Times of Oman - December 6, 2016

TUESDAY December 6, 2016 6 Rabi Al Awal 1438 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

To sheikhs and dignitaries of Dhofar at the conclusion of His Majesty’s Meet-the-People Tour of the country, 1995

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ I help the private sector so that it can provide jobs for the citizens, benefit the community and strengthen the national economy. The national economy is not that which is in the State’s coffers but that which is available to all.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 237 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

CABLES

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand on the occasion of ascending the throne of the kingdom.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to King Vajiralongkorn. His Majesty wished him success in leading the people of Thailand towards further progress and prosperity, and further progress to the relations between the two countries.

His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of congratulations to President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua on being re-elected as president for the second term. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of success to President Ortega in leading the people of Nicaragua towards further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty the Sultan has sent a cable of congratulations to President Sauli Niinisto of Finland on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Niinisto and the people of Finland further progress and prosperity. -ONA

NOC FOR CASH IS ‘EXPLOITATION’

Fahd to attend Summit in Manama

Photo by Purushothaman K.

HM sends greetings

GCC LEADERS’ SUMMIT

Victims of human trafficking should contact authorities for their protection, says a top Omani official

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Demanding money in return for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is “exploitation” and could be a form of human trafficking, the country’s Assistant Attorney General has warned.

Nasser Al Riyami, Assistant Attorney General and

a member of the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking, (NCCHT) said victims of exploitation and human trafficking in Oman should approach the authorities.

Al Riyami, speaking exclusively to Times of Oman, said money should not change hands for a NOC in the Sultanate. He added: “This is an exploitation

Nasser Al Riyami, Assistant Attorney General

case and could be constituted a crime of human trafficking.”

He told Times of Oman the NCCHT protects and supports victims of such acts with a multilingual

hotline – 80077444 - and that a dedicated committee works to tackle any cases brought to light.

A disturbing trend of expat workers being forced to give up their end of service payments in return for No Objection Certificate was reported earlier in Times of Oman.Al Riyami was speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Human Trafficking Experts Meet in Muscat.

The two-day meeting is being hosted by the Sultanate, represented by the National Commission for Human Trafficking (NCCHT) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). >A6

MORNING MINUTE

A L M A Z O O N FA R M S

CAR PARK DRIFT LOCATION MAP 500m

EVENT VENUE

MUSCAT: Oman’s new dairy farm could generate not just employment for Omanis, but selfsufficiency in food for the nation, as well.

Plans are underway to set up a new dairy farm in Buraimi, as per the Sultanate’s new Tanfeedh initiative to revitalise and diversify the nation’s economy.

Named the Al Mazoon farms, this integrated dairy farm will initially have 4,000 cows and slowly expand to 25,000 animals over a period of 10 years.

“This farm is supposed to produce 89 million litres of milk by 2020, and 202 million litres of milk by 2026,” said Mustafa Al Riyami, Coordination and Follow-up Specialist for the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserves.

“By 2020, we’ll have a selfsufficiency of 72 per cent, and by 2026, we’ll be at 87 per cent self-

Rain forecast for Dhofar, Al Wusta MUSCAT: Rain is expected during the next three days in some areas of Oman.

In its forecast, the National Multi-Hazard and Early Warning Centre has said there are chances of isolated rain along the coastal areas of the governorates of Al Wusta and Dhofar during the next three days.

A band of clouds is moving westerly towards the Horn of Africa with chances of clouds advection it has said.

The sea is expected to be moderate to rough along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea . -ONA

Tamils in Sultanate pray for Jayalalithaa

Port gate

GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

gautam@timesofoman.com

N E X T T H R E E D AY S

H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N

R E D B U L L C A R PA R K D R I FT F I NA L

New dairy farm could create 3,000 jobs

MUSCAT: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers will leave today for Bahrain to lead the Sultanate’s delegation at the 37th GCC Leaders’ Summit in Manama scheduled for December 6 and 7.

This participation stems from the Sultanate’s belief, under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, on the importance of meetings that gather brothers to discuss all matters, which contribute in enhancing the cooperation march and meet the hopes and aspirations of the GCC people.

Sayyid Fahd will be accompanied by an official delegation comprising Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas and Dr. Fu’ad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. -ONA

REJIMON K

25,000 will be the number of animals at the farm from a modest start over a period of 10 years

sufficiency,” he added. “By 2040, we’ll be at 135 per cent self-sufficiency, which means we can store and export some of what we produce. The strategic view for this is that we are trying to achieve food security for Oman.”

This plan was conceived when the semi-government food security agency, the Oman Food Investment Holding Company, was founded in 2014.

“If we are planning to start producing by 2020, we need to start construction of the farm by 2018,” he said. >A6

Darsait

Lawaty graveyards

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JIBROO PARKING Fish market

Gates

Petrol stations

Port Sultan Qaboos

Indian school

Lulu

Muttrah Souq

Graphics

Drifting fever grips fans in Muscat Times News Service MUSCAT: With the kick-off for the Red Bull Car Park Drift Final 2016 just three days away, Muscat is being swept up in drifting fever as the public gears up for an adrenaline-charged show.

The official event side-acts have

been announced; stunt exhibition and enduro rider Brian Capper and champion rally driver and MBC Driven presenter Abdo Feghali.

Ticket sales Ticket sales are in full swing, with some seating areas already nearing capacity. >A6

MUSCAT: Tamils in Oman are holding special prayers, as state chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s health remains “extremely grave”.

“Many Tamil groups in Muscat are holding special prayers for the recovery of Jayalalithaa”, Joy Regina Dinesh told Times of Oman. “Last Saturday, special prayers were also held. Everyone loves her,” Dinesh added.

Meanwhile, Manivannan Ramesh, a Tamil business executive in Muscat, said that some are even planning to fly to Chennai if their leader dies.

“We all are worried a lot. If something bad happens, some are even ready to fly to Chennai,” Manivannan added.

Sangita Reddy of Apollo Hospital has tweeted that, “Despite our best efforts, our beloved CM remains in a grave situation”. The hospital said that Jayalalithaa is being kept on a life support

A supporter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaraman holds her photo in Mumbai, India. -Reuters

system that aids heart and lung functioning, and other life support, and is being monitored and treated by experts. The hospital has denied a statement by the chief minister’s party earlier today that she had heart surgery this morning. See also >A9

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Artistic expression meets passion for a cause A selfless service by a US doctor for Omanis

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Ever since she was a little girl, Rawan Al Mahrooqi had a passion for art and the liberation of women. Rawan has observed life around her and is now speaking out through art. >A4

PAKISTAN

MARKET

11 killed in Karachi hotel blaze

Arab airlines to double fleet strength

2

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At least 11 people were suffocated to death and 75 others injured on Monday. >A10

Arab airlines are likely to double their fleet strength within the next two-and-a-half decades. >B1

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

THE BRIEFING Website matches cause, crusader

INDIA

Jaya responding to treatment Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest and is in a critical condition, is “responding” to the treatment being given by experts. >A9

WORLD

Ben Carson accepts Trump’s nomination

omanvolunteers. org is an online platform that matches volunteers with suitable opportunities in

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a rival-turned-supporter of Donald Trump, accepted the president-elect’s nomination to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development>A12

the Sultanate

Times News Service MUSCAT: A website to match the skills of volunteers and requirements of non-profit and charity organisations has been launched to mark Omani Volunteers Day. A youth-led initiative to bring people and causes together, omanvolunteers.org is an online platform that matches volunteers with suitable opportunities throughout the Sultanate.

Mission inspire “Our mission is to inspire and engage individuals and the community by facilitating access to future volunteering opportunities, and for public and privateled not-for-profit initiatives to find volunteers online,” said Eman Rafay, founder of the initiative. The site allows people to search for projects that require specific skills in fields such as accounting, medical training, art, or animal welfare.

Regarding the website, Samah Al Rawahy, head of communication for Oman Volunteers, said, “To me, volunteering means taking time out and doing something in the hope it will make a positive difference in someone else’s life or to the community we live in.”

“The power of volunteering has

LIFESTYLE Wrap it up

OMAN

Symposium traces cultural relations of Oman, China Voyage Symposium “Interpretation and Outlook” started yesterday at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque under the auspices of HH Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture. >A6

OMAN

Natural beauty boosts tourism in Oman

REGION

Iraqis forces step up fight against IS

The Sultanate of Oman man has been ranked second among GCC nations in tourists having positive guest experiences. A recent survey of nine Arab countries saw the Sultanate score a Guest Experience Index of 80. >A5

OMAN

‘Oman 2016’ sheds light on achievements during Renaissance a much larger impact on society than most people think.

It supercedes the individual to make a tangible and lasting impact on communities for the greater benefit of the economy,” Stephane Jeegers, head of opera-

tions, added. Join the volunteers’ campaign at omanvolunteers. org,where the public can register online to find future volunteering opportunities or as a notfor-profit initiative looking for volunteers.

‘Oman 2016’ sheds light on the major achievements made during the blessed Omani Renaissance under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in the governorates.>A6

Avocado chickpea lettuce wraps are gluten free and completely vegan. This is every weightwatchers delight and doubles up as a healthy snack or a light meal. >A14

BUSINESS

TIBCO ties up with Bahwan CyberTek TIBCO Softwareannounced its partnership with Bahwan CyberTek (BCT)—a global technology innovation company with strong roots in the market—in a bid to scale its operations in the Middle East and North African (Mena) region. >B1

Western-backed Iraqi forces have begun shelling parts of west Mosul, residents said, in preparation for a new front against IS seven weeks into a difficult campaign to drive the militants from the city. bombardment had led to a virtual curfew in the district, with people afraid to leave their homes. >A7

SPORTS

IOC honour for Oman’s Sayyidah Sanaa The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has honoured Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidi by conferring upon her the ‘Women and Sport’ Achievement Diploma. >C1

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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THE RESEARCH COUNCIL

Water research awards launched MUSCAT: A new honour is out for innovations in water science.

The Research Council (TRC) in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science and the Ministry of Education made the announcement.

Registration for the honour called ‘Research and Innovations Award in Water Science’ is on and will end on January 31.

Applications must be submitted through the website of TRC www.trc.gov.om.

The results will be announced on March 22 within the celebration of World Water Day. The award aims to promote the role of scientific research and innovation in finding solutions to the issues of water and raise awareness in the areas of water

resource management.

The award is divided into two categories, the scientific publication and the innovations.

Each applicant is allowed to submit only one application as leader author for the award and the published research must not have won any other award in the Sultanate or anywhere else in the world. -ONA

OMAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

OMAN

One of the things I really love about young kids is that they don’t really know the difference between genders. They don’t think ‘she’s a girl and I’m a boy’.

Rawan Al Mahrooqi, teacher, artist and activist

Book on US doc who fell in love with Omanis Stories of the noble, selfless doctor have been passed down through generations of Omanis

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: To the people of Oman, Thoms was more than a doctor, he was a hero.

The American hospital in sundrenched Muttrah was where Dr Wells Thoms served as a physician for 31 years, treating contagious, fatal diseases, until his retirement in 1970.

Since then, stories of the noble, selfless man have been passed down through generations of Omanis. Starting with a team of only five Omanis, Thoms treated patients in roofless wards under the baking heat, not only in Muttrah, where he lived, but also as far as Barka and Sohar, before roads were built.

By the late 1960s, his overcrowded hospital had more than 150 Omani employees, and all trained on-the-job. For more than a decade, Thoms was Oman’s only doctor, and most of his patients

were treated at no charge. Now, 46 years since the day he left us, a question arises: Has Oman overlooked the generosity of Dr Thoms?

The answer lies between the narrow alleys of Muttrah, where I was lucky enough to meet Justin Meyer at his office, which used to be home to Dr Thoms some 60 years ago.

He put me in touch with Peter Thoms, the second of the late doctor’s four children. Cut from the same cloth, Peter Thoms followed his father’s footsteps and became a doctor, specalising in family care.

“My parents loved Oman. Oman was home,” he recalled.

“They loved Omanis, as was so wonderfully demonstrated over three decades of tireless work, and they spoke fondly of their work at the churches they visited in the USA,” Peter added.

He also expressed his hope to visit Oman again to celebrate its 50th National Day. “In Shalah, we will be able to be in Oman for Sultan Qaboos’ Jubilee celebration of his reign as Sultan,” he said. Peter was assigned, along with his father, to serve in Oman in 1939.

“The assignment to Oman as a

LEGENDARY: Dr Thoms at work in Oman (left) and with his family (above). – Supplied photo

permanent assignment was my father’s request. It was not a popular assignment because of the oppressive summer heat, but Dad’s heart was in Oman and he cherished being there,” Peter Thoms said.

“All our childhood playmates were Omanis, so we learned Arabic (and a smattering of Baluchi) which was put to good use the year I spent practicing medicine,” he added. Asked what his father’s final words were, Peter Thoms said, “I cannot remember any last words. Mom and his four children were at his bedside in New Orleans, Louisiana when he died.”

“I do remember that he was at peace, having served his Master faithfully, and remembering the familiar words from Psalm 23, the Lord is my shepherd,” he said.

Good all the way Peter and his wife, Cheryl, share eight married children, 22 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. The couple live in Flint, Michigan, where he still practices medicine. It is safe to say that Dr Thoms is still profoundly remembered by many elderly Omanis, and heard of by the younger ones.

Take, for example, Um Salah, a

65-year-old Omani woman who still remembers Thoms.

“He treated my eyes and made me glasses to wear,” she recalled.

“He was a nice, very nice gentleman, and he was speaking Arabic, too,” Um Salah said, adding that she still keeps pictures of the doctor.

David G Dickason, his son-in-law, is writing a biography of Dr Thoms.

“Always very busy (Thoms), he was involved in doing good wherever he went. This made it difficult for him to write his own memoir or autobiography, and he did not seem interested in doing that until after he retired and left Oman,”

Dickason told the Times of Oman.

But death did not spare Thoms in sharing his stories. Dickason has finished 19 chapters of the book, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2017.

“He was fluent in Arabic,” he recalled, adding that Thoms’ major commitment was to restore health to the Arab Gulf people.

He stressed that Omanis should know that Dr. Wells Thoms had a “great love for Oman and Omanis.”

“Dr. Thoms did not come to Oman for money, for he died a rather poor man,” Dickason said.

After devoting his life to the people of Oman, Thoms passed away on October 17, 1971. According to Dickason, words from the Holy Bible are inscribed on his grave,“Such as I have give I thee.”

SOCIETY

Artistic expression meets passion for a cause in Rawan Al Mahrooqi KHADIJA ALZADJALI

khadija@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Ever since she was a little girl, Rawan Al Mahrooqi had a passion for two things in life: art and the liberation of women. For the last 17 years, Rawan has observed life around her and is now speaking out through art.

Her latest pieces, which are illustrations, have received more ‘likes’, comments and user interaction than any of her other artwork. Rawan’s Instagram page, rawan757, is more like a professional portfolio of some 200 posts.

Her last six posts are illustrated reactions to what she considers to be a regular occurrence in the daily life of Arab women.

At age 24, Rawan began teaching at a local government school.

Initially, she taught an all-girls class of sixth graders. Today, she teaches art to a co-ed class of first grade students. Through her professional experience, she has seen

When asked who the girl in her illustrations was, she said, ‘She’s me, and she’s a lot of other girls’ the level of enthusiasm change as children grow older.

“Teaching a class of sixth grade girls needed some getting used to. I think the hardest part, as an art teacher and woman, was that they didn’t, and couldn’t, express themselves.

“One of the things I really love about young kids is that they don’t really know the difference between genders. They don’t think ‘she’s a girl and I’m a boy’.

“Whenever we have classes on what they want to be in the future, and a girl says she wants to be a firefighter, I am like, ‘Yes! You can be that!” Rawan tries to encourage

girls to not feel different, and that they can accomplish anything, regardless of their sex.

When asked who the girl in her illustrations was, she said, “That’s me. I wouldn’t call her my alterego, she’s me flat out. She’s me, and she’s a lot of other girls.”

All the ideas depicted in her illustrations have been on her mind for years. “I’ve gotten a lot of messages, such as ‘keep doing it’. It’s always a big deal when someone says I’ve inspired them,” she added.

Rawan plans on creating more

intense awareness pieces regarding women, though not any time soon. According to Rawan, she feels that her simple illustrations have been so popular because they are light pieces and easy to digest.

“I like to keep it simple and straight to the point. There’s no room for misunderstanding when it’s simple. The message is usually the hardest part, because I don’t always know how to put it in words, but the message is always more important than the messenger. We just want to be happy,” she said.

ENVIRONMENT

Day off work on a mission to keep Ghubra beach clean

Times News Service MUSCAT: About 30 Galfar staff members spent Monday morning away from work, cleaning Ghubra beach.

Each member had a trash bag and a cap to protect them from the blazing sun.

Kalesh Kumar, lead HSE, believes that as a society, it is our job to protect the environment and

“save our earth.” “Even the people around the beach were happy to see a big group picking up trash.

We felt very encouraged,” he said.

Bags full Out of the 30 trash bags, 19 were completely full after only an hour and a half. Food waste products,such as BBQ sticks, both wood and metal, plastic bottles and plastic wrappers filled most

of the 19 bags. Mahmood Al Manthari, from the Technical Committee of Airport Projects, said it is the public’s duty to clean after themselves.

“Cleanliness is very important, even in Islam. We should be taking care of the areas we are in, even if we are just in the house. It is very sad to see all this garbage, when it is such a beautiful place,” he explained.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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SURVEY REPORT

GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

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POLITICAL

Oman holds talks with Vietnam HANOI: A session of the bilateral political talks was held yesterday between the Sultanate and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The Omani side was led by Dr. Mohammed bin Awadh Al Hassan, Acting Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs, whilst the Vietnamese side was led Vu Hong Nam, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

Aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them to serve the joint interests, as were reviewed. Viewpoints on several regional and international issues of common concern were also exchanged.

The session was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Saif Al Mahrouqi, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Qatabi, Head of the Asian Department in the Foreign Ministry and other officials from both sides. -ONA

OMAN OFFICIAL CEREMONY

Natural beauty boosts tourism in Sultanate MUSCAT: Oman has been ranked second among GCC nations in tourists having positive guest experiences.

A recent survey of nine Arab countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon and Oman, conducted by real estate company Colliers International, saw the Sultanate score a Guest Experience Index of 80.

One of the reasons Oman ranks so high is because of the natural beauty the nation possesses, something other GCC nations do not have, according to Praveen George, General Manager, Sales and Marketing for the Aitken Spence Group.

“Oman has a lot of natural beauty, but most of the tourists are not aware of this,” said George. “It’s not just in Muscat either, but even

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when you go all the way to the Wahiba Sands in the desert, there is a huge change in the manner of the beauty Oman has to offer, and that brings a lot of customers once they experience this. This is very different to what the rest of the Middle East has to offer.”

This was reflected by Baidha Al Sukaiti, PR and Communications Manager for Intercontinental Hotel Muscat.

“Oman is different from the

rest of the Middle East because it’s not just events in the desert that we have,” she said. “In neighbouring nations, you mostly have shopping-related activities, but here, there are some great outdoor adventures for everyone.

“We have some of the best beaches in the region, and some of the best seas in the world, so Oman presents a great opportunity for diving. In addition, there’s all sorts of natural environments here, so people who love natural beauty will definitely want to come to Oman.”

Dubai and Doha also registered a score of 80, while Abu Dhabi was ranked first among GCC cities, registering a score of 83.

According to data released by the National Council for Statistics and Information, Oman recorded a total of 1,056,154 tourists at the end of September 2016, an increase of nearly 200,000 visitors from the same time last year.

Anantara Jabal Akhdar opens AL JABAL AL AKHDAR: Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar official opening ceremony was held yesterday under the auspices of Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs.

On the occasion of the opening of the Resort which is owned by the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund, the Minister Responsible for De-

fence Affairs said in a press statement: ‘The location of the resort has been carefully selected in the Niyabat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar which is witnessing comprehensive development under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Moreover, the area is known for its diversified natural potential and unique climate compared to the other areas in the Gulf region.”

This major tourism project aims at providing luxury utilities.

It is a contribution of Ministry of Defence to the efforts of the government to diversify sources of economy, develop the tourism sector, generate fresh job opportunities for Omani youths and also enhance and diversify investment and revenues of the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund. -ONA

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

OMAN S U LTA N Q A B O O S AWA R D F O R E X C E L L E N C E

Al Hasani to preside over award function MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr. Abdulmunim bin Mansour Al Hasani, Minister of Information will preside over the award ceremony of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Excellence in e-Government 2016 at the Sultan Qaboos University Cultural Centre today.

Out of 64 participating projects from 38 government units, private and SMEs institutions, only 11 projects will be honoured. This year, the award contains 11 categories distributed for government, private and SMEs sectors.

The government sector enti2ND TERM

Centres for municipal poll announced MUSCAT: Two unified centres for municipal councils 2nd term elections in the Governorates of Muscat and Dhofar was announced by the Ministry of Interior yesterday.

The Ministry specified the centre at the Governorate of Muscat in the Wilayat of Bausher to be at Al Ola Basic Education School for male voters and Thurya Al Busaidiyah Basic Education School for female voters. This centre will be for the voters of wilayat of Governorates of Dhofar and Musandam.

Further, the Ministry specified the centre at the Governorate of Dhofar to be at Al Noor Basic Education, near the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar for male and female voters from wilayat of the Sultanate’s governorates except wilayat of the Governorate of Dhofar.

The unified centres will open on Sunday, 18th December 2016 from 8 am to 6 am on the same day. The voters will cast their votes through the e-voting system. -ONA

ties can compete in 8 different categories, namely: Best e-Service including (G2E, G2B), Best e-Services via Mobile including (G2E, G2B), Best whole of government Project, Best service supporting doing business, Best e-participation for decision making initiative, Best e-transformation achievement. Whereas the private sector’s large organizations can compete in two categories, namely: Best Public eService and Best Public Mobile eService.

Private sector ICT Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can participate, in one category: Best SME eService. -ONA

M I N I S T RY O F I N F O R M AT I O N

TRADE, INVESTMENT

‘Oman 2016’ sheds light on major achievements during Renaissance MUSCAT: Within the framework of the 46th glorious National Day celebrations, the Ministry of Information has issued its annual book ‘Oman 2016’ which sheds light on the major achievements made during the blessed Omani Renaissance under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in the governorates of the Sultanate.

The book includes 11 features namely ‘ the wisdom diplomacy’, ‘ continuous Omani contribution in human culture’ , ‘ the modern state institutions’, ‘ the rule of law’, ‘ facilitating litigations’ “The Council of Oman’, ‘friendship, dialogue

and credibility that enhance development and peace’, ‘the citizen the base for security and safety’, ‘ the man as the base for development’, ‘culture, heritage and arts as windows for Oman’s cultural face’, ‘economic development’ and ‘modern facilities and clean environment’.

The book, which starts with quotes from HM the Sultan’s speeches, highlights the new stages of development and construction aim at developing the modern institutions of the state to meet the needs of continuous socioeconomic growth and meet the aspirations of the Omani citizen at the second

decade of the 21st century.

The book monitors the projects and achievements which is a reference for media men, academics, researchers, students and others who are interested in the Omani affairs. The Ministry also distributes this book to the Sultanate’s embassies to raise awareness about the Sultanate’s tourism, cultural and economic potentials.

It should be noted that while the book has been already published in Arabic and English, work is afoot to publish the book in other languages, such as French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and Russian. -ONA

Oman, Germany review ties MUSCAT: The Sultanate and Germany reviewed relations between the two countries.

They also discussed issues related to trade, investment, renewable energy, transfer of education, science, knowledge and technology, pushing tourism sector forward and ensuring its sustainable development, as well as benefiting from the German expertise in scientific innovations and ways to utilise and market them to transform them into productive industries. The 14th session of the Omani-German Joint Committee was held at the General Diwan of the Foreign Ministry yesterday. -ONA

Symposium traces cultural relations of Oman, China The symposium is being organised to mark the 35th anniversary of the arrival of the ‘Sohar’ ship to the port of Canton in China

SOHAR: Voyage Symposium “Interpretation and Outlook” started yesterday at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture.

The 2-day symposium is organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture to mark the 35th anniversary of the arrival of the “Sohar” ship to the port of Canton in

RED BULL

STRENGTHENING BONDS: “Interpretation and Outlook” symposium started yesterday at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture. -ONA

China. A group of researchers and specialists from Oman, China, Ireland, and Australia are participating in the symposium to strengthen the historical relations with the People’s Republic of China.

A number of government agencies and bodies, Sultan Qaboos

University (SQU), the University of Nizwa, the Faculty of Applied Science in A’Rustaq, Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), the National Documents and Archives Authority (NDAA), Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, the Omani Society for Writers and

Literati (OSWL), Cultural Club, and the Literary Forum are taking part in the symposium, in addition to specialists, academics and interested persons in maritime history of the Sultanate.

The symposium aims to highlight the evolution of the historical relations between the Sultanate and China in cultural and economic fields, as well as to highlight the contributions of Omani sailors and merchants in the consolidation of relations between Oman and China in the Islamic eras.

The symposium started with the speech of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture delivered by Hassan bin Mohammed Al Lawati, Advisor to the Minister for Heritage Affairs, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the symposium, followed by the speech of keynote speaker, Mohammed bin Said Al Wahaibi, followed by the speech of the Chinese side delivered by Dr. Ding Lung, Vice- Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages Studies at the international University of Economy and Trade, Beijing People’s Republic of China.

A short documentary was screened about the voyage of Sohar, which sailed in (1980-1981).

The building of the ship was inspired by the adventures of Sinbad and the Middle Ages ships. The Sultanate’s government oversaw the organisation and operation of this voyage, with direct care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Sohar was built on a similar version of the Arab 9th century ships. It is 87 feet in length (approximately 26.5 meters) in seven months of wooden planks joined together by ropes of coconut husk, which reached a length of about 400 miles (approximately 640 km). The task of (Sohar) as a ship was over as soon as the journey ended, but its mission as an ambassador and a symbol of friendship is not over, and will continue to play its role.

Rahma bint Qasim Al Farsiya, the Sultanate’s representative in the UNESCO International Network for the Silk Rout Online Platform talked about the platform and the major topics of interest to the platform. -ONA

R O YA L D E C R E E

A1 Three days to go A1 Oman introduced trafficking laws in 2008 for drifting event < FROM

< FROM

The much-awaited event will be held in association with the Oman Automobile Association at Port Sultan Qaboos, Muttrah on Friday December 9.

Tickets can be purchased at the Oman Automobile Association (OAA), OAA - Karting, Tropical - Al Khuwair, Tropical - PDO, Tropical - Azaiba, Tropical - Bank Muscat HQ, Tropical - Amerat, Bistro - Jawahrat Al Shatti, Vox Cinema - Muscat City Centre, Vox Cinema - Qurm, Rumba Lattina, Virgin Megas-

Oman introduced human trafficking laws in November 2008 under Royal Decree 126/2008.

Its definition of human trafficking crimes includes: ‘The use of threat, coercion, abuse over a person, exploitation of position or power and exploitation of weakness of those in need of work by illegal means directly or indirectly’.

Slavery, prostitution, serfdom, sexual exploitation and forced labour are also prohibited under the law.

Victims can get medical and physical help through the shelter centre (Dar Al Wifaq) located in Al Khoudh.

Members of the NCCHT met

tore - Muscat City Centre, Sohar - Al Batinah.Tickets are available for OMR3 (Standing), OMR10 (Grandstand) and OMR25 (Premium Grandstand). For further information on tickets please visit, redbull.com/cpd or pass by the Oman Automobile Association.

On the event day, doors open at 1pm for a 2:30pm kick-off. Parking is available at Jibroo Parking (next to the ISM). A shuttle service will be available from Jibroo Parking to the event venue between 12pm - 6PM.

with human rights bodies from across the globe at the conference, where the focus was that the law considers those that traffic others as criminals, not the trafficked victims.

The NCCHT was established in 2009 to combat crimes regarding human trafficking in the Sultanate.

It works with various authorities in Oman to enhance and develop the capacities and skills of its staff by taking part in regional and international conferences.

Legal advisors and social workers welcomed the Assistant Attorney General’s comments. One said: “Companies should not indulge in

such practices.” The NOC is a vital document for anyone who wishes to leave one employer to work elsewhere within Oman.

Currently, an expatriate worker can switch jobs in the Sultanate only if his/her employer agrees to grant the no-objection letter.

Without it, the law prevents the expatriate from returning to Oman to work for a two-year period.

Times of Oman spoke to a legal expert with knowledge in these matters. “According to the labour law, there is no provision for NOCs. That is purely the discretion of the sponsor,” she said. “Sometimes, it is the internal policy of the com-

pany to ask for money, or hold their end-of-service benefits, in exchange for an NOC. “We have had many cases where employees come to us due to nonpayment of salary or withholding of benefits or recommendation letters,” she said, adding that it was often difficult to get the cases to court.

Bangladesh Social Club president Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan said that expatriates can seek the government’s help if they face such a situation. “We also chip in and help the Bangladesh workers if they face harassment against the sponsors,” he said.

N E W FA R M

< FROM

A1 ‘Oman has potential for dairy’ “To feed the cows, we will look to be growing feed in the country, but there is likely to be a shortage, so it will be bought from outside, because cows require special feed in order to produce milk.

“To create full-time employment, to begin our initial operation, we will require at least 300 employees,” he added.

“In fact, with the experts and the workers, we will easily create more than 300 jobs, and that is even if you don’t think about the allied sectors, such as logistics, storage, transportation, and more,” he added.

Dr. Omar Al Jabri is Assistant Dean for Training and Community Service at the College of Marine and Agricultural Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University.

“We have a shortage in supply, so for a long time we’ve been only relying on importing dairy products, because we have only one farm,” he said. “It will not accommodate the demands of the population here. We had one farm in Sohar, as well, but that was closed down, and was a big loss for us, because now we have to rely on external supplies, primarily from Al Marai in Saudi Arabia

and from Al Rawabi in the UAE. “The population in Oman is increasing, and when we talk about milk and yoghurt, there is only a slight percentage that is supplied

by Omani dairy producers,” added Al Jabri. “If you look at other valuable products from milk, we do not produce any cheese for commercial reasons, and other things, such as butter, are also imported.

“In Oman, we only produce milk, yoghurt and laban, but we have the potential to do this because we are not different from other countries when it comes to climate, and we can have the climate to produce dairy products, and it is also about food security, which is really important because when you always look to imports, the public will favour their domestic markets first.

“When we reach a situation of being self-sufficient, then we can expand to exporting to other markets, and there is a very high potential for that.

“When you talk about dairy products, you need employees with different specialisations,” he explained. “As we talk at the college here, we graduate so many students from different areas that

are required for the core business.

You need people for marketing, for logistics, for accounts, economics, etc.

“There are going to be jobs in nutrition, animal sciences, and veterinary technology where you deal with animals, and if this farm is going to produce its own forage, then you need people who are familiar with agriculture and mechanisation. This means you also need people who are good when it comes to soil welfare and engineering.

“You will need someone who ensures that these specialisations are integrated. Then we’d come to other opportunities, such as transportation, people working in the laboratories, IT, human resources, and I believe we have plenty of Omanis who are capable of doing such jobs. If they get the right mentoring and training, this could be a very successful project for the country.

“We are talking about 3,000 jobs, as a whole, for this project.”

Oman’s demand for dairy and fruit juice is currently about 318 million litres, and is expected to rise to about 524 million litres by 2026.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

A7

REGION Iraqi forces shell west Mosul areas The campaign entered its eighth week on Monday but IS militants still control three-quarters of the city

BAGHDAD: Western-backed Iraqi forces have begun shelling parts of west Mosul, residents said, in preparation for a new front against IS seven weeks into a difficult campaign to drive the militants from the city.

Federal police forces, stationed a few miles south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river that divides the city, have long said they aim to advance towards the airport on the southwestern edge. Military commanders hope that by open-

BATTLE CONTINUES: An Iraqi soldier launch a rocket during an operation against IS militants in the neighbourhood of Intisar, eastern Mosul, Iraq, on Monday. – Reuters

ing a second front within the city they can increase pressure on the few thousand militants who have deployed suicide bombers, snipers and militant cells against elite Iraqi troops in eastern districts.

The campaign entered its eighth week on Monday but militants still control three-quarters of the city, where around 1 million residents are living under increasingly siege-

like conditions as winter sets in.

Speaking by telephone from western neighbourhoods, residents reported what they said was the first artillery or mortar bombardment of the area. “About 10 mortar bombs fell on the neighbourhood, coming from the south, as the Iraqi forces approached... during the past 24 hours,” a resident of the Mosul Al Jadida dis-

WA R A G A I N S T I S

Forces close to securing last IS holdout in Libya’s Sirte MISRATA (LIBYA): Libyan forces said on Monday they were close to securing a final patch of land where IS have been holding out in their former North African stronghold of Sirte, though there were reports of continuing skirmishes.

IS took over Sirte in early 2015, setting up its most important base outside the Middle East and extending its control along about 250 km (150 miles) of Mediterranean coastline.

Forces led by brigades from the western city of Misrata launched a counter-attack against the militant group in May, and since August 1 the United States has carried out at least 470 air strikes to support them.

Spokesman Rida Issa told Reuters that the Misrata-led forces “control all of Sirte’s Ghiza Bahriya neighbourhood and are still securing the area”.

The statement could not immediately be verified and there was no official announcement that Sirte had been taken. One field commander said there was still some fighting and Ghiza Bahriya was yet to be fully secured.

Earlier on Monday, 34 IS fighters, including at least two senior commanders, had surrendered to Libyan forces in the Ghiza Bahriya district, officials said.

At least six women and four children had also left militantheld ground, said Mohamed Lajnef, a staff member at a field hospital outside Sirte.

Three of the Misrata-led forces were killed on Monday and 17 were wounded, he said.

Militants have been clinging on in a few dozen buildings in Ghiza Bahriya for weeks. In recent days, Libyan forces say dozens of women and children have escaped or been freed from the area. — Reuters

DRIVE SLOWER LIVE LONGER

trict told Reuters late on Sunday.

“It has sparked panic among civilians because this is the first time it has happened in our area.”

He said the bombardment had led to a virtual curfew in the district, with people afraid to leave their homes. “One of the mortar bombs exploded 100 metres from our house, killing three youths and wounding others,” he said.

In the adjacent neighbourhood of Mansour, a resident said the bombardment was an ominous development. “We’re worried there will be a repeat of the scenario in the eastern districts which have seen humanitarian disasters,” he said. An Iraqi police source, speaking from the front line south west of Mosul, said police rockets or mortars were not yet within range of the edge of the city.

But a military source said French artillery forces, who are supporting the police units, had been firing in the south. The USled air coalition has also conducted some air strikes.

Another Mosul resident said on Monday there had been “constant”

air strikes against targets around the airport and in the Tel Roman district on the southwestern edge of the city.

Militants were reported to be on the move. People said they saw 40 or 50 pickup trucks with rocket launchers on top leaving Wadi Agab, an industrial area on the western limits of the city targeted by strikes, and moving to residential areas nearer the expected new front line. A shopowner near the industrial area said he saw a long queue of pickups leaving the industrial area on Sunday.

“This morning I saw more vehicles leaving. I counted at least 50 trucks,” he said.

The long-awaited attack from the south aims to relieve pressure on Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) troops which have spearheaded the fighting in east Mosul for the last month and have come up against the militants’ lethal defences. Officers say they are engaged in fierce urban warfare, facing hundreds of suicide car bombers, snipers and militants exploiting a network of tunnels

underneath residential areas to launch deadly counter-attacks.

The presence of civilians throughout the city has also hampered their progress, they say, reducing options for air strikes and heavy weapons in the densely populated streets.

At current rates of progress, the campaign is set to last well into next year, raising fears among residents and aid groups of a humanitarian crisis, with possible food, fuel and water shortages in militant-held districts largely surrounded.

Iraqi commanders say they have killed at least 1,000 of the 5,0006,000 IS militants they estimated were defending the city when the campaign was launched.

The military has not given figures for its own casualties. The United Nations said last week nearly 2,000 members of the Iraqi security forces had been killed across Iraq in November - a figure Baghdad says was based on unverified reports - and that more than 900 police and civilians had also been killed. — Reuters

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 The separatist groups had called for a march to Lal Chowk on Monday to protest civilian deaths during the unrest in the Valley that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

INDIA RISE IN POPULARITY

Modi wins online reader’s poll for Time Person of the Year NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the online reader’s poll for Time Person of the Year 2016, beating out other world leaders like US President-elect Donald Trump, incumbent US leader Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Modi won with 18 per cent of the vote when the poll closed on Sunday night, getting significantly more votes than his closest contenders, including Obama, Trump and Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange, who all received 7 per cent of the ‘yes’ vote.

Modi was also placed far ahead of other prominent figures of this year, like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (2 per cent) and US Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (4 per cent), Time said.

Time’s editors will decide the

final Person of the Year later this week, but the online poll results provide a look at how the world sees these figures and Modi emerged as the most influential figure in 2016, according to the online poll. Time said the reader poll is an “important window” into who they think most shaped 2016.

It is for the second time that Modi has won the online readers’ poll for Time Person of the Year title, securing the honour in 2014, when he had got more than 16 per cent of the almost five million votes cast.

For the fourth year in a row, Modi is among the contenders for Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ honour, which the US publication bestows every year to the one “who has most influenced the news and our world in the past year, for good or

favour. For a while Assange had overtaken Trump for the lead in the online poll, getting 10 per cent of all the “yes” votes cast by participants, Time had said.

Among the contenders this year are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, FBI Chief James Comey, Apple CEO Tim Cook, parents of slain Muslim-American soldier Humanyun Khan, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Time had also analysed the moments from 2016 when this year’s poll contenders were most talked about.

For Modi it was October 16 when the Indian leader had suggested during a summit of BRICS nations in Goa that Pakistan is the “mothership” for terrorism. - PTI

ill”. Last year German Chancellor Angela Merkel was Time’s ‘Person of the Year’.

Time said in recent months, Modi saw high approval ratings from Indians, according to a September Pew poll. It added that Modi has come under scrutiny recently for getting rid of 500-and 1,000-rupee notes, impacting cash-based businesses and threatening India’s economy. Current poll results, analysed by poll host Apester, found that preferences differed across the world and the United States.

Modi performed particularly well among Indian voters as well as those in California and New Jersey. Modi had been in the lead in this year’s online poll and according to the initial votes cast, he had got 21 per cent voting in his

TALL LEADER: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the online reader’s poll for TIME Person of the Year 2016, beating out other world leaders like US President-elect Donald Trump, incumbent US leader Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. - PTI

Parliament continues to be stalled over note ban issue For the 13th consecutive day, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business due to the uproar created by the Opposition over demonetisation

MAKING A POINT: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI/TV GRAB

NEW DELHI: As the Winter session entered its third week on Monday, Parliament remained deadlocked and stalled due to stand-off between the Opposition and the government over demonetisation and how the debate should be held on it.

For the 13th consecutive day, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business due to the uproar created by the Opposition over demonetisation, even as the government expressed readiness to discuss the issue and listen to the views of members regarding “deficiencies” in its implementation so that these can be corrected.

The Lok Sabha could not function because of differences over the Rule under which a debate

should be held while the Rajya Sabha was paralysed due to uproar by Opposition over cash crunch due to demonetisation.

In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is ready for a debate but it should be left to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take a decision regarding the Rule under which the debate should be undertaken.

Singh, who spoke after Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Sudip Bandhyopadhyay (Trinamool Congress), Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Jithender Reddy (TRS) and Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD), said it was clear that nobody was questioning the intent of the government over demonetisation even though some felt it was not done in a

proper way. He also said the Opposition was divided as parties like TRS and BJD wanted debate under Rule 193 which does not entail voting instead of Rule 184 which entails voting as demanded by parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress and Left.

Congress and Trinamool, however, maintained its demand that a debate should be held under Rule 184. An attempt was made to take up the debate under Rule 193, with TRS leader A P Jithender Reddy being called to initiate the discussion. As Opposition members protested the move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said for the past two weeks all members have been seeking a debate on the issue of note ban.

He said while the opposition

has been demanding a vote on the debate, it should be held under Rule 193. As Reddy rose to speak, Trinamool Congress members surrounded him and created a lot of noise by resorting to shouting, including using the TRS leader’s microphone.

Meanwhile, Congress members were in the Well of the House, shouting slogans. Reddy, who has been favouring a debate under Rule 193, spoke briefly but nothing could be heard in the din.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar also said something which could not be heard.

As chaos prevailed, the House was adjourned for the day at around 2.10pm.

In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties raised slogans demand-

ing the government’s reply on the problems faced by employees and pensioners. The uproar led to repeated adjournments before the final one at 2.15 pm.

Soon after the Upper House mourned the death of two of its former members and the listed papers were laid, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “The government employees and pensioners are not getting their salaries. I want to know from the government if there is a financial emergency.”

He said there is no cash in ATMs located even in the Parliament complex. “When we are not getting money from ATMs in Parliament, how do we expect it outside? It seems there is a financial emergency.”

Describing it as a serious issue, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked members to resume the debate on demonetisation that had been initiated on November 16.

“I am agreeing that you are raising a important and serious issue.

It is for the government to reply.

You start discussion. If all of you shout, what is the benefit? The only remedy is discussion,” he said.

But as protesting members started shouting at high pitch, Kurien said: “You want a solution to the problem, then go back and raise the issue. Then the government will reply. This is not the way. There is anarchy in the House. I am not going to adjourn.

Slogan shouting is no solution.

You will get certain headlines in newspapers and nothing more. I will not adjourn.” - PTI

MUMBAI

Two killed as INS Betwa tips over MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Two personnel were on Monday killed and 15 others injured when INS Betwa, a guided missile frigate, tipped over during undocking at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

“There has been an incident in the cruiser grounding dock at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai involving INS Betwa. The incident occurred during undocking evolution wherein it is suspected that dock blocks mechanism failed,” navy spokesperson Captain D. K. Sharma said. Explaining the situation, he said the 3,850-tonne ship, having a length of 126 metres, tipped over while it was being undocked.

The mast of the ship hit the dockyard ground, he said.

It was docked for repairs and while being returned to the water — a process that involves tipping the ship — the system tripped and the entire ship fell sideways. The main mast of the frigate broke.

While two naval personnel died, 15 others were injured with one of them in a serious condition, the spokesman said. INS Betwa, a Brahmaputra-class guided missile warship (F-39), slipped on the dock blocks during a refit at about 1350 hours.

The ship had run aground in January 2014 and collided with an unidentified object which led to a crack in its sonar system, and had also seen salt water ingress into sensitive equipment. Named after the river Betwa, the frigate has been in service for over 12 years.

It was indigenously designed and built with the capability to operate at extended ranges, with speeds up to 30 knots. - PTI

JAMMU AND KASHMIR UNREST

Separatists placed under house arrest SRINAGAR/ NEW DELHI: Normal life was partially affected in Indian-administered-Kashmir on Monday due to a strike called by separatists even as authorities placed Hurriyat Conference leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest to foil their plans of holding a march to Lal Chowk city centre.

“Geelani and the Mirwaiz have been placed under house arrest as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.

The separatist groups had called for a march to Lal Chowk on Monday to protest civilian deaths during the unrest in the Valley that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

The authorities have sealed off Clock Tower and surrounding areas in Lal Chowk to prevent the separatists from assembling there. Shops and other business establishments remained closed due to the strike call but transport — both public and private — was plying in many parts of the city.

Schools and government offices were closed on Monday due to public holiday to mark the 111th birth anniversary of former chief minister and founder of opposition National Conference Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

Reports of shutdown were received from other districts and towns of the Valley but the situation so far is peaceful, the official

STRICT VIGIL: A paramilitary trooper stands guard during restrictions in the Lal Chowk area of central Srinagar on Monday. - AFP

said. The unrest in the Valley has left 86 people dead and thousands others, including 5,000 security personnel, injured.

School blaze Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir government has been able to “thwart 14 attempts to burn schools last month” by terrorists who have set ablaze 31 schools in a series of attacks, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Mahendra Nath Pandey said in Lok Sabha.

He also enumerated measures being taken by the local Education

department to helps schools make up for lost time due to unrest in the valley.

“Adequate heating arrangement in the classrooms, hostels, hot water supply, cancelling of winter vacation for academic staff and increase in weekly contact hours for each course,” he said.

The minister also informed that the School Education Department of the state government of Jammu and Kashmir had categorised schools in three different categories on the basis of threat perception namely “normal, sensitive and hypersensitive.”

“All sensitive and hypersensitive schools have been provided round the clock watch and ward staff by redeploying the available manpower of education department.

“The measures taken by the state government to protect the schools have resulted in thwarting 14 attempts to burn the schools during last one month,” said Pandey.

However, according to the MoS, there has been no proposal from the state government to the Centre regarding “closed or burnt schools” in Kashmir valley. -PTI

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A9

INDIA

Jaya ‘responding’ to treatment after cardiac arrest, condition still critical No law and order problem in Tamil Nadu, says Rajnath

Senior AIADMK leader’s remarks came even as Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa is admitted, said its specialists and those from AIIMS were constantly monitoring the 68-year-old chief minister very closely PRAYING FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY: AIADMK members pray for the speedy recovery of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Coimbatore on Monday. - PTI

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest and is in a critical condition, is “responding” to the treatment being given by experts, who include a four-member AIIMS team, her party AIADMK said on Monday.

“The AIIMS team... they have come and are treating (Jayalalithaa).She is responding to it,” a spokesperson from the ruling party said on Monday night without elaborating.

The senior leader’s remarks came even as Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa is admitted, said its specialists and those from AIIMS were constantly monitoring the 68-year-old chief minister very closely.

The Centre had earlier in the day dispatched a team of specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to the Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment after suffering cardiac arrest late Sunday. The

team of AIIMS doctors include pulmonologist Dr G. C .Khilnani, anaesthetist Dr Anjan Trikha, cardiac surgeon Dr Sachin Talwar and cardiologist Dr Rajiv Narang.

Meanwhile, a near shutdown like situation prevailed in the city with shops and other establishments downing shutters and office goers returning home early as Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s health condition continued to remain critical on Monday.

The entire area in and around Apollo Hospitals, where she is being treated since September 22, resembled a fortress with traffic completely halted on the road leading to the hospital and a heavy police posse deployed.

At the hospital hundreds of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) party workers continued to stay put and raised slogans saying their beloved ‘Amma’ should recover. Some were seen protesting against some TV

channels, which aired wrong news of Jayalalilthaa’s health condition earlier on Monday evening.

Elsewhere in the city, a bandh like situation prevailed with relatively less traffic on the roads.

Educational institutions sent students home early in the afternoon, while several offices asked their staff to leave early.

By dusk, roads started wearing a deserted look, even as groups of anxious people huddled in discussions over the condition of 68-year-old AIADMK supremo.

Shops, including petty outlets, eateries and departmental stores, closed shutters, even as people stocked essentials.

Many bus and suburban rail stations wore a near deserted look by 7pm itself while the number of private vehicles was also less on many roads. The usual weekday peak hour rush was absent with comparatively less number of commuters seen travelling on the

Tambaram-Beach suburban train route. The busy Rangananthan Street in the commercial district of T Nagar also emptied soon.

A report from Madurai said similar situation was witnessed in the temple city and many other towns in south Tamil Nadu where shopkeepers downed shutters and people scurried home.

Office goers had a tough time when they left early as many bus services were withdrawn. The atmosphere in many towns and cities turned eerie and silent in south Tamil Nadu. AIADMK men and women looked sad and sobbing in the party offices in Madurai.

Police were guarding all vantage points including lanes and bylanes as a precautionary measure.

Tourists in pilgrims centres such as Palani, Madurai and Rameswaram were stranded with very few buses plying and were forced to go for roadside hotels for their dinner. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday ruled out the possibility of law and order problems in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the latest update on the health condition of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“There is no issue of law and order. Law and order is not a concern yet,” he told reporters here.

Singh had on Sunday night spoken to Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and enquired about the health of Jayalalithaa, who, according to Apollo Hospitals, “continues to be very critical,” a day after suffering cardiac arrest.

She is on various life support systems, the hospital said.

A senior Home Ministry official said the central government was closely monitoring the situation in Tamil Nadu all efforts are being made to maintain law and order so that no untoward incident takes place.

The Home Ministry officials are in constant touch with the officials of Tamil Nadu government and assessing the situation.

Law and order situation in Tamil Nadu was normal so far and adequate central forces were available in the state to assist the state administration, the officials said.

As many as 900 personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) of CRPF have been put on stand-by to be immediately airlifted from various places in the country to Tamil Nadu,

if needed, they said.

Meanwhile, a meeting of ruling AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu which was expected to discuss key issues in the wake of the “grave” health situation of party supremo and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, could not be held as planned and has since been postponed, party sources said on Monday night.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at 6pm on Monday to chalk out various strategies in the wake of the deteriorating health of Jayalalithaa, but no deliberations took place despite the MLAs assembling at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagamheadquarters here.

The sources could not state exactly when the meeting would take place again, but only reiterated that “it has been postponed.”

“It could be later in the night or even tomorrow... all we can confirm is that the meeting has been postponed,” they added.

Earlier in the day also the MLAs had met at Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment and reportedly discussed the leadership issue, among other matters.

According to doctors, the condition of Jayalalithaa, who suffered cardiac arrest on Sunday, is very “grave”.

AIADMK has a total of 136 MLAs in the the 234-member House, including Jayalalithaa. - PTI

A 10

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 Since the smoke kept circulating most of those who died or were injured was due to suffocation but we could contain the fire quickly as the air conditioning system kept on working

PAKISTAN

Tehseen Siddiqui, Chief Fire Officer

Blaze at hotel in Karachi kills at least 11, injures 75 housing guests who were trapped inside their rooms.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered an inquiry into the fire while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also expressed his condolences over the incident.

Chief Fire Officer Tehseen Siddiqui said that the blaze was contained as it was not very intense and all guests had been evacuated from the hotel.

“Since the smoke kept circulating most of those who died or were injured was due to suffocation but we could contain the fire quickly as the air conditioning system kept on working,” he said.

Television footages showed desperate guests trying to escape from their balconies while used bedsheets to climb down from windows.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen located at the ground floor of the Regent Plaza hotel at the city’s Shahrah-i- Faisal area and spread across the six-floor building, trapping nearly 100 hotel guests in their rooms RESCUED GUESTS: Guests gather outside a Regent Plaza Hotel following a fire in the Pakistan’s port

KARACHI: At least 11 people, including four women, were suffocated to death and 75 others injured on Monday when a predawn fire ripped through a fourstar hotel here, the fourth blaze to hit Pakistan’s largest city in the last two weeks.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen located at the ground floor of the Regent Plaza hotel at the city’s Shahrah-i-Faisal area and spread across the six-floor building, trapping nearly 100 hotel guests in their rooms.

Three fire tenders of the fire brigade reached the site and started an operation to rescue the guests.

The firefighters were able to contain the fire after three hours, with 11 people having been killed,

city of Karachi on Monday. A pre-dawn fire at a hotel in Pakistan’s largest Karachi city on Monday, killed at least 11 people and wounded 75 others, police and a doctor said. - AFP

said Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation. Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar visited the site of the incident and while talking to media, he said the fire has been contained but the cause of the fire could not be determined as of yet. He said rescue work was hampered due to absence of an emergency exit and spread of heavy smoke.

At least 75 people affected by the fire were brought to the emergency department, Dr Seemin Jamali, head of the emergency services at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Amongst those were people

who had fractured bones after jumping from hotel windows to escape, others had been hurt by shattered glass and many were treated for smoke inhalation, she said. She confirmed the death toll and said the victims suffocated to death.

“Those killed include four women and seven males while the injured include some foreigners as well,” she said.

The rescue operation has not ended, and some people are still reportedly trapped inside the hotel. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. Pakistan cricketer Sohaib Maqsood was present in

the hotel at the time of the incident. Another cricketer Yasin Murtaza jumped from the second floor to the ground and fractured his ankle. Karamat Ali was injured by broken glass, according to sources.

Probe ordered “The casualties could have been higher had it not been for the prompt response of the fire department and other rescue officials,” IG Sindh, A.D. Khawaja said. The official said that fire-fighters had managed to put out the fire after nearly three hours as it spread rapidly to floors

Series of fire incidents Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan, has seen a series of fire incidents in recent weeks.

This is the fourth major fire to break out in the city in the last two weeks. Last week, the largest metropolis of the country witnessed what was the third reported blaze in the last 10 days.

A three-storey building being used as a warehouse of medicines and chemicals caught fire on December 2.

On Saturday, two surveyors were killed as a fire, preceded by a blast, erupted at a methanol storage tank located near the port in Keamari.

Earlier, on November 23, a similar incident occurred near Gate No 2 in two storage tanks that were reportedly operated by Shell Oil Marketing Company. - PTI

TA C K L E WAT E R S C A R C I T Y

Nawaz Sharif approves Diamer Bhasha Dam financing plan ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday approved, in principle, the financing plan for Diamer Basha Dam. The premier directed the water and power, planning and finance secretaries to expedite work on the financial proposal and start related preparations to ensure physical work on the dam kicked off before the end of 2017.

The dam portion of the project will be constructed through Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocations and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) generated resources.

The remaining financing for the power-generation portion will be arranged on commercial basis by the ministry either through Wapda or through leasing its existing projects. The dam was approved for construction by Council of Common Interests (CCI) in 2009.

Efforts to finance it through multilateral donors had been prolonged. Pakistan needs to urgently enhance its storage capacity to tackle water scarcity. Storage capacity across existing dams has been fast depleting due to silting with the country’s agricultural production declining due to routine dry spells. These challenges need to be overcome by ensuring greater storage capacity. The dam will provide 8.1 million acre feet (MAF) of gross storage. Of this, 6.4 MAF will be live storage and a capacity to produce 4500 MWs of cheap and clean energy. The premier also appreciated the fact that the land acquisition for the dam had been completed. - Express Tribune

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Pakistan still mired in a centralisation mindset ISLAMABAD: In 1990, urban population of Pakistan stood at 31 per cent of the total.

In a span of 25 years, the ratio has approximately increased by eight percentage points to reach 39 per cent in 2015.

During the same period, Chinese urban population has risen over two-fold from 26 per cent in 1990 to 56 per cent in 2015.

For China, this was an era of phenomenal economic growth, which resulted in pulling out an unprecedented 400 million people out of poverty.

It became the second largest economy and top trading nation.

And mind this that Chinese cities played a vital role in this economic transformation. On the other side, Pakistan had its own highs and lows during this long interval.

The country oscillated between democracy and authoritarianism.

It had its stints of economic growth, while bearing an enormous cost of war against terrorism in terms of human resource, material and global perception.

Pakistanis did witness the his-

toric devolution of power under the 18th Amendment, which revived the federalism spirit of the country’s constitution.

After devolving fiscal and administrative powers to the second tier, for example, provincial governments, a tussle on power division has emerged among some provincial governments and the third tier, the local governments.

It is hoped that with continuous democratic process, this issue will also be resolved in due course of time. This talk about different tiers of government is meant to elaborate on the influence of multi-tier diffusion of power on economic growth. China could be taken as a precedent in this regard.

Though not a democracy in classical terms, however, political power is amicably devolved among different tiers of the government.

It is not a centralised authoritarian state, where every directive flows from the barrel at Beijing.

Provinces and then sub-provincial cities have substantial political and economic autonomy to plan, decide and implement their

KARACHI SKYLINE: A view of the city skyline is pictured in Karachi September 3, 2013. The influx of rural population in the cities requires planning and management. - Reuters file photo

respective growth strategies.

If one takes into account the four municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing) and 15 sub-provincial cities, the population of these 19 major urban agglomerations makes up 16 per cent of the population of China.

However, these cities are holding a 32 per cent share in the country’s GDP. These cities are

the main conduit of foreign direct investment in China.

All the major industrial estates and famous special economic zones are located in these cities.

An important question arises as to how these cities run in such a productive manner. Credit goes to the central government for devolving power at the grassroots levels.

Party secretary is the highest

post in a city’s political hierarchy, whereas the mayor of the city is the head of government.

Party secretary provides the political and economic leadership for the city in line with national and provincial development plans.

Mayor is responsible for the implementation and day-to-day affairs of the city. Clear demarcation of powers and duties enables a smooth functioning of the system.

These top officials are nominated by the party hierarchy, not popularly elected.

However, incentive structure for the party secretary and mayor for progression in the Communist Party is linked with the economic performance of the cities under their rule. It creates enormous political competition for enhancing economic growth of respective geographical jurisdictions by party officials.

In comparison, Pakistan is still mired in a centralisation mindset despite talk of devolution.

May be it is a legacy of the colonial rule, but Pakistani governance structure needs to align itself with

requirements of the modern economic system. Urbanisation is the game in the town. All major economies are highly urbanised, which induces knowledge diffusion and economies of scale in production.

Mechanisation in agriculture is creating surplus labour in the rural hinterland. The influx of rural population in the cities requires planning and management.

However, Pakistan is still unable to correctly count its population as a census has not been held for 18 years. Devolution of powers to the third tier remains an unresolved issue. Provincial governments did hold local bodies elections under pressure from the Supreme Court.

However, their intent is to keep these bodies dysfunctional with strings of fiscal purse under their thumps. It is not a way of administrating large cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and others.

We are talking about fate changer status of the CPEC, but we are not enabling our cities to service Chinese investors and businesses on their own. - Express Tribune

TERRORISM

Bilawal blasts government on National Action Plan failure LAHORE: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has once again castigated the federal government, especially Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, on its failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.

On Sunday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman said the 17-point counter-terrorism strategy lost its effectiveness owing to the poor performance of the federal interior minister.

Addressing a workers convention at Bilawal House, Lahore to mark the party’s 49th Foundation Day celebrations, the PPP leader said NAP had become ‘N-League (PML-N) Action Plan’ that had failed badly in protecting the life and property of citizens.

Bilawal, wearing a navy-blue suit and Sindhi Ajrak on his shoulder and a Sindhi cap, asked his party workers, mostly from Sindh province, if they felt any change in Sindh and the party after he assumed party’s reins.

He said he would bring change

Bilawal Bhutto

in Pakistan as he had done within the party.

Demands He reiterated if the government did not accept his demands of democratic accountability by December 27, the slogan of ‘Go Nawaz Go’ would be heard across Pakistan. He added if his party workers supported him he would become the next prime minister

of Pakistan after winning 2018 general elections.

Bilawal strongly criticised Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif by reciting an alternate version of poet Habib Jalib’s poem “Zulmat Ko Zia”.

“I apologise for plagiarising poetic works, but I want to recite a few verses for rulers and media, especially for a biased news outlet,” he pointed out.

He also shouted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif as well as Chaudhry Nisar. Famous Sindhi folk tunes kept echoing in Bilawal House the whole day. Bilawal, along with his sisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa, enjoyed performances of Sindhi singers and artists.

Scores of senior leaders and a large number of party workers were present in the celebrations that coincided with the Sindhi Cultural Day. -Express Tribune

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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WORLD

Mladic central to Srebrenica genocide, say prosecutors Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, 74, faces up to life imprisonment on two counts of genocide and nine counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes

THE HAGUE: Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic was a central figure in the 1995 massacre of thousands of Muslims from Srebrenica, prosecutors told judges at his genocide trial on Monday.

Prosecutors were making their closing arguments in Mladic’s trial, the last major war crimes case at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which is winding down after more than 20 years prosecuting the ethnic warfare that accompanied the 1990s collapse of Yugoslavia.

Prosecutor Alan Tieger told judges at the Tribunal that rather than the “marginalised figure” his defence attorney made him out to

HEARING: This file photo taken on June 3, 2011 at the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague shows wartime Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic wearing a cap saluting in the court room at his initial appearance. – AFP

be, Mladic helped orchestrate the killings, Revenge “Mladic walked into Srebrenica and vowed that the time had come to take revenge on the Turks,” Tieger said of the massacre, in which 8,000 Muslim men and boys, some as young as 12, were “systematically slaughtered”.

Mladic, 74, faces up to life imprisonment on two counts of genocide and nine counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

C O M M E M O R AT I O N

Hearings are due to conclude on December 15 and a judgement is likely in 2017. “The cleansing campaign tore apart non-Serb families and communities and left behind destroyed mosques and Catholic churches, the burnedout and empty shells of Bosnian Muslim villages and mass graves,” adsded prosecutor Arthur Traldi.

Mladic, frail from a series of strokes when he was arrested in 2011, was alert, listening intently and occasionally wiping his brow with a handkerchief as prosecu-

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tors spoke. “If Mladic hadn’t come to Srebrenica my son Nermin, whose birthday it is today, would still be alive,” said Munira Subasic, one of a group of grieving relatives gathered outside the court in The Hague.

Mladic was charged alongside former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison in March. Prosecutors say they masterminded a conspiracy to carve an ‘ethnically pure’ Serbian state out of Bosnia.

Tieger quoted Mladic as telling the Bosnian Serb assembly in 1994 they had an historic opportunity to create “not any kind of state, but an all-Serb state with as few enemies as possible”.

Karadzic and Mladic were indicted shortly before the end of Bosnia’s war, which claimed up to 100,000 lives, but spent more than a decade on the run in Serbia before their arrest. Established in 1993, the tribunal indicted 161 individuals from all sides of the conflict and 83 have been convicted. — Reuters

BANK HEIST

Bangladesh to share findings of inquiry with the Philippines DHAKA: Bangladesh will share findings from its investigation into how unidentified hackers pulled off one of the world’s biggest cyber bank heists to help speed up recovery of the stolen funds, its law minister said on Monday.

Bangladesh has up to now declined to disclose its findings of an inquiry into how the hackers used stolen Bangladesh Bank credentials to try to transfer nearly $1 billion from its US Federal Reserve account in February.

Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who last week met a Bangladesh delegation led by Minister of Law Anisul Huq, said Manila “strongly recommended” Dhaka share the results of its investigation. While the Bangladesh central bank, the Bangladesh Bank, had previously declined to release any inquiry findings, saying it wanted to deny the perpetrators knowledge of the investigation, it would now do so, Huq said. “It is part of co-operation. We will give them an update of our investigation,” he said.

The hackers managed to transfer $81 million via an account at the New York Federal Reserve to four accounts in fake names at a branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp in the Philippines. Most of the money was laundered through Philippine casinos and only about $15 million was recovered from a gaming junket operator and returned to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has said it wants the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp to compensate it for its losses, but the bank refuses to pay and has said the Bangladesh central bank was “negligent”. — Reuters

THE PHILIPPINES

Abe to visit Hawaii Leni Robredo vows to take on Duterte to remember Pearl Harbor victims TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he will visit Pearl Harbor this month with US President Barack Obama “to console the souls” of victims of Japan’s surprise attack on US forces there 75 years ago.

Abe, who will be the first serving Japanese prime minister to visit the naval base in Hawaii, said he wanted to demonstrate resolve to end the horror of war.

This year, Obama become the first serving US president to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which the United States attacked with an atomic bomb in 1945.

“I’ll visit Pearl Harbor with President Obama. This will be a visit to console the souls of the victims,” Abe told reporters.

“I would like to show to the world the resolve that horrors of war should never be repeated.”

Abe will visit Hawaii on December 26 and 27 and plans to hold his final summit meeting with the outgoing US president during the trip. Obama has close ties to Hawaii, the island state where he was born and where he and his family have vacationed throughout his White House term.

Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor with torpedo planes, bombers and fighter planes on

the morning of December 7, 1941, bombing the US fleet moored there, in the hope of destroying US power in the Pacific.

The attack led to the United States entering World War II and the defeat of Japan in August 1945, days after US atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The White House said Abe’s visit would highlight the alliance between the former wartime enemies. “The two leaders’ visit will showcase the power of reconciliation that has turned former adversaries into the closest of allies, united by common interests and shared values,” the White House said in a statement.

Abe last year spoke to the US Congress and expressed “deep repentance” over Japan’s role in World War II. Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University’s Japan campus, said an outright apology from Abe would be unlikely during his Pearl Harbor visit. “He won’t go as far as to apologise, but there will be a demonstration of contrition. He will follow Obama’s model (in Hiroshima). Obama has shown the way forward in addressing the past without whitewashing and denying,” Kingston said. — Reuters

MANILA: Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo resigned from the cabinet on Monday but vowed to lead the opposition and challenge the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte, including his deadly war on drugs and moves to reinstate the death penalty.

Robredo, who will remain vice president, had clashed frequently with Duterte and decided to resign from her ministerial role after being instructed via a text message to stay away from his cabinet meetings. She was elected vice president in May in a separate contest and was not Duterte’s running mate.

Robredo renewed her warning of a plot taking shape to remove her from the number two post and said the instruction from Duterte was tantamount to being sacked.

“If you are not being allowed to attend cabinet meetings anymore, what does that mean?” she said at a news conference.

“I will be an opposition leader.

I will oppose policies that will be detrimental to the people.”

Those includes the death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability and alleged extrajudicial killings as part of the crackdown on drugs, which has killed more than 2,000 people.

Duterte accepted Robredo’s resignation as housing secretary “with a heavy heart”, his spokesman Ernesto Abella said. Robredo, 52, a former lawyer and social activist,

ADVERSARIAL ATTITUDE: Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo speaks during a news conference following her resignation from her post in President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet, at the Quezon City Reception House, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Monday. – Reuters

won the vice presidential election in May by a narrow margin, defeating Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator overthrown in a 1986 revolt. Marcos, better known by his nickname “Bongbong”, has appealed to a tribunal of the Supreme Court for a recount, which Robredo said she was confident of winning.

Robredo did not give details of the alleged plot to “steal” the vice presidency, but said Marcos accompanying Duterte on an official visit to China in October was telling. “In China, the president took Bongbong Marcos and even introduced him as the vice president,” she said.

Marcos’s lawyer, Vic Rodri-

guez, issued a statement saying Robredo’s resignation was “long overdue given her very obvious adversarial attitude”.

He described Robredo’s claim of a plot to unseat her as hypocritical.

“The vice presidency has indeed been stolen, and it was stolen by no less than Mrs Robredo,” Rodriguez said. — Reuters

OUTWEIGHING CONCERNS

Austrians’ pro-EU views scupper far-right bid for presidency VIENNA: Austrians’ desire to stay anchored in the European Union outweighed concerns over immigration and security and helped former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen defeat his far-right rival Norbert Hofer in Sunday’s presidential election.

Van der Bellen, whose win bucks a trend of populist victories across Western democracies, had put Britain’s decision to leave the EU at the centre of his own campaign, warning voters not to “play with this fire”.

“I will be a pro-European president of Austria open to the world,” Van der Bellen, 72, said in his victory speech.

Hofer, whose Freedom Party (FPO) is anti-immigrant and eurosceptic, had suggested at one point in the campaign that Austrians could vote within months on

whether to follow Britain out of the EU, though he later rowed back from the comments.

Austria’s economy is closely integrated with the rest of the EU, the destination last year of about 70 per cent of its exports, worth some 91 billion euros ($96.81 billion). “Austria, as a small and open economy, profits more than average from free trade and its integration into the European market,” said Georg Kapsch, head of Austria’s Chamber of Industry, when congratulating Van der Bellen on his victory.

A SORA survey published shortly after Britain’s vote to leave the EU in June showed about 70 per cent of Austrians would have voted to “remain” in the bloc, which it joined in 1994.

Two-thirds of Van der Bellen’s supporters backed him because

CELEBRATIONS: Austrian Presidential candidate Alexander Van der Bellen celebrates with supporters at a post-election event in Vienna on Sunday. – AFP

they thought he would represent them best abroad and because he supports the EU, a SORA survey conducted on December 1-4 found.

This compared with 36 per cent of Hofer voters who saw their man

as a good representative abroad, SORA said. “(Van der Bellen) is a president of the centre and arguments relating to Europe, to jobs, were very strong reasons that made people

understand this,” said Johannes Zweytick, a deputy mayor in the rural town of Ehrenhausen from one of Austria’s governing parties, the conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP).

Some conservatives including the OVP leader backed Van der Bellen for the mainly ceremonial post of president despite their traditional scepticism about the Greens due to uncertainty over the stance of Hofer and his FPO towards the EU. “People found this (ambiguity) irritating,” said Zweytick.

The FPO now says it favours Austria’s continued membership of the EU but says they would seek a referendum on the issue if the bloc became more “centralised” or if Turkey joined the EU - a very unlikely prospect any time soon.

Underlining its wariness on the

issue of the EU, the FPO quickly distanced itself just before Sunday’s election from comments by Nigel Farage, former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) and veteran supporter of Brexit.

Farage said he expected Hofer would push for a similar referendum in Austria if he became president.

“The FPO is neither for Austria’s exit from the EU nor does it want (to) build the EU into a United States of Europe with the loss of veto rights for member states,” it said. Despite Hofer’s defeat, the FPO remains Austria’s most popular party and could play the leading role in forming a new coalition government after the next parliamentary election, which is due in 2018 but could come sooner. — Reuters

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

WORLD COUP AGAINST ERDOGAN

HONOURING LATE THAI KING People light candles in honour of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej to commemorate his birthday in Sanam Luang park in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Monday. — AFP

Greek court rules against extradition of 3 Turkey soldiers ATHENS: A Greek court ruled against the extradition to Turkey of three Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece after an abortive coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan in July, their lawyer and court officials said on Monday.

Turkey alleges the three were involved in the failed July 16 coup and has branded them traitors.

They all deny playing a role in the attempt to dislodge Erdogan from power that led to a purge within the country’s military and civil service.

At odds The case has exposed the sometimes-strained relations between Athens and Ankara, NATO allies who are at odds over issues from Cyprus to air rights over the Aegean.

“I am very pleased with the ruling, they shouldn’t have been extradited.. The court was objective,” their lawyer Stavroula Tomara told Reuters.

The state prosecutor said the lives of the soldiers would be in

I TA L I A N R E F E R E N D U M

Merkel saddened by Renzi’s defeat BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she was saddened by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s defeat in a referendum on constitutional reform that she supported, adding that the vote was a domestic matter that must be respected.

Many investors are looking to Merkel for leadership in Europe, fearing instability could reignite a sovereign debt crisis at a time when the EU is struggling with Britain’s decision to leave and support for populist or right-wing parties is on the rise.

“I am sad that the referendum in Italy did not turn out as the prime minister wished because I always supported his reform policies but it is of course a domestic Italian decision that we must respect,” Merkel told reporters in the city of Essen where her conservatives are holding a party congress. Earlier, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said the chancellor had taken note of Renzi’s decision to step down after the referendum with regret.

Seibert said Merkel had a good relationship with Renzi, marked by deep trust. “ The German government will offer close cooperation in friendship and partnership with the successor government in Italy, whatever it looks like,” Seibert added at a government news conference.

He declined to draw any parallels between the Italian referendum result and the Brexit vote in June and the election in the United States of Donald Trump as the next President. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a member of the Social Democrats (SPD) who share power with Merkel’s conservatives, was more blunt, saying he was disappointed by the Italian result. — Reuters

danger if they were returned to their home country and the court agreed, court officials said on condition of anonymity.

The trio are among a group of eight Turkish soldiers facing extradition from Greece. They include three majors, three captains and two sergeant-majors.

Protective custody The soldiers have been kept in protective custody pending the outcome of their asylum applications.

A first-instance board has rejected the asylum claims made by five of the soldiers. They have appealed that decision.

The others are still waiting for a decision on their requests.

The court on Monday said the soldiers must be released and recognised as asylum seekers pending a final ruling on their claims for political asylum in Greece.

The court was expected to rule on the extradition of another three soldiers on Tuesday and two more on Thursday, one of the court officials said. — Reuters

After hesitation, Ben Carson accepts Trump cabinet post The popular writer and speaker in conservative circles nation to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development

WASHINGTON: Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a rivalturned-supporter of Donald Trump, overcame his stated qualms about a lack of government experience on Monday to accept the president-elect’s nomination to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Carson, a popular writer and speaker in conservative circles, has been a close adviser to Trump since dropping out of the 2016 Republican presidential primary contest.

He is the first African-American picked for a Cabinet spot as Trump fills out his administration before his inauguration on January 20.

The position requires confirmation by the US Senate.

Trump’s Cabinet picks so far have been mostly white men, although he has also nominated two women, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as US ambassador to the United Nations and Republican donor Betsy DeVos to be education secretary.

Trump, who beat Democrat

JOINING GOVERNMENT: This file photo taken on March 11, 2016 shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump standing with former presidential candidate Ben Carson as he receives his endorsement at the Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday chose Ben Carson to turn around troubled US inner cities as secretary of housing and urban development. - AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/JOE RAEDLE

Hillary Clinton in last month’s election, has filled 13 high-level administration posts, with the key position of US secretary of state among jobs remaining to be filled.

Lack of experience He and Carson discussed the HUD position before the Thanksgiving Day holiday late last month, although Carson - despite his presidential run - had indicated reluctance to take a post in the incoming administration because of his lack of federal government experience. Trump, a real estate magnate and former reality TV star who also has no government experience and has never held public office, expressed confidence Carson could do the job.

“Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities,” he said in a statement. The transition team described Carson as a national leader who overcame a “troubled youth in the inner city of Detroit to become a renowned neurosurgeon.”

Carson said he was honoured to accept the post, saying he believes he can make a “significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need.”

Other Trump picks have included retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as defence secretary, US Representative Mike Pompeo as CIA director, Senator

Jeff Sessions as attorney general, retired General Michael Flynn as national security adviser, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as chief of staff and right-wing media executive Steve Bannon as chief White House strategist.

Carson, a highly respected neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for 30 years, had also been considered for US surgeon general and head of Health and Human Services Department.

His business manager, Armstrong Williams, said last month Carson had decided not serve in Trump’s administration because “his life has not prepared him to be a Cabinet secretary.”

But Carson said after meeting with Trump he believed he could make a contribution.

Trump, a mould-breaking presidential candidate, has made some unorthodox choices for his administration, including Haley, who has little foreign policy experience, and Bannon, whose eclectic background in banking and media does not include any government work.

Like many of the initial field of 17 Republican presidential hopefuls who vied for the party’s 2016 White House nomination, Carson was a frequent Trump target during the campaign.

But he became one of his most high-profile African-American supporters after Trump secured the nomination.

At HUD, Carson would lead an agency whose mission has been to help middle- and low-income people find homes. It also runs a programme aimed at replacing distressed public housing with mixed-income neighbourhoods.

The department also oversees

mortgage lending and other housing programmes.

In a July 2015 opinion piece for the Washington Times, Carson gave some indication of his views on housing policy, criticising actions by the administration of outgoing Democratic President Barack Obama to reduce racial segregation as having the potential to “make matters worse.”

His lack of political experience and low-key style made Carson made an unconventional presidential candidate who raised eyebrows for inaccurate statements during the campaign, including that the ancient Egyptian pyramids were built to store grain, not to entomb the country’s leaders.

He had a brief surge that took him to the top of the Republican presidential polls in late 2015 but Trump went after him, questioning his mental stability because of childhood incidents in which Carson said he attacked his mother with a hammer and tried to stab another boy.

Carson’s campaign sputtered after that and he dropped out of the race in March.

One of the highlights of Carson’s medical career was being the lead neurosurgeon in a 70-member team that separated conjoined twins who shared a blood vessel at the back of their brains in 1987.

He retired as a surgeon in 2013.

Born in Detroit on September.

18, 1951, Carson was raised primarily by a single mother who worked several jobs at a time and sometimes took government assistance while pushing her two sons to read and study.

He graduated from Yale University and received his medical degree from the University of Michigan. — Reuters

EU DIVORCE

UK government begins legal fight against anti-Brexit ruling LONDON: The British government launched a Supreme Court battle on Monday over who has the power to trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union, seeking to overturn a legal ruling that could derail its Brexit strategy.

As the hearing began, EU backers in judges’ robes and wigs rode a double decker bus past the court, along with a van emblazoned with the slogan “The Brexiteers have failed us all”. A small number of rival Brexit supporters waved placards saying “This is an establishment stitch-up”.

The government appealed to the country’s highest judicial body after the High Court ruled last month that ministers could not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin two years of Brexit talks without lawmakers’ assent.

If the Supreme Court upholds the earlier ruling, that could dis-

CRISIS: A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May’s government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London, Britain on Monday. - Reuters

rupt Prime Minister Theresa May’s planned timetable for invoking Article 50 by the end of March and give lawmakers opportunities to water down the government’s EU exit policies. With passions

running high in Britain after voters opted to leave the EU by 52 to 48 per cent in a June referendum, some politicians and newspapers have portrayed the legal battle as an attempt by establishment judges to thwart the popular will.

The government’s top lawyer told the Supreme Court that the earlier legal ruling was wrong, arguing that parliament had accepted ahead of the referendum that the government would use executive “prerogative” powers where it acted on behalf of the monarch to implement its result.

Prerogative power “The triggering of Article 50, we say, will not be an exercise of prerogative power on a whim or out of a clear blue sky,” said Attorney General Jeremy Wright, adding prerogative authority was not an “ancient relic but a contemporary necessity”. “It is a logical conclu-

sion of a process in which parliament has been fully and consciously involved.”

Outside the court, a grand neoGothic building located on the same central London square as the Houses of Parliament, police kept an eye on rival groups of pro- and anti-Brexit demonstrators.

The hearing is due to last for four days and for the first time in the Supreme Court’s seven-year history all 11 justices are sitting.

The verdict is expected in January.

“We are aware of the strong feelings associated with the many wider political questions surrounding the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union,” Supreme Court President David Neuberger said in opening remarks.

“However ... those wider political questions are not the subject of this appeal.

“This appeal is concerned with

legal issues and, as judges, our duty is to consider those issues impartially, and to decide the case according to the law. This is what we shall do.”

Some lawmakers in May’s Conservative Party had called for Neuberger himself to withdraw because his wife had previously posted anti-Brexit messages on Twitter.

He said all parties in the case had been asked if they wanted any of the judges to stand down and no objections had been raised.

The case was originally brought by investment fund manager Gina Miller along with hairdresser Deir Tozetti Dos Santos.

The challengers successfully argued at the High Court that Britons would inevitably lose rights granted by parliament when leaving the EU, and that under Britain’s unwritten constitution such rights could only be taken away

with lawmakers’ approval.

If the government wins at the Supreme Court, May can invoke Article 50 by the end of March as planned. But if she loses, as many legal experts have predicted, parliament could delay or put conditions on the process, and in theory even block it.

Investors believe that greater parliamentary involvement would reduce the chances of a “hard Brexit” in which tight controls on immigration are prioritised over European single market access.

The pound surged after November’s High Court ruling. Such is the level of vitriol in the public debate over Brexit that Miller has become a target of hate and has received abuse and death threats.

“Threatening and abusing people because they are exercising their fundamental right to go to court undermines the rule of law,” said Neuberger. — Reuters

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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READERS’ FORUM War crimes do not specifically focus on children’s safety This refers to the article Saving education in conflict zones (December 5). There is no doubt that children are the worst affected in conflicts despite various measures being taken to safeguard civilians One cannot overlook the grim face of a Yazidi girl of Iraq holding a gun to safeguard her family and community members from fighters, as they were forced to leave their villages and escaped to the Sinjar mountains during the conflict. Several hundreds of children were brutally murdered during the siege. In 2014, attack on a Scan this QR code public school in Pakistan had claimed the to send letters to the lives of more than 130 children. Such grueReaders’ Forum, some incidents repeatedly show the severity containing not more than 200 words with of conflicts, yet such attacks on childhood full name, address innocence continue to happen. Many such and telephone incidents are not been captured by media number, may be sent and those associated with the concept of emby e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). bedded journalism. It is for sure, conflicts of any magnitude have deliberately taken away all that the freedom of the childhood, their education and development as violence has swept deep into their life from the day they are born. Unfortunately war crimes do not specifically focus on children’s safety, instead civilian causality has been counted to ascertain the crimes committed on humanity. —Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

VALERIE VOLCOVICI

Reservations governed by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs are intended in part to keep Native American lands off real estate market, preventing sales to nonIndians. The legal underpinnings for reservations date to treaties made between 1778 and 1871 to end wars between indigenous Indians and European settlers

Goodbye to the West Joschka Fischer

N

ow that Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States, the end of what was heretofore termed the “West” has become all but certain. That term described a transatlantic world that emerged from the twentieth century’s two world wars, redefined the international order during the four-decade Cold War, and dominated the globe – until now.

The West shouldn’t be confused with the “Occident.” While the West’s culture, norms, and predominant religion are broadly Occidental in origin, it evolved into something different over time. The Occident’s basic character was shaped over centuries by the Mediterranean region (though parts of Europe north of the Alps made many important contributions to its development). The West, by contrast, is transatlantic, and it is a child of the twentieth century.

When World War I began, it was a European conflict between the Central Powers and the Entente of Britain, France, and Russia. It became a true world war only in 1917, when the US entered the fray.

This is the moment when what we now call the West began to take form.

The West can be said to have received its birth certificate during World War II. In August 1941, after Nazi Germany had invaded the Soviet Union, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt met on a warship off the coast of Newfoundland and signed the Atlantic Charter.

That agreement would later develop into NATO, which, for four decades, enabled an alliance of independent democracies with shared values and market economies to withstand the Soviet threat – and which has safeguarded Europe to this day.

More fundamentally, the West was founded on an American commitment to come to its allies’ defence. The Western order cannot exist without the US playing this crucial role, which it may now abnegate under Trump. As a result, the future of the West itself is now at stake.

No one can be certain what Trump’s election will mean for American democracy, or what he will do when he takes office. But we can already make two reasonable assumptions.

First, his presidency will be highly disruptive to American domestic and foreign policy.

Trump won the presidency by flouting virtually every unwritten rule of American politics.

He beat not only Hillary Clinton, but also the Republican Party establishment.

There is little reason to think that he will sudden-

ly abandon this winning strategy come January 20.

We can also safely assume that Trump will stick firmly to his pledge to “Make America great again”; this will be the foundation for his presidency, come what may.

Former president Ronald Reagan also promised this, but he did so while the US, still engaged in the Cold War, could take an imperial approach. Thus, Reagan pursued rearmament on such a large scale that it ultimately led to the Soviet Union’s collapse; and he paved the way for an American economic boom with a massive increase in the national debt.

Trump does not have the luxury of an imperial approach. On the contrary, during the campaign, he heaped criticism on America’s senseless wars in the Middle East; and his supporters want nothing more than for the US to abandon its global leadership role and retreat from the world.

A US that moves toward isolationist nationalism will remain the world’s most powerful country by a wide margin; but it will no longer guarantee Western countries’ security or defend an international order based on free trade and globalization.

The only remaining questions now concern how quickly US policy will change, and how radical those changes will be. Trump has already pledged to scrap the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership – a decision that amounts to a gift to China, whether he realises it or not.

He could also bestow upon China another gift: reducing US engagement in the South China Sea. China might soon find itself the new guarantor of global free trade – and probably the new global leader in combating climate change, too.

With respect to the war in Syria, Trump might simply hand that devastated country over to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran.

Practically speaking, this would overturn the balance of power in the Middle East, with grave consequences well beyond the region; morally, it would be a cruel betrayal of the Syrian opposition and a boon to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

And if Trump defers to Putin in the Middle East, one wonders what he will do with respect to Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus. Should we expect a Yalta Conference 2.0 to recognise Putin’s new de facto sphere of influence? The new course Trump will chart for the US is already discernible; we just don’t know how quickly the ship will sail.- Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES DECEMBER 2001 Ceremony in Sohar to fete students SOHAR: A ceremony was held in the wilayat of Shinas under the auspices of Sheikh Hilal bin Said Al Hajri, wali of Shinas, to congratulate winners and participants in the Holy Quran memorisation competitions, held at the Holy Quran Memorisation Centre during the summer vacation. There event was attended by Sheikh Saif bin Himyar Al Malek Al Shehli, wali of Liwa, Mohammed bin Said Al Muqbali, member of the Majlis Al Shura, and number of officials in the wilayat.

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1812: The majority of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grand Armeé staggers into Vilna, Lithuania, ending the failed Russian campaign.

1877: Thomas A. Edison makes the first sound recording when he recites “Mary had a Little Lamb” into his phonograph machine.

1921: Ireland’s 26 southern counties become independent from Britain forming the Irish Free State.

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A14

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

LIFESTYLE DINING

Wrap it Up Recipes by

Oneza Tabish

Grilled Fish and Hummus Wraps

Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients 8 large eggs 2 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 red bell pepper, minced 1/2 red onion, minced Salt and pepper 4 multigrain flatbreads 1/2 cup shredded cheese Preparation In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Set aside. Heat olive oil and garlic in a medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add red pepper and onion, and sauté 3–5 minutes, or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add eggs, reduce heat to medium and cook another 3–5 minutes, or until eggs are set. Place egg mixture on the flatbreads. Sprinkle with cheese.

Enjoy immediately, or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil to take on the go.

Ingredients 700g white fish fillets Olive oil Salt and ground black pepper 6 tablespoons vinaigrette dressing 4 flour tortillas 3/4 cup hummus, storebought or homemade (homemade recipe in notes below) 3 cups chopped lettuce 2 medium tomatoes, diced 1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced Preparation Preheat a grill over mediumhigh heat to 425 degrees. Brush fish fillets lightly with about 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Brush the grill grates lightly with oil, and grill the fillets. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil, let rest 10 minutes then dice into cubes.

Transfer fish to a bowl, pour vinaigrette over it and toss to evenly coat. To assemble wraps spread about 3 tablespoon hummus over each tortilla, top with fish, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and wrap tortillas.

Notes For the homemade hummus - to a food processor add 1 (415g) can drained chick peas, 3 1/2 tablespoons drained chickpea liquid or water, 3 tablespoons tahini, 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove garlic sliced, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cumin. Pulse until smooth (it will take about 3 - 5 minutes depending on your food processor). Season with more salt to taste if desired and add more liquid if needed.

Chicken Kathi Rolls Kathi kebab or kathi roll is another street food item from India loved by all. This preparation is also a great way to use up leftover chicken and veggies.

Give it your own twist and be a winner of your loved ones’ hearts.

Ingredients For Dough 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup wheat flour 1 tablespoon oil Salt to taste Warm water, as required Eggs For Stuffing 1 tablespoon oil 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 onion, chopped 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 2 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon garam masala powder 1 teaspoon chat masala 1/2 chopped capsicum 1 tomato, chopped 200g diced chicken breast

Salt to taste Coriander leaves for garnishing Lemon juice, to taste Preparation For Stuffing Heat oil in a wok and add cumin seeds. Let them crackle and add the onions. Sauté till golden.

Add in ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, chat masala, and mix well. Add in capsicum and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Combine the diced chicken pieces and mix well. Season with salt.

Cover with a lid and cook till the chicken is done. Sauté well, till the water dries up. Switch off the flame, add lemon juice, and garnish with coriander leaves.

For Roti Mix all purpose flour, wheat flour, oil, and salt together with your hands. Add in warm water and make it into a soft dough. Apply some oil over the top. Cover it with damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Divide this into equal balls and roll it into thin roti. Heat a tawa or griddle and place the rotis over it and cook on both sides till it gets little brown spots.

Now lightly beat one egg and pour half over one side of roti and cook till the egg sets and is cooked. Now take the roti.

Add the filling inside the roti and top it with some chopped onions, capsicum, coriander leaves and some lemon juice.

Roll it up and enjoy it in a nice picnic spot.

Supplied photos

A power-packed protein breakfast to kick start your day with health and wellness.

A seafood lover’s dream meal with a touch of health. These are light and delicious with goodness of salad and grilled fish in a tortilla.

Avocado Chickpea Lettuce Wraps Gluten free and completely vegan, this serves to be every weightwatchers delight and doubles up as a healthy snack or a light meal.

Easy to prepare, a no fuss meal and high on the health metre.

Ingredients 1 can chickpeas, drained 1 ripe avocado, peeled and seeded 2 cucumbers, finely chopped 2 spring onions, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste 4 lettuce leaves Toppings Alfalfa sprouts 1/2 capsicum, sliced 1 tomato, finely chopped Preparation Pour drained chickpeas into a medium bowl. Mash the chickpeas until about half. Add in the avocado and continue mashing until well mixed and get a consistency to your liking. Add cucumber, onions and lemon juice and stir until mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide salad mix into 4 servings and spoon each serving into a lettuce leaf. Top with desired toppings and enjoy.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

WEATHER

TEMPERATURE

PRAYER TIMINGS

HUMIDITY

31 - 18 71-38% 0

0

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.03pm 3.05pm 5.25pm 6.40pm 5.15am

A15

LIFESTYLE

FOOD NOTE

Seafood Night at Sheraton Oman Enjoy the jewels of surf every Wednesday by the Pool Side at Sheraton Oman Hotel. The region’s favourite Seafood Night will feature an array of exquisite seafood dishes. Catch of the Day, personified – as they serve local and same morning netted fish selections along with other choices such as oys-

This Weekend Eat At… Samurai Roll that is shrimp tempura and crabstick salad, lightly topped with avocado, cream cheese and mayonnaise, Dragon Roll, that is stuffed with unagi and crabstick wrapped with thin layers of avocado and topped with a blend of spicy mayonnaise and sweet teriyaki sauce is flavoursome with fresh water eel as the main ingredient are some of the other sushis to try.

Where: Sumo Sushi Must Eat: Hawaiian Sushi Roll

What Is It? Hawaiian Sushi Roll is minced tuna, avocado and tobiko rolled together, topped with crispy sweet potato strips and drizzled with poke (fish) sauce. The orange, pearl-like stuff that is actually flying fish roe or eggs, on top are called tobiko and has a mild smoky and salty taste and a crunchy texture. With a tuna at the centre and tobiko this sushi roll is a burst of flavours.

Also Try The Chilli Prawn Bento Box is a complete meal by itself. The Japanese Curry Katsu, that is breaded deep fried chicken cutlet served with traditional Japanese curry sauce is appetising. This coconut milk based curry has onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.

Photos Swati Dasupta

Price: OMR5.400

What’s Special?

If you are a vegetarian and still love sushi this is the place to be.

Try Forbidden Roll that is avocado, cucumber and asparagus rolled with black sushi rice and topped with a homemade kozo dressing or Kappa Maki that is cucumber wrapped in sushi rice with edible seaweed. If that’s not enough then give Tofu Steak, Ginger Tofu, Veggie Bento a try.

— swati@timesofoman.com Location Bareeq Al Shatti Mall +968 2460 7050 sumosushibento.com

ters, mussels, crayfish, lobster, Alaskan King crabs ‘Paired’ with house beverages to embody flavours. Priced at OMR29+ Soft Beverages and OMR39+ ‘Paired’ House Beverages, the seafood night is from 7-11pm.

— lifestyle@timesofoman.com Call +968 2237 7777 or email: reservations.oman@sheraton.com

A16

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

LIFESTYLE

MARSHMALL W ONE NGREDIENT INGREDIENT

FIVE WAYS

MARSHMALLOW CHICKEN SALAD Take 1 1/2 cups diced, cooked chicken, 3/4 cups crushed pineapple, drained, 1/2 cup pecans, chopped, 1 cup heavy cream, whipped, and 1 cup miniature marshmallows.

Mix all the ingredients.

Freeze for 2 or 3 hours.

MARSHMALLOW PIE Melt in double boiler 31 large marshmallows and 1 cup milk until smooth. Let mixture cool completely on counter (do not put in fridge due to texture change in mixture). Fold in 1 cup whipped cream until mixture is smooth. Take a 9-inch graham cracker pie crust and pour into the crust. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

MARSHMALLOW CREAM MERINGUE In a small mixing bowl, beat 3 egg whites with a dash of salt, forming soft peaks. Gradually add 200g marshmallow cream, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread over cooled pie, sealing to edges of crust. Bake in preheated 220 degree C oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

MARSHMALLOW CREAM FUDGE Mix 3 cups sugar, 1 cup evaporated milk and 2 tablespoons butter together and cook until the mixture boils, stirring frequently. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from fire and stir in 11/2 cups chocolate chips and 200g marshmallow cream.

You can add 1 cup chopped nuts (optional). Stir the ingredients until the mixture is creamy and smooth. (An electric mixer can be used). Pour into a buttered 9x9-inch pan. Allow to cool, and cut as desired. For a different flavour try using butterscotch or caramel chips.

MARSHMALLOW WITH SWEET POTATOES In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 2-4 tablespoons honey or brown sugar, 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1 egg, well beaten, and 3/4 teaspoon salt.

Butter a casserole dish. When mixture is smooth, transfer to the casserole dish. Dot with 2 tablespoons of butter and top with 1 dozen marshmallows.

Bake in a preheated 175°C oven until the tops of the marshmallows are golden brown. Serve immediately.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

B OMAN CRUDE PRICE RISES Oman Crude (February delivery) declined by 88 cents to $52.33 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (December delivery) stabilised at $49.18 per barrel, $5.78 higher than November delivery. – ONA

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SISTER PORT DEAL

Sohar Port signs agreement with China’s Shenzhen Port Times News Service MUSCAT: A new sister port agreement was signed officially between Shenzhen Port in the People’s Republic of China and Sohar Port and Freezone in Oman.

Dong Yanze of the Ports Administration of Shenzhen Municipality and a delegation of other highranking Chinese officials attended the ceremony.

Both ports play a critical role in their respective regions and the agreement coincides with China’s construction of twenty-first century maritime silk route networks, providing a timely opportunity for deepening cooperation on both sides.

The agreement covers the development of mutually beneficial trade and shipping business and

will help to increase understanding and relations in areas that include port planning and construction, management and operations, environmental protection, information technology, personnel training and port security.

CEO Mark Geilenkirchen summed up the importance of this agreement from Sohar Port perspective: “The Middle East plays a critical role in the Chinese One Belt One Road initiatives to develop modern land and maritime silk routes, that will stretch from Shanghai all the way to Hamburg; thanks to the prime location of Sohar Port outside the Strait of Hormuz, we are ideally placed to act as an important nodal hub on these maritime routes, as from here cargo can be directed though the Suez Canal or around

the Cape, depending on vessel size and final destination.”

“We are naturally delighted that Shenzen Port has recognised this and we will be working closely with them and the other main ports in China to develop closer ties and more business as we move forward,” he further added.

In October, Mark Geilenkirchen was invited as keynote speaker to the China International Logistics Forum in Shenzhen, and spoke to Chinese officials about the development of One Belt One Road and the potential role that Oman could play in its development. With the support of Sohar Port container terminal operators Hutchison Ports, part of the Hong Kong based multinational group, both sides have been working to strengthen ties.

SIGNING CEREMONY: Dong Yanze of the Ports Administration of Shenzhen Municipality and a delegation of other high-ranking Chinese officials and their counterparts from Oman attended the ceremony.

- Supplied picture

Arab airlines to double fleet strength in the next 25 years

EY REPORT

‘Total assets of Islamic banking reached $924b’ Times News Service

5.8 per cent growth in passenger traffic. “However, we are expecting a little slowdown in passenger traffic growth this year at 4-5 per cent,” added Teffaha.

Arab carriers presently have a combined fleet strength of 1,300 planes and on the back of a robust growth in passenger traffic this is expected to double in the next 25 years

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com DEAD SEA/AMMAN: Arab airlines are expected to double its fleet strength within the next two-and-a-half decades from its present strength of 1,300 aircraft to support a robust growth in passenger traffic in the region, according to a senior official of a

MAKING A POINT: Abdel Al Ali, group chief executive officer of Air Arabia. — Supplied picture

leading budget airline in the Gulf.

Presently, Arab carriers have a combined fleet strength of 1,300 planes and “we expect it to double in the next twenty-five years,” said Abdel Al Ali, group chief executive officer of Air Arabia. He was addressing the Arab Aviation Summit at Dead Sea, Jordan, here on Monday.

Ali added that the general public in the Middle East and Arab region will continue to travel and the budget airlines are playing an important role in strengthening the traffic.

“We are expecting another 100

planes in the next 12-18 months (to join the fleet of Arab airlines).

However, 60 to 70 aircraft in the region will be withdrawn from service. So the net increase will be 30 to 40 new aircraft,” Abdel Wahab Teffaha, secretary general of Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation, told Times of Oman, in an interview.

196m passengers Teffaha added that the Arab airlines have carried 196 million passengers and airports in the region have handled 325 million passengers last year, which indicates a

Slowdown in growth In 2017, there will not be a slowdown in growth. The factors that have affected the passenger traffic growth this year include slowdown in economic growth due to a drop in oil prices, continuation of slack growth in Europe and China and instability in some Arab countries, including Syria, Libya and Iraq. “Still, we have posted the maximum growth in any region.”

Ali of Air Arabia said that the aviation industry in Arab region could absorb 20,000-25,000 local pilots now (by replacing overseas pilots). “But it needs a lot of work to train them.”

Since unemployment is a major challenge faced by Arab countries, efforts are needed to train pilots and engineers required by aviation industry in the region. “We still import pilots and engineers.”

Ali also noted that the travel, tourism and aviation sectors create ample job opportunities and drive economic growth. “For several countries, tourism is the best hard currency income,” added Ali.

He said that the aviation industry has grown 100 per cent in the last twenty years in the Arab region. “It is the only region where we have achieved a double digit growth in passenger traffic for the last twenty-five years.”

Ali said that aviation industry has a huge growth potential within the region. “The big picture is that we have 350 million people (in the Arab region) as a single market. If only 1 per cent of this population travel, there is a big market for us.”

The Air Arabia chief also said that the countries/cities that have opened up their aviation sector by following open-sky policies have gained immensely in creating jobs and achieving faster economic growth, which include Barcelona, Singapore and Dubai.

The Arab Aviation Summit was held under the patronage of Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiques, Jordan, with the theme ‘Linking Cultures, Driving Economies.’ Apart from Annab, top-level aviation and tourism officials who attended the meeting include Dr. Bandar Fahad Al Fehaid, president, Arab Tourism Organisation of the Arab League and Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, chief executive officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.

MUSCAT: Total assets of Islamic banking reached $924b in 2015, with growth rates declining across all regions compared to previous years, according to EY’s ‘Banking in emerging markets’ report.

The Gulf cooperation Council region’s share of Islamic banking increased to 72 per cent, as the size of assets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries declined during 2015.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia are the three largest Islamic banking markets, in terms of assets, representing 34.2 per cent, 17.2 per cent, 13.3 per cent of the global market share, respectively.

Sharia-compliant “Today, more than two billion adults still do not have a bank account. There are also more than 200 million micro, small and medium size businesses with unmet financing needs. The demand for a responsible, Sharia-compliant financial system is huge. There is also a wealth of business opportunities offered by FinTech innovations for Islamic banks, particularly in emerging markets,” Gordon Bennie, Mena Financial Services Leader, EY, said.

FOOD SECURITY FORUM

International experts in Oman deliberate about food security Times News Service MUSCAT: International experts will discuss how Oman can become a nation with secure supplies of food that are sustainable for generations to come at the International Conference on Food Security, Agriculture Sustainability and Pulses which opened on Monday.

Key crops for Oman, other than dates, include pomegranates and pulses, which were discussed at the conference, which will conclude on Tuesday.

Senior government officials, agro food industry CEO’s and researchers will exchange papers and outline global best practices.

Speakers participating in the event are from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, Ma-

laysia, India and Oman. Dr Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, supported the idea of agro industrialisation, sustainable agriculture and the development of food industries for meat, milk, poultry, fisheries and the seed industry.

During the conference, several presentations were made by Eng Salem Amour Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Investment Holding, Dr Rashid Al Yahyai, Dean, College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences, Magy Habib, Special Ambassador for International Year of Pulses, the Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations, and Dr Stoffer Loman from Nutriclaim Netherlands.

During the International Conference on Food Security, a road map for the Sultanate of Oman was

PANEL DISCUSSION: During the conference, several presentations were made by international experts. — Supplied picture

presented by Eng Salem Amour Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Investment Holding.

Further, Agricultural Sustainability was addressed by Dr. Rashid Al Yahyai, Dean, College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences. Habib, the Special Ambassador for

International Year of Pulses, Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations, explained the benefits of pulses.

Dr.Loman from Nutriclaim Netherlands explained the health and nutritional benefits of pulses.

The conference was organised

under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and supported by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the Public Authority for Food Stores and Reserves, Oman Animan and Plant Genetic Resources Center, The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, the Oman Water Society, including various apex government and corporate bodies responsible for the Oman National Agenda for developing the Agro Food Sector.

Emphasis on Productivity and Development of the Sultanate of Oman’s Agro Food Industry, Sustainable Cropping Systems and Investments by Government and Corporations to ensure a sustainable food security system will also be addressed.

Dr Amani Al Rawahi, Chairper-

son of the Conference Organising Committee, said that 2016 was declared the Year of Pulses by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN-FAO).

The conference, which will conclude on Tuesday, will focus on the role of pulses in human nutrition, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory effects of pulses, and their role in curing human ailments, along with recommendations on the utilisation of pulses in Oman.

Economical backgrounds and overviews, with highlights about consumption patterns, trade and potential production of pulses, and with emphasis on the Sultanate of Oman, the economic importance of pulses and commercial harvesting of pulses, are among the topics to be discussed at this conference.

B2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,616.76 ...............5,599.53 .................... 5,616.75 ................... 5,610.02.................... 6.73 ................... 0.12 Financial Index .....................................7,466.98 ............... 7,447.89 .................... 7,461.31 .................... 7,457.51....................3.80 ................... 0.05 Industrial Index ....................................7,285.72 ...............7,253.99 ................... 7,263.03 ...................7,286.04................ -23.01 .................. -0.32 Services Index .......................................3,016.64 .............. 3,005.87 ....................3,016.51 ................... 3,006.61....................9.90 ................... 0.33 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................852.73 ..................849.59 .......................850.72 ......................852.40...................-1.68 .................. -0.20 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 13,511,033 .................. 2,655,268 .................... 644 ............... 17,290,878,589 ................ 10 ......................11 .................... 23 .........................44

Monday’s top gainer was Al Batinah Development, up 2.17% , while Al Madina

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 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

Investment was top loser, down 5.45% REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 810,204 ..........116,568..................... 37 ............0.141 ........... 0.144 ...........0.141 ........... 0.144 ............. 0.141............ 0.003............. 2.128 ................0.144..............0.143...................0.145..................210,614,610 ........0.100

MUSCAT: Despite foreign selling in Bank Muscat and HSBC Bank, the MSM30 Index remained stable at 5,616.75 points, up 0.12 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index finished at 850.72 points, down 0.20 per cent. Bank Nizwa was the most active in terms of volume while Omantel led in terms of turnover. The top gainer was Al Batinah Development, up 2.17 per cent, while Al Madina Investment was top loser, down 5.45 per cent.

A total number of 644 trades were executed on Monday, generating turnover of OMR2.65 million with 13.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 10 traded securities, 10 advanced, 11 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, Omani Investors were net buyers for OMR266,000 followed

by GCC & Arab Investors for OMR13,000 while Foreign Investors switched to net buyers for OMR279,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index had marginal gain of 0.05 per cent to end at 7,461.31 points. Al Batinah Development, Bank Sohar, Al Sharqia Investment and Oman United Insurance increased 2.17 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1.42 per cent

and 0.62 per cent respectively.

Al Madina Investment, Takaful Oman, Al Anwar Holding and Bank Muscat declined 5.45 per cent, 2.69 per cent, 0.54 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index retreated 0.32 per cent to close at 7,263.03 points. Al Jazeera Steel, Gulf International Chemicals and Voltamp Energy gained 1.29 per cent, 0.75 per cent and 0.43 per cent respectively. Raysut Cement, Al Anwar Ceramics, Al Hassan Engineering and Oman Fisheries declined 1.96 per cent, 1.70 per cent, 1.67 per cent and 1.61 per cent respectively.

Services Index ended at 3,016.51 points with gain of 0.33 per cent. Phoenix Power, Renaissance Services and Omantel gained 2.13 per cent, 1.77 per cent and 1.36 per cent respectively.

National Gas, Port Services and Ooredoo declined 1.68 per cent, 1.26 per cent and 0.65 per cent respectively. — United Securities

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 476,756.............71,503......................11 ............0.149 ........... 0.150 ...........0.149 ........... 0.150 ............. 0.147............ 0.003............. 2.041 ................0.150 ..............0.150...................0.155 ..................240,674,901........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................41,280 ...............9,483......................13 ........... 0.228 ........... 0.231 ...........0.228........... 0.230 .............0.226 ........... 0.004............. 1.770 ................0.231 ..............0.231...................0.236................... 68,718,865 .........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 232,160 .........346,562......................51 ............1.475 ........... 1.500 ...........1.475 ............1.495 ............. 1.475............ 0.020............. 1.356 ................1.490 .............. 1.485...................1.490................ 1,121,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ..........................56,240 .............13,216......................13 ........... 0.235 ........... 0.235 ...........0.235........... 0.235 .............0.232 ........... 0.003............. 1.293 ................0.235..............0.233...................0.235................... 29,351,021 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 107,500.............34,791........................5 ........... 0.322 ...........0.326 ...........0.322........... 0.324 .............0.322 ........... 0.002............. 0.621 ................0.326..............0.322...................0.326 ..................32,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ....................................................... 5,403 ...............2,539........................7 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.470 .............0.468 ........... 0.002............. 0.427 ................0.470..............0.470...................0.476...................28,435,000.........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 114,650 ............ 22,339........................8 ............0.193 ........... 0.195 ...........0.192 ............0.195 ............. 0.195............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.195 ..............0.194...................0.195 ...................39,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................... 209 .................. 102........................1 ........... 0.486 ...........0.486 ...........0.486........... 0.486 .............0.486 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.486..............0.486...................0.520 ................ 308,994,372 .......0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 305,000 ......... 136,640........................8 ........... 0.448 ...........0.448 ...........0.448........... 0.448 .............0.448 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.448..............0.448...................0.452..................148,230,974........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 467,000 ...........54,022.....................24 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............ 0.115 ............0.116 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.115 .............. 0.114................... 0.115 .................... 6,825,813 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 153,800 ............ 11,074......................12 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.072........... 0.072 .............0.072 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.072.............. 0.071...................0.072...................12,600,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 100,000 ............18,700........................2 ............0.187 ........... 0.187 ...........0.187 ............0.187 ............. 0.187............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.187 ..............0.182...................0.187..................126,203,949 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 150,361 ............ 70,970........................5 ........... 0.472 ........... 0.472 ...........0.472........... 0.472 .............0.472 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.472..............0.468...................0.484 ..................24,780,000.........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 515,500 ......... 229,913.....................20 ........... 0.446 ...........0.446 ...........0.446........... 0.446 .............0.448 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.446 ...............0.446..............0.442...................0.446 ................1,113,327,615 .......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 682,590 ......... 125,826..................... 43 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.183 ........... 0.184 ............. 0.185............-0.001 ........... -0.541 ...............0.184..............0.184...................0.185...................32,200,452.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 228,636 ..........141,185..................... 28 ............0.616 ...........0.624 ...........0.616 ............0.616 .............0.620 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.645 ...............0.620..............0.620...................0.624 .................400,981,646 .......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................53,400 .............12,609........................7 ........... 0.236 ...........0.238 ...........0.236........... 0.236 .............0.239 ...........-0.003 ............-1.255................0.236..............0.235...................0.236...................22,429,440.........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 131,129 .............76,677......................21 ........... 0.590 ...........0.590 ...........0.580........... 0.584 .............0.594 ...........-0.010 ........... -1.684................0.580..............0.578...................0.580 ..................32,120,000.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 657,500 ..........113,605..................... 26 ............0.176 ........... 0.176 ...........0.172 ............0.173 ............. 0.176............-0.003 ............-1.705................0.173 .............. 0.173...................0.174 ...................51,244,967 .........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................ 83,421 ...........125,134........................3 ............1.500 ........... 1.505 ...........1.500........... 1.500 ............. 1.530............-0.030 ............-1.961................1.500............. 0.000...................1.520................. 300,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .................................... 26,000 ............... 1,352........................2 ........... 0.052 ...........0.052 ...........0.052........... 0.052 .............0.055 ...........-0.003 ........... -5.455 ...............0.052..............0.053...................0.055................... 10,771,872 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,398,739 ....1,734,811...................347 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......22........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 121,231 ............. 11,371......................17 ........... 0.094 ...........0.096 ...........0.092........... 0.094 .............0.092 ........... 0.002............. 2.174 ................0.094..............0.094...................0.096....................2,820,000..........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 1,044,749 ...... 149,396..................... 59 ............0.143 ........... 0.145 ...........0.141 ........... 0.143 ............. 0.141............ 0.002..............1.418.................0.141 .............. 0.141...................0.142...................12,870,000.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 210,172 .............56,516......................16 ........... 0.267 ...........0.270 ...........0.267........... 0.269 .............0.267 ........... 0.002............. 0.749 ................0.268..............0.267...................0.268 ...................5,649,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ...............28,828 ...............5,477........................3 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190...............0.171...................0.190.................... 6,378,576 ..........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 1,823,165.......209,486..................... 32 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............0.114 ............0.115 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.114 ...............0.113................... 0.115 ..................230,035,971........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE......................................................15,000 ............... 1,770........................1 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............0.118 ............0.118 ............. 0.118............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.118 ............. 0.000...................0.000 ..................31,472,438 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING.............53,500 ...............6,935........................7 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.129........... 0.130 .............0.130............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.129 ..............0.128...................0.130................... 15,843,750 .........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...........................................30 .....................59........................1 ............1.960 ........... 1.960 ...........1.960........... 1.960 .............1.960 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.960..............1.900...................1.960................. 186,200,000 .......0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES .............................................32 .................... 20........................1 ........... 0.636 ........... 0.636 ...........0.636........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.636............. 0.000...................0.632..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 292,073 ........... 66,008......................21 ........... 0.226 ...........0.226 ...........0.226........... 0.226 .............0.226 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.226..............0.226...................0.238..................429,219,516 ........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ...... 25,000 ............36,000........................1 ............1.440 ........... 1.440 ...........1.440........... 1.440 .............1.440 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.440..............1.440...................1.500...................99,360,000.........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ...................................................51,840 ............... 6,018........................4 ............0.116 ........... 0.117............0.116 ............0.116 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.117 .............. 0.116................... 0.117 ...................29,416,440 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 1,057,061 ....... 101,507.....................40 ........... 0.096 ...........0.097 ...........0.095........... 0.096 .............0.096 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.094...................0.095................... 27,838,141 .........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 2,411,399 .......197,436..................... 56 ........... 0.082 ...........0.083 ...........0.081 ........... 0.082 .............0.082 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.082..............0.081...................0.082 .................123,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 554,040 ............38,783......................15 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.070........... 0.070 .............0.070 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.070..............0.069...................0.070...................70,000,000 ........0.100

HAVE YOUR SAY

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH............................................... 50,000 ............. 11,700........................2 ........... 0.234 ...........0.234 ...........0.234........... 0.234 .............0.234 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.234..............0.234...................0.240 .................223,369,836........0.100

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 150,001............... 9,137......................11 ............0.061 ........... 0.061 ...........0.060........... 0.061 .............0.062 ...........-0.001 ............-1.613 ................0.061 ..............0.060...................0.061.................... 7,625,000 ..........0.100

OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................10,000 ...............1,880........................1 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.188 ........... 0.188 ............. 0.188............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.188 ..............0.180...................0.188..................134,308,392........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ................................ 8,448 ............... 1,529........................2 ............0.181 ........... 0.181............0.181 ............0.181 ............. 0.186............-0.005 ........... -2.688 ...............0.181 .............. 0.181...................0.183...................18,100,000 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 7,906,569 ...... 911,029...................290 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......19........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

S E Z D L E G I S L AT I O N E N C YC L O P E D I A

Sezad issues new publication about Duqm free zone Times News Service MUSCAT: Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD) issued on Monday ‘the SEZD Legislation Encyclopedia’, the first release of its kind aimed at clarifying the investment environment of Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZD).

Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, Sezad Chairman, stressed that this publication, coincided with the country’s celebration of the Forty-Sixth National Day, aims to provide the various information on the legislative aspects that govern investment in SEZD for investors, researchers, academics, intellectuals and economists.

Al Jabri said in his preface to the Encyclopedia published in 300 pages in Arabic and English that Sezad has sought since its founding in 2011 to prepare the legislative environment that attracts various investments to SEZD in translation of the vision of the Sultanate for SEZD to be one of the investment oases in the country.

“Sezad seeks that this legislation governing the investment environment in SEZD keep up with the ambitions of investors and their desires as well as the global interest paid to this sector. The legislative aspect of any economy receives profound attention. There is no economy that can attract investment unless it has a legislative environment able to do so,” added Al Jabri.

Sezad Chairman expressed his hopes that this publication would

Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri. — Supplied picture

enrich the Omani library and provides investors, researchers, specialists and those interested in investing in Duqm with the information they need on the legislative environment in SEZD. The encyclopedia contains three sections.

The first includes the Royal Decrees; the second consists of regulations, and the third regulatory decisions.

Ismail bin Ahmed Al-Balushi, Sezad Deputy CEO and supervisor on encyclopedia preparation pointed out that Sezad made sure that the Encyclopedia contain various regulations, rules, and regulatory decisions regarding the investment environment in SEZD. It includes the regulation of regulation on project registration, rules governing tax exemptions, customs administration system, regulations on urban planning and building permits, and regulation on investment environment. It embraces as well the organisation of environmental permits, usufruct, and regulation on tenders floated by Sezad.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

B3

MARKET OIL SUPPLIES

SIAL MIDDLE EAST 2016

Opec invites 14 other crude producers for talks NEW DELHI: Opec has invited 14 other crude producers, who together pump about a fifth of the world’s oil, to talks this week in Vienna aimed at securing wider cooperation with production cuts.

Russia already committed to reduce its output by 300,000 barrels a day following the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) agreement last week to a production cut of 1.2 million, Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said on Monday at the PetroTech conference in New Delhi. Major producers including Mexico and Kazakhstan, along with relative minnows like Bolivia and Uzbekistan, have been asked to attend talks with Opec ministers in the Austrian capital on December 10, he said.

Oil prices have risen 18 per cent

Major crude oil producers including Mexico and Kazakhstan, along with relative minnows like Bolivia and Uzbekistan, have been asked to attend talks with Opec ministers in the Austrian capital on December 10

since Opec’s surprise agreement last week to make its first supply cuts in eight year, which was also the first accord since the late 1990s involving non-members.

The new 32.5 million barrel-a-day production target is only slightly below the group’s estimate for

demand for its crude next year, meaning wider cooperation is needed to make a significant dent in the record stockpile surplus that has built up during three years of oversupply.

“It remains unclear to us which other non-Opec producers might

Key Gulf markets positive as Opec agrees to oil cuts strong cash position.

Saudi index rose in the month to erase the year’s losses, as the $17.5b bond issue in late October eased fears about its ability to cope with an era of cheap oil, and helped it begin making delayed payments to settle its debts to private companies.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bourses had a positive month in November, with Saudi’s TASI index rising by 16.4 per cent while the Qatar index ended the month in red, closing down 3.7 per cent, according to a latest report of Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz).

Kuwait weighted and price indices had a positive month, climbing 3.7 per cent and 2.8 per cent, respectively.

The Saudi index also rose in the month to erase the year’s losses, as the $17.5 billion international bond issue in late October eased fears about its ability to cope with an era of cheap oil, and helped it begin making delayed payments to settle its debts to private companies. The S&P GCC index closed the month at 95 points, 7.9 per cent higher than previous month’s close.

The Markaz report further stated that investor sentiment in Qatar was dampened by the country’s Energy Minister’s assessment that the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is entering a period of uncertainty

as the current low price environment deters investment in new supply projects, which could eventually lead to price spikes in the future. Qatar, currently the world’s largest exporter of LNG, is expected to lose its top position to Australia next year when new production from the latter comes on line.

In terms of valuation, price earnings (PE) ratio of Kuwait (16.8x)was the premium markets in the Mena region, while the markets of Egypt (8.5x), Dubai (8.6x), and Bahrain (9.3x) were the discount markets.

Blue Chips Blue Chips also had a positive month, with Saudi Telecom and Kingdom Holding (Saudi Arabia) ending the month at the top of the pile, gaining 25 per cent and 15.4 per cent, respectively.

DP World (UAE) and Qatar National Bank lagged behind the rest of the blue chips, falling by 13.5 per cent and 6.9 per cent.

STC has maintained its dividend policy of 1 riyal per quarter and they believe it has the ability to increase dividend payout because of its sound financials and

Opec oil deal Brent crude fell to $44.43 per barrel in the month of November, before rising 13.6 per cent and closing the month at $50.47 per barrel, as Opec clinched the deal to reduce output on the last day of the month.

Opec landmark deal Representatives of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) reached a landmark deal to reduce oil output, propelling crude prices by almost 9 per cent on the last day of the month, after a lot of market uncertainty about the ability of the group to strike an agreement.

The decision would cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day from 33.6 million barrels, and said it expects producers from outside the group, including Russia, to join with additional cuts totaling 600,000 barrels a day. Russia alone will cut 300,000 barrels per day.

The proposed Opec cuts were deeper than many analysts had expected, amounting to about 1 per cent of global production. The output cuts is expected to shrink the supply glut that has been fed in part by the US shale boom, and has depressed oil prices for more than two years.

On the other hand, the pact benefits the shale producers, giving them an incentive to ramp up production, which could potentially bring a halt to any oil-market rally. This is worrisome for Gulf oil exporters, as the President-Elect Trump had proposed to maximise domestic production and accelerate exploration programmes.

be willing to commit to or even claim production cuts,” JBC Energy GmbH said in a note. “Although Opec officials spoke of a 300,000 barrel-a-day contribution from Russia towards an overall 600,000 barrel-a-day non-Opec cut, we remain quite skeptical that this will actually happen.”

After Russia, Mexico is the largest producer invited to Vienna.

While the nation’s output is expected to fall by about 150,000 barrels a day next year to 1.94 million due to the natural decline in production at aging fields, the country doesn’t plan any further cuts, a Pemex official said last week.

Kazakhstan, the next-largest producer with daily output of about 1.7 million barrels, will decide on whether to cut output after talks with Opec, the Astana-based

Energy Ministry press service said in a statement Dec. 2. The country is not ready to freeze or cut production while the $50 billion Kashagan project is still starting up, Deputy Energy Minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev said after talks with Opec in Vienna on Oct. 29.

Oman, which pumps about one million barrels a day, has committed to matching any oil-output cut agreed by Opec up to a maximum of 10 per cent, three people familiar with the matter said Nov. 30.

The other invitees are Bahrain, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Brunei. Altogether, the 14 nations pumped about 18.8 million barrels a day of oil last year, equivalent to 20 per cent of global supply, according to data from BP. — Bloomberg News

Major trade event opens Times News Service MUSCAT: SIAL Middle East 2016, the region’s fastest growing business trade event for the food, drink and hospitality industries was officially opened on Monday.

Taking place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre until 7th December, and organised in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).

SIAL is organised in cooperation with Strategic Partner, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and supported by Abu Dhabi Chamber as Host Sponsor and in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Food Festival.

MONEY MANAGEMENT

BP Oman, Youth Vision renew financial literacy programme Times News Service MUSCAT: After receiving immensely positive feedback and requests for ongoing engagement, BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme (SIP) has reaffirmed its commitment to Youth Vision’s Baisa Programme. The partnership continues its journey across the nation nurturing young nationals with critical knowledge on money management, financial lit- MAKING A POINT: The partnership continues its journey across the eracy, planning and investments. nation nurturing nationals with critical knowledge on money manGuiding youth towards more agement, financial literacy, planning and investments. - Supplied picture secure financial futures, the relaunched initiative goes beyond its “In partnership with Youth Vi- nai, Public Relations Specialist at original scope of college students and now welcomes jobseekers and sion, we held engagement session Youth Vision, said, “The sustainto seek feedback from students, ability of what we are delivering those new to employment.

“We realise the importance of leaders in the Finance field includ- with BP Oman is just as important the youth’s understanding of the ing the BP Oman finance team, and as the skills themselves; it is what fundamentals of finance in order some SMEs experts to develop this drives growth in individuals and the people surrounding them. The to make sound monetary deci- programme further,” he added. knowledge our bright young minds sions, thus we are furthering our acquire doesn’t just stay with mission to instill greater financial Sound monetary decisions awareness and inspire productive The initiative delivers the tools them, it spreads to friends and future decisions. Lead by our ‘Im- and resources needed to enhance family when they need support. plementing Partner INJAZ Oman, the capability of young Omanis to This demonstrates how Youth Vithe BaisaProgramme has evolved make sound monetary decisions, sion approaches its commitment and will cover high level topics and enabling them to become greater towards initiatives that inspire opportunities, in addition to the economic citizens in a nation of national growth through people.

As our level of engagement rises basics of savings and financial re- rapid emergence.

Speaking on behalf of Youth Vi- through opportunities like the SIP, sources,” said Shamsa Al Rawahi, Social Investment Programme Of- sion, a local institute for capabil- the greater the impact we are able ity development, Ibrahim Al Hi- to achieve in local communities.” fice at BP Oman.

B4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

FEATURE

ALIBABA’S NEW MARKETING STRATEGY

While e-commerce now accounts for 15 per cent of private consumption, Boston Consulting Group expects it to reach 24 per cent in the next five years.

M

eng Cui Yi spent almost $90,000 at Alibaba’s online mall in the past year.

The 33-year-old restaurateur buys pretty much everything there—Burberry apparel, La Mer skincare products, furniture, groceries and more. After Alibaba’s annual Singles’ Day sale last year, Meng’s purchases were piled so high outside her Shanghai apartment her businessman husband could barely get in the door.

Meng’s lavish spending habits earned her an invite to Alibaba Passport, or APASS. An exclusive rewards programme, APASS is a mashup of Facebook, Amazon Prime and the American Express Black Card. Its 100,000 members get the usual perks—deals, trips, personal service—but are also encouraged to join online communities of shopaholics who blog and talk up Alibaba.

Rolled out about two years ago, APASS has helped Alibaba persuade the well-heeled shoppers trolling its Tmall and Taobao shopping emporiums to keep spending. That is crucial because the Chinese economy is deteriorating and Alibaba is struggling to maintain rapid-fire growth. Just last week, Singles’ Day sales grew at half the pace they did the year before.

Meanwhile, the company is trying to ward off growing com-

petition from rivals like JD.com, which is starting to attract urban big-spenders.

“Standing still is not an option because competitors are nipping at their heels,” says Duncan Clark, founder of investment advisory firm BDA China and an early adviser to Alibaba. “It’s very much worth their while to take care of the high rollers.”

Premium rewards Like any premium rewards programme, APASS pushes exclusivity by setting a seemingly high bar for membership. To make the cut, a customer must drop more than $15,000 a year on Alibaba’s e-commerce sites, though the company says members typically spend more than $45,000. Spending is just one criterion. Shoppers also receive a user score, based in part on the frequency and credibility of their interaction with other customers. The higher the score, the more likely they are to be invited to join APASS. “APASS members love to share,” says Hai Wang, Alibaba’s head of customer experience and innovation. “Every day in our APASS Members Zone, a lot of members are sharing their daily life stories and shopping tips. A good number of APASS members are verified bloggers.”

Meng is Alibaba’s dream customer. “I talk to other APASS members every day,” she says. “I never actually buy anything from

* Alibaba Passport

physical stores unless I’m going out with friends or something.”

Meng’s loyalty got her invited to the inaugural APASS annual meeting, one of 50 members selected. Held in May at Mandarin Oriental hotel in Shanghai, the splashy event included a buffet dinner, lucky draw and an awards presentation—at which Maserati was voted Most Beloved Brand.

Chief Marketing Officer Chris Tung gave a speech.

Rewards buy loyalty and then are turned into marketing opportunities. In early September, Alibaba took 10 APASS members on an all-expenses paid, nine-day vacation to Italy where they visited a Maserati factory, La Perla’s flagship lingerie store and vineyards operated by vintner Mezzacorona. Portions of the all-expenses-paid trip were streamed live on the Tmall app and Youku Tudou, a video site Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma acquired last year. The company says the vineyard tour was viewed 400,000 times and boosted sales.

Public displays of loyalty from its most elite customers also could help Alibaba buff a reputation hurt by revelations that some of the goods it sells are knockoffs. While global luxury brands like Maserati and Burberry have official storefronts on Alibaba’s Tmall, the e-commerce giant also relies on fees from its Taobao platform for independent

retailers, which have been known to sell counterfeit merchandise.

Crack down on fake Investors and international brands say Alibaba has not done enough to crack down on fakes, and a retail association recently suggested that the company be put back on a US government blacklist. Getting customers to buy more upscale stuff could help persuade more luxury brands to sell on Alibaba. Marshall Meyer, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, says APASS is “a very clever form of sales promotion. It’s a great publicity stunt.”

Alibaba says it will double the number of APASS members next year. It’s an audacious target but perhaps achievable given the explosion of well-heeled consumers who increasingly shun brick-and-mortar stores.

While e-commerce now accounts for 15 per cent of private consumption, Boston Consulting Group expects it to reach 24 per cent in the next five years.

APASS member Sukin Su, 27, buys everything from Chilean blueberries to Gucci handbags on Tmall—racking up as much as $50,000 a year. “I tell everyone why don’t you all shop on Tmall,” she says. “It’s fast, and if you have any problems they can solve it for you.”

– Bloomberg News

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ROUND-UP

Attractive benefits on stylish Toyota Prado Until January 7, 2017, the 2016/2017YM Toyota Prado is available with cash gift up to OMR2,000, as applicable based on model year/model grade

MUSCAT: The Land Cruiser Prado has been a favourite among the Toyota enthusiasts for decades and continues to be so. Powerful, tough and stylish, Toyota’s Prado has lived up to its reputation of being legendary.

At present and until January 7, 2017, the 2016/2017YM Toyota Prado is available with cash gift up to OMR2,000, as applicable based on model year/model grade.

(This benefit is applicable for all purchases except those of government organisations and ministries. Other conditions apply.

Please visit nearest Toyota showroom for exact details.)

Born with the Toyota Land

Cruiser DNA in its bloodline, the Prado is superior in performance, both on-road & off-road. An independent automotive writer notes that ‘The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is an incredibly impressive vehicle that reflects its off-road heritage. A versatile interior and powerful four-wheel drive performance combine to make sure the Land Cruiser Prado is equipped to meet the needs of modern drivers.’

Prado’s thrilling power and performance are complemented by its class leading-features. These include 9-inch navigation display audio with 6 speakers, steeringmounted controls for audio, Bluetooth and MID. Optitron meter

with TFT info display and Cruise control. Its safety features include a rear view camera and driver, passenger, curtain, side (front) + knee (driver) airbags. Indeed, the Prado stands apart – and looks quite bold doing so! An imposing grille and bumper guard adorned with LED headlamps and clearance lamps add to its macho stance.

Packed with a host of high-end luxury features, the Prado features leather upholstery, Woodgrain panelling, chrome-coloured side protection moulding; muffler-cutter; chrome rear-lamp garnish and impressive alloy wheels. Prado's interior is not just refined but also has plenty of room and easily ac-

commodate up to seven occupants.

The moonroof is an yet another luxurious feature.

Cushioned seats offer wonderful under-thigh support. Secondrow seats fold in a 60:40 split, offer enhanced utility with a slide function and walk-in accessibility for facilitating easy ingress and egress for the third-row seats.

The third-row seats, fold in a 50:50 split. The Prado also offers electric tilt & telescopic steering column, side step with illumination, smart entry & push-start system, parking sensors & retractable outer mirrors (with turn signal).

A reassuring combination of active and passive safety systems ensures optimum protection for occupants in a Prado. DAC (Downhill Assist Control), HAC (Hillstart Assist Control), VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and A-TRC (Active Traction Control). Al, these, along with the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are some of Prado’s advanced protection systems. Offering excellent impact protection,Prado's strong chassis with long wheelbase and wide wheel track also imparts sure, stabile handling.

Prado’s unparalleled prowess is apparent on smooth as well as rough terrain. It has the power to hold its own and the performance to make its own path. In short, not much stands in the way of a Prado both on the road and off.

STRONG SALES

Rinnai's energy-saving tabletop gas stoves get popular in Oman market MUSCAT: Japanese super brand Rinnai’s innovative tabletop gas stoves that have set the standards in maximum energy efficiency are increasingly getting popular in the Sultanate, as is evident in the consistently strong sales figures recorded at the various Al Hashar Electronics showrooms, says a press release.

According to Rajeev Sharma, the general manager of Al Hashar Electronics, the sole distributor of Rinnai brands in the Sultanate, “The Rinnai brand of tabletop gas stoves are globally renowned for their highest energy efficiency and ease of maintenance.

“Coming from the manufacturer of Japan’s number one tabletop gas cookers, the Rinnai cookers make cooking a pleasant experience with their burner options, efficiency and elegance.”

“When we launched the Rinnai appliances in the Sultanate we foresaw that the brand would be well received by the discerning customers here. Our strong sales figures amply prove our point. We will continue to serve our valued customers with super brands like Rinnai,” Sharma added.

The Rinnai tabletop gas cook-

The Rinnai tabletop gas cookers (stoves) include models such as inner flame, dragon, double ring and turbo, tornado, and mega burner cookers

ers (stoves) include models such as inner flame, dragon, double ring & turbo, tornado, and mega burner cookers.

While energy efficiency is a common feature across models, the Inner Flame Burner stoves sport state-of-the-art features including battery ignition, detachable top plate, intense flame focus and auto-gas cut off safety. Dragon burner cooker uses piezo igni-

tion and has high heat efficiency, while Double Ring & Turbo has two different types of burners.

Tornado’s and Mega Burner cookers’ strength lies in their powerful flame and high durability.

Other notable features include the efficient blue-flame technology, corrosion-resistance, light-weight, stainless steel burners and topplate, and detachable top plates.

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Rinnai Corporation, established in 1920, is Japan’s leading manufacturer of segment-leading thermal energy appliances such as kitchen appliances including cooking stoves and rice cookers, hot-water units, air-conditioning and heating units, as well as dish washers/dryers and clothes dryers, that are appreciated for their safety and assurance, comfort and environment-friendliness.

The Rinnai tabletop stoves are available at all the Al Hashar Electronics showrooms, including the flagship showrooms in Ruwi and Oman Avenues Mall and showrooms in Ruwi High Street, Sur, Sohar, Ibri and Salalah.

OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER

Rolex rewards winner of 2016 Road to Oman Rankings title at NBO Golf Classic Final MUSCAT: Rolex presented an Oyster Perpetual Explorer watch to Jordan Smith, title winner of the 2016 Road to Oman Rankings at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at Almouj Golf, The Wave.

Hritik Khimji, director of Khimji Ramdas Group, which includes Khimji’s Watches, the sole Rolex retailer in Oman, participated in the prize giving ceremony, says a press release.

Hailing from England, Smith succeeded in winning the Road to Oman honours thanks to his outstandingly consistent performance throughout the season, while the season-finale crown of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final went to Bernd Ritthammer.

Rolex, the leading name in luxury watches and a flagship brand of Khimji’s Watches, is the official timekeeper of this event, as part of its support for the Challenge Tour and for the future champions of golf. The Road to Oman helps talented golfers names like Martin Kaymer and Thorbjørn Olesen, both Rolex Testimonees to develop and grow to become the sport’s elite.

The 2016 NBO Golf Classic

Grand Final event began with a Pro Am tournament, in which aspiring amateur golfers from Oman teamed up with professionals to compete for the Pro Am title. Rolex teams also participated in this competition.

Nailesh Khimji, director of Khimji Ramdas together with Hritik, said: “The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final is a highly anticipated annual event for Oman’s golfing community and we are delighted to be associated with it. Smith played spectacularly well throughout the season and was presented with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer watch, specially designed and delivered by the Swiss watchmaker. Rolex has been driven by a passion for golf since 1967. Golf is a sport that embraces tradition, while demanding precision and an ongoing quest for excellence. Rolex shares the game’s ethos and spirit, enthusiastically supporting and encouraging its development across the world. As the sole Rolex retailer in Oman, we are committed to further uphold the brand’s values and initiatives in our country.”

A L I B I N A B I TA L I B S C H O O L

Al Batinah Power Company inaugurates new sports area MUSCAT: Jurgen De Vyt, the CEO of Al Batinah Power Company (ABPC) and Talib Al Balushi, the PRO officer inaugurated the new sports area at the Ali Bin Abi Talib School near the Sohar 2 power plant, says a press release.

Al Batinah Power Company sponsored the synthetic soft surface for a sports area in the school in order to prevent the risk for injuries for nearly 490 Omani boys between ages 10 and 15 who use the playground on a regular basis. In addition, 12 big mobile fans were taken into service, providing cooling in a covered play-

ground inside the school.

The school principal and his staff as well as the young students were particularly enthusiastic about this donation.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

ROUND-UP Excitement aplenty at Toyota ‘Wave’ pavilion Toyota has a sweet surprise for its visitors - a special launch of the all-new 2017 Corolla at the pavilion itself

MUSCAT: Toyota is back at the Oman’s much-awaited automotive event – Oman Motor Show.

“We are excited to be back with a bigger than ever show at Oman Motor Show, now being held in the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Those who want to know what new and exciting things await them we are happy to spell out the details,” said the spokesperson.

This year, there is a lot in store for everyone at the Toyota pavilion. In the words of the spokesperson, “The experience starts at the sight of the futuristically styled

‘Wave’ Design Toyota Pavilion – it is not only impressive but also radiates a strong Toyota brand identity. The design echoes Toyota’s core values of ‘Peace of Mind’ and ‘Waku-Doki’. This ‘Wave’ design is inspired by ‘Origami’ – the famous Japanese paper artcraft.”

Toyota has a sweet surprise for its visitors - a special launch of the all-new 2017 Corolla at the pavilion itself, says a press release.

“Yes, it is true that we are planning a live unveiling of 2017 Toy-

ota Corolla at the pavilion. What is more, customers may also be able to take a test drive in it. Please don’t miss the chance and use the special opportunity to get on-thespot test drives!”

The exciting 2017 range models are on display, too. The young and sporty-natured can have a gala time checking out the TRD (Toyota Racing Development) models, others can relax at the lounge, inside the Wave.

The spokesperson continued,

“Moving a little further on, visitors can get into an immersive Virtual Reality experience at the Prius Virtual Drive Zone. The moment a visitor steps into the Zone, he or she is able to explore Hybrid Technology like never before. With this experience, one can quickly understand how the Prius works and what hybrid technology really is…this is something that one must personally experience.”

There also are two interesting contests where people canwin fabulous prizes. First is the ‘Crack the Code’ game. In this game, participants have to complete all letters in the word Toyota by searching and scanning the QR codes displayed in the venue. Once done, they can enter into the raffle and have a chance to win fabulous prizes. In addition, there is the option to just register with the Toyota staff present there and get a chance to participate in a raffle.

So you know where to go for the newest Toyota models, for playing exciting games and winning prizes…For non-stop fun, don’t forget to visit the Toyota pavilion at the Oman Motor Show 2016, from December 7 to the 10. There is something for everyone.

PAY S G R AT I T U D E

Frenchman’s visit makes Kims Oman team proud MUSCAT: November was a month of immense pride for everyone at Kims Oman Hospital (KOH). Thanks to a visit by Farigoul Valery, a 46-year old French national who was earlier treated successfully by the KOH team after getting admitted with inferior wall myocardial infarction while he was on a cruise ship at Muscat Seaport more than a year ago.

Dr Saad Haddah, specialist cardiologist managed Farigoul’s condition in timely and perfect coordination with the emergency and Code Blue teams. Farigoul stayed at KOH for two weeks in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)

and Inpatient Unit, receiving comprehensive care and treatment. He returned to France safely where he underwent bypass surgery. Farigoul has been in touch with KOH ever since he left the hospital. He

BENEFITS

S A F E T Y AWA R E N E S S

Amazing offers on new Renault Koleos MUSCAT: Renault Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), is offering the best possible value with amazing deals and offers on the new Renault Koleos, which features proven powertrain and technologies.

As part of the offer, customers who purchase Renault Koleos will be entitled to receive an assured cash gift of OMR2,000.

All customers purchasing Renault Koleos during the scheme period will be eligible for free first year vehicle registration.

Renault Koleos vehicles purchased during the scheme period will have an extended six years/unlimited mileage warranty, says a press release.

Customers purchasing Renault Koleos in the scheme period will get free periodic vehicle maintenance of two years/20,000km (whichever is earlier). This offer excludes battery. Offers are not applicable for rent a car/ taxi/ driver trainer segments. Free AAA/Road Assistance card will be given on the purchase of Renault Koleos for the first year only and as supported by AAA Oman.

Renault Oman’s new scheme which has already begun will go on till December 31. The scheme offers multiple benefits for cus-

visited Dr Saad and staff at the Emergency and MICU recently and thanked the team for a ‘second life’, says a press release.

Dr Saad said, “It gives us immense pride and satisfaction to

tomers purchasing their popular models as well as latest models.

A spokesperson for SBA said, “The new Renault Koleos has been well liked by auto enthusiasts in Oman. Knownfor itsstyle, comfort and advanced technology, new Renault Koleos embodies Renault’s high-end vision and delivers all that is expected of a D-segment SUV. With amazing scheme on offer, this is the best time to buy Renault Koleos. In addition, it’s X-Tronic automatic transmission has been designed to enhance driving enjoyment and reduce fuel consumption compared with conventional automatic transmissions.”

SBA is largely committed to supporting Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman.

receive Farigoul hale and hearty.

I am extremely proud of our team at KOH who worked to save him.

It provides us confidence to face such challenges any time during our service.”

S TAT E - O F - T H E -A R T F E AT U R E S

Higer H92A focuses on safety and service MUSCAT: The Higer H92A bus is well-known globally for its state-of-the-art safety and service features.

Available in Oman exclusively at Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the Higer bus boasts of high level of efficiency, safety and reliability.

A senior spokesperson of TAC commented, “Higer Bus Company is one of the fastest developing bus manufacturers in China renowned for its innovation and precision in R&D. It is popular in Europe, America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Its buses are known for their toughness, utility, comfort and value for money. The H92A bus is doing exceptionally well and provides useful transportation for long and short distances, for fleet businesses and SMEs as well.

“It has state of art features such as 43 passenger seats plus 1 driver seat and 1 guide seat that are adjustable and side moveable; magazine net; footrest; folding tray table with cup holder; 2 passenger doors; left rear emergency exit door with alarm; parallel opening luggage compartment door with remote control lock; fixed side double glass windows and rear side windows are semi sliding; two emergency roof exits with electric ventilators; electric rear view mirror with defroster; first aid kit; two 4kg fire extinguishers.”

The Higer H92A bus has a seating capacity of 43 + 1 + 1 and its powerful 8.9 litre 6 cylinders Cummins engine gives maximum power of 340HP and maximum

torque (Nm/rpm) 1425/1400.

Its remote control key, hydraulic booster steering, 3 point seat belt, rear parking sensor with plush fabric interiors makes each drive comfortable and safe.

Through its keen focus on ‘safety and service’, Higer buses have been winning the trust of customers since their launch in 1998. One of the top suppliers worldwide for coaches and buses, Higer has established a strong market presence and ranks firmly among the top three brands in China’s bus industry.

Higer also contributes a great deal to the modernisation of the Chinese automotive industry.

Established in 1998 and situated in the well-known SingaporeSuzhou Industrial Park, together with the Global Top 500 enterprises, Higer Bus Company has a registered capital of 250 million RMB and is one of the few bus manufacturers that has obtained a license from governmental authorities with a production capacity of 22,000 buses and chassis per year. While expanding the domestic markets on a firm and steady basis, Higer is exploring the international markets.

By bringing the Higer range to the Sultanate, TAC has reinforced its commitment to provide high-quality products and services to its customers in the country. With a network of 11 showrooms and 10 parts outlets spread across the Sultanate, TAC is the sole distributor of the Higer vehicles in Oman.

DHANK BRANCH

Al Ahlia takes major presence at Traffic Expo

Bank Sohar supports Association for Welfare of Handicapped Children

MUSCAT: Dedicated to supporting a worthy cause always, Al Ahlia Insurance Co. participated in the recently held Oman Traffic Safety Expo, striving to show visitors the importance of staying focused on the road by driving safely and responsibly.

Lloyd East, managing director of Al Ahlia Oman, comments: “The first step in combating road accidents is sensitising people towards traffic safety and guiding them in developing responsible driving habits. Initiatives that encourage open discussion such as the Expo are the way forward to instil the importance of road safety in the minds of motorists. Since Al Ahlia is a strong advocate of responsible driving, our involvement in the Oman Traffic Safety Expo was natural. We want to thank the Royal Oman Police for their guidance and support.”

MUSCAT: Within the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, Bank Sohar recently extended its support to the Dhank branch of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children.

The donation will contribute towards the purchase of essential classroom equipment to be used by the association’s beneficiaries.

This donation does not only mark the bank’s 21st donation this year, but also marks the first donation to the association’s Dhank branch, says a press release.

The donation cheque was handed over at Bank Sohar’s Head office to Salim Abdullah Al Rubkhi, Board Member of the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, by Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of HR and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar, with the presence of Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, senior AGM and head of Marketing and Customer Experience, Bank Sohar.

Commenting on the donation, Munira Abdulnabi Macki said, “Children with special needs require support and care right from a very young age in order to reach their true potential. As a bank that is truly dedicated to the community, we feel it is our obligation to

offer them our help and support.

By donating to organisations such as the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children, we can ensure our contributions are being utilised efficiently to reach out and help the highest number of children possible.”

Thanking Bank Sohar for its support Mahra Salim Al Saadi, Supervisor of Association Dhank Branch said, “While this is the first time Bank Sohar has extended its support to our branch, it has been one of the association’s most dedicated supporters over these past seven years.

“We are truly grateful to them for all their help and especially so for this, their most recent donation. It will greatly help us in better

equipping our classrooms here in Dhank to cater to the special needs of our students.”

Munira Abdulnabi Macki added, “The association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children has done an amazing job of addressing the needs of young children with special needs. Through the services they provide and the hard work and dedication of their staff, they have drastically improved the quality of countless children and their families’ lives. On behalf of the Bank I would like to commend, not only the Dhank branch, but the association as a whole, for their invaluable contribution to the community. We are truly honoured to be in a position to support them and their work.”

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ROUND-UP

Omantel launches exciting offer for Baqati postpaid customers The new promotion gives all Baqati postpaid subscribers double the normal data allowance and the added bonus of free WhatsApp data usage, guaranteed for the next 12 months

MUSCAT: Highlighting its commitment to offering customers value driven connectivity, Omantel has launched an exciting offer for new and existing Baqati postpaid customers which is valid till March 4, 2017.

The new promotion gives all Baqati post-paid subscribers double the normal data allowance and the added bonus of free WhatsApp data usage, guaranteed for the next 12 months, says a press release.

Commenting on the demand for mobile internet connectivity across all segments of society, Haitham Abdullah Al Kharusi, Omantel’s vice president for the Consumer Business Unit, noted, “Seamless and cost effective internet access is one of the essentials of our modern life. Staying connected with friends and family and keeping up with the latest news and events are things we do every day, whether at home, at work, or

out and about. Indeed, internet access for all is one of the central keys to build a connected society and a knowledge based economy that strives to collaborate and innovate. With this in mind, we always strive to give more opportunities for subscribers to enjoy easy and cost effective internet access, wherever they may be. This goal aligns directly with Omantel’s 3.0 transformation strategy which aims to exceed customer expectations and enhance opportunities

for digital transformation across all segments of society.”

Highlighting the added value benefits of the Baqati offer, Al Kharusi added, “Delivering the best possible value and flexibility to customers is exactly what we aim to achieve with 3-month offer for our Baqati customers.

With this offer, not only will we be doubling our customers’ data allowances, but we’ll also be adding in bonus free data for the popular WhatsApp messaging platform.

Better still, while the special offer ends on March 4, 2017, those subscribed to the new plans will enjoy these bonus benefits for the duration of an entire year from the starting date of their subscription, and this includes new customers who sign up for a Baqati plan before March 4.”

Under the offer, a ‘BaqatiS’ subscription provides 250 local minutes and 1GB of data and a bonus 1GB for WhatsApp for only OMR9 monthly. Meanwhile, ‘BaqatiM’ customers receive 650 local minutes, 4GB data and a bonus 2GB for WhatsApp for only OMR19 monthly. The ‘BaqatiL’ subscription will benefit customers with 1,150 local minutes, 6GB of data and a bonus 3GB for WhatsApp for only OMR29 monthly. While the highest value plan - ‘BaqatiXL’, gives customers 1,850 local minutes, and 10GB data with a 4GB bonus for WhatsApp for only OMR39 monthly.

The new promotion will go into effect automatically for existing

Baqati customers starting December 5 and are also available for existing prepaid customers who migrate to one of the applicable postpaid Baqati plans during the offer period from December 5 to March 4, 2017. As a further valueadded benefit, there is no need to sign a term contract to enjoy the benefits of the offer, regardless of which plan is chosen.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment. Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.

ANNUAL EVENT

INDUSTRIAL EXPO

Intex Oman gets underway MUSCAT: Intex Oman, a unique multi-category industrial fair showcasing world-leading products, services, technologies and trends spanning five thrust areas of the Sultanate’s economy, kicked off here yesterday.

The three-day event, which runs from December 5 – 7, is taking place at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Center, part of the new Madinat Al Irfan suburb of Muscat City, says a press release.

Running alongside the expo is Intex Oman Forum, a two-day conference featuring keynote speeches and presentations on renewable energy development, sustainable water solutions, waste treatment options, and related topics.

Dr Rasheed bin Al Safi Al Huraibi, chairman of the Tender Board, led a number of public and private sector dignitaries at the formal inauguration of Intex Oman 2016.

Organised by well-known events management firm Global Exhibitions & Conferences (GEC), this one-of-a-kind expo brings together the following five strategic and promising segments of the non-oil economy under one roof: • Aquatex Oman: Showcasing the latest technologies in water desalination and wastewater management, this exhibition offers an exclusive opportunity for renowned equipment and service providers to venture into Oman’s multibillion dollar water services industry.

• Renergex Oman: Targeted at government stakeholder agencies, businesses and energy policy think-tanks, this unique trade fair explores opportunities for renew-

able energy development spanning solar, wind, biomass/biofuels, geothermal and other sustainable resources.

• Eltex Oman: An exclusive platform for power generation, transmission, distribution and electrical equipment industries, Eltex Oman affords a first-ever opportunity for businesses to understand the evolving and diverse needs of the Sultanate’s power sector.

• Pumps & Valves Oman: Drawing together global and regional manufacturers, dealers and distributors and traders, Pumps & Valves Oman showcases new products, market trends, and scientific and technological innovation relevant to Oman’s rapidly expanding oil and gas, refining and petrochemical processing, water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical, and electrical sectors.

• Mtex Oman: An exclusive expo targeted at the Sultanate’s manufacturing industry, Mtex Oman puts the spotlight on global machinery equipment manufacturing trends, cutting-edge machining technologies, and innovations in high-performance machinery

and tools.

Featured across the five pavilions are in excess of 150 worldleading brands of products and services representing local, regional and international companies eager to expand their presence in Oman’s diversifying economy.

A number of government institutions have signalled their support for the expo in light of its potential to stimulate local investment, drive the growth of small and medium enterprises, and fuel employment generation as a result. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the patron of Intex Oman, which is also backed by Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Riyada), Muscat Municipality, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). Trade bodies such as the UK Trade and Invest (UKTI), Advantage Austria and the German Industry & Commerce (AHK) have endorsed the expo as well.

This maiden edition has also pulled in strong corporate sponsorship support.

World-leading products add sparkle to The Home Show MUSCAT: The 2016 edition of The Home Show, the Sultanate’s preeminent showcase of the ideal home environment, opened at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre yesterday, paving the way for four days of lucrative retail shopping, B2B transactions, financing and contracting deals, and networking opportunities.

Dr Rasheed bin Al Safi Al Huraibi, chairman of the Tender Board, formally inaugurated the sixth edition of this popular trade fair. The annual event, which concludes on December 8, is keenly awaited for its exciting promotions, latest offerings in furniture and furnishings, bedroom and bathroom sets, kitchen systems and appliances, doors and windows, home appliances and electronics, wall and floor coverings, lighting and fixtures, and comprehensive selection of smart home

solutions, says a press release.

Organised by well-known events management firm Global Exhibitions & Conferences (GEC), this year’s event has attracted the presence of more than 100 firms well regarded as leading lights of the home-building, interiors, furnishing and home ownership arena. The large majority are regular participants, who have long capitalised on the event’s huge appeal to grow their market share in Oman.

Lending further prestige and glamour to this year’s edition is its location in the upscale Oman Convention & Exhibition the nation’s flagship venue for high-profile exhibitions, conference and events.

Given its importance to advancing home ownership in the Sultanate, The Home Show is backed by the Ministry of Housing. Oman Housing Bank, Oman

Real Estate Association, Muscat Electricity Distribution Company and Riyada, among other agencies also extended their support.

Sponsorship support for the event has come from a number of leading local furnishers and distributors. The list includes Berger Paints and Global Pyramid as gold sponsors, and Al Jassar Furnishing, Pro Windows, and Taj Al Lulu Ceramics as associate sponsors.

Part of The Home Show’s popularity stems from the exciting raffle draws and competitions that enable visitors to walk away with attractive prizes. This time around, the organisers have introduced an online contest targeted at all manner of participants. ‘Get Inspired and Win’ is an opportunity for visitors to get creative by suggesting a title for an artwork created on stone by contemporary artist Lucia Olive.

ENHANCED SECURITY

Bank Sohar ramps up distribution of new ‘Chip and PIN’ Excel debit cards MUSCAT: Bank Sohar endeavours to provide its customers with the highest possible level of banking security at all times.

The recent introduction of ‘Chip and Pin’ technology into its Excel Debit Cards comes as part of this commitment and the distribution of these cards to customers is now well under way across the bank’s branch network, says a press release.

Customers still using the older magnetic stripe cards are now required to visit their nearest bank branch to have their cards

replaced with the new ‘Chip and PIN’ enabled debit cards. With these new ‘Chip and PIN’ Excel Debit Cards, customers can experience enhanced debit card security and functionality.

Commenting on the new ‘Chip and PIN’ Cards, Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi, Senior AGM and acting head of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar said, “The security of our customers’ personal information is considered as one of our top priorities. The chips embedded into these cards achieve exactly this,

having already proven themselves to offer very high levels of security globally, providing customers with even greater confidence when making purchases locally and overseas. This shift to ‘chip and pin’ technology is also in line with the Sultanates e-Government initiative; which will eventually see the country-wide discontinuation of support for the older magnetic stripe cards in the near future.”

The distribution of these new ‘Chip and PIN’ enabled Bank Sohar Excel Debit Cards to custom-

ers has already been underway since their launch earlier this year.

Furthermore, all new and renewed Excel Debit Cards are also being replaced with these new chip-embedded cards.

Bank Sohar is encouraging customers who are still using the older Magnetic Stripe cards to visit their nearest Bank Sohar branch to have their cards immediately replaced with its new ‘Chip and Pin’ enabled counterpart.

“Customers visiting any branch in order to get their cards replaced

need not have to wait long at all.

Thanks to our newly introduced ‘Instant Issuance’ system, the new cards will be personalised and issued immediately; a facility unique to just a handful of banks in the country. Customers will also be allowed to choose their own pin at the time of issuance of the new card, rather than having to do so later; thereby making the entire process quick, hassle-free, and convenient,” added Khamis Masoud Al Rahbi.

These ‘Chip and PIN’ enabled

Bank Sohar Excel Debit Cards, as the name implies, contain an embedded computer chip to enhance security. Unlike the magneticstripe; a chip card utilises dynamic authentication that is significantly harder to copy and replicate.

As an additional layer of security, transactions done at any POS device requires the user to enter their personal PIN for authentication. This two-step process drastically reduces the risk of unauthorised charges on a customer’s account via counterfeit cards.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

ROUND-UP

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Dar Al Atta’a awarded ‘Leading Charity Organisation’ in GCC Mariam Issa Al Zadjali, the chairperson of Dar Al Atta’a Association, received ‘Leading Charity Organisation’ in GCC award

MUSCAT: Dar Al Atta’a Association was selected among the winners of the humanitarian service done in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the fifth session, which was held in Bahrain.

evaluation committee, which we consider to be an incentive for us to put in more effort and contribute in humanitarian concerns. The award reflects the efforts made by the association in charity work with the help of the needy. I dedicate this prize to the associations board members, members, volunteers, donors and corporate.”

Dar Al Atta’a Association is a non-profit volunteer-based charity that was formed in 2002 and formally registered as a charity in the Ministry of Social Development in 2006.

She added that the association has since established a number of different programmes on family welfare, education care, empowerment, disaster relief and other humanitarian programmes associated with activities such as providing ration in the holy month of Ramadan, Eid and other occasions.

Mariam Issa Al Zadjali, the chairperson of Dar Al Atta’a Association, received ‘Leading Charity Organisation’ in GCC award for humanitarian work in accordance with the criteria for the award as it played an important role in humanitarian business.

Humanitarian Award of the GCC came from the initiative of the Training and Development Centre as the first specialised award in the GCC region. This reflects the efforts of the people of the GCC. The award is intended to honour the leaders in government projects cooperation council and to highlight the goodness in the Gulf and its role in the construction of human societies.

Mariam Al Zadjali said after receiving the award, “We are very pleased with this award and appreciate the efforts made by the I N M U S C AT G R A N D M A L L

PROMOTES BEST SECURITY PRACTICES

BankDhofar participates in Suspicious Riva to open 1st outlet Transactions Awareness Forum MUSCAT: As part of its concentrated efforts to promote safe financial transactions and to boost the level of awareness within the financial sector in the Sultanate, BankDhofar participated in the Suspicious Transactions Awareness Forum that was organised recently by the National Centre for Financial Information (NCFI).

The two-day forum was inaugurated at the Crowne Plaza Hotel under the auspices of Hamoud bin Sanjour Al Zedjali, executive president of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), chairman of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

The event brought together officials, directors of government agencies, financial agencies and institutions, non-financial businesses and professions, and nonprofit associations and bodies, says a press release.

Commenting on the event, Ahmed Said Al Ibrahim, chief corporate services officer at BankDhofar, reiterated the bank’s commitment to ensure secure financial

transactions and urged customers to have the essential awareness of suspicious transactions and fraud attempts. “This forum highlighted the local and international

developments and issues relevant to anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism. We aim to promote key knowledge of risks related to financial transactions,

YEAR-END BONANZA

countries. Today we are adding this outlet which is the first of its kind in Oman. Through our outlet, we will provide a collection of unique ladies’ fashion for women in Oman.”

Al-Adam added, “The Armada retail concept endeavours to overcome the challenging equation that is the effective combination of high quality and affordable pricing; which, at the same time, is in line with global fashion trends. We are confident that we will succeed in attracting women across Oman, and we are pleased to provide them the best of our designers’ creations.”

“MGM is preparing to celebrate its 5th anniversary, which coincides with the launch of the new expansions of the third phase adding more than 130 shops. This will make MGM the largest shopping destination in Oman. With Riva brand coming soon to MGM, we are confident the mall will be the number one destination for visitors; offering the widest collection of local, regional and international product under one roof, with unique shopping experience for our visitors,” Jaboub concluded.

CASH PRIZES

Exciting offers on select GMC models

MUSCAT: A year-end bonanza announced by Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co, exclusive distributor of GMC vehicles in Oman, now places its stunning Sierra, Terrain and Yukon Denali models within the reach of greater numbers of die-hard motoring aficionados in the Sultanate.

As part its ‘liquidation campaign’, which kicked off last month, Moosa Abdul Rahman has slashed prices on these much-coveted SUVs and trucks, while bundling its exciting offers with an array of incentives and freebies. The upshot is a product line-up that is not only stellar in its features and performance, but also competitively priced, says a press release.

“As the punch line of our campaign aptly puts it, Moosa Abdul Rahman is making possible ‘Dream Rides at Fantasy Prices’ and with 30,000km service, five years unlimited mileage, extended warranty, registration, and 500 litres petrol all free for the taking, you cannot imagine a better deal for these bestsellers,” commented Virendra Agarwal CEO, Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co. The GMC Terrain, its price tag pared down to a low OMR10,995 (excluding the cash gift of

learn about the latest standards and best practices in this field and to set advanced measures to prevent financial crimes and suspicious transactions,” he said.

MUSCAT: Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) announced that the mall will be home to the first ever Riva outlet in Oman.

Commenting on the new brand, Hassan Jaboub, general manager of MGM said, “MGM constantly endeavours to attract brands that have proved its presence in global markets in order to provide our customers in Oman with the latest in fashion; saving them the trouble of having to travel abroad to obtain products from such brands. When talking about ladies’ fashion, Riva is considered to be amongst the leading apparel and accessories brands, and has had a strong presence in all GCC capitals for several years now. Today, we welcome its first ever branch in Muscat at MGM, which I believe will be a go-to fashion store for women across the country.”

Awni Al Adam, Armada Retail Concept, regional manager said, “We are happy to enter the Omani market through one of the largest and most popular shopping destinations in Muscat. Our group has proven its presence in a number of markets in the region, totalling 30 outlets in five

OMR3,000), is the perfect combination of styling, utility and efficiency. For 2016, the Terrain’s bold design has been updated and features a new hood design, redesigned front and rear fascia with chrome accents, new LED daytime running lamps and a new 3-bar grille design that is distinctively GMC. The Terrain rides on a 112.5inch wheelbase and features a four-wheel independent suspension system, with wide front and rear tracks that help it deliver a comfortable ride along with and capable handling add in available technologies and exceptional safety features and you’ll see why the Terrain is the total package.

The 2016 Sierra pickup truck, with a starting price of OMR13,495, sets a higher standard, with purposeful technology inside and out — to help you stay connected and in control. Sierra’s expertly crafted body and premium appointments form a striking appearance. The new front appearance with stunning new GMC Signature LED lighting, available High Performance LED headlamps, LED tail lamps, and Thin Profile LED fog lamps further its bold and advanced design. With innovative trailering technologies and powerful engine

options, Sierra is designed to do the work you need to get done, and to do so with ease.

At the higher end of the product line-up is the Yukon Denali where the campaign price starts at OMR25,995 (excluding the cash gift of OMR5,000). Available in the 6.2L, V8, 420HP variant, Denali’s signature styling begins with its three-dimensional grille, projector-beam HID headlamps and chrome accents and continues with available 22” wheels and optional power-retractable assist steps with perimeter lighting.

The Yukon Denali interior is the definition of uncompromised craftsmanship, comfort and capability, with an impressive list of premium features. The luxury SUV sets new standards for refinement and innovation. Authentic aluminium and wood trim accents the cabin, while three rows of first-class seating for up to nine ensure that the passengers enjoy the same style and comfort that the driver does.

Extending into the New Year, GMC’s ‘Liquidation Campaign’ concludes on January 3, 2017. Exclusive distributor Moosa Abdul Rahman operates branches and a service network that covers all major locations across Oman.

Bank Muscat debit card promo ends on Dec. 31 MUSCAT: Enhancing the banking experience, an exclusive debit card promotion launched by Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has resulted in yet another value addition benefiting the largest banking family in Oman.

The exciting promotion offering attractive cash prizes concludes on December 31, says a press release.

For participation in the monthly draw offering 30 cash prizes, all that the customers are required to do is use their Bank Muscat debit card for transactions instead of cash, and they could be one of 30 winners receiving RO 100 each.

Customers can double their winning chances by using the debit card for international and online transactions. ATM cash withdrawal transactions are not considered for the offer.

All Bank Muscat debit cardholders are eligible to participate in the promotion. All transactions using Bank Muscat debit cards are valid and a minimum of five transactions, each worth OMR5 and above a month, entitle customers for a chance to enter the monthly draw.

Customers making a single debit card transaction worth OMR25 and above are also eligible to participate in the monthly draw. The more the debit card transactions, the more the chances to participate in the draws.

Amjad Al Lawati, AGM – Cards & eBanking, said: “Time and again, Bank Muscat takes the lead in launching novel campaigns and promotions that continuously enhance value as well as create unique opportunities that enrich life for customers. Bank Muscat

cards, which spell convenience and security, is the preferred mode of payment in Oman. The wide range of Bank Muscat cards provide a secure option to pay for a host of transactions across millions of merchant outlets in Oman and abroad. The campaign reiterates the bank’s commitment to promoting secure card payment in Oman.”

Packed with an array of features and benefits, the new Chip and PIN debit card is designed to make everyday purchases and payments secure and easier. Offering greater flexibility and convenience, the card provides access to the bank’s largest network of branches, ATMs and CDMs across Oman.

The innovative chip-based cards provide additional security for transactions through Personal Identification Number (PIN).

The initiative heralding the future cards in Oman is in line with the Omani government’s ambitious eGovernment project. The cards are in conformity with in-

ternational standards and reflect the bank’s commitment to ensure convenience and security for all card transactions.

The attractive features of the debit cards include payment convenience, facilitating shopping at millions of retail outlets across the world. Customers enjoy cash withdrawal from ATMs within and outside Oman. With global acceptance, the card provides easy access to bank account across millions of ATMs and retail outlets all over the world.

Using the card, customers can shop on the Internet with confidence as the card is protected with the additional Verified by Visa (VbV) security. Customers also receive alerts on mobile phones for transactions made using the card. Cardholders can avail this service by registering their mobile number with the bank. The services available for cardholders include 24-hour Call Centre support, convenience of phone banking and Internet banking 24x7.

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TU ES DAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

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MAXWELL MAY MISS AGAIN AS AUSTRALIA LOOK TO REBUILD CONFIDENCE >C3

SPOR YOUR GAME

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FROM TESTS TO TENNIS BALL, ZULQARNAIN COMPLETES CYCLE The 30-year-old Zulqarnain has now picked up pieces and plays private T20 tournaments in the United States and is trying his luck in tennis ball tournaments. >C2

Former FIFA president Blatter loses appeal against six-year ban AS ruled that Blatter had authorised payments to former European football boss Michel Platini worth over $2 million that amounted to “undue gifts” and therefore violated FIFA’s code of ethics

LAUSANNE: Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has lost his appeal against a six-year ban for ethics violations, imposed amid the biggest corruption scandal to shake the world soccer body, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.

CAS ruled that Blatter had authorised payments to former European football boss Michel Platini worth over $2 million that amounted to “undue gifts” and therefore violated FIFA’s code of ethics.

Blatter led FIFA for 17 years, resigning in June last year after several dozen football officials, including FIFA executive committee

THE VERDICT: Court of Arbitration for Sport Secretary-general Matthieu Reeb reads the sentence of the court on an appeal of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter against a six-year ban from football in Lausanne. – AFP

members and former members, had been indicted in the United States on graft charges, along with two sports marketing firms.

The 80-year-old Swiss was not among those indicted, but became embroiled in scandal when he was banned from all football-related activity the following December

by FIFA’s Ethics Committee along with Platini, then president of the

European soccer body UEFA. The men were banned, initially for eight years, over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($1.98 million) that FIFA made to Platini in 2011, with Blatter’s approval, for work done a decade earlier.

The bans were reduced to six years by FIFA’s appeals committee in February.

Both men denied wrongdoing

and Blatter said the payment related to a verbal agreement between them. CAS said in a statement that its three-man panel had determined that Blatter “breached the FIFA code of ethics since the payment amounted to an undue gift as it had no contractual basis”.

“The Panel further found that Mr Blatter unlawfully awarded contributions to Mr Platini under the

HIS MAJESTY’S CUP HOCKEY

FIFA Executive Committee retirement scheme which also amounted to an undue gifts,” said CAS. Criminal investigation Swiss prosecutors have also begun investigating Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds over the payment, which they describe as “disloyal”, though he has not

been charged. And in September, FIFA’s Ethics Committee said it was investigating Blatter and two other former leading FIFA officials over the salaries and bonuses they had received while in office.

At the same time, Swiss authorities are investigating whether bribes were paid on Blatter’s watch to help Russia and Qatar secure the right to host FIFA’s showpiece event, the four-yearly World Cup, awarded by the FIFA Executive Committee.

Blatter, who must also pay a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs, said in a statement that he was not surprised by the CAS ruling. “The way the case progressed, no other verdict could be expected,” he said.

“What I find incomprehensible is that the existence of the oral agreement between FIFA and Michel Platini is still steadfastly negated, in spite of my testimony to the contrary.”

“I have experienced much in my 41 years in FIFA,” said Blatter, who joined FIFA as a development officer in 1975 and was initially stationed in Ethiopia. “I mostly learned that you can win in sport, but you can also lose. In this sense, I have to accept this decision, although it is difficult to follow it.”

CAS cut Platini’s ban to four years in May but said that Blatter had not requested a reduction.

“Mr Blatter requested the annulment of the ban but did not request a reduced penalty,” it said.

“In any event, the panel determined that the sanction imposed was not disproportionate.” - Reuters

ACHIEVEMENT

Seeb face Dhofar, Bausher take on Al Nasr IOC honour for

Oman’s Sanaa

Times News Service MUSCAT: It will be the battle between Muscat and Salalah teams when the second round of 2016 His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championships begins at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Seeb and Bausher, both Muscat based teams, were drawn against Salalah teams - Dhofar and Al Nasr respectively when the the Oman Hockey Association (OHA) conducted the draw for the six-team second round at the association headquarters on Monday.

Defending champions AhliSidab, meanwhile, will await the winners of first round play-off match between Sohar and Salalah scheduled for Tuesday. Ahli-Sidab will play the winners of that match on Thursday when Al Nasr will square off against Seeb.

The second round matches, all to be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, will run till December 15 and at the end of which the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals. The semifinals will be played on December 17. The third-place playoff is scheduled for December 18 and the final set for December 19.

Fixtures: Dec 7: Seeb vs Dhofar 6 p.m.; Bausher vs Al Nasr 8 pm.

HM’S CUP DRAW: OHA officials and club representatives during the final round draw on Monday.

Dec 8: Sohar/Salalah vs AhliSidab 6 p.m; Al Nasr vs Seeb 8 pm.

Dec 9: Dhofar vs Bauhser 6 pm.

Dec 10: Ahli-Sidab vs Seeb 6 pm; Al Nasr vs Sohar/Salalah 8 pm.

Dec 11: Sohar/Salalah vs Bausher 6 pm; Ahli-Sidab vs Dhofar 8 pm.

Dec 13: Al Nasr vs Dhofar 6 pm; Bausher vs Ahli-Sidab 8 pm.

Dec 14: Dhofar vs Sohar/Salalah

6 pm; Seeb vs Bausher 8 pm.

Dec 15: Ahli-Sidab vs Al Nasr 6 pm; Seeb vs Sohar/Salalah 8 pm.

Dec 17: Semifinals (6 pm, 8 pm).

Dec 18: Third place match 6 pm.

MUSCAT: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has honoured Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidi, Chairperson of Oman Women’s Sports Committee of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), by conferring upon her the “Women and Sport” Achievement Diploma in recognition of her initiatives and contribution to promoting the development and participation of women and girls in sport.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the OOC said: “The recognition comes as part of the IOC’s 2016 Awards for women in sport and in accordance with the assessment made by a board of jury composed of members of the IOC’s Women’s Sports Commission which recommended granting Sayyidah Sanaa this prestigious diploma.”

“The recognition is also given to the chairperson of Oman Women’s Sports Committee due to her outstanding services to women’s sport in Oman.”

Sayyidah Sanaa has been re-appointed as chief of Oman Women’s Sports Committee for 2016–2020 term and she was also selected to the membership

MOTORSPORTS

Oman’s Shihab Al Habsi shines at RAK Track MUSCAT: Oman’s young karting star Shihab bin Ahmed Al Habsi did the country proud by winning the third round of the 2016-27 UAE X30 Challenge at RAK Track in Ras Al Khaimah.

Shihab improved steadily from the qualifying practice and right up to the final race to ultimately clinch the top honours. In the qualifying practice session, the Omani boy recorded his best time of 40.801 in his tenth and final lap.

That helped him to emerge the third fastest behind Jamie Day (40.479) and Ali Akabi (40.771).

In the Heats too, Shihab finished in the third place covering 12 laps

in a time of 8:14.286 while Jamie continued to stay top in 8:13.075 followed by Ali in 8:13.979.

In the 15-lap pre-final, Jamie failed to finish the race and Shihab moved to second in a total time of 10:24.088 (best lap time of 40.820).

Ali finished on top with 10:23.908 (best lap time of 40.940). Manaf Hijjawi was third in 10:24.766 (best lap time of 41.116).

In the final race, Shihab was in his elements as he went to win the day’s honours covering the 17 laps in a time of 11:43.479 with his best time of 40.904 coming in the penultimate lap.

Jamie, meanwhile, finished in

the fifth place while Ali did not complete the race. The second place went to Constantin Reisch (11:44.590) and Manaf (11:48.084) settled for third place.

Shihab Al Habsi has been doing well at the international level for the past couple of years.

The 12-year-old, who won the first MENA KF-Junior Championship in Bahrain in 2015, has excelled at several international competitions this year including WSK Super Master Series in Italy, CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in Sweden and European CIK-FIA Championship finale in Belgium.

GREAT GOING: Oman’s Shihab Al Habsi in action. – Supplied photo

RECOGNITION: Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidi

of the GCC Women’s Sport Organising Committee.

She also has a track record of achievements in the field of women’s sport including the organisation of women’s sports seminar held in Oman in January, 2012 where she was selected as vicechairperson of the Organising Committee and Director of 4th Women’s Games held in Muscat in March, 2015.

“It is noteworthy that the Women’s Sport Award is granted to just one woman from each continent,” the OOC statement added.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

SPORTS FOOTBALL

Eriksson to manage Shenzhen SHANGHAI: Chinese secondtier club Shenzhen FC appointed former England coach SvenGoran Eriksson as manager on Monday, a month after the Swede left top-tier Shanghai SIPG. Eriksson led Shanghai to a third-placed finish in the Chinese Super League, but was replaced by former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre VillasBoas last month.

“Mr Eriksson is a world-known experienced manager.... We hope his arrival will help Shenzhen attract the world’s attention,” Shenzhen said in a statement, quoted by Shanghai Daily.

Goran Eriksson, 68, replaced Dutchman Clarence Seedorf, who was appointed Shenzhen coach in July, but failed to win promotion to the Chinese top flight league. - Reuters

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From Tests to tennis ball, Zulqarnain’s reverse cycle Zulqarnain Haider also played a full season in Oman Cricket Premier Division playing a crucial role in his team’s (Passage to India) title triumph last season. He also played for the same team this season but left midway

The 30-year-old Zulqarnain has now picked up pieces and plays private T20 tournaments in the United States and is trying his luck in tennis ball tournaments

NEW DELHI: It is now a part of folklore as to how Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a ‘tennis ball king’ much before he ruled Indian cricket. He was one of the best paid batsmen in tennis ball tournaments in Bengal, which used to be a source of decent pocket money for budding cricketers.

But there are cases where cycle of life goes in reverse gear. That’s what has happened with former Pakistan Test wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who had suddenly walked away from the national team and sought asylum in the United Kingdom.

The 30-year-old Zulqarnain has now picked up pieces and plays private T20 tournaments in the United States and is trying his luck in tennis ball tournaments.

Recently, Zulqarnain came for the 10 Premier League, which offers highest prize money (250,000

Dirhams) for a tennis ball tournament. “Tennis ball cricket can also be a career option. One of my friends was a part of the organising committee. So I came here for a few matches. You never know but hope this also gives players a scope of growth. The matches are completed in short span of time and is lucrative also,” Zulqarnain, who last played first-class cricket in 2014 for Zarai Taraiqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), told PTI. His last List A appearance was even prior to that.

Since cricket was his bread and butter, how is he currently running his finances, the keeper-batsman says: “The bank job has helped me.

When I came back to Pakistan from my asylum in the UK, the then interior minister Rehman Malik had helped me a lot. So I have this job.

Also I went to the United States and played a few tournaments in

Chicago, California and Washington. Two were T20 tournaments.

So I am earning some money apart from the salary.”

He does not want to talk about past but at the same time does not have any regrets.

“I have always maintained that I had specific issues with a few players whom I won’t like to name. And I was right, wasn’t I ?

Now the atmosphere in the Pakistan team is great. I have no problems with any of the current cricketers who are representing Pakistan. In fact, most of them I consider as friends. Those with whom I had problems, they are no longer playing for the national team,” said the 30-year-old glovesman, who had played one Test and 4 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals for the national team.

For all practical reasons, Zulqarnain in immediate future is

unlikely to make it to the national team but he is hoping against hope that he gets some good performances at the first-class level and stakes a claim.

A total of 28 runs from 4 innings in qualifying round of Quaid-eAzam trophy meant that he did not get to play for ZTBL this season.

But the man who scored a fighting 88 at Headingley in his only Test appearance is confident for a second shot at redemption.

“I can still come back to the national side as a second wicketkeeper batsman. I know Sarfraz is doing a good job both with the bat and the gloves but I can be the second choice still. I am good enough for that.

“I will take it as a new beginning. Even during my first stint with the national side, I was understudy to Kamran Akmal,” concluded Zulqarnain. - PTI SOCCER

Aguero gets four-match ban for violent conduct LONDON: Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will serve a four-match ban for violent conduct, the English Football Association (FA) said on Monday.

The Argentina international was shown a straight red card in stoppage time of City’s 3-1 home Premier League defeat

by Chelsea on Saturday for a two-footed lunge on centre back David Luiz.

Aguero’s tackle sparked a melee at the Etihad Stadium, with players and coaching staff from both teams involved in ugly scenes during which City midfielder Fernandinho was also sent off.

Fernandinho will serve a three-game ban.

Aguero also served a threematch suspension for violent conduct in September for elbowing West Ham United defender Winston Reid. - Reuters

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

C O M M E N TA RY

Tendulkar tip is the best bet for Cook against India under Kumble protocol

A

FTER hammering four boundaries off Chris Woakes in the 122nd over of the first innings to take his personal score to 89, Ravindra Jadeja was sensibly sober in the next over bowled

by Gareth Batty. He blocked one of the two balls he had faced to cover to steal a single.

On the nervous 90 for the first time in his Test career, Jadeja switched himself into aggressive mode and charged down the pitch in a cavalier attempt at sending Adil Rashid over the long-on boundary that ended in the hands of Woakes.

Disappointed? No way.

“That’s my shot and I always hit that ball for six,” Jadeja sounded nonchalant at the end of play on day three of the Mohali Test.

A day later, after India won the third Test by eight wickets inside four days, Jadeja had an amazing change of mind and told Sanjay Manjrekar at the presentation ceremony that he would be careful the next time around. That was turning 360 degrees from where he was in less than 24 hours.

What could have made Jadeja relook his game and strategy within such a short time? The answer is simple and obvious. The unprecedented protocols being set in place by Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli are doing the trick.

A month ago, Kumble spelled out how he would want things to get going when a player got injured. The injured should put in his best effort to get himself 100% fit again, but he shouldn’t look to come back into the team rather too quickly. That’s not going to help the team or the player, so the guy need to go back to domestic cricket and prove his fitness.

The Kumble protocol will be in force unless there is an emergency. With Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, the only two guys around who could bowl at 140kmh consistently, running in hard and bending their back to get awesome returns, fit-again fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar warmed the bench in the first three Tests, along with uncapped Hardik Pandya who subsequently made his exit after picking up a shoulder injury while training. Sharma has been released from the team for his December 9 wedding, Bhuvaneshwar will have to wait for the right conditions to get back in the playing eleven and Pandya is likely to be out of action at least for six weeks.

Injury is part and parcel of

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SPORTS Maxwell may also miss 2nd ODI against Kiwis Australian team’s

the life of any sportsperson.

There’s no way one could avoid getting injured, but one could be doing a little bit to give himself a better chance.

How? “Eat, sleep, train, repeat.” That’s the Kohli protocol on keeping oneself fit, which is boring, but the skipper, who does a crazy number of squats to pump explosive power into his legs, says the boys need to be boring with their training to be consistent.

The new protocols have brought a new attitude in the team. Lazy fielders are now running after the ball with a real intent to block a boundary or deny another run. They dive, leap into the air and throw hard from the deep.

They don’t take their place in the squad for granted. And nobody would now walk off the field over a niggle.

Jayant Yadav, who made his Test debut in the current series against England, impressed the captain and the coach with his attitude and approach in both the Tests he has played, with bat as well as ball. Ashwin, known for his batting skills as well, cannot rest on his laurels. Competition is so tough that Jadeja feels the need not to miss an opportunity to up his stake.

The normally cool and consistent Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay are the only guys who looked rusty and out of sync, and they don’t need to be told anything about the need to up their ante — it’s obvious.

Under the circumstances, it’s difficult to foresee how Alastair Cook and his blokes could stand up to this Indian armada under the command of captain Kohli. Neither a break in Dubai nor a suggestion— kidnapping Sachin Tendulkar to train the team — made in jest by former prime minister David Cameron may conjure up the magic. Perhaps, what Tendulkar has suggested — a new strategy that would split a Test series into back-to-back home and away matches that, if it were in place now, would have required Kohli and his army to board a flight to London to play the remaining two Tests there — might.

The writer is a freelance contributor and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

performance on Sunday, ending a five-match losing streak in the oneday format, probably meant that Maxwell could again find himself on the outer STILL OUT: Australia’s controversial all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

SYDNEY: Controversial allrounder Glenn Maxwell could still find himself on the outer in Australia’s second One-day International (ODI) against New Zealand on Tuesday.

Darren Lehmann’s embattled side coasted to a 68-run victory against the visitors in the first game in Sydney on Sunday, with captain Steve Smith scoring 164 and combining in a 127-run partnership with all-rounder Travis Head (52).

Maxwell, however, was not selected for the game and was fined by the team for comments he made beforehand to express how “painful” it had been for him to bat behind wicketkeeper Wade for Victoria.

The team’s performance on Sunday, ending a five-match losing streak in the one-day format, probably meant that Maxwell could again find himself on the outer, which Head suggested.

“When you win like we did yesterday, I’m not expecting it to change too much,” Head told reporters in Canberra on Monday. “(But) it’s not my job to do that. I get told where I’m put and try to perform.”

Head said despite his own role

in the victory and having played 13 of the side’s 16 one-dayers since his debut against West Indies in June, he was taking nothing for granted, especially since he and Maxwell were both off-spinning all-rounders.

“The pressure is always on in the side. In any Australian cricket side, you’ve probably got five guys that are banging down the door that aren’t in the squad,” Head added.

“The competition for spots is always on. And when you’re in the side, it’s equally as hard to stay in it.

You have to be performing, but I am definitely not feeling comfortable.

“I’m happy with the performance but was disappointed to have got out and done all that hard work having got to 50 and helped build that partnership.

“If I can keep performing then I can stay in the side and that’s what I hope to do.”

‘Decision understandable’ Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said the decision not to review a lbw appeal on Australia’s captain Steve Smith was the

right one at the time as there was significant doubt from even people off the field.

Smith was on 14 when he was trapped in front by Trent Boult, who was convinced he had struck a major blow to Australia’s innings in the first ODI in Sydney on Sunday.

The appeal, however, was turned down by umpire Mick Martell and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson chose not to review. Television replays, however, showed the on-field decision would have been overturned.

Smith, who told reporters that he felt he was out and relieved the visitors did not review, went on to make 164 to guide his side to 324 for eight before they bowled New Zealand out for 256 in 44.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

“There was plenty of chat afterwards about that,” Hesson told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

“There were two sounds and the possibility of an inside edge.

“From our angle we heard two noises. Macca (batting coach Craig McMillan) and I were going ‘he’s probably nicked it’ and clearly

he didn’t. Generally (Williamson) looks to the guy square on in terms of height, the keeper has a good look, is sometimes obscured, first slip sometimes has a better look and he was unsure.

“All that’s got to happen pretty quickly. It was obviously pretty costly in the end.”

That decision was not the only thing to go wrong, with the side making uncharacteristic errors in the field, including several dropped catches, while their death bowling was too expensive, going for 110 runs in the final 10 overs.

Debutant Lockie Ferguson also bowled four no balls, gifting Australia a free hit on the next delivery as he conceded 73 runs from nine overs.

Hesson, however, said a bout of cramp may have affected the 25-year-old, who still impressed with his pace that hurried up the Australian batsmen.

“He conceded a lot with his extras and a lot of that was cramping and loss of stride length,” he added.

“Those things happen and can be tidied up pretty quickly once he gets used to that kind of intensity.” - Reuters

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

SPORTS MOTORSPORT

Formula One returns to France after 10-year absence PARIS: The French Formula One Grand Prix will return in 2018 after a 10-year absence with the race scheduled to take place at the Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, regional politician Christian Estrosi said on Monday.

“We and those who are with me are very proud...it’s a great victory,” Estrosi told reporters.

Named after the local pastis beverages magnate who financed it, and also known as Le Castellet, the track last hosted a grand prix in 1990. The country’s most recent Formula One race was at MagnyCours, in central France, in 2008.

France hosted the first recognised grand prix near Le Mans in 1906, and was also part of the first world championship season in 1950 with a race at Reims.

FIVE-YEAR DEAL: An aerial view shows the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet near Marseille, France, in this picture taken on February 17,

The five-year deal was agreed with the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur (PACA) region in association with the city of Toulon, department of Var and the French

motorsport association (FFSA).

PACA president Estrosi, an exmayor of Nice and a former car and motorcycle racer who finished fourth in the 1978 French 500cc

Grand Prix at Nogaro, said the event was likely to happen in the European summer.

He declined to say how much it had cost to bring back motor rac-

ing’s elite competition, but said the contract was in the normal price range for a grand prix in Europe.

“Losing the grand prix left a real scar on the country,” Estrosi said.

Germany has been axed from the 2017 calendar for financial reasons, but Hockenheim still has a contract to host the loss-making race in 2018.

Le Castellet, which features the long Mistral straight, has been fully renovated and is now owned

by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s family trust.

The Briton said last week that the trust was not involved in the race and would be leasing the facility to “the people that are going to be the promoters.”

France currently has two drivers on the starting grid, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon, while French manufacturer Renault has its own team and provides engines to former champions Red Bull and Toro Rosso. - Reuters

ISWK defeat ISAS by 188 runs Batting first, ISWK piled up 305 before being all out in 44 overs. In reply, ISAS were bowled out for 117 in 29.1 overs

MUSCAT: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) registered a massive 188-run victory over Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) in an Oman Cricket-organised Under-19 match.

Batting first, ISWK piled up 305 before being all out in 44 overs.

Malik Rashid top scored with 76. In reply, ISAS were bowled out for 117 in 29.1 overs. Ivan Manjila and Mohit Badiyani claimed four and three wickets respectively for ISWK. Brief scores: ISWK 305 in 44 overs (Malik Rashid 76) bt ISAS 117 in 29.1 overs (Ivan Manjila 4/8).

Points: ISWK – 5, ISAS – 0.

ISD down SLSM In an Under-16 match, Indian School Darsait (ISD) defeated Sri Lankan School Muscat (SLSM) by 67 runs.

Batting first, ISD put on 189 for seven in 20 overs. Abhimanyu Bhati top scored with 74. In reply, SLSM scored 122 for seven in 20 overs. Arjun Rajesh and

ISWK HEROES: Mohit Badiyani, Ivan Manjila and Malik Rashed Ali.

111 NOT OUT: Bharat Srinivas.

Bharat Srinivas top scored with an unbeaten 111. Jayesh Anil and Ayman chipped in with 57 and 80 not out respectively. In reply, NCA were bowled out for 67 in 19.3 overs. Mohammed Hassan claimed two wickets for ISM A.

Harikrishnan Pillai claimed two wickets each for ISD. Brief scores: SLSM 121 in 19.2 overs (Shaurya Dewan 54; Aashiq Sony 3/17) lost to ISD 122 for 4 in 13.4 overs (Abhimanyu 49 n.o).

Points: SLSM – 0, ISD – 3.

PSM A beat ISM B In an U-13 A match, Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) A defeated ISM by 67 runs. Batting first, PSM A smashed 217 for the loss of one wicket in 20 overs. Abdullah Ifthikhar top scored with an unbeaten 102 and Shouib Sohail also made an unbeaten 61. In reply, ISM B scored 151 for six in 20 overs. Bilal Asim claimed three wickets for PSM. Brief scores: PSM A 217 for 1

ISWK STARS: Akshada Gunasekar, left, and Jaidhanya Gunasekar.

in 20 overs (Abdullah Ifthikhar 102 n.o.) bt ISM B 151 for 6 in 20 overs (Bilal Asim 3/18). Points: ISM B – 0, PSM A – 3.

ISG rout BOC B In an U-13 B match, Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG) eased to a ninewicket victory over Bosher Olympic Centre (BOC) B. Batting first, BOC B scored 66 for nine in 20 overs. Athara Bhide claimed three

wickets for ISG. In reply, ISG scored 67 for one in 8.5 overs.

Brief scores: BOC B 66 for 9 in 20 overs (Athara Bhide 3/10) lost to ISG 67 for 1 in 8.5 overs. Points: BOC B – 0, ISG – 3.

ISM A thrash NCA In another U-13 B match, ISM A thrashed NCA by 202 runs. Batting first, ISM A amassed 269 fo the loss of one wicket in 20 overs.

Brief scores: ISM A 269 for 1 in 20 overs (Bharat 111 n.o.) bt NCA 67 in 19.3 overs (Mohammed Hassan 2/18). Points: NCA – 0, ISM A – 3.

BOC A win by 31 runs In an U-13 A match, ISAS defeated BOC A by 31 runs. Batting first, BOC A put on 157 for seven in 20 overs. Vansh Bolar top scored with 46. Aditya SM claimed two wickets for ISAS. In reply, ISAS scored 125 for six in 20 overs.

Brief scores: BOC A 157 for 7 in

20 overs (Vansh Bolar 46) bt ISAS 125 for 6 in 20 overs. Points: ISAS – 0, BOC A – 2.

ISWK eves humble BOC In an Women’s Division match, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) girls defeated BOC team by 173 runs. Batting first, ISWK put on 236 for one in 20 overs.

Akshadha Gunasekar and Jayadhanya Gunasekar scored 87 not out and 57 not out respectively. In reply, BOC scored 63 for nine in 20 overs. Simranjeet Sirah claimed three wickets for ISWK. Brief scores: ISWK 236 for 1 in 20 overs (Akshadha 87 n.o., Jayadhanya 57 n.o.) bt BOC 63 for 9 in 20 overs. (Simranjeet Sirah 3/10).

Points: ISWK – 3, BOC –0.

ISC TENNIS

SOHAR LIFT MANGALORE SPIKERS NATIONAL DAY CUP VOLLEYBALL TITLE Sohar Club emerged the winner of the National Day Cup Volleyball Tournament organised by Mangalore Spikers at the indoor stadium of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher recently. In the tournament that saw participation of five teams, including Indian and Pakistani squads, Mangalore Spikers settled for the runners-up place. His Highness Sayyid Thuweiny Saif Hamood Al Said presided over the prize-giving ceremony in the presence of Sheikh Hamood Talib Al Balushi, His Highness Sayyid Numeir bin Seif Al Said, Sheikh Salem Ali Salem Khalifa Al Busaidy, Sheikh Musa Khalifa Mohammed Al Ahsani. The tournament was supported by Girish Kanchan of Al Khaif Trading , Harish Sherigar of Acme Building Materials Oman /UAE, Manjunath Nayak of STS, Mahabal Mendon , Shivanand Kotian of Oasis Water Copmany and Umesh Kumar of Modern Supplies Enterprises. — Supplied photo

Ayaan marches into U-14 final MUSCAT: Top seed Ayaan Malhotra put in an impressive display and clinched a berth in the final of the boys under-14 singles at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC).

In a thrilling and top quality semifinal encounter, Ayaan and fourth seed Shlok Ail battled tooth and nail before the top seed emerged winner with a 6-4, 6-4 verdict. Both showed positive intent, went for their shots and neither was able to gain the upperhand at any stage of the match.

The battle was so intense that most of the games went to deuce and neither was able to hold his serve until 4-games-all in the first set.

Ayaan held in the ninth game to gain the crucial lead and after five

deuces, broke Shlok for the first set. Power hitting by both players was a delight. Ayaan broke Shlok in the fourth and sixth games for a 4-2 lead but Shlok answered with a break.

Ayaan broke again for a 5-4 lead but the determined Shlok broke to stay in the match. Ayaan was keen to wrap up the game but Shlok held firm for three deuces before Shlok’s next return was just a little wide to hand Ayaan victory and a berth in the final.

In quarterfinal action of the junior doubles the team of Subodh Achar and Abhinav Raghu showed good understanding to down Praneeth Raj and Achyut Kapil 8-2 and the combo of Surya Mariappan and Vatsal Manikandan coasted to a convincing 8-1 victory over Shreyhtak Acharya and Devansh Sampat.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 6, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

VACANCY

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HP 2130 3in1 Printer RO 10.900 only All Cartridges also available on UNBEATABLE prices All HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung Cartridges also available.

Ruwi: 24 792 792 Sohar: 2684 2420

GOOD PRICE!!!

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GOOD PRICE!!!

Available on UNBEATABLE prices

GOOD PRICE!!!

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GOOD PRICE!!!

RENT

GOOD PRICE!!!

D

GOOD PRICE!!!

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CARGO

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T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

AN EXISTING FARM FOR RENT in the Wilayat of Barka, with an area of 45 acres, out of which large area is planted with fodder and 7 acres are planted with vegetables. It has also 14 greenhouses as well as 3 artesian wells and a plowing tractor as well as cutting and bundling tools and plowing equipments with their accessories.

The farm has a good financial income.

Contact: 99340378 OFFICE PROPERTY FOR SALE/RENT DAYS AWAY FROM DELIVERY - PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE AT PRIME LOCATION AT BAUSHER ON 2ND FLOOR BUILD UP AREA – 163 SQ. MTRS. SALE PRICE RO.1,050/- PER SQ. MTR -RENT PER MONTH RO.10/- PER SQ. MTR. OPTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT FURNITURE.

PREMIUM VILLA FOR SALE SANTINI A3 TYPE 2 STOREY VILLA WITH 4 BEDROOMS PLUS MAID ROOM AT AL MOUJ PHASE 4.

GREAT LOCATION WITH CUL DE SAC FOR PARKING. PURCHASE OPEN TO NON-OMANIS AS WELL.

CONTACT NO. 91257475

1BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 180/Muttrah house. Contact: 95076261

2 BHK with split / AC in Muttrah, Dar Al Maha. Contact: 96708000 Store for rent in W.K. Contact: 96708000 Big room with separate bath room available in Al Khuwair, opposite Muscat Pharmacy R.O 100/- , with E/W. Contact: 95250161 2BR flat in old fish market Ruwi.

Contact: 92705331 Room Al Khuwair R.O 110/-.

Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

Flat for rent including 2 Rooms, Sitting hall, Kitchen, Three Bathrooms With A/C, Car Parkingincluding Electricity and Water, Total monthly RO 320, Al Ansab Phase 2 Near Petrol pump. Contact 99420022

One / Two, B/R flats in new building near Dolphin near dolphin complex, Bausher directly from owner.

Contact: 92158031 2 BHK Azaiba R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

1,2 BHK Darsait. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

For Rent 2BHK, AC R.O 260/- Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95455180

1,2 BHK Wadi Kabir. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

Room for rent in Qurum attached bathroom. Contact: 97128083

Flat for rent Azaiba, 2 bedrooms, good location at Azaiba. Contact: 99311032 / 95080255

2BHK flat in Wadi Kabir near the Indian Primary School with split A/Cs. Contact: 99367627

3BHK Flat, Ghubra, Close to ISG, Indian Family, 99319880 1,2,3 BHK flats & villas. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 New apartment flat for rent 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms & kitchen behind Sultan Centre Al Amerat water free (R.O 250/-).

Contact: 71109574 1 BHK Flat for rent in Darsait.

Contact: 99357586 / 97500021 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

1 BHK Ruwi, Wadi Kabir, Al Khuwair. Contact: 99024730 Single & double BHK flats behind German Embassy near to Al Nahdha Hospital Ruwi & near to Indian School Al Ghubrah.

Contact: 99203954 1& 2 BHK Darsait I.S. Hi School.

Contact: 99024730 New apartment flat for rent, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms & kitchen, behind Indian School, short way to Lulu Darsait & Muttrah traditional Soqu. Contact or Whatsapp: 91013331

Flat for rent in Al Ghobra, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 family sitting room, 1 kitchen. RO 400/Contact - 95919059 Brand new shoe room at heart of Azaiba city for rent.

Contact : 98294753 House in Darsait, 3 rooms, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen with A/C. Contact: 95522405 Flat in Wadi Al Kabir, 3 rooms with AC. Contact: 99333639 1 room with living room 250/- & 2 rooms with living room 300/-, Bowshar near Modern College, with split AC & ample car park.

Contact: 90999945 / 92222045

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 6, 2 0 1 6

D3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

FOR RENT - OPEN PLOT AVAILABLE 3500 SQM INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL PLOT WITH COMPOUND WALL SUITABLE FOR OPEN WAREHOUSING, HEAVY MACHINERY/ VEHICLE LOADING/ UNLOADING. PARKING FACILITY ALSO AVAILABLE ON BOTH SIDES

CONTACT : 99273774 - 99202278

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) 6. Scaffoldings 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Contact 93990154 FOR SALE

One bedroom flats, family hall 1.5 bathrooms, and kitchen. Quality Design and Finishing in brand New Building in Ghala. Contact Real Estate Services Co (RESCO): 91246444 / 92905432 / 24222345 Spacious shop available for perfumes cosmetics, near Oman house. Contact: 92150455 2 BHK & 3 Ruwi at Al Khuwair & 5 BR villa Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99024730 2 rooms sharing accommodation available for working ladies, near Oman house. Contact: 92904918 Garage for rent in Wadi Kabir 250 Sqm built area equipped with one hydraulic lift and vehicle pit.

Serious tenants may Contact: 97224477 New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes 1 living room , 2 bedrooms, kitchen, 3 toilets, every room with split A/C & high quality finishing. Rent per flat is RO 320/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968 – 92225523 New flats for rent at Al Ghubra near to Atlas Hospital, opposite to Panorama mall. Interested candidates Contact: 00968 – 97093283 Two bed room flat available near Honda Show room.

Contact: 99022675 1Bedroom sharing K& T, family / ladies in Al Khuwair R.O 90.

Contact 95154331 Villa for rent Amerat phase fifth/1) Majlis, hall, kitchen, 5 bedrooms & 7 bathrooms (spilt unit AC) RO 450/per month, preference for families.

Contact: 99203458 6 Bedroom villas available for rent at North Al Hail, near Wave, complex with swimming pool and Gym. Contact: 99833747

Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM 1 BHK near Medical Darsait Muttrah house R.O 180/-.

Contact: 95070201 1 BHK flat in Wadi Kabir RO 160/-.

Contact: 99376454 2 BR apartments available for rent, close to Muscat Grand Mall, next to Diwan’s Office, South Ghubra. Contact: 2456256 / 99833747 Flat for rent, 1 BHK in Bowshar.

Contact: 91153933 Office for rent in Shatti Al Qurum in Al Masa mall.

Contact: 91153933 Room for rent in Bowshar.

Contact: 91153933 2 BHK near Oman house behind Khimiji, H.O. Contact: 95865686 Apartment for rent full furnished, one room furniture Al Khuwair area.

Contact: 99389989 after 5 PM. Flats sand shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area and Honda road. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 / 94579531 Fully furnished room for executive bachelor in CBD area, WiFi internet free, advance deposit.

Contact: 90631572 Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable 3 bedroom ground floor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket.

Contact: 95047657 Room in Azaiba. Contact: 99555843

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS

FOR SALE Standard and Hicube sized containers for sale. All are in good condition. Contact Mr. Tauqeer 92602985

Good Condition Sanyo washing machine, semi automatic, RO 30 for sale in MBD Contact; 99737812

Containers for sale Total 40 feet & quantity 70 Nos for more details, please Contact: +968 95068854

Twin Villa for sale in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Each side has three floors, five bedroom plus maid room. Each room has it’s own bathroom and one extra toilet between dining and sitting room. The villas are now about 5 years old and very clean and well maintained.

It has split A/C’s. OMR 215,000 each villa. Contact : 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm. Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

Ice cream Shop, Prime location, Ruwi for sale. Contact: 92150455 Restaurant situated in prime location at CBD signifies interest in leasing out to interested party, who can nurture and carry on the task of running it well.

Contact: 96247596 / 99101733 Well furnished office available in prime building at OC Centre for sale. Contact: 96247596 / 99101733 Running restaurant for sale Al Khuwair area. Contact: 92660947 Used & refurbished porta cabins, toilets unit available for sales.

Contact: 99215560 Email: omegaunitedoman@gmail.com Expat leaving, house hold items for sale. Fridge, AC, dining table with chairs etc. Contact: 92323377 Shop for sale heart of Ruwi near happy center. Contact 96728595 / 99335013 Restaurant for sale well modified well equipped good location in Sur. Contact: 99554114 Shop for sale at Honda road and Rex Road. # 96093266 / 91398730 Villa for sale in Al Amerat 8/1 upscale finishes. Contact: 91153933 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only.

Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909

Land for sale in the village of Bimmah on the coastal road Qurayat/ Sur with a space of 604 square meters for an attractive price.

Contact 92905222 Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239 RESTAURANT for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 99378964

MV SALE Honda CRV 2008 model, expat leaving, full option, leather interiors, sunroof, new tyres, comprehensive insurance, full service history with Honda, 139000kms, OMR 3350, contact – 98223082 Toyota corolla 1.6 automatic, 2011, 78000 km only, dealer serviced.

Contact: 92323377 Prado 2014. Contact 99336093 Kia optima model 2008, automatic. Contact: 99612197 FJ Cruiser 2009 GCC, yellow, 210000 KM, RO 6300/Contact: 92857111 Mercedes C155, 2008, white, 130000 KM, 10100/- R.O. Contact: 92857111 Honda Accord 2008 model, 4 cylinder, number 1 full options with navigation/ camera, full insurance. No accident history, 1640000 km, well maintained.

OMR 3300/-.

Contact – 95919059 Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017.

Contact No: 92812144 Toyota corolla, 2009 model, 1800 CC, full automatic.

Contact: 97692959

Wholesale agents required Ready made cotton summer wear and woolen garments manufactured in India sgupta1093@gmail.com 97812511

ACC. AVAILABLE Well furnished single / sharing room for Exe. Bachelor at Rex road (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil).

Contact: 92873832

MANPOWER

Furnished sharing flat at Honda Read. Contact: 96093266 / 91398730 Furnished room sep / entrance Wadi Kabir Executives.

Contact: 99336206 Room for rent available at Al Khuwair. Contact: 91512037 Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi. Contact 91107383 / 93120054 Sharing accommodation available at honda road Ruwi. #99040590 Sharing accommodation available with W/E at Al Khuwair 33.

For a small family or non-cooking bachelors. Contact - 92834145 Furnished room in ruwi and azaiba for rent for executive bachelors. Gsm 99058344

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 /93203778

AVAILABLE NRI Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

BUYING Buying cars for cash.

Contact 90202090

One B/R spacious flat, Quepem Goa, full furnished all facilities.

Contact: 97094797 For rent, 3 bedroom furnished flat at Edapally Kochi Kerala.

Contact: 99722457 Chennai Saidapet flat for sale 636 sq ft, 200 meters from Railway Station Rs. 6800 sq ft.

Contact: 968 95907025

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

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T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 6, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT JOB OPPORTUNITY Wanted 1No. Junior Civil Engineer With minimum 3 years experience in building construction. Currently available in Oman with NOC is highly appreciated. &

1No. IT and networking Technician With 5 years experience, good practical knowledge in networking, database management and good understanding of ERP/SAP software for a reputed construction company.

Contact: 95739143 Email: admin@omanihome.com

Excellent grade civil construction company required to fill the following Vacancies.

Excellent Grade Construction Company Requires the following:-

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & FINANCE MANAGER

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k)

Site Engineers (Civil), Senior MEP Engineer, MEP Engineers, QA/QC Civil, HSE Supervisor, Foreman (Civil), Foremen Electrical, Foremen Plumbing.

Draft Man - Civil, Draft Man - Mechanical, Draft Man - Electrical, QS - Civil, QS - MEP, Experienced Purchaser, Store Keepers, Experienced person in Water Proofing Combo System.

Looking for dynamic and talented individuals to join our team in Oman for the position of

HR/ADMIN MANAGER FINANCE MANAGER ACCOUNTS MANAGER PROJECTS MANAGER SAFETY OFFICER ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE QA/QC MEP ENGINEER MEP COORDINATOR MEP-SUPERVISOR TOWER CRANE OPERATOR

The above positions requires Oman Driving License.

Email: hr@oasisgrace.com, rajesh@oasisgrace.com

Interested Candidates to send CV to below email.

Email: info@durat.om

FOR CIVIL & MEP DIVISION Project Engineer (D/L) Structural Engineer (D/L) Planning Engineer (D/L) HSE Inspector (D/L) Draftsman

6) 7) 8) 9)

Inventory controller Accounts Assistant Office assistant Receptionist (Male/Female)

5 years GCC experience with good communication skills

Send Your CV to surcivilmep@surunited.com ACCOUNTS Wanted Accountant.

Email: ami.almoosa@gmail.com Accountant 2-3 years experience.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com. Fax: 24509312

send your C.V kbd@f-m.fm issa767a@gmail.com

A Construction company in Muscat has immediate vacancy for the following designations.

SITUATION VACANT 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

1. Chief Financial Officer 2. Finance Manager with at least 5 years experience in the relevant field for a group of companies associated with Petroleum, Please apply, with confidence and

Deputy General Manger (Expatriate) . . . . .

Degree in Civil Engineering with minimum 10 years Oman experience Excellent experience and knowledge of supervision procedure Excellent managerial and communication skill Good knowledge of project management tools and techniques Valid Omani driving license

And the following too

. Project Manager . Civil Engineer Please send your CV to Email address: pm@ajicco.com

Reputed mineral water company required the following HEAVY/LIGHT DUTY DRIVERS VAN SALESMAN

SITUATION WANTED

with Omani driving license

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES CO ORDINATOR with Omani driving license HELPERS Experience 3 to5 years

ACCOUNTS

Contact - 90372638 Indian female, M.Com, having 4 yr’s experience in Accounts looking for Job in Accounts OR suitable placement. Contact: 98418533 / 99338639

EDUCATION CATERING Excellent male cook w/ experience 200 Riyals salary + accommodation & food. Must be in Oman have own visa. Contact: Whatsapp: 95887572 Urgently required Sous Chef commis Chef for a new restaurant.

Contact: 91919255 Urgently required Lab Technician, Pharmacist on leave vacancy and Dental Technician for a reputed polyclinic.

Send CV to carecare003@gmail. com or call 97706453.

DRIVER Urgently required a gulf experienced heavy vehicle driver, currently available in Oman with NOC and valid GCC driving license.

Contact: 94201258 Email: ho@ddtoman.com Wanted Driver for heavy (sewage vehicle) and light vehicle with valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 97991654 / 97991652 Kindly send CV at Email: construction@remasalseeb.com / remaschandran2020@gmail.com

DESIGNER Required Graphic designer for a digital printing company in Al- Khoud. Candidate must have experience of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & CorelDraw. Experience in print machine operating preferable. Send CV to Email: magicfingerprint1@gmail.com, Contact: 94221420 / 94216866/ 94216836

ENGINEER SURVEYOR /DRAFTSMAN ITI Surveyor with 2 years experience in Oman in OHL transmission lines with valid D/L and knowledge in drafting preferred Contact: 93339586 Email: hromancv@gmail.com Urgent requirement Civil Engineer, 10 yrs experience for Construction Supervision. Contact secons.engineers@gmail.com, 99244481 Site Engineer with diploma & minimum 7 years Gulf experienced required 1 No. Email: omaniantrad@gmail.com Wanted Electrician / Electrical foreman with knowledge of estimation & building wirings. Fire & Safety installation foreman with knowledge of estimation & installations. Contact: 99634048 Email: bvcsmuscat@gmail.com Wanted Civil Engineer. Email: almoosaengineering@gmai.com Required Civil Engineer & Commercial Secretary (UK, USA, Germany), Mechanical Engineer, MEP Engineer, Indian Secretary.

Email : joboman2017@gmail.com *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Urgently required Arabic Instructor for spoken Arabic classes for private group of 10 People. Contact: 91919255

Indian male MBA (finance) Accounts, Customer service, 2 yearsExperience.(Dubai Airport) Iran Airlines. GCC driving licensevalid till 2025. On Visit Visa (Till 20 Dec 2016).Looking for suitable job. Contact – 71093532. Emailmirzahassanbaig89@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Required Regional Coordinator we are looking for a business development cum Projects Coordinator for an engineering and project management organization. Qualification – B.E (Civil) / MEP experience 10+ years work experience in Oman is essential. Send your CV to hr@syconepmc.com An excellent grade building Construction Company requires the following staff for their ongoing projects Operations Manager 10 yrs exp & Project Manager 7 yrs exp, Project Engineer 5 yrs exp, Site Engineer 3 yrs exp & Quantity Surveyor 5 yrs exp. Send CV to amad6859@gmail.com Candidates with the following should apply: Previous experience in a similar, working for a security company Proven experience of designing and estimating large integrated CCTV, Access Control, and Perimeter detection systems.

Detailed technical knowledge of database and operating security systems associated with CCTV, access Control, with Oman license.

Send CV by mail info@sahabit.com

MEDICAL Urgently required male pharmacist, Male lab technician, Female OT nurse, Female hair implantation nurse. Contact: 95634573 Email: hr@gshoman.com, Urgently required GP doctor with NOC for well known running clinic ready to work in Bidbid.

Contact 96746460 A MOH license Staff Nurse needed to work in a clinic in Medha 400 Rial salary with accommodation. Contact: 94220240 Arabic speaking doctor preferably with MOH License, internal medicine specialty would be a plus.

E-mail gccmedicalrecruitment@ gmail.com Require Orthodontist in Bahla.

Contact: 99237436 Required Optometrist for a leading Optical group in Oman.

Email : albasilopticals@gmail.com Contact 93822557 Fusion Medicare Polyclinic, Urgently required Pharmacists and Assistant Pharmacist for a reputed organization. Email: pharmadreams2016@gmail.com Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman.com Physiotherapist (bachelor in Physiotherapist) experience 2 years in Oman, Nurse Experience 2 years. Fax: 24602206 Email: fayad.mohamed@gmail.com

Experienced Indian female 23 B.Com with computer application on visit looking for suitable position. Contact: 94964860 / 92436404

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

Looking for a GP doctor in Saham with license. Contact: 99724560/ 95380260

Sales merchandiser for food Stuff Company with valid Omani driving license. Please send the C.V to osamanimer1999@gmail.com

Wanted Pharmacist (with MOH license) & Nurse.

Contact : 95042101 or send CV to Email : azad.a.asif@gmail.com Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other benefits. Contact 92989109, Email: medicoport@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Urgent required : Store labors.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com, Fax: 24509312

English/Arabic speaking Marketing Major with experience in sales. Please e-mail gccmedicalrecruitment@gmail. com Required sales and marketing executive for a 4-star hotel in muscat. candidate with excellent communication skills and having 3+ years experience need apply. driving license will be an advantage. email: hoteljobsmuscat@gmail.com Required well experienced dynamic candidate in Real Estate Evaluation Field beside Building Management Techniques. #91246444, Email: rescooman@gmail.com

SKILLED LABOUR

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

Required Experienced Auto Electrician and Automobile Mechanic for a reputed service station.

Contact : 91232638 hashim@ramainvestment.com

ACCOUNTS

A petroleum field (SAOC) company seeking for JCB operator with ROP license & having 2 years experience to work at PDO site.

Contact: 24484045, Fax: 24485908, GSM : 98083550 Email: said.maqshan@gmail.com Construction company looking for foreman with Gulf experience.

Contact : 95758004

SECRETARIAL / OFFICE Wanted Office clerk having two years experience.

Contact: 92891888

SALES / MARKETING Sales man & designer for Offset printing press. Contact: whatsapp 94756618 A digital & offset printing press ready to cooperate with sales freelancers. Contact: Whatsapp: 94756618 Urgently required hard core Sales & marketing person for computer shop at Ruwi (IT knowledge) Oman driving license will be an advantage (preference for Kerala). Contact: 98048903 Email: info@smartpointcomputer.com

10+ Years Experience in Accounts & Finance upto Finalisation, NOC & License available. Contact – 96239126 Indian (m) B.Com MBA well experienced in accounts & finance speaks English & Arabic, having driving license & NOC. Contact: 95588565 Male Accountant, 34 yrs, MBA finance, 12 yrs experience up to finalization of accounts, NOC available.

Contact: 98733509 Email: abdulvasi6832@gmail.com Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact : 90157073 Accountant male holder of diploma Chartered Accountancy and student of CA institute inter CA, with 3 years experience in finance, available at Muscat ready to join immediately. Contact: 79049355 / 99220572 Email: ahamedfiham777@gmail.com Indian male BBA Finance, Tally & Excel, 1 year experience. Contact: 00968 98829488 Email: ashiqashraf6789@gmail.com ACCA qualified Chartered Accountant, 7 years experience & permanent resident of Oman looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 94521899

MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com Indian male MBA finance 31 years working as Admin Manager in Muscat since 2012, total 8 years experience in administration and accounts valid Omani driving license. NOC is available. Contact : 94030054 ACCA Finance Manager having 9 years experience, Oracle certified is looking for a change, NOC available. Contact: 91147885 Chief accountant Senior 16 yrs exp can handle accounts up to finalization, MIS, C. flow budgeting, ERP costing & leasing with auditing, NOC available, seeking job. Contact: 94885686 Email: zahid233368@gmail.com Indian male 26 yrs on visit visa B.SC Mathematics 4 years experience as an Accountant seeks suitable job. Contact: 98615171 / 95374978 Email: worksite.tinson@gmail.com Accountant & Admin 18 years exp (7 yrs in UAE) good knowledge of accounting software’s & English.

Contact: 92170065 Bangladeshi (male) MBA (finance & banking) masters (Accounting), 1 year experience in Oman as an Accountant 2 years experience in UAE as a Salesman, language proficiency: English, Hindi, Bangladeshi. Contact: 98381784 Indian male, Accountant, 22 yrs, BBM, Diploma in E-Office & Office & E-finance, experience 1 yr under CA as Accounts Assistant looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95268346, Email : ms6678379@gmail.com

Indian male with NOC , 12 yrs Oman experience in Operations, facility management banking project coordination with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98183667 Indian chartered Accountant 17+ years experience in Accounts , Finance and Business management working in reputed group in Muscat looking for suitable change. Oman Driving Licence and NOC available 95562708 pandukp2016@gmail.com Indian male 30 yrs, B.Com 4 years experience in GCC, Sales / Accounts looking for suitable vacancy, currently on visit. Contact: 99727595 Email: samie61@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, MBA in Finance, 4 yrs in Larsen & Tourbo, 26 yrs in Oman, English/ Arabic speaking with driving license.

NOC available. Contact 95588565 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian male Accountant available with NOC & D/L having 10 yrs experience including India, Oman & Saudi ready to join immediately.

Contact: 91729720 ACCA finalist looking for a job in accounts & finance or in audit firm, having Omani D/L & NOC available with 4 years Oman working experience. Contact: 95661169 Email: mohsin_zaman4u@hotmail.com BBA and MBA with 1 year experience as an Accountant/Executive Officer, looking for suitable job.

Gsm-97076365 / 95160774 (available in Oman).

Male MBA Finance, 10 Year experience in Accounting, Finance, Business Development, Administration & Banking (Import & Export). Proficient in Quickbook & Microsoft Suite. Contact 91462125, Valid Oman Driving License.

Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis, finalization works.

Contact: 96247295 Experienced Jordanian banker with 22 years of experience gained across top global banks and financial institutions in UAE, Jordan and Oman. Contact : 9290 9198

Finance Manager, 17 + years Gulf exp. in Accounts, MIS, budgets, strategic planning, cost control, cash flow management, seeks job. Contact 95379211, E mail :- vijay.564@hotmail.com

Accountant B.Com/ M.Com, Indian male 10 years exp seeks suitable job NOC available valid ROP driving license. Contact: 97375608 Email: vincentdsouza1979@gmail. com

Looking for Assistant Accountant, experience in Ayurgreen Hospital.

Email: samkumar871@gmail.com

Indian Senior Accountant, B.Com, having 8 yrs experience in Oman, up to finalization, Oman D/L, release available. Contact: 93484122

Indian male with 7.5 yrs experience in accounting, AR/AP finalization, Tax Queries with good, Knowledge of tally SAP, Focus, having valid D/L. Contact: 96625046 Email: thmsb182@gmail.com Indian male 34yrs looking for Accounts Asst job, Oman with valid driving license Cont. 92092486, email:sagarjohn28@gmail.com

Indian male 22 years, B.Com Graduate with one yr experience in accounts, looking for suitable position. Contact: 91247507 MBA Finance having 6 years experience (4 years) in Oman as an Accountant, local release. NOC available can join immediately.

Contact: 96742474

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 6, 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED B.COM GRADUATE With 30 years Oman experience in various fields like Accounts, Administration, Operation, Credit control etc. worked in reputed companies as Manager with Oman driving license and knowledge of basic Arabic language.

Contact - 98185350

Indian male, 33 yrs, M.Com, Having 7 yrs experience in Accounting with knowledge of Tally & focus ability of finalization of account, financial reports looking for a suitable job, with valid D/L, NOC available.

Experienced IT Professional

Contact - 93864278

Contact # 96654216

Sr. Accountant with SAP/ERP. 11yrs experience in Accounts & Finance in Gulf.

5years in reputed Oil & Gas company; Finalization & Consolidation FS, MIS, Audit, Budget, AP & AR, Tax, etc., Indian Male, Post-graduation, Oman D/L and NOC available.

ACCOUNTS Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Indian (m) MBA ( f) more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiently in various A/C software SAP ( F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95920740 Email Id : abdulhameed1527@gmail.com ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact 99284193 Accounts Graduate (f) 2 yrs experience looking for suitable position. Contact: 90924337, Email: jobsk1617@gmail.com Indian, Kerala, CMA-USA, ICWA, Mcom10+Years Experience Budgeting Planning MIS Accounts&finance.Cont.94064931shijupnarayanan@gmail.com Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing. Contact: 96976240 Translator, 20 yrs in Oman seeking placement, exp includes banking, financial, economic, commercial, legal & journalistic, IT, publishing & newspaper articles. Contact: 92052591 Email: abbaskhalifa@gmail.com Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 Post Graduate M.Com (finance) having 20 years experience in Accounts in seeking suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact: 96275019 Email Id: vjkmr9583@gmail.com Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact :94743790 Certified Public Accountant (Filipino, Male, 27-yrs-old) with four years experience, seeking suitable placement in accounting/audit, currently on visit. Contact 94959606, email: czesar.42@gmail.com Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible.

Contact 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients.

On visit visa in Muscat.

Contact 90191628 / 96175780 Indian female, 26 years,brought up in oman,M.COM(FINANCE) CA Foundation(CPT),CA , INTER (DOING) presently on family visa seeking for immediate and suitable placement. Contact -97174201/99663957 Email-anishasasi@gmail.com

Please contact: 931 42923 ACCOUNTS

ADMIN

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

MSW Postgraduate currently working in Muscat 5 years experience in office operations, administration, customer service & counseling, NOC available.

Contact: 90652428

Accountant B.com Indian male 12 yrs exp seeks suitable job.NOC available . Contact : 91212471 Email: rennyj6@gmail.com

Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817

Omani female Accountant, 32 years, having 10 years exp in admin/accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93295953 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian (M), 31 yrs, M Com 9 yrs experience in Oman, looking for Manager or Executive position in Fin & Accounts, NOC Available.

Contact 968 96166178/ +919768537435: mohammednajeem@yahoo.com Finance Manager, 17 + years Gulf exp. in Accounts, MIS, budgets, strategic planning, cost control, cash flow management, seeks job.

Contact 99489784, E mail :- vijay.564@hotmail.com Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394

ADMIN Indian Male 15 years gulf experience in HR / Admin Assistant, Purchase, Office Coordinator with good computer skills seeking employment for suitable position. Holding valid Oman Driving license. Contact 99709336 Indian female MBA- HR & Marketing having 8+ experience in Admin / HR support and office coordination, Now on visit visa ready to join immediately. Contact: 97059495 Email: priyaviswan@gmail.com

Pakistani, Male, MBA, 11 yrs exposure in Admin & HR and Business Development for HEALTHCARE, construction and banking industries, 4 yrs as Asst Manager, in Oman, Available to join, Cont:95761982, umerok@hotmail.com Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288 Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126 Indian female 33 years with 9.5 years experience (1 yr in Oman) as Executive Secretary, Administration, Sales Coordinator, and HR coordinator seeks suitable placement. Contact 97985059

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC. Indian male, 23 yrs, Architect, 1 year experience, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 98192299 Architect 3 years experience in consultant office proficient in 3D Max – Photoshop, AutoCAD. Contact: 98245746

Indian male 24 years BBA currently on visit visa looking for suitable job in Accounts, Administration customer logistic operations etc ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96987802

Interior designer seeking job in Muscat with 6 years of related experience as an interior designer with a strong background in work place interiors. Contact: 91291502 Email: ahmad.jassem025@gmail.com

8 years experience in administration and guest relations department in Oman With valid omani driving licence. Seeking suitable jobs. Ph: 98145825 email: getcb@rediffmail.com

9 years Gulf experience AutoCAD Draughtsman. Contact: 93528255 Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

CATERING

Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com

Sri Lankan female, 31 years 7 years experience in administration & secretarial currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in finance / Admin / secretary. Contact: 94767990

Driver with Car. Contact: 99716938 / 96048707 Female family driver.

Contact: 98044188 Pakistani, 10 years experience in Saudi, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, license 3 years in Oman.

Contact: 94350734 / 97665807 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Driver looking for job. #95892363 Looking for light driver job.

Contac: 93782166 / 94356465 Looking for light driver job.

Contact: 95604741 Looking for job light driver 17 years exp Oman.

Contact: 95541940 Looking for driving job language English, Arabic & Hindi.

Contact Whatsapp: 95283531 Well experienced LVD (light vehicle driver) available 5 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 95746203 Light Driver with 7 years experience looking for job. Contact: 92617293 Driver job wanted.

Contact: 96393082 Crane Operator. Contact: 91317691 / 97489287

Looking for driving job Executive education speak good English and Arabic 5 years experience in G.C.C and 3 years in Oman.

Contact 90981030

Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com

8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement.

Contact 97243806

Search job for light driver, 5 yrs, language Hindi, Arabic & English.

Contact: 97941771

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN

Post Graduate Indian female 30 experiences in office Admin & tech support looking for suitable opening. Contact: 97148570 Email: maryjose86@gmail.com

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa, looking for suitable position.

Contact 90196235

Driver looking for job with visa.

Contact: 95154610

Looking for driving job. Contact: 94802988 / 94435912

Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168

Indian male M.SW (HR) 2 years exp in India, 27 years age.

Contact: 93353912

Driver available for job.

Contact: 96381406

Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

Indian female BSC IT, having 3 years experience in Oman in Admin / HR seeking for suitable job. Contact: 92308229 Email: maluvyayan40@gmail.com

Omani, male, 26 yrs experience looking for job in reputed Companies as PR, having experience at airport / Emigration, Ministries/ Manpower with Oman D/L. Contact 95445779

DRIVER

Bangladeshi male commis Chef looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95494310

DOMESTIC HELP Indian Cook 25 yrs, 6 yrs experience 1 yr in Oman, NOC available, ready to join immediately.

Contact: 93136713

DRIVER Looking job for driving (with car).

Contact: 92005311

Light driver. Contact: 97020205

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 95396905 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 97418036 Experienced driver available with 4WD willing to work fulltime / part-time, familiar with all tourist destinations in Oman.

Contact: 24814231 / 91941545 Bangladeshi light driver 16 years exp, looking for job.

Contact: 99165961

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Site Engineer Indian male, 7 years of experience in building construction commercial and residential seeking suitable placement, NOC available. Contact: 94817010 Email: mohamoodmct@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Indian male) 12 years of experience in construction field having Omani D/L and NOC looking for suitable job.

Contact: 94194399 Email: saashibly@gmail.com

with over 20 years in Oman.

Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices.

NOC available.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian Male 22, BE Civil Engineer with few site and internship experiences looking for a suitable position in your firm. Got knowledge in (Primavera, Autocad, Staad pro).

Currently In visit visa. 98327644 or shakib842@gmail.com Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 91328079 Civil Engineer with 3 years in Oman working in international company in field of building construction and infrastructure have Omani license.

Contact: 98826802 / 94903195 Email: eng.mn12@gmail.com Structure Engineer/civil BSC, worked in mega projects with 2 years experience, soft ware skills (Cad, staad, Revit, Robot, Sap, Hilti), Fluent Arabic, English.

Contact :99814536 Site Engg (Civil):B.Tech 6yrs Exp. Building Construction & Airport Project, seeks suitable job. NOC available. Contact 94682380, mathivananred@gmail.com HSE Engineer having 10+ years experience in both Construction and Oil & Gas (PDO). Looking for suitable position, NOC & valid driving license available.

Contact: 97717468 Mechanical Engineer, 3 years experience, 1 year in Oman, with driving license & NOC. Contact: 94887665 Email: mechatron_mt@yahoo.com Indian male 24 years B.Tech Electronics Telecommunications Engineering 1.5 years experienced Supervisory Engineer with appreciable ELV expertise seeking suitable position. Contact: 92519146 Email: afsalafoos95@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, Indian 25 years male, seeking for suitable job. Contact: +968 90417679 / +968 92193763, Email : sintocj88@gmail.com Diploma Electrical Engineer 15 yrs experience in electrical, commercial & industrial field 3.5 yrs Gulf experience presently on visit visa.

Contact: 97937868 SriLankan Quantity Surveyor Male, 25 Years. Over 5 year Exp. (3 Yrs. in Oman), NOC available, looking for Suitable position.

Contact: 98436414, Email:Hassaan.mt@live.com Graduate female with 7 years experience in retail, looking for a suitable position.

Contact : 96234434 Indian male 29 yrs, 6 years exp at East Africa now on visit visa seeking for store in charge or related job. Contact: 99695002 Email: arafathw880i@gmail.com Sri Lankan male (30 yrs), B.Tech HND in Quantity Surveying + NCT in Q/S with 4.5 years experience Qatar & Oman, 3.5 years Sri Lankan experience presently in Oman work visa transferable with NOC, looking for suitable opportunity in Oman. Contact: 94907639, Email: thaya1987@gmail.com / thaya2014jandp@gmail.com HSE Manager / Project HSE Manager HSE Engineer having 16 years experience in Gulf region obtained NEBOSH diploma, Diploma in civil looking for job.

Contact: 94549278 or Email: ram_hk2003@yahoo.com Automobile Engineering Fire & Safety Engineering, 2 years Oman experience, 2 years India experience driving license.

Contact: 92848439

Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. #92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available. Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Civil Engineer with 8 years experience performs multi- task job to structural work , building construction , infrastructure , planning , site development & architectural finishing works, NOC available valid Oman D/L. Contact:97474593 Email: a.baraka.om@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com Master of Engineering (Civil), 5 years experience.

Contact: 96658456 Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Chemical Engineer 2 years experience in petrochemical & polyethylene industry looking for valuable offer, NOC available.

Contact: 91359260 Email: jibinjoseph484@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer 2 years experience. Contact: 94028027 B. Eng Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineer with 2 years good working experience searching for suitable job in Oman, driving license on visit visa. Contact: 97705533 Email: engirfan91@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer 3 years of experience in oil & gas and heavy equipments, fluent in English language with valid driving license.

Contact: 91366140 Indian male 16 years experience (GCC) in construction (civil & electro, mechanical) purchasing seeking suitable placement having valid Oman driving license NOC available. Contact: 99109533 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer having 9 yrs exp with valid Omani driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact : +968 97841963 Young Structural Design Engineer, 2 yrs well experienced with good knowledge on Etabs, Staad.PRO & AutoCAD, looking for suitable job (full time / part time). #96118135 Email: raju.alam50@gmail.com Syrian Civil Engineer with 2 years experience in construction with driving license.

Contact: 94799791 Electrical Engineer (B.Tech) male 12 years experience in MEP looking for job NOC available.

Contact: 94743659 BE MECH Engr, Indian male, 23 yrs having 2 yrs experience in Mechanical Engg on visit visa seeks suitable position. Contact: 98827544 Email: sibi.a.b.varghese@gmail.com

Electronics & Communication Engineer, 23-year-old Indian on family visa, BE-ECE graduate looking for suitable placement in networking, hardware and electronics field.

Contact no: 95148894, 99726963.

Email: sadathali0003@gmail.com

Indian female 25 yrs B.Tech IT technically skilled in Date base operating systems, Oracle utilities seeking suitable position, good communication skill.

Contact: 94152561

B.T.S microwave link installation & commissioning Engineer B.Sc (Hons), B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineer ( 2.7 years exp) currently on visit visa.

Contact: 96756964 Email: qayamzaidi8@gmail.com

Indian male B.E Automobile Engineering experience in Administration customer care, Supervisor job mechanical job, on visit visa. Contact: 96033372 / 96304190, Email: arunsaravanan2931@gmail.com

Indian male B.Tech in Automobile Engineer with 2 years experience in service adviser, currently in Oman on visit visa, looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 97195645 Email: akram_75@gmail.com

B.S.c Civil Engineer with 7 years experience in managing & supervising of construction & oil & gas fields (NOC) Available. Contact: 96086214 Email: engmohamedosaman@outlook.com

D6

T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. B. Tech Mechanical HVAC site Engineer 4 years experience, currently on visit. Contact 92837696 / mdabdulather@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization.

Contact 96570891 29 years male Civil Engineer (B.Tech) roads / highways and buildings 08 years experience in Oman only having valid GCC driving license Oman available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 95994968 Email: engr.aamir04@gmail.com Indian male 25 years Civil Engineer (B.Tech) 04 years experience in bridges / structures and buildings working in a reputable company in Oman since 1.6 years available to join with NOC. Contact: 95495797 Email: sarfarazahmad30@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283 Electrical Engineer, 24 yrs, Indian Male, Fresher, Training Undertaken in Electrical Draughtsman, Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting and Industrial Automation. Contact: 94989767, Email: Junaiz987@gmail.com 32 years male senior land surveyor roads/ building / pipelines, PDO , 11 years experience in Oman / Dubai.

Working in reputable company and available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 97640625 Email: qasiryasir@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 6 years exp in Gulf HVAC fire protection plumbing with D/L. Contact: 90609377 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973 Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Ph number: 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail.com Mechanical/ Piping Engineer (B.Tech.) on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 94703350 Email: nadeembcoolboy@gmail.com Indian male 25 B.Tech Electrical, 3 years experience in industrial automation & supervision.

Contact: 97207570 / 90481773 Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022 Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Electrical Engineer having 16 years experience in switchgear / Transformer / over head lines & trading for Sales / Procurement & Project Execution with valid Omani D/L, also available on contracts basis. Contact: 968 - 95994727 Email: qurm340@gmail.com Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat. Contact - 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Contact : 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail.com

Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment.

Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@gmail.com Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact: 94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Indian female 24. Masters in Computer science engineering, seeking job in colleges, schools and institutes. Having in good skill in teaching and advanced technologies. Contact : 93356858 Email id : annielino11@gmail.com Indian Female, Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact – 99675828, Email anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com Indian Female (Dual MBA Marketing & Operations, BTech Civil on Family Visa looking for suitable Openings. Contact 93287567

MEDICAL

Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available.

Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com

Indian female nurse with 9 years experience dataflow prometric completed, MOH viva cleared, looking for a suitable placement in Muscat. Contact: 93896567

Experience Sales / Business development professional, with 5 years Oman experience, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 90133601 Email: gbkoshy@gmail.com

Indian male around 7.5yrs technical product sales, new agency development experience in Oman B.E mechanical PGP.MKT , IB , Oman D/L urgent placement (m). # 91536968

B.Tech (IT) graduate having 1 year experience in Search Engine Optimization, seeking a job in IT field. Contact :nazrinkhan.s@gmail. com, 96336292

Indian female (25) MSc Microbiology 2 years experience prometric on visit visa seeking job urgently.

Contact: 98008164 / 79017569.

Egyptian male experienced Sales Executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies. Holds Omani driving license.

Contact : 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com

Resident in Oman 18 years, 10 years experience in setup marketing plans and strategies, sales, import & logistics, procurement, Omani government tenders, organizing projects & events, import fireworks for festivals, NOC available, have car. Contact 94123939.

Email: 002015r@gmail.com

CFA level 1 cleared (pursuing level 2) MBA operations research, female, 5 yrs experience as Analyst, have a valid Oman driving license, looking for related openings.Contact 95818892 27, Indian male: Software Developer having 5years+ experience in oracle forms & reports 10 g, BI publisher. Contact:91156571 IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact 94672759 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 98660672 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Female, master in mass communication, B.Ed, experience in media channel and teaching PH : 99362024

LOGISTICS Procurement, Warehouse & Logistics, Pakistani Male, Graduate, Over 10 years experience, Looking for Suitable Placement, Currently on Visit Visa. Contact: 91257663

MISCELLANEOUS

Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact 99739415 / 92091528

Omani male, 21 years graduate, (bachelor in management studies) seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97904200

Maths Teacher 30 years experience IGCSE bilingual I.B, A& AS levels. Contact: 98016336

21, Indian female B.com graduate on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Holds valid Omani Driver’s license. Contact: 97208869

HOSPITALITY Indian male having Diploma in Hotel Management with 16 years of experience in F x B Service at India, K.S.A & Oman, having valid Oman D/L, seeking for available placement. Contact: 92100141 / 92221956 Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree,03 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler. Has oman driving license.

Contact No 99859150.

Indian male, 24 yrs , Diploma in Hotel management, 2 years experience front office management in 4 star hotel Dubai, currently on visit visa. Contact: 97937504 Email: febinpalathingal01@gmail.com

IT IT Engineer male, 28 yrs, over 7 yrs experience with NOC, D/L available seeking placement in IT / Network / Telecom field.

Contact 93563297 Email: monuzv24@gmail.com

Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523 B.Com,IICL Certified Container Inspector(No.150850),Visit Visa, Six months experience, need placement. Contact: 90880935, 99023279, Email solexyesudas@gmail.com Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation.

Contact 92956848 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com 9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence. NOC available. Seeks suitable placement.

Contact ZakeerHussain 96681934.

MEDICAL

Pakistani male MBBS, 1 year exp.

Contact: 0092345 4557131, Email: drluqman101@gmail.com Indian male, Nurse with more 7 years experience MOH license, P.D.O license, dataflow, NOC available looking for job in Oman.

Contact: 93604827 Email: subinraj37@gmail.com Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com Filipino male Medical / Sales representative with 3 yrs experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.

Contact: 92610394 Dr.Ayman Abduljalil Ali, E.N.T Specialist (Otolaryngologist), Yemeni-male, looking for job.

Mobile: 00201096542706, Email: aymanjalilorl@gmail.com

Looking for sales cum driver job.

Contact: 94235254 Sales & Marketing Indian (M) having 8 years experience of commercial light vehicles, cranes, forklifts & construction equipments in Qatar, Oman & India holds driving license. Contact: +968 93992275 Email: azmath700@gmail.com Indian male 26 yrs, B.Com, 5 years sales experience in Oman seeking suitable job. Contact: 92507253 / 99414642

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR General Manager Indian National With 20 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company.

Contact-97464650.

Marketing Executive with 10 years experience in Gulf on visit visa. Contact: 90116693

Manager receivables 12 years Oman experience. Contact: 99466318 Email:binulukechacko@gmail.com

MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132

Front Office Manager with over 20 years of experience in the Middle East & preopening expertise with hospitality giants like Burj Al Arab Address Hotels & Millennium looking for similar opportunities.

Contact: 96383636 Manager customer service with over 20 years exposure in the Middle East with leading companies like Burj AL Arab the address & millennium, having excellence in operational management & training seeking suitable opportunity.

Contact : 96383636 Joinery / Woodworking Production Supervisor, Indian, with knowledge in estimation, 18 years experience (5 years in Oman).

Contact: 92975314, praveen777prabhakar@gmail.com.

Joinery / Woodworking Purchase Manager, Indian, with 12+ years experience in UAE, Qatar & Oman.

Experience in Trading & Manufacturing divisions, having valid Omani D/L. Knowledge in Materials Management, Finance, Office Administration and Operations.

Contact: 98040421, vinodthattayil@gmail.com.

Purchase Manager / Officer Indian male 16 years GCC experience in construction Industry NOC available having Oman driving license looking suitable placement.

Contact: 99109533 Plumping Supervisor (Indian male) 12 years experience in Oman with valid driving license having more than 8 years in India looking for a suitable job. Contact: 95154414

STOREKEEPER Store keeper field more than 10 years experience in Gulf country looking for suitable job. #90198237

Indian female, B.SC Staff Nurse Prometric exam passed (63%) having 5+ years experience, seeking better opportunity.

Contact: 94082308 Email: dhanya4sarath@gmail.com

Indian male seeking suitable vacancies, having 8 years experience in computer hardware maintenance and 2 years in CCTV, Presently on visit visa. Contact: 99641209, Email: adersh.kr@gmail.com

Indian male Nurse, with well experience in profession and working in Oman. Seeking for a suitable placement. (Preferring opportunity in as Rig Medic). Has BLS and ACLS. Contact : 97236545

Watch repair and service looking for job, 24 yrs experience.

Contact: 99530405

Indian male, 26 yrs, 4 yrs work experience in M.N.C , IBM , ITIL foundation certified looking for suitable jobs in Training / learning / Development / HR/ MIS. Contact: 92306613 Email: michel.rinku@gmail.com

Indian Nurse with MOH viva prometric, dataflow completed looking for suitable job.

Contact: 95984538 Indian No: +91 8606470884 Email: josephneethu2014@gmail.com

MCA Graduate with 1.6 years experience Indian female looking for any suitable job currently on visit visa. # 97993250 / 91447261

Dentist Indian male with 5 years experience including 2 years Oman working experience, MOH license seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 94116459 Email: sayedmabeel87@yahoo.com

Multinational FMGC experienced, qualified Sri Lankan lady seeking employment in Muscat. Strategy, Marketing, Brands, Sales, Communication. Oman exp & D/L available. 98250829

Key Accounts Manager of sales.. with an experience of 13 yrs, across the country. Bsc, MBA seeks suitable placement. Contact- 92100116

Indian Male Diploma, 4 Year Experience in IT Hardware and Networking, System Admin (2 Years in Oman), Seeking for suitable job.

Contact: 91010146, e-mail: pranav.tp587@gmail.com

Indian male, Post Graduate Diploma holder in IT, CCNA & MCSA Certified have 5 years experience in software & hardware technical support. Contact: 93988511

SALES / MARKETING

IT

SKILLED LABOUR Male 42 electricians & plumber, looking for job NOC available.

Contact: 98081227

SALES / MARKETING

Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95337665

Indian male, looking for sales & marketing job, Oman license holder. Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com Sales Engineer, Indian male, 28 yrs, 3 years experience looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 93938727 Indian male 8 years experience as Sales Executive with Oman driving license NOC available.

Contact: 92233068 Email: shipsnarayanan@gmail.con India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office independently administration, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in challenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license.

Contact 99120500 Omani national, fluent in English looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97173753 Omani female 6 years experience in management, fluent in English & French searching for new opportunity. Contact: 90998255 Indian male 25, MBA (marketing, finance) seeking for a suitable job having 1 year experience, currently on visit visa. Contact: 95469149 Email: surajar.inbox@gmail.com Egyptian male experienced sales executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies.

Holds Omani driving license.

Tel: 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com Indian 38 yrs, male MBA marketing on visit. Building materials sales experience in Oman and India with reputed companies ready to join immediately. Contact: 91214958 BBA Bachelor of business administration exp in custom clearance procedure, also done international logistics management & Nimb National Institute business management (US) certification all documentation work related logistics. contact – 91949050 / akram.chaush001@gmail.com Indian male 25, MBA in marketing 9 years of experience, looking for sales & marketing professional / BDM on visit visa.

Contact: 94540209 Email: sadar.myle@gmail.com Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Tel: 90157073

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 /95774854 Indian male age 24, B.Com. having 2 year experience and currently in visit visa. Looking for suitable placement in Sales, Marketing & finance. Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian male MBA and Diploma in management from Australia. On visit visa, looking for a suitable job in sales & marketing. #71189884 Indian male with 6 years experience in sales in oman. NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95364128 Indian male Sales experience in building material, 8 years in Gulf country looking for suitable job.

Contact: 90110515 Marketing Manager 29 years professional experience in GCC / Oman in marketing in building materials / High tech products.

Contact: 92284066 / 98559317 Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India. +918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. #96143430 / 99875919 Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity.

NOC available. Conatct 96001877 Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact# 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820 Client Relations and Sales Professional with 8 years in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, looking for suitable opportunity in Muscat. Contact +96879050752

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Secretarial & Office: Indian(F), MBA in Finance, 2 years experience as Associate in Branch Operations (Record Keeping, Desk job)on family visa. Ph: 93186865 ; email: ddthoppil@gmail.com Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. # 95244761 India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office administration independently, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in hallenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. #99120500 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

MISCELLANEOUS Pakistani male, looking for a suitable placement as Document Controller, Computer Operator.

Contact 93919064

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 6, 2 0 1 6

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

SITUATION WANTED Mechanical engineer/hvac/indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visitvisa. Contact: 90957740, email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com

Indian male,28 yrs old, B.A Graduate, 6 years Experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills , is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.

(In Visiting visa)#No:90146616

Indian Male with 23 Yrs. experience in Secretarial Job and Administration is looking for opening in Oman. NoC available.

Contact 97227062

Indian Male age:- 23) an i am looking for job an my qualification is Diploma in Mechanical an i am having 4 years of experience in the Quality Supervisor And CNC Machine Operator, GSM:-+96897017866.

Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550 HSE Engineer, 4 years of experience in construction certifications, bachelor of engineering(EEE), Nebosh, Iosh, Dhse, First Aid. Contact :+97474018995, email:midhunmich@gmail.com

Indian/male (25)/ post Graduate/3 years experience in sales and marketing(Dubai), on visit visa. available for immediate joining. Contact: 93887916, email: shamji3851@gmail.com Pakistani Male having 6 years experience working as a Store Incharge, looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. Email : usman.saleem84@yahoo.com, Mob: +96894611858 / 95480426

MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified.

Contact arn9895@gmail.com Mob 00919895233155

Indian male, 29 yrs, Graduate, 6 years Experience as an Office Assistant with Good English communication skills, is looking for a job in Muscat. (In Visiting visa).

Contact No:93271163

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures. Aware of int.

Standards, B tech in Mech engg.

Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917350860889

Indian male, 28 yrs old, B.A Graduate, 6 years Experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills , is looking for a suitable job in Muscat, on Visiting visa.

Contact : 90146616

Indian male, M.Com, 6 years experience in the field of accountancy and Stores. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement. #92859733

Indian male, 29 yrs old, Graduate,6 years Experience as a Coordinator in Reputed Firm with Good English communication skills, is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.(In Visiting visa) # 93042492

Indian Female Nurse with MOH License, looking for suitable placement in Muscat. #95537685.

Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com Indian Male B-com graduate, 1.5 Year exp. in various office works, Valid Oman driving license Looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 95322175 / 91987965 B.E Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Currently on family visit OMAN, looking for job in various mechanical fields of production, manufacturing, technical and designing.

Contact :92113987,email : mohammedthanzeel@gmail.com Indian Graduated MBA from UK, Seeking for suitable position in Sales & Marketing, 3 years experience. Mob. 99642275, Email: Navas.shereef13@gmail.com 25 years male from India looking for job having 3 yrs exp in contracting and trading co. release or NOC available, for immediate joining. Contact :+968 94574596 29 yrs old Graduate(Male), 6 years Experience as an Office Assistant with Good English communication skills, is looking for a job in Muscat. (In Visiting visa).

Contact No:93271163 Email-ranjithraj08@gmail.com

Indian male, Engineer, Procurement Officer, Construction. 23 years experience in Automobile Supply Chain, Production Planning, IT - Delivery Management, Business Analysis and Operations set-up. Contact: 90215985.

Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact : 94175848.

Indian Male 48 years, B.Sc., MBAOperations Management with total 25+ Yrs of exp inclusive of 10 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC , seeks challenging senior position in Logistics/Procurement/SCM. GSM-94236414, Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com SriLankan Quantity Surveyor male, 25 Years, over 5 year Exp. (3 Yrs. in Oman), NOC available, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 98436414, Email: Hassaan.mt@live.com Indian male Auto cad Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact: 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com

SITUATION SIT. WANTED

RENT A CAR

33year Indian Male MBA-HR & MSC having 8.9yrs Exp (HR-operation/ SAP/ Admin) with Oman Driving License, seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/backend jobs.

Contact:+968 99322978 Indian/male (26)/CA- inter and B.Com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer/HVAC/Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email: nishadphoenix@ gmail.com, Contact: 90957740, email: nishadphoenix@gmail.com Indian male 29 years old on visit looking for a suitable position in air ticketing and tours, overall 10 years of experience, 6 years experience in gulf. On visit, ready to join immediately. Contact – 97189669/ info.awaiz2015@gmail.com Indian male Executive Secretary (To Top Management) having 10 years experience in Oman. Also well experience in HR Executive & Admin related jobs. Local release & Oman driving license available, seeking for immediate suitable placement. Contact 92215110; email: hellosajans@gmail.com Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com B.A Graduate, 28 yrs old, is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.

(In Visiting visa , 6 years Experience as a Coordinator in Reputed Firm with Good English communication skills,). Contact No : 93042492

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 97128083 Transportation. Contact: 99099714

29 yrs old Graduate (Male), 6 years Experience as an Office Assistant with Good English communication skills, is looking for a job in Muscat, (In Visiting visa). #93271163 MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male,26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int.

Standards, B tech in Mech engg Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917741032368 Expat with 13 yrs experience in sales and marketing, seeking suitable placement. Contact 92100116

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact 99839898

DRIVING

From Ruwi to Ghala. Contact: 99562527

MATRIMONIAL Indian male Roman Catholic divorcee 41yrs.working in Oman, looking for suitable proposal Indian or Philippino.

Contact :96059801 Kerala Thiyya girl, 26 yrs, 167 cm working as Software programmer in Muscat invite suitable proposal.

Contact: 95772465 / 98696102

Al Khuwair, Qurum, Ghubra & Azaiba. Contact: 95937789 / 94501264 Transportation. Contact 94510847 Transportation. Contact:94087276 Picking & drop (Ruwi to Rusayl).

Contact: 98957524

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Muscat Driving School.

Contact 94085688

D8

T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

Enjoy Camping in Wahiba desert & all over Oman & tour.

Contact: 92226866

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WE SERVE OMAN

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551

SITUATION WANTSERVICES WANTGOOD NEWS SITUATION WANT- SITUATION SERVICES ED Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair.

Contact 97263637 / 93309131

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com

General cleaning new villas cleaning Barka , Mabela, Hail area.

Contact: 99557080 / 95323517

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

House shifting with carpenter and transport. Contact: 96737158

A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact 94147874 / 24504281, Email : globalaccessunited@gmail.com

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Ibn Al Hajri Automotive Spare parts excellent customer service & deliver product solutions at affordable rate parts: Bumpers, lights, fenders, bonnet, radiator, condenser, Engine oil. Contact: 24467160 / 95373995, 90933661 Facebook@ ibnalhajri, Instagram @ Ibnal.hajri_sparepartsoman Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786

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