Times of Oman - July 23, 2015

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THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 / 6 Shawwal 1436 AH

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CABLES

His Majesty receives Renaissance Day greetings

Two young boys die inside hot car FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received cables of greetings from State Council Chairman Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Majlis Al Shura Chairman Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Saud Al Busaidi and Inspector General of Police and Customs Lt. Gen Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, on the occasion of the Blessed Renaissance Day, glorious July 23rd anniversary.

In his cable, Dr Al Mantheri said: “I am honoured, on behalf of myself and on behalf of the honourable members of the State Council and its employees, to extend to Your Majesty the sincerest greetings and best wishes on the 45th anniversary of the Blessed Renaissance Day, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this and similar occasions while Your Majesty enjoys good health, happiness and a long life and our beloved country, under your wise leadership, enjoys glory, growth and prosperity”.

The State Council Chairman added: “Oman has been since ancient times and still a beacon of goodness and harmony, and a place for security and peace, and the Omanis have been the pulse of this harmony, the harmony on which they founded their majestic civilisation, and put the strong foundation of their state, and from which they drove off to all corners of the earth, as messengers of love and peace”. >A8

MUSCAT: Two boys aged, five and six, have died after they locked themselves in a car, sparking a police investigation and a warning to parents not to leave their children in hot vehicles.

The incident took place in Ibri on Sunday.

“While one of the boys died inside the car on Sunday, the other, who was in critical condition, died on Tuesday night,” a relative of the children said.

The boys’ parents were inside their home when they locked themselves inside the car.

“When the parents realised the boys were missing they looked for them in the neighbourhood and only at around 5pm discovered them inside the car,” said the relative.

Suffocated The children might have suffocated due to the high temperature, according to the relative.

The temperature in Ibri has been hovering between 43° Celsius and 44° Celsius for the last couple of days.

The incident is being investigated, said a Royal Oman Police

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RENAISSANCE DAY GREETINGS

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The Chairman and staff of Muscat Media Group extend their heartiest greetings to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the Renaissance Day.

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Constant monitoring Hamed Al Wahaibi, international rally champion and founder of Safety First, Oman’s leading road safety organisation, said, “Parents should monitor their children at all times. With numerous incidents such as this being reported in the region, parents should be more aware and see that such incidents are avoided.” “There is no excuse for parental negligence,” he added.

Speaking on the incident, Mark Pudwell, business development and training manager, Competence HR, said this event has once again highlighted the need for “ultimate vigilance”. >A8

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HM lauded for his role as global peacemaker As Oman celebrates the blessed Renaissance Day, the efforts of His Majesty the Sultan to promote peace and tolerance have been hailed by the international community

MUSCAT: As Oman celebrates its 45th Renaissance Day, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is being hailed as an international peacemaker for his role in the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the West.

In the years since the Blessed Renaissance, Oman has established itself as a neutral, mediating nation in the Middle East for which it has received much appreciation and praise. His Majesty the Sultan came to power in 1970 with a foreign policy goal of having good relations with all of Oman’s neighbours and maintaining a neutral approach in other countries’ affairs.

Following the Camp David Accords signed in 1978 between Egypt and Israel, Oman was one of just three Arab states that didn’t cut ties with Egypt, and during the Iran-Iraq War it main-

(ROP) official. Urging parents to always monitor their children, the ROP official said, “Never allow them to play inside a vehicle or leave them in a car with the engine running.”

The official reminded parents that leaving children locked in cars even for 10 minutes in hot temperatures can lead to suffocation, and prove fatal.

He said the boys might have accidently locked themselves in, but it seems they were not monitored.

Inside a parked car with closed windows under the sun in sixty minutes

See also >A4, 5, 12

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com

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tained diplomatic relations with both sides.

Now Oman’s neutral position has proven to be valuable yet again, thanks to its ability to bring the US and Iran to the negotiating table for the recently agreed nuclear framework agreement.

US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke highly of the role Oman had in the talks. In Lausanne, Switzerland on April 2 he said Oman “not only hosted a number of important meetings, but also played a critical role in getting these talks off the ground in the first place.”

In an article in International Policy Digest, Shohini Gupta, from the Gulf Institute, described Oman’s role as “instrumental.”

Oman had the trust of both the US and Iran since it had helped mediate for them before, such as in September 2011 when it facilitated the return of three American hikers who had been jailed in Iran on espionage charges.

Following this success, His Majesty offered Oman as a place for secret talks between the Americans and Iranians.

“Oman’s unique neutral position enabled HM to mediate between the US and Iran, the motivations for which mainly regard regional security...Oman was instrumental in the easing of relations between the US and Iran, and was therefore incredibly important to the success of the deal... Oman has proven that it has greater credibility in working cooperatively with the United States to further mutual policy goals in a productive manner,” Gupta wrote.

Speaking in Vienna on July 14, the day the historic agreement was signed, Kerry included Oman among the countries he thanked for hosting the talks. Talks were held in Muscat in 2013 and 2014.

He also thanked His Majesty for the role he played.

“And I am particularly grateful – we are particularly grateful, all of us, to the Sultan of Oman, for his very personal engagement and support for the possibility of an agreement. He and his government were there to help every step of the way,” Kerry said.

On July 17 Vice President Joe Biden spoke with His Majesty to express his and President Obama’s gratitude for the Sultan’s support of the nuclear negotiations with Iran that resulted in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The vice-president also thanked HM for Oman’s role in helping to advance a political settlement in Yemen. Both leaders pledged continued close cooperation between the United States and Oman to advance regional peace and stability.

That same day His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who appreciated Oman’s constructive role aimed at resolving regional crises and said Oman and Iran can continue to work together to end ongoing conflicts.

Rouhani even mentioned the call on his Twitter feed: “In call w/ Sultan Qaboos-- who welcomed #IranDeal & wished blessed #Eid-- thanked Oman for const role& emphasized coop to end regional crisis.”

Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf bin Alawi, spoke about the agreement and Oman’s role in an interview on July 14 on Oman TV. “The entire process from the first phase to the end was centred on one foundation, which was the Sultanate’s ability, [with] its distinguished relations with all parties…to establish trust between the parties. Without trust, it wouldn’t have been possible to reach this agreement. The role of the Sultanate was, at the top levels, to build trust between the leaderships of these countries and Iran,” bin Alawi said. >A8

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TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Zanzibari royal portrait found in UK kitchen

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A portrait of a Zanzibari royal worth up to £1m has been found in a London kitchen by an art expert who was evaluating the art in the home. The 1939 portrait of a bearded Arab man with a colourful Al Said mussar, a black ‘subaiya’ over his dishdasha, and an Al Said khanjar, was painted

by Irma Stern, a renowned South African artist. >A6

WORLD

MARKET

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Oman’s conventional banks have achieved a robust 9.64 per cent credit growth at OMR17.45 billion for the first five months ending May, 2015 from OMR15.91 billion for the same period of last year, according to the Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) latest statistics released here on Wednesday. >B1

US-led air strike kills Oman bank credit Qaeda leader in Syria grows 9.6 per cent A US-led coalition air strike earlier this month killed the leader of an Al Qaeda offshoot in Syria that American officials accuse of plotting attacks against the United States and its allies.

Muhsin Al Fadhli was killed in a “kinetic strike” on July 8 while travelling in a vehicle. >A16

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FUEL PRICE CONTROL

Oman should do away with fuel subsidies: Experts SALEH AL SHAIBANY

saleh@timesofoman.com

Echoes from eternity

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MUSCAT: Experts have urged Oman to stop regulating fuel prices, and have instead advised it to switch to global prices, which the country should update monthly, to boost its economy.

The move, experts say, would not only increase revenues but would also pave the way for a cleaner environment and make the private

sector much more competitive.

“Government subsidies in petrol do not make sense anymore when the fiscal budget is becoming tighter. Fuel prices in our petrol stations must not be regulated but based on international prices and updated monthly.

This way, the government can diversify its funds to the development of much needed infrastructure instead of making petrol cheaper in the country,” Ahmed Al

Habsi, economic analyst at Capital Investment Company, told the Times of Oman.

Oman is among the cheapest countries in the world to buy petrol, but the government is subsidising it by as much as 50 per cent. Petrol prices in the Sultanate have been unchanged for more than a decade.

Other experts say removing petrol sale regulations would increase prices but it would lead to the diversifications of the

country’s resources.

“People will pay more for each litre of petrol, but they also know that the government cannot anymore afford to make it affordable to drivers. The common sense is that if you can afford a car then you can afford petrol. Hiking petrol prices would encourage the investments of transportation systems and diversify the economy to open up employment,” said independent economist Said Al Shihri. >A8

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T IME S O F O MAN

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

OMAN

Renaissance heralds Oman as top

ROYAL PATRONAGE: The Sultanate of Oman has flourished during the Blessed Renaissance to become one of world’s top tourism destinations, gaining attention from top

magazines, newspapers, websites and tour companies.–ONA

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com

With its varied landscapes of deserts, beaches, mountains and wadis, and richly authentic culture, Oman captivates those who visit it.

The spotlight has been turned on Oman again and again as it is seen as a mustvisit destination

MUSCAT: From an undeveloped, relatively unknown country in 1970, Oman has flourished during the Blessed Renaissance to become one of world’s top tourism destinations, gaining attention from top magazines, newspapers, websites and tour companies.

In the 1990s the government introduced long-term economic planning with a 20-year plan which included looking at sustainable economic development, such as promoting Oman as a tourism destination. The Ministry of Tourism was established, hotels and restaurants were built, and Omanis were encouraged to study languages like German and French so they could cater to European visitors, explained Dr Mohammed Al Muqaddam, from the Department of History at SQU. “They knew oil would decline

The Sultanate is now becoming the top choice for regional and international travellers who are looking to experience the modern aspects of the Arab World, even as they immerse themselves in its rich cultural heritage and traditions Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism

one day so they started building tourism infrastructure. It worked well. In the wintertime now you don’t find a room available in Muscat, and during khareef there is lots

of tourism in Salalah. There are many jobs now related to tourism,” Al Muqaddam said.

From the New York Times and National Geographic, to Buzzfeed

and Lonely Planet, the spotlight has been turned on Oman again and again as it is touted as a mustvisit destination. With its varied landscapes of deserts, beaches,

mountains and wadis, and richly authentic culture, Oman captivates those who visit it.

Including Oman in its list of destinations for 2015, the popular website Buzzfeed described the Sultanate as “a fresh and unexplored hotspot for curious travellers.”

Oman was even chosen as the “one place to visit in 2015” by Skift, the travel industry’s largest intelligence and marketing platform, while the New York Times ranked it 20 out the 52 must-visit places of 2015. Muscat was the number 2 choice for best city to visit in 2012, according to Lonely Planet.

Skift’s criteria include offbeat and adventurous with beautiful views, all the while still doable as an independent traveler.

“For travellers, Oman packs a lot in a small package, with desert, rugged coast and beaches, water sports and diving, forts-every-fewmiles, green valleys, old school bazaars and old school Arabian hospitality. You can do a lot in a few days while staying in the capital city of Muscat, but a 10-day driving trip would be make for a perfect holiday,” writes Rafat Ali from Skift.

According to Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism in Oman, the growth in tourism in Oman is thanks to the efforts not just of the government but all those involved in the tourism industry who believe in what Oman has to offer its visitors.

“The Sultanate is now becoming the top choice for regional and international travellers who are looking to experience the modern aspects of the Arab World, even as they immerse themselves in its rich cultural heritage and traditions,” she said.

In 2013 approximately 2.2 million people visited Oman, and as the tourism industry continues to grow and catch the world’s attention, the Sultanate will attract even more visitors who, as Lonely Planet so aptly describes it, are “seeking out the modern face of Arabia while wanting still to sense its ancient soul.”

T I MES O F OM AN

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

global destination Oman’s impressive growth saga during 45 years of Renaissance MUSCAT: Oman today celebrates the 45th anniversary of the glorious Renaissance of July 23, which has resulted in an impressive leap forward in the life of the Sultanate and its people.

The occasion signals a new era as Oman has achieved progress and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Over the past 45 years, His Majesty has been very keen on making each Omani a contributor to the development, as well as its main aim and goal.

Therefore, Oman’s celebration of the blessed Renaissance is a celebration of the contribution of each Omani to the achievements made over the past period and the success in building a modern nation that has made positive contributions at the Gulf, Arab and world levels. The Omani man now enjoys respect in different parts of the world.

The uniqueness of the Omani leadership is that it has leveraged the potential of the Omanis and steered them towards building a modern Oman.

These achievements would not have been possible without proper planning and a leadership that dedicated its time and effort to the progress of this nation. The Omani leadership has been keen on ensuring equality among all Omanis and the rule of law.

This was reflected in the Basic Law of the State promulgated on November 6, 1996, and its amendments.

The law highlighted the relationships among the different organisations, as well as

their rights, responsibilities, duties and obligations. It also ensured harmony and integration between the Council of Ministers and the Council of Oman, which includes the State Council and Majlis Al Shura, in addition to the independence of judiciary. It also ensured going on the right track through the overview conducted by the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution (SFAAI), the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP), besides other audit institutions.

Future challenges The Omani march towards more socio-economic progress is still going on in all fields to make Oman, as it has been always, an oasis for peace and security, thanks to the wise policies of His Majesty over the past 45 years. This is very clear from the events witnessed by the region, which pose many current and future challenges.

The five year plans, from the first one (1976-1980) to the eighth one (2011-2015) managed to complete the infrastructure in different areas and in different parts of the Sultanate. This is manifested in the high quality road network, water, electricity, health and education, as well as higher education services.

The Omani Government, as guided by His Majesty, takes initiatives to develop the qualified and specialised human resources. It also develops curricula at the various schools and higher education institutions. The Education Council, the Sultan Qaboos

University (SQU) and other institutions play an important role in this field. Work is also underway to complete the establishment of the world class Oman University.

Despite the decline in oil prices since last year, His Majesty gave instructions to maintain the levels of services provided to citizens especially in the sectors of health, education and social security without any prejudice to the work at the major tourism, road, port and airport projects, as well as major projects in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD). The road network, railway and airport projects have made the Sultanate a logistical hub with great potential in the years to come.

After developing the main outlines of the 9th five-year plan (2016-2020), the Omani Government, represented by the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) and the Main Committee for Oman Vision 2040, as well as other respective agencies, have already started preparing for the Vision 2040 as per the Royal Directives of His Majesty.

The symposium on the follow up of the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Seih Al Shamikhat Symposium has issued a number of decisions that promote the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and ensure getting the stipulated percentage of the public tenders and purchases.

Despite the decline in oil prices in the world markets, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) issued a report about the financial stability in 2015.–ONA

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

OMAN

The Khareef season attracts tourists annually from various governorates of the Sultanate and the GCC countries.

National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) >A8

Zanzibari royal portrait found in London kitchen The 1939 portrait of a bearded Arab man with an Al Said mussar, was painted

by Irma Stern, a renowned South African artist ARAB IN BLACK: Irma Stern painted a couple of portraits of Zanzibar royalty, say experts.

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A portrait of a Zanzibari royal worth up to £1m (OMR600,000) has been found in a London kitchen by an art expert who was evaluating the art in the home.

The 1939 portrait of a bearded Arab man with a colourful Al Said mussar, a black ‘subaiya’ over his dishdasha, and an Al Said khanjar, was painted by Irma Stern, a renowned South African artist who spent time in Zanzibar in 1939 and 1945. The portrait still has its Zanzibari carved wood frame.

Though Zanzibar was formerly ruled by the Sultan of Oman, in 1861 the Sultanate of Oman and Zanzibar was divided into two separate countries.

There is no doubt that the portrait is of a member of the Zanzibari branch of the Al Said family because of his mussar and other aspects of his clothing, said Murtadha Al Lawati, director of Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art in Muscat. “It’s definitely a royal family member because he’s also

–Photo from Bonhams website

wearing the Omani khanjar with the seven rings which the royals have. How I can say this man is actually a royal family member is because of the ‘subaiyah’ (black robe),” Al Lawati told Times of Oman.

The ‘subaiyah’ looks similar to a bisht but was only worn by members of the royal family, Al Lawati said. The man also looks like a member of the Al Said family because of his features, he added.

Hannah O’Leary, an expert in South African art from Bonhams auction house, made the discovery. “I spotted this masterpiece hanging in the kitchen covered in letters, postcards and bills. It was a hugely exciting find, even before I learned of its political significance,” O’Learly said in an interview with The Guardian.

The political significance of the painting goes beyond its subject. Stern donated it to a charity auction in the late 1950s in South Africa to raise funds for Nelson Mandela and other activists from

the African National Congress (ANC) for the legal costs of their treason trial.

According to information about the painting posted on Bonham’s, Stern visited Zanzibar to pursue an interest in Islam and immersed herself in the local culture: “taking tea with the Sultana, shopping in the bazaars, attending a wedding, living in a house opposite a mosque.”

She painted a couple of portraits of Zanzibar royalty, though she mistakenly titled one from 1939 as Sultan of Zanzibar, Sheik Said Bin Ali El Magheri. The sultan at the time was Sultan Khalifa bin Harub Al Said, who ruled from 1911 to 1960. El Magheri (Said bin Ali Al Mugheiry) most likely worked for the Sultan.

Stern also painted the women from Zanzibar and in 2010 her 1945 painting Bahora Girl, of an Indian woman in Zanzibar, sold for £2.4 (OMR1.44 million).

Stern was clearly impressed by the people she saw on the island.

She published an illustrated journal, Zanzibar, in 1948, in which she wrote: “bearded figures belonging to another age - a thousand years or more back; gold glistening on their coats, silk woven into their rainbow-coloured turbans, wound artfully, each particular race having a different traditional way...their faces expressed depths of suffering, profound wisdom and full understanding.”

According to The Guardian, the current owners of the painting inherited it from their parents who bought it at the charity auction in South Africa and took it with them when they emigrated to UK. The portrait of the Zanzibar royal, Arab in Black, will be auctioned at Bonham’s in London on September 9.

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

OMAN CABLES

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the occasion of the July 23rd Revolution anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to President el-Sisi, praying to Allah the Almighty to grant him success to achieve aspirations of further progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Egypt.

– ONA

ACCIDENT

R E N A I S S A N C E D AY

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His Majesty sends greetings

Your Majesty the Sultan, the 23rd of July has marked a new chapter in the history of this dear country as Your Majesty has been selected

by Allah to bring mercy and prosperity to Oman and its people Lt.Gen Al Shraiqi, Inspector General, ROP

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His Majesty receives greetings

The cable added: “Your Majesty come to fulfill the march of this generous and history-rooted country to begin, with the guidance and help of Allah the Almighty, a new era that is more developed and more prosperous”.

In his cable, Al Ma’awali said “On the Blessed Renaissance Day, I am honoured, on behalf of myself and on behalf of the members of the Majlis Al Shura and its employees, to extend to Your Majesty the sincerest greetings on this glorious occasion, as they stand united behind your wise leadership, with hearts overwhelmed with love, loyalty, giving and willingness to sacrifice to work and sacrifice for the homeland and the Sultan. Your

Majesty has taken the country over to the oasis of safety, security and stability, established the pillars of the modern state, achieved a comprehensive renaissance according to a leading model of sustainable development, caring for all citizens and safeguarding their rights and ensuring to them the values of Shura, justice, equality, equal opportunities, and promoting the national unity, social peace and safety of the nation”.

In his cable, Sayyid Badr said: “Oman is celebrating today the 45th anniversary of the Renaissance Day while it enjoys a solid comprehensive development; thanks to Your Majesty’s civilized and humanitarian vision”.

Salalah Festival to spread charm The Khareef season represents a climatic phenomenon that affects Dhofar

MUSCAT: Salalah Tourism Festival 2015 begins on Thursday under the theme ‘Oman: Love and Peace’.

The festival, which will conclude on August 31, is set to include several activities on religious, economic, heritage, and social themes, in addition to culture, sport and entertainment.

The festival, considered one of the major festivals in the region, will also include many activities and programmes, such as the traditional village, which highlights

traditional handcrafts, arts, and games, along with food stalls and costumes.

The festival will also include several exhibitions representing government and private sectors in various cultural, arts, technical and communication sectors.

The Khareef season attracts tourists annually from various governorates of the Sultanate and the GCC countries. The official and public agencies are prepared to ensure the success of the tourist season for this year and to receive visitors as well as provide various facilities and services.

As many as 29,025 people visited Salalah from June 21 to July 13, this year as compared to 27,586 visitors in the same period last year, which marks a 5.2 per cent growth.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) statistics showed that the Khareef season attracts tourists from various governorates of the Sultanate

and the GCC countries.

The Khareef season is a climatic phenomenon that affects most of the coastal wilayats and the 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 phenomenon during that period.

The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) will open a historic documentary exhibition at the Municipality Recreational Centre in Salalah from July 28 to August 2, 2015, as part of the activities of the Salalah Tourism Festival under the patronage of Sheikh Salim bin Ofait Al Shanfri, head of the Dhofar Municipality.

Through the exhibition, NRAA seeks to highlight the cultural and historic role of the Sultanate through a valuable collection of documents and manuscripts that will be showcased.–ONA

“Oman, which has become an oasis for peace and cultural coexistence, is also a symbol of modernity and authenticity. Oman is also making rapid steps towards a bright future that is full of achievements made according to balanced plans and strategies,” he added.

In his cable, Lt.Gen Al Shraiqi and on behalf of the Royal Oman Police personnel extended sincere greetings on the Blessed Renaissance Day, praying to Allah the Almighty to grant His Majesty a good health and happiness, Oman and its people continuous growth and prosperity.

The Inspector General of Police and Customs also said: “Your Majesty the Sultan, the 23rd of July

has marked a new chapter in the history of this dear country as Your Majesty has been selected by Allah to bring mercy and prosperity to Oman and its people. The Omanis are fully aware of the great efforts exerted by Your Majesty to build this nation, therefore they believed in Your Majesty’s noble principles and joined hands to achieve this impressive renaissance and unique human experience.

“Expressing their loyalty to Your Majesty, the leaders thanked Allah the Almighty for His bounties, praying to Him to protect Your Majesty, and grant you success, bestow the blessings of security and prosperity on Oman during Your Majesty’s prosperous era.”–ONA

G L O B A L I M PAC T

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HM hailed

Here in Muscat, ambassadors from countries involved in the talks praised Oman’s role, too. Iranian Ambassador Ali Akbar Sibeveih described Oman’s role bringing Iran and the P5+1 to the negotiating table was “crucial.”

“The fact that these negotiations have come to fruition after so many years is because of the presence of His Majesty who has always been seeking peace, justice and truth,” said Sibeveih.

France’s ambassador to Oman, Roland Dubertrand, also had high praise for Oman. “The French authorities and the French govern-

ment want to pay tribute to the role of Oman for reaching the very positive agreement concluded between the P5+1 and Iran today,” he said on July 14 at his country’s national day celebrations, which coincided with the historic nuclear agreement.

In the past few years Oman has become a key player in region, helping bridge divides between Iran and the west. This is important to France, which a main participant in the nuclear talks with Iran. Oman also has a valuable job to play regarding Yemen, the ambassador explained.

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Don’t leave children alone

“Children must never be left alone in the vehicle under any circumstances even under the supervision of a maid or nanny,” he said.

Pudwell pointed out that “children, particularly young ones, are unable to understand how to regulate their core body temperatures and as such, exposure to relatively short periods of time in a vehicle when the ambient temperatures are even as low as 25° Celsius, can be fatal.”

Adding that there is simply no justification for leaving children alone in a vehicle, he said, “If parents step out of a vehicle briefly, ensure the vehicle is switched off and windows left open approximately 5 centimetres. This allows air to circulate and still prevents children from climbing out. Care must be taken when returning to the vehicle and closing the windows as small fingers could get trapped.”

Speaking on how others can help trapped children, “If you see a child obviously left in a sealed vehicle, try to open a door first and then call for an ambulance immediately. If the vehicle is locked, and there are no signs of the parents in the immediate vicinity, a large rock or suitably robust object should be used to break the window farthest away from the child if the child appears to be sleeping or unconscious.”

(Inputs from Tariq Al Haremi)

ECONOMY

A1 Budget deficit increasing steadily < FROM

Oman’s budget deficit has been increasing steadily in the last five years. It is has forecast an OMR2.5 billion deficit this year and that is likely to widen by the end of 2015 as oil prices have remained persistently on the lower side. Financial analysts said Oman would save significantly if petrol subsidies are dropped to trim future deficits.

“I would put the savings at around OMR1.2 billion a year if the government drops petrol subsidies.

If you look at the broader picture, fuel subsidies would help the government manage power plants cheaper as well by passing on the costs to consumers,” explained financial analyst Fareed Al Ojaili.

“The number of cars bought by in-

dividuals is increasing ten percent every year and that is our major concern. Increasing fuel prices would stop families from buying more than one car per household and that will certainly reduce carbon emission. It will also encourage people to start using carpools,” Jason Hallmark, a local environmentalist told the Times of Oman.

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REGION

Tunisia debates new anti-terror bill The latest bill would allow courts to impose death sentences for terror convicts and make it easier for investigators to use phonetapping against suspects

TUNIS: Tunisian lawmakers began a three-day debate on Wednesday on a new anti-terrorism bill aimed at beefing up powers to confront a militant threat following a spate of deadly attacks.

VIOLENCE

40 killed in southern Libya ethnic clashes BENGHAZI: At least 40 people have been killed in a week of ethnic clashes in southern Libya between rival gunmen from the Toubou and Tuareg minorities, a local official said.

The latest fighting centred on the oasis city of Sabha, the largest in the Libyan Sahara, the official said. Hundreds of families have been displaced, he added.

There have been repeated deadly clashes between the two ethnic groups since February. The Toubou, who mainly live in the southeast straddling the border with neighbouring Chad, were heavily discriminated against under former leader Muammar Gaddafi and fought in the 2011 protests that overthrew him.

The Tuareg, who mainly live in the southwest straddling the borders with Algeria and Niger, largely backed the Gaddafi regime. The chaos that has followed the protests has seen mounting competition for scant resources in the desert south, with Tuareg, Toubou and Arabs all setting up rival militia.

Deadly fighting with Arabs in Sabha in 2012 prompted Toubou claims of ethnic cleansing.

Tensions have worsened since the establishment of rival governments in the capital Tripoli and the eastern town of Tobruk last year. The Tripoli authorities have armed the Tuareg while the Toubou have backed the internationally recognised government in the east. The Tobruk government issued a statement on Tuesday appealing to the warring sides sides to “stop fighting and resolve their differences through dialogue”. — AFP BOMBINGS

30 killed in Baghdad, Diyala car bomb attacks BAGHDAD: Car bomb attacks in Baghdad and the Iraqi province of Diyala, mostly claimed by the IS militant group, have killed at least 30 people, police and medical sources said on Wednesday.

At least 19 people were killed and 43 wounded when a car bomb exploded near a market there on Tuesday, a police colonel and hospital sources said.

Another four people were killed and 10 wounded in a similar attack in the southern neighbourhood of Zafaraniya.

The IS group claimed responsibility for both attacks, saying they had targeted militiamen, a claim it often makes even when most of the victims are civilians.

A car bomb also struck a joint police and army checkpoint in Tarmiya, a town which lies on of the main highways north of Baghdad, police said. At least three members of the security forces were killed and nine wounded. Also on Tuesday, a car bomb went off in Mandali, a town in the eastern province of Diyala which lies near the border with Iran, killing at least four people. A huge suicide car bomb attack claimed by IS killed dozens of people in Khan Bani Saad, a town just north of Baghdad, on Friday. — AFP

President Beji Caid Essebsi imposed a state of emergency after a student went on a shooting rampage at a beach resort last month, killing 38 foreign tourists, most of them Britons.

Tunisia has come up with several drafts of legislation to deal with “the fight against terrorism and money laundering” since the 2011 revolution, but none reached parliament because of a lack of consensus.

The latest version would allow courts to impose death sentences for terror convicts and make it easier for investigators to use phonetapping against suspects.

Jailable offence It would also make public expressions of support for terrorism a jailable offence. The bill went before lawmakers after it won approval from a commission made

up of party representatives, including from the Ennahda party and Essebsi’s Nidaa Tounes. “This project is one of the measures among others” in combatting the militant threat, said lawmaker Khaled Chouket of Nidaa Tounes.

“It is a historical test, and we must win,” he added.

Sahbi Attig, a counterpart from Ennahda, called on parliament to amend the bill, arguing some of its measures were too repressive.

“We must be vigilant to ensure Tunisians aren’t faced with injustice,” he said.

It would replace the 2003 terrorism law, passed under the dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben

Ali and widely criticised as being a tool to crush dissent, especially from then-banned Ennahda.

But advocacy groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the latest bill.

They have described it as draconian, saying its definition of terrorist crimes is too vague and that it fails to adequately safeguard the rights of defendants and could undermine freedoms.

In a joint letter this month, nine human rights groups including Amnesty and HRW, criticised the bill, with the latter saying it was “flawed”.

“Tunisian authorities have

legitimate concerns about the growing influence of extremist groups and individuals and the threat they pose to Tunisians and foreigners,” said Eric Goldstein, HRW’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director.

“But laws to counter terrorism should meet -- not flout -- international human rights standards,” he said in a statement.

Critics say the bill would allow the authorities to detain suspects for 15 days without access to a lawyer or being brought before a judge, as well as put harsh restrictions on journalists. Members of the opposition were among those to criticise the bill. — AFP

A10

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

INDIA

The prime minister told the BJP parliamentarians that they should be proud of his government’s work for the betterment of the poor Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

P U T S S P E C U L AT I O N T O R E S T

CONGRESS WORKERS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF SUSHMA, RAJE, SHIVRAJ Workers of All India Mahila Congress wearing masks of BJP leaders demand removal of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. -PTI

Sushma back on Twitter as ‘FM’ NEW DELHI: Is she quitting?

Social media was agog with speculation that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj may be thinking of quitting over the Lalit Modi episode after she deleted ‘Foreign Minister, Government of India’ from her Twitter bio. The bio was back on Wednesday afternoon.

Sushma Swaraj, who tweets from the handle @SushmaSwaraj, had apparently deleted the words ‘Foreign Minister, Government of India’, from her handle some time after her name was linked with former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who is accused of financial impropriety.

According to sources in the external affairs ministry, Sushma Swaraj may have deleted the words because she wanted to keep the Twitter handle as a personal one, and not as an official one. She deleted the words after the Lalit Modi controversy erupted, the sources said.

Sushma Swaraj has been making several personal comments on Twitter after the Lalit Modi episode broke out, including taking potshots at a media personality. The minister would not have been able to make personal comments from an official Twitter handle, was the argument in

C O N F R O N TAT I O N

Jung, AAP at loggerheads over DCW appointment NEW DELHI: Escalating its confrontation with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, a defiant AAP Government on Wednesday refused to comply with his order cancelling appointment of Swati Maliwal as Chief of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) notwithstanding his assertion that ‘Government’ meant the LG in Delhi.

Reflecting government’s strong position on the issue, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made the appointment in tune with constitutional provisions and laid down norms and there was no question of reviewing the decision.

“Whatever LG said today is not new. Such instances (LG’s intervention in government’s works) have now been old,” he said indicating government will reply to the LG on the issue.

Earlier, in a letter to the Chief Minister’s office, Jung said the notification appointing her was “ultra vires and infructuous” as it does not have his approval.

Maliwal, who had taken charge of DCW, is wife of Aam Aadmi Party leader Navin Jaihind and has been an advisor to Kejriwal on public grievances and handles his Janta Samwad. She has been associated with the AAP chief since India Against Corruption (IAC) days.

Referring to a Home Ministry order, the LG’s office insisted that ‘Government’ meant the “Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi” appointed by the President and insisted that he was sole authority in deciding on major issues. -PTI

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. -PTI

official circles. However, by late Wednesday afternoon, the bio was back.

“Ok. Sushma Swaraj is reappointed as India’s Foreign minister in twitter,” commented one Twitter user.

“Why did Sushma Swaraj remove Foreign Minister from her Twitter Bio ? PM Modi will handle kya ? Wid the no. of Foreign tours, its feasible!” contemplated another.

On Wednesday morning, she tweeted: “A senior Congress leader was pressing me hard to give diplomatic passport to the Coal Scam accused Santosh Bagrodia.

I will disclose name of the leader on the floor of the House.” -IANS

BJP, Congress trade jibes over graft; houses stalled The Rajya Sabha too witnessed ruckus throughout the day stalling business as the opposition pressed for the resignations of Sushma Swaraj, Raje and Chouhan.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said his party wanted “action”, not just a discussion. The opposition appeared united.

Sushma Swaraj set the tone for the government’s aggressive pitch in the morning when she tweeted that a Congress leader had pressed her to give a diplomatic passport to a Congress leader Santosh Bagrodia, a former central minister.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha saw turmoil for second day as the Congress and other opposition parties joined hands to target the government, which hit back aggressively — both in parliament and outside LOGJAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with party leaders leaves after the BJP Parliamentary Board

meeting at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. -PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP and the Congress were on Wednesday locked in an all-out war over titfor-tat corruption charges as continuing uproar over the demand for the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan chief ministers again crippled parliament.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed turmoil for the second day as the Congress and other opposition parties joined hands to target the government, which hit back aggressively — both in parliament and outside.

The government flatly ruled out the resignations of Sushma

Swaraj, who has been linked to former IPL chief Lalit Modi, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje — also for her links with Lalit Modi — and her Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is facing the heat in the Vyapam recruitment scandal.

Impasse As the impasse in parliament raged, the Bharatiya Janata Party opened a new front outside, accusing Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat and a close aide of corruption vis-a-vis liquor barons — and demanded Rawat’s resignation.

Rawat denied the charges but the Congress said an FIR has been registered, the aide asked to go, and a time-bound inquiry would follow.

Later, the BJP raised the issue of a chargesheet filed against former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister P.K. Thungon of the Congress over a 1998 corruption case.

Ruckus There was ruckus in both houses of parliament all through Wednesday.

In the Lok Sabha, opposition members raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government.

Congress leaders Mallikarjun

Kharge and M. Veerappa Moily sought to move an adjournment motion on Lalit Modi, which Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected. Opposition members, including those of the Congress and the Left, trooped near the speaker’s podium wearing black bands and carrying placards. One placard in Hindi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his “silence” on Lalit Modi and the Vyapam scam.

An exasperated Mahajan first adjourned the house till noon, then again till 2 p.m. Later, as trouble continued, Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day.

National issue Challenging the BJP that state issues cannot be discussed in parliament, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati told the Rajya Sabha that Vyapam was a national issue.

Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav said he and BJP leader L.K. Advani had quit following hawala charges, suggesting that Sushma Swaraj must follow suit. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said there can’t be a debate without the ministers concerned resigning.

Rajya Sabha leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the opposition of not wanting a debate and only being interested in making noise. He said the whole country wanted to hear Sushma Swaraj in parliament. “Pomposity without fact is not acceptable... I dare you to start a discussion. You don’t have any facts, so you want to make noise,” he said. -PTI

A L L E G AT I O N S B A S E L E S S

No resignation over Lalit Modi and Vyapam row: BJP NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday reasserted that Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and two BJP chief ministers will not resign over the Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam and termed opposition allegations on the issues as “baseless”.

“We have decided to give a befitting reply to the misinformation campaign on these issues and BJP parliamentarians have been asked to strongly counter the opposition,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters after a meeting of the BJP parliamentary party.

Naqvi said the opposition was attacking the NDA government “out of desperation as it had no issues to raise against the Centre”.

The opposition, particularly

the Congress, was not interested in holding discussions (in parliament) and only wanted to disrupt the proceedings of both the Houses of parliament, Naqvi said.

Government initiatives Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke at the meeting, Naqvi said, “The prime minister told the BJP parliamentarians that they should be proud of his government’s work for the betterment of the poor. He also asked the parliamentarians to take all government initiatives for the country’s development to the people.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Sushma Swaraj gave her views at the parliamentary party meeting and satisfied all party parliamentarians through her logic.

“We want the whole country to hear her logic (in parliament),” Jaitley told mediapersons.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Jaitley said, “Yesterday (Tuesday), the opposition was ready to discuss the matter but today they have started demanding an inquiry. Inquiry is done only when some legal provisions are violated as was done in the 2G spectrum case.”

He said the opposition was lacking in facts and that’s the reason it was shying away from a parliamentary discussion.

BJP president Amit Shah also addressed the meeting and appealed to the party’s members of parliament to educate the people about the work done by the government in the last one year, sources said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said a senior Congress leader had pressed her hard to give diplomatic passport to a scam accused Congress leader.

“A senior congress leader was pressing me hard to give diplomatic passport to the coal scam accused Santosh Bagrodia,” Swaraj Swaraj tweeted, hours before the second day of monsoon session in parliament.

The development comes a day after she had offered to give a statement in parliament about Congress’ allegations over her links with former IPL chief Lalit Modi.

She also said she will disclose the name of the Congress leader in parliament.

“I will disclose the name of the leader on the floor of the house,” she said in another tweet. -IANS

HITTING BACK: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks in the Rajya Sabha on the second day of monsoon session in New Delhi on Wednesday. -PTI

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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Mortars found near rail tracks in Haryana; search operations on Eight 51 mm mortar bombs were found lying close to the railway tracks near Shahbad railway station in the morning

KURUKSHETRA: Mortar bombs were found lying close to the railway tracks near Shahbad railway station in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district on Wednesday, following which rail traffic was briefly suspended on the route and a massive search operation was launched by the security forces.

A senior police officer said

that around eight 51 mm mortar bombs, were found lying near the tracks in the morning. Some boxes were also found lying alongside the explosives.

“These are very high grade explosives, generally supplied to the Army and paramilitary forces,” Kurukshetra’s Superintendent of Police, Simardeep Singh said over phone.

He said that the bombs were live and Army experts from Ambala Cantonment had taken these into possession.

Asked if these bombs could have exploded and caused casualties, Singh said, “a mortar (a weapon which fires the explosives) would have been needed to fire these.”

Police said that some passersby noticed the explosives in Dolu Majra village near Shahbad after which the police was alerted.

Singh said the Government Railway Police (GRP) had registered a case against unknown per-

sons under the provisions of the Explosives Substances Act. He said it was being investigated how the explosives reached the spot. “The Army experts have taken note of the markings on the explosives,” he said.

The police officer further said that GRP team, Kurukshetra district police, Railway Protection Force were conducting a search over a large area from the spot where the bombs were found to see if any more explosives were lying around.

After the explosives were found, about dozen trains including Shatabdi Express were stopped on Delhi-Ambala rail track for some time. Later, the rail traffic on the route resumed. Twelve trains were stopped on the route for a while as a precautionary measure, police said. Among the trains which were briefly halted included Shan-ePunjab, Delhi-Amritsar Express and Kalka-Delhi Shatabdi. -PTI

LIVE BOMBS: One of the seven live rockets recovered between Shahabad and Dola Majra railway

stations near Kurukshetra on Wednesday. -PTI

A C C U R AT E N AV I G AT I O N

FULL RANGE OF SERVICES

Space agency’s ‘BIG’ to help masses India to bear cost of

Saarc satellite launch

CHENNAI: Indian space agency officials are hoping their BIG offering would soon benefit the masses and gain popularity in the market.

“The BIG we refer to is actually an acronym for Bhuvan, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN),” A.S. Ganeshan, project director of GAGAN, ISRO Satellite Centre, told IANS. On July 13, India launched its satellite-based air navigation services and in the process joined a select group of nations comprising the US, European Union (EU) and Japan having a similar system.

GAGAN is meant to provide accurate navigation services over the Bay of Bengal, southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and African regions.

The system works by augmenting and relaying data from GPS satellites with the help of two augmentation satellites and 15 earthbased reference stations.

The process corrects any anomalies in the position data

and gives accurate routes, landing guidance and time saving information to the pilots. GAGAN also fills a vital gap between the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Japan’s Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS) coverage areas.

According to Ganeshan, the objective of GAGAN is to establish, deploy and certify satellite-based augmentation system for safetyof-life civil aviation applications in India and this has been completed successfully.

The system is inter-operable with other international satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) systems like US-WAAS, European EGNOS, and Japanese MSAS, he added.

Apart from the airlines, ISRO is in talks with the Indian Railways on the possibility of using GAGAN for safety at unmanned railway crossings.

Ganeshan said necessary receivers can be installed on the train engines. As and when the train engine approaches an unmanned level crossing, its hooter

is automatically activated to warn the people.

According to Ganeshan, GAGAN system should be compulsorily installed in all emergency service vehicles and systems as was done in the West.

He said though GAGAN was primarily meant for aviation, it has its usage beyond that sector.

The system can be used for intelligent transportation, maritime, highways, railways, surveying, geodesy, security agencies, telecom industry, personal users of position location applications and others.

ISRO will also hold an end-user summit where it will display the system to other industries in September.

The system is now operational. The payloads in GSAT-8 and GSAT-10 satellites are providing the signals and the third satellite with GAGAN payload will be on GSAT-15 to be launched later this year, Ganeshan said.

While GAGAN redefines navigation over Indian airspace, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) shall provide

independent and self-reliant satellite-based navigation services over Indian region, he added.

Simply put, the IRNSS is the Indian equivalent of global positioning system (GPS) of the US. However, the coverage of IRNSS is India and 1,500 km around the Indian landmass.

The IRNSS will provide two types of services - standard positioning service and restricted service. The former is provided to all users and the latter is an encrypted service for authorised users.

India has launched four IRNSS satellites till date, and the Indian space agency has demonstrated the proof of its concept.

The full navigation system consists of a constellation of seven satellites. The remaining three are expected to be launched by ISRO soon.

According to Ganeshan, the full navigation services are expected to be offered mid-2016 onwards.

On the other hand, Bhuvan is a web-based geographic information system (GIS), offering 2D and 3D imagery of Indian locations. -IANS

NEW DELHI: The expenditure on the ground system of the proposed Saarc satellite project will be borne by the regional bloc countries while India will bear the expenses on its building and launching, government said on Wednesday.

Union Minister of State for the Department of Space, Jitendra Singh said this in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha.

“While the cost towards building and launching a satellite will be met by the government of India, the cost towards ground system is expected to be sourced by respective Saarc countries,” Singh said in his reply.

“The objective of this project is to develop a satellite for the Saarc region that enables a full range of services to all our neighbours in the areas of telecommunications and broadcasting applications like television, DTH, tele-education and disaster management,” he said. Incidentally, India has maintained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Saarc

satellite project was a “gift” by the country to its neighbours.

India will be launching 28 satellites of six countries between 2015-2017, the government also said.

Singh said Antrix -- the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) -- has signed agreements for launching 28 foreign satellites of Algeria, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore and the US during the period.

He added, until now, 45 satellites from 19 countries have been launched by the Isro and the income generated through this amounts to around 17 million euros and $78.5 million.

Singh also informed that the government has sanctioned 15 smaller PSLV launchers worth Rs 3,090 crore which would be built during 2017-2020.

In a response to another question, Singh elaborated on the initiation of chalking out a roadmap for the country’s space programmes in addressing short-term and longterm areas. -PTI

FLAG MARCH

Curfew imposed in Jamshedpur after communal clashes

STRICT VIGIL: Security personnel patrolling in Mango area during curfew following clashes after an eve-teasing case, in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. -PTI

JAMSHEDPUR: A day after curfew was imposed in the city after group clashes over an alleged incident of eve teasing at Mango area, security personnel on Wednesday staged a flag march here even as no fresh incident of violence was reported.

The personnel led by Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop T Mathew staged a flag march in the morning particularly in the affected localities of Mango to inculcate confidence among the people, officials said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police P Jascinta Kerketta said that situation was well under control as no fresh incident had taken place since last night.

“We have adequate forces including para-military forces which have already arrived from Patna,” she said assuring that the situation would return to normal soon.

The East Singhbhum district administration had imposed curfew in Jamshedpur in the east Indian state of Jharkhand and its peripheral areas on Tuesday night following clashes between two communities in the last two days in Mango area of the city.

Meanwhile addressing a press conference here last night, Deputy Commissioner Amitabh Kaushal and Mathew said that six FIRs had been lodged after the clash broke out between two communities in Mango police station

area over an alleged eve-teasing incident on Monday.

FIRs As many as 150 people were named accused in the FIRs and 103 people arrested in connection with the clash, they said.

An enquiry has been ordered to probe the clashes, Kausal said adding that the probe would be done by the Kolhan Division Commissioner Arun and DIG R K Dhan.

Stating that the priority of the district administration is to restore peace, Kaushal said that they would initiate a multi-pronged action against the perpetrators and conspirators, many of whom had already been identified. -PTI

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Oman a role model of tolerance, coexistence

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

s this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Renaissance Day and the ascension of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the throne, it is worth reflecting over the marked developments our country has achieved in the economic, social and political arenas. It is also important to remind ourselves that this year the Sultanate of Oman has started to implement its strategic vision and developmental plans with a number of projects that will contribute to the well-being of generations to come.

As a nation, we shared a precious occasion this March, gathering to celebrate the return of our beloved leader back to his home and family. He returned fully empowered through the hopes and prayers of Omani citizens for further prosperity and for a future of peace and security in the Arab world.

Renaissance Day truly reflects the beautiful bond between the Omani people and their leader, one that is based on transparency, trust and justice for all. It is indeed proof of how a shared vision and passion for progression can translate into tangible results, when paired with the right combination of planning and hard work. With the current turmoil taking place in the region, our country has shown unique stability and steadfastness thanks to the wisdom of our leadership.

A country’s true renaissance is a reflection of its people’s ability to coexist regardless of religions, sects, or schools of thought.

Furthermore, we have continued working on crucial projects despite the economic challenges that the world and region are facing, including the decline in oil prices that has led nations to reconsider their budgets for the coming years. Oman has always paid close attention to the various aspects that shape its future, in addition to economic goals. The future of our citizens is a top priority, and as a result we are anticipating the implementation of a variety of projects in key sectors, such as transportation, trade, industry and healthcare.

Under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Sultanate has reiterated its effective role in many regional and international issues. Our nation has always been a

catalyst of security and for resolving complicated issues, thanks to the excellent relations it enjoys with other countries regionally and internationally.

On Renaissance Day, Oman proves to the world that dialogue among nations and people can be an effective tool in achieving peace, and that wars and conflicts only lead to destruction and chaos. Our country emphasizes time and again the importance of dialogue and prudence in handling issues, especially with the ongoing conflicts in many of the Arab countries.

With his comprehensive vision, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has constantly enlightened us with the fact that not joining any alliance, while forging strong relations with all countries, is an excellent path to stability. Therefore, Oman adopts a policy that is based on credibility, honesty, transparency, rationality, and logic, while also seeking to achieve peace, enhancing relations with neighbouring countries, and not intervening in internal issues. This policy has considerably improved the country’s leading position and made it a role model, and a common point of reference globally.

Today, we should be proud of our accomplishments under the auspices of our leader.

The city of Nizwa has been named Capital of Islamic Culture due to its vital contributions in areas like culture, literature, arts, sciences, and Islamic knowledge. Oman is also ranked second among Arab countries in the World Happiness Report. The Omani people are a global role model for tolerance and coexistence.

Such accomplishments would not have been possible had it not been for the wise vision of our leadership. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has always put his people ahead, caring for them like a father cares for his beloved children. We wish His Majesty a life full of health and happiness, and continued prosperity and stability for Oman.

The author is the Chairman of National Bank of Oman and an International Advisor to the Brookings Instituition. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

READERS’ FORUM Charities should help the needy with honesty This refers to the news report, Donate, but don’t show-off: Experts (July 22). I completely agree that charity work should not be a source of pleasure or for the sake of public attention. Charity should be considered as an opportunity to assist someone who really needs the support of others. Those making donations should know this is a kind and sincere gesture towards humanity. Organisations involved in these initiatives must ensure that the needy are helped with honesty.

— Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

Banks were not equipped to handle so many salary requests

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).

Russian billionaire Yuri Milner helped create an anomaly that only a market cataclysm can fix. So he has the right to use his proceeds to fund another dream, that of finding extraterrestrial life by scanning radio signals from the 1 million star systems closest to Earth bit.ly/russiantycoonaliensearch

This refers to the online story, Firms in Oman defaulting on Eid wage to face action (July 21). Major banks were overloaded with salary requests and hence they took almost a week to transfer money. In case of my company, the staff got salary on a day before Eid as the bank was not equipped to carry this overload.

— Vinesh Mandalia, Muscat

FROM OUR ARCHIVES JULY 2000 Oman succeeds in attracting foreign investments Rashid bin Salim Al Masroori, director general of commerce at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said the Sultanate had availed itself of the suitable atmosphere and incentives for foreign investment in the industry sector. He said in a statement that the incentives offered to foreign investment in this sector allowed for up to 49 per cent of foreign contribution in companies capita added to 65 per cent by a decision from the commerce and industry minister, on condition that the company’s capital was not less than OMR150,000.

PICTOGRAPH AGE GROUPS POPULATION IN OMAN (1980- 2050 evolution)

Age group (%)

0-4

Years 1980

2015

2050

19.9%

9%

4.9% 9.8%

13%

5-14

25.2%

64.4%

TODAY IN HISTORY

Learn to accept endurance limits

This refers to the online story, Extra patrols after expat’s death at Oman tourist hotspot (July 21). This is indeed a very sad incident. Some time ago, I had saved an Asian man in Wadi Shab. In my opinion, unfortunately there are a lot of people who fail to acknowledge their limits and understand that it is dangerous as they get so tired that they are unable to swim. Thus they put their own lives at risk. My advice to people visiting wadis is to learn to respect nature and know their own limits of endurance.

— Nashwa Al Kindy, Muscat

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1298: King Edward I defeats Scots under William Wallace at Falkirk.

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1789: Thomas Jefferson becomes the first head of the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs.

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1894: The first car race takes place from Paris to Rouen, France

1814: Five Indian tribes in Ohio make peace with the United States and declare war on Britain.

15-64

52.2%

65+

2.7%

3%

20.9%

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

PAKISTAN Supreme Court suspends Asia Bibi’s execution Bibi, a farm worker and mother of four, became the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law in 2010

LAHORE: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily suspended the death sentence of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy, her lawyer said, in a case that hit global headlines after the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on her behalf.

Asia Bibi, a farm worker and mother of four, became the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law in 2010.

The Supreme Court will soon begin hearing an appeal against her conviction, said lawyer Saiful Malook. “The execution of Asia Bibi has been suspended and will remain suspended until the decision of this appeal,” Malook said.

No date had been set for her execution, he added.

The prosecution lawyer was not available for comment.

The law does not define blasphemy but stipulates that the penalty is death.

SIGH OF RELIEF: In this handout photograph taken and released by the Governor’s House of Punjab on November 20, 2010, shows Pakistani Punjab governor Salman Taseer, right, looking on as Pakistani Christian mother Asia Bibi, centre, places a thumb impression on her appeal papers against a death sentence before handing them over to Taseer, after she was sentenced to hang at the Central Jail in Sheikhupura. — AFP/PAKISTAN’S GOVERNOR HOUSE OF PUNJAB/FILES

While convictions for blasphemy are fairly common, with most cases involving members of religious minorities, a death sentence has never been carried out.

But many people have been killed by angry mobs after being accused of blasphemy. Human rights activists say accusations of blasphemy are sky rocketing because the law is often abused to settle grudges and seize money or property.

Two politicians murdered Attacks on those who have questioned the blasphemy law and called for reform, including the murder of two politicians who tried to intervene on behalf of Bibi, have stifled debate.

The governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by a bodyguard in 2011 after

he had sought a presidential pardon for Bibi. The judge who later sentenced Taseer’s killer had to flee the country.

Extremist militants claimed responsibility for the murder later in 2011 of the then sole Christian government minister for challenging the blasphemy law.

The case against Bibi followed accusations by two sisters who accused her of making derogatory remarks.

Her lawyers say her neighbours had a grudge against Bibi because of an earlier dispute.

Malook said key witnesses had not appeared during hearings by the High Court. “The real eyewitnesses... never appeared before the court and backed out,” he said.

Lawyers who hear blasphemy cases are frequently threatened.

— Reuters

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

GLOBAL EYE

UNITED KINGDOM: Visitors experience ‘Bounce Below’, a network of giant trampolines, walkways and slides suspended in the caverns of the 176-year old disused Llechwedd slate mine near Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, United Kingdom, on Tuesday. The adventure activity is a subterranean playground and features alongside ‘Zip World Caverns’, the world’s largest fully underground zip line course. — AFP

NORWAY: The bits of a vehicle, which Anders Behring Breivik used in a bomb attack on a government building, are displayed at an exhibition in Oslo on Tuesday. The planned exhibition about the killings is angering some Norwegians, who fear it will turn into a “hall of fame” for Breivik. Norway remembered the attacks on July 22, 2011, when Breivik killed 77 people, first setting off a bomb in central Oslo, killing eight and then travelling to Utoeya island where he killed 69 people. — Reuters/Fredrik Varfjell/NTB Scanpix

JAPAN: Cucumbers carved by Japanese sushi chef Okitsugu Kado

with the faces of, left to right, tennis player Kei Nishikori, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and figure skater Mao Asada are displayed during a promotional event in Tokyo on Wednesday. Japan’s Tohoku region’s farmers held the event to promote their cucumbers as a good food for rehydration on hot summer days. — AFP

KENYA: A gardener tends to a tree planted in 2006 by then Senator and current US President Barack Obama during his visit to the east African country in Nairobi on Wednesday. With his upcoming visit generating excitement and disappointment in good measure, students of the University of Nairobi have threatened through a letter to do the ‘unthinkable’, from burning down the tree to protesting in the nude by urinating on the tree en-masse to committing mass-suicide should Obama fail to visit the learning institution during his two-day visit to his father’s birth-country. — AFP

GERMANY: Asylum seekers from Syria sit outside tents which were additionally set up at the reception centre for asylum seekers of the federal state of Brandenburg in Eisenhuettenstadt, Germany, on Wednesday. Picture taken through a fence. — Reuters

RUSSIA: Investigators, Emergencies Ministry members and medics work at the scene of a collision

between a bus and a truck on the M53 ‘Baikal’ highway near the settlement of Shushkovo, the Kozulsky district of Krasnoyarsk region, Russia, on Wednesday. Eleven people were killed and at least 28 more were injured in the road accident on Wednesday, according to local police and media. — Reuters

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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WORLD Yemen loyalists retake Aden palace, airport reopened reinforcements freshly trained and heavily armed by the Saudi-led coalition has helped forces loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to retake most of Aden after four months of fierce fighting

Plane touches down Underscoring the recent advances by the pro-Hadi forces, a Saudi military plane touched down Wednesday in the city’s newly reopened airport.

Former PM of Mubarak imprisoned for corruption CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced a former prime minister of ousted president Hosni Mubarak Wednesday to five years in prison for corruption and fined him millions of dollars.

Ahmed Nazif, whom Mubarak sidelined to appease protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his rule, was convicted in his retrial of having used his position to make a fortune of $8.2 million (7.5 million euros).

The court also fined him $6.8 million.

Nazif had been accused of corrupt real estate deals and receiving illegal bonuses.

Mubarak and many of his former ministers were placed on trial following his overthrow amid popular demands to hold them accountable for years of corruption. Many of the former regime figures have been acquitted in retrials. — AFP

The arrival of

ADEN: Yemeni pro-government forces recaptured the presidential palace in Aden on Wednesday and a Saudi military plane landed in the war-scarred southern city following recent territorial losses by Houthi rebels.

The arrival of reinforcements freshly trained and heavily armed by the Saudi-led coalition has helped forces loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to retake most of Aden after four months of fierce fighting.

Thirty rebels were killed in the battle for the Al Maashiq hilltop palace, where Hadi had taken refuge before fleeing to Saudi Arabia in March, a source in the progovernment Popular Resistance militia said.

AHMED NAZIF

S AO PAU L O

AID SHIP: A handout picture released by the World Food Programme (WFP) shows a UN aid ship docked in Yemen’s devastated port city

of Aden on Tuesday. - AFP/HO/WFP

The plane, carrying relief aid, will be followed by others in the coming days, according to transport minister Badr Basalma, one of two ministers who returned to the city after it was declared “liberated” by the exiled government on Friday.

“This is the beginning of operations at the airport,” Basalma told reporters at the site, which Saudibacked loyalists recaptured last week following fierce clashes with the Houthi rebels and their allies.

On Tuesday, a UN ship docked in Aden carrying much-needed relief supplies, the first UN vessel to reach the city in four months.

Another ship sent by the UAE also delivered medical aid.

Saudi Colonel Ali Abu Dahesh, who flew in on the mili-

tary plane, said an “air link with Yemen will be opened to deliver relief supplies”.

Basalma told journalists on Monday that a UAE technical team had arrived to repair the tower and passenger terminal at Aden international airport, heavily damaged in clashes.

The airport closed in late March, when rebels advanced on the city, where Hadi took refuge after escaping house arrest under the Houthis in the capital Sanaa, which is still in rebel hands.

The Houthis and allied forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh overran Sanaa in September, and then advanced into several other regions.

Over the past week there has been a shift in the balance on the

ground in Aden in favour of proHadi forces, which had previously struggled to halt the advance of better-equipped rebels.

“The freshly trained troops, equipped with modern weapons, triggered this shift,” Yemeni analyst Majed Al Mathhadi said.

A force of about 1,500 former southern Yemeni soldiers have arrived in the city after being trained in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that the heavy weapons they brought with them had made a huge difference.

“The light weapons that the (southern Popular) Resistance had were not enough to make a change on the ground... They needed heavy weapons like the ones that were sent,” he said.

Footage from Aden has shown

pro-Hadi forces using new armoured vehicles with mounted machine guns.

Military sources have said officers from the coalition are in Aden coordinating operations.

But to secure the city, loyalists need to push the rebels out of the neighbouring provinces of Lahj and Abyan, according to Mathhadi.

Pro-government forces backed by heavy air power have set their sight on Al Anad airbase in Lahj, which is held by the rebels.

The conflict has had a devastating effect on the Yemeni people.

More than 21.1 million people -over 80 per cent of Yemen’s population -- need aid, with 13 million facing food shortages, according to the United Nations. — AFP

37 killed in three days in Brazilian city SAO PAULO: Thirty-seven people were killed in three days in the Brazilian city of Manaus, and one hypothesis being considered is a coordinated wave of attacks involving police, an official said.

Evidence has emerged over suspects in some of the killings that occurred from Friday to Monday evening in Manaus, a river port in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, said Sergio Fontes, secretary of public safety in Amazonas state, the capital of which is Manaus.

Of all the killings, 35 were by gunfire.

From Friday to Saturday alone 23 people died, Fontes said. — AFP

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

WORLD

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Kurd rebels ‘killed’ Turkish officers to avenge bombing where he is now. I don’t know if they joined ISIL, if they went for war. They are both good kids, they wouldn’t harm anyone.”

Suruc suicide bomber is believed to have travelled to Syria as dozens detained after second night of protests

ANKARA: Kurdish militants claimed responsibillity for the assassination on Wednesday of two Turkish police officers in what they said was retaliation for a suspected IS group suicide bombing which killed 32 mostly young students.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said in a statement on one of its websites that the two police officers were killed at around 6am in the south-eastern town of Ceylanpinar for “collaboration with the IS gangs”.

Security sources earlier said the officers were found dead with bullet wounds to the head in the house they shared in Ceylanpinar, on the border with Syria some 160km (100 miles) east of Suruc, the site of Monday’s suicide bombing.

Suspicion Many of Turkey’s Kurds and opposition supporters suspect President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AK Party of covertly backing IS against Kurdish fighters in Syria, something the government has repeatedly denied.

Anti-government protests after Monday’s bombing in Suruc erupted in several cities for a second night on Tuesday, with some of the demonstrators chanting “Murderer IS, collaborator Erdogan and AKP”.

TIGHT VIGIL: Turkish police stand near a building, where two police officers were found shot dead at

their home on Wednesday in the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar on the border with Syria. – AFP

“Although IS has been held responsible for this attack, Turkey’s AKP government, by resisting the taking of effective measures to prevent IS and other reactionary forces, bears the real responsibility,” the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), whose support base is mostly Kurdish, said in a statement.

Turkey’s NATO allies have expressed concern about control of its border with Syria which in parts runs directly parallel with territory controlled by IS. The prospect of conflict spilling onto Turkish soil, embroiling Kurds, hardline militants and security forces will raise alarm inside and outside Turkey.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister

Ahmet Davutoglu rejected accusations that Turkey had tacitly supported IS and had unwittingly opened the door to the bombing; but he said initial evidence suggested the radical group was responsible.

A senior Turkish official said there was “strong evidence” to suggest the bomber was a 20-year old man born in the southeastern province of Adiyaman and of Kurdish origin, who had travelled to Syria last year with the help of a group linked to IS. “He was active in a Syria-linked group supporting the IS. We know that he went to Syria illegally.

It was not possible to track him during his time there,” the official said, speaking on condition of an-

onymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

He had links with another alleged bomber who attacked an HDP rally in the mostly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbakir days ahead of a June 7 parliamentary election, killing four people and wounding at least 200, the official said.

The Radikal newspaper quoted what it said was the man’s mother saying he was a former student at Adiyaman university who had worked as a painter with his 25year old brother before going abroad. “I don’t know what they were doing abroad, they never said. They were just telling me they were fine,” Semure Alagoz told the newspaper. “I don’t know

Parliamentary motions Two lawmakers from the HDP submitted separate parliamentary motions on Wednesday naming a 20-year old woman as a suspect, and asking why police had released her from custody last month. The turmoil comes at a difficult time for Turkey, with a caretaker government in charge while the AKP seeks a junior coalition partner after losing its majority in the June election for the first time in more than a decade.

At least 51 people have been arrested in protests in Istanbul alone and police seized more than 200 petrol bombs and a rifle, the governor’s office in Turkey’s biggest city said.

There were also protests overnight in the capital Ankara, where demonstrators carried pictures of those killed in the Suruc attack as well as banners of the youth federation of which many of the victims were members.

Anti-government groups have vowed further demonstrations and the HDP has called for supporters to converge in Istanbul for a mass rally this weekend.

The prospect of further unrest has unnerved investors already worried by the uncertain political outlook.

The lira was the worst performer among major emerging market currencies on Wednesday, falling more than one percent against the dollar, while Turkish stocks also fell. Access to Twitter was blocked for several hours after a court in Suruc ordered the removal of images of the blast and its aftermath. Facebook and YouTube avoided a ban after quickly complying with the court order, according to a statement from the Turkish union of internet access providers. — Reuters

REBUILDING

Palestinians lay first brick for Gaza reconstruction GAZA CITY/OCCUPIED RAMALLAH: Palestinian housing minister Mufid Al Hasayneh laid a brick on Wednesday for the first Gaza home to be rebuilt since the Israel-Hamas war a year ago, as frustration mounts over the slow pace of reconstruction.

The 50-day war in July-August 2014 killed 2,200 Palestinians, 73 on the Israeli side, and destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Until now the only repairs have been to homes which were partially damaged, while 18,000 totally destroyed houses remain in ruins.

Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, now in its ninth year, has been blamed for the slow progress as well as a lack of international donor support for the territory, ruled by the Hamas movement.

Worst hit Hasayneh laid the brick at the Harara family’s home in Shejaiya, an area east of Gaza City that was one of the worst hit by Israeli shelling during the war. “The march towards real reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has begun, and nothing will stop it,” Hasayneh said.“We will see a lot of movement on the reconstruction front in the coming days. We will rebuild all homes destroyed by Israel,” he said, thanking several Arab countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia for their donations towards Gaza’s reconstruction.

But the process is expected to take years in the war-torn coastal enclave, whose 1.8 million residents have seen three wars in six years between Israel and Palestinian fighters. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA has said that so far it only received enough money for 200 out of the 7,000 houses it is tasked with rebuilding. Donations pledged at an international conference in Cairo in October have been slow to arrive, and the blockade that has choked Gaza for years is still in place. — Agencies

C H AT TA N O O G A S H O O T I N G

US team in Jordan to interrogate uncle of Tennessee shooter AMMAN: US investigators are in Jordan to interrogate the Jordanian-American uncle of a suspect in the fatal shooting of five US servicemen in Tennessee last week, the uncle’s lawyer said on Wednesday.

The suspected gunman, 24-year-old Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, was killed in a gunfight with police on July 16 after he sprayed gunfire at a military

recruitment center in Chattanooga and then at a nearby Naval Reserve Center.

Stay with uncle The engineer’s family say he had long-standing psychological and substance abuse issues and was taken to stay with his uncle, Assad Ibrahim Abdulazeez Haj Ali, in Amman for a short visit last year to help his recovery.

But investigators have evidence he had been searching for militant material that may have inspired the attack, a source close told Reuters on Monday.

Jordanian authorities arrested Haj Ali on Friday and he was being interrogated by both Jordanian and US investigators, his lawyer Abdul Qader Al Khatib said by telephone. A Jordanian security source confirmed US investiga-

tors had arrived in Jordan and said they were involved in questioning Haj Ali, who is being held at a high security facility in the Jordan’s intelligence headquarters. “We are gathering clues and we need to establish whether this was a sole act or one that is linked to a wider terror network,” the source said.

“At this stage of the interrogation we cannot rule out anything.”

Khatib called on the Jordanian

authorities to allow him to attend their interrogations, saying he feared his client could be forced to testify under duress.

Torture feared “I fear he may be tortured to extract a confession,” he said. He had been told he could meet with his client next Sunday, but said this was not soon enough.

Jordan regularly denies claims

by human rights activists that it tortures confessions out of security detainees.

Khatib said there was nothing to indicate that uncle or nephew were militants. “They (the investigators) are focusing on whether my client had influenced (his nephew) and if he had motivated him. There is no basis to this as both do not adhere to any religious ideology,” he said. — Reuters

KINETIC STRIKE

US-led coalition air strike ‘kills’ Qaeda leader in Syria WASHINGTON: A US-led coalition air strike earlier this month killed the leader of an Al Qaeda offshoot in Syria that American officials accuse of plotting attacks against the United States and its allies, the Pentagon said.

Muhsin Al Fadhli was killed in a “kinetic strike” on July 8 while travelling in a vehicle near the northwestern Syrian town of Sarmada, said Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

He did not confirm whether a drone or a manned aircraft had killed Fadhli, 34.

Fadhli was allegedly the leader of the Khorasan Group, a group of senior Al Qaeda members who have travelled from Central Asia and elsewhere in the Middle East to Syria to plot attacks on the West. The Kuwaiti-born militant was so trusted by the inner circle of late Al Qaeda supreme leader Osama bin Laden that he was among the few who knew in advance about the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, according to US intelligence.

Death to hit operations “His death will degrade and disrupt ongoing external operations of Al Qaeda against the United States and its allies and partners,” said Davis, who heads the Defence Department’s press operations. Counterterrorism expert Bruce Riedel, however, a former

THE TARGET: Muhsin Al Fadhli.

– AFP/hamdout/Al Watan Newspaper

CIA analyst, called Fadhli’s death a “serious but not fatal” blow to Al Qaeda in Syria.

Davis said Fadhli was also involved in October 2002 attacks against US Marines on Kuwait’s Failaka Island and on the MV Limburg, a French oil tanker.

He was reported to have been previously targeted in a US air strike in September, but his death was not confirmed by US officials at the time.

Officials say Khorasan is part of Al Qaeda’s Syrian branch, Al Nusra Front, though experts and activists cast doubt on the distinction between the two groups.

In a September interview, US President Barack Obama listed Khorasan among “immediate threats to the United States”, warning that “those folks could kill Americans”.

The US State Department had posted a $7 million reward for information leading to Fadhli’s death or detention.

He was wanted by law enforcement authorities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United States for terrorist activities.

The diminutive fighter -- US intelligence says he measured just five feet five inches (165 centimeters) -- fought alongside the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Pakistan, according to the State Department.

The US National Counterterrorism Center has said he had become Al Qaeda’s senior leader in Iran.

Fadhli was a major facilitator to late militant Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, who once led Al Qaeda in Iraq, and other fighters against US and multinational forces.

The US Treasury Department alleged that he provided financial and material support to Zarqawi’s network and Al Qaeda.

The UN Security Council’s Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee cited him in 2005 for his role in planning, facilitating and financing Al Qaeda attacks, which triggered a freeze on his assets and a travel ban. — AFP

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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Iran competes with US hardliners to sell deal Abbas Araqchi, deputy foreign minister, said Iran would do ‘anything’ for regional allies

DUBAI/WASHINGTON: Iran’s government tried on Wednesday to sell its nuclear agreement with world powers to hardliners at home, just as a US Congressional leader promised to do “everything possible” to sink the deal.

With both Tehran and Washington facing stiff opposition to the accord, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Saudi Arabia.

Last week’s agreement was a big success for both US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. But both have to promote it to influential hardliners in countries that have been enemies for decades.

In Washington, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, was deeply sceptical.

“Members of Congress will ask much tougher questions this afternoon when we meet with the president’s team, and because a bad deal threatens the security of the American people, we’re going to do everything possible to stop it,” Boehner said.

Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz were scheduled to hold briefings for lawmakers in the US Capitol. House and Senate debates and votes to approve or reject the nuclear agreement are expected in September.

A warm glow following the Vienna agreement - under which

DIALOGUE: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, right, meets US Defence

Secretary Ash Carter, left, at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. - Reuters

Iran accepted curbs on it nuclear programme in return for an easing of sanctions that have crippled its economy - is fading.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, told supporters on Saturday that US policies in the region were “180 degrees” opposed to Tehran’s, in a speech punctuated by anti-America and anti-Israel chants.

The government that negotiated the deal also talked tough on Wednesday in an apparent attempt to blunt attacks from opponents, including in the powerful Republican Guards.

Abbas Araqchi, a deputy foreign minister, said Iran would do “anything” to help allies in the Middle East.

Araqchi, Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator, also told a news conference that any attempt to re-impose sanctions after they expired in 10 years would breach the deal.

He was referring to a resolution endorsing the deal passed by the United Nations Security Council on Monday. This allows all UN sanctions to be re-imposed if Iran violates the agreement in the next 10 years.

If Iran adheres to the terms of the agreement - signed with the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union - all the provisions and measures of the UN resolution would end in 10 years.

However, the world powers told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon earlier this month that after 10 years they planned to seek a five-year extension of the mechanism allowing sanctions to be re-imposed.

Carter said before his trip to Saudi Arabia that he aimed to discuss American strategy in the region, as well as the fight against the IS militant group.

Carter is to present Obama’s

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argument that the deal will make the United States and its allies safer by removing the threat of a nuclear Iran.

This is the same message he gave during a trip this week to Israel, which also opposes the agreement.

Israel on Wednesday pressed US lawmakers to block the deal, with Ambassador Ron Dermer meeting privately with a group of about 40 House conservatives.

Kerry said he would seek to reassure Gulf Arab officials at a meeting in Qatar in the next two weeks that Washington will work with them to resist Iranian influence in the region.

“We have negotiated a nuclear deal for the simple reason that we believe if you are going to push back against Iran, it’s better to push back against an Iran without a nuclear weapon than with one,” Al Sharq Al Awsat quoted Kerry as saying. — Reuters

F O R E I G N T E R R O R I S T O R G A N I S AT I O N S

Decks cleared to revoke passports of Americans tied to terror groups WASHINGTON: The House of Representatives has passed a measure that would allow the US government to revoke or deny passports to Americans linked to “foreign terrorist organisations.”

Passed by a voice vote Tuesday after a 15-minute debate, the bill aims to block the movement of “lone wolves” trained in Syria by the IS group for attacks in the United States.

Senate approval is required for the bill to become law.

It authorises the US secretary of state to revoke the US passport -- but not the nationality -- of any American determined to have “aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise helped” a designated foreign terrorist organisation.

Likewise, the US passport can be denied under the bill to any American that falls into that category.

US law currently allows passports to be revoked for national security or foreign policy reasons.

But Republican congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that the law is open to inter-

Passed by a voice vote Tuesday after a 15-minute debate, the bill aims to block the movement of ‘lone wolves’ trained in Syria by the IS group for attacks in the US

pretation, making a more explicit measure necessary.

About 180 Americans have traveled to Syria to join extremist groups, out of about 3,400 western foreign fighters, the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, said in February. — AFP

BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

13 killed in Cameroon suicide bomb attacks YAOUNDE: Two suicide bomb attacks killed at least 13 people in northern Cameroon on Wednesday, the president’s office said, in what appeared to be the deepest incursion by Boko Haram militants from neighbouring Nigeria.

The first explosion hit a market and the second a densely populated neighbourhood, both in the capital of Cameroon’s Far North

region, Maroua, a military source said. No one claimed responsibility, but Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on the countries bordering its northeast Nigerian stronghold Chad, Niger as well as Cameroon.

All three have contributed troops to a regional offensive against the extremist militants who have allied themselves to IS rebels. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent’s lawyer Leila Ahsan has been told by the Iranian authorities that the next hearing will ‘almost certainly’ be the last, though no date has yet been set.

WORLD

Women, children among 19 Afghans killed in bombing moured military vehicle,” Saif said, adding that the attacker was aged between 20 and 25. Almar has been tense for weeks after the Taliban launched a major offensive and took control of several villages.

Government forces launched a counter offensive earlier this week but have struggled to regain territory, with skirmishes frequently reported between both sides.

The suicide bomber blew himself up in a northern Afghan market

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber killed 19 people including women and children Wednesday when he blew himself up in a northern Afghan market, as militants intensify their annual summer offensive despite nascent peace talks.

The attack in Almar district of Faryab province, bordering Turkmenistan, highlights the heavy toll of such attacks on civilians after 13 years of war.

No claim for responsibility No group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which comes just before another round of peace negotiations between the government and Taliban militants are due to start.

The suicide attacker detonated his explosives-laden vest in the

SUICIDE ATTACK: Afghan medics help an injured man receive treatment at a hospital after a suicide attack in Faryab province northern of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. – AP/PTI

main market of the volatile district of Almar, killing at least 19 people, according to Faryab police chief Subhan Quli Ebrahimi and the United Nations.

“Women, children and at least one Afghan army soldier were among those killed,” Faryab governor Abdul Sattar Barez told AFP, adding that around three dozen others were wounded.

Almar district chief Saleh Mo-

hammad Saleh said that some of the wounded were in a critical condition and had been taken to the provincial capital Maimanah.

“We had received intelligence reports that a suicide attacker has entered the market in Almar, so we set up a police check point to search for him,” local police commander Saif, who goes by one name, told AFP. “We were looking for him when he blew himself up near an ar-

Stepped up attacks Taliban insurgents, who launched their annual summer offensive in late April, have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets despite official efforts to jumpstart peace talks.

Civilians often fall victim to such attacks, with almost 1,000 Afghan civilians killed during the first four months of the year, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). “(Wednesday’s) horrific attack against civilians in a market demonstrates an appalling disregard for human life,” UNAMA chief Nicholas Haysom said in a statement.

“UNAMA has repeatedly called for an immediate ban on weapons which kill indiscriminately and that are used in civilianpopulated areas.”

President Ashraf Ghani’s gov-

ernment has drawn criticism for failing to end the spike in violence, which critics partly blame on the protracted delay in the appointment of a defence minister.

The crucial post has not been filled since Ghani came to power last September. US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle the Taliban alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.

Afghan officials sat down with Taliban cadres this month in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, Pakistan, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.

They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the United Nations.

Afghan officials have not said when and where the next round of negotiations will take place, but they are widely expected to be conducted in the coming days.

Earlier this month 33 people were killed in a suicide attack at a military base in the eastern province of Khost and a few days later 25 civilians were wounded in a bombing inside a mosque in northern Baghlan province. — AFP

B R I TA I N

South Sudan troops ‘crushed civilians with tanks’: HRW NAIROBI/JUBA: South Sudanese government troops crushed fleeing civilians with tanks, then reversed to check they had killed them, carried out public gang rapes and burned people alive, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.

The report by HRW has shocking allegations of atrocities committed by government forces in the ongoing 19-month-old war, documenting “deliberate attacks on civilians” that it said constitute war crimes.

“They were running with the tanks after the people, and then after they hit them they would roll back over them, to confirm that they were dead,” one woman told HRW. Attacks The attacks were allegedly carried out by government troops and an allied militia from the Bul Nuer tribe.

Another witness, a 30-year-old woman, said troops in a tank hunted down her nephew. “I saw him... he was crushed before he reached the river... we were running together, he ran in order to hide,” she told HRW. Another described finding the squashed bodies of her two male relatives. “Their bodies had been grinded,” she said, one of a string of testimonies documented in the HRW report. — AFP

IN DETENTION

Post reporter on trial for spying begins second year in Iran jail TEHRAN: Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent on trial for spying on Iran, began a second year behind bars on Wednesday with his family increasingly concerned about his health.

Rezaian, 39, faces charges including “espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against Iran”, according to his lawyer.

After three trial sessions since late May, the “slow-motion judicial process” may soon come to an end, the Post’s executive editor Martin Baron said in a statement released on Monday.

His lawyer Leila Ahsan has been told by the Iranian authorities “that the next hearing will ‘almost certainly’ be the last, though no date has yet been set”, he added.

“There can be no reason for fur-

ther delay,” Baron said. “Any fair outcome would clear Jason of these manufactured charges so that he can be released and reunited with his family.”

Arrested Rezaian was arrested with his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, at their home on July 22, 2014.

Salehi and a photographer who was arrested on the same day were

released on bail after two and a half months in custody.

Hope Jason’s American mother Mary has expressed hope her son will also be freed on bail. “He is not a murderer.

He is not a spy. This type of detention is hurting him. It’s hurting his family. We want him on bail, released, with his family,” she told reporters outside the court after the

latest trial session on July 13.

Fears Rezaian’s relatives have frequently expressed fears for his health, citing his need for medication to combat high blood pressure.

His lawyer and media have been barred from revealing any details about the case.

Rezaian’s detention is politically sensitive because of his dual nation-

ality, which Iran does not recognise.

The United States, one of six world powers which recently struck a nuclear agreement with Iran, has repeatedly called for his release.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the negotiations with Iran to curb its disputed nuclear programme, told MSNBC he had raised the issue with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif every time they met. — AFP

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Muscat 6,590.86 + 18.36 + 0.28%

Dubai 4,203.09 + 21.04 + 0.50%

Abu Dhabi 4,902.09 + 50.40 + 1.04%

Kuwait 6,296.73 - 7.66 - 0.12%

Saudi Arabia

9,381.89 + 44.03 + 0.47%

Bahrain 1,332.10 - 2.90 - 0.22%

Qatar 11,911.31 - 98.23 - 0.82%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.35 Pound ........................................... 1.65 Indian Rs .............................164.80 Pak Rs ...................................260.42 Bangla Taka.......................199.36

Indian Rs .................................. 165.00 Pakistan Rs ............................ 263.30 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 346.60 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .....................................117.00

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.04

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$55.94 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$55.74 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$57.60 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$55.84 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$56.61

* Rates are as of July 22 Source: Bank Muscat

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$50.22

* Rates as of July 22 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Oman bank credit grows 9.6% to OMR17.45 billion Credit to the private sector for the fivemonth period rose by 9.52 per cent to OMR15.18 billion, Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) latest statistics reveal

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s conventional banks have achieved a robust 9.64 per cent credit growth at OMR17.45 billion for the first five months ending May, 2015 from OMR15.91 billion for the same period of last year, according to the Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) latest statistics released here on Wednesday.

It is more or less in line with last

year’s loan growth and was mostly driven by the private sector demand to fund their projects and working capital requirements.

Private sector Credit to the private sector for the five-month period rose by 9.52 per cent to OMR15.18 billion. So far this year, the credit growth is continuing at last year’s pace as the government is not slowing down its expenditure, despite a marked fall in oil revenues.

However, the incremental credit growth in the first five months of this year was lower than that of last year. “We saw banks adding net loans of OMR549 million through May this year as compared to OMR737 million added during the first five months of 2014. This indicates there is a slowdown in the rate of credit growth in Oman,” said Joice Mathew, head of research at United Securities.

Government-related projects

“I think that the continued financing of government-related projects such as Liwa Plastic Factory, Oman Refineries expansion, fleet expansion of Oman Air, along with the project financing demand are

Incremental credit growth (In million rials)

January-May 2014

737

January-May 2015

549

Graphics

the drivers for corporate credit growth,” added Mathew.

Hamoud Sangour Al Zadjali, executive president of Central Bank of Oman (CBO) earlier said that the credit growth for the whole year would be in double digits and would probably hover around 10 per cent.

However, Mathew had a different view. “Because of continued low oil prices, I think the banks will be more conservative in lending going forward and focus more on the credit quality rather than quantity. Under such a scenario, we might see the overall credit growth slipping to mid-single digits in 2015,” he explained.

Total deposits of Omani banks also rose by 8.47 per cent for the first five months ending May,

S TA B L E O U T L O O K

S&P affirms ‘BBB’ ratings to Oman United Insurance Times News Service MUSCAT: Standard & Poor’s (S&P) ratings affirmed the ratings of Oman United Insurance at ‘BBB’ with a stable outlook.

Oman United Insurance Co (OUIC) was viewed as one of the leading life, health and non-life composite insurers in Oman, with moderately strong capital and earnings underpinned by reported shareholders’ funds of

OMR 24.8 million at the end of March 2015.

OUIC has an adequate competitive position by global standards.

Therefore, OUIC’s business risk profile was assessed as fair and its financial risk profile as moderately strong, the company said in a stock market filing.

“The risk-based capital modeling of OUIC indicated very strong capital adequacy ratios. Now OUIC’s risk position is assessed

as having improved to intermediate from moderate. OUIC’s management and governance are still viewed as fair, albeit improving,” the rating agency noted.

The stable outlook reflected S&P’s view that, despite competitive pressures, capital and earnings at Oman United Insurance Co will remain moderately strong and management will continue to favour bottom-line earnings over top-line growth.

ECONOMY

Greece to vote on second bailout bill in test for Tsipras ATHENS: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday faced a new test of his authority in parliament, where lawmakers were to vote on a second batch of reforms to help unlock a bailout for Greece’s stricken economy.

The embattled premier last week faced a revolt by a fifth of the MPs in his radical-left Syriza party over changes to taxes, pensions and labour rules demanded

by Greece’s EU-IMF creditors.

Tsipras had to rely on opposition MPs to approve the law, a key condition for opening talks on a WHAT NEXT: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets with head three-year bailout worth up to 86 of the Greek bank association Louka Katseli (centre) and members billion euros ($93 billion). of the association’s board at his office at the Maximos Mansion in this handout photo released by the Greek Prime Minister’s office in

Second bill Athens, Greece, on Wednesday. - Reuters The second bill covers civil justice reforms, public auctions, and moves to shore up the liquidity another deep split within his own safety of their deposits, seriously of the nation’s banks, which only party and head off the risk of early damaging their ability to function just reopened on Monday after a elections after only six months normally. “The priority right now three-week closure that was im- in power. The prime minister re- is to normalise the (financial) sysposed to avert a bank run and a ceived a boost on Tuesday when tem, but at the same time to procatastrophic collapse of the finan- Standard & Poor’s raised its credit tect low-income citizens,” state cial system. The law also covers rating on Greece by two notches to news agency ANA quoted Tsipras an EU directive that guarantees CCC+ from CCC-, still in junk ter- as saying.

Parliamentary committees bank deposits up to 100,000 eu- ritory but a step in the right direcros ($108,000), and is expected to tion. On Wednesday Tsipras met were debating the second bailout pass after opposition parties said with executives from the banks, bill on Wednesday ahead of a full which have seen some 40 billion sitting of the 300 lawmakers late they would back it.

But analysts say the debate will euros withdrawn since Decem- in the afternoon with a vote exshow whether Tsipras can avoid ber by customers anxious over the pected around midnight. — AFP

2015 at OMR18.55 billion, from OMR17.10 billion for the same period last year, noted the CBO said in its monthly statistics.

Oman has seven conventional banks — Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman, BankDhofar, and HSBC Bank Oman, in addition to Bank Sohar, Oman Arab Bank and ahlibank.

Islamic finance surges Oman’s Islamic banks and window operations have also shown a robust growth of 105.48 per cent in financing at OMR1,324.1 million for the first five months of 2015, from merely OMR644.4 million in the same period last year.

Such robust growth in Islamic finance shows that Sharia-compliant banks are able to establish themselves in the market and able to overcome their teething problems. Further, two Islamic banks and window operations of conventional banks have launched innovative products to attract Omani customers, besides opening several branches in different parts of the country.

Total customer deposits held by Islamic institutions also shot up by 229.5 per cent to OMR1,037.3 million by the end of May 2015,

from OMR314.8 million for the same period last year, according to the latest monthly bulletin released by the CBO. Growth in Islamic products There have been considerable increases in the number of branches and assets held by these entities.

Islamic banks are opening up new segments and players and, thus, adding to the competitive environment, not only in terms of efficiencies and innovations, but by also providing consumers the benefit of choosing between both conventional and Islamic banking products.

In Oman, two Islamic banks – Bank Nizwa and Alizz Islamic Bank – along with the window operations of six conventional banks, have scores of branches across the country. Islamic banking entities provided financing of OMR1,049.5 million as of the end of 2014, compared to OMR434.3 million one year earlier.

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Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.60 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 134.00 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 127.50 * Rates as of July 22 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

PERFORMANCE

Oman Flour Mills’ net profit rises to OMR8.11m Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Flour Mills said its group net profit increased to OMR8.11 million for the year ended June 2015, from OMR7.02 million for the previous year.

Total revenue was also higher at OMR82.19 million, against OMR79.27 million during the period under view, the company said in a stock market filing.

Wheat subsidy Oman Flour Mills’ net profit margin was also higher at 9.87 per cent for the year ended June 2015, against 8.85 per cent for the previous year. In the financial statement, wheat and feed subsidies have been accounted on accrual basis and in accordance with the methodology received from the ministry. Independent auditors appointed by the Ministry of Finance have completed their verification of wheat subsidy until September, 2013 and in respect of feed subsidy till June, 2015 and have submitted their report to the ministry. As much as 80 per cent subsidy on feed for the quarter between January and March 2015 has been paid and on wheat till June, 2013.

B2

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

MARKET

StanChart appoints top-level executives Standard Chartered has also announced a new management team to lead and run the group, led by Bill Winters, group chief executive. The management team – Bloomberg file picture

will deliver a plan to address the future performance of the group by the year end, and put in place the new structure.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Standard Chartered group on Wednesday announced a simplification of its organisational structure that will improve accountability, speed up decision making, reduce bureaucracy and play a key part in delivering the previously announced $1.8 billion of cost savings by the end of 2017.

The group has also announced a new management team to lead and run the group, led by Bill Winters, group chief executive.

The management team will deliver a plan to address the future performance of the group by the year end, and put in place the new structure. Standard Chartered’s new geographical structure will rationalise the eight existing regions into four new regional

businesses: Greater China & North Asia, including Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, led by Ben Hung. ASEAN & South Asia, which includes Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, led by Ajay Kanwal.

Africa and Middle East, which includes Southern, West and East Africa, Pakistan and the UAE, led by Sunil Kaushal. Europe & Americas, including the UK and the US, led by Tracy Clarke.

The simplified organisational structure will be phased in from October 1, 2015, and will be fully in place by January 1, 2016. The Group’s financial reporting will be based on the new structure from January 1, 2016.

Sunil Kaushal, currently India and South Asia CEO, will move to a new role as Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East, effective from October 1, 2015. He remains as India CEO until this date. A new CEO for India will be appointed and announced in due course.

Christos Papadopoulos, Regional CEO, Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (Menap) will leave the organisation by the end of the year once a smooth transition has taken place. He remains the CEO of Menap until 30 Sep-

tember 2015. Over the last five years as the CEO for Menap, and under his leadership, Christos Papadopoulos has successfully positioned the UAE as one of the top contributors of income and profit to the bank.

He led the establishment Standard Chartered’s Capital Markets business in Saudi and the bank’s strategic organic entry into Iraq; both these countries are now strong contributors to the regional performance. He led the turnaround of Pakistan and Jordan, and repositioned the businesses on a strong growth trajectory. Christos is also Chairman of Saadiq, the bank’s Islamic Banking business and under his leadership Saadiq is the leader in many of its markets. Prior to his current role, he was Global Head of Financial Institutions where he successfully navigated the business through the financial sector crisis and was the architect of our very successful FI business.

Having worked and lived in the Middle East for over 20 years, Christos is committed to the region and its strong growth potential. He has decided to leave Standard Chartered and the Bank respects his decision. Christos

will be staying in the Middle East and the bank wishes him well in his future career.

On the new regional and business structure, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive said: “The Group needs to kick-start performance, reduce its cost base and bureaucracy, improve accountability, and speed up decision making.

The new structure will help achieve all of these critical objectives and will be in place as we communicate a comprehensive plan to address the Group’s performance by the year end.”

“I am working with a talented and experienced Management Team to create a bank that delivers strong returns and sustainable profitability,” he added.

The group’s current structure of three client businesses supported by five product groups will be simplified, with each product now reporting into the client segment with which it has the most relevant connection: Corporate & Institutional Banking (C&IB) will include transaction banking, corporate finance and financial markets, and will be led by Mark Dowie.

Commercial & Private Banking will include wealth management and will be led by Anna Marrs.

Retail banking will include retail products and will be led by Karen Fawcett.

C&IB will operate as a global business. Retail banking and commercial banking will be run on a country basis with regional oversight, with client and product strategy delivered by smaller and more efficient central teams under Karen Fawcett and Anna Marrs respectively.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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S E C O N D Q U A R T E R R E S U LT S

Marissa Mayer. — Bloomberg file picture

Yahoo swings to loss as revenues rise 15% to $1.24b SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo swung to a loss in the second quarter, but revenues grew as the Internet pioneer refocused its efforts on mobile and other growing sectors.

The $22 million loss in Tuesday’s earnings report compared with a profit of $270 million in the same period a year ago.

But chief executive Marissa Mayer said she was pleased with the revenue growth, saying, “Yahoo’s transformation continues to make great progress.”

Total revenues jumped nearly 15 per cent to $1.24 billion, led by what Mayer has dubbed the new emerging areas for Yahoo of “Mavens,” or mobile, video, native advertising and social.

“Our Mavens investment businesses across mobile, video, native and social grew to nearly $400 million in revenue this quarter, delivering 60 percent...growth yearover-year,” she said in a statement.

For overall revenues, it was the best top-line growth in nearly nine years, Mayer said.

Yahoo has been struggling in recent years since losing its lead in Internet search to Google, and has been aiming for new niches under Mayer’s leadership.

A key asset for Yahoo is its stake

in Chinese online giant Alibaba.

That stake is to be spun off into a separate company later this year.

Spin-off on track Yahoo made no comment about its awaited ruling by the US Internal Revenue Service on whether the transaction will be tax-free but said the spin-off was on track to be completed by the end of the year.

Yahoo has warned in the filing that there could be tax implications, potentially in the billions of dollars. The Alibaba stake is worth some $30 billion, and the spinoff is expected to add to pressure on Mayer and Yahoo to show growth in the core business.

Mayer said she sees Yahoo’s focus on “search, communications and digital content that inform, connect and entertain our users.”

She especially expressed optimism about mobile search, where Yahoo has a better opportunity to gain market share. “Mobile has fundamentally changed the search landscape,” she said. With its own mobile search engine dubbed Gemini, Mayer said “we believe we can deliver a better, more intuitive experience...we will continue to innovate and we are very excited about the future.” - AFP

B4

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

MARKET Index rises marginally

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,591.24 .............. 6,572.44 ................... 6,590.86 ...................6,572.50..................18.36 ...................0.28 Financial Index .....................................8,159.25 ................8,137.81 .................... 8,159.11 ................... 8,138.60..................20.51 ...................0.25 Industrial Index ....................................8,347.34 ...............8,335.19 ....................8,336.81 ................... 8,335.19.................... 1.62 ...................0.02 Services Index .......................................3,529.12 ............... 3,517.34 ...................3,528.00 ....................3,517.34..................10.66 ...................0.30 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................993.69 ..................992.91 .......................993.57 .......................993.15....................0.42 ...................0.04 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 7,364,095..................... 1,747,972 .....................631 ............... 15,250,281,956 ................ 12 ........................6 .................... 19 .........................37

Dhofar Cattlefeed was the highest gainer of

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

the day, while Al Batinah Development topped the loser’s list on Wednesday's trading.

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

MUSCAT: Gaining momentum continued on the Muscat bourse in a retail dominated, low-turnover session. The benchmark MSM30 Index closed at 6,590.86 points, up by 0.28 per cent. This was the highest level since March 2015. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 993.57 points, up by 0.04 per cent. Phoenix Power was the most active stock in terms of trading volume while Al Anwar Holding stood as the most active in terms of turnover. Dhofar Cattlefeed was the highest gainer of the day while Al Batinah Development, which lost 2.4 per cent from yesterday’s closing price, topped the loser’s list.

As many as 631 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR1.7 million with over 7.3 million shares changing hands.

Out of 37 traded securities, 12 advanced, six declined and 19 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR111,000 while Omani Investors switched to net sellers for OMR96,000 followed by foreign investors who were net sellers of OMR16,000 worth of shares.

Financial index gained by 0.25 per cent before closing at 8,159.11 points. National Finance, National Bank of Oman, Bank Sohar, and Oman united Insurance increased by 2.70 per cent, 2.31 per cent, 0.99 per cent, and 0.65 per cent, respectively. Batinah Development, Gulf Investment Services, Sharqiya Investments, Al Anwar Holding and Bank Muscat declined by 2.40 per cent, 0.72 per

cent, 0.64 per cent, 0.43 per cent and 0.34 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Sector Index was relatively stable at 8,336.81 points. Dhofar Cattlefeed, Galfar Engineering, and Oman Cables increased by 5.23 per cent, 1.65 per cent, and 0.44 per cent, respectively. Voltamp Energy was the only stock that lost its value today and closed at OMR0.470, down by 2.08 per cent.

Services Sector Index closed at 3528 points, up by 0.30 per cent.

Al Suwadi Power, Phoenix Power, OIFC, Port Services, and Renaissance Service increased by 2.74 per cent, 1.28 per cent, 0.93 per cent, 0.52 per cent, and 0.35 per cent, respectively.

Emerging stocks Emerging-market stocks fell as lower-than estimated iPhone shipments dragged down Apple Inc. suppliers and Chinese shares in Hong Kong extended the world’s biggest declines this month. Turkey’s lira weakened.

Hon Hai, which makes iPhones for Apple, slid 1.6 per cent in Taipei. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index sank to a one-week low. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.6 per cent to 934.05 at 12:21pm in London. China’s H-share gauge has fallen almost 10 per cent in July, the worst among 93 global benchmarks tracked by Bloomberg, amid worries slowing economic growth will hurt earnings and state intervention in equities will delay market reforms.

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

OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................12,229 ...............2,752........................6 ........... 0.225 ...........0.225 ...........0.225........... 0.225 .............0.219............ 0.006............. 2.740 ................0.225..............0.219...................0.225 .................160,741,427 ........0.100 OM0000002648 ...........NATIONAL FINANCE ............................................... 100,706.............15,307........................1 ............0.152 ........... 0.152 ...........0.152 ............0.152 .............0.148............ 0.004............. 2.703 ................0.152 ..............0.146...................0.160...................40,010,734 .........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 197,600.............69,951......................16 ........... 0.350 ...........0.360 ...........0.350........... 0.354 .............0.346 ........... 0.008............. 2.312 ................0.360..............0.358...................0.370..................474,611,429 ........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 234,062 ........... 28,876.....................24 ............0.124 ........... 0.124 ...........0.123 ............0.123 ............. 0.121............ 0.002............. 1.653 ................0.123 ..............0.122...................0.124................... 35,667,618 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 452,093 ...........92,484..................... 25 ........... 0.204...........0.206 ...........0.204 .......... 0.205 .............0.203 ........... 0.002............. 0.985 ................0.205..............0.203...................0.205 ................ 295,495,200 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE................75,940 .............16,553........................7 ............0.218 ........... 0.218 ...........0.216 ........... 0.218 .............0.216............ 0.002.............0.926 ................0.216 ..............0.216...................0.218...................43,600,000 ........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 868,225 ..........271,196..................... 58 ............0.312 ........... 0.314 ...........0.312 ........... 0.312 .............0.310............ 0.002............. 0.645 ................0.312 ..............0.312...................0.314...................31,200,000.........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................48,882 ...............9,525......................12 ............0.195 ........... 0.195 ...........0.194............0.195 .............0.194 ............0.001 ............. 0.515 ................0.194.............. 0.193...................0.195...................18,532,800 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................46,598 ..........106,243........................6 ........... 2.280...........2.280 ...........2.280 .......... 2.280 .............2.270 ............0.010 ............. 0.441 ................2.280 ............ 2.280...................0.000 ................ 204,516,000 .......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ...................................... 40,000 .............11,325........................4 ........... 0.285 ...........0.285 ...........0.282........... 0.283 .............0.282 ............0.001 ............. 0.355 ................0.282..............0.282...................0.285...................79,832,730 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................47,000 .............18,322........................4 ........... 0.386 ...........0.390 ...........0.386........... 0.390 .............0.390 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.386..............0.382...................0.388...................19,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ................................................................ 280 ..................440........................1 ............1.570 ........... 1.570 ...........1.570 ........... 1.560 .............1.560............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.570 .............. 1.550...................1.600....................3,120,000 ..........1.000 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............55,006 .............15,072........................5 ........... 0.274 ........... 0.274 ...........0.274........... 0.274 .............0.274 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.274..............0.274...................0.276....................5,754,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 209,413 ........... 85,862......................18 ............0.410 ........... 0.412 ...........0.410........... 0.410 .............0.410............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.412 ..............0.412...................0.416.................. 121,447,610 ........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ........................................................................5,000 ................1,110........................1 ........... 0.222...........0.222 ...........0.222 .......... 0.222 .............0.222 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.222............. 0.202...................0.222 .................316,358,024........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ..................................................102 .....................37........................1 ........... 0.366 ...........0.366 ...........0.366........... 0.370 .............0.370 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.366..............0.366...................0.406 ..................22,645,581 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ................................................................... 400 .................. 108........................1 ........... 0.270 ...........0.270 ...........0.270........... 0.281 .............0.281............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.270..............0.271...................0.285..................434,068,721........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ............... 10 .....................22........................1 ............2.175 ........... 2.175 ...........2.175 ............2.175 ............. 2.175............ 0.000.............0.000 ................2.175 ............. 0.000...................2.175 ..................150,075,000........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................31,005 .............54,101......................17 ............1.745 ........... 1.750............1.730 ............1.745 ............. 1.745 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.750 ...............1.745................... 1.750 ................1,308,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER......................................................................40 ..................... 15........................1 ............0.376 ........... 0.376 ...........0.376........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.376............. 0.000...................0.376...................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO........................................................................... 9,700 ............... 7,635........................6 ............0.788 ........... 0.788 ...........0.784........... 0.788 .............0.788............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.784..............0.784...................0.788..................512,944,053........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL.............................................. 20,000 ............... 1,912........................3 ........... 0.096 ...........0.096 ...........0.095........... 0.096 .............0.096 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.096...................16,800,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER....................................................5,000 ............... 1,125........................1 ........... 0.225 ...........0.225 ...........0.225........... 0.222 .............0.222 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.225............. 0.222...................0.229 .................149,825,009........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 145,550............84,249.....................20 ........... 0.580 ...........0.580 ...........0.578........... 0.578 .............0.580 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.345 ...............0.578..............0.574...................0.578................ 1,324,673,461 ......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,848,583 ......430,931................... 139 ........... 0.235 ........... 0.235 ...........0.232........... 0.233 .............0.234 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.427 ...............0.232..............0.231...................0.234 ..................34,967,475 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............ 30,000 ...............4,648........................6 ............0.154 ........... 0.156 ...........0.154 ............0.155 ............. 0.156............-0.001 ........... -0.641 ...............0.155 .............. 0.145...................0.155 ...................13,950,000 .........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ...........................36,400 ...............5,023........................5 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.138 ............0.138 ............. 0.139............-0.001 ............-0.719................0.138 .............. 0.136...................0.138....................8,120,364 ..........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY .....................................................37,500 ............. 17,625......................12 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.470 .............0.480 ...........-0.010 ........... -2.083 ...............0.470..............0.430...................0.470...................28,435,000.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ....................... 26,800 ...............3,270........................4 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.122........... 0.122 ............. 0.125............-0.003 ........... -2.400 ...............0.122..............0.123...................0.125....................3,660,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,584,124....1,355,719...................405 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......29........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001301 ............DHOFAR CATTLE FEED ............................................10,000 ............... 1,810........................1 ............0.181 ........... 0.181............0.181 ............0.181 ............. 0.172............ 0.009............. 5.233 ................0.181 ..............0.180...................0.189...................13,937,000 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 2,252,239 ......355,755...................207 ............0.157 ........... 0.159 ...........0.157 ............0.158 ............. 0.156............ 0.002............. 1.282 ................0.158 .............. 0.157...................0.158..................231,091,031 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 302,090............12,668........................3 ........... 0.042 ...........0.042 ...........0.041........... 0.042 .............0.042 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.041..............0.041...................0.042 ...................3,570,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS .................................................. 11,511 ............... 5,779........................1 ........... 0.502 ...........0.502 ...........0.502........... 0.502 .............0.502 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.502..............0.490...................0.502 ..................79,065,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ......................................................... 4,140 ..................228........................1 ............0.055 ........... 0.055 ...........0.055........... 0.054 .............0.054 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.055..............0.053...................0.054 ...................6,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................20,065 ...............1,986........................4 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.098...................0.099.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 179,540.............13,990........................8 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.078 .............0.078 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.078..............0.077...................0.078..................117,000,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,779,585 ......392,216...................225 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

– United Securities/Bloomberg News

F I R S T - H A L F R E S U LT S

Huawei smartphone sales leap 39% on premium devices HONG KONG: Huawei Technologies increased first-half smartphone sales 39 per cent as demand for high-end devices helped defy a slowdown in the Chinese market.

China’s largest maker of telecommunications equipment sold 48.2 million smartphones in the first six months of the year, according to an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

Shenzhen-based company Shipments of mid- and high-end devices surged 70 per cent, the Shenzhen-based company said.

Sales of smartphones in China contracted in the March quarter, the first decline since 2008, with annual shipment growth projected to slow to just 4.4 per cent

from 2014 to 2019, according to researcher house IDC. The market had grown at an average of 88.8 per cent over the past five years.

Huawei’s shipments Huawei’s shipments compare with Apple’s sales of 47.5 million iPhones in the June quarter alone.

Huawei trails Apple, Samsung Electronics and Lenovo Group in global smartphone sales, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

On Monday, Huawei said its first-half sales rose 30 per cent to 175.9 billion yuan ($28.3 billion).

The company, founded in 1987 by former army engineer Ren Zhengfei, is one of several Chinese smartphone makers vying with Apple and Samsung for supremacy

in a hotly contested global market for mobile devices. Huawei this year took the wraps off its first smartwatch, accelerated a global marketing campaign and made inroads into European countries such as Spain and Italy. Revenue in its consumer business group surged 69 per cent to $9.09 billion in the first half, accounting for almost a third of the company’s total sales, it said. Of that total, handset revenue climbed 87 per cent to $7.23 billion, it said. - Bloomberg News

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

SLEEK AND HANDY: Huawei trails Apple, Samsung Electronics and Lenovo Group in global

smartphone sales, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. — Bloomberg file picture

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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ROUND-UP

Nissan Micra comes loaded with beneďŹ ts With standout looks, class-leading driving dynamics and an interior design offering both comfort and convenience, the Nissan Micra goes beyond the regular compact hatchback offering

MUSCAT: Nissan Micra from Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is a zippy and smart compact hatchback in tune with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban lifestyle.

With standout looks, class-leading driving dynamics and an interior design offering both comfort and convenience, the Nissan Micra goes beyond the regular compact hatchback offering.

A reďŹ ned vehicle in its own right, the Nissan Micra aims to attract a wider audience with its contemporary good looks, eyecatching exterior colour range, spacious and fashionable interior, in addition to a powerful high performance engine and a range of other options to make city driving easier, says a press release.

BeneďŹ t highlights Scratch & Win (two assured gifts): Customers buying the Nissan Micra will receive a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card which will entitle them to two assured gifts comprising free service up to lifetime of the car (minimum assured one year/10,000km PMS) and free fuel up to OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR50). Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -"Ĺ&#x2014;!# .-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; /-.)' ,-Ĺ&#x2014;1#&&Ĺ&#x2014; &-)Ĺ&#x2014; walk away with assured cash gifts of OMR500. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; (&#'#. Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ă°.-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; #-- (Ĺ&#x2014; -sures customers free registration, six yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; extended warranty, easy ďŹ nancing options, a loan term up to eight years and attractive interest rates. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; #.#)( &Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ĺ&#x2014;"#!"&#!".Ĺ&#x2014; of 2015: This year Nissan has introduced another exciting line up of Ramadan beneďŹ t for their valued customers. Customers who already own a Nissan model and are making a second purchase will receive additional incentives from SBA where customers enjoy 10,000km additional service, they will receive special interest privilege card and also be eligible for any trade-in beneďŹ ts. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; * # &Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; , . Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; /-.)' ,-Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; 0 #&Ĺ&#x2014;-* # &Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;, . Ĺ&#x2014;-. ,.#(!Ĺ&#x2014; from OMR71 on the Nissan Micra.

Grand raffle draw The grand raffle draw from Nissan is being held in association with Al Wisal and Merge FM

er and passengers with convenient stowage compartments and generous headroom. The arched lines and warm curved surfaces on either side of the instrumental panel create a distinctive bubble-shaped interior space that enhances driving pleasure. A large and convenient instrument meter with drive computer placed in the center of the meter cluster provides improved visibility.

Micra also gives the driver enhanced visibility on their music collection with an MP3/WMA compatible CD player, which can The stunning Micra Key features of the new Micra in- display both artist and title on its clude a characterful, sleek exte- - , (Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; ĂźĹ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x17E; Ĺ&#x2014; &)(!Ĺ&#x2014; rior design, eye-catching exterior with four speakers. The sound syscolour range, user-friendly equip- tem includes an AUX jack to conment and interior designed with nect your music player offering convenience in mind, highly-ver- Micra owners access to their full satile interior seat/stowage conďŹ g- music collection. urations, efficient, largest-in-class Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no shortage of places 1.5-litre engine, nimble handling to safely store music player and with best-in-class turning circle phones with pockets and cup holdâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal for city driving, high levels ers conveniently placed throughof safety equipment including dual out the interior. User-friendly #, !-Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;Ä&#x2039;Ĺ&#x2014; , % Ĺ&#x2014; --#-.Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; storage spaces include an instruThe new Micra with trim level â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ment panel under box and glove is available in Oman. box, front cup holders (two) & rear cup holder (one), front door pocket Expressive exterior (with bottle holder), parking brake The Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior combines a side pocket. feel of personality and character Micra also comes with anti dazwith agility. The bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bold pro- zle room mirror, headlamp levportions have been achieved by eliser, auto on/off, power steering lowering the center of gravity, po- with tilt adjustment, front power sitioning the tires at the extreme windows, central door locking, corners of the car, expanding remote keyless, tachometer, drive the sills outward and extending computer, digital clock and air the rear tread. The side sections, conditioner with pollen ďŹ lter. which appear as if cylinders are mounted within, run through the Driving performance body from the front to the rear pro- The foundation of the Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viding a secure feeling. outstanding driving performance The sleek rooďŹ&#x201A;ine, with a raised is the 99HP, 16-valve, four cylinrear end, optimally adjusts airďŹ&#x201A;ow ,Ĺ&#x2014; Ýÿ Ĺ&#x2014;ĂťÄ&#x201E;ĂżÄ&#x161;&#., Ĺ&#x2014; (!#( Ĺ&#x2014;Ä&#x161;Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; to the rear sides to help create ex- largest capacity engine offered cellent aerodynamic performance. in its class. Offered with either a 0 ,3Ĺ&#x2014; & ' (.Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; ) 3Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; - ďŹ ve-speed manual transmission signed to reduce air resistance - (S) or four-speed automatic, the such as door mirrors, a large front Ýÿ Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; )' #( .#)(Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; *)1spoiler and the underbody conďŹ g- erful torque in the mid- to lowuration. Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coefficient of drag speed range is ideal around town is just 0.32. but also offers impressive fuel Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raised front fenders aid economy and reďŹ nement out on the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view ahead, while the the highway. low waistline provides superior Ăś # ( 3Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; /#&.Ĺ&#x2014; #(.)Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; 0 ,3Ĺ&#x2014; side visibility to help make driving fabric of Micra with its lightweight easier in traffic or tight road condi- roof panel contributing to reduced tions. Rear window defroster w/ weight and higher fuel economy timer, rear wiper and power oper- while its boomerang-shaped bead ated body coloured ORVMS makes in the roof panel reduces boomthe vehicle impressive. The Micra ing noise in the cabin otherwise also comes with rear fog lamp, caused by roof resonance. The front chrome grille, body coloured structure also provides reduced door handles, body coloured side weight and high-rigidity, which mouldings and 165/70/R14 tyres improves quietness. with full wheel covers.

This contributes to the rewarding driving experience offered by Interior design Micra. Comfort has been further (-# Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; # , Ĺ&#x2014; ./, -Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; /(#+/ Ĺ&#x2014; reďŹ ned with increased shock abâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;twin bubbleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shaped cockpit that sorber travel and a newly designed gives a secure feeling for both driv- soft-setting suspension that abwhere participants can enter the draw to win a sleek Nissan Altima (2 vehicles to be won); just SMS <Nissan Altima> to 90448. The lucky winner can walk away with a brand new Nissan Altima.

Nissan customers can also avail easy ďŹ nancing option of a loan term up to eight years with attractive interest rates from Bank /- .Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; & 2# & Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; &-)Ĺ&#x2014; be tailor made for any individual requirement from in-house Auto Finance team.

B5

sorbs vibration, delivering a ďŹ&#x201A;at and comfortable drive even on bumpy roads. This has been innovatively combined with a bestin-class 4.7m turning circle - ideal for getting in and out of those tight parking spaces and around town manoeuvres. Out of town, Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agile and nimble handling will draw a smile from its driver. Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sure-footedness offers newfound levels of grip. Their stylish and eye-catching design also adds extra depth to Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agile looks when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stationary.

Safety as a priority (Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; - .3Ĺ&#x2014; . "()&)!3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Nissan pursues innovation as part of its Safety Shield concept, an advanced, proactive approach to safety issues based on the idea that cars should help protect people.

This approach provides various measures to help the driver and passengers better avoid dangers in ways that are optimised to each of a wide range of circumstances that the vehicle may be in, from â&#x20AC;&#x153;risk has not yet appearedâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;post-crash.â&#x20AC;?

Micra ensure its occupants can enjoy its driving and lifestyle appeal with the assurance of high levels of safety features.

A broad range of safety systems are also ďŹ tted as standard across ." Ĺ&#x2014; # , Ĺ&#x2014; , (! Ĺ&#x2014; ( &/ #(!Ĺ&#x2014; (.#Ä&#x161; Lock Braking System (ABS) and & .,)(# Ĺ&#x2014; , % Ĺ&#x2014; ), Ĺ&#x2014; #-.,# /.#)(Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ ĢĹ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;" &*Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; ,#0 ,Ĺ&#x2014; 0)# Ĺ&#x2014; a collision while a High Mount Stop Lamp provides better visibility to other motorists that Micra is slowing. They start with the Micraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zone Body construction with highly-evolved safety technology, including a clearly deďŹ ned crushable zone to absorb and disperse impact forces and a high-strength cabin safety zone dedicated to passenger protection.

Along with its innovative powertrain and outstanding exterior and interior designs, the Micra is extremely easy to live with day in and day out. For example, the large glass area ensures good all-around visibility. By increasing the size of the front windshield, both horizontally and vertically, it is easier to see traffic lights (even on the stop line) and to check around the vehicle when turning right or left.

Suhail Bahwan Automobiles offers wide range of after sales service with modern technology and state-of-the-art facilities in strategic locations.

Their practice of total ownership experience and customercentric approach will ensure that customers of the all-new Nissan Micra 2015 are given professional services par excellence for all car related needs.

CARING AND SHARING

ahlibankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charity Drive comes to end MUSCAT: This Ramadan, as in the previous years, ahlibank supported several social institutions throughout Oman by way of its annual campaign â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ahlibank Charity Driveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, says a press release.

&)3 Ĺ&#x2014; ) %Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; "&#bank said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whilst many of us enjoyed the blessed month of Ramadan and the festive occasion of # Ĺ&#x2014; 1#."Ĺ&#x2014; )/,Ĺ&#x2014; '#&3Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; ,# ( -Ĺ&#x2014; in a safe and joyful environment, thousands of others were slightly less privileged. We are blessed to have been able to lend them a helping hand.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;This Ramadan we have witnessed yet again how a bank can unite to contribute towards a 1),."3Ĺ&#x2014; /- Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;. % Ĺ&#x2014;."#-Ĺ&#x2014;)**),./nity to thank our staff, volunteers and partner organisations behind the success of our Ramadan char-

ity campaign,â&#x20AC;? he aded.

Amir Al Habib, department head, Corporate Communications at ahlibank, averred, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through our Ramadan charity drive each year, we aim to implement our religious principles of giving and sharing, and thus help develop empathy and sensitivity to the needs of those around us not just within the bank, but in the community as well. We hope that our small contribution makes a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate.â&#x20AC;?

HELPING HAND

OHI shares spirit of Ramadan with its CSR initiatives MUSCAT:Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; -*#,#.Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; ")&3Ĺ&#x2014;')(."Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; Group of Companies initiated two CSR activities to uplift those in need. The group sponsored 28 Omanis from underprivileged backgrounds to perform Umrah.

With all expenses of travel, food and accommodation undertaken by the group, they were able to realise a long cherished dream of this holy pilgrimage. This apart, the group also contributed towards the release of 40 prisoners

during the holy month of Ramadan by paying their penalties aiding in a speedy release, says a press release.

Speaking about these initiatives Maqbool Hameed Al Saleh, " #,' (Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/*Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; )'* (# -Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;- # Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014;Ä? (Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;-*#,#.Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014;."#-Ĺ&#x2014; holy month, we feel humbled as we reach out to the ones who ( Ĺ&#x2014; /-Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; ')-.Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; )/,Ĺ&#x2014; , sponsibility to uplift the needy and we feel privileged to fulďŹ l their wishes.â&#x20AC;?

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Taageer backs association for handicapped children

MUSCAT: Taageer Finance Company donated 15 split unit air-conditioners as charitable contribution towards the Association for the Welfare of the Handicapped Children as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

The support was targeted to empower and service the interest of the handicapped in our society. The association has a number of services that beneďŹ t

the children and their families across the Sultanate of Oman, says a press release.

Taageer strongly believes in the core values the association stands for. Mohammed Redha

1 Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ! ,Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; - # Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä? .Ĺ&#x2014; is the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ongoing endeavour to support worthy causes that make a difference to our society and that brings us the satisfaction and giving back what we can to society.â&#x20AC;?

B6

THU RSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

ROUND-UP Qatar Airways lands in Sialkot, Faisalabad Faisalabad and Sialkot have joined Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar as Qatar Airways’ routes to Pakistan served by non-stop flights from the airline’s Doha hub

DOHA: Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, has launched two new destinations in Pakistan on consecutive days — Sialkot and Faisalabad.

Beginning July 16, the airline commenced four weekly passenger services to Sialkot where it already operates dedicated freighter services. A day later, on July 17, Qatar Airways added Faisalabad to its Pakistan network with three flights a week, says a press release.

Sialkot, which is in Pakistan’s Punjab province and is one of the country’s most populated cities, is famous for producing and exporting textiles due to its close proximity to Kashmir. With such a high volume of products being exported from the city, Qatar Airways Cargo has been operating a direct freighter service to Sialkot since 2008.

Faisalabad is a city of more than seven million people located in the province of Punjab. A major centre of industry and manufacturing, the city which has seen rapid development is a major contributor towards the country’s GDP, contributing over 20%.

Sialkot and Faisalabad have joined Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar as Qatar Airways’ routes to Pakistan served by non-stop flights from the airline’s

Doha hub. In the coming weeks, Multan will also be added as the airline’s next Pakistani destination with three flights a week commencing from 2nd August.

“Qatar Airways has a longstanding commitment to serve Pakistan and we are delighted to operate an exceptionally comprehensive route network covering the length and breadth of the country,” said Akbar Al Baker, group chief executive, Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways currently operates 45 flights a week spread across four cities in Pakistan – double daily flights to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and three flights a week to Peshawar. Karachi was first launched by the airline in 1995, Peshawar in 1998, Lahore in 1999 and Islamabad in 2004.

“There are a significant number

of Pakistani expatriates who are working in Qatar and the GCC. The launch of these new destinations will enable us to quickly meet the growing demand of these travellers,” added Al Baker.

Qatar Airways is operating an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of up to 12 seats in Business Class and up to 132 in Economy Class on the two new routes to Pakistan.

With four new destinations on the horizon (Multan, Abha, Ras Al Khaimah and Durban) Qatar Airways will increase its global portfolio to 154 destinations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, North America and South America. The carrier currently operates a modern fleet of 162 aircraft.

The Doha – Sialkot schedules are: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays Depart Doha QR 626 at 01:10, arrive Sialkot at 06:50 Depart Sialkot QR 627 at 09:35, arrive Doha at 11:15 The Doha – Faisalabad schedules are: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Depart Doha QR 622 at 01:10, arrive Faisalabad at 06:35 Depart Faisalabad QR 623 at 09:45, arrive Doha at 11:15

C O M P L I M E N TA RY S E RV I C E

Golf cart service in MCC parking adds to mall’s attraction MUSCAT: City Centre Muscat, Majid Al Futtaim’s leading shopping mall in Oman, offers added convenience to customers with a golf cart service located at the West Wing entrance.

The transportation service, free of charge, will help visitors to get into the mall and back to their cars conveniently without a hassle. Golf carts offer easy navigation and increase visitors’ overall satisfaction with the shopping experience, says a press release.

“City Centre Muscat understands customer needs and providing convenience to our guests is our top priority.

“With the ongoing works at our redevelopment project, the Golf Cart service will direct visitors to the new mall entrances.

“The initiative demonstrates the company’s vision to deliver great moments for everyone, everyday,” said Husam Al Mandhari, senior mall manager of City Centre Muscat.

EVENING LOUNGE

PROMOTION

Extra large happiness with Toyota Yaris MUSCAT: Toyota Yaris is an excitingly designed sedan. It offers an uncompromising blend of performance and style. Its excellent handling and ride stability are second to none!

Now, the Yaris is being offered with ‘Extra Large’ benefits. “What that means for you as a customer,” said the spokesperson, “Is that the Biggest Excitement has returned with Toyota Yaris now being available with a host of exciting modelspecific benefits.”

Benefits These include a service package for up to three years/30,000km service (whichever is earlier) covering three services at 10,000km service interval for petrol models based on normal operating conditions, insurance for one year (Oman only), 1st year of registration and 1,000 litres of fuel. In lieu of the above, customers can choose to avail of the cash gift of OMR500.

These benefits are model specific and may vary accordingly.

To top it all, every Toyota customer gets a gift voucher and a chance to take part in an amazing raffle which has 9 units of 16YM Camry GL Executive to be won.

This exciting campaign will run until August 5. Benefits are applicable for all purchases except those made by government organisations and ministries.

Raffle draws Weekly raffle draws will be held until August 9, on all Sundays.

Customers will be eligible for raffle only upon taking delivery of the vehicle during the campaign

period after completing necessary formalities and not against booking. Conditions apply. For further details please visit the nearest Toyota showroom.

“The earlier one buys and enters the raffle, the higher are the winning chances,” the spokesperson adds.

“This makes it a real opportune moment to get yourself a Yaris and enjoy the benefits,’” advises the spokesperson.

Available in 1.5 L and 1.3 L engine choices, theYaris comes with a Smart Entry and Push Button Start System that locks/unlocks doors or the trunk. Toyota Yaris also has a lightweight and compact 4-speed automatic gearbox delivering excellent response and a smooth gear shift. There also is a 5-speed manual gearbox option where the gear ratios have been set to extract optimal engine performance. A EPS (Electric Power Steering) control has also been adopted which provides feedback to the steering wheel even in a near-neutral position.

The Yaris’ front design creates its bold stance. Following the line

of the cabin, the strong, taut hood emphasises the flare of the fenders and wheel arches. The large and impressive appearance of the front face accentuates the lower grille for a strong visual impact.

Each projector-type headlamp gives the impression of a single piece of metal piercing through from the side to the front. This highlights the wide stance, creating a mechanical yet classy form.

Following the line of the grille, the headlamps wrap far back around to the sides and are adorned by the chrome-accented bars of the grille, making the vehicle appear wide.

A uniquely shaped, high rigidity roof (catamaran roof ) has been adopted from an aerodynamic perspective. The shape around the rear of the roof helps to control the vortexes generated at the rear of the vehicle so that the air smoothly converges with the air flowing from the under floor area, reducing air resistance.

Roomy interior The Yaris has a comfortable and roomy interior. The instrument panel, set along a horizontal axis,

runs the entire width of the cabin, creating a spacious and distinctive presence. Lavish ornamentation has been used for various interior features and switches.

Precision technology has been used to create moulded stitching that looks like hand-stitching.

Double stitching has been adopted on both the front and rear seats for an attractive appearance. The designs of the frequently-touched centre cluster and steering wheel incorporate ergonomic features for ease of use.

The Toyota Yaris offers one of the widest loading spaces in its class and more space between the wheelhouses, too. The larger trunk opening width and the , lower loading height further supports easy loading and unloading of even heavier, bulky items.

The Yaris has a strut-type suspension at the front, which has been designed for long-term reliability and a superior steering feel and ride comfort. The rear suspension has a torsion beam type suspension which ensures superior rear grip and vehicle stability.

Springs and shock absorbers that optimally enhance the rigidity of the body have been adopted.

To ensure a quiet and smooth ride, Toyota has used variety of sound absorbing and insulating materials. Moreover, in the case of the front windshield, an acoustic glass with a three-layered construction has been used, minimising wind noise and road noise.

In Oman, Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive.

WIDEST RANGE

Centrepoint unveils ‘back to school’ collection MUSCAT: Centrepoint, the region’s largest retailer, has launched its fun and practical ‘back to school’ collection that is set to make all school children stars.

Adding the excitement to the start of a new academic year, Centrepoint is offering the widest range of licensed character merchandise in the market in addition to its smart and comfortable collection of accessories, shoes and cosmetics, says a press release.

Fulfilling every child’s dream to be a star, Babyshop’s latest selection of merchandise, features the widest range of licensed character merchandise in the market that includes everything from school bags and water bottles to stationary pouches and lunch boxes.

The exclusive range of Shaun the Sheep, Trash Pack, Ben 10, Spiderman and Minions back-toschool merchandise promises to win the interest of the boys, followed closely by the likes of Disney’s Cars, Avengers, Smurfs, Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Smurfs etc.

Young football fans can also pick

from exciting FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United themed school gear.

Favourites such as Disney Princess, Hello Kitty, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Marie the Cat (for preschoolers), Lulu Caty, Minnie, Frozen, and inside out are part of the colourful and trendy line-up for girls.

Appealing to the teens and tweens is Lifestyle’s latest back to school range with designs that are red-carpet worthy and bound to make every student’s year at school. With brands such as Mimmie’s Teddy Bear, Ferrari branded school luggage and Happy House, it is the perfect accompaniment for every student to carry with

them this school year.

The collection includes stylish and colourful designs are bound to be every child’s dream accessory.

Extending the character range, Splash at Centrepoint is offering a full range of books, notes pads, pencils, mugs, back packs, pencil cases and many more items based on famous characters like Hello Kitty, Batman, Barbie, SmileyWorld, Superman and Super Girl Neon capsule collections.

Head to Shoe Mart as the region’s leading footwear and accessories brand unveils a delightful array of smart and comfortable styles that will go perfectly with school wear.

Girls will get to rock the classy school-goer look featuring floral accents, perforations, glaze-matt contrasts and embossed effects.

Sturdy year-round materials bond with flexible soles to assure relaxed wear day in and day out.

The boys will be spoiled for choice with an impressive range that’s durable enough to sail through the action-packed year.

NBO ‘Sadara’ lounge provides hassle free banking services MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) announced that its ‘Sadara Shatti Lounge’, which was opened for extended business hours during the holy month of Ramadan, was visited by many customers.

Located in Shatti Al Qurum branch, relationship managers and wealth advisers were available for Sadara customers during extended banking hours offering solutions that meet their banking and investment needs, says a press release.

During the holy month of Ramadan, the evening lounge marked the visit of many prominent personalities, including retired Air Vice Marshall – Royal Air Force Oman, Sheikh Yahya Al Juma; and Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi. Commenting on the success of the Sadara evening lounge, Aziz Al Jahdhami, head of Sadara Wealth Management at National Bank of Oman, said: “The opening of ‘Sadara Shatti Lounge’ in the holy month of Ramadan is a testament to the bank’s strong commitment to offer hassle free and convenient banking services to our customers.

“Considering the great re-

sponse that we have received from our customers, we will look at opening more evening lounges for Sadara segment next year.”

Launched in 2009, the Sadara wealth management proposition for high-net-worth clients offers products designed to give customers the very best possible banking experience.

Tailor-made services Sadara customers enjoy a comprehensive suite of tailor-made products and services, preferential rates and fees on products, personalised real estate financing, industry-leading financial advice, and special privileges and benefits including a dedicated personal relationship manager and wealth adviser to help them decide how to take their finances to the next level.

They also enjoy exclusive access to 13 dedicated Sadara centres across the Sultanate for quick and comfortable service, as well as reserved parking at all National Bank of Oman branches, access to 500 airport lounges across the world through either their debit or credit card, and airport pick-up and drop-off.

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Toyota Prado available with attractive benefits Born with the Toyota Land Cruiser DNA in its bloodline, the Prado takes Toyota’s enviable 4WD legacy to a whole new level

MUSCAT: A top-seller in regions around the world, the Prado is a pride to own and a joy to drive.

Drivability, reliability and functionality are its legendary strengths. Superior on-road and off-road performance are its hallmarks. Born with the Toyota Land Cruiser DNA in its bloodline, the Prado takes Toyota’s enviable 4WD legacy way further.

Now, during Toyota’s ‘Extra Large Benefits, Extra Large Happiness’ campaign, the Prado is available with a service package for up to three years/30,000km service (whichever is earlier; covering three services at 10,000km. Service intervals for petrol models based on normal operating conditions and six services at 5,000km.

Service interval for diesel models) and 1,000 litres of fuel (petrol or diesel as applicable), says a press release.

In lieu of the above, customers

can choose to avail of a cash gift up to OMR275.

Every Toyota customer gets a gift voucher and a chance to take part in an amazing raffle which has nine units of all-new 2016 Camry GL Executive as a part of the campaign. This exciting campaign began on June 7 and will run until August 5. Benefits are applicable for all purchases except those made by government organisations and ministries.

Weekly raffle draws will be held until August 9, on all Sundays.

Customers will be eligible for raffle only upon taking delivery of the vehicle during the campaign period after completing necessary formalities and not against booking.

“It is one of the best times to own a Prado. It is a unique 4WD that builds on the outstanding legacy of its predecessors,” said an enthusiast.

Indeed, the Prado stands apart and looks quite bold doing so. An imposing grille and bumper guard

adorned with LED Headlamps/ clearance lamps add to its macho stance. Toyota Prado’s thrilling power and performance are complemented by its class leading-features These include display audio with 9-speakers, steering-mounted audio, Bluetooth and MID controls, Optitron meter with TFT info display and cruise control.

Its safety features include a rear view camera and driver+ passenger+ curtain+ side (front) + knee (driver) airbags.

Packed with a host of high-end luxury features, the Prado features leather upholstery, woodgrain panelling, chrome-coloured side protection moulding; muffler-cutter; chrome rear-lamp garnish and impressive alloy wheels.

Prado’s interior is not just refined but also has plenty of room to accommodate up to seven occupants. Cushioned seats offer wonderful under-thigh support.

Second-row seats fold in a 40:20:40 split, offer enhanced util-

ity with a slide function and walkin accessibility for facilitating easy ingress and egress for the thirdrow seats. The third-row seats, fold in a 50:50 split.

The Prado also offers steering angle display, active headrest, electric tilt and telescopic steering column, side step with illumination, smart entry and start/ stop system, parking sensors and retractable outer mirrors with turn signal.

A reassuring combination of active and passive safety systems ensures optimum protection for occupants in a Prado.

Downhill assist control (DAC), hill-start assist control (HAC), airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC) and active traction control (A-TRC) are some of its advanced protection systems.

Prado’s strong chassis offers excellent impact protection while the long wheelbase and wide wheel track give excellent handling and stability. Prado’s unparalleled prowess is apparent on either the smooth or the rough. It has the power to hold its own and the performance to make its own path. In short, not much stands in the way of a Prado both on the road and off.

“All specifications listed above are standard Toyota equipment.

Safety kit is a dealer installed non Toyota item provided on Toyota models as standard equipment.

For further details and to ascertain availability of stocks, please visit your nearest Toyota showroom,” said a spokesperson.

SAFETY ALERTS

Chevrolet’s advanced technologies can help customers avoid collisions MUSCAT: Even the best, most careful drivers can end up in an unexpected crash. Chevrolet’s 2015 lineup provides key features that help protect drivers and passengers before, during or after a crash, but the focus is on new technologies aimed at helping avoid the crash in the first place, says a press release.

According to a 2012 US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, more than one in four police-reported vehicle crashes each year are rear-end collisions between a driver and the vehicle they are following and, nearly one in 10 happen during lane changes made at the wrong time.

Chevrolet is using cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensor technology to help drivers avoid these rear-end collisions and blind spotcaused sideswipes, as well as parking lot fender benders and more.

A driver can select vibrating rather than beeping alerts that intuitively ‘tap’ them on the left, right, or both sides of the seat bottom to help direct their attention to a possible crash situation detected by the vehicle sensors. The Safety Alert Seat is available on Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban.

Chevrolet’s crash avoidance technologies are designed to help drivers in many everyday situations, though none substitutes for careful, distraction-free driving, use of seat belts and child seats when appropriate, obeying traffic laws and driving sober and unimpaired. The focus on driver and passenger safety is a pillar of the Chevrolet. Following are a few Chevrolet crash avoidance technologies: Rear Vision Camera: When backing, it displays the scene behind that may be unseen by the driver, by using a rear camera. This feature is available across the 2015 Malibu, Impala, Camaro, Cor-

‘SOUL OF OMAN’

Oman Avenues Mall hosts art exhibition

MUSCAT: Oman Avenues Mall, the Sultanate’s largest shopping destination, will be hosting a unique art exhibition today conducted by prominent artist Sajeev Majeed in honour of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said coinciding with the 45th Renaissance Day of the Sultanate of Oman.

The exhibition titled ‘Soul of Oman’ is a unique initiative supported by the mall to reiterate its dedication to the nation and as a gesture of gratitude, appreciation and loyalty to His Majesty for 45 years of his remarkable rule, says a press release.

Al Khalili Group, the developers of Oman Avenues Mall, also congratulated His Majesty and the people of Oman on the occasion of the blessed Renaissance.

Speaking on the occasion, Shiekh Mohammad bin Saud Al Khalili said: “As the nation celebrates 45 years of development, continuous stability and growing prosperity, we take this opportunity to salute His Majesty whose wise leadership was the reason behind the unmatched achievements of the Sultanate among world nations.”

“We also thank the government and all the officials for their support and cooperation towards Oman Avenues Mall which has been one of the prime inspirations behind this venture. With a favourable environment for business and a platform to nurture growth, we hope to successfully become one of the most attractive shopping destinations in the region,” added Al Khalili.

The exhibition will showcase works by Indian artist Sajeev Majeed who has used his creative touch, combined with great love and care, to make his works of art more impressive. He will showcase his works at the mall during the seven-day solo exhibition as a genuine tribute to His Majesty.

“Sajeev who has voluntarily initiated the paintings and intends to give away all the 21 paintings to the Diwan of Royal Court as a gesture of his gratitude and appreciation which makes the cause even more noble,” said Ananth A. V., regional director of Lulu Group International.

Commenting on his work, Sajeev said, “I have been living in Oman for the past seven years.

This beautiful country has been incredibly comfortable and hospitable and has left an indelible mark on my mind. His Majesty’s visionary leadership and his tolerance and compassion towards the people of the nation have inspired me and prompted me to give something back to the nation. Through these paintings I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to His Majesty and this wonderful nation.”

Sajeev, who works as an art designer, has delivered his unique style in presenting each of the portraits with a different look and feel. At present, he has a collection of 21 paintings that he proposes as an endearing gift to His Majesty on the occasion of 45th Renaissance Day, after the sevenday exhibition.

NEW ROLE

STOMO appoints first Omani site manager SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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vette, Captiva, Traverse, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban Rear Cross Traffic Alert: This lets you know if a car is approaching from either side when reversing, such as when parked between two large vehicles. This feature uses two rear corner radars and is available on 2015 Impala, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban.

Side Blind Zone Alert: This alerts the driver if a vehicle is in the left or right side blind spot – before a possible lane change. This feature uses two rear corner radars and is available on Cruze, Impala, Traverse, Tahoe and Suburban.

Forward Collision Alert: May ‘see’ a crash situation before you do, and can alert a driver when a crash into a vehicle you are following is imminent. This feature utilizes front camera and/or radar and is

available on 2015 Impala, Traverse, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban.

Other crash-avoidance features include Front Automatic Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Departure Warning are available on select Chevrolet models.

Front Automatic Braking automatically applies the brake when the system may see a crash situation before you do, and can be thought of us a “backup” or “Plan B” if you do not respond quickly to Forward Collision Alert warnings, or if a rear-end crash situation quickly unfolds. At lower speeds, the feature may even help avoid the crash, while at higher speeds, it can reduce crash severity and injury. This feature uses front radar.

Adaptive Cruise Control works like regular cruise control unless you are following a vehicle ahead, when it automatically accelerates and brakes (up to moderate levels) to help follow at a driver-selected cruise speed and predetermined distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, while you steer and pay attention to the road.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

McDonald’s sponsors summer camp MUSCAT: It’s that time of the year when children from age seven years old and above come together to take part in the annual summer camp, expressing their creativity and exploring various learning opportunities under one roof.

Sponsored by McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants), the summer camp was held recently in Ruwi and attended by over 300 children and teens, says a press release.

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their age group, thus giving them fun-filled experiences.

“Summer camp is held to explore the children’s aptitude. It provides them with a good opportunity to express their creativity with activities appropriate to

Social skills “Through this activity, they discover new interests, take on new responsibilities, gain confidence, and develop essential social skills and create lifetime memories.

Thanks to McDonald’s for supporting us in this activity,” said Cedric from India, head of the summer camp, who was invited specially for this event.

This feature uses front radar.

Lane Departure Warning can alert a driver who drifts out of detected lane lines unintentionally or without a turn signal, when travelling faster than 35 MPH, which can sometimes happen to distracted or tired drivers and this feature uses the front camera.

Chevrolet, one of the world’s largest automotive brands, has a strong heritage in the Middle East, stretching back around eight decades and has long been a trusted partner in the region.

Today Chevrolet brings the most comprehensive range of value and performance-oriented vehicles to customers in the small, compact, mid-size and large sedan and SUV segments, offering superlative excitement, strong personality, value for money, safety and security.

OTE Group is the exclusive dealer for Chevrolet in Oman with showrooms spread across the Sultanate and offering excellent aftersales service support at par with global standards, with a nationwide service network.

MUSCAT: STOMO (SUEZTractebel Operation and Maintenance Oman), an affiliate company of ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ), a long-term investor in Oman’s power sector, recently announced the appointment of Abdullah Mohammed Salim Al Rawahi as Site Manager for STOMO’s Barka II Power and Desalination Plant in Oman, says a press release.

Abdullah is the first Omani site manager for STOMO and was promoted from operations manager of Barka II. He graduated in B.Sc Mechanical Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University and then earned a Masters in Industrial Engineering.

He started his career in 1994 as a shift charge engineer at Rusail Power Plant, where he was promoted to operations manager and deputy plant manager in 2001. In October 2007, he moved to Barka II Power and Desalination Plant with a promotion to operations manager and now to site manager.

Commenting on his new role at

Barka II, Abdullah said: “I am excited to undertake the site manager’s role. STOMO has gained a well-earned reputation in Oman as a leading operations and maintenance provider in the Power and Desalinated Water sector and I feel privileged to become part of its senior management.

“STOMO has given me great opportunities to develop my skills, knowledge and experience and now demonstrates that they have faith in my abilities by entrusting me with a role that has the responsibility for delivering a significant proportion of Electricity and Desalinated Water for the Country. This underlines STOMO’s strong desire and commitment to recruit, train and develop local people and I thank STOMO and my general manager Mike Maudsley for this opportunity and the constant support.”

Mike Maudsley stressed the Sultanate’s highest priorities to provide sustainable employment for citizens and the gradual aim to reduce dependence on expatriates.

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Discover all-new power-packed 2015 Dodge Charger, Challenger The 2015 Dodge Charger is totally updated and features a new state-ofthe-art eightspeed automatic transmission

MUSCAT: Dhofar Automotive has always been known for bringing best-in-class, high-performance vehicles to Oman, and the brand’s recently launched 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger are testimony to this. Both vehicles are in a class of their own and continue to impress customers throughout the Sultanate, says a press release.

The Dodge brand, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014, moves into the next century of its history by giving the Charger four-door sedan a full-body makeover and offering an impressive lineup of expanded powertrains

for 2015. The 2015 Dodge Charger is totally updated and features a new state-of-the-art eight-speed automatic transmission.

New for 2015, the Chrysler Group’s Torque Flite eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on every Dodge Charger model, and the 2015 Charger also offers a full range of powerful yet fuelefficient engine options, including the award-winning 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine, which delivers up to 31 mpg (7.58 L/100km) on SE and SXT models — the legendary 370hp 5.7-litre HEMI V8 on the R/T — the 6.4-litre HEMI V8,

which punches out a best-in-class.

A naturally aspirated 485hp in the SRT 392 and the new 6.2-litre supercharged HEMI Hellcat V8 engine will be arriving soon to the showrooms.

The chassis of the all-new 2015 Dodge Charger has been designed, engineered and fine-tuned to deliver world-class performance and efficiency, thanks to advanced technological solutions including Electric Power Steering (EPS) and all-new lighter weight axles.

To help Charger keep its edge, Dodge has loaded the new sedan with new technologies and a host

of premium features, such as highend interiors, the latest technologies and impressive powertrain options, along with a new exterior design that is distinctly Dodge.

For 2015, Dodge has gone deep with the remake of the Dodge Challenger. The iconic 1971 Challenger inspired the design of this modern day muscle car, but the recreation of this classic styling extends well beneath the surface of the sheet metal. Dodge has completely re-engineered the Challenger with a new best-in-class 485hp 392 HEMI and Torque Flite eight-speed transmission pow-

ertrain, an upgraded suspension, new class-exclusive technologies and a completely new interior.

Chris Edwards, general manager for Dhofar Automotive, sole distributors of the Dodge range in Oman, averred: “The 2015 Charger and Challenger are a knockout punch from Dodge in the ongoing fight for muscle-car supremacy, and continue to rejuvenate buyer interest in the segment. Both cars are extremely refined and comfortable on the inside; and unlike some of the muscle cars of the past, won’t drain your wallet at the gas pump.”

UNIQUE EVENT

Exciting dinosaur exhibit at MGM attracts attention

MUSCAT: Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) is currently home to a unique exhibition, the Dinosaur Jungle, which will continue for a month.

As part of its support to Omani entrepreneurs, Muscat Grand Mall in cooperation with Arabian Gate Exhibitions have organised and managed a truly unique exhibit which started in time with the Eid ul Fitr celebrations and will continue for a month, says a press release.

Commenting on the project, Ruqayia bint Hilal Almani, project executive manager at Arabian Gate Exhibitions, said: “With the state of technology and entertainment today, it’s not enough to just tell children about the dinosaurs that used to roam the Earth, they

want the real experience. The exhibition at MGM is sure to take visitors — young or old on a journey of discovery of these majestic creatures through an exhibition which will have details on each of the species.”

Five species The exhibit will include five species of Dinosaurs varying from carnivores to herbivores, demonstrating their varied body sizes and characteristics.

For the first time in Oman, visitors to a mall are having the opportunity to witness the mind-blowing magnificence of a dinosaur exhibit.

The activities within the exhibit will keep visitors engaged with thrill and adventure making it a

memorable experience.

MGM is Oman’s most dynamic shopping destination. It is the fastest growing lifestyle hub in the Sultanate, offering choice and convenience for shoppers and residents, as part of a combined leisure experience.

Boasting more than 142 stores, a three-screen cinema, high-end residences and office space, in addition to hosting the largest food court in Oman, Muscat Grand Mall is also home to leading global brands such as Carrefour, Happy Land, City Cinema, Sharaf DG, HomesRUs, PAUL and Chili’s and Patchi among others. Enjoy the ultimate shopping experience at Muscat Grand Mall along with variety of dining, recreation and fun activities take place.

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AHMED SHEHZAD HELPS ELPS PAKISTAN SEAL SERIES IES

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth ODI in Colombo ombo on Wednesday to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Opener ener Ahmed Shehzad hit 95 off 90 balls ls as the tourists surpassed Sri Lanka’s 256 56 for 9 in the 41st over. >C3

One step away from history Oman will take on Namibia in the final qualifying play-off of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 on Thursday, the winners qualifying for the

WARMING UP: Oman cricketers preparing at the North County Club in outskirts of Dublin. – Supplied photos

IN FOCUS: Oman skipper Sultan Ahmed being interviewed.

ICC World Twenty20 2016 in India

Do or die qualifier for Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea

Times News Service

DUBLIN: Following a spirited display at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Afghanistan came into the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 carrying plenty of hope and expectation.

It lived up to its reputation by notching up three consecutive wins — against Scotland, Netherlands and United Arab Emirates — in Group B, but a loss to Oman and rained out games against Canada and Kenya pushed it to third on the table by the end of the group stage, meaning it would have to

DUBLIN: Thursday is the blessed Renaissance Day of Sultanate of Oman and the entire nation is expecting a history-making act by the national cricket team.

Oman will take on Namibia in the final qualifying play-off of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 on Thursday, the winner qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 2016 in India. Both the teams know very well that a defeat will be the end of the world as there will be know more chance. A win means the victor will play for the fifth-sixth play-off but all the more is that they can make it to the World Cup for the first time.

Oman finished fourth in Group B with three wins, one no result, two losses from six matches, while Namibia also won three of its six games in Group A with one match washed out by rain.

However, Namibia though having two chances, squandered one of them by losing to Netherlands,

who qualified for the prime event.

Now the African team will have to put across the Gulf outfit to realise their dreams, but Oman could be a tough customer, given the way they have performed in the group matches.

Top scalps for Oman had been Afghanistan and the Netherlands,

take the play-off route to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2016 in India.

Afghanistan needed to get the better of Hong Kong on Tuesday (July 21) to seal its berth but went down off the last delivery of the game. However, it still has another shot when it takes on Papua New Guinea, which finished fourth in Group A, on Thursday (July 23), with the winner going through to India.

The first of those two encounters, between Afghanistan and PNG in the third qualifying

while they also subdued Canada.

The seven-run loss to Kenya has some what proved costly for the Sultan Ahmed-lead side. In addition they also lost a point in the rained-off match against United Arab Emirates.

Namibia started its Group A campaign with a loss to Ireland

play-off, will be played at The Village in Malahide, Dublin, to be followed by the match between Namibia and Oman at the same venue later in the day.

Afghanistan will hope for yet another good display from its batting unit and a more disciplined show from the bowlers.

On the batting front, Mohammed Shahzad, the third leading run-scorer in the tournament with 199 runs, Samiullah Shenwari and Asghar Stanikzai, the skipper, are in fine fettle.

Hamid Hassan and Mohammed

and a washout against Nepal, but turned the tables quickly with three consecutive wins against United States of America, Jersey and Papua New Guinea.

It headed into its last league match with a chance of directly qualifying for the ICC World T20, but a big loss to Hong Kong meant

Nabi have been the pick of the bowlers and there is plenty of quality within the ranks, but Afghanistan will have weigh up its options at the death.

Afghanistan has had a taste of the big stage and high-pressure games in the past, so it will look to call on all its experience to put it past PNG, for whom this is one of the biggest games.

PNG can take positives from an impressing run in the group stage, but with so much hinging on this result, it will be as much about nerve as about skill. — ICC

it finished third in its group.

A large part of Namibia’s success in this tournament is due to the form of its openers — Stephan Baard and Gerrue Snyman — both of whom are among the top rungetters. The bowling has revolved around left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, whose bowling against

the Netherlands on Tuesday, has encouraged the Oman spinners.

Scholtz was able to turn the ball square on the pitch which will also be used for the Oman-Namibia qualifier. Oman must have done the homework by now and if they can strike early the game will be within grasp. Coach Duleep Mendis have not rested since they got a big break and all the players have been put to strenuous practice to keep the boys match-fit.

Wednesday’s training at North County Club was all-round with importance given to all aspects and the good news was the presence of skipper Sultan Ahmed, who had left the team base briefly to attend his mother’s funeral.

Teams (from): Oman: Sultan Ahmed (capt), Yousuf Abdulrahim, Zeeshan Ahmad, Amir Ali, Khawar Ali, Munis Ansari, Aamir Kaleem, Mehran Khan, Ajay Lalcheta, Sufyan Mahmood, Zeeshan Maqsood, Mohammad Nadeem, Rajeshkumar Ranpura, Jatinder Singh, Vaibhav Wategaonkar.

Namibia: Nicholas Scholtz (captain), Stephen Baard, Sarel Burger, Christopher Coombe, Jason Davidson, Michiel du Preez, Gerhard Erasmus, Louis Klazinga, JP Kotze, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Christiaan Snyman, Gerrie Snyman, Raymond van Schoor, Craig Williams.

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Bangladesh steady after 50s

by Tamim & Mahmudullah SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st innings 248 all out (T. Bavuma 54; Mustafizur Rahman 4-37, Jubair Hossain 3-53) Bangladesh first innings Tamim Iqbal b Elgar 57 Imrul Kayes st de Kock b van Zyl 26 Mominul Haque v Harmer 6 Mahmudullah lbw b Philander 67 Mushfiqur Rahim not out 16 Shakib Al Hasan not out 1 Extras (lb-5, nb-1) 6 Total (for four wickets; 67 overs) 179 To bat: Litton Das, Jubair Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.

Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Imrul), 2-55 (Mominul), 3-144 (Tamim), 4-178 (Mahmudullah) Bowling: Steyn 13-3-46-0, Philander 12-1-22-1 (nb1), Morkel 11-2-28-0, Harmer 19-3-59-1, van Zyl 9-2-13-1, Elgar 3-0-6-1 Toss: South Africa Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Joel Wilson (WI) Third umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

Mahmudullah made 67 while Tamim added a patient 57 as Bangladesh reduced their deficit to 69 runs after the Proteas were dismissed for a modest 248 in Chittagong

CHITTAGONG: Half-centuries by Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal gave Bangladesh the edge over top-ranked South Africa Wednesday as the unfancied hosts reached 179-4 before rain stopped play on the second day of the first Test.

Mahmudullah made 67 while Tamim added a patient 57 as Bangladesh reduced their deficit to 69 runs after the Proteas were dismissed for a modest 248 in Chittagong.

Vernon Philander trapped Mahmudullah leg-before just before rain ended the day’s play in the third session, swinging the game back towards the visitors after lowly Bangladesh appeared to have taken the advantage.

Mahmudullah, who hit 10 fours off 138 balls, put on 89 with Tamim for the third wicket, providing the backbone of the Bangladesh innings after the hosts resumed on Wednesday on 7-0.

Tamim, who faced 129 balls, scored his first fifty against South Africa in five Tests before he was bowled by a full toss from left-arm

BANGLADESH STARS: Mohammed Mahmudullah, right, and Tamim Iqbal, left, run between the wickets during the second day of the first cricket Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. – AFP

spinner Dean Elgar on the stroke of the tea break.

South Africa’s bowling coach Charl Langeveldt believes Bangladesh have a slight advantage in the game. “I think it is 60-40 in their side,” he said after stumps.

“The game is fairly even. If they get a 100-run lead against us, we will be struggling.

“Bangladesh really batted well.

They were patient. Normally they

have the second highest scoring rate. I think our guys bowled really well and Bangladesh batted well.”

Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah said the third day’s opening session would be crucial for both the teams. “I think if we can spend first session tomorrow without losing any wicket we will be in the driving seat,” he said. “Anything close to 400 runs will be good score in this wicket.”

Earlier in the morning session Tamim and fellow opener Imrul Kayes mixed aggression with caution to blunt the new ball, scoring 41 in the first hour.

But occasional medium pacer Stiaan Van Zyl dragged Imrul out of his crease for Quinton de Kock to complete a stumping, breaking a resolute 46-run opening stand.

Imrul departed for 26 after leading the initial charge with three

fours. Spinner Simon Harmer then took out Mominul Haque’s off stump to leave Bangladesh struggling on 55-2 before Tamim and Mahmudullah rebuilt the innings.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 16 when rain stopped play for the second time with 25 overs still left in the day.

Shakib Al Hasan, on one not out, will resume with his skipper on Thursday as Bangladesh push for an unprecedented Test victory against the Proteas.

Bangladesh, who have a dismal Test record, had made an impressive start to the match on the opening day on Tuesday.

Paceman Mustafizur Rahman claimed 4-37 in his Test debut and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain added 3-53 as Bangladesh bowled out the visitors for 248.

The second match of the twoTest series will be played in Dhaka from July 30-August 3. - AFP

CRICKET

Rahul, Pujara shine on Day One CHENNAI: Opener Lokesh Rahul missed out on a hundred while captain Cheteshwar Pujara struck a solid fifty to take India A to 221 for six on a rainaffected day one of the first ‘unofficial’ cricket Test against Australia A, here on Wednesday.

Rahul (96 off 185 balls) and Pujara (55 off 122) held the innings together before the touring Australians fought back on day when 77.1 overs were bowled due to rain towards the end of day’s play.

Young Shreyas Iyer was another batsman who contributed 39 off 58 balls. Andrew Fekete and Steve O’ Keefe took wickets each for the visitors.

Rahul, playing his first competitive match after missing out on the one-off Test in Bangladesh due to dengue, was cautious from the beginning after his team opted to bat.

The Karnataka batsman played well but missed out on a century by giving a simple catch at mid-on to Usman Khawaja off pacer Sean Abbott. His gritty knock saw him hit 14 boundaries besides sharing a crucial 107run stand with skipper Pujara.

Pujara, who is leading the A side after being overlooked from the playing eleven in the one-off Test in Bangladesh last month, spent substantial time at the crease, collecting seven fours in the process.

Feteke, who claimed 2 for 38 in 17 overs, later said the wicket was slow, helping him get rid of Pujara. “Due to slowness of the wicket it is difficult to score runs,” he said.

India lost opener Abhinav Mukund cheaply before Rahul and Pujara steadied the innings.

The quick fall of Pujara and Karun Nair (0) put the hosts in a spot of bother but Rahul and Iyer stemmed the rot and at tea, India were 175 for 3 in 57 overs.

Iyer was looking good for a big knock but was clean bowled. - PTI

INDIA’S TOUR OF SRI LANKA

Battle for third spinner’s slot heats up MUMBAI: The third specialist spinner’s slot will be the subject of much deliberation when the national selection committee, headed by Sandeep Patil, meets here on Thursday to announce the squad for the three-Test away series against Sri Lanka starting August 12.

Barring this one aspect, the five wise men on the selection panel would have very little to fret on while picking the squad for the longer format where at least 13 players will automatically select themselves. Apart from third spinner’s position, it will also be interesting to find out whether it will be a 15 or 16-member squad for the three-match series.

The six specialist batsmen who

CHIEF SELECTOR: Sandeep Patil.

are automatic choices are openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and A team captain Cheteshwar Pujara. Young KL Rahul, who missed out against Bangladesh due to dengue, is likely to come back as the seventh batsman. Wriddhiman Saha is another automatic selection as first-choice wicketkeeper while an additional

16th member might make provision for Naman Ojha or Sanju Samson as the second wicketkeeper. The three pacers, who are likely to make the cut are Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Pacer Varun Aaron is also a certainty if he recovers from his bout of influenza.

While the two off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh are sure to retain their places, it remains to be seen whether the selection committee opts for a left-arm spinner in Axar Patel or a veteran leg-spinner in Amit Mishra. With Karn Sharma sustaining a fracture before Zimbabwe series, it brings 32-year-old Haryana leggie Mishra into the picture. Mishra has 43 wickets

from 13 Test matches but he has last donned whites for India way back in 2011 against England at the Oval, in which he excelled as a batsman with scores of 43 and 84 while going wicketless for 170 runs in 38 overs. But his selection in the India A squad for longer format makes it clear that he is there in the mix.

Ravindra Jadeja is unlikely to be considered as he was dropped owing to poor form and with no matches in the interim and his non-selection in the India A team for two first-class matches is an indicator that he is not there in the scheme of things. Axar, on his part, was impressive in his restrictive role with five wickets from 3 ODIs and 4 scalps from two T20s in the Zimbabwe series. — PTI

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

C3

SPORTS Shehzad leads Pakistan to series win SCOREBOARD

The series win kept Azhar Ali’s Pakistan in contention for a place in the eightnation Champions Trophy in England in 2017

COLOMBO: Ahmed Shehzad smashed 95 off 90 balls as Pakistan thrashed below-par Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth oneday match in Colombo on Wednesday to clinch the five-match series.

Mohammed Hafeez chipped in with 70 as the tourists surpassed Sri Lanka’s 256-9 in the 41st over at the Premadasa stadium to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the series.

The series win kept Azhar Ali’s Pakistan in contention for a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017.

Pakistan are two points ahead of the West Indies at number eight in the rankings, but both teams are due to play a tri-series in Zimbabwe next month that will determine the final spot.

Pakistan’s one-day success follows their 2-1 victory over Sri

MATCH WINNER: Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad plays a shot during the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. – AFP

Lanka in the preceding Test series under Misbah-ul Haq’s captaincy.

Sri Lanka are assured of taking part in the Champions Trophy, but their lacklustre display did not do justice to the former world champions.

Shehzad and Azhar put Pakistan on the road to victory with an opening stand of 75 in 11 overs before the skipper was removed by sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga for 33.

Hafeez helped Shehzad build on the fine start by adding 115 for the second wicket, but Sri Lanka hit

back to remove both batsmen in the space of 23 runs.

Shehzad fell five runs short of his fourth one-day century when he cut seamer Suranga Lakmal to a diving Kusal Perera at third man.

He hit 12 boundaries and a six.

Hafeez was caught behind by Dinesh Chandimal off spinner Milinda Siriwardana to leave Pakistan on 213-3, but Sri Lanka’s recovery came too late.

Shoaib Malik hit a 16-ball 29 and ended the match by lofting Siriwardana over mid-wicket for his fourth six. Sarfraz Ahmed re-

mained unbeaten on 17.

Earlier, Lahiru Thirimanne topscored with 90 for Sri Lanka after skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss for the first time on Pakistan’s current tour and elected to bat.

The left-hander put on 109 for the second wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (50) after Perera had been dismissed by Mohammad Irfan off the second ball of the match.

Thirimanne missed his fifth one-day century when he swept leg-spinner Yasir Shah to deep square-leg, where Shehzad picked

T20 SERIES

Yasir in Pakistan Twenty20 squad KARACHI: Fast-rising spinner Yasir Shah is set to make his Twenty20 comeback in Pakistan’s upcoming series against Sri Lanka while injured pacer Wahab Riaz could also make a return subject to fitness, chief selector Haroon Rasheed said Wednesday.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead the squad for the two matches to be played in Colombo on July 30 and August 1.

Shah, 29, took 24 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 win in the three-Test series, taking him to third position in the official world bowlers’ rankings after just ten matches.

The leg-spin bowler, who has won praise from Australian legend Shane Warne, then helped Pakistan win the third one-day with figures of 4-29 to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Both teams were playing the fourth one-day in Colombo on Wednesday.

Strike bowler Chief selector Rasheed said: “Shah has emerged as a strike bowler who takes wickets, and in T20 cricket a bowler having this ability is a big plus. That is why he has been included.”

Shah played the last of his two Twenty20 internationals in Zimbabwe in September 2011 but has so far failed to pick up a wicket in the format.

Explaining Riaz’s inclusion, Rasheed said he hoped the left-

arm paceman, who has been the pick of Pakistan’s pacers in recent months, would soon be bowling after hurting his hand during the second Test.

“Riaz is expected to start bowling from July 24 after recovering from hand injury and would be included in the squad upon clearance that he is injury free and bowling freely.

“Otherwise Ziaul Haq, a budding young fast bowler having toured recently with Pakistan ‘A’, would take his place in the team.”

Tanvir recalled Left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir was recalled after being axed from the squad for the two T20 matches against Zimbabwe in Lahore — Pakistan’s first international series at home for six years.

Talented but temperamental batsman Umar Akmal was also included despite team management complaints about his attitude during the 2015 World Cup, which forced his omission from the one-day squad. Umar featured in both the Twenty20s against Zimbabwe, scoring four and 30.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz or Ziaul Haq. - AFP

MAKING A COMEBACK: Fast-rising spinner Yasir Shah is set to make his Twenty20 comeback. – AFP

up a low catch to make amends for a dropped catch in the bowler’s previous over.

Besides Thirimanne and Dilshan, none of the other top-order batsmen settled in as Mathews fell for 12 and Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed after making 20.

Tailender Malinga smashed 17 off 13 balls at the end to ensure Sri Lanka crossed the 250-run mark.

Irfan finished with three wickets, while fellow seamer Anwar Ali took two.

The fifth match will be played in Hambantota on Sunday. - AFP

SRI LANKA K. Perera c Imad b Irfan 0 T. Dilshan b Imad 50 L. Thirimanne c Shehzad b Yasir 90 A. Mathews c Yasir b Rahat 12 D. Chandimal c Yasir b Irfan 20 A. Priyanjan c Hafeez b Anwar 18 M. Siriwardana c Rizwan b Anwar 19 S. Pathirana run out 14 L. Malinga c Rizwan b Irfan 17 S. Lakmal not out 1 N. Pradeep not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-8, nb-2) 15 Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Perera), 2-109 (Dilshan), 3-143 (Mathews), 4-170 (Chandimal), 5-186 (Thirimanne), 6-215 (Siriwardana), 7-228 (Priyanjan), 8-243 (Pathirana), 9-252 (Malinga).

Bowling: Irfan 10-0-50-3 (nb2, w2), Anwar 7-0-41-2 (w4), Rahat 7-0-39-1 (w2), Yasir 10-0-50-1, Azhar 2-0-13-0, Imad 10-0-43-1, Malik 4-0-15-0.

PAKISTAN Azhar Ali c sub (Senanayake) b Malinga 33 Ahmed Shehzad c Perera b Lakmal 95 M. Hafeez c Chandimal b Siriwardana 70 Sarfraz Ahmed not out 17 Shoaib Malik not out 29 Extras: (b-4, w-9) 13 Total (for three wickets, 40.5 overs) 257 Fall of wickets: 1-75 (Azhar), 2-190 (Shehzad), 3-213 (Hafeez).

Bowling: Malinga 9-2-46-1, Lakmal 8-050-1 (w3), Pathirana 10-0-81-0, Pradeep 2.2-0-9-0 (w1), Mathews 2.4-0-9-0 (w2), Siriwardana 5.5-0-28-1, Dilshan 3-030-0 (w3).

Series: Pakistan lead 3-1.

C4

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

SPORTS

Froome retains lead as Contador drifts Froome leads Quintana, who attacked him several times in the climbs, by three minutes and 10 seconds and his Movistar team mate Alejandro Valverde of Spain by 4:09

PRA LOUP: Chris Froome emerged unscathed from a treacherous 17th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, retaining his lead while Alberto Contador lost a lot of ground and Tejay van Garderen abandoned the race.

American Van Garderen, who was third overall at the start of the 161-km trek from Digne les Bains, pulled out because of sickness with the day’s laurels going to German Simon Geschke after a brave solo raid.

Spaniard Contador’s hopes of achieving a rare Giro d’Italia-Tour double suffered another major knock when he lost touch with the group of top guns after crashing in the dangerous descent from the col d’Allos.

The Tinkoff-Saxo rider lost over two minutes on Froome and Colombian Nairo Quintana, who finished together after the final ascent to Pra Loup, a 6.2-km climb at an average gradient of 6.5 percent.

Froome leads Quintana, who attacked him several times in the climbs, by three minutes and 10 seconds and his Movistar team mate Alejandro Valverde of Spain by 4:09.

IN CONTROL: Team Sky rider Chris Froome, left, of Britain climbs followed by Astana rider Vincenzo

Nibali of Italy during the 161km 17th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Digne-lesBains to Pra Loup in the French Alps mountains, France, on Wednesday. – Reuters

Contador is now fifth overall 6:40 off the pace, six seconds behind Froome’s compatriot and team mate Geraint Thomas.

In 1975, Frenchman Bernard Thevenet snatched the yellow jersey from the great Eddy Merckx in a stage finishing in Pra Loup, but Froome was not to be overthrown on Wednesday.

The Briton showed fine descending skills and his usual power in the climbs to stay in control on another searing hot day on the Tour. Peter Sagan was again in the day’s breakaway as part of a group of 28 that also featured France’s

Thibaut Pinot and American Andrew Talansky. In a nervous start to the stage, Van Garderen dropped out of the main pack early on suffering from a headache.

Shortly after making contact with the peloton again, he stepped off his bike and abandoned the race about 73km from the finish.

World champion Michal Kwiatkovski of Poland also abandoned the Tour later in the stage.

Contador jumped away from the peloton with teammate Michael Rogers in the ascent to the Col de la Colle St Michel but was quickly reined in and the Team Sky-led

pack let the breakaway build a nine-minute lead.

Geschke powered away from that leading group before the tough ascent to the Col d’Allos — at 2,250 metres the highest point of this year’s Tour.

Lagging two minutes behind, Pinot launched the chase and at the top of the Col d’Allos had halved the deficit.

But in the descent the Frenchman skidded off and crashed. He quickly remounted but had cut his legs and only managed fourth behind Talansky and Colombian Rigoberto Uran respectively. - Reuters

FOOTBALL

‘Scala winning support to head Fifa’s reform task force’ ZURICH: Swiss businessman Domenico Scala has been asked by heads of at least three regional confederations to take on the role of ‘neutral chairman’ of Fifa’s new reforms task force, sources familiar with the situation said.

Scala is not an elected Fifa official but already holds two roles at soccer’s global governing body, which is facing a massive corruption scandal following the indictment by U.S. authorities of 14 current and former soccer officials and company executives for bribery-related offences.

He is chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee and chairman of the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee, handling the process for February’s vote for a new Fifa president to replace Sepp Blatter.

His involvement inside Fifa will lead to questions about whether he qualifies as a neutral party.

Scala has already been working on reform plans which were presented to Fifa’s executive committee meeting on Monday.

Fifa has said that the chairman of the task force would be decided in consultation with the confederations’ presidents.

Those confederation heads, who attended Monday’s meeting in Zurich, held informal soundings with Scala about the role and a source said he is expected to decide later this week whether or not to accept their proposal.

One of the sources, who is close to Concacaf — the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean — said that it backs him becoming the task force head.

However, Michel Platini — who is head of the European confederation Uefa — would prefer to see someone well-known, from outside Fifa circles, to lead the task force and has not given any formal backing to Scala, a source close to Platini said.

“He has no major problem with

Scala and could entertain the idea but he would prefer a highprofile independent person for this role,” said the source.

Platini has emerged as the front-runner to replace Sepp Blatter in February’s presidential election but he has yet to decide whether he will run.

Fifa has not made any decision on who will make up the ten-person task force, other than stating that the members will be drawn from the six continental confederations.

“This is a work in progress,” said a Fifa spokeswoman.

Countdown to 2018 Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Blatter will be putting aside their troubles when they take centre-stage and kick off the countdown to the 2018 World Cup on Saturday.

Putin has been cast as a villain in the West because of Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine, while Blatter’s presidency is ending next year in the wake of a huge scandal over alleged Fifa corruption.

But any doubts that Russia will host the World Cup because of alleged vote-rigging in their winning bid five years ago now appear irrelevant, with huge construction programmes going on in all 11 venue cities and the draw heralding the official start of the countdown to the finals in 2018.

A worldwide TV audience of around 100 million people in 170 countries will watch as the two men open proceedings at the draw for the qualifying round of the competition which has involved 206 of Fifa’s 209 member nations.

The draw has become something of an extravangza in its own right. Played out against a background show of Russian culture, the real business will be conducted by Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke. - Reuters

FORMULA ONE

Hamilton is the clear favourite but watch out for the Finns BUDAPEST: The head says Lewis Hamilton but those willing to take a more adventurous punt might fancy the chances of Valtteri Bottas or Kimi Raikkonen as Formula One regroups in Hungary with a heavy heart this weekend.

Hamilton, winner at the Hungaroring four times in eight years and twice in the past three, is the clear favourite as the double world champion seeks to stretch his 17-point overall lead into the August break.

The Briton and his rivals will also be racing with Jules Bianchi in their thoughts after attending the French driver’s funeral in Nice on Tuesday.

“Saying goodbye to Jules was incredibly hard for everyone,” said Hamilton of a promising talent who died on Friday, nine months after a Japanese Grand Prix crash left him in a coma.

“I wished I had known him better. Hungary is a beautiful place, one of my favourites. I will be carrying Jules with me in my prayers and thoughts, not only this race but for the rest of my driving days.

I know he’d want us to race hard as he did, and so I will.”

The form book points to another battle between Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, with the pair chasing their seventh one-two in 10 races, but

SAYING GOODBYE: British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton pays his last respect to late French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi’s coffin after his funeral ceremony outside Cathedrale Sainte Reparate in Nice, southeastern France, on Tuesday. – AFP

history offers some hope of a different outcome.

The race, now in its 30th edition, threw up a surprise last season when Australian Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull, and has done so before.

It may be just a statistical curiosity but the fact remains that only English, Australian or Finnish drivers have won in Hungary for a decade.

Finnish success Raikkonen, who could be replaced

by Bottas at Ferrari next season if speculation is correct, won with McLaren in 2005 while compatriot Heikki Kovalainen triumphed in 2008.

“I always have a lot of support — it’s almost a Finnish Grand Prix,” said Williams’s Bottas, who has yet to win in Formula One but was third in Canada. We should be

looking to have a strong weekend and to build on the good momentum we have built.”

Raikkonen was second in Bahrain, his first top three finish since he won with Lotus in 2013, and apart from last season, the 2007 world champion has been on the podium in Hungary every year he has raced there since 2006.

Ricciardo is the only Australian on the grid, and Red Bull have lost hope of winning until Renault provide a more competitive engine, and may have to grin and bear it.

Jenson Button took his first Formula One win in Hungary with Honda in 2006 from 14th on the grid, which remains the lowest winning start for the race, but even starting that low will be a challenge this time with Hondapowered McLaren.

Bianchi’s death, the first since 1994 of a driver resulting from a race incident, has put everything into perspective.

“Last weekend’s sad news... means that the grand prix circus heads to Budapest with heavy hearts,” McLaren boss Eric Boullier said.

“We’ll all remember his life in our own personal way, but Formula One will come together on Sunday to silently and respectfully mark his passing.” - Reuters

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

O LY M P I C S TA D I U M

Tokyo expects IOC to welcome decision TOKYO: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) may well welcome Japan’s decision to scrap and completely revise plans for its controversial National Stadium since the move will save money, the head of the Tokyo Games organising group said on Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last week that he had decided to take the stadium plans back to square one in the face of growing public outrage over ballooning costs, as his support rates took a hit over unpopular defence bills.

The sudden decision over the stadium, designed by U.K.-based architect Zaha Hadid and set to be the centrepiece for the 2020 Summer Olympics, took many by surprise and became the latest in a series of broken promises connected to the event.

But Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said substantial savings on the stadium — projected to cost some $2 billion, nearly twice original estimates — fit right in to the IOC’s new cost-cutting policy, Agenda 2020.

Mori acknowledged that the futuristic stadium design had

probably helped Tokyo beat off Istanbul and Madrid to be awarded the Games in 2013 but that the International Olympic Committee was likely to approve the revised plans at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur later this month.

“If the decision was made to save money, it should go right in line with the IOC’s Agenda 2020,” Mori told a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Many nations have downsized stadium projects but it is highly unusual to change plans completely at this stage and risks damaging the can-do reputation that was one of the reasons Tokyo won the games.

New rugby home IOC President Thomas Bach said last week that he had confidence Tokyo would build the new stadium in time but the decision means that the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which was also set to use the arena, will have to find a new home.

Tokyo has already backed away from another pledge that helped it win the hosting rights, that most of the venues will be located within 8 km of the Olympic Village, to save money by using preexisting venues. - Reuters

BASKETBALL

Pacquiao to lobby for Philippines’ Cup bid GENERAL SANTOS: Boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday he would promote the Philippines’ bid to host the 2019 International Basketball Federation (Fiba) World Cup. “Yes, I’m going to Tokyo with the Philippine delegation to help in our bid to host Fiba 2019,” he said in a statement.

Pacquiao, 36, said he would travel next month to the Japanese capital where Fiba would announce the host.

The basketball-crazy Philippines qualified for last year’s Fiba World Cup in Spain, finishing 21st. It faces stiff competition from Asian giant China as host for the 2019 event, according to the Fiba website.

SPORTS

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Pacquiao, who has gained worldwide fame for holding boxing world titles in eight weight divisions, is also an avid basketball fan. Last year he controversially signed on as playing coach of a neophyte team in the highlycompetitive Philippine professional basketball league.

However the 1.69-metre (5 foot 7 inch) Pacquiao has been underwhelming on the hardcourt, playing just for a few minutes in each game despite cheering fans in the bleachers. Pacquiao has parlayed his boxing fame into a fortune in showbiz, as a commercial endorser and even in politics, winning election as the congressman of a district in the poverty-stricken southern Philippines. - AFP

Al Harthy focussed on Spa 24 Hours success The annual twiceround-the-clock race

The 24 Hours is obviously the biggest race of the year. We’re all really looking forward to the weekend

is always a major highlight of the season for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 driver

MUSCAT: Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium hosts the biggest race of the GT endurance racing calendar on July 25 and 26, where Oman Racing Team (ORT) driver Ahmad Al Harthy is resolutely committed to overturning the squad’s recent misfortune.

Round four of the Blancpain Endurance Series, the Total 24 Hours of Spa, brings an immense challenge for the near 60 car entry and the annual twice-round-the-clock race is always a major highlight of the season for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 driver.

Having competed in the big race twice before, the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-supported driver is well aware of the task which awaits a few days from now.

Ahead of this weekend’s action, though, there have been some notable changes for the Oman Racing Team — the squad has been re-graded in the Pro-Am category with Australian driver Jonathan Venter joining Ahmad and regular British teammate Daniel Lloyd.

Ahmad Al Harthy ORT driver

“This is the big one,” said the 33-year-old Omani. “The 24 Hours is obviously the biggest race of the year and it’s an unbelievable challenge, there are so many factors to take into consideration and it requires so much commitment and dedication. We’re all really looking forward to the weekend and, personally, I’m determined for this to be a turning point of our year.

“We’ve had quite a bit of misfortune in 2015, both in Blancpain and the British GT Championship, and we’ve certainly been on the back-foot compared to the competition with the extra weight we’ve had to carry due to the regulations.

We know what we have to do, though, we know we have a strong car and everyone at the Oman Racing Team will be giving 100 percent as always.”

Despite a problematic third

our share of bad luck this year.

With our move to Pro-Am the weekend will be a different challenge and it’s going to be great racing with Jonathan (Venter) for the first time — especially at such a high-profile event.”

Ahmad’s first track time at Spa will come on Thursday, during free practice at 12.00 (local time) with pre-qualifying set to follow at 18.10 (local time) and qualifying scheduled to get underway at 20.30 (local time). Night qualifying will then take place at 22.15 (local time).

Should the Oman Racing Team qualify for the Super Pole session, they will return to action at 15.30 (local time) on Friday. After a warm-up session at 09.05 (local time) on Saturday, the Total 24 Hours of Spa will get underway at 16.30 (local time).

Al Jazira’s Lanzini joins West Ham on loan LONDON: Argentinian midfielder Manuel Lanzini has joined West Ham on a season-long loan from United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira.

The 22-year-old is the Premier League side’s seventh signing of the close season and the club hold

an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Lanzini has played four times for Argentina Under-20s and came through the same River Plate youth system that produced the likes of Ariel Ortega and Javier Mascherano.

Absentees add to uncertainty at world aquatic championships reigning world and Olympic champion for 200m freestyle, is also skipping the world championships, because of a lung infection.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who has emerged as one of the major threats to Phelps in the individual medley events, withdrew earlier this month after slipping over on his way to training and fracturing his elbow.

The spotlight for the men’s events in Kazan is now likely to fall on South Africa’s Chad le Clos and China’s Sun Yang.

One of the few men to have beaten Phelps at the Olympics, Le Clos will defend the 100m and 200m butterfly titles he won at the 2013 world championships in Barcelona and is also targetting the 50m, hoping to complete a unique treble.

“This is the most important event outside of the Olympics, everything after this is just warmups,” the 23-year-old said. “The Olympics are like the Wimbledon tennis, you play against the same

round of the Blancpain campaign last time out at Paul Ricard in France, Ahmad and British teammates Daniel Lloyd and Jonny Adam produced a superb fightback to claim their first Pro Cup points finish of the season. Then, last weekend, Ahmad and Lloyd were in action at Spa in British GT but the race was again compromised by factors out of their control.

So, on the team’s return to Belgium, which brings a fresh challenge in Pro-Am with Aston Martin Evolution Academy member Venter racing as the team’s ‘Bronze’ driver, the desire has never been stronger to deliver on all fronts.

“We’ve never been hungrier for success than we are right now”, said Ahmad, “Our car is good and the team continues to do a fantastic job, we’ve just had more than

FOOTBALL

SWIMMMING

SINGAPORE: The absence of a handful of the world’s best swimmers, including Michael Phelps, has added an air of uncertainty to the 16th world aquatic championships, starting in Russia on Friday.

Taking place in Kazan from July 24 to August 9, the championships were meant to be a full dress rehearsal for next year’s Olympics in Rio but a spate of high-profile withdrawals has diluted the competition.

The highest-profile no-show is Phelps, who came out of retirement in 2014 but was subsequently banned from representing the United States at the world championships after being convicted of drink driving late last year.

Australia’s James Magnussen, who won the 100 metres freestyle gold at the last two world championships, will also be missing after electing to undergo shoulder surgery, giving up his chance to become the first man to win the blueriband sprint three times in row.

France’s Yannick Agnel, the

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field as in other events but it is just that the prestige is greater. So the World Championships will be a vital test for me.”

Sun, the undisputed king of men’s long distance swimming, has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons since he became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic swimming gold medal at London in 2012.

In 2013, he was suspended by Chinese swimming officials from engaging in commercial activities after missing training and breaching team rules. Later that year he was ordered to spend a week in detention after crashing a car that he had driven without a licence.

In 2014, he secretly served a three-month ban after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

He could have faced a much longer penalty but Chinese doping officials ruled that Sun had made an innocent mistake and never intended to cheat.

Unfazed by the extra attention, Sun is targetting the 200m, 400m,

800m and 1,500m individual freestyle events, plus relays, a feat no other swimmer has achieved.

“When I was little, I watched Michael Phelps compete in five or six events at a worlds, so I want to try it as well,” he said.

American Katie Ledecky is also trying to win the same four freestyle events in Kazan.

The 18-year-old has been smashing world records at will for the last year and seems a sure bet to win the three longer races, but the 200m is her toughest challenge. Among Ledecky’s big rivals will be her team mate Missy Franklin, who won four gold medals at the London Olympics as a 17-year-old.

Franklin won six gold medals at the last world championships in 2013 but has her heart set on seven this time, and at Rio as well.

The powerful U.S. are again expected to win the lion’s share of the medals with Australia and China looming as their biggest rivals. - Reuters

“This is very emotional because it is one of the best teams I have ever signed for,” Lanzini told West Ham TV on Wednesday.

“This is a new challenge for me and that can only help in the future. It will test my ability in one of the best leagues in the world,

so I am looking forward to getting started. Lanzini became the youngest foreign player to play in the UAE Arabian Gulf League, making his first appearance aged 21, and he helped Al Jazira finish runners-up last season with eight goals in 24 league games. - AFP

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FOOTBALL

England’s Campbell backs former player to fix Fifa MUMBAI: Former England defender Sol Campbell believes a retired player would be the ideal candidate to take charge of Fifa and lead a successful cleaning up operation at the corruption-tainted world governing body.

Charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering are hanging over Fifa and outgoing president Sepp Blatter has seven months to instigate reforms in response to the worst crisis to hit the organisation in its 111-year history.

Blatter, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, was re-elected for a fifth term but announced he would step down last month just days after his victory at the Fifa Congress in Zurich in the wake of a scandal that has engulfed the body since the arrest of several senior officials on the eve of the vote.

When asked if it was time for someone who has played the game at the highest level to succeed Blatter in February’s presidential election, Campbell said that it was a logical course of action.

“There are lot of intelligent guys out there who have played football... it’s just picking the right character,” the former England and Arsenal skipper said in Mumbai, where he is attending the launch of his former club’s new home and away kits.

“The right footballer with the right character, they are good team builders. They have been in pressure situations. They understand getting deals and getting deals over the line.

“They have played around the world, they have met a lot of people and they are used to talking to people with different backgrounds.

That’s what you want.”

Uefa chief Michel Platini is regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation and the former France captain is expected to garner strong support should he decide to run for the top job early next year.

Empathy needed The 40-year-old Campbell, who started his career at Arsenal’s north London rivals Totten-

There are lot of intelligent guys out there who have played football... it’s just picking the right character.

The right footballer with the right character, they are good team builders. They have been in pressure situations. They understand getting deals and getting deals over the line Sol Campbell

Former England captain

ham, felt the person replacing the 79-year-old Blatter should be comfortable in dealing with all the stakeholders of the game.

“Someone who can shake a hand

of someone from the streets and shake a hand of a president or a queen,” Campbell added.

“That’s what you want in that position, people who have empathy

Bolt sacrifices fast food to prolong stellar career In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme, Bolt said curbing offtrack activities as the years rolled by had been easy compared to having to watch his diet

PARIS: Jamaican track star Usain Bolt has admitted to sacrificing fast food in a bid to extend his stellar sprinting career.

In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme released on Tuesday, Bolt said curbing off-track activities as the years rolled by had been easy compared to having to watch his diet.

“I’ve cut back on a lot of things,” said the 28-year-old six-time Olympic gold medallist who had a growing reputation in his younger years for liking the nightlife and, famously, eating chicken nuggets.

“When I really realised I was getting older was last season when I got injured. Trying to get back was much harder than the years when I was younger. Now it takes time for me to get going and I need a lot more races.

“I’ve noticed that I have to be

AWARE OF EVERYTHING: Usain Bolt

very careful and I just have to be aware of everything around me and make sure I’m on point.

“I’ve started eating healthy.

That’s the hardest thing for me right now is the sacrifices, eating vegetables all the time. Everything else is easy to give up, but eating healthy is really hard!”

Bolt, who has been struggling with a pelvic injury but is slated to

compete at the Diamond League meet in London on Friday, made no mention in the programme about next month’s world championships in Beijing.

But he did talk about what will be his third Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, insisting he felt no pressure from the weight of expectation of a public who have seen him win an unprecedented

double-treble gold haul.

“I want the best for myself,” said Bolt, who has also won eight world gold medals. “That’s the way I look at it to try not to feel pressure.

“I focus on what’s necessary and what I want out of it and work towards that.”

Training under coach Glen Mills’ watchful eye alongside costars like fellow sprinter Yohan Blake was nothing but helpful, Bolt acknowledged.

“It definitely really helps to compete and train with these guys every day. You know you have to step up your level,” he said, adding that Mills had sometimes to step in and split up the group if it became too competitive.

“You learn not to compete too hard in training. But we’re men, so we compete.”

Bolt, however, was quick to put an end to any talk of him potentially stepping up to the 400m, insisting the one-lap race was too draining, but hinted he might have a shot at making the 4x400m relay team for the 2017 worlds in London.

“It’s definitely the pain,” he said of his reason not to step up.

“I don’t want to do that! I told the coach we’re not going to do it. He also expressed that maybe I should try, but I’ve already talked him down -- it’s not going to happen.

“I think I’ll go through my career with my 100 and 200 metres.

“I’ve said to a few of the 4x400m guys that in 2017 I’ll just do the 100m and then try the 4x400m.

“I’ll train myself, probably run a few (less races) in 2017 and then see if I’ll be ready. It would be nice to run a 4x400m at a championships.” - AFP

for football and want to bring football back to where it should be.”

Another issue needing to be tackled by the next Fifa president is racism in Russia after Brazil and

Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk was the latest player to claim he was the target of racial abuse by spectators in the country that will host the 2018 World Cup. Campbell, born in east London to Jamaican parents, is himself no stranger to allegations of discrimination and claimed in his biography that he would have captained England more than the three times he led the side if he had been white.

However, the former central defender was confident Russia would work hard to resolve the issue.

“Russia will have to do a lot of work on that. Usually when you have competitions like that (World Cup) it kind of allows the country to focus and deal with their problems internally,” Campbell, who was capped 73 times by England, added. “Hopefully, the government and the football association in Russia will start working together to kind of appease the players and take this out of the game.

“If it (racism) does happen, then it’s a big problem but I think they should be fine.” - Reuters

FOOTBALL

Sterling up to speed for City: Pellegrini MELBOURNE: Manager Manuel Pellegrini says record signing Raheem Sterling will benefit from playing with the technical players in Manchester City’s squad this English Premier League (EPL) season.

Sterling gave a glimpse of what he can bring to the 2014 EPL champions with his searing pace and link play with Spanish star David Silva in the penalty shootout win over Italy’s AS Roma in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Sterling, the most expensive English footballer in history, took just two minutes and 17 seconds to open his account for the bigspending English club in the International Champions Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It was the 20-year-old Jamaica-born Londoner’s first game for Manchester City since his move from Liverpool last week in a five-year deal worth an initial £44 million that could rise to £49 million ($76 million).

Sterling played only the first half but in that time he showed Pellegrini why he will be an excellent acquisition for his all-star squad when the new season kicks off next month.

“It’s important to score, particularly early in the game, and he just played 45 minutes after having just a few days working with the team,” Pellegrini said after Tuesday’s match.

“I’m happy with the way he played. He demonstrated why he’s here, not only his value as a player, he’s a very young player so I think he will improve a lot in the future, playing with Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.”

“I’m very happy with him and I’m very happy that we’ve bought him,” Pellegrini added.

Explosive pace Pellegrini was particularly impressed with Sterling’s instinctive link-up play with Spanish international midfielder Silva and how he injected extra pace into the City attack.

“Always good players link immediately when they know how to play. We bought him as a young player with a very good future.”

“Good players link immediately (with others) when they know how to play. David is a very good player, he makes good movements,” he said.

“I think at the moment we have a complete midfield with very technical players and I think he (Sterling) will benefit from that so I am very happy with the future we are going to have with the team. He has the speed that we didn’t have so he will be another different way of playing.

“I am sure he is the player that we need in our team, that’s the reason why we bought him.”

Sterling showed his explosive pace to swoop on a defence-splitting pass from Kelechi Iheanacho, leaving Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis flailing as he slotted the ball into the empty net.

Iheanacho put City ahead again on 51 minutes. Roma equalised with an exquisite free-kick from Adem Ljajic in the final minutes of normal time before England goalkeeper Joe Hart saved penalties from Seydou Doumbia and Seydou Keita in the shootout to get the English club home. - AFP

FOOTBALL

Barca make encouraging start to North America tour PASADENA: Goals from Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto lifted Barcelona to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday that manager Luis Enrique called an encouraging start to the European Champions’ North American tour.

Uruguay international Suarez came out on top in a clash with former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard — the Galaxy’s latest acquisition from Europe.

His 45th-minute strike and Roberto’s 56th-minute goal ensured that even without such stars as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar — let off the preseason tour after Copa America duty — Barcelona got the win their dominant performance deserved in front of 93,226 fans at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.

It was the largest crowd ever to watch a match featuring a Major League Soccer club.

“Based on what a first game of the pre-season looks like, considering we’ve only had about seven days of practice, a lot of traveling, overall I feel very positive,” the coach said. “Overall, our players look good.”

Barcelona, preparing to defend their La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League treble, effec-

tively neutralized any threat from Gerrard and Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane, while pressing relentlessly themselves.

They were finally rewarded in the 45th minute when Suarez fired a left-footed shot past Galaxy keeper Brian Rowe after Rafinha’s deflected cross was moved on by Marc Bartra.

Suarez had been off-target from the center of the area in the 11th and from long range in the 23rd, while Rowe made a diving save of Roberto’s attempt from outside the box in the 35th.

“I’m happy with the way the team played, with the level, the intensity,” Luis Enrique said, while stressing that “everything can be better.”

Both teams made wholesale changes at the break, with Suarez among the seven Barcelona players to depart and Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique entering the game.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena went even further, but Luis Enrique said such sweeping changes were “logical” for both teams. His moves allowed him to give more of his men a chance to get back into the groove, while he felt his opposite number Bruce Arena was wise to

avoid excessive wear and tear on key players like Gerrard and Keane with his team in the midst of their MLS title defence.

Arena was delighted to give his younger players — many of them second-teamers — the experience.

“I don’t think Keane and Gerrard need these games as much as the young kids need the experience,” Arena said.

“You can tell them a lot of things, but until they actually step on the field and experience it against quality players, they don’t fully comprehend. Tonight for our young players it was an invaluable experience.”

The changes didn’t slow Barca, with Douglas going close in the 47th minute and Pique testing substitute Galaxy keeper Andrew Wolverton in the 53rd after a pass from Munir.

Munir also helped set up Roberto’s 56th minute strike from the edge of the box — which brought joyous cheers of “Barca! Barca!” from the crowd.

The Galaxy now head back into MLS action, visiting the Dynamo in Houston on Sunday. Barcelona next travel up the coast to take on Manchester United on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. - AFP

POSITIVE START: Luis Suarez, second right, Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Galaxy during their International Champions Cup game at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Tuesday. – AFP

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SECTION

Culture LIFESTYLE

T H U R S DAY, J U LY 23, 2 0 1 5

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

HEADING FOR THE ABANDONED TOWN OF MANAH, WE PASS HIS MAJESTY’S COUNTRY CASTLE, HISN A’ SHUMOOKH. THE CASTLE STANDS ON THE OPEN PLAIN IN STATELY SPLENDOUR,

ECHOES FROM ETERNITY Story Dr Patricia Groves

Photography Enrico D’Errico

SIGNALLING THE CONTINUING RELEVANCE OF PAST TRADITIONS.

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W

e were on an expedition to see the results of the conservation work undertaken by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, headed by His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq in Manah and in the old town of Adam.

Everyone involved in the management of the Manah and Adam restorations are working under the personal guidance of Sayyid Haitham, who is ensuring that the project strictly adheres to the Unesco principles of philological conservation – ‘restoring’ buildings in an authentic way that preserve their original state.

“Nothing is hypothetical. With a building restored in this authentic manner, you can appreciate the substance of the materials, the true colours of the elements, the nature of the original architectural forms and volumes, the traces of fingers from the manual application of mud plaster on surfaces. You can read through the pages of a building in order to understand its history, and you will experience its civilisation existentially preserved in marks that speak of eternity.

This approach has prevailed since our conservation work on Jabreen Castle in the late 1970s and has continued through the restoration of monuments such as Al Hazm Castle, the Bibi Maryam mausoleum at Qalhat, Mutrah Fort, Mirani Fort and many others. Under the inspiring guidance of Sayyid Haitham, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture is deeply committed to preserving not simply the buildings, but also the atmosphere and the essential bloom of old monuments in the eloquent stillness of the ages,” explained an expert in the Ministry of Heritage and Culture.

Oman is the only country in the Middle East that employs Unesco’s painstaking methodology, a crucial HERITAGE CONSERVATION factor in ensuring the authentic conservation of heritage.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection About two hours from Muscat, just and preservation of cultural south of Nizwa in the Dakhliyah and natural heritage around region, we arrived in old Manah. the world considered to We walked through the town in its be of outstanding value to substantially restored state and the humanity. This is embodied old spirit of the settlement seemed in an international treaty palpable. The walls and inner spaces called the Convention seemed to whisper their hidden his- concerning the Protection tories: Kitchen arches still black- of the World Cultural and ened from cooking fires; sitting Natural Heritage, adopted by rooms empty, but far from lifeless. Unesco in 1972.

In each space it felt as though the Learn more about Unesco, old inhabitants might appear at visit whc.unesco.org any moment. I could almost hear the hub-bub of communal life; the Old timbers served as beams or constant bleating of goats, the exinner ribs in the structures just as cited cries of children playing.

The wonderful arched canopy they did in the past. Nothing was over the main street had been re- new, except the mud-brick and turned to its original state of grace, plaster which was fashioned usthe beautiful curves of the arches ing methods that are thousands of materialising again in hand-worked years old.

We journeyed on to see Burj mud, timber, and saruj (plaster). There was no suggestion of a Juss, the remnants of which were smooth, pottery-like finish, instead, only a few metres high when I last the handcrafted walls had a hand- saw the tower – but on this visit, some textured look, finished in the once again, soared majestically greyish colour of desert earth, which into the sky. And, not far away, highlighted the fanned traces of the were shallow trenches where saruj human fingers, creating a natural was freshly made with clay-rich grain. The finger tracings in the earth, lime, water, and straw.

I noticed that in a number of saruj were as eloquent as paintings.

Manah

MANAH’S ANCIENT HISTORY Manah is understood to be one of the oldest oasis settlements in Oman. Legend would have it that Manah’s first falaj was built by the famous Omani hero Malik bin Fahm and his followers when they arrived from Yemen in the first century AD. Though this story is up for debate, what we do know as a matter of record is that early in the last millennium Manah evolved into a prosperous and wealthy centre for agriculture and commercial goods.

Over time, Manah also became a significant cultural hub, renowned for scholarship, learning, and practical achievement in the sciences as well as the arts.

In the early sixteenth century, a school of craftsmen developed the art of decorating mihrabs (prayer niches) to such an extent that

places the form and character of the ruins was retained, allowing us to experience the town both as it once was, and in the beautiful decline in which it now exists.

The natural enchant of this abandoned settlement is enhanced by the magic of its re-birth.

Adam

We journeyed on towards Adam and soon were bumping along an old dirt road under palm-fringed shadows.

We gazed into the cool, mysterious depths of the date-palm plantations. Adam’s groves are an earthly paradise, shaded from the heat of summer. Eventually we came upon a huge tower that guarded the gate to the old settlement. The archway was just wide enough for our Land Cruiser to slip through.

Once inside the gate we circumnavigated the town on a narrow road cutting through the orchards before disembarking to wander on foot through the organic, labyrinthine lanes.

The silence and faded mysteries of the old settlement engulfed our sensibilities. And as we walked deeper and deeper into the heart of the town, I felt as though I was in an ethereal realm where time has long since vanished.

We came upon a door festooned with carved decoration and fine calligraphy running across the lintel in

the school influenced artisans throughout central Oman.

A multi-purpose fort, Husn Manhia, and four mosques constituted the main public buildings of Manah. The town was enclosed and safeguarded by a mud-brick wall with heavy gates stationed in the four directions of the compass.

Additional protection was provided by two impressive towers, one of which, Burj Juss, consisted of six tiers.

The town was loosely organised in a grid pattern of lanes and pathways. While the main arteries generally facilitated commercial and public or communal activities, housing was accommodated more privately in interconnected neighbourhood clusters.

It is these intimate enclaves that I find to be the most evocative, as this is where people lived out their daily lives.

elegant curves.

“What does it say?” I asked.

“This is the Imam’s House,” my companions replied.

We were on the doorstep of Imam Ahmad bin Said (1710 -1783), the founder of Oman’s Al Busaidi Dynasty of which His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is the fourteenth ruler.

Imam Ahmad bin Said, one of the great heroes in the history of Oman, united the tribes into a nation and succeeded in ending the Persian occupation. Maintaining a permanent army and navy, Imam Ahmad encouraged the development of agriculture and maritime trading. During a peaceful reign lasting almost forty years, Imam Ahmad re-established Oman’s pre-eminent position as a regional maritime power.

His corner house was larger than the others, but still relatively modest, and by no means grand.

There were eight rooms, some of which featured by tall niches with shelves, presumably for books and other valued items, but were otherwise unadorned.

The beauty of these renovations lies in the fact that historic sites are preserved as they were, not as we might imagine them to be, and therefore offer a window through which we might catch a glimpse of the past, and of the lives of those who came before us. —PG

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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ACTRESS Cate Blanchett is set to develop and direct an Australian TV series, Stateless, which will centre on “the tragic and true story of Cornelia Rau which made headlines in 2004”.

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D

espite the longing way married men sometimes reminisce about their single days, men are rarely good at being away from their better halves. I was reminded recently that I’m no exception.

When I found the empty house too gloomy, I decided to go out and mingle with the crowd. I made a short trip to the nearest shopping mall, and though the strangers walking past were a comfort, I still looked fervently for a familiar face.

My prayers were answered when I noticed a friend wandering around on his own as well. He was as glad to see me as I was to see him, and I readily accepted his invitation to share a meal.

We walked against the tide of the crowd until we reached the food court. As we ate, he mentioned that his wife was on a two-year tour of duty somewhere abroad. Though my own wife was not on a long haul tour of duty, she was nonetheless away from home, making us both temporary bache-

lors, sharing a particular lost feeling along with our dinner.

The prospect of going back home with no one to receive you is not a welcoming one. Despite this, since neither of us were big on the nightlife, so we parted company in the parking lot, driving away in our separate cars to our solitary homes.

As I manoeuvred the vehicle away from the heavy traffic, I automatically reached for my mobile phone to call my wife to ask if she wanted me to get her anything on my way home, as I always do when I stay out a little late. Habits die hard. I slung my phone on the seat and shook my head. Feeling a bit dejected, I thought about visiting my sister, but quickly dismissed the idea, driving straight home instead.

The silent house greeted me as I entered and I proceeded to the living room to switch on the television. At least, the electronic box would imitate the noisy clamour of a house full of children. I marvelled at the way even the phone falls silent when you are alone.

When kids are around, you constantly asked them to shut up, but how badly you miss their sound when they are no longer there.

I consoled myself with the fact that perhaps I could get caught up on my backlog of work. My laptop had become my constant companion; sitting on my lap while I type

I marvelled at the way even the phone falls silent when you are alone

The team behind American drama film The Judge is taking on the political scene next as actor Robert Downey Jr., wife Susan Downey, and screenwriter Bill Dubuque are developing an untitled presidential debate comedy-drama for Warner Bros. The film is set in the high-stakes backdrop of three presidential debates where millions of dollars and months of campaigning come down to 270 minutes of highly scrutinised political theatre.

Dubuque will pen the script with Downey Jr., Downey and David Gambino producing for Team Downey, along with Mark Williams.

Gambino and Rob Hackett will oversee for Team Downey while Courtenay Valenti and Julia Spiro are overseeing for Warner Bros.

Nicole Kidman is in love with black tights away late in the night, the humming in the background, working away until my eyes see the characters double, and I realise that it is time for bed. I doubt I would have been allowed to indulge in such a habit if my wife were around.

Again, the prospect of turning in to an empty bed is not a very good one, but at least the dark hours of the night pass quickly when one is knocked out by exhaustion.

The advantage of living alone without the wife is that no one asks what time you are coming back home, you are free to do as you please. But this too is the disadvantage (apart from loneliness): There’s nobody to check on you. No one to notice when you over eat, dress badly, or go without a shave for just a bit too long. In short, no one to take note or care about the everyday trivialities of your life. Take it from this temporary bachelor, if you’re married, then don’t let anyone tell you that single men living the single life are better off.

Nicole Kidman is in love with black tights. When asked what her favourite fashion trend of all time is, Kidman replied: “Black tights”. The Moulin Rouge star also said that her biggest fashion icon is model Lisa Fonssagrives, the late Swedish beauty, who is widely considered to be the first ever supermodel. “(My fashion icons) are probably all of the women that (the late photographer) Irving Penn photographed, but especially his wife Lisa,” Kidman told vogue.com.

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Terminator: Genisys (Action / Adventure) Cast: Arnold Schwarznegger, Emily Clarke 3.30, 7.30, 9.45 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1714 (PG 12) The Gallows (Horror/ Thriller) Cast: Cassidy Gifford, Pfiefer Brown, Riyan Shoos 8.00 & 10.00 pm CP No: 1730 (15+) Minions ( Animation/ Comedy ) 12.00 & 5.45 pm CP No: 1731 (PG) Max (Adventure/ Family) Cast: Thomas Harden Church, Josh Wiggin 4.00 pm CP No: 1732 ( PG) Vatican Tape ( Horror/Thriller ) Cast: Katheleen Roberston, Djimon Hounsou, Dougrey Scott 12.00, 1.45 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1835 ( 18+ ) Sharknado 3 : Oh Hell No ( Horror/Sci: Fic ) Cast: Tara Reid, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 1836 ( 15+ )

SHATTI Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Drama)(PG) Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 11:30 am /3:30 pm /8:30 pm /11:30 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action, Adventure) (3D)PG12 Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke 9:15 /11:45 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action)(2D)PG12 2:30 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(3D) PG 1:30 pm /5:00 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(2D) PG 11:30 pm Hayaty Mebahdela (Comedy)(PG) Cast: Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba 7:00 pm The Gallows (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos 6:15, 10:00 pm The Vatican Tapes (Horror, Thriller) (12+) Cast: Michael Peña, Kathleen Robertson, Djimon Hounsou, 4:30, 11:45 pm Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:30, 6:30, 8:00 pm Pixels (2D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 12:15 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL A Royal Night Out 2D (Drama) Cast : Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack 3:45PM (15+) Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! 2D (Horror) (15+) Cast: Tara Reid, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz 7:45PM Terminator Genisys (3D): (Action) (PG12) 9:30 PM, 11:55 PM Gold Class: 12:30 PM, 11:15PM Terminator Genisys (2D) (Action) (PG12) 4:15 PM

3:45 pm

9:15 pm, 11:45 pm

TERMINATOR: GENISYS (3D) (Action, Adventure) (PG)

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT 2D (Drama) Cast : Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack (15+)

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke

Minions (3D) (Animation, Comady) (PG) 12:30 PM, 02:00PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D): ( Action) (PG) 11:00 AM, 08:45 PM, 11:45PM Gold Class 03:00 PM, 08:15 PM Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:15 , 06:45 PM Gold Class: 6:00 PM Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (Comedy)(PG) Cast : Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba, Hassan Hosny 5:45 PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Dept time

Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

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)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

Sur Sur

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

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

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

07:00

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

34 31

11.45 13.30 14.00

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

Baahubali (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Prhabas, Rana Daggubatti, Anshka Shetty, Tamannaah & Satya Ra 3-00, 6-30 & 10-00 Pm At Cinema Main Baahubali (Telugu) (Action) 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 Pnm At Cinema -2 Ivede (Mal ) (Thriller) Cast: Prithviraj, Nivin Pauly & Bhavana 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 Pm At Cinema – 3 Premam ( Mal ) ( Rom ) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anupama 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 Pm At Cinema -4 (Programmes are subject to change)

WITH LOVE

0

AMIR HAMZA BETGERI July 23, 2003

Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

70-90%

S. PAVITHRAN July 24, 2011 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

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

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

Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

10:25

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Ruwi

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

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

07:00

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

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

SALALAH Terminator (3D)(PG12) (Action) 9:00, 11:55PM

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

BURAIMI Terminator Genisys - 3D (Action) (PG12) 12:30, 6:45, 11:50PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan– 2D (Drama, Action) (PG) 12:45, 2:45, 7:00, 9:00, 11:30PM Ivide– 2D (Crime/Drama) (12+) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumran, Nivin Pauly 7:30PM Minions– 3D (Animation) (PG) 12:15, 2:00, 6:00PM Baahubali: The Beginning – 2D (Thriller) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3:45PM (12+) The Vatican Tapes– 2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Pena, Dougray 11:45PM Sharkando 3: Oh Hell No– 2D (Horror ) (15+)

SUR Terminator Genisys (3D) (Action) (PG12) 6:45, 11:45 PM Minions (3D) (Animation) (PG) 12:45, 05:00 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Hindi) (Drama) (PG) 2:00, 09:00 PM Bahubali (Hindi) (Action) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3:25 PM The Vatican Tapes (Horror | Thriller) (18+) Cast: Michael Peña, Kathleen Robertson, 11:50 PM Ivide (Mal) (Crime | Drama) (12+) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Nivin Pauly, Bhavana 12:45, 9:10 PM

Terminator (2D)(PG12) (Action) 2:45PM Minions (3D) (PG) (Animation) 10:30, 2:15PM Minions (2D) (PG) (Animation) 1:00PM Pixels (3D)(PG12) (Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi ) 10:15AM, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00PM Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D) (PG) (Drama/Action) 10:00AM, 12:30, 4:00, 9:00, 11:15PM Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (PG)(Arabic) 5:00PM The Gallows(2D)(15+) (Horror/Thriller) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos 3:30, 11:30PM Masaan (2D)(12+) (Drama) Cast: Richa Chadda, Saurabh Chadhary, Sanjay Mishra 7:00PM Mahra Story (2D)(PG) (Drama) Cast: Salim Bahwan, Raniya alali 7:00PM Ivide (2D) (12+) (Crime/Drama) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Nivin Pauly, Bhavana, 8:45PM

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

Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, 5:45, 10:00PM The Gallows– 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan 3:45, 10:00PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Sci-Fi ) Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan

Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo

WEATHER

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

10:15 am, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00 pm PIXELS (3D) (PG12) (Action/Comedy/

Nom El Talat - 2D (12+) Comedy 8:15 PM Masaan - 2D (12+) (Drama) Cast: Hany Ramzy and Hassan Hosny 10:00 PM Ivide - 2D (M) (12+) (Crime, Drama) 12:45, 9:05 PM Baahubali - 2D (12+) (Action) 11:45 PM

SOHAR Terminator Genisys - 2D (PG12) (Action) 3:30 PM Terminator Genisys - 3D (PG12) (Action) 12:30 , 09:00 , 11:45 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 2D (PG) Drama, Action 4:00 , 06:00 , 08:45 , 11:30 PM Minions - 2D (PG) (Animation) 11:45 AM Minions - 3D (PG) (Animation) 2:15 , 05:00 PM Baahubali - 2D (Telegu)(12+) (Action) 3:15 PM Hayaty Mebahdela - 2D (Arabic)(PG) (Comedy) 6:45 PM Pixels - 2D (PG12) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi) 6:15 PM Pixels - 3D (PG12) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi) 12:15 , 3:00, 7:00 PM The Vatican Tapes - 2D (18+) (Horror) 1:30 , 11:55 PM

SCREEN 2 Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3.15, 6.00 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG 9.00, 11.45 PM

5:45 & 10:00 pm SHARKANDO 3: OH HELL NO (2D) (Horror ) (15+)

Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Malthotra

SCREEN 3 Masaan (Romance/Drama) – (12+) Cast: Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Saurav Choudhary 3.30, 6.30, 8.45, 11.00 PM

RUWI SCREEN 1 Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 2.30, 5.30, 8.30, 11.30 PM

2:30, 5:30, 8:30, 11:30 pm BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (Action/Drama )

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

Appolo 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

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

C11

LIFESTYLE Five of a Kind

Offbeat GCC Museums Museums in the Gulf region trace thousands of years of Arab history. They are filled with everything from rare artefact to cinema exhibits to fabulous collections of modern art. When travelling in the GCC, visit these five fantastic museums to be inspired by the glorious past and the exciting future of the Arabian Gulf.

OMAN

Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum (+968/2431 2655; omantourism.gov.om)

The Armed Forces Museum was opened in 1988 following a Royal Decree, and it has exhibits divided by military branch, with displays dedicated to the Army, Air Force, Royal Guard, and Navy. Located at the historic Bait Al Falaj fort, the carefully curated collection showcases the country’s rich military history and the evolution of its weaponry.

Don’t miss: Spears, shields and

swords from the time of the Sassanids and the early Islamic era.

Photo: Isidore Vic Carloman

GHAWI BAZAAR

BUY LOCAL: DHOFARI MEJMAR You have likely seen the traditional four-pointed, cube-shaped frankincense burners in markets and homes across the Sultanate. Known as Mejmar in Arabic, they are a symbol of Omani culture and hospitality. Believed to have originated from Dhofar, the land of frankincense, the iconic burners have since transcended geographical boundaries, finding pride of place in the Museum of Natural History in New York, the British Museum in London, and at the Lourvre in Paris.

WHAT

Women in Dhofar have inherited art of mejmar making over generations, crafting them from their homes in southern Oman. Dhofari mejmars are traditionally made from terracotta, fired in palm frond covered pits where the pottery bakes at around 400 degrees Celsius. Apart from the popular square shaped mejmar, other common varieties include colourful Sudasi and Kanoon.

WHERE

Dhofari mejmar can be purchased from almost any souq in Oman, from Haffa Souq in Salalah to Muttrah Souq in Muscat, but we like to buy ours from the Omani Heritage Gallery (+968/2469 6974).

WHO Omani Heritage Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation that actively promotes Omani artisans and their products. The first company in Oman built on corporate social responsibility, their profits are used to cover overheard expenses and then kept as a reserve to ensure artisans can be paid a consistent, sustainable income for their traditional handiwork.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai Moving Image Museum (+971 4421 6679/ +971 56171 1464; dubaimovingimagemuseum.com) The only museum of its kind in the region, the DMIM is dedicated to the history of the human fascination with the moving image and the development of visual entertainment from its inception to modern-day cinema.

HOW MUCH

Don’t miss: Exhibits on the original

Have a favourite Omani product or shop?

cinemas, including the magic lantern, a 17th century image projector, and a great, interactive display on Chinese shadow puppets.

Tell us about it: ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

The cost of the incense burners at Omani Heritage Gallery cost more than those available in the souqs because the gallery pays all its partners what they consider to be fair, sustainable prices for their work. The price is also reflective of the quality and the integrity of the product.

Mejmar burners at OHG ranges from OMR6 to OMR12.

Qatar

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (+974 4422 4444; mia.org.qa) Designed by world renowned architect I. M. Pei (he renovated the Louvre museum in Paris), the MIA is worth a visit simply to take it in as an architectural wonder. On top of that, the museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Islamic art, displaying marvellous pieces from three continents.

Don’t miss: The world’s finest col-

lection of Persian rugs and Turkish mosaics.

Photo: Wires

Bahrain

Qal’at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort) (+973 1756 7172; qab_sitemuseum@ moc.gov.bh) Exhibits on five historical periods are arranged chronologically in separate galleries set throughout the Bahrain Fort. Excavations around the fort have unearthed dwellings and military forts from 2300 BCE onwards, and the site is considered the country’s most important example of archaeological antiquity in Bahrain.

Don’t miss: 500 ancient artefacts displayed on a single wall of the fort.

Photo: Wires

Kuwait

Tareq Rajab Museum (+965 2531 7358; trmkt.com) Established by Kuwait’s first minister of antiquities to display his collection of musical instruments, jewellery, and paintings, TRM was one of the few fortunate enough to escape looting during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. The museum hosts lectures on local art and culture and hosts exhibitions throughout the year.

Photo: Wires

Don’t miss: Traditional costumes from Kuwaiti sheikhs to shepherds, and an extensive collection of ancient musical instruments.

PHOTO: Shabin E

Photo: Wires

C12

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

LIFESTYLE

Al WaďŹ

Nizwa

Salalah

Seeb

Muttrah

Fanja

Photography: Clockwise from top left: Venecio Datan (2); AR Raj Kumar; Ismail Al Farsi; Shabin E; AR Raj Kumar

Super Markets

Gleaming shopping malls are no substitute for the traditional souqs that bustle in every major city in the Sultanate selling fresh produce, dried dates, traditional pottery, hand-woven mats, rare artefacts along with modern beauty products and imported toys.

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T H U R S DAY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

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

C2

T H U R S D AY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

FOR RENT

Building In Rusail Industrial ŶĞĂƌ ƚŽ ŵŝĂŶƟƚ KŵĂŶ comprising a store divisible area 266 sq. meters.

The building includes Studios ĂŶĚ ƌŽŽŵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐŝnjĞ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŽĸĐĞƐ Žƌ residence.

Preferably to be leased to one company.

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 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975 Villa AL Ghobrah, 6 bedroom 1200/R.O. Contact: 99340055/97557555 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005 Small old house for rent Al Ghobrah.

Contact 95112461 House for rent 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hall, kitchen Muscat Sidab opposite the sea 250/-.

Contact: 99277377 1BHK without A.C Ghubra R.O 275/.

Contact: 97799175 / 92144045 2 BHK with A.C Mumtaz R.O 300/-.

Contact: 97799175 3BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balconies, nr. Al Hassan W/ Kabir R.O 350/-.

Contact: 99384640 Flats shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 2BHK at Al Khodh, 2BHK at Wadi Kabir 2 room, 1hall, dining, 2 bathrooms. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 Store in Wadi Kabir 1900 SQM. Contact: 99473751 / 91471067 1BHK close to ISWKG Wadi Kabir Bldg # 1690 R.O 250/-.

Contact 99476728

Mob + 968 96177505 2 BHK Town house at Assarain complex Al Khuwair for rent.

Contact 96365824 Rent RO 750

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

2 BHK near Kuwaiti Masjid Wadi Kabir. Contact: 24816774 / 97608564

Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314

2 BHK, 2 bathrooms behind Abu Nabil, Honda Road R.O 240/-.

Contact: 99737562 / 93887852 2BHK, 2 bathroom behind Sana Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-.

Contact: 99737562 / 93887852 Luxurious room, fully furnished with free WIFI and gas at Ruwi.

Contact : 95586937 Shop for rent/ sale in Ruwi near Dish market good location, behind City Cinema. Contact: 91318111 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir with 3 rooms. Contact : 98555580 / 92800007 Flat for rent 2 bedrooms, sitting room, store gym in ground floor in Mumtaz area-Ruwi.

Contact 95135445 1BHK flats at Muttrah near Oman house. Contact : 93231403 1BHK Darsait R.O 225/-.

Contact: 92144045

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

2 bedrooms apartments for rent in Al Khuwair and Ghubra. Call Yellow Bird property on 24615375 / 97137989 or visit www.muscat-realty.com One & two bedroom apartments available for rent, near avenue mall, close to Atlas hospital next to Diwans office, South Ghobrah.

Contact 99833747 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi.

Contact 99326339 3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat.

Contact: 95755953

1BHK Wadi Kabeer, RO 225/-.

Contact: 92144045

Villa with two floors in (Hay Al Arjan) in AL Khoud with 4 bedrooms, hall, Majles, kitchen & one room in ground floor. Contact: 93219597

2BHK Darsait R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045

For rent office CBD flat in Ruwi.

Contact: 92820734 / 95345909

2BHK Ghubra R.O 350/-.

Contact: 92144045 1,2,3 BHK. Contact: 97799175

House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with three room, 5toilets, kitchen and hall 430/-.

Contact: 92747078

Spacious 2- BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

Room with A.C AL Khuwair R.O 120/- Contact: 97799175

For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Flat with A/C in the South Al Mabella close to the Mosque Al Tawab consists of 2 rooms, hall, 2 bathrooms and kitchen. Contact: 99388995 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158 1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699 2 BHK flat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/- Contact – 93191111 2BHK near Oman house behind Khimji, H.O. Contact: 95865686 506sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in AL Wadi Al Kabir, Suitable for carpentry / Auto workshop and / or electrical shop interested parties may.

Contact: 24703981

Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque.

Contact: 99366624 2BHK with split AC at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 94057023 Office space at Alasfoor Plaza Qurum. Contact : 24566217 /24564686 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454 Luxury 3 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking.

RO.500/- Contact – 93191111 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240

BUYING/SELLING All type of car scanner available easy car diagnostic for professional and self use Authorize LAUNCH and Autel dealer. GSM:92393972 www.omancartools.com Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373

FOR SALE Equipped kitchen showroom company for sale at Ghubrah, Muscat.

6 visa available, Contact owner at 96303747 Computer set up for sale. Contact 94412557 A parlour well settled / well equipped in running position at Ghobrah for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898

Flat in South Al Hail, 2 bedrooms, Majlis, 2 bathrooms, kitchen RO 250/-. Contact 93221474

Darsait near labor card Medical business furnished office for sale, rent R.O 260/- p/m.

Contact: 91211117

Flat in Ruwi Mumtaz 2 BHK RO 300 or 1 BHK 250 RO. Contact 98588240

Ladies beauty parlor sale in Muttrah, above Ahla supermarket.

Contact: 93231403

2BHK with split AC near PDO Gate no -2 at Qurum. Contact: 94057023

Used Super market Gandola RO 40.000 PER meter, double tube light RO 2.000 per piece.

Contact: 96441670

2 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet & car park in Al Khuwair R.O 200/- .

Contact 95154331 Deluxe furnished / unfurnished flats Qurum. Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/Contact 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/- Contact 93191111 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005

Total Station Survey Instrument S3 2” / Servo/ Trimble access bundle - batch 9101025 – not used.

Contact: 94282782 / 95425747 6 bedroom, 6 bath rooms, sitting & dining villa at Qurum.

Contact: 99342733 Turkish MDF door with frame for sale, size 210 x 100 Price: RO 75/-.

Contact: 95899296 / 92141514 Sale & repair of Tyres 315/80 R 22.5 & 12.00 R 24.

Contact: 97477128 Brand new 4 BHK plus Maids room in Barka, 2 Kms from Lulu.

Contact: 99347089 Commercial land for sale 3000 m in quriyat road main high way can use as a petrol station license available asking price 350,000 For more information please call on 99070701 with out name

T H U R S DAY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

C3

DAILY GUIDE

NRI

BUSINESS

3 cents plots-(12nos.) at walkable distance from Kovalm Jn.,Trivandrum,Lorry site near to main road-Bus route, for immediate sale. 3 cents- 15 lakhs only.

Call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763 or email- cfhd1@ yahoo.com

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. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis.

Contact : 99493500 Self contained furnished room for executive bachelor in a decent Ghubra North villa. Contact 92595830 1BHK sharing in Ruwi. Contact: 91214537 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206

FOR SALE

Centre For Housing DevelopmentTrivandrum: Group of senior and retired Engineers and Architects provides service in the field of Design and Supervision of buildings in Kerala.For appointments, E-mail your site location and building requirements to cfhd@ymail.com. or call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763.

38 cents plot with 2BHK house by the river bank in Thrissur Dist. near Irinjalakuda (Karavanoor).

Contact: 99347089 500 acre agricultural land suitable for rubber plantation for sale in Ratnagiri Maharashtra. price 2 lakh per acre, rubber board approved land, minimum purchase 20 acre.

We provide care taking by experienced Malayalee team for your plantation. please call , prasad 95760790

ACC. AVAILABLE Accommodation available with Keralite family near W.K main school. Contact: 95882866 /96575016 Rooms for rent in Seeb for couple / single/ working ladies.

Contact: 96996938

New company seek partnership.

Contact: 96996938 General Investors.

Gsm-99674870

FOR HIRE

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Silver Car, car for rent. Contact: 96166155 / 98402662 Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

ACC. WANTED Required a room in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area.

Contact: 95405033

ACC. AVAILABLE 2 Rooms & 2 bathrooms with kitchen near al meera hyper markets, azaiba for executive bachelors / family. Gsm : 942 888 63 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai.

Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

Urgent sell KIA CERATO 2012, 63200 KM Run Expat family used,1.6L, Price R.O. 3300/-. Excellent Condition. GSM 92286477 Volvo prime mover model 1998 for inspection Contact: Mr. Mohammed Al Harthy 99427071 Doctor driven, Toyota Corolla 2009, Honda CRV 2009, low mileage available at Bombay Medical, behind Ruwi Police Station.

Contact 99326339

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95345537

Furnished room AL Khuwair for Indian Sri Lankan. Contact: 96536307

Furnished room with attached bathroom in W/K. Contact: 97167857

Toyota Corolla 1.8 ltr GLI excellent condition 28,000 kms.

Contact: 97717152

Single furnished room, attached bathroom in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 92155261

Furnished room for Indian couples or family near Honda Road (Walja).

Contact 98952904

Sharing for non cooking executive bachelor in CBD area WIFI free, Advance deposit. Contact: 95094504

Touareg 2011 Oman cars, 114000 KM, silver, 8500/-R.O. Contact 92857111

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact 99834373 / 97102699

Fully furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking ex- bachelor.

Contact 94412557

Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515

Coffee shop at Liwa main road.

Contact : 99515419

Room with bath, kitchen Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99743569/ 97004265

Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970

Well established medium size construction company for sale. Equipments, 30 employees & ongoing projects.

Serious buyers only 99412020

2013 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR SALE. Single Owner,10 Months full cover Insurance (UAE & Oman), 15,000 Km only. Intrested buyers can Call/ Whatsapp on 95692099 Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093 Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285 Sportage, 2013. Contact: 99336093 Land Cruiser 2012. Contact: 99336093 2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

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

C4

T H U R S D AY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT ADMIN

ADVERTISING

Looking For office support staff with driving license and having good knowledge of all official duty.

Contact .. 91624908, 93540898

Looking for JOB. I have done BS Hons in Mass communication and media, Specialised in Public Relations and Advertising. I have upto 1 year of experience. Immediate Available. Open for any JOB. Sultan Zafar #97034134

Urgently required Male with 2 years’ experience in Admin Works, fluent in Arabic and English, Computer knowledge, preferably with driving license.

Working hours 6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10 pm daily Email: jayan@ra.cc or 99661980 Vacancy for lady Receptionist at Sinaw Hala Medical Center - Fluency in English and Arabic Omani or non Omani. Contact: 25524180 / 91362141 Email: halamedicalgroup@gmail.com Urgently Required: Administration with an experience minimum in 3 years in building construction, required immediately join and MUST have NOC.Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

ACCOUNTANT Urgently required Accountant B. Com with 4-6 years Gulf experience in construction field and good knowledge in FOCUS accounting software.

Send CV : pccllcoman@gmail.com Urgently required a part – time female Accountant fluent in English with 2-3 years experience in Tally.

Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com Fax: 24564459 Urgently required female accountant with an experience minimum 3years Email CV on cv.hrcharity@gmail.com Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Required Beautician for a parlor in Ghubra. Contact: 94241385 / 97244766 Wanted experienced Beautician for beauty parlor in Al Amerat 3.

Contact: 91107337

CATERING Chinese/ Arab/ continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970 Required experience Waiter / Supervisor/ Juice maker, Shawarma maker. Contact: 95395378

DESIGNER Grade”A” company in interior Designing looking for: Operations manager Sales executive Qs Interior Designer CVs to be emailed to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com Designer required for wooden joinery company with excellent knowledge of 3D Max, 2D Autocad.

Contact: 94249047 Email: mfqazi@gmail.com

DRIVER Wanted driver. Contact: 95112461 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

ENGINEER Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required.

Email: applyforoman@gmail.com Leading Construction Company requires Quantity Surveyor (QS) with 4-6 yrs Gulf experience. Send your CV : qsmuscat2015@gmail.com (NOC required).

Construction Company in Oman urgently requires the following: B.Sc Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience. Civil Site Foreman, minimum 5 yrs experience with operating knowledge of Tally.

Please Email CV ; applyforoman@gmail.com

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

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head of MNC looking for Job. NOC Available. 94047434

ENGINEER

Indian male, 30 years, CMA(Inter),M.com, 4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/ Accounts/ Finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 , Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com

Quantity Surveyor for Mechanical, Electrical BOQ preparation and verification required for part time assignment on immediate basis. Please Contact-tgi17@omantel.net.om MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement.

Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om Urgently required: HSE Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Urgently required Project Engineer for a reputed Construction Company in Muscat with Civil Engineering Degree/Diploma, 6 to 10 years experience, holding Oman/GCC Driving License.E.mail: assaud@omantel.net. om or FAX: 24953530 Fire and Safety Technician with NIFE or equivalent Diploma holder preference to those having D/L. Send CV to visionansara@gmail.com Required a part time steel Structural Design Engineer for a reputed steel fabrication company in Muscat. Interested person may Contact : 99451158 Required Civil Engineer (buildings) Oman experience 5+ years, BOQ+ Tendering + site supervision.

Contact: 95218004 Email: alhilalint@yahoo.com

IT IND male WEB developer 5 yrs exp B.Tech (comp science) PHP, HTML MYSQL Java script CSS. Contact: 95990529 Email: renjith341@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber.

Contact - 99383044 Required urgently experienced Gardener and building care taker.

Contact: 99231676 Well established company in selling chocolate, Arabian sweets and fresh flowers, opening ITS first branch in Muscat seeking: 1- sweets and chocolates Sales man 2- flower arranger (Asian/ Filipino Nationality) Contact: 94490011 Email: labelleoman@gmail.com A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com

MANAGER Urgently Required: Male – handles overall store operations of the Supermarket, Prior Experience a MUST, knowledgeable in MSOffice. Send CV to chanda@dolphin-oman.com or fax to 244-92718.

MEDICAL Require Quality Caregiver for an elderly Mother. Contact: 99425200 Required MOH licensed lady G.P Dentist Pharmacist, Asst Pharmacist for Salalah based pharmacy and clinic. Contact: 92732491 Email: clinicrecruitment2015@gmail.com Urgently wanted Lady Ayurveda Therapist. Contact: 91590083 / 92798678 Vacancy Lab Technician for inquiry or send CV zmczahara@yahoo.com Contact 24571094 Fax: 24571097 Required Prometric passed nurse to join clinic from end August.

Contact: 99352793

SKILLED Urgently required experienced sub-contractors for Marble Flooring / Marble Cladding / Grinding / Carving works. Contact 92884177 / 99485595 Urgently required a silk Screen printer with good knowledge and release letter or NOC. Contact: 93280288 or send CV to albayanstamps@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Secretary (Female), Experience: Minimum 1 - 2 years. Forward CV to hr@barikgroup.com Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

SALES / MARKETING A vending Machine for sale of coffee products and Derivatives Company in Muscat having operations in Oman is on the lookout for quality staff for the below positions: Sales & Marketing Staff, Mechanical maintenance mechanic, General electric maintenance machines with D/L. Send CV to service@arabianvending.com Urgently required Sales Executive and interior designer for furnishing company with Valid Oman D/L and minimum 3 years experience.

Contact: 93231403/ rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com Experience building material Salesman required in Amerat shop.

Contact : 99641900 Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact : Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Urgently required female Sales Promoters individual with pleasant personality, excellent communications & presentation skills & experience in selling perfumes cosmetics and skincare products would be preferred. Send your CV & details with recent photograph to info@mawaridoman.com or fax no 24127484/ Tel: 24127485 Tyre / Spare parts outdoor Sales Executive with experience required driving license and NOC. Send CV to ptf_25@hotmail.com Wanted part time female Sales Executive with D/L for a reputed company. Contact 94688874 A leading marketing company is looking for outdoor Sales Executives on part time or full time basis in Salalah. Contact 92760281 / 96436719 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Minimum 2 years of experience with valid gulf light driving license interested candidates please Contact: 99222086 /98585851 Required male or female candidate with 5 years experience in renting of properties. Interested candidates may please mail to alqurumprop@gmail.com

Indian male 32 years MBA, 6 out of 14 years experience in Oman in accounts / finance having NOC and Valid Oman driving license last date in Oman 01/AUG/2015.

Contact: 94051463 Email: gkvenkatesh83@gmail.com Indian male, B. Com having experience in Accounts or Sales on visit visa. Contact - 98295101 Indian Male B.com, 11 Year (8 Years in Oman as a Senior Accountant) experience in accounts having 5+ year experience in construction industry.

Working knowledge with SAP, AS400 & Tally –with valid Oman D/L, presently working in Qatar, will be available in Oman form 17th July-21st July-2015 looking for a suitable position in reputed organization. Contact 00974 77181323 / 98065641, email: bennybaby1982@gmail.com Finance Manager, 10 years Oman experienced MBA-Finance graduate seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97745764 Assist Accountant Indian (m) 2 years experience in Oman looking for a job immediate joining, currently working in Oman. Contact Shaheed Shamsadin : 98427810 Accountant, Indian male, 10 years experience in Oman. Can do upto finalization and knowledge of Tally ERP9 can be joined immediately with NOC. Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com Married lady 25 years, Master Accounts having 5 years experience in Indian looking for full / part time job. Contact: 95140332 /93223050 family visa holder.

Contact 95140332 Indian male, well experienced in Accounts and Admin looking for a suitable vacancy. Contact : 98717938 Indian female, M.Com Finance, DCA, 3 years experience in Accounts / finance& knowledge in ERP & Tally seeking suitable position in corporate finance / banking / consulting.

Email: prapullasuvarna@gmail.com Contact: 96953705 now in family visa.

Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available.

Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian male, B.Com, Accountant, 10 yrs in Oman experience in Accounts, knowledge of Tally ERP 9, focus RT having NOC & D/L, looking for suitable job.

Contact 93086105 Male 26 yrs, MBA in Accounts and Finance, 2 years Experience in Management and Accounts Fields, and 1 year experience in Operations in Oman Looking for a suitable job.

Contact 94374745 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan. # 97796394 / 94003247

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRIVER

Accountant 8 yrs experience looking part time job.

Contact 99867456

Driver with 8 years experience looking for job. Contact: 98130645 / 94342106

Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment.Contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com

Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 12 years experience Oman.

Contact: 98175321

Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization.

Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 Indian Female MBA, 3 years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com A Lady with 5 years experience in HR/Admin is looking for suitable job and can join immediately.

Contact : 94465835 Indian (male) MBA (MHA) with 5+ years of experience in HR. Looking urgently for suitable position.

Ph-96395254, 24813065 Email-shm1691@gmail.com Indian female with 1 half years experience in MBA / HR seeks suitable placement. Contact 99257214 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement.

Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

AUTO CAD/DRAUGHTSAutoCAD Draughts man seeks Employment. Contact: 91889873 Electrical draftsman AutoCAD switch gear & MEP control panel 7 years experience Qatar.

Contact: 92546203/96228100

CATERING Indian male 38 yrs Senior Chef de.

De. Party pastry exp 15 yrs in five star hotels, 10 yrs exp Oman get NOC looking for job in hotel & bakery.

Contact: 96460519

DESIGNER Indian female B.Sc- Fashion Designer 21 years, fresher, One month internship in a garment industry 2015 University best designer award holder. Now looking for a creative job, currently on residential visa.

Contact: 98297940 / 99741604.

Email : zintasabu@gmail.com Architect and Interior designer, 8 years exp capable of managing turn key projects, design, BOQ, Execution.

NOC available. Contact : 95273166

Pakistan male (27) light driver seeking job, 4 years experience in Oman. Contact 96346582 Light duty driver with 2 yrs experience looking for job. #96342684 Light driver. Contact: 96961993 Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 5 yrs experience in Oman. Contact: 98029273 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 98219182 Driver: 15 years Driving Experience in Saudi Arabia, Looking for suitable place, Contact.. 91624908, 93540898 Driver available with car and without car Education, B. A exp. 5 years, language Hindi, Arabic, English.

Contact: 98522914 Bangladeshi male light driver seeking suitable placement 1 yr experience. Contact: 94158238 Driver available with car driver & without car. #96771598 / 94039796 Driver, 42 yrs seeks for suitable job KSA, 12 years Oman 4 years,.

Contact: 95796030 Heavy duty driver with PDO license, 5 yrs Intl. exp. # 95546585 Light driver. Contact:95779594 Driver looking for job. #99507039 Pakistani driving available.

Contact : 96913836

EDUCATION Professional Teacher Qualified M.Com Post Graduate in finance for teaching Accounting subject.

Contact: 91251210 English Teachers wanted immediately locations Muscat, Salalah, Ibri, Nizwa, Buraimi, Khabourah and Khasab. Contact : 91979343 Email: eaglesmuscat@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Mechanical Engineer, Indian 24 with 2 yrs experience in HVAC- MEP Revit – MEP, AutoCAD – MEP Navis solid works Catia PRO-E primavera.

Contact: 96975382 Email: bonny491@gmail.com 2 years experienced Electrical Engineer looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98480509 SAP – SCM.MM Consultant B.Tech.

(Chemical), from NIT, working with oil industry, seeks employment.

Contact: 98049288 Indian female 23, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics) & Diploma in Electrical CAD on Visit Visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99278410 / 94027398, Email: renju.raghavan7@gmail.com

T H U R S DAY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

HOSPITALITY

Indian Male, Diploma in Civil Engineer working as a Project engineer with 7years of experience looking for suitable job. Contact- 92636569

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.

Contacts: 91383167

BE civil Engineer with a vast experience of 18 years in Oman seeks immediate placement as General Manger /Partner. contact @ joboman2015@gmail.com.

Iraqi Civil Engineer, 12 years experience with Omani driving license.

Contact: 94695595 Degree holder Civil Engineer having 10 years experience with driving license looking for better position.

Contact 98451844 Email: zahid_ruet@hotmail.com Indian male, 38 years old, DME – Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC, VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob +968 95612870, Email: seeniselvan@gmail.com Indian male, 34 years old, DEE – Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving license light, ready to join immediately. Contact +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Ph: 95405885 Indian female, BE, Civil engineer with 1 year experience looking for suitable vacancy, on visit.

Contact 95139583, Email : aisushetty09@gmail.com Indian male Safety Officer, 4+ years experience diploma in fire & safety Eng seeks suitable post.

Contact: 98843139

IT Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Indian female MCA, 24 years seeking suitable job. Contact 93439467 IT professional MCA Oracle certified 6 months training of PLSQL data warehousing, PHP, 3 months trained seeking job at good company. Contact: 95694330 Email: monakashyap001@gmail.com B.E Computer Science, Indian male looking for suitable job in the field of software or information technology having good knowledge in Java, ASP. Net, MS Sql, MS Word.

Contact: 91986919 Email: dileep2468.a@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs exp in Administration, Telecom, Optical Fiber Communication, Networking, MS Office.

Seeks any job. On visit visa.

Contact 91385373 / sridharbsnlma1455@gmail.com Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502

MISCELLANEOUS Electrical Engineer, B. Sc degree, Filipino, 15 years experience in oil & gas, power plant, substation, EPC projects, testing & commissioning, O & M with Oman D/L light.

Contact: 97090934 Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.#92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Structural Engineer of 2 years & 7 months experience, specialized in Structural Design and Site Supervision looking for a job. Contact: 94634906 / 94370767 Email: muazomer45@gmail.com Indian Civil Engineer (buildings) available immediately as supply contract. Contact: 93263834 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 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

Female Postgraduate searching suitable job. Contact 97792820 Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. Contact 91789465 Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field.

Contact : 96108289, Email - shijipaul84@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact: :98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com Male Indian BBM Graduate 8 years experience in logistics and ware housing in a reputed company valid driving license NOC available looking for suitable position.

Contact : 96311786 Email: ubinfs@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

B.E in ECE worked as Junior Scientist Trainee in Chennai worked as System Admin in Berik Honda Nagger coil worked at Technical Support in Samsung Service, presently in Bangalore.

Contact : 0091 7026267513

Indian male, B.com, diploma in material management, 12+ years exp in international / local purchase, ware housing 4 logistics seeks suitable placement NOC available.

Contact: 96477638 / 96477638

Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Production Manager 13 years experience in cast Aluminium fab. field and good track record seeking for a suitable job. NOC ready in Hand.

Contact: 96392319

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

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. Contact 95245057

MEDICAL

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Female Dentist Indian, Prometric passed 63%,4 years of work experience, immediately available to join.

Contact 97469553, nazianbaig@gmail.com Indian male GP doctor, 12 years experience parametric passed with 74% seeks suitable post.

Email: ppdr2020@gmail.com.

Contact 97985325 Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region.

Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SALES / MARKETING SALES / MARKETING Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com MBA from UK with 9 yrs experience in London, Dubai & Mumbai. Specialized GCC experience in top real estate co & bank with driving license. NOC available. #968 95168205, dubaihomes1@gmail.com B. Com & MBA Graduate on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 97372624 ,email : sivaraj.gurukripa@gmail.com Indian male 27yrs , diploma,3yrs exp in oman in sales & supervisor , oman driving license holder, looking for suitable placements.

GSM -96489211 B.Tech (MECH) MBA (Marketing) having 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, projects presently working in Oman seek suitable placement N.O.C available and ready to join immediately. Contact: 91257781 email: rajrathsing@yahoo.com Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa. Contact 93086105/33016546

Looking for Sales Assistant job (having Oman driving license).

Contact: 95872634 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864 Indian male seeking job, 8 years experience in Qatar in clerical/administration/documents controlling fields. Willing to work in customer care or sale also. Qatar driving license available. Job preferred in Sohar and surrounding cities.

Contact 93285117 Indian male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements.

Ph: 9199 3376 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. .

Contact 98371144 Market research / Hospitality Indian male Graduate with nearly 30 yrs experience in Market research & hospitality industry. NOC available.

Contact: 99347089

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Young Bangladeshi male 26 knowing coffee shop work as watering sandwich making juice marking etc presently in Bangladesh if any employer need please Contact behalf of candidate with his brother.

Contact: 92278538 Indian male 31 visionary business strategist having over 8+ years of global experience seeking a challenging position that utilizes my years of experience currently on visit. Contact: 91902154 Management professional experienced in profitable management with organization skills with over 21+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, UAE & in Oman11 yrs as GM Publications, Printing, Media & Advertising in entire operations, Sales marketing & etc. Looking for a reputed organization for a challenging position any industry, can Join immediately with NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

Looking for job as Mason, pipe fitter, Electrician and Aluminum fixer available. Contact: 93015630

TOURS & TRAVELS 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing.

Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job.

Contact : 96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male Diploma, Civil engineer 4.3 year experience at building construction and consulting company with Oman driving licence and N.O.C available seeking suitable placement Contact 95989500 email cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman. # 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

12 yrs exp FREELANCE 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license). Contact : 93790601

Indian male accountants, 12 years experience, tally also. Looking for a part time/ full time job in accounts or purchase. Contact- 98983122

Sudanese male, 31 year, have 3 year Diploma in Electrical Engineer, 6 years experience in construction and electrical plant.

Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian Female 2yrs exp. in Accountant 5 yrs exp. in Electronics, seeking suitable Job. Contact: 97162705,93705090

Freelance Graphic Designer available to assist in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Corel Draw Projects.

Contact : 95811820

Indian male, 14 years Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available #95253640 email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com

Indian Female Lawyer 36 Yrs having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman as Legal Advisor seeks placement in Legal/HR/Admin NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com

Female Candidate: Having experience (ISRO India) in Administration (seeking suitable opportunities &presently in Oman Mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com Diploma civil Engineer seeking jobs(positions suits me: civil engineer ,site engineer,qa/qc engineer,land surveyor ,total station, auto level,draftsman (autocad, microstation) mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com MOH Indian Dentist 10 years experience in Oman. Can speak Arabic, has driving license. Contact 98995321 or ventureoman007@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, E mail:catanalur131@gmail.com Qualified Native speaking male English Teacher with 18 years experience seeks position. Salary Negotiable. Whatsapp on +968 9334 1047 / +968 93952732 or e-mail me on nadgov@gmail.com

23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, 2 years+ experience in Audit and Finance in audit firm, Looking for suitable permanent placement, NOC release Available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264.

Email:- yashicapandya@gmail.com Indian Female 10 years exp as cook in Oman. South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job Contact 96733187.

Indian male-28 Years, Diploma in Electrical Egg, having gulf experience. Specialization on Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Operation. 7 years experience seeks for suitable placement.

Mob – 968-95334580. E-mail -sunilkumar257.sk23@gmail.com

Indian female, IATA, B. Sc, looking for suitable placement.Contact-95514305, E mail idraveendranmala@gmail.com

Seeking Teaching Position. Qualified and experienced Native English speaking teacher seeking position in Muscat, I have a Teaching Diploma , two Honours Degrees and a CELTA Certificate. Position at Language school will be suitable. Will e-mail CV. Whatsapp only +96893952732

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: 98184170

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa.

Contact :- 96259171.

Email:- bhumicapandya@gmail.com

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T H U R S D AY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

COMPUTER

WEBSITE

WANTSITUATION WANT- SITUATION MANPOWER SIT. WANTED ED Electrical Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any Oman.

Contact - 97693456.

Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com BE. Biomedical Engineer, 5 years experience in the same field (Hospital/company)looking for suitable placement. Contact:92084807 Email:bonnygeorge1005@gmail.com ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – Indian male seeking Electrical Engineer job with 2 years’ experience.

Contact: 94263445, E mail – janardhanan53@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTMATRIMONIAL Syrian CSI boy 30/184, working in a Automobile dealership at Muscat, inviting proposals.m4marry ID: 3951195 Ph: 0091- 9656439949 / 94946429292

32 years, Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484

Indian male Roman Catholic Divorcee 40 yrs working in Muscat seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/single. Contact: 96059801

Sudanese/ 26 years/ master of clinical pharmacy(1st class)/ 1 year experience/live in India/excellent communication in English(IELTS Certificate) and arabic/pharmacist license/hassan_kassala@hotmail. com 00919600413966-96387227

Muslim boy, 32 years MBA, studied and working in Oman as Sales manager in a reputed organisation, Tableeg Jamath invites proposals from educated girls in Gulf preferably Malayalees. Contact 99357458 and 92656899

24 Years, indian male 2.5 Years experience in admin & accounts, dubai.

Currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement in admin & accounts.

M: 93016252 EMAIL: shahabaskp@gmail.com Indian male, MBA with 20 years of experience in back office operation, risk and operational management, financial management for Finance and Trading companies. Presently available on visit visa.

Contact 91276221 CCNA MCITP network support /network technician with 2 years experience indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. #93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

CLASSES

Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

RC SC girl (Kerala) 28 yrs, 154cm BSC Nurse working in Oman (SQUH) seeks alliances from professionaly qualified employers.

Contact: 96228192

Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites.

Contact: 98667326 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

House shifting. Contact 99708138

Kerala Christian Orthodox boy 29/185 Staff Nurse MOH Muscat seeks suitable alliances.

Contact: 99461264

House shifting packing.

99657644 / 98518013

CLASSES Admission Open: CAMBRIDGE / BILINGUAL CURRICULUM admission started in Al Burj Private School, Azaiba for KG and Grade I to IV. Please register soonest.

Contact: 93211417 / 92887809.

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 96236476

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517

IELTS preparation course, unlock your educational and career opportunities with eagles to; achieve your required band. Contact 91979343.

Pest control Treatments, termites, cockroaches, bedbugs Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723

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

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

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

AC servicing maintenance fixing.

Contact: 99540621

Carpet, Sofa Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99884591

GOOD NEWS Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

FOR LADIES Hair dressing, facial massage & other beauty treatment for women.

Contact: 94689448

T H U R S DAY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

C7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

DRIVING

RENT A CAR Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

TRANSPORTATION Taxi in Muscat for any where and any time just send whatssapp before one hour and we will conďŹ rm to you your appointment ,We have also travel in Muscat. what you wait for call: 99887282 Email: Awraqmuscat@yahoo.com Pick & drop anytime in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. Contact: 97014786

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T H U R S D AY, J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

45th

Renaissance Day THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

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henever the world gets time to think about the greatest leaders of this era, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is sure to be counted among the very best.

He is widely admired, respected and revered at home and abroad for his pragmatic policies and ex-

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emplary leadership. He has also become an icon of peace because of his efforts to broker peace in numerous regional and international conflicts. If anyone ever asks me where does His Majesty actually live? I would instant reply: “In the hearts and prayers of his people.”

Two reasons are enough to testify his exalted stature:

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

1. His Majesty’s highly effective and appreciable role in bringing Iran and the world powers to the table of talks, leading to the historic deal last week.

2. Unprecedented expressions of apprehension and admiration by the people of Oman who spent months praying for their beloved leader’s health and complete re-

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Oman: A business case for investment

The SAF success

MOTC doing its best to keep the country well connected

covery when he was hospitalised, followed by months of celebration after he returned home hale and hearty.

The people of Oman, both citizens and expatriates, adore him for his great role in building a nation and constructing Modern Oman.

That admiration is the biggest unspoken tribute to him. — Shahzad Raza

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THU RSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

Renaissance Day

Oman: A business case for investment

Oman has established itself as a strong candidate for foreign investors from across the world in a range of sectors, and the massive infrastructure development taking place in the Sultanate could be the catalyst for economic growth

BY NOAMAN ABDUL MAJID

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s the world economic growth flattens and competition for foreign investment increases only those countries with strong political and economic fundamentals will be able to attract increasingly competitive investment flows. Oman has fortunately established itself as a strong candidate for foreign investors from across the world in a range of sectors. Today, Oman boasts of investments from emerging economies of South America and Asia to developed western countries. Oman is bestowed with a range of natural resources, pivotal geostrategic location, a well-entrenched GCC connection and favourable business environment to make it an ideal business and economic hub.

Oman has been wisely investing its petrochemical windfalls towards long term capacity building of the country. This is reflected in massive infrastructure development in the road network, airports, free zones, and education, in addition to healthcare and services sector. The infrastructure investment is creating a trickle-down effect in the economy and boosting other sectors like consumer and retail, travel, food and beverages, hospitality etc.

Oman is all set to invest several billion dollars in the near future to substantially upgrade its physical and services infrastructure. In addition to the US$78 billion fiveyear (2011-2015) spending plan, the government announced in October 2013 that the country will spend over $50bn in infrastructure projects in the next 15 years.

One of the main drivers of investment activity in the coming decades will be several free zones which have been established in partnership with international players. While Sohar and Salalah are already established business destinations, Duqm will be the major driver for getting

HIGHLIGHTS

Oman boasts of investments from emerging economies of South America and Asia to developed western countries

One

of the main drivers of investment activity in the coming decades will be several free zones which have been established

The

regulatory framework is one of the most businessfriendly, with foreign investors owning up to 70 per cent of projects

The

tourism sector is currently contributing 2.4 per cent to Oman’s

foreign investors on board once it is fully operational. According to some top geopolitical analysts, Duqm has the potential to be the Singapore of the 21st century.

It could be the catalyst for general economic growth in Oman including job creation, foreign investment and economic diversification in the post-oil boom era. Duqm boasts of a world-class infrastructure, several specialised business zones for petrochemicals, logistics, aquaculture, and manufacturing, apart from services and tourism and an investor friendly business framework with a one-stop shop facility that cuts time and cost to set up business in Oman.

One of the most encouraging facts about Oman is that it continues to be the preferred investment destination for local investors, whether

sovereign or private, which would prove pivotal for sustained economic activity in the country. Sovereign investors like Omran, Oman Oil and Oman Investment Fund are taking the lead in setting up green field projects in partnership with international players in energy, petrochemicals, food, hospitality and other sectors. These projects would not only strengthen investor confidence in the country but also substantially improve the exports as well as further consolidate the geostrategic significance of the country.

The regulatory framework in Oman is one of the most businessfriendly in the region, with foreign investors allowed to own up to 70 per cent of the projects in many business sectors. The remaining 30 per cent can easily be arranged from

strong and reputed local partners.

The regulators in Oman have always been quite accommodating for any investor as long as it contributes to the national economy. Capital markets have shown a great appetite for IPOs in various sectors as indicated by the fact that most of the IPOs have been oversubscribed many times. This provides much needed liquidity to the foreign and domestic investors who are always concerned about their exit strategy while making any investment decision.

Some of the most emerging and promising sectors in Oman include hospitality and aquaculture which will go a long way towards economic diversification and attracting foreign investment. Both these sectors have the potential to add billions of dollars to the Omani economy.

Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), the investment arm of the government to develop tourism infrastructure and its joint venture affiliates will add more than 3,000 new hotel rooms in four and five star categories in the next five to seven years.

The tourism sector is currently contributing 2.4 per cent to Oman’s GDP and it is well set to exceed 3 per cent as the Sultanate strives to achieve Vision 2020. Similarly, government has allotted more than $1.3 billion for the development of the fisheries sector till 2020 to increase fish production by 200 per cent from aqua culture and natural fisheries.

Although Oman has fared significantly well in terms of foreign investment, it will have to make

strong efforts in the coming years to retain its investment momentum from domestic and international sources as the oil revenues drop and budgetary constraints prevent peak level infrastructure spending.

This would require more efficiency in the economic system and greater participation of the private sector to drive economic growth which has hitherto been driven primarily by government spending. Investments and new projects are keys to economic diversification, job creation and economic stability.

Oman has two key advantages in the unfolding scenario on which it should capitalise fully in the coming years. Firstly, Oman has successfully executed many infrastructure projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. This can form the basis of mega projects in the future without putting undue pressure on the budget. Secondly, Oman is a highly unleveraged country. The debt to GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world – around 4 per cent, which allows Oman ample room to borrow from regional and international markets at very good rates.

Oman should capitalise on this opportunity for long-term project financing as it grapples with the effects of low oil prices.

Oman is rightly referred to sometimes as the Hidden Jewel of Arabia.

Keeping in view the stiff competition among regional and emerging markets to attract foreign investment, it is important to establish Brand Oman as the destination of choice for the global business fraternity. Since the global economic hub is increasingly moving towards Asia including contribution towards global GDP growth, market size, political weight and technological advancements, Oman and other GCC countries should appropriately realign their economic policies and position themselves to capitalise on this opportunity. — (The author is Country Manager, Pak Oman Investment Company)

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

Renaissance Day

The SAF success Times News Service

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he Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have done their Supreme Commander His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said proud, and won the admiration of the people of Oman for their role in the Renaissance of the Sultanate, along with the manner in which it has advanced to become a modern, technologically advanced army.

July 23 is a date that will be remembered for the Renaissance led

by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, with his visionary and powerful determination and wisdom and with the determination, strength and will of the soldiers, to maintain progress and prosperity of Oman and its people.

The Sultan’s Armed Forces are one of the glories of this prosperous era and a pillar of the modern renaissance of Oman, as it has con-

stantly developed and updated its capabilities and facilities with ambitious and thoughtful planning.

This is due to the national responsibility thrust upon it to defend the homeland and protect its security and stability; to maintain the gains

of development, and to savour the fruits of the Renaissance’s triumphant march led by His Majesty.

The trained and efficient human element is the most important aspect of the development, training and armament plan of the Ministry of Defence and the Sultan’s Armed Forces. This element is based on targeted training to achieve maximum efficiency.

The result is a modern, organised army that has within its ranks all the elements of a common weapons system, and a brave staff that is efficient enough to accept what is produced by modern technology in various fields.

Here are some of the key achievements: The Sultan’s Armed Forces are the impregnable fence protecting the achievements of the blessed Renaissance march and its precious gains.

“Al Shamekh”, “Al Rahmani” and “Al Rasekh” are great additions to

the Omani Royal Navy fleet.

Military bands of the Sultan’s Armed Forces confirm their outstanding presence in national events and international participation.

Continued efforts to absorb Omani youths and graduation of several batches of soldiers to contribute with their predecessors in the service of this country.

The medical services of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) provide the best care to employees of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and their families.

The “Sihab” project for e-portal development is at the forefront of projects adopted by the e-government transformation plan by the Ministry of Defence.

The Military Mall project aims to provide basic goods, supplies and other needs at prices subsidised by the Ministry of Defence for the employees of the ministry and the Sultan’s Armed Forces.

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THU RSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

Renaissance Day

SMEs — Backbone of Oman’s economy With small and medium enterprises,

HIGHLIGHTS

which make up

A number of institutes have been established to support SMEs with new regulations to contribute to their development

The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been working to improve the business environment for SMEs

The creation of the Al Namaa Fund in 2014 was done to provide stronger support to SMEs

Al Raffd Fund was established to enable Omani youth to establish their business

SME owners believe that some of the challenges facing the sector are related to restrictive manpower rules and regulations

around 90 per cent of the firms registered in Oman, contributing just around 15 per cent to the GDP, the government is doing all it can

their development and help them to overcome the challenges

Times News Service

Establishments A number of institutes have been established to support the SMEs

Integrated database Riyada has also been tasked with creating an integrated electronic data system with a communication centre to provide information that supports activities related to these establishments. In addition, it is preparing a track record for the SMEs to bring more order to the sector and hold training courses for entrepreneurs to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to make their business sustainable.

SME Development Fund Another milestone in the SME sector in Oman has been the creation of the SME Development Fund, also known as the Al Namaa Fund, which was launched in 2014. The fund, set up with a capital of OMR100 million, has added fresh impetus to the government’s efforts to provide stronger support to the SMEs.

to contribute to

MUSCAT: The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Oman have been the subject of increased focus over the last several years as the government is seeking to increase their contribution to the economy through various initiatives.

The SMEs, which are considered to be the backbone of the economy, make up around 90 per cent of the firms registered in Oman, but the combined contribution of these businesses to the gross domestic product (GDP) is only around 15 per cent.

to the Council of Ministers for endorsement. The authority also organises exhibitions in a bid to provide a platform for small and medium business units to market their products inside and outside Oman.

and new regulations have been introduced to contribute to the development of these business units and help them overcome challenges.

New rules and regulations are also coming up to further regulate the SME sector in the Sultanate.

The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), which represents the private sector in Oman, has been working to improve the business environment for SMEs and promote the culture of entrepreneurship through its SME committee.

Riyada One of the major authorities established to focus mainly on the SMEs is the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (riyada).

Its objective is to help in the development of the SME establishments and enable them to get finance and services by planning and coordinating with authorities in both the public and private sectors.

Riyada prepares long-term strategies, plans and policies related to the SME sector and submits them

Al Raffd Fund Along the same lines, the Al Raffd Fund has been established pursuant to a Royal Decree to enable Omani youth to establish their business.

The fund’s targetted categories that include job seekers, professionals, craftspeople, at-home manufacturers and rural women as well as any other categories specified by its board of directors.

grammes for funding and training of the SMEs.

Call centre The Al Raffd Fund recently launched the Entrepreneurs’ Call Centre, which aims at facilitating services provided by the fund, answering the queries of callers on how to benefit from the fund and receiving their proposals and views in this regard. Many companies, banks and educational institutions have also developed special pro-

Sharakah In another demonstration of the government’s commitment to supporting SMEs, Sharakah was established by a Royal Decree in 1998.

The closed joint stock company specifically encourages and supports the development of entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Sultanate.

According to Sharakah, the generous donation by His Majesty

Sultan Qaboos bin Said along with those from the business community and private individuals have created the share capital that enables it to operate and render its services.

E-governance As Oman is shifting to e-governance, the Information Technology Authority (ITA) has developed a Sas Programme, designed to provide the foundation for creating a new and vibrant ICT industry. The programme is a public-private partner-

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

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Renaissance Day

Stock market for SMEs Plans are also underway to establish a stock market for the SMEs. According to the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the objective of the exchange will be to support the development of the SMEs across a wide range of growth enablers, provide fair and attractive returns to investors and market participants, and provide clients and suppliers of the SMEs with better access to and information on the opportunities of doing business with them.

Lending to SMEs The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has asked commercial banks to provide five per cent of their total credit to SMEs. In addition, a number of awards have been launched to honour successful entrepreneurs. ship model and seeks to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive ICT industry, self-employment and job creation as well as introduction of new technologies to create innovative products, solutions and services and generate commercially viable and technology-based SMEs in Oman.

Challenges Entrepreneurs and SME owners in Oman believe that some of the challenges facing the sector are related

to restrictive manpower rules and regulations. Other issues that they believe need to be addressed include lengthy procedures, lack of data, financing and insufficient incubation centres. They also argue that the concept of social entrepreneurship should be promoted in Oman and SMEs should be encouraged to diversify their products and services.

‘Invest Easy’ In order to make the registration of the SME companies faster and

easier, the government recently launched the ‘Invest Easy’ initiative, an e-commercial registration service, which is part of the comprehensive development project for a single window clearance.

Also, it was recently decided that the new SMEs will be exempted from Omanisation for two years while existing ones can plan on replacing their expatriates with nationals over the next four years.

Around 135,000 SMEs are likely to benefit from this decision.

Symposium outcomes The outcomes of the latest Symposium to Assess Implementation of Saih Al Shamikhat Decisions dedicated to the SMEs are also a significant step forward.

Based on the decisions made at the symposium, a department should be dedicated at each public organisation to follow up compliance with the allocation of 10 per cent of the government purchases and tenders for the SMEs.

New SMEs will be exempted from Omanisation for two years while existing ones can plan on replacing their expatriates with nationals over the next four years.

Tenders for SMEs For government contracts and with effect from 2016, the companies that implement such projects will be mandated to submit detailed lists of the projects that have been awarded to the SMEs and their value. The symposium also addressed payment issues for the SMEs and introduced certain measures to accelerate payment to these businesses.

SME law In addition, a law for the SMEs

will be introduced in 2016 and new measures have been taken to regulate the allocation of a percentage of the planned land plots for commercial, industrial, agricultural and tourism use by the authorities concerned to the SMEs. Efforts are also underway to encourage companies in which the government owns not less than 40 per cent of the capital to dedicate a percentage of their total purchase and tenders to the SMEs. Entrepreneur Card During the symposium, it was emphasised that the Entrepreneur Card, issued by Riyada, should be treated as a document that enables its holder to receive the required facilities and be awarded tenders and purchases on priority.

Follow-up mechanism In order to follow up on the implementation of all the decisions taken by the symposium, riyada has formed a team called ‘Mohima’ (Mission).

‘Mohima’ will expedite the implementation of the symposium’s decisions and will help overcome the challenges that might hinder the implementation of some of the decisions and devise unconventional solutions.

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THU RSDAY, JULY 23, 2015

Renaissance Day

MOTC doing its best to keep the country well connected Times News Service

I

n order to cope with upcoming challenges and quicken the pace of economic development, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) is pulling out all stops to ensure that the Sultanate is well connected by enhancing the road network, pushing for an ambitious rail network and improving sea and air connectivity besides shoring up the telecom sector.

Transportation sector The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) is acting expeditiously and taking well studied steps to expand and upgrade main and secondary roads network by turning single lane roads into dual ones, as well as building flyovers and paying great care to traffic safety in designing and implementing road construction plans.

The MOTC is working on linking rural and urban centers by expanding the road network, which will reflect positively on the national economy and facilitate communication between the urban and rural areas.

Asphalt roads The MOTC oversaw the implementation of this as a result of which by the month of October 2014, there was approximately 13,875 km asphalt road length in the country, while dirt roads’ length amounted to approximately 16,414 km. The MOTC is also working to enact regulations organizing road transport activities.

Railway project The Railway project is one of the most important strategic projects in the Sultanate that will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development at all levels.

Oman Rail Company was established and supplied with quality national cadres.

The pre-qualification tender was announced, for which 18 consortiums have qualified as main contractors for infrastructure works and five consortiums of companies specializing in systems technology also qualified. A detailed design and implementation tender has also been announced for the first part from Buraimi to Sohar. It is worth mentioning that the length of railway line extends 2,244 km from Buraimi governorate up to Dhofar governorate.

Ports sector The government is paying great attention to the ports sector for its role in diversifying the sources of national income, thus reducing dependence on oil as well as creating jobs. Upon the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may Allah protect him, Sultan Qaboos Port was converted to a tourism port on August 31, 2014 and business activities were transferred to the Sohar Industrial Port.

Telecommunications sector Telecommunications sector plays a key role in economic and social development in the Sultanate, contributing towards raising the effi-

ciency of the economic sectors in general. Perhaps the most important achievements of this sector are the revision of the Telecommunications Regulatory Law to cope with the changes and requirements of the domestic and global market and to regulate the market sector in accordance with best international practices, as well as to enhance competitiveness to provide worldclass services.

Civil aviation sector As for the civil aviation sector, the Ministry is currently implementing several projects, most notably a project for international airports in Muscat and Salalah.

T H U R S DAY, JU LY 23, 2 0 1 5

7

Renaissance Day

Bollywood bucks and glamour beckon Omanis as movie stars Indian filmmakers HIGHLIGHTS reveal that Oman

Locals are involved in everything whenever a film is being shot in Oman

Omanis also roped in as extras to give films a slick international touch

Sensible to take locals because it cuts costs and does not require flying everybody in, say producers

Filmmakers optimistic about support from different ministries during the shooting

Filmmakers have revealed Oman is becoming a hotspot for numerous Bollywood films

is slowly becoming a hotspot for Bollywood films as it has much to do with both — getting picture-perfect locations as well as the friendly approach of the government

BY RAHUL DAS

W

ith Bollywood films going in for the “international” look more aggressively, just foreign locales are not enough. Now filmmakers are looking for more and more Omani extras in other scenes to “improve” the look of the film. A case in point is untitled film of leading producer Himanshu Mehra and director Farooq Kabir, which will go on the floors from October 2015.

“For this, we are looking at Omani lead actors, junior artistes (both Omani and expatriates) and all logistical support from citizens,” Mehra told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview, when he came down to the city to finalise the locales where they will shoot for the film.

Mehra has produced several films in Bollywood including the latest Besharam whose star cast included Ranbir Kapoor and Pallavi Sharda. He had also worked in Dabangg, Pehla Sitara and Welcome

to Sajjanpur. Kabir, who directed the critically acclaimed Allah Ke Banday in 2010, said, “Though the lead actors and actresses are yet to be signed, we are looking at signing famous actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Boman Irani, Rajkumar Rao and a new actress for the film.

To support them we are looking at all Omanis,” he told the Times of Oman.

From being enchanted by Bollywood rhythms to providing all logistical and production support for the film, the locals are involved in everything whenever a film is being shot in Oman.

“There are a large number of Omanis who regularly take part whenever a Bollywood film is shot

in Oman,” says Gautam Roy owner of V4 Entertainment, which provides logistical and production support to Bollywood film crew in Oman.

V4 Entertainment had provided support to films like Gunday, Naach, Awara Pagal Deewana, Aaan and many more whenever they shoot in Oman.

In the recently released Bollywood movie, Gunday, which was shot in the last week of November in 2013 in places like Nizwa, Quriyat and Bandar al Khiran, more than 30 Omanis were involved in various ways in the film.

“While some were involved in production others were involved in providing logistical support during

the shoot,” he says.

Written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra, the stars included Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh. The film released on February 14, 2014, and did extremely well at the box office. According to boxofficeindia. com, the movie collected US$19 million worldwide.

Gautam Roy said that they are looking at employing at least 300 people who would be required when they shoot in Nizwa, Old Muttrah, Old Muscat City, and Sidab, in addition to Shiv Mandir, Muttrah Souq, Wahiba Sands and surroundings around the Indian School in Darsait for their upcoming film in October.

“That is one of the reasons the director and the producer spent around six days in Oman to scour the exact locations for the film and looking for the locals who can work in it,” he said.

“It makes sense to take locals because it cuts down on the huge costs and does not require flying in everybody,” said Kabir.

Himanshu says that he plans to wrap up the entire shooting in Oman within 40 days.

“For this, we are optimistic about the support from the different ministries including the Ministry of Tourism,” he said, before taking the flight to Mumbai.

Roy said they want to employ a large number of Omanis for this

film as Oman will be the epicentre of this film.

“Employing the local crowd has now become very easy. Earlier, the involvement was just 5 to 10 per cent, but now almost 80 per cent of the people who help out in the shooting are Omanis,” he said.

Filmmakers reveal that Oman is slowly becoming a hotspot for Bollywood films as it has much to do with both — getting picture-perfect locations as approach of the well as the friendly government.

“It was great to be part of the Bollywood industry. After all, who does not want to rub shoulders with the top actors and actresses,” said Mohammad, who handled the logistics of Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Kapoor during their five-day stay in the Sultanate.

He went on to add that he was completely in awe of the actors and their humble nature.

“This is the first time I had encountered actors from Bollywood shooting in my country. I am overwhelmed thinking that my country is chosen and has been taken on to a global platform that puts us in the glitter of tinsel town, and henceforth more and more films will be shot here,” he says.

In Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Again, the extras for the shoot also included non-Indians from Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan and Tanzania, apart from Germany and Canada. They, too, were excited at getting the chance to make it to the silver screen.

Twenty-year-old Mohammad said he was excited to be an extra in Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Again because he loves old Indian movies.

“Almost all the movies are translated into Arabic, so I have loved Bollywood movies since I was a teenager - the music, the singing and even the acting. Of course, they always have a love story. And, I always wanted to be a movie star,” he said with a laugh.