Times of Oman - May 25, 2015

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1,000 illegal expats caught on airport job

FAHAD AL GHADANI/RAHUL DAS/REJIMON K

MUSCAT: More than 1,000 ex-patriate employees were arrested for working illegally at the new terminal being built at Muscat International Airport project, a senior official of the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) said.

As revealed on timesofoman.com yesterday, the official said that workers, who were arrested on Wednesday, were violating the Labour Laws of the country.

“The companies for which these illegal workers were work-ing will be fined and the workers will be deported,” Salim bin Said Al Badi, director-general of La-bour Welfare at the Ministry of Manpower said in a statement on

Sunday. He also said that no visas would be issued to the violating companies. “The workers had vi-sas for restaurants, coffee shops, barber shops, tailors and house-maids. But we were surprised when we saw them working at the airport project as construction workers,” according to a state-ment issued by the Ministry of Manpower.

When contacted, a construc-tion company manager said that it is difficult for sub-contracting companies to get visas for their workers. “So, we are compelled to depend on free visa holders and undocumented workers, which is actually a violation of the Labour Law. If this situation has to end, then the Ministry of Manpower has to step in and find a solution

to it,” the company manager said on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, a Majlis Al Shura member, responding to the arrest of illegal workers, said that the companies hiring such workers should be blacklisted.

“Blacklisting the companies is the only solution. At present, if a company violates the law by hiring workers illegally, the punishment is different in each case. Some get only the warning while others are fined. This has to be stopped. Punishment for violators should not differ in each case,” Tawfiq Al Lawati, a Shura member told Times of Oman.

“Moreover, most of the illegal workers are on free visas. This has to be stopped. The companies or sponsors who are issuing free visas should be blacklisted,” the Shura member said, adding that 20,859 government employees and 26,751 private sector em-ployees are having commercial licences. “These employees may be behind the free visa system. Out of the 20,859 government employees, 6,218 are having two to five companies and in the pri-vate sector employees category the number is 7,418,” the Shura member said. >A6

The workers, who were arrested on

Wednesday, were found violating the Labour

Law, an official said, adding that workers

will be deported and the companies fined

HM sends greetings to Jordan

HM sends greetingsto Argentina

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a ca-ble of congratulations to King Abdullah II of Jordan on the occasion of his country’s 69th Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to King Abdullah II, pray-ing to Allah the Almighty for the return of this and similar occasions on him to achieve aspirations of further progress and prosperity for the people of Jordan. -ONA

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sul-tan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Cristina Fernandez of the Republic of Argentina on the occasion of her country’s National Day.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sin-cere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Fer-nandez and her country’s peo-ple further progress and pros-perity. -ONA

C A B L E

N A T I O N A L D A Y

Bus transport plan to end commuter woesELHAM [email protected]

MUSCAT: A master plan for the development of the bus transport system for Oman is expected to be completed in ‘52 weeks’, with officials hailing it as a major step towards easing transport woes in the country.

In an agreement signed with the Oman National Transport Company (ONTC) on Sunday, Spain-based Ineco, a global lead-

er in transport engineering and consultancy, has been tasked with drawing up the master plan for Muscat and other parts of the Sultanate.

Eng Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport and Com-munications and chairman of the ONTC, said in a statement that under the agreement, Ineco will provide consulting services for the development of the strategic plan of ONTC until 2040. >A6

‘ 5 2 W E E K S ’

OMANDisruption of water supply in Muscat

2Water supply will be disrupted in several parts of Muscat governorate on

Thursday, Friday. The PAEW announced that since it is about to transfer pipes affected by the projects of Muscat International Airport’s flyovers, water supply will be disconnected in some areas of Muscat. >A3

MARKETPact with Dutch firm to buy 40 buses

3Forty low-floor city buses will be delivered by the Netherlands-based

VDL Bus & Coach company by the end of the year under an agreement signed with the Oman National Transport Company (ONTC) in Muscat on Sunday. >B1

OMANA person is entitled to 10 weeks’ sick leave

1 The provisions for sick leave are included in Article (66) of the Oman

Labour Law. The article says that an employee is entitled to a maximum of 10 weeks of sick leave during a year and the sickness shall be “certified”. >A2

T O P T H R E E I N S I D E S T O R I E S

A6Seeb wilayat tops monthly marriage chart in Sultanate

More than 50 drivers join new taxi booking app

ELHAM [email protected]

MUSCAT: More than 50 drivers in Muscat have registered to join Oman’s first taxi booking appli-cation as the service provider seeks to enhance the programme through new partnership agreements.

OTaxi, a first-of-its-kind ini-tiative in Oman, was downloaded 700 times in the first two days since its launch at COMEX 2015, where DaleelDigital Solutions Company (DDS) signed a Memo-randum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Road Transport

Association (ORTA). The compa-ny also signed an MoU last week with Khalifa Al Rahbi Lawyers and Legal Consultancy, which will provide legal consultancy about any issue faced by drivers or passengers, including com-plaints about lost valuables.

“It is important to take the le-gal aspect of the programme into consideration. It is a great appli-cation and we are pleased to be part of it. As part of this partner-ship, DDS will provide us with IT solutions,” Khalifa Al Rahbi, legal advisor and the chief executive officer of the consultancy compa-ny, told the Times of Oman. >A6

F I R S T - O F - I T S - K I N D

HM sends message to UAE president >A2

OTAXI APPLICATION

FEATURES

Source: OTaxi Graphics

A passenger who needs a taxi sends a

request through the application

The request is sent to a driver closest to the

passenger

Driver will have a limited amount of time to accept the

request, otherwise, it will be sent to the next

driver

DriverPassenger There are two applications, one for passengers and the other for drivers

1 2

Available in English and Arabic

Passenger can leave a comment and rate drivers

Passenger can request a shared or engaged taxi

HM issues Royal DecreeMUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Sunday is-sued a Royal Decree No. 20/2015 promulgating the GCC unified law on anti-dumping and coun-ter-prevailing measures.

Article (1) states that the pro-

visions of the GCC Unified Law on Anti-dumping and Compen-satory and Preventive Measures (attached to this Decree) shall be applied. Article (2) states that this decree shall be published in the official gazette. -ONA

G C C U N I F I E D L A W O N A N T I - D U M P I N G

A2 M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

OMAN

What is the law for provid-ing salary to employees who take sick leave for more than a month? As per Omani law, can we grant sick leave if an employee gets a medical certificate outside of Oman after he or she is referred for surgery in their home country?The provisions for sick leave are included in Article (66) of the Oman Labour Law. The article says that an employee is entitled to a maximum of 10 weeks’ sick leave during a year and the sickness shall be “certified”. Some of the stipu-lations in this article can be interpreted to suit anybody’s convenience. First of all, it does not say what would hap-pen after the stipulated period of “10 weeks”. Will the leave continue as loss of pay or the service of the employee will be terminated? In our opinion, this can be decided by the employer taking into account all aspects of the illness of the employee. Another impor-tant point is that the “illness” should be certified. By whom? There is no visible answer. So this is another condition left to the discretion of the employer.

If the employer accepts the illness as genuine case (whether certified locally or by hospitals abroad), the sick leave entitlement of the employee shall be as follows: gross Salary for the first and second week; 75 per cent of the gross salary for the third and fourth week; 50 per cent of the gross salary for the fifth and sixth weeks; 25 per cent of the gross salary from the seventh to the tenth week. The law also says that in case of any dispute between the parties on the subject matter of sickness, the same shall be referred to a medical commis-sion to be formed by the Min-istry of Health in Oman. It also

says that the sick employee will forfeit his or her annual leave if he or she is using the sick leave.

My current employers are closing down operations because of completion of contract with their client and they are giving NOC to employees who want it. My wife is working with one of the ministries in Oman. As of now I haven’t got a new job and would like to transfer my employment visa as family joining visa under my wife’s sponsor-ship. What are the docu-ments/formalities for this process of transferring employment visa to family joining visa. If I get a job after I change my employ-ment visa to family joining visa under my wife’s spon-sorship, is it possible to

change my family joining visa to employment visa? Will the NOC be required? What are the formalities to complete?This is a matter to be decided by the employer of your wife at their discretion. Noth-ing stops you from opting to remain in Oman on fam-ily joining visa, if your wife’s employer is willing to offer you that facility in Oman. For that you may require a release letter from your employer, if you plan to opt for the family joining option without exiting Oman. If you happen to get another job, once again it is the discretion of your wife’s employer whether to grant you a no objection letter to transfer your sponsorship to another employer. There are no mandatory provisions in the law for such things.

An employee who uses sick leave, forfeits annual leave

L E G A L C O L U M N

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this column are for general guidance pur-poses only. They are based on facts pre-sented to us and are not substituted for expert legal advice. Readers are advised to seek legal assistance for specific legal issues. Times of Oman and Khalifa Al Hinai Advocates & Legal Consultancy do not assume any responsibility towards anyone on this matter.

An employee can get a maximum of 10 weeks’ sick leave per year

HM SENDS WRITTEN MESSAGE TO UAE PRESIDENTHis Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates

(UAE), received a written message from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said related to

strong relations binding the two countries and the means of supporting and enhancing them

in all spheres. The message was handed over by Hussein bin Ali bin Abdul Latif, Advisor at

the Diwan of Royal Court, when Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime

Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs received him in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The

meeting was attended by Ahmed bin Juma Al Za’abi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs,

Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, Secretary-General for the Supreme Council of the Union in

the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Qatabi, Sultan-

ate’s Ambassador to the UAE. -ONA

Jabal Shams wadis overflow as Salalah also receives rainTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Wadis in Jabal Shams are overflowing after it started raining this afternoon, a member of a weather forum in Oman said.

“The rain began at around 2:13pm in the afternoon, and is still continuing,” Bader Ali Al Baddaei, an administra-tor of www.rthmc.net, a local web-based forum that discusses weather trends in Oman, said on being contacted. Many parts of

Salalah witnessed light rain on Saturday evening also.

ForecastAccording to the meteorological department forecast, skies will remain cloudy along the coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains with chances of isolated rain. The forecast also added that isolated rain can be ex-pected over Al Hajar Mountains or fog patches along the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea.

W E A T H E R

COOL RAIN: Many parts of

Salalah witnessed light rain on

Saturday evening also.

‘Islam Message Exhibition’, which was launched by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in 2010, visited more than 20 countries and 66 cities around the world with the aim of raising awareness towards the true values of Islam

A3

OMANM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

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Unregistered motorbike riders in Oman to be dealt with firmly: ROP

REJIMON K [email protected]

MUSCAT: Riders using unreg-istered motorbikes in Oman will be fined and their vehicles will be confiscated, the Royal Oman Po-lice (ROP) has warned.

In an advertisement uploaded on its official Twitter account, the ROP said riders using unreg-istered motorbikes in Oman will be fined and their vehicles will be confiscated. It has also urged par-ents not to gift small motorbikes to their children, which can lead to accidents.

“The Royal Oman Police are tak-

ing huge steps to reduce the num-ber of deaths and injuries on our roads and making them safer for pedestrians as well as vehicle us-ers. The proposed ban on mopeds and similar two wheeler vehicles is a smart initiative and hopefully the continuation of a process to remove unlicensed and non-road-worthy vehicles from our roads,” Mark Pudwell, business devel-opment and training manager at Competence HR, said.

“This type of vehicle is often the cause of many traffic incidents and is a hazard to pedestrians. This is due to the fact that riders are large-ly very inexperienced and gener-

ally not licensed to use a motor ve-hicle -- a scenario that presents a number of related issues, not least of which is a lack of insurance,” Mark added.

According to the ROP figures,

in 2013, more than 300 bicycle and motorcycle-related accidents were registered. The figures also show that these accidents left 177 riders dead and 2,684 injured in 2,609 accidents from 2004 to 2013.

“The way in which this particu-lar type of vehicle is used dem-onstrates a complete disregard of traffic regulations and as such should be removed immediately from the road and the rider edu-cated in appropriate road safety,” Mark said.

Readily available“Young people are often given this kind of vehicle by their families as they are readily available and cheap to buy and run. What many parents forget is that these ma-chines are still capable of speeds up to 50 km/h and afford their rid-ers absolutely no protection when an incident occurs, often resulting in avoidable injury or death. The four wheel quad type bikes are equally dangerous and menacing and must also be removed from public roads with immediate ef-fect,” Mark added.

As per the available statistics, in 2013, motorcycle accidents caused 15 deaths and injuries to five people in the Muscat gover-

norate alone. The Batinah region registered 81 motorcycle and bicycle accidents which left 12 people dead.

It may be recalled that the Min-istry of Commerce and Industry had earlier announced its decision to ban the import of motorcycles with engine capacity under 70cc to avoid accidents and make the Sul-tanate’s roads safe for drivers.

The ban came into effect on Jan-uary 1, 2014.

“Often on the main roads, we see children driving mopeds reckless-ly and posing a threat to others. Po-licemen have to nab these riders. They have increased patrolling on the roads to catch these riders who not only risk their own life but also that of others,” Faisal Mohammed, a taxi driver in Ruwi, said.

Buying a motorcycle in Oman is legally covered by Article 49/1 of the Traffic Law which states that riders without a valid motorcycle licence can be punished with im-prisonment of up to three months and fines of up to OMR300.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has urged

parents not to gift small motorbikes to their

children, which can lead to accidents

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Water supply will be disconnected in several parts of Muscat governorates on Thursday and Friday, it has been announced.

In a statement, the Public Au-thority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) announced that since it is about to transfer pipes affected by the projects of Muscat Inter-national Airport’s flyovers, water supply will be disconnected in some areas in Muscat beginning from 7pm on Thursday May 28 un-til 7 pm on Friday May 29.

“Accordingly Water supply will be disconnected from the areas of North Al Ghubra, South Al Ghubra, Al Azaiba, the Airport, Industrial Ghala, Ghala Al Bilad, Al Ansab, Sanab, Lejfar, Al Muna, Bousher 35, Bousher 36, Social Houses, Al Fa-tah, Saad, Bousher Al Balad, Boush-er Heights, the Air Force Base in Al Ansab and Muaskar Al Murtafa’a,” PAEW said in an announcement.

“The authority would like to apologise for any shortage in wa-ter supply that might possibly take place, and requests all subscribers to take every necessary precaution and continue rationalising con-sumption,” PAEW said.

A N N O U N C E M E N T

Five suspects arrested for robbery

Times News Service

SOHAR: Five citizens were ar-rested for allegedly committing a robbery at a house in Sohar, an official source at the Department of Criminal Investigations of North Al Batinah ROP claimed. The source said that Sohar Po-lice Station received a call about unidentified persons entering a house in Gheil A’shbool area in Sohar and stealing OMR8,000 worth of gold jewellery. The suspects were arrested after in-vestigating the crime scene, and were referred to the public pros-ecution before being presented before the court.

C R I M E

Times News Service

DHOFAR: A citizen was arrested for being in possession of large quantities of khat and intending to profit from it commercially.

The arrest was made by the De-partment of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances in Dhofar Governorate. A source at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said the suspect tried to smuggle a large quantity of khat from Thumraiyt to Salalah via a land transport ser-vice bus. A total of 818 packets of khat were seized.

The suspect has been referred to the public prosecution before be-ing presented to the court.

C R I M E

Message of Islam exhibition opens at PDO

MUSCAT: With the objective of presenting a real picture about the essence of Islam and its tolerant values and principles, an exhibi-tion opened here.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Moham-med Al Salmi, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs opened the “Islam Message Exhibition” at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) on Sunday.

The exhibition aims at pro-moting communication, under-standing and dialogue among countries of the world. The open-ing ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas, a number of advisors and officials

at the Ministry and PDO.In a statement, Dr. Al-Rumhi said

more than 60 nationalities work in PDO amidst an atmosphere of mu-tual respect and tolerance, which in turn enhanced communication among the different cultures. “Is-lam Message Exhibition”, which was launched by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in 2010, has visited more than 20 countries and 66 cities to raise awareness of the true values of Islam. - ONA

T O L E R A N T V A L U E S

HAUL: A source in the ROP said

the suspect tried to smuggle a

large quantity of khat.– Supplied photo

TAKE NOTE: Supply will to some

areas will be hit from 7pm on

Thursday May 28 untill 7 pm on

Friday May 29.– File photo

LOOT: The suspects were ar-

rested after investigating the

crime scene.– Supplied photo

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Expat students tried to smuggle drugs from Oman, court toldTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Two expatriate stu-dents, who were charged with smuggling cannabis plant seeds and marijuana across the bor-der from Oman, appeared in court, The National has report-ed. Prosecutors at the Dubai Criminal Court said American I�A, 18, and German A�R, 21, brought the drugs into the UAE via Hatta.

Records showed that on March 16 this year, police offic-ers searched the students’ car after the two men showed signs of fear and confusion while crossing the border.

“We found six cannabis seeds and marijuana hidden in the car’s air conditioning tube,” said police officer M�J, who searched the car. Apart from five grams of marijuana, officers also found two capsules of prescription drugs in the car’s coin holder.

A �R told prosecutors that two

of the seeds and the capsules be-longed to him, but denied having any knowledge of the rest of the drugs, while I�A denied any in-volvement with or knowledge of the drugs. “Urine samples taken from both men showed traces of drugs. In court on Thursday, A�R denied charges of import-ing or consuming drugs, while I�A admitted to consumption of drugs, but denied a charge of importation,” according to The National report.

The case was adjourned to a later date.

U A E

Prosecutors at the Dubai Criminal Court said American I�A, 18, and German A�R, 21, brought drugs into UAE via Hatta

Cio Datan/Times of Oman

ROP arrests suspect in narcotics case

Water supply to be hit in some parts of Muscat

A4 M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

OMANRhythms unite diverse music groups at ROHM

SARAH [email protected]

MUSCAT: No matter what coun-try, culture, or creed, there is one thing that unites musicians and music-lovers everywhere: rhythm. The 12 groups who took to the stage at the Royal Opera House Muscat for its three-night International Rhythm Festival proved that through music, unity can be achieved, regardless of where one is from.

Over the three nights the groups, who came from coun-tries as diverse as Japan, Senegal, Tajikistan and Mexico, delighted the audiences with their catchy rhythms, creativity and talent.

Each night had a different theme which resulted in some very interesting performances. The first, “Rhythm & Body,” not only brought great musical sounds, but a lot of dancing and drumming which required strong physical abilities. The evening began with an Omani group from Musandam, the Rauwah Art Band, who danced while pound-ing their drums.

Music and choreographyWhether it was the stomping feet of the Ballet Carmen Cantero as they created fiery flamenco rhythms, the Royal Guard of Oman Drum Corps who showed their military marching band skills, or Austria’s Volkstanzkreis Fishbach dancers who used all kinds of leg slapping and stomping, these en-sembles revealed the close ties between music and choreography.

Be The Groove, a dance group from Chicago which uses no mu-sic or instruments, were also im-pressive with their combination

of dance moves that use footsteps, clapping, finger snapping, and vo-cal sounds to create rhythms.

The highlight from the first night was the Wadaiko drumming group Gonna, from Japan, whose members’ lean muscles ripple as they pound aggressively on their giant drums, causing the deep sounds to reverberate throughout the theatre.

“Rhythm Without Musical In-struments” was the theme to the second night, and it inspired in-credible creativity. The Ballet Car-men Cantero was back creating sounds with their stomping feet, as well as using fans, tabletops, cut-lery, pots, pans and bottles instead of instruments. The Austrian and

American groups also performed again, though unfortunately the Austrians ignored the theme and used a tuba and accordions.

Vikku Vinayakram, from In-dia, played rhythms on a set of clay pots, while his ensemble ac-companied him with vocal drum sounds. The speed with which they created the sounds was truly impressive, entertaining and even rather funny, causing a number of people in the audience to giggle!

Germany’s Alpine Drums en-semble showed the agricultural traditions of Bavaria with their hilariously innovative music. Rather than instruments, they created sounds from milkpails, wooden stools strapped to their

feet, barrels, and metal tool boxes, among other things, proving that just about anything can be substi-tuted for an instrument.

Tazajo Tamboo, a group of mu-sicians from Senegal and Guinea, thrilled the audience with their colourful and highly energetic performance. Using vocals, clap-ping and a lot of wild dancing, they weren’t just creating rhythms but a lot of comedy on stage as the mu-sicians mocked and teased each other. The final night focused on the theme “Sound of Rhythm,” in which instruments were at play. Oman’s Al Mithaliya Group for Folklore kicked off the night with their drumming and chanting, per-formed in a relaxed and casual style.

They were followed by Tajikistan’s Sadoi traditional drummers and dancers. These drummers showed how one sim-ple handheld Tajik drum, the doira, can make so many differ-ent sounds. Their virtuosic leader, Khayrullojon Dadoboev, wowed the audience with his ability to play numerous drums all at once.

Percussion instrumentsVikku Vinayakram and his men were back for a second night, this time with a number of drums, and they continued to impress the audience. There was also a per-formance by Mexico’s Tambuco Percussion Ensemble who dem-onstrated the rhythms sounds of the marimba and a few other per-cussion instruments.

To the delight of many in the audience the energy continued to grow towards the end of the concert with another appearance by the vibrant Tazajo Tamboo, this time with a variety of drums and a Kora, a type of long-necked harp. Once again their antics and wild, acrobatic dancing excited the audience.

The festival finished with the re-turn of Gonna, the Japanese drum-mers. Though their performance was just the same as on the first night, it was no less exhilarating and impressive.

The precision and force with which these musicians perform is simply captivating.

While each of the ensembles brought elements of their own countries and cultures, they shared a common bond, that of rhythm. At the end of each night all the per-formers came together on stage to play their instruments together, proving that through music, global harmony can be found.

The 12 groups that

took to the stage

at the Royal Opera

House Muscat

for three-night

International Rhythm

Festival, proved

that unity can be

achieved through

music, regardless of

where one is from

Bait Al Zubair hosts expo of Sultan’s School art studentsTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Young aspiring artists got a chance to showcase their tal-ent as Bait al Zubair hosted The Sultan’s School’s first public IB Visual Arts graduating exhibition entitled “Visual Voices”, on Sun-day evening.

The exhibition is a collection of art from six young aspiring artists, aged 17 and 18 years old, namely Malak al Adawy, Alghalya al Mahrooqi, Mariam al Sawafi, Hajer al Sharji, Noor al Saqri and Thuraya al Said. They have all worked very hard to develop their ideas and are delighted to show-case their work.

Talking about the students’ exhibition, Alghalya al Mahrooqi said, “We are really excited about the exhibition and are thankful for this great opportunity that Bait al Zubair has given us. I am looking forward to promoting our work as young hopeful Omani artists. We want to learn from lo-cal artists, listening to their opin-ion to improve our work and will, hopefully, one day work alongside them, representing our country. I hope our work will spread aware-ness about our themes and their importance in today’s life. I hope that many people will join us and enjoy seeing what we have to say.”

For the past two years, these students have been completing their Visual Arts course as part of the IB Diploma Programme.

The course encourages students to choose a theme personal to them and their interests, experi-ment with a range of ideas and techniques and finally produce a body of work that showcases their investigation outcomes.

The students have indepen-dently analysed many different local and international artists, learning from their expertise, and at the same time developing their own original styles and concepts.

A number of these students plan to study Fine Art or go in for an art-related degree in their un-dergraduate studies. Many also hope to join the Omani art and de-sign scene in the future.

Paul Doubleday, General Man-ager of Bait al Zubair, was im-

pressed by the work of the stu-dents, noting its high standard.

“There are some very interest-ing pieces in the exhibition – it is clear to me that the students have been exploring different styles of art, differing influences and pe-riods in art history. I hope to see some of the students developing into the next generation of Omani artists working on a national and international level. They cer-tainly have the raw talent to work with,” Doubleday said.

To find more information about Bait Al Zubair events & activities, join them on Facebook www.face-book.com/bait.alzubair.museum, Twitter: @Bait_AlZubair and on Instagram on #BAZM or #galler-ysarah or #bait_alzubair

V I S U A L V O I C E S

BOOSTING CREATIVITY: The exhibition is a collection of art from

six young aspiring artists, aged 17 and 18. – Supplied photo

UNITY IN DIVERSITY: Over the three nights the groups, that came

from countries as diverse as Japan, Senegal, Tajikistan and Mex-

ico, delighted the audiences with their catchy rhythms, creativity

and talent. – Khalid Al Busaidi/ROHM

Number of fixed phones crosses 390,000-mark

MUSCAT: Subscribers of the fixed phone service in the Sultan-ate stood at more than 391,000 in April, 2015.

The latest statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) show that subscribers of fixed phone service in the Sultanate stood at 391.783 at the end of April against 385.714 subscribers in March, registering a rise of 4.4 per cent.

Subscribers of pre-paid fixed phone service (Sahl) stood at 38.779 against 35.768 at the end of March, comprising a rise by 17.3 per cent.

The billed fixed phone lines stood at 298.316 in April, compared with 295. 433 in March,2015.

The number of public phones all over the Sultanate stood at 6,801. The number of integrated services digital networks (ISDN) witnessed a slight increase com-pared to the number of fixed wireless lines which witnessed a slight decline.

Subscribers of billed GSM ser-vice stood at 6,282.196 by the end of April against 6,240.320 during March, comprising a rise by 1.4 per cent. -ONA

N C S I D A T A

6,801 is the total number of

public phones installed

all over the Sultanate



A5


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Yemeni expats in Oman fear more violence at home

SALEH AL [email protected]

MUSCAT: Yemenis living in Oman are alarmed at the violence in their country as they fear it will get out of control with most of them feeling helpless and con-cerned about the safety of their relatives back home as Saudi bombings continue to shell civil-ian targets.

Saudi-led air strikes started eight weeks ago to stop the Houthi tribe from advancing after they forced Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the country.

“I received the devastating news about my brother-in-law being killed two days after air strikes when part of a house collapsed on him. He was only 32 and has left behind three orphan children,” Ahmed Al Hakmani, a Yemeni resident in Muscat told the Times of Oman.

Salim Al Hadhrami, who has

been working in Oman for 18 years, had a similar story after his relative disappeared, only to be found dead in a morgue.

“My cousin walked out of his house and never came back. His body was found in a morgue three days ago after he disappeared for four weeks. It is terrible when you live away from home and your country is at war. I really hope the Saudis will stop this aggression and let people in Yemen solve their own problems,” Al Hadrami said.

A five day ceasefire that ended on May 17 did not bring about any positive result. The Saudis re-started the air assaults the second day with both sides blaming each other when truce negotiations broke down.

Oman has received hundreds of

Yemeni refugees fleeing the vio-lence. Over 100 are being treated in local hospitals on humanitarian grounds. Issa Al Mabrooki fears for the safety of his parents just outside Sanaa, the capital of Yem-en, after communication chan-nels broke down.

“I am really worried about my parents and two sisters. I have not been able to call them in the last three days because their tel-ephones are disconnected. I don’t know whether they are alive or not. At the moment, there is no way of knowing,” Al Mabrooki told the Times of Oman.

It is estimated that there are over 4,000 Yemeni expatriates working in Oman in various jobs such as retail, restaurants, con-struction and financial services.

It is estimated that

more than 4,000

Yemeni expatriates

are working in Oman

in various jobs

The Walk to redefine dining experience in the SultanateTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Already home to 26 top-class restaurants and cafes, The Walk will be an additional destination dining experience along the Marina promenade, coming up later this year.

The Walk, the award winning lifestyle heart of The Wave, Mus-cat, has redefined dining in Oman - transitioning the thriving water-front community into a culinary destination.

With its striking location and combination of year-round in-door and al fresco restaurants, food outlets and cafés, The Walk provides all the right ingredients for an extraordinary culinary ad-venture.

“There are three distinct as-pects of The Walk - the wide cosmopolitan, palm-fringed pedestrian and family friendly boulevard al fresco dining, the chillaxed indulgent marina view, and the contemporary casual in-door experience - offering a truly diverse blend of dining with a dy-namic and a growing mix of crea-

tive concepts that draws people from across Muscat - each new restaurant and café adding anoth-er layer for experimenting for the visitor,” commented Troy Hart, VP of Assets, The Wave, Muscat.

“We think what’s more remark-able than the quality of dining at The Walk will be the variety. Each restaurant has its own dis-tinct style and the choice of din-ing options is unique to Muscat,” added Hart.

Eateries for all occasionsIndeed, The Walk has eateries for all occasions –a quick bite, a full-scale family celebration, a ro-mantic dinner for two, a business lunch, a catch-up over tea or cof-fee with friends, with or without a sweet treat.

And every palate is catered to. A short stroll around The Walk is a global journey for the gourmet -- from a Lebanese feast, a taste of Thailand, an American savoury experience to Japanese delights and Italian classics.

According to Hart, The Walk is more than a dining destination,

“A visit to The Walk is a complete lifestyle experience. While serv-ing the needs of residents and visitors, it has also been a place for entertainment, for watching live shows, or to participate in activi-ties. There are fireworks or one can join in the fun of The Wave, Muscat’s annual carnival. It is a place to relax too, to unwind and take in the surroundings, enjoy-ing the simple pleasures. . Indeed, a visit to The Walk is something to savour.”

Future focussed, The Wave, Muscat continually reviews its Master Plan and explores new assets, amenities and facilities to ensure an optimum experi-ence for residents and visitors. It is proud to be recognised as a benchmark for world-class devel-opment in Oman and the region.

The success of The Wave, Mus-cat is thanks in no small part to the shared vision and commit-ment of the government of Oman and Majid Al Futtaim, who have provided the solid foundation that underpins the community’s continued growth.

TOP-CLASS: An artist’s impression of The Walk that will provide all the right ingredients for an ex-

traordinary culinary experience. -Supplied photo

App offers one-touch access to Oman Air’s servicesTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Oman Air has launched a new app for smart phones, iPads, tablets and other mobile devices that enables cus-tomers to book flights, purchase tickets, check in, update their flight status, find out about Oman Air’s latest offers and access up-to-the-minute service information.

Available now in both Apple and Android versions, Oman Air’s app is free to download from ei-ther the Apple Store (www.store.apple.com) or Google Play Store Android (www.play.google.com/store). It is available in both, Eng-lish and Arabic language versions.

The app is much faster than the mobile web and connects quickly to Oman Air’s site. Furthermore, the app makes it easier than ever to book flights with Oman Air us-ing credit or debit cards. It is ena-bled with a 3D Secure enhanced security feature and processes online card transactions whilst protecting all confidential infor-mation. The booking and pur-chase of tickets is completed in

just a couple of clicks or taps on customised screens.

Sourah Sinha, chief officer, IT, Oman Air said, “The launching of this app is a significant milestone for Oman Air. Our valued passen-gers can now do online check-in, know of their flight status and

book tickets online, all at the tap of a finger. Oman Air believes in redefining passenger comforts and this is yet another example of the national carrier rising to the expectations of its patrons.”

Customers who prefer not to download the app can still book and pay for flights, and access all of Oman Air’s web-based ser-vices, using the airline’s Mobile websiteat http://m.omanair.com.

Oman Air’s launch of the app is just the latest step in the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman’s digital strategy. Customers can book and pay for tickets online and check in via the web – within an extended timeframe of up to 36 hours before take-off. In addition, the airline’s easy to use website has now been fully redesigned.

These developments ensured that Oman Air’s digital presence was recognised at the 8th Oman Web Awards in 2014. The Awards acknowledge excellence in web design and web development skills, and Oman Air triumphed in the ‘E-commerce’, ‘Food and Bev-erages’ and ‘Services’ categories.

D I G I T A L P R E S E N C E

D I N I N G

MUCH FASTER: The new app

is available in both Apple and

Android versions. – Supplied photo

‘Plots, package for Batinah road project-affected people’MUSCAT: Efforts are being made to come up with suitable solutions to compensate all those citizens whose properties have been affected by the Al Batinah Coastal Road Project, Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Shabibi, Min-ister of Housing, has said.

He pointed out that instead of building alternative houses, as was planned before, owners of each affected house will be granted a residential plot of land and a monetary compensation. The house owner will sign a con-tract with the contractor to build his house the way he likes. This will accelerate the compensation mechanism and resolve the long pending issue.

He pointed out that the owner of each affected house will re-

ceive a minimum of OMR45,000, and the amount may be even more, depending on a number of factors, such as the number of rooms, the annexes and other technical issues.

Alternative houseHe also pointed out that cases in which affected parties opted for an alternative house have been sorted out. These cases will re-ceive a housing unit from among the units that were completed at the first stage. The new mecha-nism will apply to the remainder 4,143 cases, which are still on the waiting list. As of last year, 3,813 owners of affected houses have received land plots and financial compensation.

He added that the ministry is

currently completing the con-struction of 2,200 housing units to compensate the citizens whose houses were affected and who opted for an alternative house.

The Minister of Housing af-firmed that the ministry has ex-tended the compensation period to 31 December 2010 instead of 3 January 2005; as was the case before. Each family which proves that it had been living in the af-fected house during this period will get OMR35,000 , as is the case now.

As for the farms and space lands that have been affected by the project, he pointed out that the ministry has compensated 64 per cent of the total affected areas (29,702,000 square me-tres) during the past period.

H O U S I N G M I N I S T E R S E T A T E M E N T

Crafts body chief takes stock of unitSINAW: To follow up work-flow of the department and its needs to achieve quality and innovation in work, Sheikha Ayisha bint Khalfan Al Siyabi-yah, chairperson of the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI), visited the training and the production centre of dagger and silversmithing in the Niya-bat of Sinaw in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah.

The chairperson of PACI ac-quainted herself with various types of daggers manufactured in the centre, in addition to various kinds of silver jewellery produced by the trainees. Dur-ing the visit, she also studied the views and proposals to develop craft work. -ONA

P A C I

HAVE YOUR SAY Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com [email protected]

CAUSE OF WORRY: Armed Yemeni tribal gunmen in a street in the

southern city of Taez on Sunday. -AFP

A6


Ineco had been commissioned by the government to

develop Muscat’s Public Transport Master Plan, and will

now offer its consultancy services for a nation-wide plan

Ahmed bin Ali Al Bulushi, CEO of ONTC, Muscat

‘Project to help get trust of customers’

Al Rahbi said his company offers a wide range of legal services re-lated to civil and property rights, commercial activities, labour is-sues, criminal cases, family and sharia, banking and insurance among others and is keen to coop-erate with entrepreneurs to help them enhance their services.

Fahad AlAbri, director general at the Information Technology Authority (ITA), also hailed the initiative, saying that there is po-tential for developing more mo-bile applications in Oman, given the vast world of IT.

ITA’s supportIt may be a small-scale project now but the company can gain the trust of users and grow its cus-tomer base outside Oman, includ-ing in the Gulf Cooperation Coun-cil (GCC) region, he said.

DDS is one of the companies being incubated under ‘SasPro-gramme’, an ITA’s initiative which aims to encourage the develop-ment of IT and IT-related start-ups in Oman, said AlAbri, noting that more programmes like ‘Sas’ are required.

Two applicationsSpeaking to the Times of Oman, Faisal Ali Abdullah Al Manthri, chief executive officer of DDS,

said the initiative basically com-prises two applications — one for drivers and the other for passen-gers. The passenger who needs a taxi sends a request through the application and a driver, who is registered with the company, re-ceives the request.

The request will be sent to the driver closest to the passenger, whose location is displayed on the map, and the driver will have a limited amount of time to accept the request, otherwise, it will be sent to the next driver.

FeaturesAl Manthri said that OTaxi, avail-able in English and Arabic, allows for both immediate and advance booking and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. The desktop version of the application is also available.

In the note section of the appli-cation, the passenger can leave a comment and can request either a shared or engaged taxi and also rate the driver, he added.

Taxi usersThe application will not only ben-efit taxi users inside Muscat, but also foreign tourists planning to visit the city as they can use OTaxi to book a cab in advance.

The application for passen-

gers can be downloaded for free, but taxi drivers will have to pay a small registration amount.

“However, the registration for taxi drivers is free for a limited period of time now, around one or two months,” the Omani entre-preneur said, encouraging more taxi drivers to come on board.

Every day, two or three driv-ers are joining the initiative, he added.

Driver’s informationAccording to him, the driver’s name, his vehicle registration de-tails, his picture, his ID number and some other necessary information are displayed to the passenger, in a bid to enhance the safety of taxi users. A history of the interactions through the application will be saved for both the passenger and the driver as well, he said.

FareThe fare still has to be negotiated by the passenger and the driver but a new feature will be added to the application in a couple of weeks, which will display the rate in advance, said Al Manthri.

The option to pay by credit card will also be added soon and more languages such as French and German will be added, he stated.

Al Manthri added that another

feature will also become available in future, enabling users to choose from hotel taxis and airport taxis as well.

Other locationsIn addition, he said, “We are working to make the application available outside Muscat as well. Our next targets are Salalah and Sohar.” For the taxi drivers who may not be using smart phones, a call centre is being planned to help them reach out to passen-gers, he added.

Saleh SaifAmer Al Hashmi, development manager at DDS, said that as part of the initiative, ‘OTaxi button’, will be made avail-able at reception areas in hotels or even at schools to help them use this service.

Promoting cultureHe also said that the culture of using the application properly should be promoted as some com-plaints have been received that a passenger makes a request but then does not show up.

“There is a cancel option so the passenger should inform the driver as soon as possible if he wants to cancel the request or should give a call to the taxi driver. People should take it seriously,” said Al Hashmi.

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NEW INITIATIVE: From left: Fahad AlAbri, director general at ITA; Khalifa Al Rahbi, legal partner, Faisal Al Manthri, CEO of DaleelDigital

Solutions Company (DDS); Saleh Al Hashmi, development manager at DDS. – Supplied picture

Spanish firm to develop Muscat’s transport system

According to him, Ineco will map out the strategy for public bus ser-vices and routes first in Muscat and then in other governorates, and will provide an integrated financial plan to ensure the sus-tainability of public transport services, and will also determine future requirements in related fields. It will be a preparation for the integration of ONTC’s servic-es with other modes of transport supervised by other authorities, he added.

Speaking to reporters, Ahmed bin Ali Al Bulushi, the chief ex-ecutive officer of ONTC, said that Ineco had been commissioned by the government to develop Mus-cat’s Public Transport Master Plan, and will now offer its con-sultancy services for a nation-wide plan, taking into considera-tion everything related to public transport, including routes and stations. He said that the purpose of the project is to introduce bet-ter public transport services in the capital, connecting cities, and areas in major cities such as Sala-lah, Sohar and Nizwa.

Training programmesONTC is developing training pro-grammes and all the infrastruc-ture related to this project, said Al Bulushi.

Asked which modes of trans-port will be included in the mas-ter plan, Jesús Silva, president of Ineco, said that for the time being,

the main objective is to start with bus transportation. However, the undersecretary said the idea is to include all modes of transport.

“In a master plan, you should include everything,” Silva noted, adding, “The master plan will consider all modes of transpor-tation, but in the short term, the idea is to start with bus trans-portation.” He said that the team tasked with developing the plan is seeking to finish the work in 52 weeks from now.

“We will hopefully be ready to start operations by the National

Day,” he said, adding that a techni-cal team of engineers from Ineco will arrive in Muscat on Tuesday to hold the first technical meet-ings with ONTC officials.

Commenting on Muscat’s Pub-lic Transport Master Plan, Silva said, “We are going to start work-ing now. We have had some initial meetings.” Ineco is seeking to develop a ‘realistic’ master plan, which can start operating as soon as possible, he said. Silva also noted that he does not foresee any challenges or delay in the imple-mentation of the project.

P U B L I C T R A N S P O R T

CONTRACT AWARDED: Spain-based Ineco firm has been tasked

with drawing up the master plan for Muscat and other parts of

the Sultanate. - Photo: Talib Al Wahibi

Seeb wilayat tops monthly marriage chart in Sultanate

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Crude marriage rate, which measures the number of marriages per 1,000 resident population, reached 7.4 in 2013 in Oman, while the general mar-riage rate, which considers only nationals aged 15 years and above, reached 9.4 per 1,000 people, ac-cording to latest statistics issued by the National Centre for Statis-tics and Information (NCSI) on the occasion of International Day of Families that falls on May 15.

The statistics based on 2013 data also show that the crude di-

vorce rate in the Sultanate stood at one, even as general divorce rate touched 1.2 per 1,000 nationals.

The highest number of mar-riages was recorded in September, while divorces peaked in February.

Compared to 2012, the num-ber of Omani female citizens who married other GCC nationalities in 2013 rose by six, while the num-ber of Omani female citizens who married non-GCC nationals in-creased by 19.

On the other hand, marriage of Omani male citizens to other GCC nationalities decreased by 33 cas-es. There was also a fall of 13 cases in the number of Omani male citi-zens who married non-GCC na-tionals in the same year.

At the governorate level, Al-Batinah North recorded the high-est marriage percentage at 23.5, while the lowest rate of one per cent was recorded in Al Wusta.

Among the wilayats, Seeb logged the highest number of monthly marriages, recording an average of 170 marriages, while the wilayats of Barka and Dhalkoot recorded the lowest at an average two mar-riages a month.

As for the divorce cases, Muscat Governorate recorded the high-est percentage among the gov-ernorates at 23, while the lowest figure was noted in Musandam at 0.5 per cent.

Among the wilayats, Salalah recorded the largest number of di-vorce cases in 2013 with the num-ber reaching 398.

The Wilayat of Barka recorded just two cases, while wilayat of Madha recorded not a single di-vorce case during 2013, the NCSI figures show.

The highest number

of marriages in

Oman was recorded

in September while

divorces peaked

in February

Number of marriagesCrude rate (per 1,000 people)

Percentage

(2013 statistics)

Residents

Nationals(aged above 15)

7.4

9.4

Marriages Divorces

Highest

Lowest

Al BatinahNorth

Al Wusta

23.5%

1%

Muscat

Musandam

23%

0.5%

Source: NCSI Graphics

‘People should work in sectors for which they are hired’He said that some other companies don’t allow government employees to have commercial licences.

Bangladesh Social Club Presi-dent Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan said that the activities of some recruitment agencies should be examined as well.

“I firmly believe that people

should work in the sectors for which they have been hired,” he said.

Shaji Sebastin, a Muscat-based social worker, said workers should be aware of rogue recruitment agencies.

“This is how the workers get the so-called free visa and they try to

do different kind of jobs. If this is to be stopped, stringent control measures should be taken by both the sending and receiving coun-tries,” he said.

Meanwhile, the latest data re-leased by the ministry of man-power states that between May 18 and 21, around 397 illegal workers

were deported and 1,580 had regis-tered for returning home.

Statistics also revealed that 1,402 expatriates have been caught for Labour Law violations between May 17 and May 23.

“Among them, 1,285 were com-mercial workers while 64 were farmers and 53 were domestic

servants,” it said. The Muscat Governorate has registered the highest number of Labour Law vi-olators for this week with 1,104 fol-lowed by 105 in North Asharqiyah Governorate.

The new airport where these workers were working is being designed in such a way that will be

able to accommodate the world’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380 and will have capacity to handle 12 million passengers per annum once completed.

The total gross floor area for the new Muscat International terminal building is 344,995 square metres.

R E C R U I T M E N T O F W O R K E R S

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REGIONM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

Iraqi security forces inspect the site of a

car bomb attack on the outskirt of Diyala

province on Sunday. The attack killed

three civilians and wounded eight others.

Iraq regains ground in Ramadi as mass killings reported in Syria

BAGHDAD/BEIRUT: Iraqi forces recaptured territory from advancing IS militants near the recently-fallen city of Ramadi on Sunday, while in Syria the govern-ment said the extremists had killed hundreds of people since captur-ing the town of Palmyra.

The fall of Ramadi and Palmyra, on opposite ends of the vast terri-tory controlled by IS extremists, were the militant group’s biggest successes since a US-led coalition launched an air war to stop them last year.

The near simultaneous victo-ries against the Iraqi and Syrian armies have forced Washington to examine its strategy, which in-volves bombing from the air but leaving fighting on the ground to local forces in both countries.

In a sharp criticism of Washing-ton’s ally, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter accused Iraq’s army of abandoning Ramadi, a provincial capital west of Baghdad, to a much smaller enemy force. “The Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight,” he told CNN’s State of the Union programme. “They vastly outnum-bered the opposing force, and yet they withdrew from the site.”

Iraq’s government, along with Iran-backed militiamen and locally-recruited tribal fighters, launched a counter-offensive on Saturday, a week after losing Ram-adi. A police major and a pro-gov-ernment tribal fighter in the area said they had retaken the town of Husaiba Al Sharqiya, about 10km

(6 miles) east of Ramadi.“Today we regained control over

Husaiba and are laying plans to make more advances to push back IS militants,” said local tribal lead-er Amir Al Fahdawi.

“The morale of the (pro-govern-ment) fighters is high after the ar-rival of reinforcements and loads

of ammunition,” Fahdawi said. “Today’s advance will speed up the clock for a major advance to regain control of Ramadi.”

Planes were bombing IS group positions on the opposite bank of the Euphrates river, where the militants were launching mor-tars and sniper fire to prevent the

pro-government forces advancing, Fahdawi and the police major said.

Days after taking Ramadi, IS also defeated forces of the Syrian government of President Bashar Al Assad to capture Palmyra, home to 50,000 people and site of some of the world’s most extensive and best-preserved Roman ruins.

The fighters have killed at least 400 people, including women and children in Palmyra since captur-ing the ancient Syrian city four days ago, Syrian state media said on Sunday. It was not immediately possible to verify that account, but it was consistent with reports by activists that the Islamist fighters had carried out executions, leaving hundreds of bodies in the streets.

The militants have proclaimed a caliphate to rule over territory they hold in both Syria and Iraq. They have a history of carrying out mass killings in towns and cities they capture, and of dynamiting and bulldozing ancient monuments. “The terrorists have killed more than 400 people ... and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the govern-ment and did not follow orders,” Syria’s state news agency said, cit-ing residents inside the city.

Many of those killed were state employees, including the head of the nursing department at the hos-pital and all her family members, it said. IS supporters have posted videos on the Internet they say show fighters going room to room in Palmyra’s government build-ings, searching for hiding troops and pulling down pictures of Assad and his father. The Syrian Obser-vatory for Human Rights, which monitors violence in the country with a network of sources on the ground, says beheadings have tak-en place in the town since it fell but has not given an estimate for the toll among civilians. It says at least 300 soldiers were killed in the days of fighting before the city was cap-tured. — Reuters

US examines strategy

after IS victories

against the Iraqi and

Syrian armies

Saudi king ‘heartbroken’ by bombingDUBAI: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia said on Sunday he was heartbro-ken over a suicide bombing that killed 21 people at a mosque in the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported.

King Salman said anyone linked to the attack, claimed by the IS militant group, or who sym-pathised with it, would be brought to justice.

Aggression“We were pained by the enor-mity of the crime of this terror-ist aggression which contradicts religious and humanitarian val-ues,” the king said in a message to Crown Prince Mohammed bin

Nayef, who is also the interior minister. A militant blew him-self up in the Al Qadeeh village mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province during Friday prayers,

in one of the worst attacks in the kingdom in years.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said there was evidence of a link between IS’s leader Abu Bakr Al -Baghdadi and a militant cell in Saudi Arabia that had included the mosque bomber, identified as Saudi citizen Saleh bin Abdul Rahman Saleh Qashimi.

UnidentifiedAn unidentified subordinate of Baghdadi communicated with five Saudi men, now in Saudi cus-tody, belonging to the same cell as Qashimi, ministry spokesman Bassam Al Attiyeh said.

“We’re talking about a terror-ist infrastructure, we’re talking about a very broad organisation

that operates within the country,” Al Attiyeh told reporters in the capital Riyadh.

“This organisation starts with Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and under him the suspect whom we’ve mentioned, and one grade below him their combat and bombing wing ... under which is the killings and assassinations wing which undertook the Al Qadeeh incident.”

The bombing in Saudi Arabia has come as tensions are on the increase in the region.

Saudi Arabia is also part of an international coalition car-rying out bombing strikes on IS targets in Iraq and Syria, and IS has threatened to launch revenge attacks. — Reuters

A T T A C K O N M O S Q U E

Rouhani calls for national unity

to free economy from sanctions

TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Sun-day for national unity to liberate the economy from international sanctions, which he compared to a form of occupation.

Also on Sunday, Abbas Aragh-chi, Iranian deputy foreign minis-ter and nuclear negotiator denied accepting military site inspec-tions as part of a nuclear deal with world powers.

“We must join hands and free our economic territory which was unjustly occupied by the coun-tries of the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany) and the UN Secu-rity Council ... through use of dip-lomatic and political tools,” Rou-hani said in a televised speech.

The UN Security Council adopted six resolutions, four of which imposed sanctions, against Iran’s nuclear and missile pro-grammes between 2006 and 2010.

Since 2012, the United States and the European Union have also applied a series of unilateral sanctions that specifically target the energy and banking sectors.

Iranian oil exports have fallen from more than 2.2 million bar-rels per day (bpd) in 2011 to about 1.3 million bpd, and Iran is banned from the SWIFT global banking network.

“The people keep us from sell-ing our oil,” Rouhani said in the speech to mark the 33rd anniver-sary of the liberation of the Ira-

nian city of Khorramshahr.The banking industry is also

under a form of occupation be-cause “we cannot send or receive money” overseas, he said.

“It is as if blood was prevented from flowing in (our) veins,” Rou-hani added.

In early April Tehran and world powers concluded a framework agreement aiming to pave the way for a final nuclear agreement by June 30.

Political and technical ex-perts from both sides held talks on drafting the text in Vienna on Friday with negotiations due to resume on Tuesday in the Austrian capital.

Araghchi reportedly made the remarks as he briefed a parliamen-tary committee on the progress of the talks with the P5+1. “In his report, Mr Araghchi said that in-

spections of military sites have been accepted but the inspections are regulated and will be seri-ously managed,” lawmaker Javad Karimi-Ghodoussi was quoted as saying by Fars news agency. The remarks appeared to contradict those of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said this week that inspections of military sites and interviews of scientists by for-eign experts were excluded from a nuclear agreement.

Araghchi later denied the lawmaker’s comments on his Instagram page. “What can we do except put the fate of Karimi-Ghodoussi and Fars in the hands of God?” he wrote alongside a pic-ture of a Fars headline that read: “We accepted the inspection of military sites”.

A parliamentary spokesman said that during the briefing, Araghchi had “explained that the inspections will take place in the framework of the (Nuclear Non-proliferation) Additional Proto-col”. “It will not be like the Ameri-cans can inspect any place at any time,” said Behrouz Nemati, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, adding “these inspections will be regulated”.

The United States says Iran has agreed in principle to enhanced inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), particularly un-der the Additional Protocol that allows snap inspections. — Agencies

G L O B A L C U R B S

DOHA: The Gulf Coopera-tion Council (GCC) on Sunday rejected claims a US-led coali-tion air campaign against the IS group has failed following advances by militants in Syria and Iraq.

Speaking in Doha, after a meeting between foreign min-isters of the GCC and European Union (EU), Khalid Al Attiyah, Qatar’s foreign minister, con-ceded that military action alone was not enough.

‘Not failing’“The coalition is not failing but the air campaign is not enough,” Attiyah, who was representing GCC countries at the meeting, told reporters.

“There are so many steps which we have to cooperate and coordinate together. To date the campaign against terror is effective. “One of them is to en-hance and expedite the dialogue

in Iraq, and in Syria it is to find a way out to save the Syrian people, because they have been put between the tyranny of the regime and the brutality of the

terrorist,” he said. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogher-ini, described the latest news from Syria and Iraq, “especial-ly” the capture of

Palmyra, as “dramatic”.“Only a political solution,

both in Syria and Iraq, can pro-vide a settlement for the crisis,” she said.

Significant areasThe day-long meeting touched on several significant areas of interest between the two sides, including the conflict in Yemen ahead of UN-brokered peace talks expected to take place next week in Geneva.

Talks in Doha also touched upon economics, with both sides saying they would con-tinue to have discussions on establishing a free trade area between the 28-member EU and the six-state GCC.

Mogherini said trade between the EU and GCC had been growing at an “incredible rate” and reached “$165 billion (150 billion) euros last year”. — AFP

GCC denies US-led coalition air campaign against IS has failed

MAKING A POINT: Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohamed

Al Attiyah speaks on screen during the 24th session of the joint

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-EU ministerial council meeting

on Sunday in the Qatari capital Doha. – AFP

PAINED: King Salman bin Ab-

dulaziz Al Saud. – AFP

APPEAL: Iranian President

Hassan Rouhani. – AFP

T I M E S O F O M A NM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5 T I M E S O F O M A NA8

INDIA‘Modi and Mamata are dictatorial and together’

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Nar-endra Modi and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee were “two sides of a coin” as they were both “dictatorial”, Congress on Sunday said attacking the rul-ing parties at the Centre and the state and claimed that they have reached a tacit understanding.

The opposition party also tar-geted Arun Jaitley, who has been in the forefront of the NDA gov-ernment’s campaign to highlight its achievements, saying the Union Finance Minister “is the most ef-fective spinner in Indian politics”.

“Modi and Mamata are the most trusted friends of each other and both show similar traits,” Con-gress leader Jairam Ramesh told a press conference here.

“Modi and Mamata are two sides of a coin, both are dictatori-al,” he said presenting a report card on the BJP government’s one year in power at the Centre.

“When he came to power, Modi

had talked of maximum govern-ance and minimum government, but just one year later we find it is maximum arrogance and one-man government,” Ramesh said.

“This is a mirror image of the situation in Bengal and that is why they (Modi and Mamata) are to-gether,” he claimed.

Both Modi and Mamata had made no-holds barred attacks on each other during the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and till recently did not see eye to eye.

The prime minister and Mama-ta, however, shared dais during his recent visit to the state and Modi praised her at public functions during the visit.

They also held a meeting at the Raj Bhawan here.

TargetedIn a scathing attack on Jaitley, Ramesh said, “He is the most ef-fective spinner in Indian politics.Jaitley is more than the combined force of finest spinners Indian cricket has ever produced.”

“When Jaitley says that there is no understanding between Trina-mool Congress and BJP, I am as-

sured that the opposite is true,” the former union minister said.

He alleged that in the last two-three months there has been a lull in the investigation into the Sarad-ha chit fund scam, which is being handled by the CBI.

Presenting a five-chapter report card on Modi’s completion of one year in government, Ramesh said, “Modi stands for Murder of Demo-cratic India. The prime minister has completely bypassed Parliament.”

He claimed that while the Modi government has come down on civil society and NGOs, it has also not held any all-party meeting in the last one year.

“He (Modi) has not appointed any chief information officer for RTI and is thus systematically kill-ing the Right to Information Act.

“There has been no chief vigi-lance officer for the last seven months,” he said.

Alleging that the Modi govern-ment has brutally cut down budg-etary allocation for education, health and rural roads, Ramesh said this has badly affected pro-grammes for poverty alleviation and welfare of rural people. -PTI

When he came to

power, Modi had

talked of maximum

governance

and minimum

government, but just

one year later we

find it is maximum

arrogance and one-

man government,

Congress leader

Jairam Ramesh said

When Jaitley says that there is no understanding between Trinamool Congress and BJP, I am assured that the opposite is true

Jairam RameshCongress leader

HYDERABAD: Launching a counter offensive against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for giving the Modi government “zero out of 10” for handling farmers’ issues, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said “zeroes cannot see beyond zero”.

“The entire world is hailing Modi as a great leader, a man of action. GDP rate has gone up, inflation is reduced, and you say zero. Zeroes cannot see beyond zero. Zeroes have no ability to acknowledge heroes,” he said.

Asked about Rahul’s new-found aggression following his return from a 56-day sab-batical, Naidu said the govern-ment was “least worried”.

“Rahul has been in politics for 11 years. What has hap-pened? Congress party lost eight states.(It) lost even position of the recognized opposition. They are trying to replace their failures by aggressive words, by making cheap allegations against the government at times,” Naidu said. Forced to refer the land bill to a joint Parliamentary committee by the Congress-led Opposition, Naidu said the government was open to bringing in fresh changes in it provided suggestions were wise and did not alter the ba-sic purpose of the legislation.

“Yes, I am open to changes provided suggestions are made with correct wisdom. I have made nine amendments.

Secondly, if there is a meaningful suggestion, let it be considered without alter-ing the basic purpose of the Act,” he said. Naidu said steps taken by the Narendra Modi government for corruption-free administration, taming inflation, financial inclusion, enhanced focus on social security, pro-active foreign policy, cooperative federalism had replaced the “atmosphere of despair” with one of “hope and enthusiasm”. He identi-fied agriculture, irrigation, insurance and bringing down interest rates as part of the government’s agenda for its second year in office.

The Modi government completes one year in office on Tuesday.

The senior BJP leader said, “People must understand that the Modi government has in-herited issues like Naxalism, cross-border terrorism, a de-railed economy and a policy paralysis. Within no time we have made a turnaround.” - PTI

Naidu hits back at Rahul over ‘zero out of 10’ remark

Heatwave continues in many parts of country, death toll rises to 368NEW DELHI: At least 145 peo-ple died due to intense heat wave in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since Saturday, raising to 368 the death toll in the blistering weather conditions which continued in many parts of the country on Sun-day, including Delhi.

In Delhi, the day temperature was recorded at 44.5 degree Cel-sius, the same as Saturday, which is five notches above normal.

In Andhra Pradesh, 87 deaths were reported since Saturday, tak-ing the toll to 182. The death toll in the state on Saturday stood at 95.

Prakasam district has recorded the maximum deaths of 57, state disaster management officials said. Reports from some districts are still being compiled.

The toll pertains to the period from May 18 till Sunday evening for Andhra Pradesh, the officials

said. Telangana reported death of 58 more people since Saturday, as a result of which the toll went up to 186 in 10 districts of the state, a senior official of State Disaster Management Department said.

The death toll on Saturday stood at 128. Nalgonda district re-corded the maximum number 55 of deaths, followed by Khammam district at 43 and Mahabubnagar district at 23, she said.

In Hyderabad, two persons have died to heatwave. The toll is regis-tered from April 15 in Telangana, the official said.

Khammam district had record-ed a maximum temperature of 48 degree Celsius on Friday.

According to India Meteorologi-cal department, severe heatwave conditions are expected to contin-ue till Monday in both these states.

Heat wave continued in various

other parts of the country as well.There was no respite from

blistering heat in desert state of Rajasthan where Jaisalmer and Sriganganagar district remained the hottest place with recording a maximum of 45.6 degree Celsius.

Kota recorded maximum of 45.5 degree Celsius while Bikaner and Barmer registered day tempera-ture of 44.6 and 44.2 degrees, re-spectively. - PTI

H O T S U M M E R

SCORCHING HEAT: Tourists

try to shield themselves from

scorching heat in New Delhi on

Sunday. -PTI

Rajnath says Indian Muslims ‘nationalists’LUCKNOW: Contending that terrorism should not be associ-ated with any particular reli-gion, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described In-dia’s Muslims as “nationalists” who always “opposed terror” and did not allow radical groups to influence them.

He also asked Pakistan, being a victim of terrorism itself, to extend full cooperation in com-bating the menace.

“Muslims in India are na-tionalists. They have always opposed such (terror) elements. They have opposed and demor-alised them,” the Home Minis-ter said.

“It (Pakistan) should extend full cooperation in checking ter-rorism because the country is facing a similar problem today,” he told reporters.

On Pakistan’s strong reaction to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s recent remarks about neutralising terrorists through terrorists, Singh said, “Not only India, but the entire world knows who is promoting terrorism.”

Earlier, addressing a SBI offic-ers’ convention Singh expressed concern over Fake Indian Cur-rency Note racket and said it was used to promote terrorism and asked banks to be alert.

Singh, who also launched BJP’s Mahasampark Abhiyan, rejected opposition’s criticism of the Narendra Modi govern-ment that it had done nothing except for making tall promises, asserting global opinion was that India will become an eco-nomic super power by 2025.

“Analysis of one year of NDA rule is being done not only in In-dia, but internationally. Today, I can claim that the work done by the popular government led by Modi has made people believe globally that India will become an economic super power by 2025,” he said. -PTI

O P P O S E D T O T E R R O R

Venkaiah Naidu

T I M E S O F O M A N M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5T I M E S O F O M A N A9

INDIAJAYA BACK WITH POPULIST SCHEMESJayalalithaa gives a dal packet to a beneficiary after introducing a scheme of providing dals at cheap rates at the secretariat

in Chennai on Sunday. Attending office for the first time in her fifth shot as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa cleared

a string of welfare proposals and declared open 201 more eateries under the populist ‘Amma Canteen’ scheme. Getting down

to the business of governance in the state, Jayalalithaa cleared a slew of welfare schemes worth over Rs180 billion, including

those for improving road and drinking water facilities and extending assistance to indigent families headed by women. - PTI

AAP says it is ‘battle ready’, hardens position on tussle

NEW DELHI: As it completed an eventful 100 days in office, AAP government on Sunday mounted a blistering attack on Modi dispen-sation accusing it of making a “U-turn” on granting full statehood to Delhi and indicated tabling a resolution to reject the “unconsti-tutional” notification giving abso-lute powers to the Lt Governor.

In further hardening of its posi-tion, Deputy Chief Minister Man-

ish Sisodia said AAP government will not compromise on the issue and alleged that the Centre was trying run Delhi “by hook or by crook” and violating the “federal structure”.

The party legislators went into a huddle with the top leadership at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence ahead of the two-day ‘emergency’ session of the Delhi Assembly starting Tuesday.

The MLAs slammed the Cen-tre’s “infringement” on their rights, setting the tone for the As-

sembly session. The party has a strength of 67 in a House of 70.

Sources said there will be an “open” Cabinet meeting at a pub-lic event on Tuesday on the occa-sion of 100 days of AAP govern-ment, where the full statehood issue is likely to be discussed.

Though the MLAs refused to come on record on whether the party would move a resolution against the Home Ministry’s no-tification, the sources said such a step was “very likely”.

“Modiji himself said and they

put it in their manifesto to give Delhi a full statehood. Now, when the issue has come up, let alone our right, or talking about it, they are trying to bully us (dadagiri dikha rahen hain). Delhi govern-ment will not be mum on the is-sue,” Sisodia alleged.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he has “hope” from the upcom-ing session as the “Assembly is the mother of government and it is supreme and most empowered body.” In the campaign for Lok Sabha polls last year, BJP had

promised to declare Delhi a full state if the party came to power, noting that it will help ensure proper coordination between var-ious agencies.

BJP had swept the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi winning all seven seats with huge margins.

However, the party did not clearly spell out its position on the statehood issue in its vision docu-ment released ahead of Assembly polls in February.

In its manifestos for previ-ous assembly polls, the party had promised full statehood.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that full state-hood rights cannot be given to Delhi unless there is general con-sensus in the country over the issue as the matter concerns the national capital.

Sisodia also wondered why BJP was “scared” of a duel between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Nar-endra Modi.

“The Centre’s biggest U-turn in the last one year is on the issue of giving full statehood status to Delhi. Why is the BJP scared of Kejriwal vs Modi.”

He was quoted as saying this by the AAP’s official Twitter handle.

Sisodia also accused the media of “spreading lies” and maligning the image of Kejriwal. - PTI

Aam Aadmi Party

MLAs slammed

the Centre’s

‘infringement’ on

their rights, setting

the tone for the

assembly session.

The party has a

strength of 67

in a House of 70

MOUNTING A BLISTERING ATTACK ON MODI: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Alka Lamba and Saurabh

Bhardwaj at a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday. - PTI

Afzal Guru not hanged for

political reasons: Shinde

MUMBAI: Former union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday rejected National Conference leader Omar Ab-dullah’s claim that Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged for “political reasons” by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“Supreme Court had given the decision. The case had gone against him (Afzal) in the apex court. Mercy petition was also rejected. The decision (to hang Afzal) was taken after all these developments. It was not a politi-cal decision,” Shinde, said.

Asked what must have prompted Abdullah, who was the chief minister of Indian-ad-ministered-Kashmir when the hanging took place, to make such remarks now, Shinde said, “He may be wanting to indulge in pol-itics there in Kashmir. But at that time, he never brought such an aspect (about politics being be-hind the hanging) to our notice.”

“After the SC ruling and rejec-

tion of the mercy petition, people were expecting that Afzal will be hanged,” the senior Congress leader said.

Abdullah has claimed that hang-ing of Afzal Guru had been carried out for “political reasons” by the UPA government which had in-formed him only hours before.

Omar said he was out for a dinner with his sister at a Delhi restaurant, when he received a call from the then Shinde, who was then the home minister, in-forming him that he had signed the papers for Afzal to be hanged early next morning and asking him to make law and order ar-rangements. Guru, who was at se-rial number 28 in the list of con-demned prisoners, was hanged on February 9, 2013. -PTI

P A R L I A M E N T A T T A C K C O N V I C T

CBSE class XII exam results todayNEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will declare the results of class XII exam-inations on Monday at 12 noon.

The results would be uploaded on a number of websites including on www.results.nic.in, www.cb-seresults.nic.in and www.cbse.nic.in, the board said.

Students would also be able to know their results through an In-teractive Voice Response System (IVRS) by dialling 24300699 (Del-hi), 011-24300699 (other parts of the country).

MTNL subscribers can call 28127030 (Delhi) and 011-28127030 (other parts).

Class X resultsBesides, students would also be able to check their marks obtained through SMS (text message) ser-vices of certain mobile phone op-erators. Officials said the results of class X would also be announced in a couple of days.

Last year, a total of 10,28,928 candidates had registered for class XII examination and the pass per-centage across the country stood at 82.66 per cent.

The board, in its statement, added that post-result counselling would begin from Monday itself and continue till June 8, for which it has provided a toll-free number —1800118004. - PTI

1 2 N O O N


A10

PAKISTAN M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

Newsmen quit TV network linked to fake degree firm

KARACHI: Several senior jour-nalists resigned from a develop-ing Pakistani television network, Bol, on Saturday, in the latest fallout from a crisis engulfing the channel’s parent company, Axact, a software firm that profited im-mensely from international sales of fake diplomas.

The defections were led by Bol’s editor-in-chief, Kamran Khan, and came just hours after Pakistan’s interior minister an-nounced that the government was broadening its inquiry into Axact and intended to seek help from the FBI and Interpol.

Axact has been under intense scrutiny since federal investi-gators raided the company’s of-fices last Tuesday, after the pub-lication of an article in The New York Times that detailed how the Karachi-based software company made millions of dollars from sell-ing the fake degrees.

The scandal had already jeopardised the livelihood of at least 2,000 employees at Axact, and now it casts a shadow over Bol, which had declared ambi-

tions to become Pakistan’s top television network.

Khan is one of Pakistan’s best-known journalists. He quit a prime-time show at the rival Geo News channel last year to lead Bol.

Others who resigned include Bol’s president, Azhar Abbas, and at least three prominent journalists who had joined the network over the past year.

As Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, the

founder and chief executive offic-er of Axact, came under criticism in the news media last week, Bol started test transmissions. Shaikh said the channel would begin op-erations in mid-June, earlier than

expected. But the government investigation into Axact appears to have slowed that momentum. Interior Minister Chaudhry Ni-sar told reporters on Saturday in Islamabad, the capital, that a preliminary investigation had un-covered “serious, substantive evi-dence” against Axact.

Nisar said he hoped the FBI, Interpol and possibly British law enforcement could provide in-formation on “the universities that have come onto the radar,” a reference to hundreds of educa-tion websites, many with Ameri-can- or British-sounding names, run by Axact.

He said that the investigation might expand to include money laundering and that a decision on whether to file a criminal report - the first step in a prosecution - would be made in the next 10 days.

Investigators at the Axact of-fices in Karachi and Islamabad took away several computers, servers and documents last week, and also interviewed six execu-tives in Islamabad. — The News York

Times News Service

The defections were

led by Bol’s editor-in-

chief, Kamran Khan,

and came just hours

after the interior

minister announced

that the government

was broadening its

inquiry into Axact

and intended to

seek help from the

FBI and Interpol

SPIRALLING SCANDAL: People gather outside the building of the Axact company after a raid by the

Federal Investigation Agency in Karachi on May 19, 2015. — AFP file photo

Bol embarked on an aggressive recruitment campaign almost two years ago, poaching many senior and midlevel journalists from rival networks. Bol plans to have two channels, initially, as well as Urdu- and English-language newspapers

18 children injured as school bus overturnsKASUR: At least 18 children were injured on Sunday when a school bus overturned in Kasur, Express News reported.

The bus — carrying school-children — was heading towards Nathe Khalsa area where the inci-dent took place.

Soon after the accident, security forces and rescue teams arrived at the site and the injured, who are said to be in critical condition, were shifted to a nearby hospital.

On May 17, over a dozen people, including women and children, were injured when a bus over-turned trying to save two young men riding a motorcycle near the Lake View Park on Murree Road.

According to the police, a bus carrying around 40 passengers back from Murree overturned, leaving 14 people injured in an at-tempt to save two motorcyclists.

Meanwhile, three tourists lost their lives when they drowned in the Kunhar River near Faridabad, police said on Sunday.

Five tourists were in a car when it plunged into the river. Two of them were rescued and are in critical condition, while the bodies of the three other could not be retrieved.

Sub divisional police officer Syed Matloob Shah told reporters that five friends from Rawalpindi were on their way back home from an excursion tour in Naran, where they spent the night at a hotel.

When their car reached close to Faridabad, some 35 kilometers from Naran, Sunday morning, the driver lost control of the steering wheel and the vehicle skidded off the road and into the river.

“Rescue workers managed to retrieve two of the five victims while three are still missing and feared dead.

“Those rescued are Tanvir and Zeeshan Abbasi, while Akhlaq Ab-basi, Danish Abbasi and Rahat Ab-basi are still missing,” the police officer said.

“Local divers tried to rescue the other three but the heavy cur-rent of water swept them away”, he added. — Express Tribune

T R A G E D Y I N K A S U R

No point in changing

Sindh’s governor

BY ANWER MOORAJ

A week ago there was this spirited discussion on the state-owned PTV World

channel on whether the Muta-hidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) had the right to ask the current governor of Sindh to throw in the towel and go back to where he came from. His crime: To-tal apathy in the face of the sad, embarrassing and chronic piece of statecraft under which slan-derous insults have been hurled against MQM leader Altaf Hus-sain, and the fact that party workers have just disappeared without a trace.

There were four think tank wonks on the panel, two for the motion and two against. All four looked dreadfully serious. As Dr Ishratul Ibad had been installed 13 years ago with the blessing of the leader of the MQM in the old British colonial manor house with its sprawling gardens, one would have thought that surely the party had a right to control his destiny, right?

Wrong, said one of the Men-sheviks who gave the impression of having more than a nodding ac-quaintance with the law and the constitution. Dr Ibad had been appointed by the federation. His heart might still be located north of the bridge, but he had already resigned from his party and taken an oath to be neutral in all mat-ters before he started opening his suitcases. It is the centre that has the authority to tell him to stay or quit. Right? That was the thrust of the talk show which, like most talk shows didn’t arrive at any conclusion.

Entertaining friendsActually the issue of whether Dr Ibad stays or takes a hike is totally irrelevant. There are lots of candidates who would love to smell the roses in summer and spend their time entertain-ing friends.

In the system under which Pa-kistanis live, a governor’s role is largely ceremonial and includes presiding at university degree award ceremonies and other functions which nobody takes very seriously. He doesn’t even get to kiss babies as governors in the United States do, but he is often seen inquiring if patients in government hospitals are com-fortable and are being looked af-ter. On one occasion, there was this patient who wanted to show the governor where his hernia operation had taken place but was prevented from doing so by an adroit official.

Dr Ibad might have been the longest serving governor of this province, but he hasn’t really made much of an impact in Ka-rachi. On the occasions when he and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah turn up at official foreign functions like the birthday cel-ebrations of Queen Elizabeth II, or the national days of Saudi Arabia or China, Dr Ibad usually declines to speak. He leaves this task to the chief minister who leaps to the challenge and invari-ably demonstrates his extempore skills. Of course, nobody really listens to the speeches either of the host or the chief guest.

Perhaps, he hasn’t any great achievements to his name. But what he has achieved is to al-ways appear to be doing the right thing, not to be driven to the point where he has to make a de-cision, while always emerging as part of the process moving for-ward. — Express Tribune

C O M M E N T A R Y

Ishratul Ibad

Four more held over Karachi attackKARACHI: Four more suspects involved in the deadly bus attack on Ismailis in Karachi’s Safoora Goth locality on May 13 were ar-rested by the police on Sunday.

During a press conference held in Karachi, AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo disclosed that the suspects were arrested from Karachi and other parts of rural Sindh.

They were rounded up based on information provided by the suspects who have already been arrested in connection with the at-tack, he said.

Firing on passengersHe added that special police teams were making all out efforts to ar-rest the remaining suspects. The suspects arrested are those who fired on the Ismaili bus passengers.

On May 13, gunmen on motorcy-cles boarded a bus and opened fire on commuters belonging to the Is-maili community in Karachi, kill-ing at least 44 people.

Sabeen MahmudSindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced on Wednes-day that the four suspects in the Safoora bus attack, whose arrests he had announced on Tuesday, were also involved in a number of other high profile attacks in Kara-chi recently, including the murder

of The Second Floor café director Sabeen Mahmud. Saad Aziz, one of the culprits arrested for involve-ment in the attack on Ismailis, confessed to killing Mahmud.

Meanwhile, at least seven suspected criminals including a target killer were arrested on Sunday during raids conducted by Rangers in parts of Karachi,

Express News reported. The paramilitary force raided parts of Lyari and University Road and seized submachine guns from the miscreants. — Express Tribune

K I L L I N G O F I S M A I L I S

DEVASTATED: Members of the Ismaili community mourn following an attack by gunmen on a bus car-

rying devotees, outside a hospital in Karachi on Wednesday. — AFP file photo

Auditor general sacked for misconductISLAMABAD: The federal gov-ernment has sacked Auditor Gen-eral of Pakistan (AGP) Muham-mad Akhtar Buland Rana after the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) found him guilty of misconduct.

“In accordance with SJC’s re-port which opines that… Rana has committed misconduct on numerous occasions, making him liable to be removed from his office, the president in pursu-ance of Article 168(5) read with Article 209(6) of the Constitu-

tion has been pleased to remove [him] from the office …. with im-mediate effect,” said a notification issued by the finance ministry on Saturday.

First timeIt is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a complaint had been filed in the SJC, seeking the disqualification of an AGP while it was the second time that the council gave its opinion to the president on any reference, filed

under Article 209 of the Consti-tution. The council had earlier decided only one reference, citing the ouster of a judge in 1971.

Five chargesTwo senior law officers, privy to the SJC proceedings, said that Rana was found guilty of five charges.

“Yes, I have also read SJC’s opinion, wherein he [Rana] is found guilty,” said one law officer.

Earlier, the SJC sent its opinion

to President Mamnoon Hussain over the reference, filed by the Na-tional Assembly.

Complaint The lower house of parliament had filed the complaint after a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had recom-mended disqualification of Rana. In August 2014, the PAC had constituted the subcommittee to probe the allegations against AGP Rana. — Express Tribune

S U P R E M E J U D I C I A L C O U N C I L V E R D I C T

A11

WORLDM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

Narrow-minded MPs (Afghan) are picking on this issue to distract attention

from real problems such as worsening security. Even the Taliban want to

kill extravagance. What’s the difference between us and the Taliban?

Hajji Ghulam Siddique, Afghan wedding hall owner

SPANIARDS VOTE IN CRUCIAL ELECTIONS A man votes at a polling

station during regional

and municipal elections

in El Rocio village, south-

ern Spain, on Sunday.

Spaniards are expected to

sweep aside 40 years of

predictable politics when

they vote in regional

elections on Sunday and

usher in an unstable era

of coalition and compro-

mise, likely to curtail the

authority of Prime Minis-

ter Mariano Rajoy. — Reuters

Labour to back PM’s EU vote plan

LONDON: Britain’s opposition Labour Party will back Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to hold a referendum on the coun-try’s European Union member-ship by the end of 2017, its act-ing leader Harriet Harman said on Sunday.

Labour had fought this month’s national election, in which it suf-fered a crushing defeat to Cam-eron’s Conservatives, on the policy that it would offer Britons an EU referendum only if there were a further transfer of powers to Brus-sels from London.

Cameron, who has promised to renegotiate Britain’s ties with the

EU ahead of the referendum, will on Wednesday set out plans to enshrine the vote in law when his government’s legislative agenda is published.

“The British people want to have a say on the UK’s membership of the EU.

“Labour will therefore now support the EU referendum bill,” acting Labour leader Harriet Har-man and the party’s foreign affairs spokesman Hilary Benn wrote in a joint article in the Sunday Times newspaper.

EU reformsHarman and Benn said that while

Labour wanted to see reforms to the EU, it would make the case for continued membership.

“The Labour Party does not want to see the UK stumble inad-

vertently towards EU exit,” Har-man and Benn said. “We have more power by being in the EU than we could ever hope to have by acting alone.”

Cameron, who is due to host European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for talks at his official country residence on Monday, has said he favours stay-

ing in a reformed EU but will rule nothing out if he fails to get the change he is seeking.

Among planned reforms he has outlined are restrictions to EU mi-grants’ access to Britain’s welfare system, an opt-out of “ever closer” union inside the bloc and to cut EU “red tape”.

Tax creditsBusiness Secretary Sajid Javid said changes to tax credits, were central as EU citizens coming to Britain can receive twice as much as they would in Germa-ny and three times as much as in France.

A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times, carried out May 21-22, found 44 per cent of the 1,532 peo-ple surveyed favoured staying in the EU, while 36 per cent would vote to leave. — Reuters

Britain’s David Cameron, who has promised

to renegotiate Britain’s ties with the EU ahead

of the referendum, will on Wednesday set

out plans to enshrine the vote in law

Japanese protest new US base planTOKYO: Thousands of demon-strators formed a human chain around Japan’s parliament in Tokyo on Sunday, protesting the planned construction of a new US airbase on the southern island of Okinawa.

The protesters, who organisers said numbered about 15,000, sur-rounded the parliament building holding banners reading “No to Henoko”, in the latest rally against the controversial base.

Henoko is a small coastal area on Okinawa where Tokyo and Washington plan to relocate the existing Futenma military facility, currently situated in built-up Ginowan.

“We must stop this construc-tion,” said one of the protesters, Akemi Kitajima, 66.

“The government is trying to force the plan no matter how strongly Okinawa says ‘no’ to it.”

Defence allianceOkinawa is home to more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a de-fence alliance, a proportion many islanders say is too high.

The plan to move Futenma, first mooted in 1996, has become the focus of anger among locals, who insist it should be shuttered and a replacement built elsewhere in Ja-pan or overseas. — AFP

O K I N A W A

Afghan MPs bid to control out-of-control weddingsKABUL: With a burst of confetti, dancers clap and twirl around a garland-bedecked groom as Af-ghanistan’s wedding season kicks into high gear, but lawmakers pushing for austerity are bent on taming out-of-control guest lists.

Kabul wedding halls with Las Vegas-style razzle dazzle are busy as Afghans rush to get hitched be-fore next month’s Ramadan fast-ing begins, in a colourful contrast to the Taliban era when musical revelry and dancing were banned.

Hundreds of people -- not counting the ubiquitous wedding crashers -- typically attend cele-brations in these halls segregated by gender, with a bulging guest list seen both as a social obligation and a totem of affluence.

“In Afghanistan you invite the whole village, the whole tribe, everyone who ever invited you to their wedding -- and they bring their own guests,” Akbar Saba-woon said over the din of drum-beats in Qasr-e-Paris (Paris Pal-ace), a neon-spangled hall with a huge replica of the Eiffel Tower in the forecourt.

“If you invite 1,000 people, be ready to entertain 1,500,” the cousin of the bride told AFP as a traditional Attan folk dance erupted behind him.

But in a hugely contentious move lawmakers recently passed a bill aimed at taming Afghani-stan’s Wild West wedding culture, limiting the number of guests to 500 and capping the catering bill per head at 400 Afghanis ($7).

The bill seeks to relieve the huge financial strain weddings pose on grooms who present dow-ry to the girl’s family in the form of cash, goods or livestock.

Thousands of dollars are typically splurged on weddings, a small fortune in a country wracked by poverty and war, driv-ing families into massive debts and forcing young men to delay marriage, lawmakers say.

But the bill, awaiting presiden-tial approval, has sparked protest from wedding hall owners who worry the move could devastate their flourishing business -- a

rare bright spot in a nose-diving economy as international aid fast evaporates after 13 years of war.

“Narrow-minded MPs are picking on this issue to distract attention from real problems such as worsening security,” said Hajji Ghulam Siddique, the own-er of Uranus, one of the biggest of nearly three dozen wedding halls in Kabul. “Even the Taliban want to kill extravagance. What’s the difference between us and the Taliban?”

Momentary escapismLavish weddings, a post-Taliban phenomenon, are not only en-tertainment but also a source of momentary escapism from a wrenching conflict, adding a splash of colour in the lives of war-weary Afghans.

Outside Kabul’s glitzy wedding halls is a city that appears on the verge of a nervous breakdown, awash with snipers, checkpoints, and post traumatic stress disor-

der. Inside, over-the-top revelry offers a comforting illusion that the war is taking place in another realm. “As is the case with most Afghan laws, no one will obey this new legislation,” said government employee Shoaib Khaksari as guests at Qasr-e-Paris hunched over platters of roast chicken, Kabuli lamb pilaf, fried eggplant, yogurt and fresh fruit.

“Marriages need to be lavish as they are a one-time event.”

But many Afghans concede some merit in the legislation.

When Khushal Nabizada, a 34-year-old doctor of inter-nal medicine, got hitched three years ago he was forced to spend $25,000 on the wedding party, eroding his hard-earned savings in a single night.

“I wanted smaller celebrations, fewer ceremonies but the bride’s family were unforgiving,” he said. “My wife and I now look back and think what an epic waste it was.”

Some budget-conscious Af-ghans have found a canny way of trim the guest list: Mixed wed-dings -- a relatively rare celebra-tion in which guests are not segre-gated by gender. It’s a self-imposed red line for many Afghans who voluntarily decline to attend. — AFP

S O C I E T A L I L L

CHANGING TACT: Britain’s opposition Labour Party interim leader

Harriet Harman speaks on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme in

London, Britain, on Sunday. — Reuters/Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via Reuters

Cameron, who is due to host European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for talks on Monday, has said he favours staying in a reformed EU but will rule nothing out if he fails to get the change he is seeking


LAVISH: This photograph taken on May 12, 2015 shows young Af-

ghan men dancing around a groom during wedding celebrations

at a wedding hall in Kabul. — AFP



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The fall of an autocrat normally leads to foreign occupation and civil war. A revolutionary move-ment with a messianic vision capitalises on the chaos to gain power. The revolutionaries rule through terror and the promise

of utopia, and inspire copycats around the world. But other nations impose a quarantine, internal rivals regain ground, and despite initial successes the new regime seems unlikely to survive — espe-cially once outside powers, including the United States, join the fight against it.

This is the story to date of the IS, which defied predictions of its imminent collapse by capturing Ramadi in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria last week. A “tactical setback,” President Obama called these developments, and quite possibly they are; it’s still hard to imagine that the outfit can long endure.

But this is also the story of the Soviet Union’s early days, when it seemed highly implausible that a cabal of Bolsheviks would rule the Russian em-pire for seventy-odd years. When the Bolshevik regime was about the age that the IS is today, the United States, France, and Britain were support-ing its White Russian adversaries and landing troops in Russia; Japan and a reborn Poland were pressuring the Bolsheviks from east and west; and the fear instilled by the Red Terror seemed like the primary force keeping the pariah state from crum-bling. A generation later, that pariah was a global superpower. The differences between the two situations are legion, of course. The Bolsheviks controlled key urban and industrial centres, while Isis is truly dominant only in the Iraqi and Syrian hinterland. The Soviet Union’s foreign enemies were exhausted by world war, and their ability to project military power was far more limited than America’s is today.

However geopolitically important, Russia in 1919 was peripheral to many great powers’ im-mediate security concerns, while Isis is sitting at an oil-rich crossroads and murdering Western citizens every chance it gets. And the worldview of IS too conspicuously (and mercifully) lacks the Western cheering section and sense of historical momentum that Marxist-Leninism once enjoyed.

But the Soviet example is still a useful reminder that the “inevitable” fall of fanatical upstarts is not always actually inevitable. And it offers a few les-sons in how, against all odds, the IS or Isis might actually survive.

First, because great powers get war-weary and distracted. As different as our situation is from the

aftermath of World War I, it’s clear that the United States would be more involved militarily against Isis if we didn’t have the recent disillusioning ex-perience of a bloody occupation in Iraq. And it’s easy to imagine events intruding — another eco-nomic crisis, a hotter war in Ukraine, brinkman-ship with China — that could make Ramadi look as remote to our interests as Arkhangelsk and Vladi-vostok seemed to the average Westerner in 1919.

Second, because a regime fighting for its sur-vival has an edge over a coalition of less-invested adversaries. Yes, the IS has made enemies of just about every neighbouring government and mili-tary. But that means its leaders and foot soldiers know that they’re in a victory-or-death situation, which creates incentives similar to the ones that helped the Soviets, and before them revolutionary France, fend off attacks from all comers.

Third, because realpolitik can help even fanat-ics find allies of convenience. The Bolsheviks came to power in part because Germany deliber-ately shipped Lenin to St. Petersburg, and Berlin cultivated secret military ties with the Soviets across the 1920s.

In a somewhat similar way, the IS has already been funded by donors from all over the world and so long as IS remains at war with a few of the na-tion states and their proxies, the sectarian powers won’t root unreservedly against it.

If IS remains permanently at war with them, of course, cooperation will be impossible. But mes-sianic ideologies are sometimes more adaptable than you expect. In a compelling Atlantic essay on the theological commitments of IS, Graeme Wood argued that the organisation will be “hamstrung” by its apocalyptic vision, which rules out any real truce or suspension of its struggle. Which may be true; fanatical movements often burn themselves out for just this reason. But sometimes they find a way — as the Bolsheviks did — to tweak their ideologies when survival requires it, and to rely on ethnic and national loyalties as well. Which the IS has done al-ready: It has ex-Baathists in its military leadership, just as Trotsky’s army had ex-czarists; it’s exploited Sunni grievances just as Stalin relied on nationalist and even religious pride in World War II.

Whether it can compromise further depends on power struggles that are probably already under-way, invisible to Western eyes.

And it’s still likely that no strategy will preserve the caliphate, especially if the next American president commits fully to its destruction. But it hasn’t collapsed yet. And the longer it survives, the longer it might. — The New York Times News Service

Will IS survive the acid test of time?

Russia in 1919 was peripheral to many great powers’ immediate security concerns, while Isis is sitting at an oil-rich crossroads and murdering Western citizens every chance it gets. And the worldview of IS too conspicuously (and mercifully) lacks the Western cheering section and sense of historical momentum that Marxist-Leninism once enjoyed

Letters, 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), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail ([email protected])

COMMENTARY

The acquittal by a French court of two police officers charged with failing to prevent the electrocution deaths of two teen-agers from the Parisian banlieue of Clichy-sous-Bois in 2005

could exacerbate social divisions in France. Adel Benna, the brother of one of the youths, said he felt “nauseated” and “disgusted” by the ver-dict. But the right-wing National Front party’s Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, referring to violent protests that engulfed France following the boys’ deaths, scandalously tweeted: “This verdict proves the rabble in-deed set fire and blood to the banlieue for pleasure and not because of a police blunder.” Lawyers for the teenagers’ families argued that the trial was about more than the negligence charges against the officers, Sébastien Gaillemin and Stéphanie Klein. They blamed systemic dis-crimination that has created a climate of distrust between the police and minority youths, especially young people of North and sub-Saha-ran African origin in France’s troubled suburbs.

Many of these young people instinctively flee the police on sight; the police tend to assume that any youth running away must be guilty of something. That was certainly what happened on October 27, 2005, when the two boys, Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traoré, 15 — on their way home from a neighbourhood soccer game — ran into police offic-ers and fled, hopping the fence around an electric transformer station to escape the officers in pursuit. The court found no evidence that the officers knew that the boys were in danger and were responsible for their electrocution.

It took nearly 10 years for the teenagers’ families to get this case to trial at all, and when they finally did, the court chose to rule only on the narrow question of whether the police were culpable in the deaths. Left unaddressed by the court — as it has been by France as a whole — was the systemic racism and discrimination that set the stage for the tragic encounter between police officers and Zyed and Bouna. After the terrorist attacks in Paris in January, Prime Minister Manuel Valls lamented what he called “territorial, social, ethnic apartheid.” It now falls squarely on the government of President François Hollande to address that larger injustice. —The New York Times News Service

An injustice in France

The steam seems to have gone from the protests made every time American drones kill suspected militants anywhere in the conflict zone, which for American drones is limited to the

tribal areas of Pakistan. Large-scale street protests orchestrated by political parties and, occasionally by religious leaders, are a rarity now and although there is some faint media coverage of the strikes, there is less of the indignation and the sense of wounded pride. Just as the protests against American strikes have faded, the silence surrounding our own precision strikes made with conventional aircraft continues. Both drones and jets have been in action in the last week. Six militants were killed and two wounded in a US drone strike in the Shawal valley on May 16. A remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) fired two missiles into a house in the Warokey Mandi area of the valley, demolishing it and killing those inside.

There is no independent identification of the casualties or any ex-planation as to why they were targeted. There was apparently no at-tempt to shoot down the RPV that was in violation of our airspace, and there is also no report of this or any other government ever attempting or even threatening to shoot down American drones operating over Pakistan. Pakistan has, and always has had, the capacity to take down any American RPV that might appear in our skies. The implication, as ever, is that there is a tacit agreement between Pakistan and the US that American drones can operate at will, and strike targets that may or may not have been identified on the basis of intelligence gathered by Pakistan and shared with America.

That Pakistan has the capacity to both gather intelligence on terror-ists and hit them in the same area in which the US drones operate is exemplified by strikes by our own air force, also in the Shawal valley, on May 20. It is reported and again with no independent corrobora-tion that “at least 15 suspected militants” were killed, and not a word of protest was raised anywhere, despite the fact that the air strikes carried out by Pakistan have no lesser potential for collateral damage than do those carried out by the Americans — who sometimes do get it catastrophically wrong as evidenced by the killing of Warren Wein-stein earlier this year. Mr Weinstein was killed in what is known as a ‘signature strike’ — a strike launched in response to on-the-ground-behaviour analysed as metadata rather than intelligence relating to a specific individual. The incidence of American drone strikes has dropped significantly since the start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, and do-mestic armed drones have been developed and recently publicly test-ed to considerable fanfare. If the Pakistan Air Force has its own capac-ity for drone strikes, the question has to be asked as to why it is still necessary for American drones to strike here at all? — The Express Tribune

Of drones, jets and national sovereignty

R O S S D O U T H AT

Workers suffer silently because of two-year banThis refers to the news story, ‘Don’t fall prey to the crooked agents’ (May 24). The case of Jahangir Alam, the migrant worker who came from Bangladesh and suffered injuries in Qurum mountain cliff collapse, is not an exception. There are silent workers who are working with decent companies but are suffering equally because of poor benefits and privileges offered to them. They are the poor souls who seem to have been trapped here. They cannot even resign and move out to a better company because of the two-year ban system. The options before them are indeed extremely limited — they either suffer in silence or give up their jobs and go back home. Rail IliganMuscat

Need to stop shady agents from exploiting poor peopleThis refers to the news story, ‘Don’t fall prey to the crooked agents’ (May 24). I am a Kenyan living in Oman now for the past one year. I paid OMR500 to my agent for the job here. But, I feel for you brother, Jahangir Alam. You have indeed coughed up a huge amount to that agent. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all the agents to be fair to people like Jahangir and stop fleecing us. Sarah ChepkoechMuscat

Treatment meted out to Jahangir was outrageousThis refers to the news story, ‘Don’t fall prey to the crooked agents’ (May 24). I think it’s totally outrageous that Jahangir Alam has not been

awarded compensation for his horrific ordeal. It is a shame. I understand that Jahangir was not a documented workers and his employer took advantage of his disadvantage. But his status as an undocumented employee, however, did not prevent him from getting a work to do. Jenni EdenMuscat

Woman pilot has made Oman extremely proudThis refers to the news story, Pas-sion the key to success: First Omani woman commercial pilot (May 24). I salute Azza Said Al Zakwani’s passion to fly and making Oman proud. May the blessings of Allah shower upon her and protect her every moment in her life to attain greater achievements. Wish her a

very bright and a dazzling career ahead. Domingos Miguel Curzinho FernandezMuscat

Muscat now needs good public transport system This refers to the news feature, What is the solution to the gridlock in Muscat? (May 24). My an-swer to this question is, a good public transport system. Cars are designed to transport an entire family or at least 4/5 people. But, if we sit in a car alone or even with someone else only two people are being transported. This is underutilisation of the vehicle. We are wasting our own resources and that of the society.Zsolt BarczyMuscat

READERS’ FORUM

Mistakes are the portals of discoveryJAMES JOYCE

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PERSPEC IVET I M E S O F O M A N M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5 A13

Ker-thump. That, if you don’t recognise it, is the sound that heralds the

beginning of a long, sultry sum-mer of literary hype. Proof cop-ies of Jonathan Franzen’s Purity, a “multigenerational American epic” about a young woman called Pip, and his first novel since Free-dom in 2010, were posted out.

The novel is not published until September but, already, excitable publishing types are posting pic-tures of its handsome gold cover on social media and ensuring their copies poke out of the top of their bicycle baskets.

The cover is very nice — bold and graphic, like a cool birthday card you might pick up in the bookshop at Tate Modern. But when I was allowed briefly to touch the literary editor’s copy, I skipped right past the cover to the back page: 576. That’s not so bad, I thought. Pretty long but it’s no Luminaries.

The fact is, 576 pages is long for a novel, but we are now appar-ently in the Year of the Very Long Novel so Franzen’s is small fry — a minibreak, rather than a long-haul holiday read.

Death and Mr Pickwick, a pre-quel/sequel to The Pickwick Pa-pers, by Stephen Jarvis, out this week is 816 pages long. It is al-ready being talked of as a Booker contender. Hanya Yanagihara’s

A Little Life about four college friends who go to New York to seek their fortune is 736 pages.

When her editor told her to cut it by a third, she directed him to Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer winner The Goldfinch (881 pages) and Eleanor Catton’s The Luminar-ies, at 832 pages the longest book ever to win the Booker Prize. She also sent him a photograph of her manuscript next to a 900-page is-sue of Vogue and Vikram Seth’s 1,400-page A Suitable Boy. The message: pages win prizes.

Almost as long as Seth’s classic you shouldn’t judge a book by its weight any more than by its cover. Indeed, Kindle has made both of those elements irrelevant.

Ereaders may even be to blame for the current boom in mega-novels. If people no longer weigh up which book to put in their holi-day suitcase, why would publish-ers risk annoying their precious writers with a harsh edit?

Because sometimes, most times, a harsh edit is what is needed. Life is too short to read bad, long books. I will never get back the hours I spent skimming through the 500 meandering pages of J�K Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy or Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, nor the weeks lost to The Goldfinch. If a book is going to be really, re-ally long, it has to be really, really

good. And quite a lot of modern novels really, really aren’t.

There is no doubt some pub-lishing hype at work in calling 2015 the Year of the Very Long Novel. There have always been very long novels, and very short novels, and both attract attention for the wrong reasons. Plainly, it is not the number of pages that counts; it is what is on them. But in the same way that the Oscars love a biopic, book prize juries like a doorstop. The sense of achieve-ment — on the part of the writer, and the reader — counts for a lot.

Still, there is a certain tipping point — I’d say about 500 pag-es, or where carrying it around all day becomes a right pain — when reading can start to feel less like a pastime than a piece of homework.

Unless, of course, the book is truly enrapturing, like The Ma-gus (672 pages), The Bonfire of the Vanities (752), Anna Karenina (879) and so on they can be really distracting. But those books come along a few times in a generation, not once a month as part of a pre-vailing trend.

The most anticipated novel of the year, the decade, even, is Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, which will be published in July at 288 pages. Now there’s some hype, and a page count, I can do business with. — The Independent

The International Institute for Strategic Studies concludes that over the past five years ‘the 8 per cent to 9 per cent decrease in the UK military defence budget... has led to a 20 per cent to 30 per cent reduction in conventional capability’

Confronting a world of challenges — in-cluding Greece’s possible exit from the euro, a massive migration crisis on Eu-

rope’s shores, Ukraine’s perilous state, Russia’s continued intransigence, the advance of Isis and the continuing chaos in the Middle East — David Cameron, in his first major speech after being re-elected as Prime Minister, chose to talk about .�.�. a plan to ensure that hospitals will be better staffed on weekends.

Okay, that’s a bit unfair. Leaders everywhere, including in the United States, understand that “all politics is local.” But spending a few days recently in Britain, I was struck by just how pa-rochial it has become. After an extraordinary 300-year run, Britain has essentially resigned as a global power. Over the next few years, Brit-ain’s army will shrink to about 80,000. A report from the Royal United Services Institute pre-dicts that the number could get as low as 50,000, which, the Daily Telegraph points out, would be smaller than at any point since the 1770s — and, as David Rothkopf of Foreign Policy magazine notes, about the same size as the New York Po-lice Department. The International Institute for Strategic Studies concludes that over the past five years “the 8 per cent to 9 per cent decrease in the UK military defence budget .�.�. has led to a 20 per cent to 30 per cent reduction in conven-tional capability.” No wonder, then, that Britain has been a minor, reluctant ally in the air strikes against Isis. Britain’s 30-year-old Tornado fleet of planes is a generation behind the American F-22s it flies alongside. The Royal Navy, which once ruled the waves, operates without a single aircraft carrier (although two are under construction). Nato members are supposed to maintain defence spending at 2 per cent of their gross domestic product. Britain is hovering around that mark and has refused to commit to maintaining budgets at that level. The same is true of other elements of Britain’s global influence.

In Cameron’s first term, the Foreign Office budget was cut by more than a quarter, and fur-ther trims are likely. The BBC World Service, perhaps the most influential arm of the coun-try’s global public diplomacy, has shuttered

five of its foreign-language broadcasts, and the organization’s entire budget has been slashed, with more cuts to come.

The country is suspicious of a robust foreign policy of any kind — including serious sanctions against Russia, getting tough in trade talks with China, the use of force in the Middle East and an engaged relationship with the rest of Europe. During the recent election, as The Post reported, foreign policy barely surfaced.

Why does this matter? Because on almost all global issues, Britain has a voice that is intel-ligent, engaged and forward-looking. It wants to strengthen and uphold today’s international system — one based on the free flow of ideas, goods and services around the world, one that promotes individual rights and the rule of law.

This is not an accident. Britain essentially cre-ated the world we live in. In his excellent book God and Gold, Walter Russell Mead points out that in the 16th century many countries were poised to advance economically and politically — Northern Italy’s city-states, the Hanseatic League, the Low Countries, France, Spain.

But Britain managed to edge out the others, becoming the first great industrial economy and the modern world’s first superpower. It colo-nized and shaped countries and cultures from Australia to India to Africa to the Western Hem-isphere, including of course, its settlements in North America. Had Spain or Germany become the world’s leading power, things would look very different today.

It is a paradox, readily apparent to visitors to Britain, that London continues to thrive as a glob-al hub, increasingly cosmopolitan and worldly. More than a third of Londoners were born out-side the United Kingdom. And this government has been more than willing to travel around the world petitioning for investment, whether it be Chinese, Russian or Arab. That is fine as a strat-egy for an aspiring entrepôt or financial haven, but Britain is not Luxembourg. It is, even now, a country with the talent, history and capacity to shape the international order. Which is why the inward turn of the United Kingdom is a tragedy not just for it but for all of us. — The Independent

Why Britain resigned as the global power?

The problem is well known: Pakistan has seven million out-

of-school children on our treacherous streets, hun-dreds of overpaid and un-der-qualified teachers hired in return for political fa-vours, and scores of schools without desks, toilets or drinking water.

The nation ranks 113th in a United Nations Education for All index of 120 countries. What’s the solution? How can we take our children out of drug and gambling dens and bring them into the safety of comfortable and productive classrooms un-der the guidance of wise and compassionate teachers?

In a village called Khairo Dero, we at the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust, a group of community work-ers dedicated to developing a model of rural development, tried an experiment.

Here’s what we did. First, our volunteers went from house to house, developing a database of all the children between the ages of three and 16 in the village, which is home to about 4,500 people.

Then, we held neighbour-hood meetings with mothers to talk about the importance of schooling. Next, we helped show them how girls could attend school for half a day and still have time to pro-duce traditional embroidery to supplement the house-hold income and take care of tasks such as cooking and washing clothes.

We worked with farmers and assured them that boys could take a two-week break for farm labour whenever it was planting or harvesting season; and that we would make sure teachers were on hand to help them catch up. These measures helped remove major reasons par-ents weren’t sending their kids to school.

On the other side, we worked with schools. First, we built a primary school with The Citizens Founda-tion and when it opened for its first admission in 2010, our awareness drive showed results: they had several times more candidates than spots. They soon intro-duced an afternoon shift and later expanded to double the capacity.

Then, we started look-ing at the existing govern-ment schools. The two pri-mary schools in the village were functional; perfor-mance was not exciting but at least classes were being held every day.

In comparison, middle and high schools were aban-doned. Buildings stood half-finished or crumbling and government teachers were absent. First, we adopted a girls’ middle school, worked with the local education de-partment to get the building finished and then motivated

local government teach-ers to attend regularly. Girls were lining up. We did small things like putting up a na-tional flag and holding a daily assembly: rarities at govern-ment schools.

Soon, girls graduating from middle school insisted high school classes be or-ganised otherwise their fa-thers would pull them out of school and wouldn’t give per-mission to travel out of the village to attend. We started holding classes unofficially and then worked with the government to upgrade the school from middle to high.

Then, we adopted a non-functional boys school, add-ed a basketball hoop, cricket gear and prizes for punctual-ity. When we noticed class-rooms were not fully popu-lated, we went lane by lane rounding up boys from shops and tea stalls.

We found that government teachers are not all goners. Many showed great results with some motivation, rec-ognition and appreciation. To supplement, we hired lo-cal graduates desperately seeking employment, pro-vided teacher training and posted them at government and community schools.

Fresh survey A few years on we carried out a fresh survey and found a population of children from a religious minority that was shunned by mainstream so-ciety. They were too scared to enroll in school so we started a community school for them in one room and lat-er expanded to four classes.

We scoured the streets for these children playing cards for money in back al-leys and used loving persua-sion and the promise of Fri-day afternoon cartoons to lure them in.

To capture the last lot, we opened an early learn-ing centre where we littered workstations with crayons, paper, scissors, glue, jigsaw puzzles, construction blocks, beads and string and let chil-dren choose what naturally attracted them. To make school-going a habit, we didn’t force books and pen-cils on them.

We held cooking classes, brought in musical instru-ments and put in swings, slides, skipping ropes and footballs. All these tools helped increase mental fac-ulties and motor skills. Soon enough, kids didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Today, we are currently enrolling the last three dozen or so kids at our community school and have reached a position where every child in the village will be in school. Grand policies and big mon-ey haven’t brought success in getting every child in school.

Our simple experiment is testimony to the fact that a very grassroots, commu-nity-oriented approach gets the job done. It’s worth a try. — The Express Tribune

Every child must be sent to school

Life is too short to read bad, long books

N AW E E N A M A N G I

A L I C E J O N E S

FA R E E D Z A KA R I A

MAJLIS AL SHURA THIRD SESSION ON SUNDAYMUSCAT: Abdul Qadir bin Salim Al Dhahab, secretary general of Majlis Al Shura, said that the Majlis would hold its third regular session of the year on Sunday where Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, president of Majlis Al Shura would deliver a speech in the opening of the session. Al Dhahab touched on the agenda noting that it would include looking into the secretariat general report on the activities of the Majlis apparatuses between the second and third regular sessions of this year. The secretary general of the Majlis added that the Majlis would host during the session Dr Ahmed bin Khalfan Al Rowahi, minister of agriculture and fisheries, who would deliver a statement on the ministry’s plans and programmes as well as its development projects of the agricul-tural, fisheries and livestock sectors during the sixth five-year plan in addition to mar-keting agricultural and fisheries products and organizing commercial and traditional fishing operations.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

TODAY IN HISTORY585 BC Thales of Greece makes the first known

prediction of a solar eclipse. 1810 Argentina declares independence from

Napoleonic Spain.

1851 Jose Justo de Urquiza of Argentina leads a rebellion against Juan Manuel de Rosas, his former ally.

1911 Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico,

resigns his office.

1914 The British House of Commons passes Irish Home Rule.

1946 Jordan gains independence from Britain.

HISTORYNET.COM

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Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

Los AngelesLos Angeles

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GraphicsGraphic News /Source: Wire agencies

California oil spillA state of emergency has been declared in southern California after an oil slick, stretching across 15km, threatened wildlife along the pristine Santa Barbara coastline

Tuesday: Onshore pipeline ruptures, spilling up to 400,000 litres onto Refugio State Beach before

flowing into ocean. Coastline was scene of much larger spill in 1969, which helped spark U.S.

environmental movement

U.S.

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GLOBAL EYEM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

COLOMBIA: Street performer Mario Manjarres performs with an elastic rope for tips in front of stopped vehicles at a traffic junction in Bogota, Colombia, on Saturday. – Reuters

KENYA: US born model and Bollywood film actress Nargis Fakhri walks besides ‘Sudan’, the only re-

maining male nothern-white Rhino on the planet, on Saturday at the ol-Pejeta sanctuary in Kenya’s

Mt. Kenya region, north of the capital, Nairobi. Fakhri visited ‘Sudan’ and his two-female compan-

ions, Suin and Fatu at the sanctuary now conserving the three-out-of only four remaining members

of the sub-species on the planet to help raise further the international awareness of the plight of the

nothern-white rhinos. – AFP

ITALY: People gather at Piazza degli Scacchi before the start of the 15th stage of the 98th Giro d’Italia,

Tour of Italy, cycling race between Marostica and Madonna di Campiglio, on Sunday in Marostica in

Italy. – AFP

PORTUGAL: Finnish Jari-Matti Latvala and co-driver Mikka Anttila steer their Wolkswagen Polo R

WRC during the last stage of the Portugal WRC Rally in Fafe, in northern Portugal, on Sunday. – AFP

PHILIPPINES: Filipinos participate in creating a huge peace sign in an event called ‘Handshake for

peace’, in Manila on Sunday. The event commemorates the 70th year since World War II ended and to

inspire people in many countries to condemn war and to continuously work for peace. – AFP

SPAIN: Participants covered in coloured powder take part in the Indi-

an Holi Festival in Burgos, north of Spain on Saturday. People throw

each other coloured powder During the Hindu festival of Holi, also

known as Festival of Colours, that marks the arrival of spring. – AFP

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan labourers work at a brick factory on the

outskirts of Herat, Afghanistan, on Sunday. – AFP

FRANCE: A DS Citroen drives in Paris, France, on Sunday during

a gathering as the legendary French car celebrates its 60th an-

niversary. – AFP



A15


Saudi Arabia’s forces and Houthis trade heavy fire

CAIRO/ADEN: Saudi forces and Yemen’s Houthi militia traded heavy artillery fire which de-stroyed part of the main border crossing between the two coun-tries overnight, residents said on Sunday, an escalation of the two-month war.

Also on Sunday, a boat carry-ing 460 tonnes of Emirati relief aid docked in Yemen’s restive port city of Aden.

The Haradh border crossing, the largest for people and goods between the world’s top oil ex-porter, Saudi Arabia, and its neighbour, was evacuated amid shelling which razed its departure lounge and passport section, wit-nesses said.

Residents of several Yem-eni villages in the area left their homes and fled from the frontier, which has turned into a front line between the kingdom and the Houthi rebels.

Air raidsArab air raids hit military bases and weapons stores in the capi-tal Sanaa and local officials said a mid-level Houthi commander, Abu Bassam Al Kibsi, was killed in an air strike in the central prov-ince of Raymah.

Saudi Arabia has led an Arab coalition bombing the Houthis and backing southern Yemeni fighters opposing the group and

loyal to the exiled government in Saudi Arabia headed by President Abdrrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Local fighters combatting the Houthis in Yemen’s south report-ed Saudi-led air strikes on a major air base controlled by the group in Lahj province and say they killed eight Houthi fighters in an am-bush in Dalea province on Sunday.

Residents in the central city of Taiz said Houthi forces and pro-Hadi fighters fired tank and artil-lery shells at each other through-out the city overnight, killing five civilians.

The Houthis seized control of a military base on a strategic moun-

taintop in the centre of the city, eyewitnesses said.

A United Nations-backed peace conference set for May 28 in Ge-neva remains in doubt, as Hadi’s exiled government in Saudi Ara-bia has expressed reluctance to at-tend before the Houthis recognise their authority and quit Yemen’s main cities.

The Houthis have demanded a ceasefire before any talks.

The shipment, including medi-cal and food supplies, is the sec-ond from the United Arab Emir-ates, which delivered last week 1,200 tonnes of relief aid, said lo-cal aid coordinator Ali Al Bikri.

Another ship carrying 400 tonnes of diesel also arrived on Friday, said Bikri, who was ap-pointed by Yemen’s government-in-exile.

The southern city, where Hadi took refuge until he fled to Saudi Arabia, received nothing beyond those shipments by the Emirati Red Crescent, he said.

Fierce fightingAden has been scene to fierce fights between rebels backed by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and southern fighters allied with exiled Hadi.

Clashes continued Sunday in

Aden, witnesses said, after they had raged Saturday in the north, east and west of the city.

Air raids targeted Sunday po-sitions of the pro-Saleh elite Re-publican Guard in the central province of Taez, as well as rebel posts in Raymah province, west of Sanaa, witnesses said.

The United Nations says the violence has killed more than 1,600 people and displaced close to half a million more. Some aid has trickled during a five-day hu-manitarian truce, but residents of areas where clashes persisted complained that they lack the most basic supplies. — Agencies

A boat carrying 460

tonnes of relief aid

from the United Arab

Emirates docked in

Yemen’s restive

port city of Aden

Mass graves of suspected migrants found in MalaysiaALOR SETAR (MALAYSIA): Malaysia said on Sunday it had found mass graves feared to con-tain the bodies of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants at the centre of a regional human-traf-ficking crisis.

Home Minister Zahid Hamidi was quoted by The Star newspa-per’s website as saying the graves were found near detention camps run by people-traffickers. “But we don’t know how many there are. We are probably going to find more bodies,” Zahid was quoted as saying. The Star said the camps were abandoned when police found them last week.

Police in neighbouring Thai-land in early May found secret human-trafficking jungle camps on their side of the border and dozens of shallow graves.

The report quoting Zahid gave few details but the Malay-lan-guage newspaper Utusan Malay-sia, citing an unnamed source, earlier reported that about 30 mass graves had been found con-taining “hundreds of skeletons”.

The Star, also quoting sources, had said the graves were “be-lieved to contain nearly 100 Roh-ingya migrants”. Thailand began a crackdown on human trafficking and smuggling following the dis-covery of its mass graves, which appears to have thrown regional trafficking routes into chaos.

Many migrants had previously tried to enter Malaysia, their pre-ferred destination, via its land border with Thailand.

DesperateWith traffickers apparently now abandoning their human cargo at sea, boats filled with hundreds of starving migrants from the two countries have sought desper-ately to land in Malaysia, Thai-land and Indonesia, which turned them away.

Facing growing international pressure, Malaysia and Indonesia last week said they would admit boat people, who are to be repatri-ated or resettled with the help of international agencies.

Indonesia’s military said on Sunday that President Joko

Widodo had ordered the country to start search and rescue opera-tions for stranded migrant boats, an operation that began on Friday.

“We will save the migrants and take them to shore,” military spokesman Fuad Basya told AFP, adding that as of late Saturday, no new boats had been sighted.

Previously, Indonesian fish-erman have helped hundreds of stranded Bangladeshis and Roh-ingya to shore. The Malaysian gov-ernment announced on Thursday that its navy and coastguard would also be mobilised for searches but so far it has not reported any res-cues. Widodo indicated Jakarta would need international help footing the bill for housing thou-sands of destitute people. More than 3,500 migrants have swum to shore or been rescued off the coasts of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh since the crisis erupted earlier this month. Malaysian media said the latest mass graves were found near Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, two towns along the Thai border in the Malaysian state of Perlis.

Police declined to release in-formation but the national police chief will hold a press conference

on Monday. Malaysia’s govern-ment had previously denied that any such mass graves or slave camps existed on its soil.

“I am shocked!” Zahid was quoted by The Star as saying.

He added that some of the camps may have been there for as long as five years, and that Ma-laysian citizens were suspected to have been involved.

Most Bangladeshis are eco-nomic migrants seeking to escape poverty at home. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called Sunday for strict action against both mi-grants and traffickers.

The Rohingya leave Myanmar in large part to escape discrimi-natory treatment from the Bud-dhist majority. Rights groups said a new population law further targets persecuted Rohingyas, by allowing Myanmar’s regional governments to introduce fam-ily planning regulations to reduce birth rates in their states. “This will seriously worsen ethnic and religious tensions. We fully ex-pect that the Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state will be target number one of this legislation,” said Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson. — AFP

H U M A N - T R A F F I C K I N G C R I S I S

Libyan government planes attack oil tankerTRIPOLI/BENGHAZI: War-planes from Libya’s official gov-ernment attacked an oil tanker off the coast near the city of Sirte on Sunday, wounding two people, of-ficials said.

“Our jets warned an unflagged ship off Sirte city, but it ignored the warning,” Saqer Al Joroushi told Reuters. “We gave it a chance to evaluate the situation, then our fighting jets attacked the ship be-cause it was unloading fighters and weapons,” he added.

“The ship now is on fire. We are in war and we do not accept any se-curity breaches, whether by land, air or sea,” Jourushi added.

An oil industry official said the ship was actually a tanker which had been carrying 25,000 tonnes of gasoil. He named the tanker as Anwar Afriqya.

Rida Essa, commander of coast-al guards in central Libya, said the tanker had been unloading gasoil for Sirte’s power plant when it came under attack. The ship was still on fire, he said.

He said a crew member and a port worker had been wounded.

Power struggleLibya’s is still in the midst of a power struggle between two gov-ernments fighting for control, with the internationally recognised government operating out of the east since losing control of the cap-ital in August to the rival grouping.

Sirte’s power plant on the western outskirts of the city is controlled by forces loyal to the Tripoli government. The rest of the city has fallen into the hands of IS militants which have exploited the chaos and security vacuum in Libya four years after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.

Meanwhile, Libyan authorities on Saturday arrested about 600 il-legal migrants from African coun-tries who were planning to sail to Europe, a coastguard official said on Saturday. — Reuters

O F F C O A S T N E A R S I R T E

The Haradh border crossing, the largest for people and

goods between Saudi Arabia, and its neighbour, was

evacuated amid shelling which razed its departure

lounge and passport section.

CURIOUS ONLOOKERS: People stand by part of a Saudi fighter jet found in Bani Harith district north of Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday.

Local media said that the Houthi rebels brought down a Saudi F-16 fighter jet north of Sanaa early on Sunday. – Reuters

STARVING: Shahira Bibi, a severely malnourished Rohingya girl

from Myanmar, lies unconscious at the hospital in Langsa in Aceh

province. Malaysian Home Minister Zahid Hamidi was quoted by

The Star newspaper’s website as saying the graves were found

near detention camps run by people-traffickers. – AFP

KATHMANDU: A river dammed up by a huge landslide in Ne-pal’s northwest has begun flow-ing again but the risks of flash floods are not over yet, police said on Sunday.

The landslide at Ramche village in Myagdi district, about 140 km (90 miles) northwest of Kathman-du, struck on Saturday night and blocked the Kali Gandaki river, triggering fears that a large vol-ume of water would build up and then burst through, causing floods downstream that could reach as far as India.

No more rising“The river has started overflowing the dam. The water build-up is no more rising,” police official Kamal Singh Bam told Reuters.

“We think it will not breach the dam suddenly and cause down-stream floods. But the risk for that is not totally out yet,” he said.

Earlier the authorities asked thousands of downstream villag-

ers to move to safer areas amid concerns that the river could bring floods in the districts of Par-bat, Syangja, Gulmi, Palpa, Nawal-parasi and Chitwan.

The river flows into India where it is known as the Gandak.

Authorities in India have been

informed about the formation of the artificial lake, which could burst, leading to flash floods in Nepal as well as in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, said Hari Prasad Main-ali, the chief district officer of Ne-pal’s Nawalparasi district, which borders India.

“There are chances of the arti-ficial lake created in the river by the landslide bursting any time. We have asked the Indian side to remain alert,” said Mainali.

A big earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, triggering numerous landslides and avalanches and killing more than 8,000 people. A second quake hit the mountainous country on May 12, killing scores.

Water build-upMyagdi district administrator Tek Bahadur K.C. said the landslide had created a 150 metre-high dam and the water build- up spread about three kilometres.

“We had already moved 123

people in the area to safe places fearing landslides as the moun-tain had developed cracks in the earthquake,” he said.

No human casualty“This is why there is no human casualty even in such a massive landslide that has destroyed part of a dirt road connecting the near-by areas,” K.C. said.

In August last year a massive landslide blocked the Sunkoshi river in northeast Nepal killing more than 150 people and caus-ing fears of flooding as far away as the eastern Indian state of Bihar, where thousands of people were evacuated. — Agencies

A16


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Blocked Nepal river flows again, threatens flash floodsThe landslide at

Ramche village in

Myagdi district,

about 140km

northwest of

Kathmandu, struck

on Saturday night

and blocked the

Kali Gandaki river,

triggering fears that a

large volume of water

would build up and

then burst through

NATURE’S FURY: This handout photograph released by the Nepal Army on Sunday, shows an area in Nepal’s mountainous northwest

Myagdi district affected by a landslide. — AFP/Nepal Army

Ukrainian rebels deny internal strifeKIEV: Ukraine’s pro-Russian re-bels rushed on Sunday to dispel speculation that a bloody inter-nal battle for control of Moscow’s money was behind the gangland-style slaying of a top warlord.

Prizrak (Ghost) brigade com-mander Alexei Mozgovoi and at least six others were shot dead Sat-urday while travelling in an area under his control in the renegade eastern province of Lugansk.

Separatist officials said his con-voy of at least two vehicles was first struck by a bomb. The survi-vors were then mowed down in a hail of bullets near the spot where Mozgovoi survived another assas-sination attempt in March.

Mozgovoi was long believed to have run afoul of Lugansk’s self-proclaimed leader Igor Plot-nitsky and some key officials in the Kremlin.

Yet Plotnitsky tried quickly to quash talk of a potentially fatal rift emerging in the militants’ loosely-organised ranks.

“The attack on Alexei Mozgovoi and his comrades-in-arms was an attack on all of us -- people who defend the right for the (separatist region) to exist,” Plotnitsky told his administration’s official website.

“I mourn together with all those who knew Alexei Borisovich Mozgovoi and those who walked this journey together with him.”

Central roleMozgovoi played a central role in momentum-swinging battles that forced pro-Western President Pet-ro Poroshenko to sue for peace on two occasions.

His trimmed goatee and pen-etrating gaze disguised an authori-tarian character and history of in-subordination.

The former folk choir singer and poet -- believed to be around 40 -- resisted the terms of a Feb-ruary truce deal that permitted only limited self-rule in rebel- held lands.

Mozgovoi also featured on a US blacklist for organising a summary court system that targeted those either backing Kiev or practising Western lifestyles. — AFP

C O M M A N D E R ’ S K I L L I N G

Nobel prize winner mathematician killed in car crashNEW YORK: Mathematician John Nash, a Nobel prize winner whose longtime struggle with mental illness inspired the movie ‘A Beautiful Mind’, was killed in a car crash along with his wife in New Jersey, state police said on Sunday.

The couple were in a taxi when the driver lost control, crashed into a guard rail and hit another car on Saturday afternoon on the New Jersey Turnpike, said police.

Nash, 86, and his wife, Alicia, 82, were thrown from the taxi and pronounced dead at the scene, New Jersey State Police spokes-man Sgt. Gregory Williams added, declining to comment on media reports that they were not wearing seat belts.

Russell Crowe, who portrayed Nash in the Oscar-winning mov-ie, said on Twitter that he was stunned by the deaths. “An amaz-ing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts,” the Hollywood star wrote.

The taxi driver was taken to hospital with non-life threaten-ing injuries and the driver of the other vehicle was also treated in hospital, police said.

No charges had been filed, Wil-liams added.

The film “A Beautiful Mind” was loosely based on his battle with schizophrenia.

Nash received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1950 and spent much of his career there and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He began experiencing what he described as “mental distur-bances” in 1959 after marrying Alicia, a MIT physics major who was then pregnant, according to his biography on the Nobel prize website.

“I was disturbed in this way for a very long period of time, like 25 years,” Nash said in a 2004 video interview on the Nobel website.

He stressed that his was an un-

usual case, as he was able eventu-ally stop taking medication and return to normal activities and his research.

The 2001 movie represented an “artistic” take on his experience, giving insight into mental illness but not accurately portraying the nature of his delusions, Nash said in the interview.

Game theory“John’s remarkable achieve-ments inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory,” Princeton University President Christo-pher Eisgruber said in a state-ment. — Reuters

O B I T U A R Y

Nash was awarded the Nobel Prize for economics in 1994 for his work on game theory and the mathematics of decision-making

John Nash

71 arrested in the US over protests against acquittal of police officerCLEVELAND: Some 71 people were arrested in Cleveland over-night during protests that flared after a police officer was found not guilty in the shooting deaths of an unarmed black man and a woman following a high-speed car chase in 2012, police said on Sunday.

Protests were mostly peaceful after the judge’s verdict was an-nounced on Saturday, Police Chief Calvin Williams said. But later in the day, some people “crossed the line,” assaulting bystanders in a downtown area, briefly blocking a major highway and disrupting business at a shopping center, he told a news conference.

The unrest comes amid a na-tional outcry over the law enforce-ment’s use of lethal force against minority groups. Over the past year, the deaths of unarmed black men during confrontations with police in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City, Baltimore and elsewhere have spawned protests and occasional violent outbursts around the United States.

Peaceful demonstration Williams said police in Cleveland “gave people the space and a safe environment” to demonstrate peacefully but said would not al-low violence towards people or property. In one incident, protest-ers assaulted bystanders with pep-per spray in a downtown area, Wil-liams said.

Another was arrested for throw-ing a sign at a person entering a restaurant, as were two other pro-testers who tried to interfere when police moved in, Williams said.

Businesses shut downBusinesses in Tower City Center shut down for the day when pro-testers entered the shopping com-plex and became disruptive, he said. Protesters took to the streets after Judge John O’Donnell ac-quitted police officer Michael Brelo, 31, on charges of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated as-sault in the deaths of Malissa Wil-

liams and Timothy Russell. Malissa Williams and Russell

were black and Brelo, a former Ma-rine, is white.

The judge ruled Brelo acted rea-sonably in shooting the two while standing on the hood of their sur-rounded car and firing multiple rounds through the windshield. Brelo was one of a group of offic-ers who fired on the car at the end of a chase that began in downtown Cleveland after reports of gunfire coming from the car.

The US Justice Department said on Saturday its civil rights di-vision, the US attorney’s office and the FBI were reviewing testimony and evidence from the state trial and would determine if federal ac-tion would be taken.

Brelo’s trial came months after the Justice Department found the Cleveland Police Department sys-tematically engages in excessive use of force against civilians.

The department, in a December report, found that supervisors tol-

erated and in some cases, endorsed use of unnecessary or unreason-able force.

Just days before the report was released, a Cleveland police of-ficer shot and killed Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy who was carrying what turned out to be a replica gun that typically fires plastic pellets. The shooting is under investiga-tion. Five other police supervi-sors were indicted on misdemea-nor dereliction of duty charges in the deaths of Williams and Rus-sell and are scheduled to go on trial in July.

Dozens of officers have been disciplined and Cleveland paid the families of Williams and Russell $1.5 million each to settle a wrong-ful death lawsuit. Brelo will re-main on unpaid suspension until a police review is completed, police chief Williams said. — Reuters

S H O O T I N G O F U N A R M E D B L A C K P A I R

JUSTICE DENIED: People take to the streets and protest in reaction to Cleveland police officer Michael

Brelo being acquitted of manslaughter charges after he shot two people at the end of a 2012 car chase

in which officers fired 137 shots in Cleveland, US. — AFP

Protesters took to the streets after Judge John O’Donnell acquitted police officer Michael Brelo, 31, on charges of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in the deaths of Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell

BMARKE

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Oman refinery firm borrows OMR350m loan from banksMUSCAT: State-owned Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum In-dustries Co (Orpic) has received a OMR350 million, ten-year loan from local and regional banks, part of which will be used to fund expansion projects, the company said on Friday.

The money will be used to “meet general corporate require-ments and certain projects cur-rently being considered”, chief financial officer Nazar Al Lawa-ti told Reuters, without reveal-ing financial terms or naming the projects.

Syndicated loanThe syndicated loan was arranged by Bank Muscat, with a consor-tium that included Bank Dhofar, National Bank of Oman (NBO),

Bank Sohar, the local operation of Qatar National Bank, along with other banks.

The refining and petrochemical company has a range of projects underway or planned, as Oman

pours billions of dollars into its ongoing industrialisation. Oman has continued spending on such projects, despite the plunge in oil prices beginning last year which pushed the state budget into a deep deficit.

The projects include an up-grade of Orpic’s Sohar refinery, a product pipeline between Muscat and Sohar, and construction of the $3.6 billion Liwa plastics pro-duction complex.

“Orpic plans to raise syndi-cated financing to fund the Liwa Plastics Industrial Complex, for which it has started discussions with potential export credit agen-cies and plans to launch (the pro-ject) to commercial banks in July this year,” Al Lawati further add-ed. — Agencies

P R O J E C T F I N A N C E

ONTC signs pact with Dutch firm to purchase 40 low-floor buses

ELHAM [email protected]

MUSCAT: Forty low-floor city buses will be delivered by the Netherlands-based VDL Bus & Coach company by the end of the year under an agreement signed with the Oman National Trans-port Company (ONTC) in Muscat on Sunday.

The agreement for buying buses by Oman for the first time was signed by Eng Salim bin Moham-med Al Nuaimi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and chairman of ONTC, and Rémi Henkemans, managing director of VDL Bus & Coach, one of the largest bus pro-ducers in Europe.

Speaking to reporters, Ahmed bin Ali Al Bulushi, the newly ap-pointed chief executive officer of ONTC, said that the addition of the new buses to the existing fleet will

help enhance the public transport in the city.

They will be used on major routes in Muscat, including Sul-tan Qaboos Road, he said, adding that ONTC is preparing the infra-structure for the implementation of the project.

The buses which will join the fleet are modern and safe and can be easily used by people with dis-abilities, Al Bulushi noted.

Delivery In addition, Henkemans said that VDL Bus & Coach will deliver all the buses between October 15 and November 15 this year.

Each bus has a seating capacity of around 40 passengers, he added.

“We will deliver in two batches. It is depending also on the logistics

of the shipping,” he said, adding that their local partner will be responsible for repair and main-tenance work.

Training There will be training programmes for drivers and mechanics, Henke-mans said.

The official also noted that the company’s competitive edge helped it secure the agreement as it had offered competitive prices for very high quality products. “Our products are known to be very fuel-efficient,” he further added.

The managing director of VDL Bus & Coach said that their prod-ucts will make a difference to the public transport system in Muscat as they are attractive, comfortable and safe, which will encourage

people to use public transport. According to him, VDL Bus &

Coach is operating around 500 ve-hicles in the United Arab Emirates and the agreement with Oman is the next step in the Gulf region.

Activities The main activities of the Dutch company consist of the develop-ment, manufacturing, sales and after-sales service of a wide range

of buses, coaches and chassis mod-ules and the purchase and sales of second-hand buses as well.

VDL Bus and CoachVDL Bus & Coach consists of mul-tiple bus companies that operate cooperatively in the global market. Manufacturing takes place in the Netherlands and Belgium. Sales of VDL Bus & Coach products take place through a worldwide

network consisting of corporate-owned sales offices, importers and agents in more than 30 countries, which makes it possible to offer custom-made transport solutions.

Addition of the new

buses to the existing

fleet will help

enhance the public

transport in the city,

said chief executive

officer of ONTC

MODERN AND SAFE: The agreement for the supply of the buses to Oman for the first time was signed

by Eng Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communica-

tions and chairman of ONTC, and Rémi Henkemans, managing director of VDL Bus & Coach, one of the

largest bus producers in Europe. — Talib Al Wohaibi/Times of Oman

– Picture taken from company website

Bank Sohar to raise $250m debut

loan for funding general business

DUBAI: Bank Sohar has invited banks to participate in a $250 million debut loan to fund its gen-eral business activities, with the marketing of the deal expected to close by end of June, the arranger of the facility said on Sunday.

Cost of fundThe bank will raise funds with a three-year life-span and will pay a margin of 120 basis points over the London interbank offered rate (Libor), Reuters news agency said in a report.

Bank Sohar has picked Bah-rain-based Arab Banking Corpo-ration (ABC) as the sole arranger and bookrunner for the loan syn-dication, Arab Banking Corpora-tion said in a press statement re-leased on Sunday. - Agencies

F U N D R A I S I N G

Chinese dominance worries Nigeria’s ailing textile tradersKANO (Nigeria): Nafiu Badaru, a junior civil servant in northern Nigeria’s biggest city Kano, doesn’t make much money and it takes some cash to look good so he tends to buy made-in-China fabric.

“A piece of high-quality brocade (cloth) costs around 10,000 naira ($50, 47 euros), which is way too expensive for me,” he told AFP.

“With the same amount of mon-ey I can buy six pieces of cheap Chinese brocade which cost only 1,500 naira a piece and still keep some change.”

The proliferation of Chinese-made textiles is a boon for con-sumers like Nafiu, with Kano and the wider north struggling with unemployment and eco-nomic constraints.

But traders in the city — a centre of weaving and textile manufac-turing dating back centuries — say such cheaper imports have been disastrous.

Factories have shut and trade in home-spun fabrics has dwindled, prompting calls for foreign invest-ment within Nigeria rather than cheap, mass importation, as well as better regulation.

Fatuhu Gambo’s business is one of many in dire straits. For the past two weeks he has not sold a single fabric in his shop in the Kantin Kwari textile market — the largest in West Africa.

“The Chinese have effectively edged us out of business, leaving

us with nothing but huge debts and heaps of goods in our shops,” he said.

Unfair competitionTalk in the market — a colourful rabbit’s warren of shops and stalls that draws traders from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon to Mali and the Central African Republic — is of unfair competition.

“The Chinese have taken over the importation and distribution of textiles in Kano and now they are into retail trading, which is putting our traders out of busi-ness,” said traders’ union head Liti Kulkul.

The troubles began a decade ago when Chinese textile merchants started the massive importation of textiles to Nigeria after Africa’s most populous nation opened its

doors to foreign trade. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) deal gave the Chinese unfettered ac-cess to Nigeria’s textile market, although Nigerian laws prohibit foreigners from retail trading.

There have been occasional crackdowns, like in May 2012, when immigration officials ar-rested and deported 45 Chinese nationals over retail trading after repeated complaints.

Earlier this month, customs of-ficials arrested four Chinese trad-ers for smuggling mass-produced fabrics and sealed 26 warehouses containing goods on which import duties had not been paid. Hun-dreds of textile dyers then staged street protests against what they view as a Chinese takeover of their trade that threatens to put 30,000 artisans out of business. - AFP

D U M P I N G I S S U E

The refining and petrochemical company has a range of projects underway or planned, as Oman pours billions of dollars into its ongoing industrialisation

– Bloomberg file picture

B2

MARKETM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

More than 150 companies set to participate in Sohar exhibition

Times News Service

MUSCAT: A consumer exhibi-tion organised by Silver Star in Sohar is evoking tremendous re-sponse. The exhibition will be held between May 25 and 31 at Oman International Exhibition Centre, Sohar. The event has evoked excellent response from more than 150 exhibitors in this exhibition participating from var-ious countries .

Several countriesThese countries include Bahrain, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippine, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, UAE and Yemen.

The exhibit profile of this exhi-bition is fabrics, readymade gar-ments, bags, shoes, leather prod-ucts, cosmetics, perfumes etc. The products on display and sale are of value added items.

The timing of the exhibition is

from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 10pm on all seven days except Friday (May 29, 2015 from 4.30pm to 10pm. The retail sales are allowed throughout seven days of the exhibition. There is a special day for ladies from 10am to 1pm and for families from 5pm to 10pm on Wednesday (May 27, 2015) respectively keeping in mind that many visitors want to reserve a special timings for these categories so as to have a pleasant and comfortable shopping. The next consumer exhibition in Sohar is going to be after four months (in October 2015).

Silver Star is a house hold name and is one of the pioneers in the exhibition Industry in Oman and UAE for the past more than two decades and we are looking forward in making Silver Star Shopping Festival Sohar 2015 yet another success story in the annals of exhi-bitions in the Sultanate of Oman.

Exhibit profile of this exhibition is fabrics,

readymade garments, bags, shoes, leather

products, cosmetics and perfumes

NBO to seek shareholders’ nod for fundsTimes News Service

MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman said that it would convene an extraordinary general meeting on June 10, 2015 to seek share-holders’ approval for issuing ad-ditional perpetual Tier 1 capital to the tune of $300 million in Omani rial. Interest rate for the perpetual tier I capital will be determined at the time of issue based upon mar-ket conditions.

The meeting will also seek approval to amend the shareholders’ decision of March 22, 2011 to increase the limit of its existing euro medium term notes programme from $600 million to $1.5 billion.

The proposal will also include the possibility of issuing Tier 2 subordinated securities in the next four years, subject to regulatory approvals, as applicable.

WOOING CROWD: The products on display and sale are of value

added items. – Supplied picture

Greek premier defiant as bailout talks enter ‘homestretch’ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday that he believes a bailout deal with creditors is nearing, yet remained adamant that there are strict lim-its to demands Athens will accept.

“We have done what we ought to do, now it’s Europe’s turn to do so,” Tsipras said in a speech to his hard-left Syriza party’s central commit-tee, where he claimed the country is “in the homestretch of a painful and difficult period.”

The Syriza-led government is locked in talks with the Euro-pean Union, European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release a blocked final 7.2-billion-euro ($7.9 billon) tranche of its 240-billion-euro bailout.

In exchange for the remain-ing aid, creditors are demanding

Greece accept tough reforms and spending cuts that anti-austerity Syriza pledged to reject when it was elected in January.

In his speech, Tsipras sought to appease prominent members of his party who are urging the gov-ernment to stick by its campaign pledges to combat poverty and un-employment, and defy creditors’ demands despite Greece’s increas-ingly acute liquidity problems.

“The majority of Greek peo-ple ask for a viable solution not only an agreement,” Tsipras said, stressing a mutually beneficial deal must focus on low targets for Greece’s primary surplus and re-structuring of its debt.

He also accused some creditors of “taking advantage of (Greece’s) cash asphyxiation,” and pledged the government will not “budge

to irrational demands” that in-volve crossing his government’s “red lines”.

“We don’t discuss further de-regulation of the labour system. We won’t accept further reduction of pensions. We won’t accept hu-miliating terms for ourselves, for our party or for the Greek people,” Tsipras stated.

Greece faces a series of debt re-payments beginning next month that are seen as all but impossible to meet without the blocked bail-out funds. Failure to honour those payments would result in prob-able default, raising the spectre of a chaotic Greek exit from the euro.

According to reports, creditors are demanding further budget cuts worth five billion euros. Yet de-spite the acrimonious atmosphere amid the stalled negotiations, all

sides appear convinced there is no alternative to reaching a deal. “It would be a catastrophe for Greece to leave the eurozone,” said French Finance Minister Michel Sapin on Saturday during a visit in Lisbon, adding Athens’ exit would also cre-ate a “problem for the eurozone”.

But even as he called for a “rapid accord” to be reached, Sapin said any deal must encompass com-mitments previous Greek gov-ernments made in bailout agree-ments, and also “prepare for what comes next, because Greece will still remain a fragile country.” - AFP

B A I L O U T D E A L

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. — Bloomberg file picture


P E R P E T U A L T I E R I C A P I TA L

B3M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

MARKETOman’s revenue drops 24% to OMR2.4b in first quarter

A E [email protected]

MUSCAT: Oman’s total govern-ment revenue in the first quar-ter of 2015 dipped by 23.9 per cent to OMR2,447.3 million from OMR3,214.4 million for the same period last year, mainly on account of a fall in oil revenue.

Net oil revenue plummeted by 35.31 per cent (or OMR913.5 mil-lion) to OMR1,673.4 million from as high as OMR2,586.9 million during the three-month period un-

der review, according to the latest statistics released by the Central Bank of Oman.

The average price of Oman Crude in the international market dipped by 41.5 per cent to $61.99 per barrel in the first three months of this year, from as high as $105.96 per barrel for the same period of 2014, according to the latest sta-

tistical bulletin released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

However, the Sultanate’s gov-ernment did not cut its expendi-ture, which was OMR2,991.9 mil-lion for the first quarter of 2015, against OMR2,999 million for the same period in 2014.

Both current and investment ex-

penditures edged up to OMR1,697.6 million (from OMR1,693.3 mil-lion) and OMR555.3 million (from OMR548 million), respectively.

Oman government projected its budget expenditure and rev-enue for 2015 at OMR14.1 billion and OMR11.6 billion, respectively, leaving an anticipated deficit of OMR2.5 billion.

For the first quarter of 2015, the country posted a budget deficit of OMR544.6 million, against a sur-plus of OMR215.4 million posted for the same period of 2014.

A healthy signMarket analysts said that main-taining investment expenditure, despite a phenomenal dip in oil revenue, is a healthy sign and would prop up economic activity.

The government has been taking major initiatives to raise debt funds from domestic market by way of a OMR200 million-worth sukuk or Islamic bond issue.

The private placement of sukuk, which is expected within a couple of months, will enable government to continue its expenditure.

Move is also afoot to raise funds by divesting stakes in state-owned companies.

Although 11 companies have been identified for divestment almost two years ago, the progress in floating initial public offerings is slow.

Net oil revenue fell

31% (or OMR913.5m)

to OMR1,673.4

million from as high

as OMR2,586.9

million during the

three-month period

under review

Government floats tenders for pipeline maintenance

A E [email protected]

MUSCAT: Eight tenders seek-ing contractors for operation and maintenance of water dis-tribution networks in several parts of the country have been floated by the Public Author-ity for Electricity and Water (PAEW).

Six governoratesThese tenders are mainly for maintaining distribution and transmission pipelines, pump-ing stations, wells, tanker fill-ing stations, buildings and water treatment plants in six governorates.

These are Al Sharqiyah South, Al Batinah North, Al Wusta, Musandam, Al Dhahira, Al Dakhliyah and Muscat.

Tender opens on June 22Also, another tender was for operation and maintenance of main water transmission sys-tem and associated facilities in Oman.

These tenders, which were floated last week, will open on June 22, according to the Ten-der Board website.

E I G H T T E N D E R S

HIGHLY VOLATILE: The average price of Oman Crude in the international market dipped by 41.5 per

cent to $61.99 per barrel in the first three months of this year. — Times file picture


Aircraft leasing firm enters into pact with Oman AirTimes News Service

MUSCAT: Oman Brunei Avia-tion Leasing Company (OBALC) was mandated by Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, to provide three new Boeing B737-900ER aircraft on long-term lease.

The aircraft were previously ordered by the airline and the first delivery was completed on Wednesday, the second is sched-uled for May 27 and the third is in November 2015.

Simon McLean, OBALC’s CEO, commented “In our inaugural transaction with Oman Air last year, we clearly demonstrated our ability to deliver a competi-tive solution in a short timescale, so we were delighted to be man-dated again by Oman Air for the provision of three further new B737-900ER aircraft, taking us to a total of five B737 aircraft by the end of 2015”.

Main client“Oman Air remains a cornerstone client for OBALC and we look for-ward to supporting the airline in the years to come,” he added.

Simon further commented “OBALC’s shareholders continue with their plan to launch an avia-tion leasing fund in the Muscat capital market this year and the

Oman Air transactions, which are to be the first products acquired by the fund, providing prospec-tive investors with clear visibility on what their money is going to be invested in”.

OBALC is Oman’s very first aircraft leasing company, special-ising in the provision of tailored leasing, sales, asset management and re-marketing solutions to leading airlines and investors.

OBALC is owned by Oman Bru-nei Investment Company and the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman.

Financing facility OBALC has sourced, negotiated and closed a financing facility with Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) for the purchase of two new B737-900ER aircraft leased to Oman Air.

Simon McLean, OBALC’s CEO, commented: “for our sec-ond transaction with Oman Air we selected ABC as our financ-ing partner, giving us the ability to confidently and expeditiously provide the client, Oman Air, with a competitive leasing solution for two aircraft.”

He added that “ABC did a great job of accommodating a timescale of less than a month from the date we received the airline’s sale & leaseback mandate to the first

aircraft delivery and, in doing so, they fully justified the confidence and trust we had placed in them.”

Jeremy Dixon, First Vice Presi-dent, Project & Structured Fi-nance at ABC, commented: “ABC is very proud to have success-fully closed this transaction with OBALC. As a leading provider of project & structured finance solutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, we are pleased to be able to support the development of Oman’s first aircraft leasing company.”

OBALC is Oman’s first aircraft leasing company, specialising in the provision of tailored leas-ing, investment, asset manage-ment and remarketing solu-tions to leading airlines globally and investors. OBALC is owned by Oman Brunei Investment Company and the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman.

ABC is a leading international bank in the MENA region. Head-quartered in Bahrain, it provides innovative wholesale financial products and services that in-clude corporate banking, trade finance, project and structured finance, syndications, treasury products and Islamic banking. It also provides retail banking ser-vices through its network of retail banks in the region.

O M A N B R U N E I A V I A T I O N L E A S I N G C O M P A N Y

B4

MARKETM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

MUSCATSECURITIES MARKET

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, MAY 24

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................OM0000001962 ............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 1,394,242 ...... 105,962......................31 ........... 0.076 ........... 0.076 ...........0.076 ........... 0.076 .............0.075 ............0.001 ............. 1.333 ................0.076 ..............0.076...................0.077................... 15,743,505 .........0.100OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 111,382 .............14,708..................... 10 ............0.131 ........... 0.133 ........... 0.131 ........... 0.132 ............. 0.131 .............0.001 ............. 0.763 ................0.132 .............. 0.132...................0.133 ...................41,020,972 .........0.100OM0000001483 ............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 443,129 ..........141,665......................14 ........... 0.320 ...........0.320 ...........0.316 ........... 0.320 ............. 0.318............ 0.002 ............. 0.629 ................0.320.............. 0.318...................0.320 .................429,027,280 .......0.100OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 174,314 ............ 32,349........................5 ............0.183 ........... 0.186 ...........0.183 ........... 0.186 ............. 0.185.............0.001 ............. 0.541 ................0.186 .............. 0.183...................0.186 ..................268,107,840 ........0.100OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ..................................................... 17,003 ............... 6,758........................5 ........... 0.396 ...........0.400 ...........0.396 ........... 0.398 .............0.396 ........... 0.002 ............. 0.505 ................0.396 ..............0.396...................0.416 ...................24,079,000.........0.100OM0000002168 ............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 151,000 ............ 63,228......................12 ............0.416 ...........0.420 ...........0.414 ............0.418 ............. 0.416............ 0.002 ............. 0.481 ................0.414 .............. 0.414...................0.420 ................. 123,817,319 ........0.100OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 122,969 ........... 64,962..................... 33 ........... 0.530 ........... 0.530 ...........0.524........... 0.528 .............0.526 ........... 0.002 ............. 0.380 ................0.524..............0.524...................0.526...................27,720,000 .........0.100OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .................................................................. 200 .....................80........................ 1 ........... 0.400 ...........0.400 ...........0.400 .......... 0.398 .............0.398 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.400..............0.396...................0.400 ..................19,900,000 .........0.100OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS .....................215 .....................65........................ 1 ........... 0.304 ...........0.304 ...........0.304 .......... 0.306 .............0.306 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.304............. 0.304...................0.320 ..................10,272,864 .........0.100OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE .............. 224,880 ........... 52,096......................21 ........... 0.232 ...........0.234 ...........0.230........... 0.232 .............0.232 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.231 .............. 0.231...................0.232 ..................46,400,000 ........0.100OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 592,060 .........272,348......................15 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.460........... 0.460 .............0.460 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.460..............0.460...................0.462 .................170,391,958 ........0.100OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY ........................................ 4,134 ............... 8,743........................3 ............2.115 ........... 2.115 ............ 2.115 ............2.115 ............. 2.115 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................ 2.115 .............. 2.115...................2.325.................. 189,715,500 ........0.100OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................ 11,464 ............... 6,145........................6 ........... 0.536 ........... 0.536 ...........0.536 ........... 0.536 .............0.536 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.536 ..............0.536...................0.540 ................. 177,347,773 ........0.100OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ....................100 .....................22........................ 1 ........... 0.220 ...........0.220 ...........0.220 .......... 0.221 ............. 0.221 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.220 ............ 0.220...................0.224 ...................4,641,000 ..........0.100OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ........................................................................... 500 ...................107........................ 1 ............0.213 ........... 0.213 ...........0.213 ........... 0.213 ............. 0.213............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.213 .............. 0.211...................0.213 ..................303,532,699 .......0.100OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .............................................67,516 ............ 24,499......................18 ........... 0.370 ........... 0.370 ...........0.362........... 0.362 .............0.362 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.366 ..............0.364...................0.368...................22,155,947 .........0.100OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ........................................ 400 ..................840........................ 1 ........... 2.100 ........... 2.100 ...........2.100 ........... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................2.100 ............. 2.000...................2.090 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ..............................................................94,843 .............51,210......................13 ........... 0.538 ...........0.540 ...........0.538 ........... 0.540 .............0.540 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.540..............0.540...................0.542 ...............1,237,584,202 ......0.100OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ......... 1,000 ...............2,190........................ 1 ............2.190 ........... 2.190 ...........2.190 ........... 2.190 .............2.190 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................2.190 ..............2.190...................2.200 ................. 151,110,000 ........0.100OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER ................................................................8,240 ...............2,872........................4 ........... 0.348 ........... 0.350 ...........0.348........... 0.348 .............0.348 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.350 ..............0.350...................0.406 .................. 76,911,480 .........0.100OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 165,000 ..........127,550......................11 ............0.772 ........... 0.776 ...........0.772 ........... 0.772 ............. 0.772............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.772 .............. 0.768...................0.772 ................. 502,528,946 .......0.100OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH ................................................ 13,823 .............33,175........................8 ........... 2.400 ...........2.400 ...........2.400 .......... 2.400 .............2.400 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................2.400 ............ 2.400...................2.440 .................229,097,268........1.000OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER ..................................................53,005 ............. 10,318........................6 ............0.195 ........... 0.195 ...........0.194 ............0.195 ............. 0.195............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.194 .............. 0.191...................0.193 ..................131,603,049 ........0.100OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...........................................................7,967 .............12,492........................2 ............1.570 ........... 1.570 ...........1.565 ............1.570 ............. 1.575 ............-0.005 ............-0.317................1.565 .............. 1.560...................1.570 ................. 314,000,000 .......0.100OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................... 67,339 .............13,029........................8 ............0.194 ........... 0.194 ...........0.193 ............0.193 ............. 0.194 ...........-0.001 ............-0.515................0.194 ..............0.194...................0.195 ..................137,880,424 ........0.100OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 114,692 ............ 39,952..................... 34 ........... 0.350 ........... 0.350 ...........0.346........... 0.348 .............0.350 ...........-0.002 ............-0.571................0.346..............0.342...................0.346 ..................98,168,870 .........0.100OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 100,000 ........... 13,900........................2 ............0.139 ........... 0.139 ...........0.139 ............0.139 .............0.140 ...........-0.001 ............-0.714 ................0.139 .............. 0.137...................0.139 ..................278,043,478........0.100OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 139,900 ............18,847......................12 ............0.136 ........... 0.136 ...........0.134 ............0.135 ............. 0.136............-0.001 ........... -0.735................0.134 .............. 0.133...................0.135 .................... 7,943,834 ..........0.100OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................ 21,100 ...............2,638........................3 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.126............-0.001 ........... -0.794 ...............0.125 .............. 0.123...................0.125 .................... 3,750,000 ..........0.100OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 171,033 ............ 41,060..................... 24 ........... 0.242 ...........0.242 ...........0.240 .......... 0.240 .............0.242 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.826 ...............0.240 ............ 0.240...................0.243 ..................31,320,000 .........0.100OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 220,750 .........364,428..................... 25 ............1.665 ........... 1.665 ...........1.650 ............1.650 ............. 1.665 ............-0.015 ........... -0.901 ...............1.650 .............. 1.645...................1.650 ................1,237,500,000 ......0.100OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL ............................................. 183,620 ............ 15,821......................14 ........... 0.087 ........... 0.087 ...........0.086........... 0.086 .............0.087 ...........-0.001 ............-1.149 ................0.086 ..............0.085...................0.086...................15,050,000 .........0.100OM0000002614 ............ONIC. HOLDING .......................................................... 145,189 ............ 65,569..................... 20 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.450........... 0.452 .............0.458 ...........-0.006 ............-1.310 ................0.456 ..............0.450...................0.456...................78,387,309 .........0.100OM0000001087 ............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE .................................12,000 ...............3,600........................2 ........... 0.300 ...........0.300 ...........0.300 .......... 0.300 .............0.304 ...........-0.004 ............-1.316 ................0.300 .............0.298...................0.304 ..................30,000,000 ........0.100OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 492,330 ............ 61,758..................... 52 ............0.127 ........... 0.127 ...........0.124 ............0.125 ............. 0.127............-0.002 ............-1.575 ................0.125 ..............0.124...................0.125 ...................36,247,580 .........0.100OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............12,997 ............... 1,693........................4 ............0.131 ........... 0.131 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ............. 0.133............-0.003 ........... -2.256 ...............0.130 ..............0.130...................0.135 ................... 11,700,000 .........0.100OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING ........... 1,524,653 ......166,944......................51 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.108 ........... 0.109 ............. 0.112 ............-0.003 ........... -2.679 ...............0.109 ..............0.108...................0.109 ...................13,284,375 .........0.100.............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 6,864,989...1,843,620...................474 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ TRADED SEC. ......37........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ........................................................10,175 .................. 549........................2 ........... 0.053 ........... 0.054 ...........0.053 ........... 0.054 .............0.053 ............0.001 ............. 1.887 ................0.054..............0.053...................0.054 ................... 6,750,000 ..........0.100OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ..................................................................65,826 ...............4,934......................11 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074 ........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351 .................0.075 ..............0.074...................0.075 ..................112,500,000 ........0.100OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 9,028 ...............4,550........................4 ........... 0.500 ........... 0.506 ...........0.500........... 0.504 .............0.500 ........... 0.004 .............0.800 ................0.506..............0.506...................0.508 ..................79,380,000 .........0.100OM0000001301 ............DHOFAR CATTLE FEED ...............................................1,656 ..................300........................ 1 ............0.181 ........... 0.181............ 0.181 ............0.181 ............. 0.181 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................ 0.181 .............. 0.181................... 0.191 ................... 13,937,000 .........0.100OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 478,500 ........... 40,194......................11 ........... 0.084 ...........0.084 ...........0.084........... 0.084 .............0.084 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.084..............0.076...................0.084 ................. 84,000,000 ........0.100OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE .............................. 31,797 ............... 3,784........................3 ............0.119 ........... 0.119............ 0.119 ............0.119 .............0.120 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.833 ............... 0.119 .............. 0.119...................0.120 ...................11,900,000 .........0.100OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.....................................11,100 ............... 1,099........................3 ........... 0.099 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.100 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.000 ...............0.099 ..............0.099...................0.100.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................53,839 ...............2,072........................7 ........... 0.039 ...........0.040 ...........0.038........... 0.038 .............0.039 ...........-0.001 ........... -2.564 ...............0.038 ..............0.038...................0.039....................3,230,000 ..........0.100OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER ...............................27,000 ............... 1,998........................2 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.074 ........... 0.074 .............0.077 ...........-0.003 ........... -3.896 ...............0.074 ..............0.070...................0.079.................... 1,998,225 ..........0.100.............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 688,921 ........... 59,480.....................44 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ TRADED SEC. ........ 9........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004487 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES BONDS3.75 .............. 14,974 ............... 1,857........................ 1 ............0.124 ........... 0.124 ...........0.124 ........... 0.124 ............. 0.124 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.124 .............. 0.125...................0.140 ...................52,469,568 .........0.100OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ..............................363 .....................38........................ 1 ............0.104 ........... 0.104 ...........0.104 ........... 0.104 .............0.104 ........... 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.104 ..............0.104...................0.105 ...................31,485,908 .........0.100OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .................................................363 .....................37........................ 1 ............0.101 ........... 0.101............0.101 ............0.101 ............. 0.101 ............ 0.000 .............0.000 ................0.101 .............. 0.101................... 0.110 ...................32,283,910 .........0.100.............................................SUM: .................................................................................... 15,700 ................1,931........................3 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ TRADED SEC. ........ 3...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

INDICESIndex .................................................High .................Low ..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff %MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,385.94 ...............6,375.43 ................... 6,375.43 ...................6,383.35 .................. -7.92 .................. -0.12Financial Index ..................................... 7,774.31 ............... 7,761.40 .................... 7,762.31 ....................7,767.83 .................. -5.52 .................. -0.07Industrial Index ....................................8,316.84 ...............8,307.10 ................... 8,308.17 ................... 8,314.09 .................. -5.92 .................. -0.07Services Index .......................................3,453.55 ...............3,447.83 ................... 3,447.83 ...................3,452.69 .................. -4.86 .................. -0.14MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................986.36 ..................985.28 ...................... 985.28 .......................985.75 .................. -0.47 .................. -0.05

Trading SummaryVolume ................ Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up ............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded7,569,610 .....................1,905,031 .....................521 ................14,776,773,569 ................ 10 ......................18 .................... 21 .........................49

MSM index edges down

MUSCAT: Oman’s general index — MSM30 Index — ended on a negative note to close at 6,375.43 points, down by 0.12 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index was marginally down by 0.05 per cent to close at 985.25 points. Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Sunday’s top gainer was Oman Fisheries, up by 1.89 per cent, while National Min-eral Water, down by 3.90 per cent, was the top loser for the day.

As many as 521 trades were executed during the day’s trad-ing session generating turnover of OMR1.90 million with more than 7.56 million shares chang-ing hands. Out of 49 traded secu-

rities, 10 advanced, 18 declined and 21 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR282,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR271,000 followed by Foreign investors for OMR11,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7762.31 points, marginally down by 0.07 per cent. Bank Nizwa , Al Madina Investment, United Fi-nance, National Bank of Oman and Bank Sohar increased by 1.33 per cent, 0.76 per cent, 0.63 per cent and 0.54 per cent, respec-tively. Oman & Emirates, Al Shar-qiya Investment, Oman United Insurance and ONIC Holding de-

clined by 2.68 per cent, 2.26 per cent, 1.32 per cent and 1.31 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 8308.17 points, down by 0.07 per cent. Oman Fisheries, Oman Flour Mills, Voltamp Energy and Al Anwar Ceramics increased by 1.89 per cent, 0.80 per cent, 0.51 per cent and 0.48 per cent, respec-tively. National Mineral Water, Construction Material Industries, Galfar Engineering and Al Hassan Engineering declined by 3.90 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 1.58 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively.

Services Sector Index was down by 0.14 per cent to close at 3,447.83 points. Oman Telecommunica-tion, Renaissance Services and Al Suwadi Power declined by 0.90 per cent, 0.57 per cent and 0.52 per cent respectively.

Dubai stocks declineReal estate and construction com-panies dragged Dubai’s stocks to the lowest in five weeks as gauges across the six-nation Gulf Coop-eration Council (GCC) retreated.

Dubai’s DFM General Index lost 1.7 per cent to close at 4,049.98, pulled lower by a two per cent decrease in the Dubai Financial Market Real Estate Index. Emaar Properties, the developer with the biggest weighting on the gauge, dropped the most since May 4. Arabtec Holding slipped to the lowest since April 2 after Egypt reportedly ended talks with the construction company to build one million housing units.

Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped 0.4 per cent to 9,732.52, the weakest finish since May 20. Qatar’s QE Index was lit-tle changed while Kuwait’s SE Price Index lost 0.3 per cent and Bahrain’s BB All Share Index de-creased 0.6 per cent. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index fell 0.7 per cent. Egypt’s EGX 30 Index rose 1.5 per cent, extending gains after its best week in almost two years. The government last week postponed taxing bourse profits for two years, a decision that received criticism from the International Monetary Fund. — United Securities/Bloomberg News

Sunday’s top gainer was Oman Fisheries, up

by 1.89%, while National Mineral Water, down

by 3.90%, was the top loser of the day

IMF criticises Egypt on delays

CAIRO: International Monetary Fund (IMF) criticised Egypt’s decision to delay imposing capi-tal gains tax on stocks because it means that the cost of shoring up public finances will be borne by “people who are less able to afford it.”

“We are disappointed that the capital gains tax has been post-poned,” Chris Jarvis, the lender’s Egypt Mission Chief, said in an

e-mailed response to questions. “This was a tax which raised needed revenue and which was fair,” he added further.

The government has struggled to raise more money from wealth-ier Egyptians as it seeks to narrow one of the biggest budget deficits in the Middle East.

In March, officials cancelled a five per cent surcharge on the highest-earners, just nine

months after it went into effect. They also reversed an increase in the top rate of income tax intro-duced in 2013.

Egyptian officials haven’t re-quested IMF financing. The North African country had reached two initial loan agreements with the fund since the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak before withdrawing the requests. — Bloomberg News

C A P I T A L G A I N S T A X

O M A N S T O C K S

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

E- IMESTECH STUFFTECH STUFF

BFACEBOOK ACCOUNT CAN BE HANDLED AFTER YOU DIEFacebook allows you to designate a friend or family member as a “legacy contact.” If you want to have your account memorialised after you die, this person basically serves as the executor of your Facebook account by managing your profile and can update your cover photo and profile photo, post information and accept new friend requests. (Memorialised accounts without legacy contacts cannot be changed.)

M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

S M A R T P H O N E A P P S

Applications for people to reduce water consumption

SLOW DOWNENJOY THE RIDE

CALIFORNIA’S drought is a powerful reminder of the vulnerability and precious na-ture of our water resources. To become more responsible with water usage and waste, a few apps can help people learn about and reduce their water consumption.

One is Vizsafe, which tries to encourage responsible wa-ter usage through the age-old mechanism of peer pressure. The principle is simple: If a user sees water overuse, he can snap a photo or record a smart-phone video and upload the ev-idence to Vizsafe for all to see.

For example, someone may spot a business that is overwa-tering its grass, causing wasted water to run onto the sidewalk. A user can take a picture and upload the geo-located photo to the app. The hope is that the business takes note of the pub-lic shaming and turns down its sprinkler system. Inside the app, users can browse a list of photos and videos that other people have uploaded or see reported issues on a map. Vizsafe’s blurb promises that it is all about “being a good neigh-bour” and supporting “your community’s well-being.” The app also has other neighbour-hood-watch features like re-porting crime or even giving a thumbs up to a good Samaritan.

Indirect approach Some may feel that using the app is akin to snitching on people, but there are situa-tions in which it is impossible to directly approach someone wasting water, which is when Vizsafe becomes the most use-ful. Vizsafe does not require us-ers to associate their real iden-tities with uploads. The app is not exactly pretty, nor is it particularly well designed. Its menus and controls are some-times clumsy and confusing. But it is still fairly easy to use, and is free for iOS and Android.

For another way to save wa-ter, try educational apps like Drip Detective, which helps people understand one of the most common ways we waste water at home — via a leak, or

a dripping tap in a sink or bath-tub. Using Drip Detective, peo-ple can tap their phone screen in time to the drips. For more serious leaks, the app asks us-ers to time how long the leak takes to fill a measurable vol-ume, like a teaspoon or cup. Drip Detective then estimates the rate of water waste.

Cost of wasting waterMerely learning how many gallons of water a year is be-ing wasted could prompt users to fix a leak, but there is also a section in the app where peo-ple can type in the cost of water shown on their water bill, and Drip Detective will show the dollar value of water that is es-caping down the drain.

Drip Detective has plain graphics and is not fancy, but its message is powerful. This app is also a great tool for teaching children to properly shut off a faucet when done us-ing it. The app is free for iOS devices. H2O Tracker is an educational water-saving app that takes a more game-like approach. The main part of the app is a quiz where users score points by answering questions about how much water is used for a shower or bath, to wash a car and so on.

Users may realise how much water they waste — and be shocked into changing their habits. To help put figures in context, the app can show a person’s water use compared with that of the average app user, or even with other people who live nearby.

H2O Tracker also includes advice on how much water to give plants to keep them alive during a drought without be-ing wasteful. In addition, there is a section where users can upload evidence of water being wasted, a little like Vizsafe. An-other app, Dropcountr, which is also free for iOS and Android, promises to give consumers a new way to understand their water consumption by con-necting directly to utility com-panies and showing real-time analytics inside the app. — KIT

EATON/The New York Times News Service

A TECH BOOM AIMED AT THE FEW INSTEAD OF THE WORLD

FARHAD MANJOO

Tech industry used to think big. As early as 1977, when personal computers were ex-pensive and impracti-

cal mystery boxes with no appar-ent utility or business prospects, the young Bill Gates and Paul Allen were already working toward a fu-ture in which we would see “a com-puter on every desk and in every home.” And in the late 1990s, when it was far from clear that they would ever make a penny from their unu-sual search engine, the audacious founders of Google were planning to organise every bit of data on the planet — and make it available to everyone, free.

These were dreams of vast breadth: The founders of Microsoft, Google, Facebook and many of the rest of today’s tech giants were not content to win over just some peo-ple to their future. They weren’t go-ing after simply the rich, or Ameri-cans or westerners. They planned to radically alter how the world did business so the impossible became a reality for everyone.

Whatever happened to the tech industry’s grand, democratic vi-sions of the future?

We are once again living in a go-go time for tech, but there are few signs that the most consequential fruits of the boom have reached the masses. Instead, the boom is characterised by a rise in so-called on-demand services aimed at the wealthy and the young.

With a few taps on a phone, for a fee, today’s hottest start-ups will help people on the lowest rungs of the one per cent live like their bet-ters in the 0.1 per cent. These ser-vices give the modestly wealthy a chance to enjoy the cooks, cleaners, drivers, personal assistants and all the other lavish appointments that have defined extravagant wealth. As one critic tweeted, San Francisco’s tech industry “is focused on solving one problem: What is my mother no longer doing for me?”

No, no, say the start-ups that, to-

day, look as if they’re targeting the rich. The nature of the tech business is that costs come down. Through repeated innovation and delivery at scale, the supercomputers of the 1960s became the PCs of the 1980s, which in turn became the smart-phones of the 2010s. The rich sub-sidise the rest of us — were it not for the suckers who spent more than $10,000 on early versions of the Mac, Apple might not have survived to build the iPhone, in turn begetting an era of affordable pocket supercomputers.

Mass producton cuts priceThis is the basic defence of the new wave of on-demand start-ups: If their rosiest visions of growth come true, they’ll achieve a scale that will let them reduce prices, and in that way offer services that could radi-cally alter how even ordinary people conduct their lives.

It is a plausible vision — but an unlikely one. To achieve the scale that will enable the start-ups to reach a wider audience, everything for these companies will have to go right, and success will have to feed on itself. That happens rarely in the tech world. Two companies that are arche-types of today’s on-demand busi-ness recently allowed me to inves-tigate their economic models for a look at how they might achieve mass scale. One is Shuddle, a start-up that is creating a ride service for children — an Uber to take your tots to school and soccer. Another is Munchery, which delivers restaurant-quality food to your door (you can think of it as an on-demand personal chef ). Both firms resisted the notion that they were building services for the wealthy and explained in detail how they planned to serve the masses

and lower their prices.“The first time you roll out a ser-

vice, it’s fairly expensive,” said Tri Tran, Munchery’s co-founder and chief executive. “But we have an in-ternal mission of making real, good food accessible to everyone, every-where, and if we only catered to the upper middle class or people who are really affluent, then we will not accomplish that goal.”

He conceded that his prices weren’t low enough to make Munch-ery an option for everyone, but the business model, he said, would soon allow for greater access. Munchery, which began in 2010, operates in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle,

New York and soon Los Angeles. To-day, a typical adult-size Munchery entree costs around $11 or $12, and a child’s meal around $6.

With a $3 delivery fee, a din-ner for a family of four might cost around $37. That compares to about $25 for dinner at, say, Chipotle, not counting the time and money it takes to get there.

But like many e-commerce busi-nesses, Munchery enjoys certain cost advantages over its physical counterparts that Tran says will lead to lower prices.

It buys high-quality ingredients in bulk, uses a single kitchen in an out-of-the-way part of a city and uses advanced cooking tech to cut down on labour.

Attractive pricingTran promises that within a couple of months, chicken, beef and fish dishes will sell for less than $10 a portion and pasta dishes for $7. In the long run, Tran is aiming for pric-es that are competitive with those of fast-food chains and that will make cooking at home seem expensive.

“If you buy the same quality in-gredients that we do and cook it yourself, just the ingredients alone will cost you more,” he said.

Foodies might scoff at this idea. But sociologists have found that for many low- and middle-income families, cooking every day takes too much time, planning and money. “If there are great, commercially driven companies out there that can do things like food distribution at scale, and we can piggyback on their success, that could be a huge win,” said Hannah Calhoon, the director of Blue Ridge Labs, an organisation that aims to build tech products for low-income communities.

— The New York Times News Service

To achieve the scale

that will enable the

start-ups to reach

a wider audience,

everything for these

companies will

have to go right, and

success will have to

feed on itself. That

happens rarely in

the tech world.

If there are great, commercially driven companies out there that can do things like food distribution at scale, and we can piggyback on their success, that could be a huge win

Hannah CalhoonDirector of Blue Ridge Labs

B6 M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UPAlargan Towell walks away with Best Residential Developer Award

MUSCAT: Alargan Towell, one of Sultanate’s leading affordable housing solutions providers, has won the Best Residential Develop-er Award at the Oman Real Estate

Awards 2015. The award ceremony was host-

ed by the Oman Real Estate Asso-ciation (ORA) and Al Nimr Con-ferences, says a press release.

Aim of the awardThe first edition of the awards saw enthusiastic participation by all the leading names from the real es-tate industry in Oman. The awards aim to recognise exceptional con-tribution of industry profession-als, developers and SMEs to pro-mote innovation, sustainability, high standards and quality real estate projects.

Alargan Towell was bestowed with this award for the Beyout Al Faye project located in Al Khoud.

The project is strategically located in a fast emerging residential and commercial location and is only 20 minutes away from the Muscat International Airport.

Honour“I am very pleased with our perfor-mance at the inaugural Oman Real Estate Awards. It is heartening to know that the judging standards for the awards were at par with the best in the world. It is indeed an honour to win the award for Beyout Al Faye.

“The project was one of our very first in Oman and over the years it has become home to numerous Omani families who were looking for quality homes. I would also like

to thank our staff for their hard work and our customers for their support, which made this achieve-ment a reality,” said Tony Safar-ian, General Manager, Alargan Towell Investment Company, af-ter receiving the award.

Alargan Towell Investment Co. was formed in 2003 as an equal partnership between W.J. Towell Group of Companies and Alar-gan International Real Estate Co. with a mission to develop middle income real estate housing solu-tions. Over the years the com-pany has earned itself a repute of being the creator of affordable, aesthetic and quality residential as well as commercial projects across the Sultanate.

Alargan Towell was

bestowed with this

award for the Beyout

Al Faye project

located in Al Khoud

Malabar Gold set to open outlet in Avenues MallMUSCAT: Malabar Gold & Dia-monds, leading jewellery retailer, is all set to open its relocated and expanded outlet in Oman Avenues Mall, Baushar. The grand inaugura-tion will be held on May 28 at 7pm.

Formerly operating at Lulu Hy-permarket Baushar, their outlet relocated to Oman Avenues Mall, the biggest shopping mall in Oman, keeping in mind their growing cus-tomer demand, says a press release.

Oman Avenues Mall is an im-portant landmark in the region and is one of the promising shop-

ping locations for the residents and tourists in Oman.

Owing to the consistent in-crease in the number of customers at their outlet, the new showroom will have more space than the for-mer outlet and more variety of designs will be introduced at at-tractive prices. The customers will surely be delighted to have Mala-bar Gold & Diamonds outlet in the prestigious Oman Avenues Mall, which will offer them more com-fort and convenience.

The showroom will showcase

meticulously crafted unique collec-tion of classic, contemporary and stylish designs in gold, diamonds and precious gems to suit the spe-cific budget of every customer.

Like all their other outlets in GCC and Far East, this showroom will also take part in their unique campaign ‘The Great Gold Rush’ through which the customers get opportunity to win a whopping 25 kilos of gold. With every purchase of gold jewellery worth OMR50, the customers get a chance to enter raffle draws to win 2 kg of

gold in 4 draws. Those who buy diamond jewellery worth OMR 50 will get 2 raffle coupons and dou-ble the chance to win.

Apart from the above offers, the customers can also avail 1gm gold coin free with every purchase of diamond jewellery worth OMR500. The customers also get a fabulous chance to buy 8gm gold coins with absolutely no making charges from any of Malabar Gold & Diamonds outlets in GCC during this period. All these offers will be valid at their outlets in Oman until May 31.

R E L O C A T I O N

Bridgestone bags top

brand in Oman award

MUSCAT: Being a proud part-ner for tyre major Bridgestone, a name synonymous with tyres, Towell Auto Centre (TAC) re-ceived due honour at the launch of the ‘Top Brands in Oman’ cer-emony held recently. Out of the 25 categories an-nounced for the year, Bridgestone effortlessly bagged the award in the tyre segment for being a company that excels in their of-fering of goods and services to the general public in the Sultanate of Oman, says a press release.

Towell’s auto care division, TAC is a renowned name in the market for auto sales and service. With over 40 years of industry experience to support, Bridge-stone tyres has emerged as a lead-ing division claiming numerous accolades to its name.

Top brands in Oman is a com-prehensive directory issued by the Al Omaneya Advertising and Public Relations, a sister concern of the Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertis-ing that pays tribute to the best

brands in Oman, a survey con-ducted by a prominent organisa-tion in the country.

The awards are derived and de-clared taking into account vari-ous parameters of business and customer service.

Bridgestone has maintained a rich background, a flawless cus-tomer satisfaction track record, a record of quality certifications and was able to meet a host of other stringent parameters be-fore being endowed by this pres-tigious title. The award which focuses primarily on brand recall by the public, confirmed Bridge-stone as the most preferred name in tyres.

“Bridgestone tyres are un-doubtedly recognised as one of the best in the world. Our services add value in terms of service to this world class brand of tyres. Bridge-stone is one of the best-selling tyres in the region and custom-ers place utmost reliance on this brand name,” said Oommen John, AGM Bridgestone Tyre division at Towell Auto Centre.

R E C O G N I T I O N

City Centre malls pick promotion winners

MUSCAT: Visitors raced down to City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum for a chance to win a brand new Dodge Charger 2015.

The lifestyle shopping destina-tions in Oman, operated by Majid Al Futtaim — the region’s leading shopping mall, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East

and North Africa — gave away the popular sports cars to two lucky winners who participated in the promotion, says a press release.

Raffle drawVisitors who spent OMR30 or more in shopping, dining or enter-tainment at City Centre Muscat

or City Centre Qurum, redeemed their receipts the same day at the customer service desks to enter the raffle draw to win their dream car. Visitors could also enter by watching Fast and Furious 7 with a guest at VOX Cinemas at any of the two lifestyle destinations.

City Centre Muscat and City

Centre Qurum are dedicated to enhancing customers’ shopping experiences by offering ultimate prizes. By celebrating the launch of the blockbuster movie in the Sul-tanate, Fast and Furious 7, Maijd Al Futtaim cultivates their vision of creating great moments for eve-ryone, everyday.

D O D G E C H A R G E R 2 0 1 5

Indian School Muscat

instals young leaders

MUSCAT: The Indian School Muscat (ISM) held a solemn cer-emony recently when 105 stu-dents of Class IV were invested as ‘Blossoms’. The chief guest of the morning’s function was Colonel Paul H. Ross, Senior US Defence Attaché to the Sultanate of Oman. The school said it was honoured to have such a great leader as its guest.

The principal, vice principals and assistant vice principals of all the four sections and heads of the departments of the pri-mary section were also present. The morning’s event began with the melodious rendering of the prayer song Lead Kindly Light by the students of Class IV led by Thampi. K. Abraham, says a press release.

The welcome address was fol-lowed by the oath-taking cere-mony. The blossoms promised to uphold the values and principles held so dear by this great institu-tion for over more than 39 years of its history. There was a video presentation on the qualities of the blossoms. The students pronounced the principles that the blossoms would uphold - be-ing bold, loyal, obedient, sensi-tive, sincere, organised and me-ticulous in the tasks assigned to them. The badges of honour were then pinned on to the students by the guests at the gathering.

The principal administered the oath to the blossoms. They took a pledge to honour and obey

the rules laid out for them. Ra-jkumar Bandila and Dhiya Elsa Binoy took the pledge on behalf of the blossoms.

Colonel Paul H. Ross then urged the blossoms to take up the duty assigned to them with ut-most responsibility and serve the school with humility.

The principal, Srinivas K. Naidu presented a memento to the chief guest. The talented singers of the primary section then entertained the gathering with a melodious song led by Avi-nash Mathur. This song, an origi-nal composition, reminds us that if we believe in ourselves and are on the right path then success is always ours. The vice principal, primary section, Priya Murali led the gathering to a prayer invok-ing God’s blessings upon all the blossoms. The morning’s func-tion ended with the singing of the school anthem by the children gathered to witness the function.

I N V E S T I T U R E C E R E M O N Y

Nissan Sunny 2015: A friendly sedan with attractive featuresMUSCAT: The Nissan Sunny from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles now comes in a re-freshed appearance with subtle changes to the styling and the inclusion of new features in the cabin. As the best-selling vehicle for four years in a row in the highly competitive sub-compact seg-ment, the Nissan Sunny could rest on its reputation for value, roomi-ness and mid-size vehicle technol-ogy without a mid-size price. Yet the quest for constant improve-ment continues.

The Nissan Sunny received an extensive makeover for 2015 that features new front and rear fascia, a range of interior refinements, and new grade level and packaging content. Along with a refreshed ex-terior and interior styling, the ve-hicle features standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system, says a press release.

A refreshed exteriorMost prominent of the changes to the Sunny is the bold new front end treatment anchored by larg-er headlights, a more substan-tial looking fascia and standard chrome plating on the grille – all of which strengthen the Nissan stable mates – Sentra, Altima and Maxima.

Other exterior design elements include a fixed roof antenna, avail-able blacked-out B-pillars, chrome door handles and front fog lights.

A roomy, refined interiorNissan Sunny again offers five-passenger practicality with a high degree of comfort and refinement – the perfect combination for commuting on weekdays, run-ning errands on weekends and transporting family and friends all week long.

Other enhancements include a new centre stack shape, a revised meter display with white LED display (previously orange illu-mination colour) and a new, more substantial, steering wheel with standard audio and Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System con-trols. The Sunny features a wide AM/FM/CD audio system with standard auxiliary-in and radio data system (RDS), standard assist grips, a passenger-side vanity mir-ror and new seat fabric.

The Sunny also adds an outside temperature display, USB/iPod

controls, upgraded fabric head-liner, map light with key-linked illuminated entry and silver fin-ishers on the centre instrument panel cluster. SL models include Nissan intelligent key with push button ignition and an AM/FM/CD/USB-iPod audio system with 5.0-inch display and NissanCon-nectSM with mobile apps.

Other available interior features include trip computer with outside temperature display, power win-dows with driver’s one-touch down, speed-sensing auto door locks and remote trunk release lever.

The NissanConnectSM with navigation and mobile apps sys-tem, which is offered as part of the SL Technology Package, includes a 5.8-inch colour touch-screen display, Nissan voice recognition for audio and navigation, Siri-usXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link (SiriusXM subscription re-

quired, sold separately). Available apps include Facebook, Pandora, iHeartRadio and Google Search.

The NissanConnect uses hands-free technology, smartphone, and the Nissan’s display screen to help customers stay in touch with the outside world from inside their vehicle. It’s loaded with features and compatibility with a growing list of apps that allows customers play music, keep tabs on social network, and navigate any city like a local.

Once logged in, customers have to connect to Nissan through Bluetooth or the USB port. The Quick Start Guide helps to select from a list of supported apps, and NissanConnect automatically instals them.

The Sunny utilises Nissan’s global lightweight ‘V’ platform and is powered by a 1.5 litre HR16DE 4-cylinder engine rated at 99 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 107 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine features a range of fuel ef-ficiency enhancing technologies, including a dual injector system that allows a wider injection of fuel than a traditional single-injection system. The smaller nozzles de-liver a finer spray to help achieve stable combustion.

The dual injector system also uses around half the amount of rare metals in the catalyser by re-ducing the amount of unburned fuel and hydrocarbon emissions.

R E F R E S H E D A P P E A R A N C E

SECTION

RECRUIJ O B P O S T I N G S

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COMM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first. — Frederick B. Wilcox

Tips for career and job fair success

HERE’S our list of the 15 best tips for achieving success at career and job fairs.

1. Start with a goal or objec-tive: Career fairs are great op-portunities to learn about local job opportunities, making initial contact with a recruiter that will ideally lead to a job interview. But career fairs are also great net-working opportunities, in which

job-seekers can network with recruiters to obtain contacts for jobs in other parts of the country, as well as network with other job-seekers in attendance.

2. Pre-register for the career fair: By pre-registering for the event, you can get a sneak peak at the organisations that will be at-tending the fair — which should allow you time to conduct key research before attending. Go to each organisation’s website and review its section on its values, missions, goals, as well as its ca-reers/jobs section.

3. Develop tailored resumes: Once your research on each pro-spective employer is complete and you have a set of keywords and phrases that each organisation emphasises, develop a tailored re-sume for each employer. You’ll be amazed at easy and effective this strategy can be — for career fairs, but also for all your job-hunting.

4. Map out a fair strategy: En-hance your chances for success by developing a plan of attack — actu-

ally map your route of organisa-tions you plan to visit, in priority order. Place the prospective em-ployers that have the best fit and with which you have the most in-terest first on the list — and work your way downward.

5. Have a clear career focus: Be prepared with an answer to the one of the first questions each re-cruiter is going to ask you: “So, why are you here?” Providing a sharply defined response will help you stand out from other job-seekers while also providing key informa-tion to the recruiter.

6. Sharpen and rehearse your elevator speech: An eleva-tor speech is a relatively short -- typically 15 to 30 seconds (though sometimes as long as a few minutes) — commercial that job-seekers use in a variety of situations -- such as a career fair — that succinctly tells the person you are giving it to who you are, what makes you unique, and the benefits you can provide to the prospective employer.

7. Prepare and practice re-

sponses to typical interview questions: Unless it’s a really slow day at the fair, you probably won’t get asked too many questions, but it is always better to be over-prepared than flub your responses. Focus on traditional interview questions — including ones recruiters love to ask: “Tell me what you know about our organisation” and “why do you want to work here?”

8. Sketch out a few questions you can ask each recruiter: Just as in any interview situation, you should always prepare a few ques-tions to ask the recruiters you meet at career fairs. Remember not to ask really obvious questions or ques-tions you could easily answer from visiting the organisation’s website.

9. Choose an appropriate at-tire for the fair: For most career fairs — certainly all professional career fairs — proper dress con-sists of a clean-cut, well-fitting, conservative look featuring darker colours (such as navy, black, slate).

10. Organise things the day

before: Gather all the copies of

your resumes — including a few of your generic version for any last-minute attendees, along with a pad of paper (for jotting notes), pens, networking cards (great for exchanging with other job-seekers at the fair), and your career portfo-lio (if bringing one). Preparing the day before helps lessen the stress on the actual day of the fair.

11. Review and revise your fair strategy as soon as you ar-rive: Once you arrive at the fair, confirm the employers you’re most interested in are in attendance and review the list for any last-minute additions.

12. Make a good first — and lasting — impression with each recruiter: Wait patiently in line for your chance to chat with the recruiter, using the time to com-pose yourself and review your employer-specific resume. Once you get your chance to chat with the recruiter, greet him or her with a warm smile, strong eye contact, and a firm handshake. Do not over-stay your welcome; be friendly, make your pitch, and move on so

other job-seekers also get a chance.

13. Don’t leave without con-tact information on each re-cruiter: As you wrap up the inter-view with the recruiter, thanking him/her for the time, pause to look around the table for a business card. If you don’t see a card on the table, ask for one .

14. Jot down notes as soon as you are done with each recruit-er: As soon as you get finished talk-ing with one of the recruiters, walk away and take a moment to write down any key points that were dis-cussed and any questions or con-cerns that were raised. You’ll want to use some of this information in your thank-you note, and the rest, perhaps, in your next interview.

15. After the fair, write thank-you e-mails to recruiters: Once you’ve achieved your goal and met with all the recruiters on your list, your immediate next step is to head to a computer and compose indi-vidual thank-you e-mails to each person you spoke with at the fair.

— Randall S. Hansen /www.quintcareers.com

Career fairs are great

opportunities to

learn about local job

opportunities, making

initial contact with

a recruiter that will

ideally lead to a job

interview

B8

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Hyundai Sonata named ‘Best Family Car of 2015’

MUSCAT: The 2015 Hyundai Sonata was named a Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com Best Family Car of 2015. The Sonata was recog-nised for providing families with safety, comfort, cargo space and several extra features.

The vehicles were evaluated by families and the automotive experts of KBB.com. Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com), headquartered in California, is the largest auto-motive vehicle valuation com-pany in the United States, says a press release.

This distinction continues to highlight Sonata’s appeal to family buyers as it also recently won the Cars.com, USA Today, MotorWeek Midsize Sedan Challenge and was also named the Best Midsize Car for the Money by US News & World Report.

The seventh-generation 2015 Sonata offers a more refined look through a new Fluidic Sculpture

2.0 design language, stiffer body structure, better ride quality, reduced NVH (noise, vibration &harshness), advanced safety and convenience features. Sonata truly democratises the premium design and convenient technology of the Genesis sedan for the mid-size class.

Displaying a refined, premium style, the Sonata showcases Hyun-dai Motor’s sleek exterior and in-tuitive interior design ethos, pro-jecting a harmonious and athletic appearance. The Sonata delivers uncompromising convenience and generous interior space, together with elegant interior details, of-fering luxury typically associated with vehicles from the class above.

The high levels of comfort ex-tend to rear-seat passengers too. Personal reading lights provide rear passengers with directed il-lumination, while the new car’s spacious interior and slim front seat backs mean there is plenty of legroom for all occupants.

Advanced vehicle infotainment features, including sophisticated next-generation multi-media sys-tems, ensure the Sonata delivers

cutting-edge entertainment and connectivity to drivers and pas-sengers. Supporting USB, Blue-tooth and iPod connectivity, the Sonata also features voice recogni-tion and smartphone integration.

Optimised suspension damping that gives occupants a soft, silent and comfortable experience. A luxurious feel is generated through exceptional ride comfort, while the thorough development of han-dling and steering feel allows the Sonata to also offer a stable and se-cure ride over all road surfaces and in all driving conditions.

The Sonata boasts superior stopping distances for a car of its class, combined with an assured, firm feel. Driver confidence is enhanced through the linear de-livery of impressive braking per-formance, while greater comfort is ensured thanks to minimal in-trusion of noise and vibration into the cabin.

The Sonata features an abun-dance of advanced safety features designed to protect its occupants. A suite of airbags, including driver knee airbag, are fitted to the new model, while several advanced

passive and active systems such as Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detec-tion etc., work harmoniously to en-sure the Sonata is one of the safest vehicles on the road.

Hyundai has a strong presence in the passenger vehicles category in Oman with its wide range of sedans and SUVs each in various trim variants. Genesis and Centen-nial in the luxury car segment have been well received in Oman and are going from strength to strength.

Hyundai sedan range includes Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Azera, the premium series - Genesis & Centennial apart from the trendy Veloster and i10, i10 Grand, i20, i30, i40 - the core of cutting edge ‘i’ series cars from Hyundai as a response to global customer needs. Hyundai SUV range — Tucson, Santa Fe and Grand Santa Fe are definitely the pick of the lot.

OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai range of vehi-cles in Oman. With a nationwide network of showrooms and ser-vice centres, OTE Group ensures that Hyundai customers are never far from getting high quality after-sales service.

This distinction

continues to highlight

Sonata’s appeal to

family buyers as it

also recently won the

Cars.com, USA Today,

MotorWeek Midsize

Sedan Challenge and

was also named the

Best Midsize Car for

the Money by US

News & World Report

BP Oman to support

‘Let’s Read’ campaign

MUSCAT: BP Oman has signed an agreement with Dar Al Atta’a, a leading charity organisation, to support the ‘Let’s Read’ cam-paign, one of the association’s most important initiatives.

The agreement was signed by Dave Campbell, chief operating of-ficer of BP Oman, and Jane Jaffer, leader of the Let’s Read campaign, Dar Al Atta’a, says a press release.

Let’s Read is a campaign start-ed in 2007 and aims to promote the love of reading amongst chil-dren. BP Oman’s input will di-rectly support one of Let’s Read activities, ‘maktabti’ — a bus that goes around the regions in Oman to provide access to low priced children’s books. In addi-tion, regular reading and writing events are to be held, including a school writing competition and storytelling sessions by local and international authors.

“BP Oman has sponsored this initiative as part of our vision to support the development of Om-ani society, making books more accessible and affordable. We believe reading is vital and ben-

eficial and if children are exposed to it in the right manner, the read-ing habit will grow with them and they will pass it to their children,” stated Dave Campbell.

“The support that we have received from BP Oman will al-low us to purchase thousands of books and broaden our outreach programme, for example through the ‘maktabti’ bus, visiting more schools in the Al Dakhiliyah and Al Dhahira regions of Oman. We are very appreciative of this part-nership and hope that the local communities will really reap the benefit,” said Jane Jaffer.

P A R T N E R S H I P

TSC to give 18,000 prizes in 18th anniversary promoMUSCAT: The Sultan Center (TSC) is launching its 18th An-niversary celebration campaign and is giving away 18,000 prizes to lucky shoppers across the Sul-tanate of Oman.

From May 21 to June 9, cus-tomers who shop any TSC store will have a chance to win thou-sands of amazing prizes. Cus-tomers who purchase goods worth OMR10, will receive a ‘scratch and win’ coupon where they could take home valuable gifts ranging from one year’s sal-ary, gold coins, television sets, TSC gift vouchers and many

more exciting prizes.“We are very happy to be cel-

ebrating 18 years of successful retail operations in Oman. Our stores have grown from strength to strength thanks to the loyalty and support of our customers, community and associates. As we commemorate another year of operations in Oman, we want the community to share in our suc-cess and celebrate with us,” said Mahmoud Al Sheikh, marketing manager, TSC Oman.

The Sultan Center’s anniver-sary campaign will be held at all of TSC retail stores across Oman.

C E L E B R A T I O N

Ooredoo now offers more value for money with new welcome packsMUSCAT: New Ooredoo prepaid customers can now look forward to receiving up to four times the value of the welcome pack price the moment they activate their SIM cards.

With Ooredoo’s new welcome pack, customers will get free monthly credit when they opt for any of the exciting ‘More’ recharg-es for the first seven months, al-lowing them to stay connected with their friends and family for longer. This exciting promotion is available from May 21 to August 19, says a press release.

“Customers buying the wel-come pack for just OMR2, will get OMR8 back in value over the next seven months; no other SIM pack in the market gives this much benefit,” said Feras Al Shaikh, Di-rector of Consumer Sales at Oore-doo. “We want to give newcomers a warm welcome to Ooredoo and introduce them to the first of our many inspiring offers and value

added services.” He added, “Our ‘More’ packag-

es have been a great success since launching them last year, and re-alising this, we wanted to offer new Ooredoo customers some-thing extra, by giving them longer talk time, more messaging or data.

For seven months after activation of the welcome pack, Ooredoo will give the customer OMR1 of non-transferable open credit per month when a ‘More’ recharge of any value has been made.

Ooredoo has three ‘More’ re-charge options for prepaid users; More Credit, More Internet and More International. With the new welcome pack, those opting for ‘More Credit’ will receive 10%, 20% or 25% on their recharges by dialling *115*2*recharge code#.

Those looking for ‘More In-ternet’ will get an additional 150 MB to 5 GB, by entering *115*3* and then the recharge code on the card. For customers want-ing to connect with their friends and loved-ones oversees through ‘More International’, the welcome pack will give them up to 25% bo-nus credit by dialling ‘*115*4*re-charge code#’ to activate their card or by dialling *141# and fol-lowing the instructions.

P R O M O T I O N

Bank Muscat workshop

on franchising todayMUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services pro-vider in the Sultanate, is hosting a workshop on franchising for entrepreneurs at the bank’s head office today.

The workshop is organised by al Wathbah, Bank Muscat’s SME department, as part of ac-tivities aimed at expanding and strengthening avenues for SME development in Oman, says a press release.

Expert trainers will lead the workshop for existing and pro-spective entrepreneurs to fa-miliarise them with various as-pects of franchising. Topics to be covered include benefits and advantages of franchising, pro-file of a successful franchisor,

understanding the best time to franchise a brand, learning how to select a franchise etc. which are integral for preparing a franchis-ing environment and landscape for SMEs in Oman.

Learning opportunitiesBank Muscat regularly organises workshops and seminars to fa-cilitate unique learning opportu-nities to address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and there-by create an environment favour-able for SME success.

Over the years, the bank has launched several initiatives as part of its commitment to SME development in Oman. Serving as building blocks for entrepre-neurs, these initiatives assume

importance in the backdrop of the priority accorded by the govern-ment to develop the SME sector in Oman. Aimed at strengthen-ing the SME sector and creat-ing a successful generation of entrepreneurs, al Wathbah is committed to facilitating such unique initiatives.

In step with the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to support the SME sec-tor and strengthen its role in the economic development of Oman, Bank Muscat has taken the lead to develop the SME sector in Oman. Aimed at strengthening the SME sector, the bank offers a com-prehensive suite of tailor-made finance solutions, including al Wathbah non-collateral finance.

S M E D E V E L O P M E N T

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

SPOR SY O U R G A M E

SECTIONC M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

CALM COOK, STOKES GIVE ENGLAND EDGECaptain Cook batted all day to reach 153 not out, his 27th test century, and Stokes provided the fireworks by smashing a hundred off 85 balls, the fastest ever made in a Test at Lord’s. >C2

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

ES GE

o reach 153 and Stokes

ashing ast ever

Pouya, Chen seal World Cup spots

Sports Reporter

MUSCAT: Iran’s Pouya Idani and Qatar’s Chen Zhu sealed the 2015 Fide Chess World Cup berths win-ning the men’s and women’s titles respectively as the curtains came down on the Asian Zonal Chess Championships (Zone 3.1) at the City Seasons Hotel here on Sunday.

Going into the ninth and final round of the 14-player men’s com-petition, Pouya needed an outright victory as compatriot and fellow grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem Ma-ghami was lurking just half a point behind in the standings.

A minor error against Palestine Candidates Master Attallah Tamra would have cost Pouya dearly. But the Iranian drew on his experience and kept his cool to finish off Attal-lah’s challenge in 43 moves to seal the title and the lone World Cup berth with a total of eight points.

Ehsan won his final round match against Bahrain’s Fide Mas-ter in double quick time, 27 moves to be precise, but had to settled for second place on 7.5 points.

Darini Pouria, another Grand-master from Iran, and Yemen’s

International Master Basheer Al Qudaimi completed their engage-ments with victories over Qatari IM Husein Aziz Nezad and Oman’s Amin Al Ansi respectively. Both finished with six points each but the Yemeni took the third place thanks to his better rating on Tie Break 1 (Direct Encounter).

In other games, Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al Masrhi defeated Iraq’s Ahmed Abdulsattar Abdul-

wahad, Syrian Basher Iyti won against Kuwait’s Hashim Khaled and Lebanon’s Ibrahim Chahrour accounted for Oman’s Mohammed Salim Al Mamari.

Chen fightbackChen Zhu’s great fightback high-lighted the Qatari’s triumph in the 10-strong women’s field.

The former women’s world champion and lone Grandmas-

ter in the competition had lost her second round match to Iran’s Women’s International Mitra He-jazipour.

The experienced Qatari, over-coming that disappointment, marched ahead with victory after victory and going into the final round was level on seven points with Iran’s Women’s Grandmaster Atousa Purkashiyan.

On Sunday, Chen took her time

and 41 moves to defeat Oman’s Mariya Al Balushi while Atousa accounted for Abeer Ali of the UAE. Though both finished with eight points each, Chen pipped her rival on Tie Break 1 (Direct Encounter) to take top spot and a place in the World Cup to be or-ganised in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 10 to October 4.

“It was a good fightback by Chen Zhu,” said Muscat-based Interna-

tional Master Ismael Karim.“She is a very experienced play-

er and a former world champion. That experienced showed in her campaign,” Karim, who is also the coach of Oman national team, said.

“I think both Chen and Atou-sa played well throughout. But clinched the issue in favour of Chen is the Direct Encounter, that is her victory over Atousa in the first round,” he said.

Later in the evening, Rashad Al Hinai presided over the prize-giv-ing ceremony and handed over the trophies in the presence of world Fide CEO Geoffrey Borg, Oman Chess Committee chairwomen Li-ala Al Najar and other dignitaries.

Fide official lauds OmanGeoffrey Borg, meanwhile, laud-ed Oman and the national chess body for organising a sucsessfull tournament.

“By hosting a successful Asian zonal championships Oman has made their presence felt on the in-ternational chess arena,” he said.

“I think Oman is doing well to positively develop the game of chess, especially after forming the official chess committee,” he add-ed.Final standings:

Men (after nine rounds): 1. Pouya Idani (Iran) 8 pts, 2. Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Iran) 7.5 pts, 3. Basheer Al Qudaimi (Yemen) 6 pts, 4. Pouria Darini (Iran) 6 pts, 5. Husein Aziz Nezad (Qatar) 5.5 pts, 6. Ahmed Abdulsattar Ab-dulwahab (Iraq) 5 pts, 7. Basher Iyti (Syr) 5 pts, 8. Ibrahim Chah-rour (Lebanon) 5 pts, 9. Maher Ayyad (Bahrain) 4 pts, 10. Attallah Tamra (Palestine) 4 pts, 11. Amin Al Ansi (Oman) 3 pts, 12. Khaled Hashem (Kuwait) 2 pts, 13. Ab-dulrahman Al Masrhi (Saudi Ara-bia) 2 pt, 14. Mohammed Salim Al Mamari (Oman) 0.

Women (after nine rounds): 1. Chen Zhu (Qatar) 8 pts, 2. Atou-sa Purkashiyan (Iran) 8 pts, 3. Mitra Hejazipour (Iran) 7.5 pts, 4. Iman Hasan Mohammed Al Ru-faye (Iraq) 5.5 pts, 5. Afamia Mir Mahmoud (Syria) 5 pts, 6. Abeer Ali (UAE) 5 points, 7. Mariya Al Balushi (Oman) 2 pts, 8. Yara Faqeeh (Palestine) 2 pts, 9. Wafia Al Ghafri (Oman) 2 pts, 10. Suad Al Kanderi (Kuwait) 0.

Rashad Al Hinai

presided over

the prize-giving

ceremony and

handed over the

trophies in the

presence of world

Fide CEO Geoffrey

Borg, Oman

Chess Committee

chairwomen Liala

Al Najar and other

dignitaries

Pakistan win seriesLAHORE: Pakistan pulled off a sensational last over win by two wickets in the second Twenty20 international against Zimbabwe in Lahore on Sunday to take the two-match series 2-0.

With 12 needed off the last paceman Brian Vitori’s last over number ten Bilawal Bhatti hit a six and four besides taking a dou-ble to help Pakistan overhaul a stiff 176-run target in 19.4 overs.

Opener Mukhtar Ahmed hit his second consecutive fifty dur-ing his 40-ball 62 to entertain another packed 27,000 holiday

crowd. The win added to Paki-stan’s joy as the series marked the return of international cricket in Pakistan since terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in La-hore in 2009.

Heavy security continued to remain alert with 4,000 police-men guarding the stadium as hel-icopters surveilled both teams’ arrival in the evening.

Zimbabwe only agreed to tour after Pakistan Cricket Board guaranteed foolproof security normally reserved for heads of state. — AFP

T W E N T Y 2 0

Majestic Mumbai capture 2nd IPL title KOLKATA: Mumbai Indians’ love affair with Eden Gardens conti-uned as they clinched their second Indian Premier League title fol-lowing a crushing 41-run win over Chennai Super Kings in a lop-sid-ed summit clash, here on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians posted an im-posing 202 for five as skipper Ro-hit Sharma (50) and Lendl Sim-mons (68) rattled up a 119-run stand off just from 67 balls after being invited to bat.

The Mumbai captain, who has an ODI world record of 264 and also a debut Test hundred at the Eden Gardens, yet again exploded at his favourite venue.

Sharma (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Simmons (8 fours 3 sixes) plun-dered 19 boundaries in their partnership. After Sharma and Pollard’s dismissal in consecutive balls, burly West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard (36) in the compa-ny of Ambati Rayudu (36 not out) led the side past 200.

Mumbai bowlers compliment-ed the good work of the batsmen as they took the fizz out of the Chennai’s chase with a very disci-plined effort. They straitjacketed the Chennai batsmen, restricting them to 161 for eight as seasoned spinner Harbhajan Singh took key wickets of Dwayne Smith (57) and Suresh Raina (28) in two overs.

Kiwi paceman Mitchell Mc-Clenaghan (3/25) took three wickets while his Lankan pace colleague Lasaith Malinga (2/25) scalped two batsmen.

Mumbai had won their first title in 2013 at this very venue, defeat-ing the same rivals. Chennai have now lost four finals (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015) in six appearances.

Chasing the huge target, CSK opted to have it easy and conce-trated on building a platform after losing Michael Hussey (4) early.

Smith and Raina bided their time and looked to consolidate but

it meant that they managed only 31 runs from the first six overs.

The required run-rate kept on going up and shot past 13 at the midway mark. Smith completed his half-century in 45 balls but only to be trapped lbw by Harbha-jan in his penultimate over.

Having made a grand comeback into the Bangladesh-bound Test side, Harbhajan completed his spell in style dismissing Raina.

Looking to step out, Raina was brilliantly deceived by the veteran off-spinner who bowled a wide ball and Parthiv Patel did the rest

behind the stumps. With Hussey, Smith and Raina back in pavillion, and skipper Dhoni not looking in his usual elements it looked as good as over for the yellow brigade who choked in an IPL final for a fourth time.

Talk about Sharma and his siz-zling love-affair at Eden Gardens, and he has done nothing wrong here. A stunning 177 on Test de-but, an ODI world record of mind-boggling 264, an IPL century (60-ball 109) against Kolkata Knight Riders and an unbeaten 98 in the opening match of this season.

Today was no different. Sharma had come at a time when Dhoni and Co. once again looked ominous with a eye-popping run-out by Faf du Plessis to make Mumbai Indians I 1/1 in first over.

The South African dived, got hold of the ball and flicked it while being air-borne and the magical throw was enough to clip the bails off to bring an end to Patel’s fine run as an opener.

In came Sharma and after two dot balls, he went in counter-at-tacking mode hitting Mohit Shar-ma over third man with an elegant uppercut. — PTI

I N D I A N P R E M I E R L E A G U E

FOR THE ALBUM: Winners of the Asian Zonal Chess Championships (Zone 3.1) with chief guest and dignitaries. – Times of Oman / JUN ESTRADA

A. SESHAGIRI [email protected]

MUSCAT: As world chess body, Fide, CEO Geoffrey Borg acknowledged Oman’s organi-sational abilities in successfully hosting an international chess tournament, the local players too impressed with their outing in the Asian zonal championships.

And going by Oman team coach and International Master Ismael Karim’s opinion, the performance of the Omani play-ers has been ‘encouraging’.

“I won’t say it was a great

performance. But definitely encouraging and augurs well for the future,” Karim, who is also the in-charge of International Chess Academy of Oman, said.

As hosts Oman fielded four players, two each in the men’s and women’s categories.

In the men’s section, Amin Al Ansi finished with three points and Mariya Al Balushi and Wafia Al Ghafri won two points each in the women’s competi-tion while Mohammed Salim Al Mamari failed to open his account.

“Amin will be getting his first

rating points. He will get about 2000 points when the Fide ratings will be announced on July 1. It will be the same with Mariya and Wafia who will be earning 1620 points.”

A delighted Karim added: “This is what we have expected. Players getting exposure and earning rating points.”

“But it’s a bit disappoint-ing for Al Mamari because his performance will affect his ratings. He started with 1791 points. Now he will lose about 40 points. This is what happens when we have long break. After

our players made their debut in the Chess Olympiad, we organised a beautiful tourna-ments. But after that there was a six-month gap. The players need more tournaments.”

Karim, meanwhile, revealed Oman’s plans to take part in the two big tournaments later this year. “The plan is to give more international exposure for the players. They will be taking part in two tounaments one in Hun-gary in July, where players will get a chance to earn Interna-tional Masters norm, and Abu Dhabi Open in August.”

Oman players to get Fide rating points for their performance

HOME TRIUMPH: Pakistan players celebrate. – AFP

ZIMBABWEV. Sibanda c Ali b Afridi 49H. Masakadza c Ali b Malik 39S. Williams not out 58E. Chigumbura c Shehzad b Sami 21C. Coventry not out 2Extras: (lb-2, nb-2, w-2) 6Total: (for three wkts; 20 overs) 175Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-136, 3-168Bowling: Ali 3-0-31 0, Sami 4-0-38-1, Bhatti 3-0-31-0, Wasim 2-0-14-0, Afridi 4-0-36-1, Malik 4-0-23-1PAKISTANMukhtar Ahmed c Sibanda b Raza 62Ahmed Shehzad c Sibanda b Vitori 18Nauman Anwer c Sibanda b Utseya 18

Shoaib Malik run out 7Umar Akmal lbw b Mpofu 30Shahid Afridi c Raza b Williams 7Mohammad Rizwan c Raza b Mpofu 6Anwer Ali b Williams 2Imad Wasim not out 4Bilawal Bhatti not out 13Extras: (b-2, lb-4, w-3) 9Total: (for eight wkts; 19.4 overs) 176Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-81, 3-95, 4-117, 5-130, 6-152, 7-155, 8-161Bowling: Mpofu 4-0-25-2 (1w), Vitori 3.4-0-36-1 (1w0, Williams 4-0-32-2, Utsyea 4-0-31-1 (1w), Cremer 2-0-27-0, Raza 2-0-19-1Result: Pakistan won by two wickets

S C O R E B O A R D

MUMBAI INDIANSL. Simmons b Smith 68P. Patel run out (du Plessis) 0R. Sharma c Jadeja b Bravo 50K. Pollard c Raina b Sharma 36A. Rayudu not out 36H. Pandya c Raina b Bravo 0Harbhajan Singh not out 6Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-1) 6Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 202Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-120, 3-120, 4-191, 5-191Bowling: A. Nehra 4-0-41-0; M. Sharma 4-0-38-1; R. Ashwin 2-0-21-0; R. Jadeja 2-0-26-0; P. Negi 2-0-18-0; D. Bravo 4-0-36-2; D. Smith 2-0-17-1CHENNAI SUPER KINGSD. Smith lbw b Harbhajan 57M. Hussey c Suchith b McClenaghan 4S. Raina st Patel b Harbhajan 28MS Dhoni b Malinga 18

D. Bravo c Simmons b McClenaghan 9P. Negi c Pandya b Malinga 3F du Plessis c Sharma b V. Kumar 1R. Jadeja not out 11R. Ashwin c Suchith b McClenaghan 2M. Sharma not out 21Extras (lb-2, w-3, nb-2) 7Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 161Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-88, 3-99, 4-108, 5-124, 6-125, 7-134, 8-137Bowling: L. Malinga 4-0-25-2; M. McClena-ghan 4-0-25-3; R. Vinay Kumar 4-0-39-1; H. Pandya 4-0-36-0; Harbhajan Singh 4-0-34-2Man of the match: Rohit SharmaOrange cap: David WarmerPurple cap: Dwayne BravoBest catch: Dwayne BravoEmerging player: Shreyas IyerFastest fifty: Andre RussellMost Valuable Player: Andre RussellFair Play: Chennai Super Kings

S C O R E B O A R D

OVER THE MOON: Mumbai Indians celebrate after beating Chennai Super Kings. – BCCI

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Calm Cook, Stokes give England edge

LONDON: Contrasting centuries by a relentless Alastair Cook and an inspired Ben Stokes lifted Eng-land to 429 for six at the close of a compelling fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand on Sun-day. Captain Cook batted all day to reach 153 not out, his 27th test century, and Stokes provided the fireworks by smashing a hundred off 85 balls, the fastest ever made in a Test at Lord’s.

Joe Root contributed 84 and England, leading by 295 runs, will start the final day of a fluctuating match as favourites to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

England, resuming on 74 for two, lost Ian Bell to the third ball of the day, caught by wicketkeeper Tom Latham aiming a loose drive

at Tim Southee. But Cook and Root dug in and the captain, 32 not out overnight, brought up his fifty off 122 balls.

The New Zealand pace bowlers beat the bat a few times but Root remained unruffled, reaching his half century by sweeping spinner Mark Craig for his seventh four and England took lunch on 175 for three. Root began to pepper the boundary after the interval and was closing in on the century he missed by two runs in the first in-nings when he hooked Matt Hen-ry to Trent Boult on the long leg boundary, ending a fourth-wicket partnership of 158.

Cook drove Henry straight down the ground for three to reach his century, his second in

two Tests after nearly two years without one in international cricket, raising his bat to the dressing room as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Stokes, who made a sparkling 92 in the first innings, struck a few power-ful blows before rain forced the players off for an early tea with England on 261 for four.

The floodlights were switched on at a gloomy Lord’s and Stokes suddenly launched a withering as-sault on the New Zealand attack.

He reached his fifty off 57 balls before pulling Southee for three sixes over the leg-side boundary.

The left-hander also flayed 15 fours all round the ground and a sin-gle off Henry took him to three fig-ures, Stokes punching the air, raising his bat to all corners of the ground and embracing Cook as Lord’s ap-plauded his stunning knock.

He only added one more run be-fore he edged Craig to Ross Tay-lor at slip and Jos Buttler, on 14, nicked Henry to Latham.

New Zealand’s misery was not complete, however, Cook going past 150 in the company of Moeen Ali (19 not out) and the pair will resume in the morning looking to extend England’s lead. - Reuters

Captain Cook batted all day to reach 153

not out, his 27th test century, and Stokes

provided the fireworks by smashing a

hundred off 85 balls, the fastest ever made

in a Test at Lord’s

Pakistan chief proposes home matches in IndiaNEW DELHI: The south Asian neighbours may not share the best of relations but Pakistan would like to play their home matches in India, Pakistan Crick-et Board (PCB) chief Shahayar Khan said.

Top Test playing nations have shunned Pakistan since the 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan players in Lahore with the PCB instead playing the majority of their home matches in the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB have managed to coax Zimbabwe into touring Pakistan this month for a brief limited over series which is currently underway but accept others are unlikely to follow.

“We would like to make India our home,” Khan told the Hindu-stan Times newspaper.

“India will be more cost-effec-tive,” he said, adding Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also offered to host home matches.

India cancelled bilateral crick-et series with its neighbour after militants killed 166 people in Mumbai in 2008 but hosted Paki-stan in 2012-13 for a short limited over series.

Khan visited India earlier this month and said the neighbours

are likely to play a full series in the United Arab Emirates in December.

While cricketing relations maybe thawing, political ten-sions still exist.

The duo have gone to war three times since their independence in 1947 and the prospect of Paki-stan playing their home matches across the border is likely to meet with political opposition in India.

“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Khan said. - Reuters

C R I C K E T

Gillespie in talks with EnglandLONDON: Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has held talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about coaching the national team, he said on Saturday.

The 40-year-old Gillespie, who took 259 wickets in 71 tests, has coached English county Yorkshire for the last four years, leading them to the championship title in 2014. “I’ve spoken to (England cricket director) Andrew (Strauss) and the ECB about the vacant posi-tion,” Gillespie told Sky Sports.

“We had a good chat and we’ll see what pans out from there.”

Peter Moores was sacked two weeks ago after a disappointing year at the helm and Paul Far-brace was placed in charge of the team for the ongoing two-Test series against New Zealand.

“They made it very clear they’re chatting to a number of people of interest, so they’ll let us know,” Gillespie said. - Reuters

C O A C H ’ S J O B

We would like to make India our home. India will be more cost-effective to host series

Shahayar KhanPCB Chief

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK: Alastair Cook celebrates after reaching his

century. – AFP

SUBLIME: Ben Stokes celebrates reaching his century by kissing

his helmet. – AFP

England 1st Innings: 389 (J Root 98, B Stokes 92, J Buttler 67, M Ali 58; T Boult 4-79, M Henry 4-93)New Zealand 1st Innings: 523 (K Wil-liamson 132, M Guptill 70, R Taylor 62, BJ Watling 61 no, T Latham 59; S Broad 3-77, M Wood 3-93, M Ali 3-94)England 2nd Innings (overnight: 74-2)A. Lyth c Southee b Boult 12A. Cook not out 153G. Ballance b Southee 0I. Bell c Latham b Southee 29J. Root c Boult b Henry 84B. Stokes c Taylor b Craig 101J. Buttler c Latham b Henry 14

M. Ali not out 19Extras (b-2, lb-10, w-5) 17Total (6 wkts, 118 overs, 519 mins) 429To bat: S Broad, M Wood, J AndersonFall of wickets: 1-14 (Lyth), 2-25 (Bal-lance), 3-74 (Bell), 4-232 (Root), 5-364 (Stokes), 6-389 (Buttler)Bowling: Boult 28-5-71-1; Southee 29-4-129-2 (1w); Henry 29-3-106-2 (3w); Craig 28-3-96-1 (1w); Anderson 3-0-13-0; Wil-liamson 1-0-2-0

Match position: England lead New Zea-land by 295 runs with four second-innings wickets standing.

S C O R E B O A R D

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Federer eases but fumes after security scare, Nishikori wins

PARIS: Roger Federer blasted French Open organisers Sunday after a fan breached tight security and raced on to court to grab a ‘self-ie’ with the Swiss great.

The 17-time Grand Slam win-ner had just completed a routine 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Colombia’s Alejandro Falla when he was shocked to see a young fan sprint-ing towards him on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court.

It was particularly embarrass-ing as security at this year’s French Open has been tightened following January’s deadly Islamist attack on Paris-based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Although the male fan was quickly manhandled away, 33-year-old Federer was furious with the lapse in security, claiming he had also been targetted in prac-tice on Saturday.

“I am not happy about it. It hap-pened yesterday in the practice, too. It’s just a kid, but then three more kids came. And today on centre court where you would think this is a place where nobody can come on, just wanders on and nothing happens,” said Federer.

“Something needs to happen quickly. Normally I only speak on behalf of myself, but in this situa-tion I think I can speak on behalf of all the players, that that’s where you do your job, that’s where you want to feel safe.

“And so clearly I’m not happy about it. But nothing happened, so

I’m relieved. But clearly it wasn’t a nice situation to be in.”

Federer was also involved in a security scare in the 2009 final at Roland Garros when a fan ran on to the same court and placed a hat on the star’s head.

Two years ago the final, which featured Rafael Nadal, was also held up when a shirtless spectator, brandishing a flare, leapt from the stands and onto the court before he was wrestled away by security officials. Player safety at tennis tournaments has been a major concern ever since 1993 when Monica Seles was stabbed by a de-ranged fan in Hamburg.

Tournament director Gilbert Ysern admitted that Federer was right to be “pissed off” and admit-ted that the youth, who had been sitting in the courtside sponsors boxes, had been banned from the event. “But it’s not the end of the

world,” added Ysern. “It’s embar-rassing. It shows that we made a mistake and we have to correct it to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Federer, the 2009 champion and seeded two this year, goes on to face Spain’s Marcel Granollers for a place in the last 32.

Federer, one of a record 39 men over 30 in the first round, is des-perate to make the most of a kind draw which dumped top seed No-vak Djokovic, nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and third seed Andy Murray all in the opposite half.

Federer’s Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka, the eighth seed, took just 96 minutes to make the second round, seeing off Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. Waw-rinka, who made the last-eight in 2013, goes on to face either Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic or Maximo Gonza-lez of Argentina in the next round.

But he too was unhappy with organisers after the tournament’s official website went into surgical detail regarding his private life.

Former Australian Open winner Wawrinka announced last month that he and his wife Ilham were separating but he was furious to discover that his personal prob-lems were the focus of the web-site’s preview of his opening round match.“It was a completely stupid article. For a Grand Slam website, it should be an article about the tennis and that’s it,” said Wawrin-ka. “It was a shit article.”

Nishikori throughJapanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori enjoyed a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 win over France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu and next faces either Australia’s Marinko Matosevic or Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil.

Latvian 24th seed Ernests Gul-

bis, who knocked Federer out in the fourth round last year on his way to the semi-finals, defeated Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) for only his third win all year. Romania’s Simona Halep, the 2014 runner-up and third seed, saw off Russian world number 91 Evgeniya Rodina 7-5, 6-4 and next faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, the Croatian player who knocked her out of the US Open last year.

Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova breezed past US wild-card Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 while Spanish 21st seed Garbine Mugu-ruza, who shocked Serena Wil-liams in the second round last year, beat Croatian qualifier Petra Mar-tic 6-2, 7-5.

Croatian 18-year-old Donna Ve-kic, coached by 1997 champion Iva Majoli, put out French 31st seed Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for her first win at the tournament. — AFP

The 17-time Grand

Slam winner had just

completed a routine

6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over

Colombia’s Alejandro

Falla when he was

shocked to see a

young fan sprinting

towards him on the

showpiece Philippe

Chatrier Court

Chanderpaul’s career up in the air as Windies look to the futureBRIDGETOWN: Uncertainty continues to hang over the career of Shiv Chanderpaul with media reports indicated the veteran left-hander has already been chopped from the squad for the upcoming Australia series.

Reports on Saturday suggested that the 40-year-old has been left out of the squad following a failed attempt by the team management to get the player to retire. Howev-er, CMC understands that while selectors have taken a decision to look to the future, there is still a possibility Chanderpaul may not feature in the two-Test series against the Aussies.

The Clive Lloyd-led selection panel is expected to announce a squad for the series within the next 48 hours. Reports indicate Chan-derpaul recently met with team management to discuss his future, especially against the backdrop of his waning form which has seen him struggle in the recent series against England and South Africa.

Against England, he garnered

just 92 runs with a highest score of 46 and managed just 91 runs against the Proteas with a best score of 50, but an average of 18.

Last year, however, Chander-paul was in great form, averag-ing 64 and scoring his 30th Test hundred against Bangladesh in the second Test at Gros Islet. The Guyanese batsman boasts an im-pressive record, having scored

11,867 runs at an average of 51 and is only 86 runs shy of Brian Lara’s all-time West Indies scor-ing mark of 11,953 runs.

The West Indies will enter a preparation camp, starting here on Monday, ahead of the first Test which bowls off at Windsor Park in Dominica on June 3. The sec-ond Test starts at Sabina Park in Kingston on June 11. - IANS

C R I C K E T

South Africa to tour India in OctoberKOLKATA: South Africa will tour India in October and No-vember to play a long tour of four Tests, five One-Day Inter-nationals and three Twenty20 Internationals.

The tour will be followed by Sri Lanka visiting India to play three T20Is in February 2016 ahead of the 2016 World Twenty20 to be held India from March 11 to April 3. The Tour Programme and Fixtures Com-mittee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) met here on Sunday to finalise the venues for the two tours.

The four Tests against South Africa will be played at Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Nag-pur and Banglaore while the five ODIs will take place at Chen-nai, Kanpur, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), Rajkot and Mumbai. The three T20Is will take place at Kolkata, Mohali, Dharamshala. The ODI allotted to MPCA will likely take place at Gwalior.

The three T20Is against Sri Lanka will take place at Vi-sakhapatnam, Pune and New Delhi. - IANS

S E R I E S

Reports suggested that the Chanderpaul has been left out following a failed attempt by the team management to get the player to retire

Schalke sack Di MatteoBERLIN: Schalke 04 have part-ed company with coach Roberto di Matteo, according to a report by magazine Sport Bild on Sun-day, after just two wins in their last ten games. Di Matteo has been in charge since October after his predecessor Jens Kel-ler was sacked, but Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to strugglers Hamburg looks to have been the last straw for Schalke’s board.

The 44-year-old, who coached Chelsea to the 2012 Champions League title, had steered the Royal Blues up from 11th when he took charge to third in the table in February.

But a poor run of results saw them surrender a direct spot in the Champions League and their latest defeat left them sixth in the table and in the Eu-ropa League next season. - AFP

F O O T B A L L

WINNING START: Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns the ball to Colombia’s Alejandro Falla during the men’s first round at the Roland

Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris. – AFP

C4


Oman Sail’s record-breaking team triumph at French ArMen Race

MUSCAT: Fresh from their re-cord-breaking exploits in Ireland, the Musandam-Oman Sail MOD 70, the Ministry of Tourism’s flag-ship craft, concluded a busy period with another victory, this time in the fifth edition of France’s ArMen Race at La Trinité-sur-Mer on the Brittany coast.

Skippered by Roland Jourdain, a two-time Route du Rhum win-ner affectionately known as ‘Bilou’, while regular skipper, Sidney Gav-ignet, races with Volvo Ocean Race

team Dongfeng from Newport to Lisbon, the crew of experienced offshore sailors Fahad Al Hasni, Yassir Al Rahbi and Sami Al Shu-kaili, led from the start and held

their lead throughout, completing the 320 nautical mile sprint in 20 hours, 46 minutes and 28 seconds.

“It was a great race, good train-ing for everyone on board with a lot

of boat handling involved,” Roland Jourdain said.

“For my Omani teammates it was a good opportunity to spend a night offshore in race mode. We

had a long upwind leg to start with which was hard work for every-one, but as soon as we rounded the mark, we hoisted the gennaker and sent it!”

Fahad Al Hasni added: “We sailed the race well despite the upwind being very tough. It was excellent to have an opportunity to sail with ‘Bilou’ and also Spain’s Alex Pella, another really talented sailor, during the Round Ireland race, as they brought fresh eyes to the boat.

“We are extremely lucky to be able to sail alongside some of the most talented offshore sailors in the industry, it allows us to pro-gress and is huge motivation for the future.”

The victory marks the end to the first stage of the European season that has already seen the crew beat a long-standing world record for the Round Ireland speed challenge and also finish second in its first Tour de Belle Ile race in France, a 41-mile sprint featuring 470 boats of different classes.

The crew will return to Muscat this week to train on the MOD70 before heading back to France to compete in the Normandy Sailing Week onboard the Archambault M34 keelboat.

The team will then head to Ger-many for Kiel Week where they aim to improve on their record time in last year’s Welcome Race while ashore a new “Visit Oman” tourism experience will be on dis-play for Kiel Week visitors.

Skippered by Roland

Jourdain, the crew of

experienced offshore

sailors Al Hasni, Al

Rahbi and Al Shukaili,

completed the 320

nautical mile sprint in

20 hours, 46 minutes

and 28 seconds

Ronaldo backs coach AncelottiMADRID: Real Madrid top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo has signalled strong support for coach Carlo Ancelotti and sent a clear message to club president Florentino Perez that he does not want the Italian to be sacked.

Perez is widely expected to make Ancelotti the scapegoat af-ter Real ended the season without winning a major trophy but the intervention of dressing-room heavyweight Ronaldo may make him think twice.

Ronaldo netted a hat-trick in Real’s final game of the campaign on Saturday, a 7-3 drubbing of city rivals Getafe at the Bernabeu, tak-ing his tally at the top of the La Liga scoring chart to 48 goals.

It was his best single-season haul in Spain’s top flight since he joined from Manchester United in 2009 and two short of the record of 50 set in 2011-12 by Barcelona for-ward Lionel Messi, who scored 43 this term.

After the match, Portugal cap-tain Ronaldo posted a message on his Twitter feed with a photograph of himself and Ancelotti.

“Great coach and amazing per-son,” Ronaldo wrote. “Hope we work together next season.”

Ancelotti, who led Real to a record-extending 10th European title and a King’s Cup triumph in his debut year in Spain in 2013-14, has made it clear he wants to carry on but said on Saturday if

Real do let him go he would take a year out.

His contract runs until the end of next season and he said he expected to meet with club of-

ficials early next week to discuss his future. Media reports in Italy have suggested the 55-year-old could return to former club AC Milan, with whom he won the

European Cup as both a player and coach.

Napoli’s Spanish coach Rafa Be-nitez is the frontrunner to replace Ancelotti at Real, where he had a stint as a youth trainer, according to local media.

Real’s Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez also backed An-celotti after Saturday’s game.

“He arrived two years ago and he knows the team, he knows how we are and how we go about things,” he told Spanish television. “But it’s not my decision and it’s not my place to talk about it.”

Stay or take a year offAncelotti had earlier said he is planning to take a year off if he is sacked by the club.

“My future is clear in my head,” he said. “Either I continue here or I will stop for a year.”

Real won the Champions League and the King’s Cup in Ancelotti’s first season in charge in 2013-14 but after a Spanish record win-ning streak of 22 victories at the end of last year their form tailed off in 2015.

“I don’t think anyone is in a hur-ry (to make a decision),” Ancelotti said. “The club is thinking so they can make the right choice. I am waiting because I am not in a rush.

“Madrid is a demanding club and it’s normal to be questioned when one part of the season goes badly. It’s part of my job.” - Reuters

S T R O N G S U P P O R T

‘Mountain goat’ Blatter keeps going and goingBERNE: Sepp Blatter, who is ex-pected to be re-elected as world soccer body Fifa president for a fifth term on Friday, likened him-self to a Swiss mountain goat on Sunday, famed for their stubborn endurance.

Blatter will face a challenge for the presidency from Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein at the Fifa Congress on Friday after con-tenders Michael van Praag of the Netherlands and Luis Figo of Por-tugal pulled out of the contest on Thursday. They collectively rep-resented those who think Blatter should quit after so many years in the job, but Blatter told the NZZ newspaper in an interview: “I am a mountain goat that keeps going

and going and going, I cannot be stopped, I just keep going.”

Blatter, who will be 80 next year, said in the interview that he “is a simple, devout man” and that the first thing he always does when he returns to his home town of Visp where he was born is to visit the family grave.

He said two weeks ago, he “connected” with his deceased mother, who bid him to join her.

He said: “I’m doing well, it is not time yet.” Blatter was first elected Fifa president in 1998 and is expected to be re-elected by an overwhelming majority of Fifa’s 209 member associations when the secret ballot takes place at Zurich’s Hallenstadion. - Reuters

S T U B B O R N

HOPE WE WORK TOGETHER: Cristiano Ronaldo

C5


Rosberg wins as Mercedes gaffe spoils Hamilton race

MONACO: Germany’s Nico Rosberg celebrated a surprise hat-trick of Monaco Grand Prix victories on Sunday after Mer-cedes blew championship-lead-ing teammate Lewis Hamilton’s chances with a needless pitstop.

The result, with double Formu-la One world champion Hamilton finishing third just when victory seemed assured, slashed Hamil-ton’s overall lead to 10 points after six of the season’s 19 races.

The Briton had led comfortably

from pole position until he pitted for fresh tyres when the safety car was deployed with 14 laps to go.

“I’ve lost the race haven’t I?” the disconsolate Briton enquired over the team radio after rejoining in third place behind Rosberg and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, neither of whom pitted.

“What’s happened guys?”Afterwards, with the enormity

of what had happened still sinking in, the stunned Mercedes driver told reporters: “I can’t really ex-

plain the way I feel at the moment. I won’t even attempt to.”

While he did not blame the team, Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff indicated the call had come from the pitwall.

“We thought the gap was dif-ferent to what it was. A complete misjudgement, I am so sorry,” he told the BBC.

The safety car had been de-ployed after Dutch 17-year-old Max Verstappen’s Toro Rosso smashed into the back of Romain Grosjean’s Lotus and crashed heavily into the barriers while fighting for a possible 10th place.

Verstappen, who had pro-vided some of the more exciting moments of a largely proces-sional race, was unhurt although the front of his car penetrated the plastic wall at the Sainte Devote corner.

Rosberg’s victory was the Ger-man’s second in succession, af-ter winning the previous round in Spain, and made him only the fourth driver to win three Monaco

Grands Prix in a row. The others were Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

“I’m very, very happy of course. I know it was just a lot of luck to-day. Lewis drove brilliantly and would have deserved the win for sure but that’s the way it is in rac-ing,” said the Monaco resident.

“I know I got lucky today, I will just enjoy the moment now. Lewis was a little bit stronger this week-end so I have to work hard.”

Russian Daniil Kvyat was fourth for Red Bull with Austral-ian teammate Daniel Ricciardo fifth and Kimi Raikkonen finish-ing sixth for Ferrari.

Mexican Sergio Perez was seventh for Force India while Britain’s Jenson Button handed misfiring former champions McLaren their first points of the season with eighth place.

Brazilian Felipe Nasr was ninth for Sauber with Verstappen’s Span-ish team mate Carlos Sainz taking the final point for Toro Rosso after starting in the pit lane. - Reuters

The result, with double Formula One world

champion Hamilton finishing third just

when victory seemed assured, slashed

Hamilton’s overall lead to 10 points after

six of the season’s 19 races

Ahmad in positive mood after strong practice at SilverstoneSILVERSTONE: Blancpain En-durance Series racer Ahmad Al Harthy goes into the all-important qualifying session for round two of the season at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in positive mood, fol-lowing a competitive and fault-free run in practice and pre-quali-fying on Saturday.

Ahead of the grid-determining session at the Northamptonshire track, the Oman Racing Team driver says he is confident he and teammates Jonny Adam and Dan-iel Lloyd can make marked pro-gress as they aim to kick-start their 2015 campaign in the series.

Beginning the weekend strongly in free practice, the No. 44 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 ended the opening track session 11th fastest overall, within just a second

of the outright pace, from an en-try which boasts a remarkable 62 cars in total.

During the 90 minute pre-quali-fying session, Ahmad — who is the official brand ambassador for As-ton Martin Middle East and North Africa — was very happy with his performance and the trio made good preparations for final qualify-ing with a top 10 placing in the Pro Cup, 15th position overall.

Posting a quickest time of two minutes and 02.263 seconds, the lap was within just 0.6 seconds of the outright top three to give the Oman Air, Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-backed squad plenty of positivity ahead of day two’s action.

“Everything went well in the

practice and pre-qualifying, we’ve been trying to find the best set-up to make things as comfortable as pos-sible for all three drivers and we def-initely learnt a lot,” said the Omani.

“It looks like things are going to be very tight between every-one. As always, though, we will have a strong race car so we need to maximise qualifying — that’s very important.

“We’ve improved the car since the first round in Monza, we’ve taken everything forward a step from there, and we’re feeling posi-tive. Silverstone is obviously a more technical track compared to Monza and we feel we have a good chance. If everything works out in qualify-ing, and with the weather too as rain is expected before the race, we should be in a good position.”

B L A N C P A I N S E R I E S

Everything went well in the practice and pre-qualifying, we’ve been trying to find the best set-up

Ahmad Al HarthyOman Racing Team driver

NICO’S HAT-TRICK : Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, centre, stands on the podium along with second-placed Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel,

left, and third-placed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton at the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco street circuit in Monte Carlo on Sunday. – AFP

‘Sorry Nico’, Hamilton

is better for business, says EcclestoneMONACO: World champion Lewis Hamilton is better for For-mula One than either Sebastian Vettel or Nico Rosberg, the sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ec-clestone said on Sunday.

“I am a huge Lewis fan be-cause he is a super promoter of the sport,” Ecclestone said in a conversation with Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Rosberg pub-lished on the official formula1.com website. “From a pure business aspect — sorry Nico if I have to say this — you are not so good for my business.”

When Rosberg told Ecclestone that was a “hard call”, Ecclestone pointed to the lack of a German Grand Prix this season.

“It sounds harder than it meant. Unfortunately you don’t have the German fans on your side.

“As the cancellation of the Ger-man Grand Prix indicates, Germa-ny is a terrible market for Formula One. On the contrary Lewis is a hero in the UK.

“The British love Formula One. Sebastian is also not doing much for F1. People hardly recognize him on the street.”

Double champion Hamilton, who was on pole for Sunday’s showcase Monaco Grand Prix

ahead of Rosberg and Ferrari’s Vettel, has become a familiar face in celebrity magazines and web-sites for his jet-setting lifestyle.

The 30-year-old Briton has made friends in Hollywood and the U.S. music scene as well as the fashion industry.

‘Wants to be famous’“I still believe that Lewis is the best champion that we have had in a long, long time,” Ecclestone told Nico Rosberg.

“He manages to get to all differ-ent walks of life: red carpet, fash-ion business, and music — you name it,” Ecclestone added.

“That is not your fault or his. You two are just very different charac-ters,” he said.

“Nico is not seeking the lime-light as Lewis does. Lewis wants to be famous,” explained the 84-year-old Briton.

“I am happy that we have some-body like Lewis. I also couldn’t be like Lewis. I don’t like gold jewel-lery,” he added.

Ecclestone also said the team principals should be more promi-nent, and said new Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene was a char-acter “only for himself and not for Formula One”. - Reuters

P U R E B U S I N E S S

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Hull relegated on final day of high scores and high-profile departures

LONDON: Hull City were rel-egated from the English Premier League on Sunday after drawing 0-0 at home to Manchester Unit-ed on a final day marked by high scores and high-profile departures.

Hull, beaten FA Cup finalists last season, needed to defeat Unit-ed to stand any chance of staying up, but their failure to do so left them three points adrift of safety.

“It is one of those awful experi-ences,” said Hull manager Steve Bruce, the former United captain, whose club had spent two seasons in the top flight.

“It is not a time for excuses. You have to take your medicine and

come back as strongly as you can.”Hull made an enterprising

start as Paul McShane and Dame N’Doye saw goals ruled out for off-side, while United’s stand-in goal-keeper Victor Valdes saved bril-liantly from Ahmed Elmohamady.

The visitors, missing injured goalkeeper David de Gea and on-loan striker Radamel Falcao, lost Angel di Maria to injury and saw substitute Marouane Fellaini sent off for an ugly foul on McShane in the second half.

But Bruce was unable to engi-neer a first managerial win over his old employers as Hull sank into the Championship and Louis van

Gaal’s United finished the cam-paign in fourth place.

Newcastle United were the only other team at risk of relegation, but they secured their top-flight status with a 2-0 victory at home to West Ham United.

Jonas Gutierrez, who re-turned to action last month after a 17-month battle with testicular cancer, was Newcastle’s saviour, teeing up Moussa Sissoko for a 54th-minute header and scoring with a deflected effort.

“Every player deserves credit,” said Newcastle manager John Carver. “We have not had a good season, but I am going to enjoy this moment.”

Gerrard, Drogba depart Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, criticised by fans for a perceived lack of investment, had vowed pri-or to the game not to leave until the club win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League.

West Ham, meanwhile, an-nounced after the match that man-ager Sam Allardyce’s contract will not be renewed and he will leave

the club with immediate effect.Liverpool captain Steven Ger-

rard scored in vain on a wretched 710th and final appearance for the club as Brendan Rodgers’s side ca-pitulated in a humiliating 6-1 de-feat at Stoke City.

With Raheem Sterling benched over his contract stand-off, Liver-pool conceded five first-half goals, with Mame Biram Diouf scor-ing twice and Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi also on target.

Gerrard replied in the second half, to give the visiting fans one last goal before his departure for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch restored Stoke’s five-goal cushion late on.

Liverpool’s sixth-place finish nevertheless takes them into the Europa League, alongside Tot-tenham Hotspur, who won 1-0 at Everton courtesy of Harry Kane’s 21st goal of the league campaign and 31st in all competitions.

But Rodgers conceded that his position was now under scrutiny, saying: “I have always said if the

owners want me to go, I will go. But I still feel I have a lot to offer here.”

Gerrard’s former England team-mate Frank Lampard also found the net in his final game before leaving England for the United States, but he scored in a winning cause as runners-up Manchester City beat Southampton 2-0.

The 36-year-old midfielder, who is due to join New York City, con-verted a cross from James Milner in the first half at the Etihad Stadi-um, with Golden Boot-winner Ser-gio Aguero scoring his 26th goal of the campaign late on.

Walcott hat-trick City’s win condemned Southamp-ton to seventh place, which will yield a Europa League spot only if Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

Another departing Premier League stalwart, Didier Drogba, was carried off the pitch by his teammates after injuring himself in the early stages of Chelsea’s 3-1 win at home to Sunderland.

At that point, the champions trailed to a 26th minute Steven

Fletcher header, but after Diego Costa, Drogba’s replacement, equalised with a penalty, Loic Remy scored twice in the second half.

Chelsea were presented with the Premier League trophy after the game.

Arsenal rubber-stamped third place, and automatic Champions League qualification, by demolish-ing West Bromwich Albion 4-1 as Theo Walcott staked a claim for a cup final starting place with a first-half hat-trick.

Jack Wilshere was also on tar-get, with Gareth McAuley replying for West Brom.

Villa will go into the cup final on the back of a defeat after a first-half Danny Ings header saw them beaten 1-0 at relegated Burnley.

Leicester City celebrated their stunning escape from relegation with a 5-1 romp at home to rel-egated Queens Park Rangers, with new England call-up Jamie Vardy opening the scoring.

In the day’s other game, Crystal Palace beat Swansea City 1-0 cour-tesy of a 57th minute goal by Mar-ouane Chamakh. - AFP

Hull needed to defeat United to stand any

chance of staying up, but their failure to do so

left them three points adrift of safety on a day

when Gerrard, Drogba and Lampard departed

CORONATION: Champions Chelsea celebrates after being handed the trophy on the final day of the English Premier League. – Reuters

Al Azzani names probables for Oman under-22 campMUSCAT: Hamad Al Azzani has called up 22 probables for the Oman under-22 national team training camp.

According to a press release issued by the Oman Football As-sociation (OFA) on Sunday, the training camp will take place from June 9 to 15.

The camp is being arranged as part of the team’s preparations for the forthcoming GCC Un-der-22 Football Championship and West Asian Football Cham-pionship.

During the training-cum-conditioning camp, Azzani will be training the team along with assistant coach Mohammed Khamis Al Araimi.

The probables: Bilal Al Balushi (Oman Club), Al Harith Al Balushi and Jamil Al Yahmadi (Al Shabab), Ahmed Faraj Al Rawahi and Mas-salam Mohammed (Al Nasr), Ali Dhahi Al Rashidi, Mahmood Ma-brook Al Shanfari and Hassan Said Al Shahri (Al Suwaiq), Da-wood Sulaiman Al Kahali, Omar

Al Fazari and Hatem Sultan Al Roshdi (Sohar), Thani Gharib Al Rashidi, Abdullah Fawaz and Nader Awadh Basheer (Dhofar), Khalid Ahmed Al Hamdani, Basil

Abdullah Al Rawahi and Azzan Hamood Al Tamimi (Fanja), Mur-wan Al Siyabi (Seeb), Al Munther Al Alawi (Al Wuda) and Yousef Nasser Al Mekhaini (Arouba).

F O O T B A L L

A file photo of Oman under-22 team

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COMSECTIONC M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5LIFE & STYLEBy the end of 2016, Internet traffic could eclipse one zettabyte a year. That would equal the storage capacity of...

...3,495 times the entire Facebook servers

We all understand, courtesy of our daily contributions to social media and our search

struggles with Google, that the Internet is huge — and only growing more huge. More than 3 billion people are now online. By the end of 2016, Internet traffic could eclipse one zettabyte a year.

But who the heck knows what a zet-tabyte is?! I want to size the Internet in concrete, physical terms: like, if I printed the whole thing out, I’d have — how many pieces of paper?

This isn’t a novel question, incidentally: artists and mathematicians alike have tried to answer it before. Two years ago, the poet Kenneth Goldsmith invited in-terested strangers to print web pages out and mail them to his Printing the Internet show in Mexico. In March, meanwhile, two students at the University of Leices-ter published a journal paper that sought to estimate how much of the Amazon we’d have to fell in order to print the Web.

That paper was largely hypothetical — more a thought experiment than anything else. (Among other things, it makes use of a lot of “assumptions” in the course of its math.) I emailed co-author George Har-wood, however, to ask how the page-length of the Internet could be computed more concretely. It would involve lots of menial labour. And, of course, a spreadsheet.

How many web pages are there?In 2007, as part of his master’s thesis at Tilburg University, the Dutch Web con-sultant Maurice de Kunder developed a statistical method for tracking the number of pages indexed by major search engines. The math and technology behind this tool are pretty complicated — his thesis ran 68 pages, in Dutch — but eight years later, it’s still constantly updating the number of pages in Google and Bing search.

A couple caveats here — Even this figure is an estimate, and it doesn’t capture any-thing outside the reach of search engines.

But for our purposes, de Kunder said, we can assume there are roughly 47 billion pages on the indexed, searchable Web.

How many printed pages is the average web page?Meanwhile, to find how many printed pages each of those 47 billion would be, I needed to visit a representative sample of websites and try to print out each. To arrive at a fair average — one with a 5 per cent margin of error, and a 95 per cent certainty — I’d have to test 385 random sites, as chosen by the so-called “Random Website Machine” (www.whatsmyip.org/random-website-machine).

This is a fun game you can play at home (!), if you have absolutely nothing else to do — click the “random website” button; hit CTRL+A and CTRL+P; and record the resulting “pages” number in a separate spreadsheet. There was the site for a Tai-wanese Little League (two pages); online stores selling Orthodox icons and horses’

hoof grease (1); the homepage for the Czech national lacrosse league (4).

I learned that West Virginia only has one business newspaper, and that Bul-garia’s constitution was adopted in 1991. Also that, in 2000, the BBC called Britney Spears a “teenage pop phenomenon.”

A few of these sites would, of course, take up many printed pages — say, Wiki-pedia articles or the homepages of chatty personal blogs. But the vast, mundane ma-jority of the websites I visited — the pages of Polish municipal governments, say, or a recipe for cattle drive chilli — only took up one or two. (We forget that our modern Internet sits atop strata of Geocities pages and long-forgotten forums and sites)

The average site came out to 6.5 printed pages — slightly longer than the Wikipedia page on Lithuania’s performance at the ‘92 Olympics. In other words, there’s a 95 per-cent chance that the average length of all Web pages in the world is somewhere be-tween 6.2 and 6.8 printed pages.

The number of pages it would take to print the Internet From here, of course, the experiment gets pretty easy. Multiplying 47 billion by 6.5 gives you 305,500,000,000 pages, ap-proximately. This is, to be clear, just an estimate: There’s some room for error in my page-length average, and the Internet’s changing all the time. But it’s still difficult to even contemplate how much material that comes out to — It’s like 212 million copies of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

“We’re dealing with abstraction, and we have no idea what this is,” that Internet-printing poet, Kenneth Goldsmith, told my colleague Dan Zak in 2013. “We need new metrics for infinity.”

Even Goldsmith’s metrics failed, how-ever — and failed rather spectacularly. While he and his gallery would later brag that the show collected 10 tons (three whales!!) of printed papers, that’s just a speck in the huge, abstract Internet sea.-Caitlin Dewey/ The Washington Post

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EXTRAM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

They may have been criticised for failing to bond with their babies, but it seems that fathers who refuse to

engage in lots of baby talk with their children may have been doing the right thing all along

A new scientific study has found that by going easy on the baby talk — the high-pitched, up and down cooing speech also known

as “motherese” — fathers may actu-ally be helping their young child’s lan-guage development.

This is despite the fact that, however ridiculous they may sound to adult ears, the attention-catching cadences of baby talk have long been seen as important to parent-child bonding because they sound particularly attractive to babies and young children.

Previous studies have also credited motherese with fostering language de-velopment by helping young children to identify sounds, syllables and eventually

words and sentences. Similar arguments were even used to defend the “eh-oh” bab-bling of the Teletubbies from criticism — with the show’s co-creator Andy Daven-port, who has a B.Sc in speech sciences, arguing that by encouraging children to “have fun with sounds”, the children’s show helped their verbal development.

But the suspicion has lingered that not all fathers were as keen on baby talk as mothers, possibly because of male pride and a fear of sounding ridiculous. What is being billed as the first study to examine fathers’ verbal interactions with their children in a real-world set-ting has now found that dads do indeed engage in less baby talk than mums – and that this is probably not a bad thing.

After fitting American parents and

their pre-school children with record-ing devices, Washington State Univer-sity researchers found that while wom-en engaged in motherese, men tended to stick to intonations similar to those they used while talking to adults.

But Mark VanDam, the professor in the Speech and Hearing Sciences who led the research, said: “This isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s not a failing of the fathers.”

While motherese helped children con-nect on a more intimate level, fathers helped to provide a bridge to the outside world and grown-up speech by speaking in a more adult way, he said. “The parents are complementary to their children’s language learning,” said Professor Van-Dam. “We think that maybe fathers are doing things that are conducive to their

children’s learning but in a different way.”He added that while fathers were less

frequent users of classic baby talk, they still modified their speech in other ways — by using different vocabulary with their children or by changing the volume or du-ration of their speech.

The study, presented to the spring meeting of the Acoustical Society of America yesterday, looked only at fami-lies with a mother and father who both lived full-time with the child.

Professor VanDam added that he and his team were ultimately keen to do similar research involving families with children with hearing loss, with a view to understanding how hearing problems affect speech production and learning. -Adam Lusher/The Independent

B

T

YA

AL KB

TO

IMP

RO

VE

THEIR

CHILD’S

LANGUAGE

SKILLS

SHOULDDADS

CUT OUT

Gelett Burgess, a writer, poet and humorist who died

in 1951, said, “If in the last few years you haven’t discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse.”

Students sometimes ask, “I find discarding difficult. What should I do?”

The naive answer is: Throw losers and keep winners. But discards should send information to partner. If you are pitching from a suit not yet led by either side, your card is an attitude signal — as in this deal.

South opens and closes the auction with three

spades. West starts the defense with three rounds of hearts. East plays high-low to show his doubleton, but what should he discard at trick three?

Assuming the third heart is standing up, South presumably has 7-3-2-1, 7-3-1-2, 7-3-3-0 or 7-3-0-3 shape. In the first three cases, East wants partner to shift to a diamond at trick four, not a club. (And in the last, a club shift is vital only if South has exactly queen-doubleton of clubs.) The club ace can wait, but the diamond king needs to be established. So East should discard the diamond nine. He could throw the club

four, but if you can afford to, it is better to signal with a high, encouraging card than with a low, discouraging card.

If West shifts to a diamond, the contract fails. If he leads a club, though, declarer gets his diamond loser away on dummy’s club king, with the spade king as the dummy entry.

Phillip Alder is combining in May 2016 with Kalos to run a bridge and golf river cruise starting from Bordeaux, France. Details are available on Phillip’s website:

www.phillipalderbridge.com.— By Phillip Alder

C9

ENTERTAINMENT

Discards should send information

B I G N A T E

B O R N L O S E R

M A R M A D U K E

A C E S O N B R I D G E

K I D S P O T H E A L T H C A P S U L EC R O S S W O R D

Answer to previous puzzle

WITH LOVE

M O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

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 [email protected]

ERICA SOPHIA FREDERICK May 25, 2005

ACROSS 1 Between 5 Sine — non 8 Poodle pros12 Add some brandy to13 Web addr.14 Lotion additive15 At ease17 Radius companion18 Galley slave’s tool19 Cream-filled pastry21 Undiluted24 Gold unit26 Stopped a squeak28 Folks29 Baseball’s Mel —32 Rx givers

33 From Rangoon35 Garden implement36 Want-ad abbr.37 Make after taxes38 Engulfed in flames40 Varsity (hyph.)42 Raucous water bird43 Major emergencies46 — — tizzy48 Arcing throws49 Slyly54 Helm position55 Funny person56 Must-have57 Right after58 Stockholm carrier59 Puts out a runner

DOWN 1 A hundred percent 2 1960s Chairman 3 “ER” venue 4 Signify 5 A — of fate 6 Coffee brewer 7 Sahara gateway 8 Jump over 9 Jazzy Fitzgerald10 “Beloved” writer — Morrison11 Char, as a steak16 Dixie st.20 Large blossom21 Twig juncture22 Gael republic23 Too25 Watchdog breed

27 Italian poet29 John Glenn’s state30 Corrida sight31 Babysitter, often34 Vacillates39 Brag about40 Portfolio item41 Oven gloves43 Large family44 Function45 Mountain goat47 St. John’s former postal code50 Estuary51 Grassy field52 Journey stage53 Fabric meas.

C I N E M A S C H E D U L EC I N E M A S C H E D U L E

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Mad Max Fury Road (Action)Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult1:45, 7:30 & 9:45pm; CP NO: 1273 (12+)Spooks: The Greater Good ( Action/Drama/Thriller ) Cast: Kit Harintion, Elyes Gabel, Jennifer Ehle4:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:55pmCP No: 1343 (12+)Danny Collins (Comedy/Drama ) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner2:00 & 6:00pmCP No: 1346 (12+)Offender (Thriller) Cast: Joe Cole, English Frank, Kimberly Nixon3:45 & 11:55pm; CP No: 1344 (18+)Captain Masr (Arabic) (Comedy) Cast: Mohamed Emam, Edward Bayoumi Fouad5:45pm; CP No: 1345 (PG)

Bhaskar The Raskal (Mal) (Rom/Com) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara & Isha Talwar 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main 36 Vayadhinile (Tamil) (Family/Drama) Cast: Jyothika, Rahman & Abhirami 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema -2 Lion (Telugu) (Act/Rom) Cast: Balakrishna, Trisha Krishnan, Radhika Apte & Prakash Raj 3:45 & 6:45 pm at Cinema -3 Piku (Hindi) (Drama\Com) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan , Deepika Padukone & Irfan Khan 6:45 & 9:45 pm at Cinema -4Oru Vadakka Selfie (Mal) (Com\Drama) Cast: Navin Pauly, Manjima & Vineeth Sreenivasam; 3:45 pm Cinema -4, 9:45pm at Cinema 3Next Change: Demonte Colony (Tamil)

Mad Max Fury Road (Act)(2D) 12+Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron9:30 & 11:45pmPiku (Comedy, Drama)(PG)Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan. 4:40 pmPoltergeist (Horror, Thriller) (2D/15+)Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements. 2:45 pmPoltergeist (3D/15+)Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements. 9:40 & 11:30 pmSpooks The Greater Good (Action, Drama) (12+)Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle. 2:00 & 11:45 pmDanny Collins (Comedy, Drama) (12+)Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 7:20 pmTomorrowland (Action, Adventure) (PG)Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie3:00, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 pmOmar (Arabic) (Drama, Thriller) 12+Cast: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Eyad Hourani. 5:30 pmTanu Weds Manu Returns (Comedy, Romance) (TBC)Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz Khan7:00 pm

Kennedi Clements12:45 & 11:45 pmGold Class: 11:15 pmPoltergeist (2D) 15+Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 12:45 pmTomorrowland (2D) PGCast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie.10:15 am, 2:30, 9:15 & 11:45 pmGold Class: 2:00 & 8:50 pmRobosapien: Rebooted (2D) PGCast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller, Bobby Coleman. 11:00 amSpooks The Greater Good (2D) 12+Cast: Car Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle. 5:00 pmDanny Collins (2D) 12+Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 7:15 pm. Gold Class: 4:20 PMTanu Weds Manu Returns (H) (2D) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 9:15 pmGold Class: 6:20 pmOmar (2D) (Arabic) (Drama, Thriller) 12+Cast: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany 5:30 pm

Avengers Age Of Ultron (3D) PG12Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo. 3:00pmMad Max Fury Road (3D) 12+Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult. 12:45 & 7:00pmPoltergeist (3D) 15+Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt,

SCREEN 1

Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom/Drama/Comedy) – TBCCast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan3.30, 6.30, 9.30pm

SCREEN 2

Piku (Drama/Comedy) – PGCast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan 3.45, 6.45, 9.45pm

SCREEN 3

Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama) – PG

Mad Max: Fury Road - 3d (12+) Action, Adventure, Thriller Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult7:00, 9:20, 11:45 pmPiku - 2D (PG)Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan 4:45 pm Spooks: The Greater Good - 2D (12+) Action | Drama | ThrillerCast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle5:00, 11:45 pm Danny Collins - 2D (12+) Com |DramaCast: Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner2:30, 5:15 pm Robosapien: Rebooted - 2D (12+) Adventure |Drama | Family Cast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller, Bobby Coleman3:30 pmPoltergeist - 2D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements4:30 pmPoltergeist - 3D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 9:45 & 11:30 pmBhaskar the Rascal - 2D (M)(PG12) ComedyCast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, Isha Talwar, 6:15 pmTomorrowland - 2D (PG) Act |Adv | Cast : George Clooney, Britt Robertson

Spooks: The Greater Good - 2D (12+) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton 3:00, 11:40pmMad Max: Fury Road – 3D (12+) (Action)Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron4:30, 9:30 pmDanny Collins – 2D (12+) (Com, Drama) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 2:45, 5:00 pmRobosapien: Rebooted – 2D (PG) (Adventure); 2:45, 4:15 pmCast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann MillerPoltergeist - 3D (15+) (Horror, Thriller)Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 7:50, 11:50 pmTomorrowland - 2D (PG) (Action)Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 7:00, 9:30, 11:45 pmBhaskar the Rascal - 2D (PG12) (Com)Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, Isha 6:45 pmTanu Weds Manu Returns – 2D (Com)Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan9:20 pm (PG)Demonte Colony - 2D (TBC) Horror5:45 pm

Mad Max: Fury Road (3D) (Act ) (12+) Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron7:00 pmSpooks: The Greater Good (Act) (12+) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, 4:30pmPoltergeist (3D) (Horror |Thriller) (15+)

Spooks: The Greater Good (2D) (12+)(Action) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton 11:00 am, 5:00pmDanny Collins (2D) (12+) (Com, Music) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner; 1:00, 4:45 pmRobosapiens: Rebooted (2D)(PG) (Adventure, Drama, Family) Cast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller11:00 am, 1:30 pmOffender (2D) (18+) (Thriller) Cast: Joe Cole, English Frank; 3:10pmPoltergeist (2D) (15+) (Horror, Thriller) Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 3:00 pmPoltergeist (3D) (15+) (Horror, Thriller) 7:15, 11:30 pmTomorrowland (2D) (PG) (Act) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson11:15 am, 2:45, 7:00, 9:20, 11:45 pmMad Max: Fury Road (3D) (12+) (Act) 12:30, 5:00, 11:45 pmTanu Weds Manu Returns – 2D (Com)Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan9:00 pm (PG)Bhaskar the Rascal (2D) (PG12) (Co) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara9:00 pmDemonte Colony (2D) (Horror) 6:45pm

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, 9:15 pmTomorrowland (Act | Adv) (PG) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 04:40, 06:30, 08:55pmTanu Weds Manu Returns (Hindi) (Comedy | Romance) (TBC) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 11:15 pm Bhaskar the Rascal (Mal) (Com) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, 11:00 pm

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor3:45, 9.45 pm

Bhaskar the Rascal (Malayalam)(Comedy/Drama ) – PGCast: Mammootty, Nayantara6.45 pm

2:30, 7:15, 9:05, 11:30 pmTanu Weds Manu Returns (H) (2D) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 2:15, 9:15 pmDemonte Colony - 2D (T) (TBC) Horror Cast: Arulnithi7:00 pm

C10

FIND-IT-ALLM O N DAY, M AY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

MONDAYFLT NO ARRIVALS FROM ETA WY672 MEDINA 0005WY648 KUWAIT 0005WY406 CAIRO 0005WY676 JEDDAH 0005WY682 RIYADH 0010WY914 SALALAH 0020WY916 SALALAH 0120TK774 ISTANBUL 01354H583 DACCA 0200PK229 LAHORE 0215GF560 BAHRAIN 0325QR1132 DOHA 0345ET624 ADDIS ABABA 0350EK866 DUBAI 0350EY384 ABU DHABI 0400FZ041 DUBAI 0415WY114 FRANKFURT 0515WY658 BAHRAIN 0635WY638 ABU DHABI 0640WY902 SALALAH 0645WY644 KUWAIT 0650WY154 ZURICH 0700WY144 MALPENSA 0705WY668 DOHA 0715WY674 JEDDAH 0735WY102 LONDON HEATHROW 0740FZ043 DUBAI 0800WY422 BEIRUT 0805WY602 DUBAI 0805WY346 ISLAM ABBAD 0815WY342 LAHORE 0825WY272 JAIPUR 0830WY202 BOMBAY 0835WY236 HYDERABAD 0900G9114 SHARJAH 0905WY226 COCHIN 0920EK862 DUBAI 0930WY210 GOA 0935WY242 DELHI 0935WY212 TRIVANDRUM 0950WY252 MADRAS 0955QR1128 DOHA 1000EY382 ABU DHABI 1010WY844 MANILA 10209W530 TRIVANDRUM 1045WY604 DUBAI 1115WY918 KHASAB 1115WY3302 MUKHAIZNA 1120GF562 BAHRAIN 1130FZ037 DUBAI 1140WY372 COLOMBO 1140IX337 CALICUT 1155PA450 LAHORE 1215WY705 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215WY822 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215WY634 ABU DHABI 1220WY818 BANGKOK 1220WY904 SALALAH 1230WY670 DOHA 1250WY324 KARACHI 1300WY332 KATHMANDU 1305WY632 ABU DHABI 1335WY606 DUBAI 1340WY920 KHASAB 1445FZ045 DUBAI 1535WY3304 MUKHAIZNA 1550WY656 BAHRAIN 1635QR1126 DOHA 1650WY204 BOMBAY 1655WY292 CALICUT 1710WY264 LUCKNOW 1740WY664 DOHA 1745EK864 DUBAI 1745WY232 HYDERABAD 1750WY246 DELHI 1750WY254 MADRAS 1750WY284 BANGALORE 1750WY3922 DUQUM OMAN 1755WY610 DUBAI 1800GF564 BAHRAIN 1810G9116 SHARJAH 1905WY684 RIYADH 1915WY646 KUWAIT 1920FZ047 DUBAI 1940WY614 DUBAI 2025WY848 JAKARTA 2035WY338 KATHMANDU 2040WY434 TEHRAN 2055FZ049 DUBAI 2100KL441 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105AI977 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105WY124 MUNICH 21054H561 DACCA 21159W534 COCHIN 2115AI973 DELHI 21256.00E+81 BOMBAY 2130BA073 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140WY624 DUBAI 2150WY906 SALALAH 2155AI907 MADRAS 2200WY312 CHITTAGONG 2210QR1134 DOHA 2225LX242 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225GF566 BAHRAIN 2240LH616 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250SG061 AHMEDABAD 2300EY388 ABU DHABI 2300WY910 SALALAH 23109W540 BOMBAY 2315WY908 SALALAH 2320AI985 BOMBAY 2325WY662 DOHA 2335WY654 BAHRAIN 2340WY636 ABU DHABI 2340WY928 SALALAH 2345WY816 BANGKOK 2350WY612 DUBAI 2355WY696 DAMMAM 2355

TUESDAYFLT NO ARRIVALS FROM ETA

WY406 CAIRO 0005WY648 KUWAIT 0005WY676 JEDDAH 0005WY682 RIYADH 0010WY914 SALALAH 0020BG021 DACCA 0100WY916 SALALAH 0120NL768 LAHORE 0130TK774 ISTANBUL 01354H583 DACCA 0200PK281 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0300GF560 BAHRAIN 0325QR1132 DOHA 0345EK866 DUBAI 0350ET624 ADDIS ABABA 0350EY384 ABU DHABI 0400FZ041 DUBAI 0415WY114 FRANKFURT 0515WY412 AMMAN 0515WY658 BAHRAIN 0635WY638 ABU DHABI 06404H562 JEDDAH 0645WY902 SALALAH 0645WY644 KUWAIT 0650WY326 KARACHI 0650WY686 RIYADH 0655WY154 ZURICH 0700WY144 MALPENSA 0705WY678 MEDINA 0710WY668 DOHA 0715WY132 PARIS 0735WY674 JEDDAH 0735WY102 LONDON HEATHROW 0740FZ043 DUBAI 0800WY432 TEHRAN 0805WY602 DUBAI 0805WY346 ISLAM ABBAD 0815WY342 LAHORE 0825WY272 JAIPUR 0830WY202 BOMBAY 0835G9841 RAS AL KHAIMA 0855WY236 HYDERABAD 0900G9114 SHARJAH 0905WY282 BANGALORE 0910EK862 DUBAI 0930WY242 DELHI 0935WY252 MADRAS 0955QR1128 DOHA 1000IX817 MANGALORE 1010EY382 ABU DHABI 10109W530 TRIVANDRUM 1045WY3302 MUKHAIZNA 1050WY604 DUBAI 1115WY918 KHASAB 1115WY652 BAHRAIN 1125GF562 BAHRAIN 1130FZ037 DUBAI 1140WY372 COLOMBO 1140IX337 CALICUT 1155WY384 MALE 1210WY822 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215WY705 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215WY904 SALALAH 1220WY634 ABU DHABI 1220WY818 BANGKOK 1220BG023 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 1230WY670 DOHA 1250WY324 KARACHI 1300WY332 KATHMANDU 1305PA950 SIALKOT 1310PK191 GWADUR 1320WY606 DUBAI 1340WY906 SALALAH 1440WY920 KHASAB 1445FZ045 DUBAI 1535WY632 ABU DHABI 1605WY656 BAHRAIN 1610QR1126 DOHA 1650WY3304 MUKHAIZNA 1650WY204 BOMBAY 1655WY292 CALICUT 1710WY264 LUCKNOW 1740WY664 DOHA 1745WY216 TRIVANDRUM 1745EK864 DUBAI 1745WY232 HYDERABAD 1750WY246 DELHI 1750WY610 DUBAI 1800WY694 DAMMAM 1805GF564 BAHRAIN 1810TG507 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900SV534 RIYADH 1900G9116 SHARJAH 1905WY374 COLOMBO 1915WY646 KUWAIT 1920FZ047 DUBAI 1940WY908 SALALAH 2000RG125 ABU DHABI 2005WY386 MALE 2020WY224 COCHIN 2025WY614 DUBAI 2025WY338 KATHMANDU 2040FZ049 DUBAI 2100WY124 MUNICH 21059W534 COCHIN 2115AI973 DELHI 21256.00E+81 BOMBAY 2130WY254 MADRAS 2135BA073 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140WY624 DUBAI 2150UL205 COLOMBO 2155AI907 MADRAS 2200WY312 CHITTAGONG 2210LX242 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225QR1134 DOHA 2225GF566 BAHRAIN 2240LH616 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245EY388 ABU DHABI 2300WY910 SALALAH 23109W540 BOMBAY 2315AI985 BOMBAY 2325WY662 DOHA 2335WY654 BAHRAIN 2340WY636 ABU DHABI 2340WY928 SALALAH 2345WY816 BANGKOK 2350WY696 DAMMAM 2355WY612 DUBAI 2355

FLT NO DEPARTURES TO ETD AI986 BOMBAY 00209W539 BOMBAY 0020WY657 BAHRAIN 0055WY225 COCHIN 0105WY637 ABU DHABI 0105WY211 TRIVANDRUM 0110WY235 HYDERABAD 0110WY201 BOMBAY 0115WY643 KUWAIT 0120WY345 ISLAM ABBAD 0125WY271 JAIPUR 0135WY341 LAHORE 0145WY601 DUBAI 0145WY371 COLOMBO 0155WY123 MUNICH 0200WY901 SALALAH 0215WY847 JAKARTA 0215WY241 DELHI 0215WY667 DOHA 0225TK775 ISTANBUL 0230WY209 GOA 02554H584 DACCA 0300PK226 KARACHI 0315WY331 KATHMANDU 0350EK867 DUBAI 0450ET625 ADDIS ABABA 0450EY385 ABU DHABI 0500FZ042 DUBAI 0510QR1133 DOHA 0515GF561 BAHRAIN 0715WY603 DUBAI 0750WY903 SALALAH 0750WY3301 MUKHAIZNA 0800WY917 KHASAB 0815WY323 KARACHI 0835WY669 DOHA 0835FZ044 DUBAI 0845WY633 ABU DHABI 0900WY815 BANGKOK 0905WY253 MADRAS 0915WY291 CALICUT 0915WY263 LUCKNOW 0940WY717 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940WY821 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945G9115 SHARJAH 0955WY231 HYDERABAD 1000WY283 BANGALORE 1000WY631 ABU DHABI 1015WY605 DUBAI 1020WY203 BOMBAY 1025WY245 DELHI 1040EK863 DUBAI 1045WY337 KATHMANDU 1050QR1129 DOHA 1100EY383 ABU DHABI 1105WY311 CHITTAGONG 11409W533 COCHIN 1145WY919 KHASAB 1145GF563 BAHRAIN 1215WY655 BAHRAIN 1215FZ038 DUBAI 1225WY3303 MUKHAIZNA 1230IX350 CALICUT 1255PA451 LAHORE 1315WY113 FRANKFURT 1320WY663 DOHA 1330WY683 RIYADH 1335WY131 PARIS 1345WY645 KUWAIT 1350WY143 MALPENSA 1350WY101 LONDON HEATHROW 1400WY153 ZURICH 1420WY927 SALALAH 1430WY405 CAIRO 1440WY609 DUBAI 1445WY433 TEHRAN 1445WY3921 DUQUM OMAN 1455WY675 JEDDAH 1615FZ046 DUBAI 1620WY613 DUBAI 1710WY905 SALALAH 1735QR1127 DOHA 1750WY681 RIYADH 1840WY623 DUBAI 1840WY647 KUWAIT 1845WY909 SALALAH 1850GF565 BAHRAIN 1855WY907 SALALAH 1900EK865 DUBAI 1910WY695 DAMMAM 1915WY661 DOHA 1920WY653 BAHRAIN 1920G9117 SHARJAH 1955WY913 SALALAH 2000WY635 ABU DHABI 2015FZ048 DUBAI 2025WY611 DUBAI 2035WY411 AMMAN 2100WY915 SALALAH 2100FZ050 DUBAI 2145AI978 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 22004H561 JEDDAH 2215KL442 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220WY817 BANGKOK 22259W529 TRIVANDRUM 22306.00E+82 BOMBAY 2245AI908 MADRAS 2300WY677 MEDINA 2310WY705 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 2310AI974 DELHI 2310GF567 BAHRAIN 2325LX243 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325BA072 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330QR1135 DOHA 2330WY673 JEDDAH 2350LH617 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355EY381 ABU DHABI 2355

FLT NO DEPARTURES TO ETD AI986 BOMBAY 00209W539 BOMBAY 0020SG062 AHMEDABAD 0030WY657 BAHRAIN 0055WY637 ABU DHABI 0105WY235 HYDERABAD 0110WY281 BANGALORE 0110WY685 RIYADH 0115WY201 BOMBAY 0115WY643 KUWAIT 0120WY251 MADRAS 0120WY345 ISLAM ABBAD 0125WY271 JAIPUR 0135WY601 DUBAI 0145WY341 LAHORE 0145WY431 TEHRAN 0155WY371 COLOMBO 0155WY123 MUNICH 0200WY325 KARACHI 0210WY901 SALALAH 0215WY241 DELHI 0215WY667 DOHA 0225WY383 MALE 0230BG022 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0230NL769 LAHORE 0230TK775 ISTANBUL 02304H584 DACCA 0300WY331 KATHMANDU 0350PK282 SIALKOT 0400EK867 DUBAI 0450ET625 ADDIS ABABA 0450EY385 ABU DHABI 0500FZ042 DUBAI 0510QR1133 DOHA 0515GF561 BAHRAIN 0715WY651 BAHRAIN 0730WY3301 MUKHAIZNA 0730WY903 SALALAH 07404H562 DACCA 0745WY603 DUBAI 0750WY917 KHASAB 0815WY323 KARACHI 0835WY669 DOHA 0835FZ044 DUBAI 0845WY633 ABU DHABI 0900WY373 COLOMBO 0900WY215 TRIVANDRUM 0900WY815 BANGKOK 0905WY291 CALICUT 0915WY263 LUCKNOW 0940WY385 MALE 0945G9842 RAS AL KHAIMA 0945WY821 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945G9115 SHARJAH 0955WY231 HYDERABAD 1000WY905 SALALAH 1020WY605 DUBAI 1020WY203 BOMBAY 1025WY245 DELHI 1040EK863 DUBAI 1045WY337 KATHMANDU 1050IX818 MANGALORE 1100QR1129 DOHA 1100EY383 ABU DHABI 1105WY311 CHITTAGONG 1140WY919 KHASAB 11459W533 COCHIN 1145GF563 BAHRAIN 1215WY223 COCHIN 1215WY655 BAHRAIN 1215FZ038 DUBAI 1225WY631 ABU DHABI 1240IX350 CALICUT 1255WY253 MADRAS 1255WY113 FRANKFURT 1320WY693 DAMMAM 1330WY3303 MUKHAIZNA 1330WY663 DOHA 1330WY131 PARIS 1345WY143 MALPENSA 1350WY645 KUWAIT 1350WY101 LONDON HEATHROW 1400BG024 DACCA 1400PK192 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405PA951 SIALKOT 1430WY927 SALALAH 1430WY405 CAIRO 1440WY609 DUBAI 1445WY907 SALALAH 1540WY675 JEDDAH 1615FZ046 DUBAI 1620WY671 MEDINA 1705WY613 DUBAI 1710QR1127 DOHA 1750WY623 DUBAI 1840WY681 RIYADH 1840WY647 KUWAIT 1845WY909 SALALAH 1850GF565 BAHRAIN 1855EK865 DUBAI 1910WY695 DAMMAM 1915WY661 DOHA 1920WY653 BAHRAIN 1920G9117 SHARJAH 1955SV535 RIYADH 2000WY913 SALALAH 2000TG508 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005WY635 ABU DHABI 2015FZ048 DUBAI 2025WY611 DUBAI 2035RG126 ABU DHABI 2045WY915 SALALAH 2100FZ050 DUBAI 2145WY411 AMMAN 2205WY421 BEIRUT 2215WY817 BANGKOK 22259W529 TRIVANDRUM 22306.00E+82 BOMBAY 2245AI908 MADRAS 2300UL206 COLOMBO 2305AI974 DELHI 2310GF567 BAHRAIN 2325LX243 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325BA072 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330QR1135 DOHA 2330WY673 JEDDAH 2350LH617 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355EY381 ABU DHABI 2355

A I R L I N E S

PHARMACIESRound the clockAl Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080Dhofar RegionMuscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel: 23291635

HOSPITALSAl Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453Hatat Polyclinic LLC,Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780Capital Polyclinic: 24707549Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740Ceregem National Raak: 24485633Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217Elixir Health Centre: 24565802Emirates Medical Centre: 246045401st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274Hamdan Hospital: 23212340International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000

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

ACCOMMODATIONAl Bahjah Hotel: 24424400Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311Al Qurum Resort: 24605945Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979Beach Hotel: 24696601Bowshar Hotel: 24491105Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660Crystal Suites: 24826100Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234Haffa House Hotel: 24707207Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123InterContinental Muscat: 24680000Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900Marina Hotel: 24711711Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565Mina Hotel: 24711828Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199Oman Dive Centre: 24824240Park Inn: 24507888Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443Ruwi Hotel: 24704244Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666The Chedi Muscat: 24524400The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570

AIRLINE OFFICESMuscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223Aeroflot: 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, Turkish Airlines: 24703033

MUSEUMSBait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pmNatural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pmMuseum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday - 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pmOman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pmBait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., [email protected] from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pmSohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pmMuscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

PRAYER TIMINGS

W E A T H E R

Dhuhr 12.09pm

Asr 3.30pm

Maghrib 6.51pm

Isha 8.11pm Fajr (Tomorrow) 3.57am

Sunset 6:46pm

Sunrise (Tomorrow) 5.21am

High tide 2:32pm 1:58am

Low tide 7:25am 9:09pm

OMAN

Max 41Min 28

Max 44Min 33

Max 41Min 33

Max 43Min 30

Max 43Min 32Max 42

Min 26

Max 41Min 23

Max 32 Min 28

Clear to partly cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dohfar governorate and adjoining mountains with chances of isolated rain. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with existence of high clouds over the northern parts and

chance of convective clouds development and isolated rain over Al-Hajar mountains during afternoon. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds and shallow fog along the coastal areas of south Al-Sharqiya and Al-Wusta governorates.EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming southwesterly light during night and over the rest of the Sultanate wind will be southerly to southeasterly light to moderate and fresh along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.SEA STATE: Moderate to rough along the Arabian Sea coasts with a maximum

wave height of 2.5 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coast with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog and rain.THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Partly cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dohfar governorate & adjoining mountains with chances of isolated rain. Chances of convective clouds development over Al-Hajar mountains during afternoon with isolated rain and occasional thunder shower. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds and shallow fog is expected along the coastal areas of south Al-Sharqiya and Al-Wusta governorates. Mainly clear skies over the rest of the Sultanate.

Max Min

GULFAbu Dhabi 40 27Doha 42 29Dubai 41 26Kuwait 38 29Manama 35 29Riyadh 34 24

WORLDAthens 27 17Baghdad 40 21Beijing 35 21Berlin 20 10Boston 25 16Cairo 40 19Colombo 30 27Frankfurt 20 9Hong Kong 28 25Istanbul 26 16Johannesburg 21 8Kuala Lumpur 32 25Lisbon 28 15Paris 19 11Perth 21 10Singapore 30 28Tokyo 27 15Toronto 21 19

WORLD

Max 25Min 17

Max 46Min 26

Max 26Min 18

Max 37Min 29

Max 22Min 15

Max 18Min 9

Max 20Min 12

Max 34Min 28

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

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 Daily15:00 Sur 18:00 Daily15:00 Jaalan 19:30 Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41)06:30 Sohar 08:50 Daily06:30 Buraimi 11:00 Daily08:00 Buraimi 14:30 Daily via Ibri13:00 Sohar 15:45 Daily13:00 Buraimi 17:40 Daily 16.00 Sohar 18.35 Daily 16.00 Buraimi 20:20 Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41)07:00 Sohar 08:55 Daily07:00 Ruwi 11:40 Daily13:30 Ruwi 20:20 Daily via Ibri13:00 Sohar 14:55 Daily13:00 Ruwi 17:40 Daily 13:00 Sohar 19:20 Daily 17:00 Ruwi 22:15 Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52)17:30 Sinaw 20:50 Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52)07:00 Ruwi 10:25 Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54)14:30 Nizwa 16:50 Daily14:30 Yanqul 19:30 Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54)06:00 Nizwa 08:40 Daily06:00 Ruwi 11:00 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54)08:00 Nizwa 10:20 Daily08:00 Al Araqi 12:30 Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54)15:40 Nizwa 17:55 Daily15:40 Ruwi 20:20 Daily

TO SUR (Route 55)07:30 Sur 12:00 Daily14:30 Sur 18:45 Daily

TO SUR (Route 55)06:00 Ruwi 10:45 Daily14:30 Ruwi 19:00 Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62)06:30 Fahud 10:30 Daily06:30 Yibal 11:15 Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62)12:30 Fahud 13:15 Daily12:30 Ruwi 17:30 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201)06:00 Sohar 08:30 Daily06:00 Dubai 11:30 Daily13:00 Sohar 15:30 Wed,Thur13:00 Dubai 18:30 Wed,Thur15:00 Sohar 17:35 Daily15:00 Dubai 20:55 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201)07:30 Sohar 10:50 Daily07:30 Ruwi 13:40 Daily13:00 Sohar 16:15 Thur-Fri13:00 Ruwi 19:10 Thur-Fri15:30 Sohar 18:45 Daily15:30 Ruwi 21:35 Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100)07:00 Salalah 20:00 Daily10:00 Marmul 20:30 Daily10:00 Salalah 23:30 Daily19:00 Salalah 07:40 Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100)07:00 Ruwi 19:50 Daily10:00 Marmul 13:15 Daily10:00 Ruwi 22:30 Daily19:00 Ruwi 07:30 Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101)06:00 Marmul 16:50 Daily

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102)15:00 Dubai 07:00 Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101)06:00 Marmul 16:30 Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102)15:00 Salalah 07:00 Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204)Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

LISTINGS

—www.met.gov.om

BORN today, you are one of the most creative individuals born under your sign, but this does not by any means suggest that you have your head in the clouds or that you live in a state of disconnection from the real world. On the contrary, you are no mere dreamer; your feet are set solidly on the ground, and you are fully aware of the realities that surround you day after day. It is this, in fact, that gives you your greatest strength, making your seemingly boundless creativity even more remarkable — The fact that you are able to do what you do even while staring the real world in the face certainly separates you from the crowd. You are able to look at long-standing problems in new ways and devise solutions that can be permanent.

When you are young, you may go through a phase in which you are quite impressionable, vulnerable to all manner of influences, both good and bad. As you mature, however, you will come to understand what it is you are meant to do, and which of your mentors you truly wish to follow to fulfill your destiny. You don’t have to listen to everyone!

Also born on this date are: Mike Myers, actor; Sir Ian McKellen, actor; Frank Oz, director and voice actor; Anne Heche, actress; Cillian Murphy, actor; Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher; Dixie Carter, actress; Leslie Uggams, actress; Karen Valentine, actress; Connie Sellecca, actress; Claude Akins, actor.

Preparations you make today are sure to pay off tomorrow, provided you have filled others in on what you expect and desire.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22]

LIBRA [SEPT. 23-OCT. 22] LLLLLLLLLLLLLLL[S[S[S[S[[[S[[S[S[S[[S[S[SSS[SS[SSSS

SCORPIO [OCT. 23-NOV. 21] S[

SAGITTARIUS [NOV. 22-DEC. 21] S[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18]

You may have more reasons not to do something than to do it, but quantity may not be the issue. Certain reasons carry more weight.

It’s important for you to be in the right place at the right time, or much that you have been working toward may have to be sacrificed.

You may have certain criticisms to offer, but overall you will be very pleased with the way things turn out.

Repetition is the key to perfection — usually. Today, however, you may find it quite tedious. You’ll find a balance.

You may find yourself getting closer to a certain someone than you ever intended, yet it would be a mistake to force the issue in any way.

You’re likely to be the source of an idea that takes others by storm when the time comes — but you must wait until it has ripened a bit.

You may not fully understand what someone else expects of you, but if you do what you know must be done, all will be well.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20]

You must make plans that are specific and detailed. Avoid approaching anything in a general, whitewashed sort of way.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20]

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22]

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22]

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19]

Y O U R B I R T H D A Y

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19]

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20]

You’ll be heading off on a journey of exploration very soon, literally or figuratively. Indeed, both together could be satisfying!

You can keep things going the way they are without much effort, but is that really enough for you? You can try for much more.

You may be feeling trapped by one or two of your own recent decisions. Remember, nothing is permanent — at least not just yet.

C11


Childhood nightmares give rise to adolescent disorders

RESEARCHERS at the University of Warwick have found a significant link between the presence of persistent night-mares in childhood and psychotic experi-ences in adolescence. For the study, the team used a sample of 4,060 individuals from a British birth cohort. They used pa-rental reports on their child’s experience of regular nightmares between the ages of two and nine. They then used interviews to

assess experiences of nightmares, night terrors and sleep-walking at age 12 and psychotic experiences at age 18. “The presence of anx-iety and depressive symptoms as confounding factors in those with sleep disturbance could potentially explain the findings,” said lead author Andrew Thompson from Warwick Medical School. The study appeared in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Faster heart rate indicates higher diabetes risk

PEOPLE WITH a faster beating heart rate are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, warns a new study. Each addi-tional 10 beats per minute is associated with 23 per cent increased risk of diabetes, similar to the effects of a three kilogram per metre square increase in body mass in-dex (BMI), the findings showed. “In this study, we measured resting heart rate among about 100,000 Chinese adults and followed them for four years,” said study

senior author Xiang Gao, associate professor of nutritional scienc-es at Pennsylvania State University in the US. “We found partici-pants with faster heart rates, suggesting lower automatic function, had increased risk of diabetes,” Gao said. The findings suggest that heart rate measures could identify individuals with a higher future risk of diabetes.

Growing up with smokers doubles risk in children

RESEARCHERS have found that that growing up in a home with a regular smok-er nearly doubles the chances of a child be-coming an adult smoker. “We know that exposure to cigarette smoking as a child is a risk factor for adult smoking because it is a learnt behaviour, and our study results corroborate this theory,” said study lead author Elena Navas-Nacher. Navas-Nach-er is a researcher at the University of Illi-nois in Chicago. The findings are based on

data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), the largest ongoing study of this ethno-culturally di-verse population in the US. -IANS

H E A L T H N O T E S

R E C O R D

One of the most encouraging developments in cancer research has been the effort

to help the immune system beat the disease at its evolutionary game

Why treatments work with some cancers but not others?

The powerful algo-rithm that has popu-lated the Earth with 10 million species, each occupying a dif-

ferent ecological niche, is an ex-ample of what computer scientists call “random generate and test.”

Start with the DNA alphabet, then blindly shuffle the letters to produce a kaleidoscope of living forms. The fittest, selected by the demands of the environment, will multiply and fill their habitats.

The Darwinian principle is also at work inside the body, though in very different ways. Through random variation and selection, the immune system spins out the endless diversity of antibodies that it uses to stop mi-croscopic invaders.

But cancer also thrives through this evolutionary imperative as, mutation by mutation, a normal human cell transforms into a deadly tumour, which becomes fitter and fitter at the expense of its host. Among the advantages it evolves is the ability to outwit our immunological defences.

One of the most encouraging developments in medical re-search has been the effort to help

the immune system fight back, beating cancer at its own evolu-tionary game.

That was a dominant theme last month at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Philadelphia as scientists discussed recent successes in immunotherapy while considering how far the field still has to go.

Why have these treatments been working so well with some cancers but not others? And why, even in the best cases, do not all patients respond?

The realisation that Dar-

winian forces, for good and bad, are at work inside us can be traced to the early 1950s, when Frank Macfarlane Bur-net, an Australian virologist, was pondering how we manage to fight off a potentially infinite variety of invading microbes, tailoring an antibody against each one.

One possibility was that when an interloper is identified, by its molecular bumps and grooves, the immune system systemati-cally engineers an appropriate weapon. Nature doesn’t work in such a methodical manner, and

Burnet suggested a messier, more intuitive explanation: the clonal selection theory of immunity.

By shuffling DNA, the body is continually generating a ran-dom assortment of immune cells, each with a different shape. When one of them hap-pens to encounter a microbe with a matching surface, the yin to its yang, it is activated.

It begins multiplying to produce an army, called a clone, of identical progeny. These make the antibodies that fight the infection.

Some of the newly created immune cells linger in the body, preserving a memory of the in-vader. The next time it appears, it will be quickly recognized and destroyed.

In cancer, random variation and selection produce a differ-ent kind of progeny — clones of mutant cells. As normal cells divide, mutations inevitably oc-cur and spread. The weaker mu-tants die, leaving the stronger ones to survive.

The most aggressive evolve into cancerous tumours, contin-ually devising. -George Johnson/The New

York Times News Service

A physics paper with 5,154 authorsTHE PHYSICS paper with 5,154 authors broken the record for the largest number of contributors to a single research article.

Only the first nine pages in the 33-page article, published on May 24 in Physical Review Letters, describe the research itself — in-cluding references. The other 24 pages list the authors and their in-stitutions. The article is the first joint paper from the two teams that operate ATLAS and CMS, two massive detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, Europe’s particle-physics lab near Geneva, Switzerland.

Each team is a sprawling col-laboration involving researchers from dozens of institutions and

countries. By pooling their data, the two groups were able to ob-tain the most precise estimate yet of the mass of the Higgs bo-son. Robert Garisto, an editor of Physical Review Letters, says that publishing the paper presented challenges above and beyond the already Sisyphean task of dealing with teams that have thousands of members.

“The biggest problem was merging the author lists from two collaborations with their own slightly different styles,” Garisto says. “I was impressed at how well the pair of huge col-laborations worked together in responding to referee and edito-rial comments,” he adds. Too big

to print? Every author name will also appear in the print version of the Physical Review Letters pa-per, says Garisto. By contrast, the 2,700-odd author list for a Nature paper on rare particle decays that was published on May 15 will not appear in the June print version, but will only be available online.

Some biologists were upset this week about a genomics paper with more than 1,000 authors, but physicists have long been accus-tomed to “hyperauthorship”. An article published in 2008 about the CMS experiment at the LHC, before the machine started col-liding protons, became the first paper to top 3,000 authors. -Davide

Castelvecchi/The New York Times News Service

THE CAREER of A.R. Rahman invites superlatives. The Indian composer and musician is one of the world’s most prolific crea-tors of movie scores (including the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire). He has been nick-named “the Mozart of Madras.” He has cracked Time’s list of the world’s most-influential peo-ple. He has sold more than 150 million albums.

But with Rahman’s latest show, he’s operating on a mod-est scale — relatively speaking. “This is probably the smallest band I’ve ever been with, but the most credible one,” Rahman says of the singers, percussionists and other performers (including a violinist, a guitarist, a bassist and

a dancer-choreographer) who are accompanying him through North America on The Intimate Concert Tour.

Rahman and his band perform selections from his compositions of the 1990s and 2000s, includ-ing vocal numbers in Hindi, Ta-mil, French and English. “I really enjoy performing live, and the band and I have worked hard to make it a special show,” Rahman said by email.

Rahman is known for fus-ing elements of Eastern classi-cal music — including the Car-natic and Hindustani traditions — with world, electronic and Western classical sounds. And his reach has extended beyond cinema — A sometime collabora-tor with Mick Jagger and other music icons (in the band Super-Heavy), Rahman has composed for musical theatre (Bombay Dreams, which ran on Broadway in 2004) and for the Olympics (the opening ceremony in Lon-don in 2012).

How does he stay sane while juggling so many assignments? Rahman said he meditates as much as he can and, during a tour like this one, tries to get enough sleep. He also trusts in the “good will” of his fans. -Celia Wren/ The Washington Post

C12


As members of King’s family gathered to say goodbye, there seemed to be blues all around them — in

the form of past, present and likely future legal squabbles about his estate with his representatives

B.B. King: 15 children and potentially a big legal mess

Even though he toured endlessly. Even though he held a lifelong re-sponsibility as a blues

“ambassador.” Even though he was a philanthropist. Even though he was a diabetic. The stress, it seemed, just never got to him.

And when someone said they were going to have his baby, that was OK, too.

“If a woman I’ve been with says the child is mine, I don’t argue,” King wrote in his memoir. “I as-sume responsibility. As I got older, that responsibility grew.”

The final tally — 15 biologi-cal and adoptive children — 11 of whom survived King — and, now that the King is gone, potentially a huge legal mess. Even as mem-bers of King’s family gathered in Las Vegas to say goodbye, there seemed to be blues all around them — in the form of past, pre-sent and likely future legal squab-bles about his estate with his rep-resentatives.

“I don’t want to fight with fam-

ily,” Shirley King, King’s eldest daughter who performs as “Daugh-er of the Blues,” said, as the Associ-ated Press reported. “I don’t want to fight with management. ... When everybody gets through being sad about him leaving, I want them to come out and let the good times roll and be happy about his life.”

But, according to the AP, King’s longtime business agent LaVerne Toney said all the family’s love was in vain. “They want to do what they want to do, which is take over, I guess,” Toney said. “But that wasn’t Mr. King’s wishes.”

Even as Toney sanctioned a public viewing — sans media and photos — for Friday ahead of a funeral Saturday, the squabbling continued. King’s family even had to gain approval for a final private visit in a probate court.

Toney has power-of-attorney over King’s estate. Even in the days before King’s death, three of his 11 surviving children went to court to take control of the dying bluesman’s affairs, including what

they claimed to be $5 million in assets. In allegations that recalled the struggles of Casey Kasem and Mickey Rooney, they accused Toney of stealing King’s money, neglecting his health and prevent-ing the family from seeing him.

A judge said their complaints were without merit. “I don’t have

anything here that says (King) lacks capacity,” Clark County Family Court Hearing Master Jon Norheim said. “He has some seri-ous health issues. But he has coun-sel. If he feels like he’s being taken advantage of, he has remedies.”

“It’s all about money,” King’s attorney Brent Bryson said. “Mr. King is no longer out able to tour at this particular time so there’s no money coming in. The only way they can get money now is by filing a frivolous type of action.”

“We lost the battle, but we haven’t lost the war,” Karen Wil-liams, one of King’s daughter’s, said after the family was denied power-of-attorney.

Shirley King, however, did not go to court and said she will be sit-ting out the legal battle. Instead, she has rented a Las Vegas venue on the Strip and will host what she said will be a free musical tribute to her father.

“I don’t want to be part of the ar-gument over his life,” she said. -Justin Wm. Moyer/The Washington Post

If a woman I’ve been with says the child is mine, I don’t argue, I assume responsibility. As I got older, that responsibility grew

B.B. KingKing of the Blues

John Stamos is heartbroken ACTOR John Stamos reacted to the announcement that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen would not be joining Full House reboot, tweeting that he was “#heartbroken”. The new 13-epi-sode series, titled Fuller House, will premiere next year, with Stamos, 51, producing and starring as his beloved character Uncle Jesse. The show’s executive producer Robert L. Boy-ett confirmed that the Olsens would not be joining most of their former

castmates for the onscreen reunion. “I understand they’re in a different place and I wish them the best,” Stamos tweeted. “I promise you will not be disappointed with our reunion and spin off!!” Stamos officially announced the rebooted series on during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Fuller House will begin with a one-hour reunion, before turning into a spin-off series featuring DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron-Bure) and her three children, along with her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and neighbour Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).

British actor Sue-Patt found dead at home

BRITISH Terry Sue-Patt has died at the age of 50. The actor was found dead at his home in Walthamstow by police on Friday. He found fame as Benny Green in BBC’s Grange Hill alongside the likes of Todd Carty. Er-kan Mustafa, who played Roland on the show, and other co-stars have paid tribute. Sue-Patt became a graffiti art-ist later on in life, but was acting up until 2013. He became an actor by chance and landed a number of roles

as well as Green, also starring alongside Gary Oldman in The Firm. Police officials have confirmed that they are not treating his death as suspicious.

Richa Chadha has an ecstatic moment at Cannes

RICHA CHADHA starrer Masaan has bagged two awards at the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival. The actress was left speechless as she got an opportunity to meet her idol - French actress Marion Cotillard at the gala. “Speechless when I met my idol in flesh. #MarionCotillard. Thank you #MasaanAtCannes and Melita,” Richa tweeted. Masaan, which follows the stories of four peo-ple from a small town and how they fit

into the moralities, won the Promising Future Prize and the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award at the ongoing festival. -IANS

BR I E FS

COMPOSER

HOLLYWOOD

I don’t remember much of the 1970s: Al Pacino

A.R. Rahman: The ‘Mozart of Madras’

AL PACINO says he doesn’t “re-member much” of the 1970s. The Godfather actor has opened up about struggling with the atten-tion he received in the wake of the blockbuster’s release in 1972. “I was having difficulty with all the attention,” he explained. “I was a drinker, for sure, my career was exploding in the Seventies and, I’m sorry, but I don’t remember much of the Seventies,” mirror.co.uk quot-ed Pacino as saying. “Now when I come to think about it, I don’t remember much of the Eighties

either,” he added. The 75-year-old “star says he hasn’t had a drink in 30 years and credits his drama teacher Charlie Laughton — who he calls “the most influential” person in his life — for changing his ways. “He was the one who said to me, ‘Al, I’m not asking you to stop or do anything, but to be aware that you are actually drinking and taking stuff ’. That awareness started and a year or so later, I decided to give this stuff up. It saved my life,” he told The Sun. -IANS

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

CONNECT H E D A I LY G U I D E

D

D4 VACANCY CARGO D7

M O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

RENT D2

Contact : 24 702 666 Fax: 24-703666.Email: [email protected]

QUALITY APARTMENTS FOR RENT

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

* Subject to space availability

DAILY GUIDE Email: [email protected] [email protected].: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

For rent furnished, non furnished

flats & shops in Duqm.

Contact: 97283999

Labour camp for rent 100 pay

labour camp in Duqm near special

zone. Contact 97283999

Deluxe 3 Room Penthouse with

Seaview, ideal for office / residence

at Qurum near PDO.

Contact: 97721313 / 9507 0421

Independent villa in Darsait (Opp.

KIMS Hospital, behind Khimji

Mart) for rent 4 bedrooms, big hall

and 1 kitchen + 1 pantry. Please call

Ms Hiba Shaikh.

Contact 98048210/

Mr. Anil Kumar 99261773

Villa for rent in Azaiba near

well roundabout & Umm AL

Qura Mosque, 5 bedrooms, two

hall, kitchen. Contact: Mr Sunil

92887809/ Mr. Habib 98048207

2 bedroom flat new building in

Wadi Kabir. Contact 99313274

1,2 & 3 BHK flat for rent in

Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

Flat ( ground floor ) with living

room + 2 big room & hall , big kitchen

& store , 3 toilet with car parking in

Mabela South with new split AC only

240/- R.O. Contact 93295953

Flat for Rent- Contact No 99315515

AL- Khuwair 33/1 3 Bedrooms.

Dining room. Family hall. 3 Bathrooms.

Kitchen with store. Split A/C units.

2BHK flat with store room split

A/Cs in CBD, Ruwi near QNB.

Contact 99603696

2 BHK flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181

Labour camp for rent in Wadi

Kabir. Contact 99792181

2 BR in Rex road. Contact 99792181

Spacious 1& 2 BH flats having

good finishing A/C kitchen etc,

AL Khuwair near Al Zawawi

mosque. Contact: 99385074

D2 M O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

Restaurant available for rent brand

new fully equipped restaurant on

Barka- Nakhal-Rustaq Highway ,

ideal for Pakistani /Indian /Omani

Cuisine , available for rent and

management excellent opportunity

for those who are in restaurant busi-

ness in Oman /UEA. Only serious and

experienced parties need to

Contact on: 99337991

3 bedrooms flat for rent near NIT

Institute Darsait. Contact 93494098

1BHK flat with split A/C in front of

ISM for rent. Contact: 93215939

1& 2 BHK at Honda road.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

2 BHK at AL Azaiba, 2 bedrooms,

1 hall & dinning 3 & bath rooms.

Contact: 99224748 / 99425665

5000 sqm prime indusial land in Mis-

fah, Bausher, with 550 sqm of covered

warehouse and office space, for rent

only. Contact: + 968 – 99264162

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat avail-

able at Mabela in front of Modern

English School Contact: 96239126

Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait,

AL Khuwair 1deal for office &

residence. Contact 99369081

/99142314

Villa 12 rooms and a lounge Council

in citrus 11 first line along with

Omantel serve as a school or as

liaison offices: 91256340

Flats for rent south AL Mabela.

Contact: 95331177/95230355

For rent special price 3 BHK Al Falaj

area 270/- , 3BHK South AL Hail

275/- Contact: 24707340/95282986

1 Bedroom bachelors, sharing K & T

in Al Khuwair R.O 100/-.

Contact 95154331

Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at

Al Khodh, Rent 600/-RO.#92888115

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

Showroom for rent 200 m in

Al Misfah, Bousher facing the main

road. Contact 95202430

New building, residential apart-

ments and offices, in Al Khoud

Souq. Contact 95202340

Independent rooms in Qurum /

AL Hail. Contact 95529970

2 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181

2bedrooms flat with hall, 2 bath-

rooms in Ruwi near boys school.

Contact : 92584715 / 24700120

2 & 3 BHK in Qurum, with split AC, Near PDO Gate 2.

Contact 94057023

506 sqm 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

Labor camp available with all facili-

ties at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea

port) - Contact – 92982172

1BHK flat in Wattaya with split

units A/C. Contact: 98802343

10 BHK Villa in Al Khuwair

25 for Executive bachelors.

Contact 99792181

New 3 bedroom flats split AC,

attached toilets available behind

Kims Oman hospital.

Contact 95225662

Mezzanine floor office space

for rent area 200 sq. Contact

97175979 / 99001341

One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra

with attach and common bathroom.

For Indian family. # 92322096

Flat with 2 rooms, toilet & kitchen

in second floor in Souk Al Khoud

behind bank Al Ahli 200/- R.O .

Contact : 99738881

7 BHK Flat in Azaiba for Executive

Bachelors. Contact 99792181

2 BHK (with split AC) residential

flat at Honda road.

Contact 98087644 / 99795241 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.

Deluxe 2 BHK in Mumtaz area Ruwi

Contact 97707007

Furnished spacious single room

in a new building with attached

bathroom for executive bachelor at

South Al Mawaleh (Behind Seeb City

Center). Gsm 99221067

DAILY GUIDEM O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 D3

MV. SALE

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

Shop for sale, at Al-Khoudh 6,

suitable for perfume and watches.

Contact 98545994

Running computer shops for sale

Souq Sohar. Contact 99420543

Shop in Ruwi OPP: OC. Contact:

99378397

A well equipped running dental clinic

in Ruwi for sale. Contact 93769963

Coffee shop & BBQ running

Wadi Kabir, open parking having

clearance. Contact: 97161811

Shfandish & tables for sale.

Contact 99368907

Coffee shop for sale in

North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009

Port cabin new & refurbished –

porta cabin for sale & rent.

Contact: 96723468 / 97775501 /

97775502

We have flats for sale in south

Al Mabella stage -8 along the

highway. Contact 95121222

Ice cream & Juices shop in Ruwi

good location for sale, 1.5mt fish

display machine unused for sale.

Contact: 92150455

2,560 sq mtrs industrial land Wadi

Kabir Main Road, First line on

way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to

make petrol station or hotel. OMR

990 Thousand Tel: 99333479 or

95215360

Household items for sale, all items

are in a very good condition. For

more details contact 97287410

558 Sq mtrs residential land in

Barka (Al Jenainah) near Lulu and

near to school. OMR 32 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Shop for sale ladies beauty parlour

AL Hassan Company near top up super

market AL Wadi Kabir, good Run-

ning condition. Contact 91207003

/96700192

Residential land for sale 21000

sqm, best for housing complex

at Al Harm – Barka, opp to Khimji

logistic. Contact 99438397

3 floor commercial building in

Muttrah behind Police. Generating

income of OMR 18 Thousand annu-

ally. Neat and well maintained. Built

on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops

on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR

207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or

95215360

Villa for rent in Khuwair 33, 8 bed-

rooms, 5 Bathrooms with parking

area near Taimur Mosque.

Contact 99366624

2BHK flats in Al Khuwair-33 with

split AC. Contact: 94057023

Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact : 92800007

3 flats for rent 3 bedrooms include

A/C, near the highway (Bowshar

Amerat). Contact 97777911 /

95533777

1st floor flat in Amerat Phase 5,

4 rooms, bathrooms (3), kitchen

with A/C for family.

Contact 95522405

For rent flat 2 BHK 350/- R.O in

North Al Ghubrah.

Contact 97004127

1 BHK flat in Honda Road (Ruwi).

Contact 99792181

2 & 3 BHK flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

200 Sqr mtrs office space in CBD.

Contact 99792181

WANTED

Treadmill –motorized. Contact:

99378397

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00

noon for next day’s publication.


1st floor flat in Amerat Phase 5,

4 rooms, bathrooms (3), kitchen

with A/C for family.

Contact 95522405

2BHK at Al Azaiba, 2bedrooms,

1 hall & dinning , 3 bathrooms.

Contact : 99224748 / 99425665

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in

Misfah Industrial area near to

Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly.

Electricity and boundary wall will

be provided. Tel: 99333479 or

95215360

2 BHK & studio flat at Darsait 1SM.

Contact 99024730

Flats shops and store for rent in

Ruwi, MBD Honda road.

Contact 97293708 / 92433127

For rent flat 3BHK 390/-R.O in North

Al Ghubrah. Contact 97004127

Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi

Kabir. Contact 99792181

Flat for rent 1 & 2 bedroom avail-

able behind Zaker Mall Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99530405

Toyota Camry Expat driven fully

automatic KM 107000. #93892126

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

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact

99336093

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat

driven. Contact 99209285

Fork Lift for rent or sale Nissan 3.5 Ton. Contact: 94102899

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

Restaurant for sale well running

with open area and good parking

area. 3 new clearance also in Wadi

Kabeer near Mars hyper market.

Contact 99656863

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in

Misfah, can be changed to Industrial

Land. OMR 27 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Shopping center for sale at Bousher

by good price 400 m2 with all equip-

ment. Reason for selling

part-time. Contact 92916490

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in

Bousher: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

2 residential Lands together, one

610 and the other 600 sq mtrs, in

Al Haram on way to Barka. OMR 49

Thousand both. Tel: 99333479 or

95215360

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land

with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479

or 95215360

Furnished flats for rent in

Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly.

Contact 97819981 / 93593336

2 BHK with A/C Muttrah near Oman

house. Contact: 99896838

2 BHK with A/C Ghobrah. Contact:

92144045

Flats for rent near Indian school in


BUYING / SELLING

Investors required for a Running

hotel in AL Khuwair.

Contact 98049288

Used household & office furniture

and electronic items.

Contact 99834373, 97102699

2 BHK flat in Rex Road.

Contact 99792181

Studio & 1BHK flat in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454

Labour camp for Rent in


2 bedroom apartment in Ruwi for

rent or sale for information.

Contact: 99360303

Room main road, Al Khuwair

R.O 110/-. Contact 97799175

For rent 3 industrial land.

Contact 92702891/ 95490842

1/3 BHK Flat Ghubrah, close to

ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880

1& 2BHK for rent at Wadi Kabir,

Hilal Al Sad and Al Khoud areas .

Contact Office: 24834644

Mobile: 93994401/02/03

Flat for rent, 2 BK near Kuwaiti

Mosque, Wadi Kabir. Contact

97007934 / 92629232

Flat for rent 2 BK near Oman

House Muttrah. Contact 97007934

/ 92629232

If require flats for rent in Wadi

Kabir please send me

messages through whatsapp or

call 99376454

Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD

area only on 350/- OMR.

Contact – 95122188 / 96441499

Studio flat Wadi Kabeer 160/-O.R.

Contact - 99358589 / 97079146/

95570288

1BHK flat near star cinema with

split A/C 230/- O.R. Contact -

99358589/ 97079146/95570288

Bath attached room for rent

Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

Apartments for rent Ghubra : near

Indian School Ghubra & Al Maha

International Hotel (2BHK with 5

split A/C units).Contact 99273774 /

99202278 /94652485

We have flats for rent in South

Al Mabella stage -8 along the high-

way. Contact 95121222

Villa in Al Khuwair and Seeb.

Contact 95250300/ 99119699 /

92125648

Industrial land for rent in Wadi

Kabir 7000 Sq mtrs.

Contact 99354340

Ghubra near Al Maha hotel &

Indian school (2BHK with 5 split

ac units). Contact 94652485/

99273774 / 99202278

Flats/villas owned by ROP pen-

sion fund available for rent in

Muscat. Contact 99349526

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text,

should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

DAILY GUIDED4 M O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION VACANT

MEDICAL

MEDICAL

Email: [email protected] [email protected].: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

CATERING

BEAUTICIAN

ARCHITECT / DRAFTSMAN

DOMESTIC HELPER

ENGINEER

EDUCATION

SALES / MARKETING

SALES / MARKETING

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Shawarma /Arabic/Chinese/ cook & helpers. Contact 95529970

SITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED


Looking for a House maid for Ka-

ralee family in Darsait.

Contact 99276312

An Indian family in Al Ghubra re-

quires a full time living housemaid. Contact : 97084023

Required looking for full time Housemaid preface Indian / Sri

Lanka for Omani family at Mabela,

visa available. Contact: 92454170

Urgent required House maid in

Mabela. Visa available.

Contact- 95200180.

Young dynamic Indian MBA having

one year exp in CA Firm looking for

an opening. Skills: MS Office & Tally.

Contact:+919744732896/

Email: [email protected]

Indian female Chartered

Accountant,6years Experience as

Finance Manager,Auditor.Imme-

diate joining- 92530131; catan-

[email protected]

Finance Manager (15+yrs experi-

ence) thorough knowledge on Hold-

ing Company accounts. Well versed

on Trading, Investment, Insurance

Brokerage, Travel & Rent A Car

accounts. Ability to manage Group

of companies. Contact: 92701962 :

[email protected]

Indian male B.Com, 1 year experi-

ence in accounts and sales looking

for suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact: 98295101

Chief Accountant / Accounts

Manager, Indian male (34 years)

MBA/ M.com more than 10 years

experience (7 tears in Oman) with

D/L NOC available seeks suitable

placement. Contact: 96915438

MBA Indian male looking for suit-

able position having 2 years working

experience as an accountant now in

Oman a visiting visa.

Contact: 99424803

Indian female B.com 4 years experi-

ence in accountant 1 years experi-

ence in Oman having knowledge of

tally seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93491124/92054531

13 Years UAE experienced in MNC &

reputed firms logistics distribution

looking for a suitable placement, on

visit visa contact 99838743,

[email protected]

Male 24, B.com / PGD having 2

years experience in accounts and

inventory field. Looking for suitable

job, on visit visa.

Contact 94129550

Indian male MBA, Finance, 6 years

experience in Finance & Accounting

spatially in Oil & Gas , Now on visit

visa . Contact: 94327063


Part Time Accounting, Accounts

Finalization, Audit Preparation,

Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Train-

ing, Inventory Management

Contact: 96975454,


Indian Female, 34 yrs, B.Com,

Knowledge in MS Office & Tally, exp

in accounting & admin seek suitable

placement 99199710/96744965

Indian B.com graduate doing MBA

with NOC is looking for a job in

accounts. Contact- 94627418

Indian female B.com Graduate

over 8 years experience in Finance,

customer relation, sales coordinator,

secretary, Bank Office seeks suitable

placement. Contact: 95433987

Indian male graduate B.com looking

for suitable in Account Finance / sales

marketing release available with

2 years working experience.

Contact: 94574596

Indian male 2 years experience in

account cum sales coordinator NOC

available looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91298422/96458189

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

Required Office Assistant

160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT

Female architect (27) 4 years ex-

perience seeking for suitable job in

Oman experience in Oman,

India & UK. Contact: 96146645


TOURS & TRAVELS

Reputed Construction Company

required Draughtsman / Accountant experience in

Construction Company with ac-

countancy degree.


ACCOUNTANT

ADMIN

Looking for smart & intelligent female Telesales Executive/Sales coordinator with IT background,

2-3 yrs experience with clear &

commanding voice, good & effec-

tive communication, correspond-

ence and coordination skills.

Send your resume to

[email protected]

Urgently need a Marketing Executive to develop marketing

campaigns to promote company’s

product &service. He/She should

have 2-3 years in organizing events,

product branding, Social Media

marketing, Email Marketing and

Web Site promotion. Send your

resume to [email protected]

Looking for a Retail Sales Execu-tive & 3-5 yrs experience in selling

building material, structure cabling,

Access control, and CCTV products

& motivated by sales and targets.

Candidate with Omani D/L will be

given preference. Send your resume

to [email protected]

Required Van Salesman for a major

beverages company in Qatar. Salary

1800 Qatar Riyal + free accomoda-

tion & food+ Sales commissions

averaging around 2000 Qatari Riyal.

Also require key accounts supervi-

sor. Salary negotiable. Interested

candidates may send their CV to

[email protected] or

contact 0097455096272

Urgently required 2 sale person with Omani driving license ready

with NOC. Contact : 96967223

Salesman with driving license for

company. Contact: 96440587

Urgently needed Marketing Execu-tive for kitchens, Sales Assistant for kitchens and sanitary ware,

Office Assistant ( all male) for a

marketing company, graduates

with 3 to 5 yrs relevant experience

please email CV to

[email protected]

Sales Coordinator (Male) required

for a reputed company in Oman

with D/L, and with good knowledge

of MS Office , Please send CV with

photo to; saheer@paramountmus-

cat.com / [email protected]

MISCELLANEOUS

Urgently required experienced Travel Agent for a reputed

rent a car & tourism co.

Contact: 24701070/77


Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact : 96964767

Urgently Required: Draftsman - Temporary for 1 month. Apply,

fax 00968–24605955,

emails [email protected],

[email protected].

Urgently required a junior Architect for a consultancy office.


Urgently required a Senior Drafts-man for a consultancy office. Email:

[email protected]

Leading Construction company requires MEP Draftsman and Civil Draftsman with 5 to 7 years gulf

experience with NOC available.

Send your CV to

[email protected]

Beautician required with good

experience visa available.

Contact: 95867900

Medical CARE Centre, Al Seeb,

requires Gynecologist, General Practitioners and Medical Lab Technicians. Mail CV-

[email protected]

or call 97884856

Urgent required staff Nurse

in Mabela. Contact- 95200180.

We are looking for a Staff Nurse, who is having 60% or above in pro-

metric exam. Contact : 99235643

/99463609 Email:

[email protected]

Urgently required Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and endodontist Fe-male Staff nurse, Pharmacist and endodntist with MOH License/

Prometric exam passed

with 60% and above.

Contact 24780088, 97374459

Email : [email protected]

Immediate placement ( with or

without MOH) A. Pharmacist - 3 nos B. Asst.pharmacist - 2 nos

Contact Tel.99338219 , 93240949

ADMIN/HR

Indian male 29, MBA (HR & Admin),

six years experience in UAE as sales

coordinator and office / Administrator

valid GCC driving license. Now on visit

visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98466505/93061079

Filipino Female, 30 yrs old, with

8yrs experience in Payroll/Admin/

HR and 2yrs experience as Techni-

cal Support/Cashier/Secretary.

Currently in Muscat on Family Visit

Visa, Seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96708114


Experienced Omani PRO, well versed

with OCCL, ROP , immigration , cus-

toms , municipality related assign-

ments looking for good opportunity .

Contact: 99588154/93387833

Profession experience Education

visa status driving license contact

operation 18 years degrees visiting

visa heavy light superior all gulf

college UAE18. Contact: 98268860

Indian Female MBA, 3 Years experi-

ence in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427,

[email protected]

Indian female, 28 yrs, experience in

Admin / sales coordination /

accountant and secretarial.

Knowledge in accountant software,

with Oman D/L, looking for a suit-

able placement. Contact: 96751993

Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR.

joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437

Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR)

4 yrs exp. India & Oman in HR & Ad-

min, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 96759820

Bachelor of Banking and Insurance.

Experience: Has 6 months experience

in marketing firm1 month internship

with wiz craft international on project

“Farah ki dawat”Seeking a suitable

job in advertising, event, banking

firm. Contact - 99505290 / 96696183

[email protected]

Chief Accountant Indian male 36 yrs,

M.Com, 14 yrs experience at Senior

position in leading MEP companies,

9 years in Oman. Available Noc, D/L &

ready to join. Contact 98407501

Accountant: Indian male 10 years

experience, 6 years in Oman with

Oman driving license, seeking

suitable job. Contact 96012973

Analyst accountant knowledge

& skill excel Advance misreport

account & finance administration

work document oracle advertising

knowledge degree MBA, BBM.

Contact 91840109/99783953


Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate

1 year exp in Accounts, currently on

visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 /

Email – [email protected]

An Indian lady Chartered Accountant

with five years experience (including

article ship) on family visa in Oman

looking for a suitable job. Please

Contact 9621 0347 / 9943 5346,

[email protected]

MFA (Master of finance and account-

ing), B.com. 6 months experience,

looking suitable position in finance

and accounts. Contact: 97829315.


Part time Accounts job & finalization

work Muscat. Contact: 92917448

Indian male 25 yrs B.com having

experience in accounts for 3 yrs

currently on visit looking to job.

Contact: 97937868 Email:

[email protected]

Audit external internal and finance

& Admin qualified CA Indian more

than 13 years experience in Oman

tax banking NOC available.

Contact: 95140332 /98956603

Indian male, MBA finance, presently

working as branch supervisor in

a reputed logistics co. For past 10

years with an overall experience of

21 years in finance& logistics,

looking for a suitable placement.

NOC available.


[email protected]

Accountant Indian male 10 years

experience in Oman looking for a

suitable position, up to finalization

NOC available can join immediately.

Contact: 94134085


Sr. Accountant M.com (finance)

15 years experience (2years in Oman

with a reputed firm) NOC available.

Contact: 92404608


Indian male 23 yrs B.Com 1yr expe-

rience in Accounts and sales looking

for suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact: 96068174 / 98912870

Indian male 25 yrs B.Com PGDBM

currently on visit visa, looking for

suitable opening in accounts, store

and Admin. Contact: 96986349


Looking for Sales person for UPVC

products windows/doors & kitchens

with valid driving license. Send CV

TO [email protected]

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

[email protected]

Requirement counter Sale & Marketing sale for work in building

material shop in Saham.

Contact: 99352829 / 99417418

A leading Tissue paper & food stuffs company require sales & marketing person with minimum

5 yrs exp. in Oman with good com-

munication skills & valid Oman

D/L. candidate with interior market

knowledge & experience preferable.

Send CV : [email protected],

fax : 24451430

Accountant B.Com, MBA (pursu-

ing) Indian male 25 years, 2 years

experience in India, seeking better

placement on visit visa.

Contact: 97709327

Indian Female 25 MBA looking

for a suitable opening in Accounts,

Admin/Hr. Contact 97013375

Wanted Project Engineer, Email:

[email protected]

Wanted Mason, Email:

[email protected]

Wanted site Forman, Email:

[email protected]

Wanted civil Engineer, Email:

[email protected]

Engineers / Tech urgently required Civil Engineer with four years expe-

rience for a consultancy office. Email:

[email protected]

Over 15 years of gulf experience

in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in

Arabic & English with D/L looking

for suitable position.

Contact 95824598

Indian female with 10 yrs of experi-

ence in HR/Banking/Operations

seeks a suitable placement. Can be

contacted on 98919015 or

[email protected]

Document controller / project coor-

dinator having 15 years experience

is same Field.

Contact: 00919605635590

Indian female 24 yr ,MBA in HR

and management with one yr exp,

ready to join immediately, Contact

97895004,


Omani lady HR Manager for a lead-

ing metal fabrication company. Min.

5 yrs exp, familiar with Oman labor

Laws. Responsibilities – Making HR

policies, Training of Omanis, liaising

with various Ministries. Contact:

[email protected]

Teachers required (B.A, BEd, BSc,

and B.ed) for Omani Pvt. School

Al Hail (North). Contact 95141554/

96653118

Wanted Lady Doctor GP or Gynecologist with MOH license.

Immediate opportunity.

Contact - 99310590

A private clinic in Oman requires a staff nurse (Indian female

preferably) salary negotiable inter-

ested candidates kindly mail their

resumes/ CV with contact details

to [email protected]

or call 00968-91941373

Salesman experienced 5 yrs in

Oman, in the field of industrial &

oilfield service, garage equipment

tools & spares, safety wears &

rescue equipments. Please forward

your CV to [email protected]

Sales Executive (Male) with D/L

for a reputed company in Oman,with

3 yrs experience . Please send CV

with photo to;

[email protected] /

[email protected]


DAILY GUIDESITUATION WANTEDSITUATION WANTED

DOMESTIC HELPER

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Mechanical Engineer More than 8

years experience in different multi-

national industrial gas companies in

Gulf & South Asia having knowledge

of Production, Operations, Main-

tenance, Customer Engineering,

Project Management & SHEQ,

Ready to join any suitable position

upon 30 days’ notice.

Contact +974-70095820,

email: [email protected]

Structural Engineer, 8 yrs expe-

rienced in flat slab, post tensioned

& slab-beam multi story building

design & supervision with driving

license. Contact: 98256860

Civil Engineer: 5 years experience

in building & structure works in

Oman seeks suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 98180524

Engineer (ECE) seeking job.

Contact: 98584498 / 91981503

Electrical Engineer new in Oman

B.Tech (Hons.) with Diploma of

Electrical Engg. seeks a suitable job.

Contact: 96752080


Btech computer science graduate

2015 passout.. Android application

marketing.. Having good communi-

cation skills and mindset to work in

a team. Contact 91024385

Toms Davis, 5+yrs Exp in Projects

and design, 10+2+Diploma in Mech

Eng, 92068508

Civil Engineer, Indian Female, 3 yrs

experience, on visit visa seeking

suitable placement.

Contact: 99195433

Indian female 27 yrs-BSc Biotech

and P.G Diploma in Quality Assur-

ance having experience in Pharma-

ceutical Industry seeking immedi-

ate placement- Contact- 93218363.

Indian male 24 years (BE) Mechan-

ical Engineer undergone HSE fire

and safety training seeking suitable

placement. Contact 96542840

Fiber design and implementation

Engineer, 8+ yrs experience (6 yrs in

Saudi ARAMCO) in OPS & ISP/FTTX,

on visit visa till June end, with valid

GCC D/L, GSM: 94769479,


Indian male B.Tech marine Engi-

neer on visit visa. Seeking suitable

placement. Contact – 91991386 /

[email protected]

Civil Engineer (B.E) 12 years experi-

ence with valid Oman D/L.

Contact: 93843448

Civil degree Engineer with 3 years

experience form Indian looking for

suitable job currently on visit visa

till 15th June 2015.

Contact: 95713441


Filipino HSE officer with 7 years

and 5 months experience in MEP

and civil construction works, Qatar

petroleum, nakilat shipyard, super

substation and high NSE building

with Nebosh IGC 3, IOSH,

Auditor lead course etc.

Contact 98938461


B.Sc in civil Engineer having

2 years experience with driving

license in Oman. Contact 94618906


BE Electric & telecom Eng: 4 yrs

exp in Oman , exp in AV system

design integration & telecom work

with D/L , looking for better opportu-

nity field of electronic & telecom.

Contact 97423932 Email:

[email protected]

MEDICAL

29 Indian male Nurse.B.SC prometric

exam passed on a visit. 10 years expe-

rience in India & Italy seeks a suitable

placement in multinational hospitals

& clinics. Contact 96071773 –

[email protected]

Assistant Pharmacist (Indian

female, 28 yrs) with MOH license.

Contact 93022787 / 99108751

Indian female Dentist MOH Oman

passed seeking a suitable placement

in capital region. Contact– 91377681

[email protected]

Well experienced MOH Licensed

Indian GP Doctor looking for

locum / permanent position in the

Capital area. Contact 98140024

email:[email protected]

Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf

experience) looking for a suitable

job (NOC available)

Contact-93344378

Indian male, B.E ( computer science

engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certi-

fied, having 5 years of experience in

oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks

a suitable position in the field of IT.

Contact: 96212062


CATERING

Omani Mechanical Engineer, has

3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S,

Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing

/ cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and

Initial Fire Response Courses. good

with computer and English language

looking for suitable job. Contact

99224319-98454500

Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma

holder Engg with HVAC certified,

having 1 year exp. seeking suitable

position. Currently available on visit

visa. Contact - 92835952

IT

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Indian male 25 yrs B.SC computer

science 2 yrs exp in computer hard

ware and networking & CCTV work

& windows administration currently

in Muscat on visit visa.

Contact: 93243372

IT, female fresher MCA, BCA Oracle

certified 6 months PLSQL, data ware

housing training PHP seeking job at

good company. Contact: 95694330


Expat Lady (M.Sc IT), Looking for

suitable position in IT/Office work.

Contact 98176793,


IT professional with 20 years

experience MBA, PMP, OCP, ITIL cer-

tified looking for suitable position.

Contact: 91829676

Indian female 27 yrs B.Tech (IT)

MBA one years of experience as a

software analyst. Contact 91234864

Email: ashwinirathnam2011@gmail.

com

Network Engineer, Female, CCNA,3

yrs exp specializing in DHCP, DNS,

NTP, desktop level3 assistance

in different OS, on resident visa

94525630/93215372

Indian female MCA, Experience in

C#.Net, SQL Server, ORACLE with

4.5 years experience seeking

suitable positions.

Contact: 96485923, 99886271

[email protected]

Indian male, 20+ years experience

in IT management, ERP imple-

mentation, seeks suitable opening.

Contact: 96101779

IT Network and Security Engineer

with a master degree, CISCO and

Linux red hat certified seeking a

suitable job in a good company.

Contact 99818601

Networking technician with

driving license, with Noc, having

2 experiences in data & telephone

structured cubing EPABX & CCTV

installation is looking for suitable

jobs. Contact: 96027516

Gulf experienced Software Develop-

er & certified professional in English

looking from a Job with vast experi-

ence in sales and Management +

D/L. Contact 00968 96701312


Indian male 25, BSE computer with

MBA, 3 years experience in IT, in

visit visa seeking a suitable post.

Contact: 92364368

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


Light Driver needs Job. Contact:

93284327

For Driving. Contact: 95870012

Bangladeshi male looking for a light

vehicle driving job.

Contact: 97751070

Driver light. Contact: 91020999

Driver light 20 exp PDO license.

Contact 99504122

Light driver with 10 yrs experience

with car or without car, Pakistani

National. Contact 91038352

House driver /(overseas) looking

job with valid GCC D/l.

Contact 99531802

Heavy & light duty driver valid GCC

(overseas) job. Contact 95175192

Pakistani male looking for a light

vehicle driving job. Contact: 95149231

Driver looking for job.

Contact 92137431

DRIVER

DESIGNER

Indian Male B.Tech Civil having

17+ years of experience, includ-

ing 4 years oman experience as a

consulting engineer seeking suitable

position anywhere in Oman

MAIL: [email protected],

MOB:91622490

Indian male, Mechanical Engineer,

2 years experience in fabrication

& erection of heavy structures as

Project Engineer in India, now on

visiting visa seek suitable place-

ment. Contact: 91251818 Email:

[email protected]

Indian male 26 yrs mechanical

Engineer with 3 yrs experience in

Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical

maintained field on visit visa look-

ing for suitable job.

Contact: 99191535


Pakistani BSC Electrical Engineer

seeking for suitable job.

Contact: 91384864/99326294

Sr. Instrumentation Engineer: 8+ years Exp. (Oman 6+ Yrs) OIL &

GAS, Sales & Marketing in Automa-

tion, Instrumentation, Calibration,

BMS & FOC - Project Planning, Erec-

tion, Commissioning, O & M. NOC

Available Oman D/L

G: +968 97296534

M: [email protected]

Indian male with ITI certification

in Mechanical Drafting with good

Experience Looking for good

opportunity contact 9194 9181

Indian male 28 yrs electronics &

instrumentation Engineer with 4+

years experience in Industrial au-

tomation (SCADA) Seeking suitable

job. Contact: 93154156

Sudanese Electrical Engineer, 2 years experience.


[email protected]

Young Energetic Indian male, 7 years Oman experience in retail

wholesale, sales including electron-

ics, building materials with Oman

D/L. Contact: 98465550

Auto Electrician with car a/c with

medical. Contact 95175192

Indian male B.Tech Mechanical

three years varietal experience in

piping Engineering & management

of retail mobile phone shops seeking

sales engineering job with Oman

D/L. Contact 94401234

Electrical Engineer : Indian male 29

years , having 5 years of experience

in industrial automation and utility

maintenance in India (MRF Tyres)

seeking suitable placement.

Contact 92789995,


BE Mechanical Engineer -NDT level

2, Quality Control (Oil & Gas) . 1 year

exp ph: 95908293

Sudanese Civil Engineer, 2 yrs

experience. Contact 96077482,


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 / 96216397,


Electrical Engineer (B.E) : 5 years of

experience (4 years in Oman) with

valid Omani D/L. NOC available.

GSM: 92260391

Sudanese Petroleum Engineer, 4 yrs experience looking for job,

MC office, C, Exlips.

Contact 96039290

Indian male fresher BCA young and

energetic, seeking good opportu-

nites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail.

com, Contact 00919567722270

MBA (international business) from

London, 4 years of UK experience in

banking operational, looking for suit-

able position. Contact 91710075

Finance Manager, CPA, with more

than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC.

Fully knowledgeable in Finance,

General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331

Indian male, 32 years, M. Com.

7 out of 9 years experience in Oman

in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and

valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143,


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

India Accountant: Male, M com,

7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to

finalization, having knowledge of

ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment.

contact 93950138 Email:

[email protected]

MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in

finance/accounts/ auditing. Special-

ized in accounts payable dept, Ora-

cle app user, proficient in Sap (fico)

end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma

certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780

Indian male B.Tech Mechanical having 4 years experience with QA/

QC & CWSIP looking for suitable

position. # 99447106 / 24483297

Indian male, MA multimedia, 25 yrs

presently working in Bangalore as

visual layout / Graphics designer hav-

ing 2 years experience, seeks suitable

placement. Currently on short visit.

Contact 92368969


Creative Web graphic designer looking for a full time job in a reputed

company in Muscat. 9 years overall

experience + freelance expert.

Contact 97276004

Expert in all types of 3D modeling,

building layout, walk through &

Broucher designing. 3 yrs exp. in

Oman & 6 yrs exp. in India seeking

for better opportunity.

Contact 91282841

Indian male 29 yrs, M.sc post gradu-

ate having 7 years experience in

healthcare Industry presently work-

ing in orthopedic Implants company

(MNC) in Indian ( trauma & spine )

on visiting visa seeking suitable job

opening. Contact: 93083553


Arab female 30 sales marketing busi-

ness development manager 9 years

experience in Oman UK University

graduate talented enthusiastic well

– groomed MS Office social media

expert bilingual Arabic & English

having driving license able to join im-

mediately. Contact 96612369

Cargo & logistics Manager, Indian

with more than 15 years experience

in UAE, seeks suitable position.

Contact: 95402099

Warehouse In charge or store keeper

26 yrs. Gulf exp 4 yrs in Oman. NOC

available. Contact 97657823 /

Email:[email protected]

Projects/ contracts Manager 31

yrs (26 yrs Oman) experience in

management & coordination of

multi-million R.O projects of govern-

ment & private sector, Post Graduate

Structural Engineer with structural

& QS Background looking for senior

position. Contact +00968-91400599

EDUCATION

Indian, 45 years, Housekeeping

working one of five star hotel 10 yrs

experience and health club exp also,

experience in Oman.

Contact: 99628602 /98693655

Indian male 24 years, Mechanical

Engineer,pdms.1 yr experience in

pipeline,16years in oman seeking

immediate placement # 95775742

Indian male currently in Oman on

visit, looking for suitable vacancy in

hotel Industry as Supervisor having

8 years experience in Europe.

Contact: 97376612

Indian male 38 yrs senior chef

de parst pastry & bakery 15yrs expe-

rience one of the five star hotels in

Oman experience 10 yrs Oman

looking job. Contact: 96460519


Indian Male, IT Support Engineer,

2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experi-

ence. Contact 97311847

Electrician, Plumber, exp in India

Gulf (overseas) job.

Contact 99531802

Mechanical Engineer (B.E) : Four

years of experience (3 years in

Oman). NOC available.

Contact :92530471

Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer

skills and 2 years experience as

associate research analyst (Media

Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seek-

ing growth oriented jobs. Contact

92044603 /918056169148 or

[email protected].

Diploma in electronics & Telecom,

Engineering with 5 years experience

in Engineering & sales, marketing.

Contact 95932219

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need

suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.


2 Years of Experience as Java

Software Developer. Looking for the

suitable job in IT. Call: 97897616

IT

Qualified primary English Teacher for almost 12 years W/ experience in

Qatar independent school interna-

tional school & British curricular

IELTS qualified looking for immedi-

ate post. Contact: 98938272


MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

Construction Surveyor Indian

looking for suitable job.

Contact 91977142 / 95141554

Graduate 1 yr experience in India,

Clerk now in Oman on visit visa.

Contact 92933431,

[email protected]

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

Arabic – English translator having,

3 years experience currently on visit

visa seeks translation or Bi-Lingual,

Secretarial job.

Contact: 96599501


Indian (Kerala) male 37yrs, B.com

graduate seeking for suitable

employment one year experience.

Preferably as an office assistants.

Contact 96701495

Indian male more than 10 years

Gulf experience in Office / Sales

Coordinator, Admin (employees visa

processes), Secretarial and purchase

coordination with good computer

skills. Having Driving license and

NOC available. Looking for suitable

placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING

Indian male 10 years experience in

Welding Supervisor NDT Technician,

MIG Welding specialist seeking suit-

able job. Contact 96771841

Indian male MBA 7 years experience

in Hospitality industry, operation,

sales & marketing looking for suitable

vacancy. Contact 92115860

Email [email protected]

Sr. Manager, 18 yrs experience in

project Sales building materials in

Gulf, on visit, GCC license, looking for

job placement. Contact 93364846

Indian male with 08 yrs exp in sales

& marketing, seeks suitable place-

ment. NOC available.

Contact: 95970204

Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23,

with experience in Sales looking for

suitable placements.

Contact - 9837 1144

Having 20 years experience in Gulf

area for sales, marketing distribu-

tion, having Oman D/L looking for

suitable work, speaking Arabic &

English. Contact: 94639053

Indian male, B.Sc (Mathematics)

PGDBM (Marketing). 9 yrs of Oman

experience in sales in midlevel

management, NOC available.

Valid Oman D/L. Contact: 95278838


Indian male B.com, 5 years experi-

ence in shopping center can manage

purchase / sales and admin func-

tions valid Oman driving license

NOC available. Contact 95459944

BE computer science 6 years

experience software developer and

support Engineering exp sales and

management Oman D/L, NOC avail-

able. Contact: 98097722

Indian male M.B.A graduate having

10 years experience in sales and mar-

keting currently on visit visa seeking

suitable job opening. #96065164

Indian male 18 yrs FMCG sales

experience in UAE is looking for a

suitable placement in Oman on visit-

ing. Contact: 91905053

Indian male 30- holding Oman D/L-

exp in sales/marketing, seeks suit-

able placement-Release available.

Contact: 95863373

Indian male Graduate in business

management having work experi-

ence of 12 years looking for a suit-

able position. Contact : 93431567

Sales / Marketing Executive

24 years, Indian male having Oman

valid license, seeking suitable

position, working as a Supervisor of

the leading hypermarket in Oman,

NOC available.Contact 98060984 /

93089757 Email:

[email protected]

Indian male looking job in sales or

marketing having 2 years experi-

ence. Contact 96660936

Male MBA (General) from Cardiff

Metropolitan University London)

looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 92819301


Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermedi-

ate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing

in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864

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

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.


TOURS & TRAVELS

ACCA affiliate & Bsc (Oxford

Brookes University), 2.5 years ex-

perience in oilfield & audit/finance

in Big6 firm, seeking permanent

placement. Release available.

Contact 95140445,

[email protected]

Indian Male 27, Piping Design

Engineer looking for suitable place-

ment in Piping Design & Engineer-

ing. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6

Version),CAESAR ll, AutoCAD. Con-

tact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail :

[email protected]

DAILY GUIDE Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624


D6 M O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

Indian male 60 years old have 30

years Muscat experience in all office

works with Omani driving license.

Contact: 99024055

Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of

MS Office & Tally, 4yrs experience

in Accounts &admin dept. looking

for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220

Indian male, total experience is 5

years in Retail industry. Currently su-

pervisor in Sun and sand sports Mus-

cat City centre. Contact : 96994345.


More than Ten years of experience

in Sales & Marketing, Advertisement

and Credit Control and Logistics& Ad-

ministration.#91076608 / 99322748

MCA IT Professional Indian Female

seek placement in Teaching/ Non

Teaching field. Presently on visit

visa. Contact 9588 7051,

Email: ashwininakod@gmail

Indian male, Engineer, BE Mechani-

cal, having with 21 years of experi-

ence in India and 13 years in Oman,

In production, project management,

quality control and assurance and

MR for ISO and API Standards look-

ing out for a suitable placement

in Oman. GSM: 00968 97311616.

E-MAIL: [email protected]

Indian female BA graduate. My total

experience is 4 and half year in Call

Center looking for jobs in admin

and HR. Contact : 96089143, Email:

[email protected]

Indian male, MBA marketing &

finance with B com & diploma in IFRS

seeks job.# 99469726 / 99469729

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical

Engineer 3 years of Experience seek-

ing suitable placement immediately

Contact: 91991435, 93310821

Key Account Executive, Indian

male, currently working with a

reputed FMCG company Oman is

looking for a placement asap, NOC

will be given. Valid Omani driving

license. Total experience in Oman is

12yrs and particularly in Sales is 8

1/2 years. Contact 95589765 Email :

[email protected]

25 Indian female, B.Sc fashion tech-

nologist, 5 years exp in merchandis-

ing, familiar with fashion marketing

& designing. Currently available on

visit visa, seeking for a visual mer-

chandising job. Contact : 96990368,

email [email protected]

Sudanese male BSC Telecommuni-

cations Engineer , 4 years experi-

ence in telecom field

Contact: 97783092,


Indian male, 28 years, 7 years

experience in transporting & heavy

equipment renting company. Having

Omani driving license seeks suitable

positions. Contact 94410485

Civil autocad draughtsman part

time work for job mob :96023726

Working as Senior Accountant, 4 yrs.exp.in oman, relevant computer

skills, Audit, Accounting upto fina-

lization, valid oman driving license,

languages known Arabic, Hindi.

NOC available can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599, E-mail-

([email protected])

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.)

on visit visa, seeking suitable post.

Contact :99534733


Male, 19 years of experience in

Finance and Administration cur-

rently on visit visa seeks suitable

placement. Contact: 99720132/

[email protected]


MISCELLANEOUS

Sr. Manager, MBA, 18yrs profes-

sional exp in Building materials, in-

teriors, tiles, sanitary wares, Gypsum

in gulf, seeking job immediately/on

visit/ Contact - 93364846 /

[email protected]

Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3

years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS

Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92875345,

[email protected]

Indian female B.ED & BCA looking

for a suitable placement in school

or admin office, having 5 yrs exp in

same field. Contact – 97384206 /

[email protected]

Electronics and instrumentation

Engineer 28 year Indian male, elec-

trical, electronic, industrial, building

& automation exp of 4+ yrs in India.

Contact - 93154156

CCNP Network Professional with 6

years experience having Bachelors

degree on visit visa looking for suit-

able job. Contact: 96760618 email:

[email protected]

Indian female with MBA (Finance)

on visit visa, seeks immediate place-

ment. Phone: 968-98430089

Indian female, IATA, Bsc, Looking

for suitable placement.

Contact-95514305, email id-

[email protected]

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3

year Diploma in electrical engineer,

5 year experience in different activi-

ties. Contact; +96894549609

Male, 30 years Accountant, 1 year

Oman experience in accountants,

finance. Seeking suitable position in

Muscat .Can join immediately, NOC

available. Email: lalitbls1@gmail.

com Call: 97903175

CCNP Network Professional with 6

years experience having Bachelors

degree on visit visa looking for suit-

able job. Contact: 96 76 06 18

Indian male, post graduate, cur-

rently in Oman on visit visa. Seeks

suitable placement.# 92388346

Female Executive Assistant/Execu-

tive Secretary with 27+ experience,

worked with top management/Board

in financial services with shorthand

skills & Omani driving license, seeks

suitable placement. call 95941515

26 years Indian male with MBA &

PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience

in Administration, seeking suit-

able placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :94501423

8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d,

3d Draughtsman (holding Omani

driving license) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601

Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a

Suitable Job in Telecom / Network-

ing. 1 year sales experience. MSc.

Communications Engineering &

Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121.


Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP

having Bachelor degree and 6 years

of experience in Networking looking

for job. 96760618 /

[email protected]

Iraqi Pharmacist with 15 years

experience as regulatory affairs and

Marketing Manager seeking job in

pharmaceutical co.

Mobile 96720441

Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years

experience in audit/finance and oil

company in reputed firms. Look-

ing for suitable permanent place-

ment. Release available. Contact

95140445, [email protected]

ACC. AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirt-

ing, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery,

Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes,

Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Sys-

tems and spectacular lighting. Call

Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and

Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light.

www.tunesoman.com,

E-mail: [email protected]

Furnished room attached bath for

Indian bachelor - Al Falaj area &

for lady at Wadi kabir (Al Maya) -

95941515.

Sharing accommodation available

for Executive bachelor. Ruwi high

street. Contact-99776193

Available fully furnished Executive

bachelor accommodation near Oman

House. Contact: 98796982

Accommodation for Indian Execu-

tive bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A.

Contact : 99659513

Single room for executive bachelor

near AL Falaj Hotel.

Contact 99643845

Fully furnished room with attached

Bath for executive bachelor, behind

Al Meera Hypermarket Azaiba

R.O 150/-. Contact: 99455735

Sharing accommodation for

executive bachelor near Sadolin

Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99016230

Sharing accommodation avail-

able opposite Mars at Al Ghubra for

Executive bachelor or small family

sharing, kitchen. Contact 94474351 /

96237050

Furnished single rooms available

for bachelors at Ruwi.

Contact: 98049288

ACC. OPP, OK center for non- cooking

bachelor. Contact - 97900642

after 5 pm

Executive bachelor room with

attached toilet near Al Nahda

Hospital, Hamriya. Contact - 96474313

Sharing for non-cooking Executive

bachelor in CBD area wi fi free,

advance deposit. Contact 95934642

Accommodation available for South

Indian family, one bedroom with

attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa,

Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160

Sharing acc. Available in Muttrah

behind Oman house.

Contact 99354340

Sharing family accommodation in


GOOD NEWS

Ayurvedic treatment for backache,

paralysis, arthritis etc & massage,

All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 /

92504980 www.siddhayur.com

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 IS-LAM. 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

Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi

offers genuine & effective treatment

for back pain, paralysis, cervical and

lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis,

joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, aller-

gic problems, varicose vein and all

other health related problems. Kerala

massage and rejuvenation package

available. For details please

Contact 92197920/ 24799689

2 Rooms with separate bathroom &

kitchen for executive bachelors.

Gsm 942-888-63

DRIVING

Learn driving with professional

only automatic.

Contact 94022250

Sudanese male BSC Telecommuni-

cations Engineer, 4 years experience

in telecom field.Contact : 97783092,


Piping Design Engineer, Indian

male 27, looking for suitable place-

ment in Piping Design & Engineer-

ing. Having 7 years of experience in

AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS

(11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact :

97351786 / 96143708, E-mail :

[email protected]

Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of

MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in

Accounts &admin dept. looking for

good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220

Indian female MBA Finance cur-

rently on visit visa. Seeks immediate

placement. Phone: 968-98430089

Key Account Executive , currently working with a reputed

FMCG company Oman is looking for

a placement asap, NOC available,

valid Omani driving license.

Total experience in Oman is 12yrs

and particularly in Sales is 8 1/2

years. Contact 95589765


Senior IT Professional, Indian Male,

more than 17 yrs. of experience in

software development(PB, Oracle,

SAP ABAP) and IT Support with

valid Oman DL and NOC available

Contact : 92193867,


23,Male, ACCA with 2.5 years ex-

perience in Big6 audit firm and Oil/

Gas,looking for permanent place-

ment in Accounts/Audit. Contact

#95140445 [email protected]

Indian female MBA Finance

currently on visit visa, seeks imme-

diate placement. Phone- 98430089

Female British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable situation.

Contact 97175240

Civil supervisor-8 year’s experi-

ence in commercial and residential

building, including portable cabin,

natural and artificial play ground’s,

and Oxy petroleum field, at sultan-

ate of Oman. GSM :91249005. Mail

:[email protected]

Indian Male 28yr age having 6year

gulf+ Indian experience in HR field.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97914340,


Indian male 27, looking for suit-

able placement in Piping Design

& Engineering. Having 7 years of

experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar

with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR

ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708,

E-mail : mohammednazeer07@

gmail.com

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical

Engineer 3 years of Experience seek-

ing suitable placement immediately

contact: 91991435, 93310821

Indian male 21 Diploma in Mechani-

cal Eng with HVAC certified having 6

yrsexp and seeking job in HVAC field

as a supervisor. Currently on visit

visa. Contact 92835952/ 92734863

Indian female, B.Com. Knowledge

of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience

in accounting & admin dept. looking

for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220

Civil Autocad draughtsman looking

for part time job. Mobile: 95218737

Sudanese / 29 years old / Bsc Eng-

lish language and Translation / 3

years experience in Oman teaching

& translation / have driving license.

Contact 94211377.



DAILY GUIDESITUATION WANTEDCARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise

with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain

Marine Tours Contact- 98029602,

92808636

RENT A CAR

WANTED RENT A CAR

TOURS

TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation. Contact

99077348

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Transportation. Contact

99508282

Transport to ISWK. Contact

93172589

Pick & Drop any time. Contact

97014786

Wanted small car

monthly rent Basis 100-150.

Contact: 98796982



D8 M O N D AY, M AY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5


Email: [email protected] GUIDE Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

Email: [email protected] GUIDE Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624


*Classified Advertisement space booking with text,

should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication.


Looking for a working partner to

run a well established fabrication

& carpentry workshop in Barka.

Contact: 95120404 or mail to

[email protected]

Software development based on

requirements such as: Web devel-

opment & cloud computing, SAP

implementation & services. Android

App development networking.

Contact 97423932

Required business Researcher.

contact 99229700


Business Consultant, feasibility

study. Contact 99229700

BUSINESS

SITUATION WANTEDSERVICES

Specialist available for explosive

growth in term of restructuring

all modules of businesses with

over 30 years of experience across

continents with a decade in Oman.

Contact 96733578


A/C maintenance & servicing.

Fridge, washing machine & dish

washer repairing. Painting & clean-

ing services & electrical & plumb-

ing. Contact 99447257/97014234/

24504281

We do building maintenance all

kind of works. Contact 99247663

Carpet & sofa cleaning, house clean-

ing. Contact 99542979 / 98855815

P.R.O services. Contact 99368907

Electric, Plumbing, painting & all

kinds of building maintenance.

Contact 93896787 / 97924862

House shifting packing. Contact 99657644/ 98518013

Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean

Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 /

92682970

WEBSITE

WEB, ERP and Business Intelli-

gence (BI) creation and man-

agement at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

CLASSES

COMPUTER

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTSWE ARE PROVIDING

ACCOUNTING/ AUDITINGTAX/ CONSULTING

CONTACT: 24 567 251 / 95 498 033

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet

& sofa shampooing, Contact

99314807/24792998

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of

your marble. Contact 24793614/

99314807

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing.

Contact 99557080

Split & window A.C servicing &

maintenance. Contact: 96236476

Split & window A.C servic-

ing & maintenance. Contact

93769089/95323517

Air condition maintenance split

and window services AC specialist

ducted and package type unites.

Contact: 98667326

A/C maintenance split A/C servic-

ing. RO. 10 only. Contact 94217681/

99210141

House shifting. Contact 99708138

Pest Control Treatments, Termites, Cockroaches, Bedbugs.

Contact Ocean Centre LLC.

Contact 99344723

MATRIMONIAL

LOST

Alliance invited for a Hindu, Ezhava

male 28, 5”8” working as a machin-

ist in a well established company in

Oman. Contact: 98323862

We are Muslim family seeking

alliance for our son interested

families. Contact 97664009

Alliance invited for a Nair girl 24 yrs, 5ft, 1”, fair, slim, B.Tech

graduate reputed family of

Ernakulam dist. (Star Thiruvonam

Sudhajathakam) financially

sound, from parents of B.Tech nair

boys from Trissur, Palakkad and

Eranakulam dist. .

Contact :00919495924302


NRI

Ready / under construction apart-

ments / villas / row houses / shops,

available for sale in North / South

Goa (India).

E- mail - tonynoronha@rocketmail.

com, tel # 95867021

Residential plot 47 cents, also as

10-15 cents plots at Manjapra 15kms

from Nedumbassery Airport with

calm and beautiful surroundings.

Price IRS.180,000/cent.

Contact 9193 6563

3 BKD attached semi furnished

1380 sq.feet 4.25 cent villa, ready for

occupation in Sree nakshtra project

katachani, vattiyoorkave, Trivan-

drum, for sale. Villa project has all

common facilities swimming pool,

tennis court; children play ground,

gym etc. with both city water and

bore well connection. Contact no

99880135/92043900

Flats on distress sale near Goa

approx area 1 BHK 720 with , 2

balcony 4 flats , 2 flats ground floor

without balcony approx area 620,

2 nos studio 300 sqft at sawant

wadi at 2500 per sqr ft. Contact :

+919320517730/+919769051996 /

93683695

46 cents of land kattakada peyad

road (malapanan code) near E.M.S

academy expecting 1 lakh percent.

Contact: 99016230

Flats on distress sale near Goa ap-

prox area 1 BHK 720 with , 2 balcony

4 flats , 2 flats ground floor without

balcony approx area 620, 2 nos

studio 300 sqft at sawant wadi at

2500 per sqr ft.

Contact : +9119320517730/

+919769051996

Nawrs Sabai has lost Bangladeshi

Passport No. C1532870. Finder

please handover to ROP

Osama Faisal Khalifa has lost Tuni-

sian Passport No. W 095053. Finder


Mhmmed Afdal has lost Pakistani

Passport No. CG 1519312. Finder


AL Haz Hossain Tofazzal Hossain has lost Bangladeshi Passport No.

AA 2820734. Finder please hando-

ver to ROP

SERVICES

Split & window A.C servicing &

maintenance. Contact 93769089 /

95323517

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles

polishing, carpet shampooing,

maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS-

99320217 /24788722

Water proofing ABUQABAS-

Contact 99320217/24788722

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile

polishing, pest control & anti-ter-

mite treatment, general cleaning

painting, Plumbing, Electrical,

shifting. Contact Mundhir

Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C.

# 24810137, 99450130

Times of Oman - May 25, 2015

Documents

Transcript of Times of Oman - May 25, 2015