to the store. He drew more than three huge drawings on the walls of the store: A ghost-inspired artwork, a Ferrari, and one of our absolute favourite fictional characters from DC Comic’s Batman, the Joker.

“The attention to detail was impeccable on these artworks,” he said about the intricate details on the graffiti in the store, such as the curves on the car and the veins on the Joker’s body. “I made sure that I brought out the tiniest of details and features of these items using spray paint, caps, and sets of brushes.” On another wall, a painting of a flashy yellow Lamborghini took three days to finish “because I wanted to ensure that every detail was perfectly painted,” Abdulmalik said. He also painted the Incredible Hulk from Marvel Comics alongside a bunch of street fighters at one of the local gyms. These artworks have made him become a favourite and a household name for those who admire the art form in Oman and want it to grace their homes and storefronts. “I try to inject my love into every piece, and put my touch and identity on it,” he explained. THE INSPIRATION Abdulmalik enjoys painting subjects close to his heart, but his works can also appear almost realistic. He draws inspiration mostly from pop culture figures and his surroundings. In his private collections, he likes to add hints from his past experiences which carry personal and anecdotal stories. Today, people can easily spot his work and identify it as “Abdulmalik’s wall”, which is a worthy achievement that once seemed far-fetched for the young artist. Though graffiti lives on city walls and buildings around the world, Abdulmalik explained that it’s a different game here in Oman. Instead of drawing and scribbling at random places, he urges like-minded artists to gather and support one another in establishing a platform that caters to graffiti art. “Our city is a beautiful city, and a clean capital, I could not allow myself to put drawings on its walls,” he said, adding that he still had to find ways to practice his newfound profession. Abdulmalik’s dream of becoming the best graffiti artist Oman has ever produced is now becoming a reality, and it’s only the beginning of a fruitful journey. —salim@timesofoman.com

Follow Abdulmalik Al Maskri on Instagram @4almlk

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ALL YOU NEED IS CHOCOLATE ‘Your hand and your mouth agreed many years ago that, as far as chocolate is concerned, there is no need to involve your brain.’ Noted columnist and author Dave Barry’s words speak a lot about our everlasting love for chocolates. As we celebrate World’s Chocolate Day on July 7 we not only fuel some of our chocolate memories but also sink our teeth into the history of chocolates, the making, and what makes them so irresistible.

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witzerland leads the world in chocolate consumption with 22.36 pounds per person per year, revealed a survey by the Chocolate Manufacturer’s Association. Austria and Ireland are not far behind with 20.13 pounds and 19.47 pounds, respectively. Even in the Middle East, chocolate sales have exceeded $4.2 billion, forcing international brands to flood the market. While To’ak is considered as the most expensive chocolate in the world, Toblerone from Switzerland is the most popular brand followed by Guylian from Belgium. Welcome to the world of chocolates, something that’s never enough. After all, when it comes to chocolates resistance is futile, isn’t it? Chocolate as a food item has come a long, long way since its inception. The origins can be traced to the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilisations, which prized chocolate for centuries, before slowly bestowing the knowledge to the world. The divine cocoa was first said to have been used in a drink called ‘chocolati’ made from roasted cocoa beans. That was how the sweet, addictive journey of chocolate began, and since then there has been no looking back. Today, a whopping $100 billion worth of chocolates are sold each year throughout the world, and those who claim to not like chocolates are given judgemental stares for saying such a despicable thing out loud. SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago market research firm, people in the United States spent more than $7 billion for individualsized chocolate candy bars, bags, and boxes in just one year. According to a survey data released in 2015, M&M’s generated $406.7 million, selling a total of 417.7 million units of these colourful chocolate filled candies that wouldn’t melt in the hands. Trendingtopmost.com reported that so far this year, Snickers is the best selling chocolate bar brand. It belongs to Mars Incorporation, which also has other top chocolate brands like Maltesers, Mars, Bounty, Twix, Milky Way and more. Chocolate making is not a child’s play. You don’t realise it while savouring your favourite bar, but it’s a long, intricate process. It all starts with the cultivation of cacao. The Theobroma cocao tree grows at 20 degrees north and south of Equator, and bears pods which contain the precious cocoa beans. Once the pods turn yelloworange, they are chopped open and the seeds are removed. The beans are then left to be fermented, either by the heap method or in cascading boxes. Once fermented, which take 2 to 9 days, they must be carefully dried. And then they are shipped to international markets or chocolate makers. This is called the cocoa mass which, when placed under extreme temperatures, become cocoa powder or cocoa butter. And then there’s conching, tempering, moulding, and finally the never-ending, unstoppable eating. According to the International Cocoa Organisation, cocoa is predominantly a smallholder crop, as more than 90 per cent of world cocoa production originates from small farms. In Africa and Asia, a typical smallholder cocoa farm covers only 2 to 5 hectares of land. And it approximately takes 400 cacao beans to make 450 grams of chocolate. This information is vital, so you will value every bite of your favourite chocolate bar, not just for the taste, but also for the effort that has gone into bringing it to you. Chocolate, apart from being a versatile food item, is said to do a number of other jobs. The smell of chocolate increases the brain waves, which triggers relaxation. So if you thought that you feel relaxed after having a bite of the best Hershey’s bar only because of the satisfaction of getting to eat it, then remember that there is actually more to it. Also, eat some chocolate when you are feeling a little drained and low on energy, and drinking chocolate milk after exercising is great for our health, because it is full of protein. Additionally, it helps increase your endurance, making it a great workout buddy. And if you are feeling low and a little stressed out, then chocolate can come to the rescue. The contents of dark chocolate can help in the production of endorphins, which are known to improve your mood. Apart from this, dark chocolate has a number of health and skin benefits. No wonder Thornton created the world’s largest chocolate bar on his 100th birthday, and due to Marie Antoinette’s love for the magical hot chocolate, it became one of the most frequently served drinks at the Palace of Versailles. And don’t forget that there was an entire movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, made and remade about this wondrous gift mankind ever got.

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I T AL L STARTS WITH BR EA K STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY SALIM AL AFIFI

int & Coco is that minimalist restaurant we’ve all been waiting for, and it’s here to satisfy the pickiest of eaters with appetising dishes, sophisticated plating, and its boutique ambience. Inspired by beautiful lifestyle cafes around the world, Mint & Coco is a homegrown restaurant founded by Loaya Al Mammari, an across-the-board traveller who loves exploring cultures and trying exciting ﬂavours in search of the perfect concept. Now, she has opened her own small haven, serving food that is highly pleasing to the senses. This week, we stopped by the restaurant in Al Khuwair to try their breakfast menu, which had a selection of our favourite sweet and savoury foods.

As we arrived at Salam Square, we fell in love with the minimalist architecture surrounding the restaurant, complementing the vibe that Loaya was probably going for when she opened her diner. After a couple of steps, we spotted the place and were truly amazed. It was love at first sight. The concept of the restaurant is beautifully executed, with hints of contemporary decor in an ubercool space bedecked with a palette of white, beige, and mint green. The interior was adorned with white ornaments and vases carrying decorative plants in a refreshing green colour, artinspired light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and floors featuring a combination of raw cement and checkered tiles. The inside also featured white-painted bricked walls and our abso-

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FA S T

lute favourite part of the space — a green grassed-up wall with a gigantic ‘Mint & Coco’ logo in the middle. From the minute we stepped into the restaurant we knew that this was going to be our seat and that this was a great spot for an Instagram photo. We sat down by the green wall and explored their extensive menu and decided to go with a staple breakfast item: Eggs. We ordered two egg-based dishes, pancakes for good measure, and iced coffee. Later we kicked off the session with iced coffee, which featured frozen coffee cubes in milk, then dived into the ﬁrst main — eggs benedict and an English muffin, topped with garden-fresh spinach, turkey ham, poached eggs, and splashed with buttery hollandaise sauce. The dish was delicious, its taste completely on point. After savouring the eggs benedict, we had a steak and eggs skillet, a dish made of scrambled eggs, a bunch of greens, and miniature bite-size chunks of meat, topped with crispy strips of fried sweet potato. The meat was impeccable, juicy, moist, and full of ﬂavour, and the eggs added a creamy texture to the dish. Simply put, it’s the rockstar dish on their breakfast menu, and an absolute must-try. Sweet-toothed folks will be elated to know that we hit the jackpot with Mint & Coco’s pancakes. The chocolate pancakes were about the best pancakes we had in a long time. They tasted almost like a soft chocolate cake that melts in your mouth. The stacks were showered with creamy cocoa, strawberries, and crushed nuts, and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chunks of chocolate. Though we did not care for the ice cream, we waited for the pancakes, which was perfection on a platter. Other delicious items on the breakfast menu included French toast, zaatar puffs, and crab and egg. We are excited to come back here and try the rest of the menu, which is loaded with great surprises that should not be missed. Don’t come to this diner just for the food. Come for the experience, hospitality, and homemade taste. Thanks to the many things it offers Omani foodies, Mint & Coco is here to stay. It is one restaurant that truly lives up to its hype. —salim@timesofoman.com

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FLAUNT YOUR ACCESSORIES STORY ANTARA BOSE

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In this ever-changing world of fashion, a quick upgrade to your accessory drawer can be the easiest way to welcome the trends of the new season. From extra-long earrings to the colour of the year, we’ve rounded up the key fashion accessories you should flaunt this season. EARRINGS There is no getting away from the bold, 1longSHOULDER-GRAZING and chunky earrings this year. Hoops,

STATEMENT BELTS If you’re just beginning to wonder 4 if everything is upsized this season, well,

chandeliers and even artistically created architectural designs — exaggerated statement earrings have a deﬁnite place in the list of top trending accessories this season. It’s no surprise we featured it number one on our list too.

you’re not the only one. Yes, those big, bold, eye-catching belts are back! This is why we don’t trash yesteryear’s fashion elements very soon. Time to dig out those belts and ﬂaunt them once again.

BOLD SUNGLASSES The matrix sunglasses were a fresh change from the oversized shades that have dominated fashion for a while now. Though those barely-there glasses have gotten a little larger since last year, the highlight is the colourful turn the shades have taken. From popping hues to funky designs, get ready to protect your eyes in the coolest way.

OVERSIZED BAGS 3 We’ve said big bags earlier, but when we say ‘oversized’, we really mean extra, extra-large. Something that would ﬁt our entire makeup kit, curlers and shoes. We ladies do have a lot that we’d like to carry with us (always) and those palm-sized clutches were proving to be quite a challenge. Don’t we just love it when fashion takes such a smart turn?

THE STRAP-AROUND BAG 5 We’re giving the fanny pack a modern twist. Keep your hands free with these trendy belt bags that come in various shapes, colours and materials. This new trend is definitely busting the myth that fanny packs were just for tourists. No matter what your style is, you’ll find one of these just for you. ULTRAVIOLET We couldn’t do without a mention of 6 the Pantone Colour of the Year on this list. If you like a particular accessory, just flaunt it in ultraviolet. It’s as easy as that to sport the trend sometimes. QUIRKY PLATFORM SHOES We’ve always had mixed emotions 7 towards platforms. But boy, aren’t we glad whenever it features on catwalks. Platforms offer height without the discomfort of heels. What else could you ask for? From plaid-printed sneakers to quirky-shaped boots — platform shoes are all the rage. CUFF BRACELETS 8 We don’t think cuff bracelets were ever out of fashion, but high-end designers are now once again showcasing them on international runways in a big way. You can style them either individually or stacked together.

Antara Bose is a model turned fashion and beauty consultant. A popular blogger, anchor, and voice over artist, she maintains a deep connection with the local fashion industry and is passionate about discovering and celebrating aspiring talent as well as promoting animal rights. For fashion updates with a side of humour and sarcasm follow Antara on instagram @antarabose and on Facebook: Antara Bose.

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TAXI 5 Cast: Bernard Farcy, Franck Gastambide, Malik Bentalha A police officer who’s transferred in the police of Marseille gets assigned to take down a group of Italian robbers who drive the powerful Ferrari’s with the older niece of Daniel, a terrible driver who gets the legendary white taxi.

THE FIRST PURGE

ANT-MAN & THE WASP

Cast: Lex Scott Davis, Marisa Tomei, Y’Lan Noel

Cast: Micheal Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Micheal Pena

To push the crime rate below one per cent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community.

Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Inﬁnity War, Scott Lang, now under house arrest after the events of Civil War, tries to balance his home life as a father with his responsibilities as Ant-Man.

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TAG Cast: Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Annabelle Wallis, Hannibal Buress, Isla Fisher

For one month every year, five highly competitive friends hit the ground running in a no-holds-barred game of tag they’ve been playing since the first grade. To hold onto their youth and their friendship, they risk their necks, their jobs and their relationships to take each other down with the battle cry: “You’re it!” This year, the game coincides with the wedding of their only undefeated player, which should finally make him an easy target. But he knows they’re coming…and he’s ready. Based on a true story, the New Line Cinema comedy “Tag” shows how far some guys will go to be the last man standing.

Running At: Vox Cinemas, City Cinemas, Al Bahja Cinema

Cast: Karoline Herfurth, Axel Prahl, Luis Vorbach The Little Witch has a big problem: she is only 127 years old, which makes her much too young to dance with the other witches on Walpurgis Night. So she sneaks into the most important of all witches’ parties – and gets caught!

SERVER SUNDARAM Tamil Cast: Santhanam, Vaibhavi Shandilya The ﬁlm features Santhanam and Vaibhavi Shandilya in the leading roles, while Radha Ravi appears in other pivotal role.

COMING SOON

THE LITTLE WITCH

SKYSCRAPER

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION

Cast: Chin Han, Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campell

Cast: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez

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Kazakhstan Embassy and Bait Al Zubair organised a photography exhibition Astana â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Heart of Eurasia which will be on till July 12 at Bait Al Zubair. - Photos by Shabin E.

Muscat Gujarati Samaj, the Gujarati Wing of Indian Social Club, recently organised Shaam-E-Antakshari event, a musical game show, at the Indian Embassy Auditorium.

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SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column, and area.

Level | Easy

TIMES DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

If you aren’t afraid of the dark, Limbo is a These traps depend on the environment game that you will enjoy playing. If you are, the boy is in. When he first embarks on his Limbo will help banish your fears. duty of finding his sister, the forest he’s in In a world where games — much like the is home to all sorts of creatures, most of environment we live in — get more and them not nice. Giant spiders, haunted oak more complex, Limbo is a very welcome trees, wolves and bears are just a few of the exception to the norm. hurdles the boy will have to get past. Add to Created by Danish game studios that glow-in-the-dark insects that attach Playdead, Limbo is a surthemselves to the boy’s head vival thriller (some might and force him to move in THE SHORT AND SKINNY say horror) game rendered only one direction until he in black and white, and its can get rid of them, and obName: Limbo minimalist lighting and stacles planted by humans Genre: Survival horror/adventure grainy effect have received to ward off the dangers of Produced by: Playdead Studios plenty of positive feedback. the forest — such as bear What it’s about: In a world not The game is available to traps — and this little fella is unlike our own, a little boy wakes download and play on the in for an adventure he is not up on his own, and sets out to find Xbox and PlayStation platgoing to forget. his sister. The journey he is about to forms, as well as on PCs and But should he negotiate depart on will change him forever mobile phones. his way past these traps and Where to buy: Steam, Microsoft Limbo seems to be a out of the forest, he should Store, Amazon, GOG.com, Playdead twisted take on the popular find his way at last … into website, Humble Bundle, PlayStation German folk tale, Hanthe crumbling ruins of a city Store, Xbox Marketplace sel and Gretel, two little that has even worse to offer. Platforms: PC, Linux, iOS, Android, children who get lost in Upon spotting the boy hopePlayStation One, PlayStation 4, Xbox the forest. In this version fully shuffling towards them, 360, Xbox One of the game, which is set the few inhabitants that live IGN Rating: 9/10 to eerie, haunting tunes to in this city don’t offer help. draw players further into They either run away, are Limbo’s macabre setting, unreachable, or, in a manner an unnamed boy sees himself wake up in most thoughtful, attack the little guy. an unnamed forest, having been separated This metropolis features traps of a most from his unnamed sister. Limbo’s setting cunning and devious nature, and often emmay be vague and creepy, but its purpose is ploy electricity, electromagnets or lethal simple — a boy is on the search for his bemachinery, which, unlike the creatures loved sister, and will do whatever he needs in the forest, are practically undetectable to in order to find her. until the wee boy steps onto them. You The boy in question has to navigate this are allowed to restart from the nearest forest, which while tedious on its own, checkpoint, should he perish, which tends contains a series of dangerous and lethal to happen quite often in-game. traps that players might both knowingly and While Limbo may seem like a game that inadvertently spring. The AI, for all of its has sucked out all the humanity from its eerie music and haunting settings, is actudark world, it is the opposite that is true. ally quite nice in its own creepy little way by The game has been designed to enable providing players gruesomely detailed implayers to want to care for the boy. It is a ages of what would happen if this little boy symbol, that in the face of all the world’s (who actually looks quite adorable in-game) darkness, it is our humanity that will see were to accidentally spring the traps. us through.

2 7

1 8

2 3

8 1

1 4

Level | Moderate

1 9

6 5 6

6 4 3

3 1

2 8

1 4 2

9 5

3 3

5 7

Level | Difficult

7 3

6 4

6 6

5 2

3 2

THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

LIMBO

5 3

4 7

Easy

Medium

Difficult

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GULF COLLEGE APPOINTS NEW DEAN

ulf College made its official announcement of the appointment of Dr Rima Al Zadjali as the dean of the college. The event took place under the patronage of HH Sayed Mohammed bin Thuwainy bin Shihab, chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr Issa Sabeel Al Bulushi, chairman of The Board of Directors (BoD) and members of staff of the college. The event commenced with the opening remarks by Dr Issa, who at the outset expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to Dr Taki Al Abduwani for his leadership and guidance to the college in his capacity as dean over the past years. He then introduced the incoming dean, Dr Rima Al Zadjali as the most apt person to take on the baton from her predecessor. With her several years of experience in higher education and expertise in the ﬁeld of quality assurance and leadership, he expressed immense trust and faith he had in her ability to fulﬁl the responsibilities of deanship for Gulf College. He was thankful to HH Sayed Mohammed bin Thuwainy bin Shihab’s support towards the development of the Board of Trustees and the college organisation structure. He stated that

with new changes, come new beginnings and that such changes need to be considered as developmental for the optimistic growth of the college. Dr Rima, in her acceptance speech, expressed her sincere gratitude to the BoT and BoD for the belief and confidence they evinced on her. She stated that her role was to build on the previous successes the college had achieved under the expert guidance and passionate leadership of Dr Taki. She reached out to the staff of the college for their support to enable her, to scale Gulf College to greater heights. She said that her main focus would be to aid Gulf College to achieve national accreditation and while doing so uplift the standards of teaching and learning to ensure that the college fulfils its strategic objectives and serves its mission to offer internationally recognised and innovative academic qualifications that are appropriate to the needs of the students, job market and national priorities. In this endeavour, she has revised the college organisational structure that will enable it achieve its vision, provide strategic direction and therefore unfold a new roadmap to success. She

exhibited the new organisation structure and also highlighted major changes in it. She stressed on the priority the college gives to Omanisation of some academic and managerial posts, while maintaining a harmonious balance of national and international expertise. She stated that the college shall work closely with its partner universities (both Cardiff Metropolitan and Staffordshire), in order to maintain the highest academic standards offered by the two prestigious universities alongside other stakeholders such as MoHE, employers, industries, alumni and wider community. She stated that through this move she will work to align the institutional mission and vision to reﬂect the needs of students

and other stakeholders. The occasion also witnessed the promotion of committed, sincere and deserving Omani staff. Abid Al Balushi was promoted as the manager for public relations, Karima Al Hinai, director of student affairs, Zainab Al Balushi, manager for administrations, Zamzam Al Sarmi, manager for registrations and Ameena Al Bulushi, manager for admissions. On her ﬁnal notes, Dr Rima stated her belief in organisational systems with emphasis and priority on cooperation and coherence. She presented her vision to see that academic and non-academic staff work in tandem to build a vibrant and productive organisation. She urged everyone to commit to the highest standards of quality in teaching and in serving the stakeholders. She reinstated that Gulf College is an institution that is and will always be student-centric and committed to student success. In order to meet this objective she urged every member of the institution to instil in students, values of critical thinking, commitment, hard work and integrity.

ENJOY THE THRILL OF 2018 WORLD CUP IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME O mantel – the ﬁrst and leading provider of integrated telecommunication services in the Sultanate – continues to bring the thrill of ‘2018 World Cup’ to homes with a special discount up to RO29 on beIN SPORTS for home broadband customers. “As part of our transformation strategy, we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations and keep delivering value-added services. Thanks to the special discount Omantel is offering on beIN SPORTS, Home Broadband customers can continue to enjoy watching 2018 World Cup matches in the comfort of their home and pay less, sharing enthusiasm and joy with every family member,”said Haitham Al Kharusi,

Vice President of Consumer Business Unit at Omantel. The discount can be availed by visiting Omantel’s outlet in its headquarters as well as Avenues Mall, City Centre Muscat,

Al Amerat, My City Centre Sur, Salalah Gardens Mall, Sohar Outlet and Lulu Hypermarket in Barka. The offer can also be obtained by visiting beIN SPORTS branch in Al Khoudh.

Al Kharusi further commented, “We always look for creativity in delivering our services and value-added services, in a way that appeals to the public. As many people in Oman, especially youngsters, are passionate about football, we concentrated our efforts on the 2018 World Cup introducing offers and arranging activities aside from the special discount on beIN SPORTS for HBB customers. This includes an attractive offer for Hayyak prepaid customers that gives them a chance to enrol in a weekly draw and win ﬂight tickets to Russia, hotel stay, transportation and tickets to watch the World Cup Final match. Further, we organised Mall Activation ‘score to win’ challenge from early May to the ﬁrst of June.”