T weekly 14 june 2018 pdf

VOL 11 ISSUE 26 / JUNE 14, 2018

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 26 JUNE 14, 2018

From the World Cup to Eid, it’s celebrations galore this month The big day is finally here. The 21st FIFA World Cup tournament is set to begin and all roads seem to lead to Russia, the host country. And here in Muscat, the excitement is no less, as we gear up to witness the year’s biggest sports event. The month-long soccer feast starting today will run till July 15 and will be held in the various cities of Russia including Moscow, St Petersburg, and Sochi.

The adrenaline rush that comes with every kick of the ball will be felt from the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia. And the excitement among soccer fans will go up a notch when they watch their old time favourite teams — Portugal and Spain — play the game, followed by Brazil and Germany.

In all, 32 teams will compete with each other in the game and ardent fans will get a chance to see their favourite players in action: From Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo to Brazil’s Neymar and France’s Paul Pogba, among many others.

All eyes are set on Messi, as this could also be his last chance to grab the World Cup glory. Recently, Mauricio Macri, president of Argentina, while talking about his dreams to win, said: “The most important thing is to compete well and then God and Messi will decide if we can win the World Cup.” That’s not all. There is a lot more about FIFA and our cover story this week will have everything you need to know about the 2018 World Cup. And in our love for the World Cup, let us not forget that Eid is here, thus marking the end of the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, with prayers and feasting. So, let us immerse ourselves in the festive spirit.

Eid Mubarak!

— 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: Design by Geri B. Sonny 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 16 THIS WEEK

SATURDAY Cheer for your Favourite Team The Vault will open its door for hardcore football fans to celebrate the World Cup. Teams playing on this day include France vs Australia, Argentina vs Iceland, and Peru vs Denmark, among others.

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FRIDAY 05.00pm Meet Ice Age Characters The beloved characters of Ice Age are here to give you a funfilled session full of games and workshops, where young visitors can get creative, compete and even take-home souvenirs. Live performances will start at 5pm from June 15 to June 17.

City Centre Qurum, Qurum +968 968 2447 44 0700 0 00

The Vault, Hormuz Grand Hotel Airport Heights +968 2435 0500 06.00pm Watch the World Cup Habana will recreate a stadium ambience to entertain die-hard fans, who give in to loud claps and chants for their favourite teams. With a total of 10 high definition television sets, the place will definitely be a hotspot for the World Cup. Habana, Grand Hyatt Muscat Shatti Al Qurum +968 9507 8217

04.00pm Dance to Latina Music Join expert dancers and experience the Latin movement of Salsa where you’ll warm-up with the basic moves and turns, before jumping into beginner-level. No previous dance experience needed.

Vantage International Muscat Ruwi (nearby Ministry of Sports) +968 9343 5226

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Attend a World Cup Festival How about attending the nation’s largest viewing event featuring the best screens in Muscat? Yes, head over to Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre and witness the World Cup on a giant screen.

The festival will feature fan zones, vendor villages, gaming areas, and many more.

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WEDNESDAY 05.15pm Learn to Decorate Participate in a fun-filled class full of creative people and learn how to create decorative touches on furniture. The workshop costs OMR 45 per person Sununu Muscat 18th November Street +968 9018 5174

Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Airport Heights +968 2253 5761

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RED SPARROW (FILM) Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to ‘Sparrow School,’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations.

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Game Night (Film) Genre: Comedy Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler

Annihilation (Film) Genre: Adventure, Horror, Drama Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson

A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery.

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply.

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The beautiful game’s greatest showpiece has returned after a long four-year wait. Today (June 14) at 7pm Muscat time, up to a billion football fans around the world will look towards Moscow as the World Cup kicks off at the Lushniki Stadium. For over a month, the 32 greatest national teams, an entire constellation of football stars, will battle across the largest country on earth and on the pitches of Europe’s largest stadiums for the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

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t a cost of around 683 billion rubles ($11 billion), Russia is looking its best for the world and no wonder: A new report is predicting the economic impact of the tournament will bring in between 1.62 trillion rubles ($26 billion) and 1.92 trillion rubles ($30.8 billion) over the 10 years from 2013 through to 2023.

Beyond that, within its sprawling territory and 11 time zones, 12 of Russia’s venues and 11 host cities will have a chance to charm the millions watching, on the ground and on TV, offering a glimpse of a Russia many will not have seen or heard of.

A DIVERSE RANGE OF VENUES Moscow, Europe’s largest city and the capital of Russia, needs little introduction. Nor does its legendary Kremlin, Bolshoi Theatre, and Red Square. This romantic city, the scene of so much history and the setting of so many novels, is home to 13 million people and two of the World Cup’s stadiums.

The first, Luzhniki Stadium, will host the opening game and the final, plus five other games. It was built in 1956 as Lenin Central Stadium and once hosted events as prestigious as the 1980 Olympics and the 2008 Champions League final. Its 80,000 capacity is the largest of any venue this year, and more than double that of Moscow’s second World Cup stadium, Otkritie.

This year, Moscow, so often the epicentre of everything that happens in Russia, will share the limelight with a host of other cities, each representing a unique aspect of the Dancing Bear’s culture and history.

There’s St Petersburg, the stunning former capital of Tsarist Russia, built by Peter the Great as a worthy rival to any capital in its day. It retains its charm and architectural beauty, standing out as Russia’s most glamorous cultural destination. Its brand new, $1 billion Saint Petersburg Arena will feature a different kind of culture. Opened last year for the Confederations Cup, the arena will host four group-round games, one match in the round of 16, one semifinal and the game for third place.

Many might know Volgograd by its former name, Stalingrad, where it famously withstood the bloodiest battle in human history during the World War II. Another type of history is set to be written this summer, with the Volgograd Arena scheduled to host four group games.

Sochi, once the heralded host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, the most expensive in the event’s history, will rise to fame once again as the setting of four group-round games, one match in the round of 16 and one quarterfinal. The many footballers and fans will be forgiven for stopping to take in its magnificent Black Sea setting and mountains in between matches at the Olympic-era Fisht Stadium.

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Travellers from the Middle East will feel right at home in Kazan, one of Russia’s most diverse cities. With a population that is 51 per cent Muslim and 49 per cent Russian Orthodox, Kazan’s multiculturalism and massive oil reserves have made it one of the country’s richest and most visited destinations. This world-class city is home to the Tatars, one of Russia’s many ethnic minorities, and includes numerous ornate buildings that speak to this mixed and storied legacy. It will be a worthy host of four group-round games, one match in the round of 16 and one quarterfinal at the newly-built Kazan Arena.

World Cup fans looking for a little space history will not be disappointed. Samara has got them covered. One of the largest industrial cities of Russia, today, it is a major hub for the nation’s aerospace industry, complete with a 22-tonne memorial to the Soyuz rocket that took Yuri Gagarin to outer space in 1961. They can explore the cosmos at the massive Aviation and Space Museum, before heading to the equally fascinating hidden bunker of Joseph Stalin.

There is something for everyone this year, with other host cities comprising the small but enchanting Saransk, historic Nizhy Novgorod, the exclave Kaliningrad, the home of the Cossaks, Rostov, and imperial Yekaterinburg.

LEADING THE PACK This year, five teams are the favourites to take home the World Cup. Once again, Lionel Messi’s Argentina looks like a shoo-in for the title after losing to Germany four years ago. The team boasts exceptional attacking talent such as Gonzalo Higauin, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero, and the little-known but dangerous Christian Pavon. This could be Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup. He’s 30 now and could be nearing the end of his career by 2022. It remains the only major tournament the Barcelona star has failed to win, a fact that many believe prevents him from being considered a true football legend.

“Look at Diego Maradona, everyone remembers what he did in 1986, nobody remembers so much what he did with Napoli, with Barcelona,” Michel Platini told Reuters in 2012. “Messi will always be great with or without the World Cup, Johan Cruyff will always be great with or without the World Cup, but the World Cup does something special.”

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Also in contention is Belgium, whose team features a wealth of talent that is the envy of every team this year.

Names like Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Merteens, and Yannick Corrasco are more than enough to make them runaway favourites this year, despite having never won a World Cup before.

At the top of most experts’ lists are holders Germany, who, despite recent performances, are expected to put in a strong defence of their title. No one would be surprised if they won it again.

France, while not quite as favoured as Germany, certainly has the squad to challenge for football’s most prestigious trophy. A quick run-through of their squad shows why: Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba, Corentin Tolisso, Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele. In terms of potential line-ups, it doesn’t get more exciting than France, who boasts an extraordinary team.

But questions remain as to whether or not Didier Deschamps will get the tactical balance right this time, after a disappointing Euro 2016 Final against Portugal.

Rounding off the favourites is the Neymar-led Selecao of Brazil, who will be looking to extend their World Cup record to six titles this summer. New coach Tite has performed wonders with a team left in tatters following their infamous exit from the 2014 World Cup. Brazil has won 20 of its last 21 matches and once again looks to be headed for a semifinal appearance.

Besides the favourites, a number of wildcards will be led by some of the world’s leading footballers.

Poland will be captained by Robert Lewandowski, the Bundesliga’s top scorer and one of the most feared strikers in the world. Meanwhile, 100 million Egyptians will be cheering on Mo Salah and the Pharoahs whether or not the talismanic player takes the field.

Sadio Mane will be aiming to carry his exceptional club form with him to Russia, where he will be Senegal’s most dangerous player this year. Keisuke Honda of Japan will take the field for the Blue Samurai as well, with the aim of adding to his already impressive collection of World Cup goals.

HOMETOWN HEROES For a country as football crazy as Russia, the 2018 World Cup has been well worth the wait. While its fans and teams usually make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, there is no doubt that a large contingent of football lovers in the dancing bear is peaceful and passionate. It is those fans that Russia’s football team will be looking to during their campaign.

No one will be more eager than 22-year-old Aleksandr Golovin.

The Russian team has been built around the CSKA Moscow midfielder, whose playmaking skills will be key. Born in Siberia, he has long been recognised as a prodigy, the type of player that comes along once in a generation. At the age of 16 he won the under-17 European Cup with Russia two years before making his senior debut for CSKA and helping them win the league that year.

A prodigy must be what the former Russia Head Coach, Leonid Slutsky, saw at the time, because he later selected Golovin as a starter for their Euro 2016 campaign. Despite concluding the tournament as a sub in Russia’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Wales, he’d shown enough to secure his next spot in the world of football.

Slutsky would move on to CSKA Moscow, where he would introduce the youngster into the starting line-up. Today, having secured his place in club and country, no one can imagine either team without him. Capable of operating anywhere in the midfield, the young playmaker will be hoping to translate his youth-level and Russian league successes to the biggest stage in the world.

Across Moscow’s football divide, CSKA’s rivals have two other footballers looking to seize this year’s once-in-alifetime opportunity. Twins Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk both came through Locomotiv Moscow’s youth teams, with Aleksey making his debut in 2013 at just 17 years of age. His brother would languish in the reserve squad for four years, both enduring difficult campaigns in football’s abyss.

All that would change when Anton was finally promoted to the senior team last year. Their stunning midfield partnership would instantly fall into place, leading Locomotiv Moscow all the way to this year’s title.

The two have earned a reputation as consummate professionals, like Golovin, the vanguard of a new generation of highly motivated Russian footballers. Their countrymen will be counting on them to make this year’s World Cup something special, to use all their trickery, guile and athleticism to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Heroes and villains are born in every World Cup. Only time will tell which ones emerge in 2018. All that is certain and foremost in the minds of every football fan, is this celebration of all things football, a coming together of all that makes the beautiful game what it is.

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A HOMEMADE DATE BISCUIT CAKE

THAT’S BO YOU WANT

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STORY AND PHOTOS SALIM AL AFIFI

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ates aree one of the most excitingg and downright delicious us ingredients cooks love to work with, as their versatility lity serves as quite n blend up a creamy an advantage. One can puree to go contrastingly ngly well with meaty chops, or bake a moistt afternoon cake, ft k full of plump, pitted dates and a bunch of crushed walnuts. A date is the perfect element that elevates any savoury dish with its hint of sweetness, and can be swapped with natural sugar for many desserts.

This week, I am taking you to try a favourite homemade date treat for Iftars.

Omanis are known to love their dates, and one can see why these fruits are atop their list of cultural must-eat fruits. They have an immaculate flavour that brings joy to our palates, especially when consumed with the Omani kahwa.

I have tried a variety of fresh and dried dates, date cakes and milkshakes (a musttry, by the way), and even date sauces, but I constantly find myself going back to this very particular treat, made at home by a lovely lady who goes by the name of Asila Abdulla, whose hands work magic in creating beautiful, architectural pieces of dates filled with crunchy biscuits and garnished with roasted sesame seeds.

The dessert may not seem all that complex, but still, I was interested to find out how it’s made, and why it tastes so heavenly, so I drove to Asila’s place for a first-hand experience on how to make it.

As I arrived at her space, I found her seated comfortably on the patio outside her place, surrounded by bulks of driedup soft dates, a bucket full of Marie tea biscuits, a bowl of bronze, dry-roasted sesame seeds, and some oil. She invited me in for a quick chat about the dessert.

UND TO LEAVE TING MORE

It all started at home, where she and her friend would sit together to make datefilled treats to offer to guests, as it is a revered tradition in an Omani household to serve dates and coffee, but the women wanted to lend a crumbly touch to the smooth fruit by adding pieces of crushed ingredients. Instead of putting walnuts, almonds, and typical dried fruit inside the dates, they went for a lovely combination of biscuits covered in mashed dates, which is a beloved recipe across the region. Though there are many variations, I truly fell in love with this one.

“Roll up your sleeves, we will be here for a while,” she said. I rolled up my sleeves as requested and got engaged with the dates. I was overly thrilled and ready for her master class.

Though it took some time to finish making all the dates that Asila prepared, it was all worth it.

The date cake First, pick dried, smooth pitted dates of your choice, scrunch them using your fingers to create a paste-like gummy creation. Then, make a circular base, the size of your Marie biscuit and stack the dates interchangeably with biscuits, making a miniature castle.

After that, cover the entire dessert with dates, which will form ball-like shapes.

Toss the ball in some sesame seeds, and then slice it carefully into tiny triangular pieces, and voila!

For something this simple to taste so impeccably great is quite interesting.

Asila handed me a box-full of these treats and by the time I reached home, the box was half empty. It was that good.

—salim@timesofoman.com

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TRY SOME LOCAL FLAVOURS THIS EID How about spending your Eid holidays at restaurants across town, filling your stomach with delicious offerings, and having a good time with friends? Sounds interesting, isn’t it? As the restaurant culture continues to grow in Muscat, these holidays are becoming even better, with much more to choose from. Whether you like to savour local flavours or Mediterranean delicacies, dining at one of these places promises a treat for your taste buds.

STORY SALIM AL AFIFI

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uscat is quite diverse when it comes to cuisine.

I usually go for a local diner that serves homemade favourites, stop by a Turkish joint for value-for-money foods, and savour one of my absolute favourite kitchens, Italian.

For Omani dishes, head over to the poshest mall in town, Opera Galleria, and dine at Al Angham restaurant, where true royal dining experience full of local delicacies is served. The place is extravagantly beautiful, and will feel like home for those with a taste for the finer things in life. What I loved the most about this place is their artistic plating that gives you a hint of fine art on a platter, which comes oozing with modern take on traditional Omani food, crafted by luminaries of our local cuisine.

Come here for delicious food and for Omani hospitality, which is portrayed with extra touches of elegance.

Ubhar is also a great place to explore local cuisine, located in Bareeq Al Shatti in Qurum. It serves a variety of mouthwatering treats and Omani rice-based dishes. It also offers an atmosphere that combines modernity with cultural and traditional elements. And, the menu is filled with unexpected and enchanting options, with my favourite being camel biryani and shuwa. I usually end my meal with frankincense ice cream, it’s exotic yet delightful.

Another stop for Omani food is Bait Al Luban, situated in the coastal city of Muttrah. At the restaurant, every detail gets attention. I love coming here for their ambience that sports traditional interior and seating cushions. The food is impeccably great and filling. And, they serve frankincense water as a welcoming treat.

How cool.

Now, for the seafood lovers I recommend Bait Al Bahar at Shanrgi-La, where

I usually savour seafood delights while indulging in a beautiful view. The place has one of the best locations in Muscat, overlooking the blue waters of Barr Al Jissah. You can book tables for your friends and family to not only enjoy the “catch of the day” but also to create memorable moments full of good times. Head over there for dinner at night for the relaxed vibe, and make sure to try their starters, quite delicious.

After exploring a local taste, dive into other cuisines such as Italian and Turkish.

I personally love three restaurants that serve authentic Turkish dishes that will blow your mind. My number one option is situated in the busy street of Souq Al Khoudh in Seeb, Al Hilal Al Turkey, where I binge on their leaf-like beef shawarma, slithered and sandwiched with Turkish garlic mayonnaise. I could eat four to five portions of these sandwiches, they are a must-try.

Turkish diners are also popular for their seafood offerings, such as the ones served at The Turkish Diwan in Al Khuwair. Stop by with your family and enjoy their extraordinary dishes that won’t break your bank, but also taste heavenly delicious.

Make sure to try their grilled seafood platter, one of the best in town.

Lastly, I wouldn’t enjoy Eid unless I stopped by an Italian kitchen for some pastas and pizzas. Often times I’d stop by Kargeen to devour their pizzas in a nice outdoor setup, or head over to my absolute favourite: Gustoso.

At Gustoso, they serve homemadeinspired dishes by a lovely couple from Italy who love to cook food from their hometown. The restaurant serves Italian delicacies that will entertain your palate. From handmade pastas with Italian herbs, to pizzas, desserts, and cold-cut platters, the place has it all. It’s an absolute treasure for food enthusiasts. A must-try as well.

If you want to explore the famous New York-style pizza, then dine at Volare Pizzeria in Qurum. The place is quite a wonderland for fervent pizza lovers. On their menu, you’ll find a number of signature Italian seafood pizzas and cheesy Margaritas, as well as interesting takes on the classic pesto-tomato-pepperoni pizza. The place serves not only succulent food, but has a beautiful-yet-gritty ambience that’s full of jazz. Make sure to try their Margarita, it’s lip-smacking good.

—salim@timesofoman.com

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Makeup trends for the festive season The thing about Eid makeup is that it can never be considered too much or too less. So, here are seven different looks you can flaunt this festive season.

STORY ANTARA BOSE

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All about the liner Contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily need eyeshadow to complete your look.

If you are planning to skip it altogether but still want something with a little more drama than usual, play with your eyeliner style. Grab your deepest black sketch liner and get ready to flaunt some bold lines.

Our favourites are double flick, open wings and exaggerated cat eye. You can also introduce coloured eyeliners to make your eyes pop or try some unique styles like the Lady Gaga-inspired eyeliner. Using a white or silver liner along your lower waterline is a great way to make your eyes look more alluring.

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Blue and silver mayhem This isn’t a new look but ever since beauty blogger, Kaushal, showed us how it’s done, makeup enthusiasts have discovered a new favourite eyeshadow duo. Yes, we agree, mastering this look isn’t the task of an amateur, but all good things come with a little struggle, right? This look (with all the glitter, highlights and deep colours) is perfect for a festive occasion like Eid.

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Bronze and wine or burgundy This is a simple look that is elegant, evergreen and easy to do. Wine and burgundy lips can really get your makeup to stand out. Adding a bronze shimmer to your eyelids gives it that subtle oomph without making it look like you spent too long doing your makeup (which you probably didn’t). Focus on contouring your face, dust some bronzer and finish with oodles of mascara. This look is perfect for evenings.

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Pop of colour to match Alright, so you love your purple dress; but before you grab your purple palette and paint your eyelids in the same colour, hear us out. Note that we said ‘pop’ of colour. Why? Because too much of a colour can look a little over the top. Bring in a colour that complements your primary shade and use your primary colour only in the inner corners of your eyelids. And that’s how you match.

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Little Ms Rose There’s something about this look that gets it on every festive list. Maybe it’s the dreamy feel it helps one achieve; or maybe it’s just how fresh and dewy it makes your skin look. Whatever be the reason, give the traditional rosy look an ‘Eid twist’ by brushing some gold dust over your rose-pink eyeshadow. Alternatively, you can also introduce a cut crease on your eyelids. Opt for a cream blush for a dewy look and use a highlighter for that added sheen. Though you can surely just get away with dabbing your favourite pastel pink shade of lipstick, we suggest you go the extra mile and contour your lips to finish this look. The thing about this style is its ability to look effortless despite all the efforts you put into it.

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Sunset orange Let’s say if you can pull this off everyone will be gazing at you like they gaze admiringly at a beautiful sunset. But the colour orange can be tricky to play with. If a bright tangerine lipstick feels a little too daring, opt for softer orange shades.

Match this with a frosted champagne eyeshadow and a simple eyeliner style. You can also use a copper eyeshadow if you find the orange getting a little overpowering.

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Glitter power If you’ve been shying away from glitter, now is the time to flaunt it guilt-free. A simple way to master this look is by going for glitter eyeshadow sticks that can be applied directly to your lid. Alternatively, you can also try loose glitter. Start with blending (and we mean really blending) a soft brown shadow from your crease to the lid and follow it with a deeper black. Then apply some eye glitter primer close to the lashes and use the same brush to generously sweep your lids with the loose glitter of your preferred colour. Use black liner for your upper eyelids and a shimmering coloured liner for your lower lids. You can’t get more sparkly than this. And yes, do opt for a matte lipstick in a neutral shade. We wouldn’t want to overdo it now, would we?

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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INCREDIBLES 2 Cast: Craig T Nelson, Brad Bird, Holly Hunter, Samuel Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Vowell

EL ABLA TAMTAM (Egyptian) Cast: Yasmin Abdulaziz, Hamdy Al-Merghany, Bayoumi Fouad

The Parr family struggles to maintain normal lives while Helen continues to ďŹ ght crime and campaign for the return of supers. Meanwhile, Bob, also known as Mr. Incredible, stays at home caring for their children.

The ďŹ lm revolves around a music teacher working in a private school called Tam Tam, who is known for her weak personality in front of her students, and her reluctance to make decisions, which gets her into trouble.

TAG Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner A small group of former classmates organise an elaborate, annual game of tag that requires some to travel all over the country.

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RACE 3 Cast: Salman Khan, Abhay Deol, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez Race 3 is an internationally mounted saga of a family that deals in borderline crime but is ruthless and vindictive to the core. A world with twists and turns at every nook and corner will take the audience by surprise with its sheer unpredictability. When Shamsher entrusts Sikandar with a high stakes heist along with the family for support, what could possibly go wrong? We discover everyone’s real character as they change with a blink of an eye. We discover that nothing is as it seems. We discover a family on the verge of self-destruction — or is it a ploy by some outsiders. In top gear all the way… Race 3 rushes towards a highoctane climax with betrayals, fast guns, fast cars and sleek action never seen before on the Indian screen. Action and drama that leads to a shocking twist in the climax that takes your breath away.

ADRIFT Cast: Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Grace Palmer

HOTEL ARTEMIS Cast: Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Jodie Foster

From the director of Everest and based on the true story of survival, a young couple’s chance encounter leads them to first love and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricane in history.

As rioting rocks Los Angeles in the year 2028, disgruntled thieves make their way to Hotel Artemis. It’s operated by the Nurse, a no-nonsense, high-tech healer. As the violence of the night continues, the Nurse must decide whether to break her own rules.

COMING SOON

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

OCEAN’S 8 Cast: Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway

SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLADO Cast: Benecio del Toro, Josh Brolin

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FI FA 201 8 ‘L IV E IT UP’

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— Photos Supplied

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Oman Aquarium celebrates World Ocean’s Day with the first collection of fish for quarantine facility

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he soon-to-open Oman Aquarium — set to be the largest of its kind in the Middle East and the Sultanate of Oman’s first-ever public aquarium – celebrated World Ocean’s Day on June 8 with its first collection of fish for the aquarium’s quarantine facility.

The landmark occasion took place offshore of Saham, the beautiful town on Oman’s Al Batinah North Governorate coastline, where the Chairman of Al Jarwani Group, Sheikh Mahmood Al Jarwani — whose hometown is Saham — was personally present as the guest of honour to accompany the Oman Aquarium team during the collection.

On the day, the expedition team journeyed offshore from Saham’s harbour on three dedicated aquarium boats to where the Oman Aquarium team — working with local fishermen earlier in the week — had placed several fish collection cages.

The cages, now full with fish, were hauled onto the boats, and Mahmood was assisted by the Oman Aquarium’s Head Curator, Nick Derbyshire, as well as Gen-

eral Manager, Adrian Tolliday, to choose the healthiest and most appropriate fish specimens to become the Oman Aquarium’s first fish.

With the collection accomplished, the expedition team returned to harbour, and the fish were carefully transported in oxygen enriched and temperature controlled water tanks back to Muscat, where they were placed in the Oman Aquarium’s quarantine facility for later release into its tanks.

Along with being a celebration of World Ocean’s Day, the landmark occasion also marked Oman Aquarium’s commitment to embracing marine conservation, education and research in the Sultanate of Oman; and to cultivating in the hearts and minds of the people of Oman and the Middle East region an awareness and passion for the ocean and its precious marine ecosystems.

World Ocean’s Day has been promoted and coordinated globally since 2002 by The Ocean Project, the organisation that advances conservation in partnership with

aquariums, zoos, museums, youth, and other participants worldwide.

At the heart of World Ocean’s Day is promoting the reality that healthy oceans are critical to our survival, in that they generate most of the oxygen we breathe; help feed us; regulate our climate; clean the water we drink; offer unique pharmacological resources; and provide limitless inspiration to people around the world.

World Ocean’s Day also raises awareness of the pressures that ocean environments face from pollution and over fishing.

Scheduled to be launched in Q4 2018, the Oman Aquarium is one of Al Jarwani Group’s latest developments in the Sultanate, and will be located at the soon-tobe-open Mall of Muscat, in the suburb of Maabela.

Visitors can look forward to a worldclass aquarium housing a fascinating and diverse array of marine exhibits and marine life — all spread out over two floors and a total area of 8,000 square-metres.

While marine conservation, education, and research are central to Oman Aquar-

ium’s mission, the venue will also provide an enriching entertainment experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds — including families and their children, school students, individuals, and groups of friends.

Central to the experience will be a “Voyage of discovery” with the illustrious Omani seafarer Ahmad Ibn Majid, who sailed the Arabian Sea and world oceans during the mid-1400s.

Voyaging through the aquarium, visitors will be able to explore marine zones and exhibits with themes such as “Oman Reefs”, “Journeys to South East Asia”, “The Oman Sea: Rich Diversity”, “The Deep Sea”, and “Journey to the South & Penguins”.

They can also explore ocean-related exhibits such as “The Wadi”, “Deserts and Mountains”, and “Salalah: Precious Water Cycle, Seasonal Change, Mountains to Seas”.

The Oman Aquarium is headed up by an expert team of marine biologists and curators, engineers, boat captains, and management staff.

Burjeel Hospital hosts Iftar party C elebrating Ramadan’s spirit of purity, joy, and togetherness, Burjeel Hospital and Medical Centres, Oman, hosted a grand Iftar get-together at the Grand Hyatt, Muscat.

Officials and dignitaries from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Tourism, Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), Royal Oman Police, Oman Oil, Bank Muscat, Bank of Beirut, Royal Opera House Muscat, National Life, Takaful Oman, Al Marina, and other corporates, key firms and organisations attended the event.

Dr Asif Gani, the Regional Director of Burjeel Hospital and Medical Centres, welcomed the guests.

As Oman’s pre-eminent medical centre offering world-class healthcare solutions, Burjeel Hospital is committed to excellence in all aspects of medical care, winning awards and accolades along the way. The hospital has set a new benchmark for private healthcare in the Sultanate.

Conveniently located in Al Khuwair, and with its own spacious car park directly alongside, Burjeel Hospital offers all-round expertise, ensuring the best in diagnostic, curative as well as preventative healthcare in over 30 clinical specialties.

Burjeel Hospital, Al Khuwair, is part of the Abu Dhabi based healthcare conglomerate VPS Healthcare Group.