Times of Oman - January 7, 2015

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WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2015 / 16 Rabi Al Awal 1436 AH timesofoman.com

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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‘Oloum Al Shabiba’ launched

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Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, CEO of Muscat Media Group launched on Tuesday the new media service ‘Oloum Al Shabiba’ following a three – month internal trial. The CEO in the presence of the employees, media persons and members of the group praised the efforts extended throughout the last year for the production of the news service. He said that the news service aimed to keep abreast with the digital media and the developments witnessed in the media sector. >A2

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Oman outspends Dubai in budget Expenditure comparison (Figures in million OMR) Oman Spending plans

Mass marriages become popular

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to Emperor Akihito of Japan on the 26th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to Emperor Akihito and the friendly Japanese people further progress and prosperity. -ONA

Expatriate numbers rise marginally

377

2

HM sends greetings

NCSI FIGURES

Surplus

4,290

With the Majlis Al Shura stating recently that it is still too early for the marriage fund to become a reality, many youths are opting for mass marriages, thus avoiding the rising expenditure on marriages. Forty-five nationals married recently at a mass marriage ceremony in Barka while 26 others married in a similar manner in Bidiyah.

Mass marriage functions have become quite popular in the Sultanate, especially in the interiors. >A2

JA PA N

Dubai Estimated end of 2015

14,100

OMAN

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

2,500

Deficit

Expenditure per person (OMR)

3,445 (Population: 4,091,814)

1,870 (Population: 2,298,000) Graphics

There were 1,565,523 expatriate workers in the Sultanate in November 2014.

Oman’s population

Analysts optimistic on budget

is almost twice the

MARKET

Oman crude price slides below $50

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Oman crude price on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange tumbled to under $50 a barrel for the first time in more than five-and-ahalf years, as the 2014 oil price collapse continued into the new year. Front-month January DME Oman futures contract closed at $49.39 a barrel (12:30 Dubai time), down $2.65 on the previous close and the lowest closing price since May 2009, with almost 4,000,000 barrels traded during the five-minute window. >B1

CURTAILED EDITION Due to some unavoidable circumstances, the Times of Oman has a curtailed edition today.

size of Dubai, but it is spending almost twice as much per head than the emirate

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Analysts are optimistic about the Sultanate’s future but at the same time they have taken a waitand-see approach after the finance ministry revealed the detailed plans of the 2015 budget.

“Considering the current global economic woes due

to the dip in oil prices, the budget plans cannot be called good or bad. We can only say that this is what we have and what we can do,” Tawfiq Al Lawati, Majlis Al Shura member, told the Times of Oman. On Monday, the finance ministry revealed the plans on how Oman will make its money in 2015 and what it will spend that cash on. >A4

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Majid, country manager, Pak Oman Investment Company, “Oman’s steady budget spending indicates the depth in the country’s economy and government finances and also reinforces Oman’s reputation for economic stability. The continued focus on infrastructure and human development will further consolidate foundations for long term economic development.”

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman is splashing three times as much cash in 2015, and spending more per head of population, than its glitzy neighbour over the border Dubai.

Both Dubai and Oman have released their budgets for the coming year, but contrary to what many might have expected, it’s the Sultanate which is investing the most over the next 12 months.

That comes despite the oil price crisis, it was trading at $49.07 per barrel on Tuesday.

Across the border in the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and

Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on the state news service WAM at the weekend that he had approved spending plans of Dh41 billion, equivalent to OMR4.29 billion However, under the plans approved by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman is to spend OMR14.1 billion, around Dh135 billion.

That puts the total the Sultanate is investing in infrastructure and services this year at more than three times Dubai’s total.

Oman does have almost twice

the population of the emirate, but it is also spending almost twice as much per head than Dubai.

According to official statistics some 2,298,000 people live in the emirate and the 2015 plan equates to Dh17,841 per person (OMR 1,870).

Compare that to Oman which currently has a population of 4,091,814, again according to the official figures.

Breaking that down, the amount it spends per person works out at OMR3,445.9 (Dh 32,874).

According to Noaman Abdul

Case study “However, Dubai’s success in moving its economy beyond oil by allowing greater participation from private sector should be duly appreciated and could be a good case study for economic planners if oil prices were to remain subdued for the next few years.”

Salah Al Obaidani, a retired project director at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said, “Oman spends more cash than Dubai for a simple reason because the Sultanate is a much bigger country, hence it needs more development. >A4

Times News Service MUSCAT: A marginal increase of 0.5 per cent (7,071) in the number of expatriate workers was witnessed in November, 2014 compared to October, 2014, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). There were 1,565,523 workers in November compared to 1,558,452 workers during the previous month.

The report revealed that expatriate workers in Oman are distributed across three sectors — government, private and family sectors. The number of workers in the government sector by the end of November reached 59,661 reflecting an increase of 0.4 per cent or 233 new workers when compared to October figures.

In the private sector, the number of workers at the end of November reached 1,267,418, increasing by 0.4 per cent or 4,631 workers when compared to the October figures.

Furthermore, expatriates working in the family sector increased by 0.9 per cent by the end of November totalling 238,444 workers when compared with 236,237 by the end of October 2014.

SINKING OF SOMALIAN DHOW

Indian sailors stranded in Salalah await help REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Fifteen Indian sailors on the ill-fated Somalian dhow Al Yasin, which caught fire and sank in Salalah waters on December 30, are waiting for a call from the authorities to return to India.

Sheltered in Al Mukthar, another dhow, in Salalah waters for the last seven days with minimum food and clothes, the 15 Indian sailors who were rescued by the Omani coast guard, are awaiting a BOAT ON FIRE: The Somalian dhow Al Yasin, which caught fire and response from the Indian authori- sank in Salalah waters on December 30. – Supplied picture ties to get the documents required to fly back to India.

“We have been told that our by then we will have to seek shelter guard. We were asleep. Suddenly, documents will be ready soon. in some other dhows till the issue the two on guard alerted us that the boat was on fire. In a hurry to But there is still uncertainty. If we is resolved.

“We have contacted our dhow save our lives, we did not think don’t get it in two or three days, we may lose our shelter as the boat owner, but he lost his vessel in the about saving our travel documents in which we are staying in, will be accident, so what can he do? He too or belongings. The timely call and the action of port authorities saved sailing back to Somalia,” Hassan, is helpless,” added the captain.

The sailors have lost their pass- us,” said the captain. the captain of the ill-fated Al Yasin, Meanwhile, Omar, who is coports, clothes and money in the told Times of Oman.

“If the papers are not prepared fire. “Only two sailors were on ordinating the efforts to help the

sailors, said they were trying their best. “We are in touch with the officials. We hope the sailors will be able to fly back home soon. If they are not able to do so, we have to look for another dhow to shelter them,” said Omar.

“They lack food and clothes.

They are having a tough time, but for the benevolence of the Al Mukthar captain,” added Omar.

An Indian embassy official said they were doing their best to prepare the out-pass for the sailors.

“We are coordinating our efforts to help them,” said the official.

Meanwhile, an official from the Salalah Port said that the investigations revealed that the fire broke out in the dhow’s kitchen.

“Investigations into the incident have revealed that the cause was a fire in the kitchen. As a proactive measure, the port has started a plan to lift fire safety equipment aboard dhows and educate the crew about fire fighting,” said the official.

Dhaka threatens murder charges against Khaleda

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

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FAHD MEETS IRANIAN MINISTER His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, on Tuesday received Eng. Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iranian Minister of Trade, Industry and Mines, head of the Iranian side of the Omani-Iranian Joint Economic Committee. During the meeting the Iranian minister conveyed the greetings of President Dr Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leadership in Iran to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said along with their good wishes of permanent success to His Majesty and his Government, and the Omani people further progress and growth. — ONA

Muscat Media Group launches ‘Oloum Al Shabiba’ service Times News Service MUSCAT: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, CEO of Muscat Media Group, yesterday launched the new media service ‘Oloum Al Shabiba’, following a three-month internal trial.

In the presence of the employees, media persons and members of the group, the CEO praised the efforts extended throughout last year for the production of the news service.

He said the news service aimed to keep abreast with the digital media and the developments witnessed in the media sector.

He added that the news services was a result of the dedicated efforts of the Muscat Media Group, making it the first video press service in the Sultanate.

He said that “Oloum Al Shabiba” is the first video news service for the group with other products in the pipeline to be announced during the year.

DEDICATED EFFORTS: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali, CEO of Muscat Media Group, yesterday launched the new media service ‘Oloum Al Shabiba’. - Photo: Times of Oman

The news service will cover local news of the various sectors, the latest developments in the Arab and international arenas, as well as the various news in the fields of sports, culture, technology and services of concern to the Omani society such

as MSM index, pharmacies on duty, and weather forecast among other services.

The news service will be posted three times a day throughout the week. The first bulletin would be at 12 noon, the second at 4pm and the third at 7pm.

Mass marriages help cut expenses With the Majlis Al Shura stating that it is still too early for the marriage fund, youths in the Sultanate are preferring mass weddings, especially in the interiors, to cut down on huge expenditures on functions

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: With the Majlis Al Shura stating recently that it is still too early for the marriage fund to become a reality, many youths

are opting for mass marriages, thus avoiding the rising expenditure on marriages.

Forty-five nationals married recently at a mass marriage ceremony in Barka while 26 others married in a similar manner in

Bidiyah. Mass marriage functions have become quite popular in the Sultanate, especially in the interiors, offering a way out to the youth from incurring the huge expenses.

A national, who got married at one of these functions, said it was a good experience and is likely to become more popular in future.

“I could not cover all the expenses and preferred to share it with others,” said A H, while adding that nowadays the dowry amounts are very high and no one understands the need of the youth.

“The dowry in my village ranges from OMR5,000 to OMR10,000, making it hard for some, and perhaps impossible for others,” he explained.

He added that instead of paying almost OMR10,000 or maybe

more, one could bring the cost down to between OMR3,000 and OMR4,000.

Dowry “It is not just the dowry but other marriage expenses including booking the hall, the food and the malka (male marriage in a mosque) that cost,” said A H. He could not wait any longer for the marriage fund which is to be provided in the future, he added.

Asked whether he regretted having an exclusive event, A H said, he felt happy to be part of a group of grooms. “I knew all the grooms who were getting married along with me, which made it all the more fun and exciting,” he said.

“I feel that a lot of youngsters will go in for a mass marriage if

they get the opportunity,” he said.

In Muscat, it was very rare to come across such a marriage since there is a lack of communication among families.

He hoped that the authorities would hold awareness campaigns educating the youth about the advantages of such marriages.

A good way “Some families might feel a sense of shame. It is not mandatory for everybody, but it is still a good way to avoid the high expenditure of individual marriages, especially for Muscat’s youth,” said A H. The Majlis Al Shura stated recently that they were still waiting for a response from the Council of Ministers on its proposal for a marriage fund which they had sent

at the end of 2013. The Shura had reviewed all the details of the proposal as per the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Marriage fund Once it becomes applicable, the marriage fund would solve numerous social issues troubling the Omani youth and also reduce the number of spinsters in the country.

More than 3,000 Omanis will benefit from the fund every year.

The marriage fund is a grant of OMR4,000 for unmarried Omanis who earn less than OMR800 a month.

The marriage fund would be monitored by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and will have branches in all the governorates.

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

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Driving guides call for better training sites It is not only the instructors, but students too who expressed their dissatisfaction over what they say ‘poorly maintained’ sites for training purpose

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Driving instructors have called on the authorities to set up better maintained training sites, saying it was very hard for them to do their jobs, especially while working in the sun.

“We do not even have a proper place to rest when students are learning,” said Aisha Ali, a driving instructor who works in the private sector and owns a training vehicle. She said that she has to spend long hours under the sun, since there are no covered seats available for instructors in the drum course.

“Most of the trainees prefer the daytime, especially for drum training. Therefore, I find it very difficult to keep training my students in the sun, especially in summer,” said Aisha while calling on the authorities to consider her demands and set up shaded seating at training sites.

It is not only the instructors, but students also expressed their dissatisfaction about the area provided for training.

“I usually come to this place between 3pm and 5pm,” said Kamla Ahmed, a college student

HARD LESSONS: The scorching sun poses problems for so many instructors and students.

Most of the trainees prefer daytime, for drum training.

Therefore, I find it very difficult to keep training my students in the sun, especially in summer Aisha Ali Instructor

and trainee driver. She added that she receives training along with another student. “Waiting in the sun can cause health problems for me,” said Kamla. She backed Aisha in asking the authorities to provide better facilities.

While the searing sun poses problems for so many instructors and students, some find taking

driving lessons in the evening a better option. However, even they are not happy with the locations especially after sunset.

“While it is good that I train my students in the evening and avoid the sun, the lighting in these areas is insufficient,” said Ahmed Juma, another instructor.

He also said that most of the lo-

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cations for the drum course are in the wadis, but there is not enough light there to conduct the training properly. “The authorities should allocate better areas, equipped with enough lights and proper seating for instructors as well as students,” said Ahmed.

In order to be a instructor, motorists must have an unblemished traffic and criminal record and receive no more than OMR450 as a monthly salary, according to a reliable source at the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Driving instructors are to be trained and certified by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) under new rules to regulate teaching.

Also, as part of the amendments to the traffic law, the fee charged by instructors and institutions will be standardised.

According to the new rules, all instructors have to be certified by the ROP and their training has to be handled by the police, confirmed the ROP source.

AL RAFFD FUND

Entrepreneurs call centre launched MUSCAT: A new call centre will help save the entrepreneurs’ time and effort by providing them with transparent, accurate and clear answers.

A function was held on Tuesday to launch Al Raffd Fund Entrepreneurs’ Call Centre under the auspices of Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Oufi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for Fisheries and deputy chairman of Al Raffd Fund.

The centre aims at facilitating the services provided by the Fund, answering queries of callers on how to benefit from the Fund and receiving their proposals and

views in this regard. Dr. Hamad bin Said said the Al Raffd Fund Call Centre for entrepreneurs would provide them with answers on finance programmes and services.

He added that by the end of November 2014, the Al Raffd Fund gave 1,080 finance loan to many service, business, industrial and agricultural projects.

The Fund will announce this year the provision of loan for new sectors, such as tourism, spare parts and wholesale’. Tariq bin Sulaiman Al Farsi, CEO of the Al Raffd Fund said the centre was the first of its kind in the Sultanate. -ONA

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T I M E S O F O M AN

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

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NON-OIL REVENUE IN STATE BUDGET SHOWS ROBUST GROWTH; MORE EFFORTS NEEDED Budget variations 2014-2015 Oman explores new avenues to boost its

Expenditures

Revenues Finance

Finance

Commerce & Industry

Health

Transport and Communications

Foreign affairs

Change

62%

59.8%

24%

13.8%

12.4%

11.3%

3%

1.9%

95,344

2,510

102,138

5,218

3,230

2,119

151

10,299

revenue generation

(other institutions)

ITEMWISE Fees on Non Passports and Transportation Income Tax Omani Labour Inmigration licences (Companies & licences Fees establishments)

63.3%

46.1%

33.3%

25%

95,000

12,000

15,000

100,000

60,000 45,000

Oil & Gas

38,000 26,000

MINISTRY OF: Manpower

A. E. JAMES businesseditor@timesofoman.com Difference

3,984

2014 2015

500,000 400,000

245,000 150,000

Thousands (OMR)

3,833

20,772 18,653

29,239 26,009

2015

6,701 4,191

2014

Difference Thousands (OMR)

Budget

42,764 37,546

Thousands (OMR)

534,079 523,780

Budget

526,258 424,120

Thousands (OMR)

248,060 152,716

MUSCAT: Oman’s efforts to raise non-oil income and move away from depleting hydrocarbon resources are bearing fruits in a limited way, but more initiatives are needed in the coming years to achieve a marked growth in nonoil income.

For instance, non-oil revenue estimate for this year is 19 per cent higher at OMR2.38 billion (21 per cent of total revenue), against OMR2 billion (17 per cent of total revenue) estimated for 2014.

The long-term strategy, as part of Vision 2020, is to drastically bring down the contribution of hydrocarbon revenue in gross domestic product (GDP) and increase non-oil income through diversification programmes.

The major contributors of non-oil income are corporate income tax, which moved up from OMR400 million in 2014 to OMR500 million this year, while customs duties showed a marked growth at OMR330 million from OMR270 million last year.

Likewise, fee paid for expatriate labour clearance also expected to generate a higher income of

Source: Ministry of Finance

OMR245 million this year against OMR150 million for 2014.

Revenue from tourism sector, which is included in several heads like fees from hotels, airport revenue and immigration fees, is also growing in line with the increase in tourists visiting the country.

Passport and immigration fee will grow to OMR38 million from OMR26 million, airport revenue go up to OMR43 million from OMR40 million and fee from hotels will be higher at OMR25 million from OMR22 million in 2014.

Also, income from government in-

Graphics

vestment is projected to OMR523 million, against OMR513 million in 2014.

“Non-oil revenue is definitely growing, which is a healthy sign.

However, the government has to do more to generate additional revenue from this sector,” said Loai B. Bataineh, general manager and head of investment banking group, Oman Arab Bank.

Elaborating on the need for investing in tourism sector in Oman, he said this is one sector that does not need heavy investment, generates employment for

Omani youths and brings in hard currency. “Further, tourism is one sector that can help in developing small and medium enterprises like handicraft makers, motels and rent-a-car agencies.”

Tourism sector in Oman contributes around 3 per cent of gross domestic product now and the long term plan is to raise it to 10 per cent of GDP. Oman can think of substantially raising its contribution from tourism to as high as 25 per cent like some other countries.

Davis Kallukaran, managing partner of Crowe Horwath in

Oman, said that the revenue from corporate income tax has been growing from OMR350 million in 2013 to OMR400 million and now to OMR500 million. A higher revenue from corporate tax can be generated by strengthening tax mechanism. Also, it is possible for the government to raise tax marginally by one per cent to make it 13 per cent, in case it is needed.

Sources expressed concern on the ability of government to raise corporate tax revenue by 25 per cent this year (at OMR500 million), mainly due to the fact that

the growth potential of corporate sector is limited in view of a slump in oil prices, which is affected each and every sector. Also, Oman government raised natural gas price, which will have a direct adverse impact on the net margins of manufacturing industries. Further, the fall in share values on the local bourse will affect investment and brokerage firms.

Bataineh said there is an urgent need to restructure tax regime for introducing new taxes to enhance non-oil revenue, besides relooking at subsidy schemes.

Budget 2015 seeks to drive growth in new sectors older tax years, tax assessments for which are expected to be completed in 2015.

While there has been some debate around the introduction of new taxes and a possible increase of the income tax rate, there have been no announcements, and any changes that are introduced during the year would only be reflected in later years’ tax collections.

There is a noticeable increase in revenues from non-Omani labour licences, from OMR 150million (2014) to OMR 245million (2015).

It is expected that this reflects an increase in the labour licence fee, rather than a significant increase in the number of labour licences being issued.

There is also a 22% increase in Customs duties, from OMR 270million (2014) to OMR 330million. This is consistent with the planned investment in major projects, and the increase in imports that would be expected, in order to deliver these projects.

NEIL ALLMARK, KPMG Oman’s Tax Director analysis the budget implications on Oman’s economy

T

he 2015 budget comes amidst a strong reduction in global oil prices but a commitment from the Oman Government that critical projects will remain on track and that projects intended to diversify the economy, and stimulate economic growth, will continue to be supported.

This includes continuing investment at Duqm, including the planned Fishery Industries Complex, and wider aquaculture projects, as well as commencement of the Sohar – Al Buraimi section of the national railway project, and several major road projects.

It is expected that real growth for 2014 will hit 4.4% and will increase to 5% in 2015. This reflects a budgeted 5.5% growth in non-oil activities, reflecting the increasing need for infrastructure assets and utilities, for the growing population. The budget also includes details of several significant tourism projects, including various hotel development and the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, in Muscat.

The banking sector is considered to be in a strong position, with net deposits of OMR 500million at November 2014 (November 2013: net zero). Falling interest rates are expected to encourage investment activity. Falling global commodity prices are expected to reduce inflation to 2.0% for 2015 (2014: 2.2%; 2013: 3.1%).

While tax measures have been discussed as means to plug the gap caused by falling oil and gas revenues, the budget acknowledges

GROWTH FACTORS: Despite the sharp downturn in oil prices at the end of 2014, the total estimated revenues for 2015 are expected to

reduce by OMR100million (or 0.9%), to OMR 11.6 billion (2014: OMR 11.7 billion).

other options to fund the deficit, namely privatisation of several State-owned companies in 2015 to 2017, and the potential to issue further Islamic bonds.

Revenue reduction Despite the sharp downturn in oil prices at the end of 2014, the total estimated revenues for 2015 are only expected to reduce by OMR 100million (or 0.9%), to OMR 11.6 billion (2014: OMR 11.7 billion).

Actual revenues for 2014 are expected to total approximately OMR 13.9billion, mainly due to a higher than budgeted oil price for

a significant part of the year.

Oil and gas revenues are expected to reduce by around 5% but, at OMR 9.2billion, still constitute 79% of total revenues (2014: OMR 9.7billion and 83%). The 2014 budget was based on an average oil price of US$ 85 per barrel. The 2015 budget does not disclose the budget price per barrel.

If we assume the cost of production remains roughly constant, the 2015 budget would reflect a price in the region of US$80, based on indicated production of 980,000 barrels per day (2014: 945,000 barrels per day).

The 2015 budget doesn’t disclose a breakeven price (2014 budgeted breakeven price: US$105 per barrel). However, the overall budget deficit of OMR 2.5billion represents only a slight increase on the 2014 budget deficit (of OMR 1.8billion) and oil production is expected to increase slightly in 2015 (to 980,000 barrels per day). One might assume that the breakeven price would not increase significantly in 2015.

The actual realised price for 2014 has not been disclosed (2013: US$109 per barrel).

Revenues from taxes and fees

are budgeted at OMR 1.3billion for 2015 (2014: OMR 1.0billion), representing an increase of 28.5%.

Revenues from income tax are expected to rise by 25%, from OMR 400million (2014) to OMR 500million (2015). This is a significant increased by comparison to previous budgets (2014: 14% budgeted increase; 2013: 3% budgeted increase).

The increase in income tax revenue will reflect income tax collections made in 2015 but relating to 2014 and previous years and there must be an expectation that part of this increase will relate to

Expenditure increase Overall expenditure increases by only 4.4%, to OMR 14.1billion (2014: OMR 13.5billion).

Education expenditure increases by 27.0%, though, to OMR 1.8billion (2014: OMR 1.4billion), and this is consistent with the commitment to continue investment in public and university education and the higher and technical education scholarship programs.

Notable increases can also be seen in the level of health expenditure, by 16.6% to OMR 684million (2014: OMR 587million), and social security, by 16.8% to OMR 564million (2014: OMR 483million). Social security expenditure also reflects increased pension contributions of OMR 286million, an increase of 28.9% (2014: OMR 222million).

TIMES OF OMAN

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

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Higher expenditure set to boost foreign investment confidence, say experts SALEH AL-SHAIBANY MUSCAT: The higher government expenditure this year is aimed at increasing investor confidence with the main objectives of sending out a clear signal to international partners that Oman’s will honour its project commitments.

The Ministry of Finance decided not to let its foot off the gas pedal when it raised spending by 4.5 percent in 2015 to OMR14.1 billion. The government allocated OMR3.214 billion on investments, the bulk of it would go to projects.

“This is a budget that has only one target. It is to send out a message to international investors that Oman will not abandon its plans and will go ahead with all of its business commitments. The message is not only aimed at investors who have already signed contracts with the government but investors who are considering doing business here in the future,” Ahmed Al Habsi, economic analyst at Capital Investment Company, told Times of Oman.

Oman is looking to reduce dependence on oil income by diversifying to other areas that would yield higher revenues and the country

is banking on foreign investments to expand its economy. In the last year’s budget, Oman’s revenues made up 83 percent of its total income. This year, oil revenues make up just 66.5 percent of total income. The 2015 budget forecast shows total revenues of OMR11.6 billion and oil is expected to fetch OMR7.7 billion.

Other experts say that the wisdom of increasing spending may outweigh the risks posed by low oil prices and the government may get away with it on a long run.

“There is always a risk when you increase spending based on a volatile commodity like oil. However, I understand that Oman needs to create a buoyant and robust business environment for international companies. Otherwise investors would stop coming here if they know the government is putting low priority on investments,” Kadhim Hashim, a Bahrain-based Investment Advisor, said.

But economists see only minor risk if the government’s gamble of spending more money when oil prices fail to recover does not pay off.

“I think it is okay for a short period to spend more money as the

economy needs some kind of expansion. Otherwise, a lot of projects will be delayed and the government will pay more later because production costs would go up when it decides to do them again in the future,” Dr Bashir Ahmad Fida, Professor of Economy at Modern College of Business and Science, told Times of Oman.

Oman has based its 2015 budget on oil income of $55.9 per barrel and a production of 980,000 barrels per day, about 5 percent more than last year. When Ministry of Finance announced the budget last Thursday, oil price was recorded at $56 per barrel. Currently, the price of the commodity is below $52 per barrel, about $4 below the government’s budget forecast.

With the oil prices still tumbling further, financial observers are concerned that the government may not be able to tie up its finances at the end of the year.

Oman said it would wipe out its OMR2.5 billion deficit by withdrawing OMR700 million from its national reserves, OMR1 billion from the surplus of 2014, OMR200 million from local debt, OMR400 million from international debt and the rest from grants.

Alternatives needed to tackle oil slump effect

The plans reveal how calls to revise oil revenue expectations for 2015 have been heeded, and even exceeded, with the budget relying on an estimated price of $55.9 per barrel, far below the $80 called for by the Majlis Al Shura.

“If the oil prices are not going to improve in the coming year or two, we cannot afford this budget plans and we have to find alternatives, which is not mentioned in the plans,” said the Shura member.

“In the plans, we can see that the finance ministry has become even more conservative by keeping the price below what we had proposed,” the Shura member said, adding that the present budget does not have any creativity to overcome the crisis.

“It is just a game of numbers.

They have dropped income

by OMR900 million and have also dropped expenditure by OMR900 million. This is just an accounting intervention.

For long term, these plans may not help,” added the Shura member.

However, a business expert said that the budget was a bold exercise in a relatively difficult environment.

“Allocations have been made for all the major investments that are essential to drive the economy and make Oman an entry point to GCC. Further, allocations have been made to sustain all the social initiatives,” said Kishore Kumar,

The US EIA predicts oil price at $62.75 per barrel and that seems to be more realistic. The deficit could come down to OMR1.5 billion in such a scenario and would avoid the need for any external borrowing to fund the proposed investments Ambujakshan M K Credit analyst

chief executive officer at Advanced Business Consultants.

“The expected oil revenues are a bit optimistic in the current situation. However, this is required to spur confidence.

There is no need for panic as the country is strong enough to

withstand temporary aberrations like these. These difficult times compel us to proactively think on optimal utilisation of resources and to brace ourselves for some hard decisions on subsidies which may be painful in the short term,” added Kishore.

Meanwhile, a credit analyst in Oman said expectations on the revenue side have been cautiously conservative with the oil price.

“The US EIA predicts the price at $62.75 per barrel and that seems to be more realistic.

The deficit could come down to OMR1.5 billion in such a scenario and would avoid the need for any external borrowing to fund the proposed investments,” said Ambujakshan M K, the credit analyst.

“The proposal is for continuation of all major infrastructure projects, and that is a healthy sign for the economy,” he added.

An investment advisor said that although corrective measures are planned in the budget, it will be extremely challenging considering the years ahead.

“We have to focus and realign towards alternate generation of wealth and that is only possible when Oman uses its inherent strength and focuses on some specific areas of revenue generation, like mining, marine, manufacturing, tourism and above all its educated work force,” said investment advisor Dr Anchan C.K.

S TAT E B U D G E T 2 0 1 5

< FROM

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Petro reliance to be cut

Second, Dubai is a favourite target of foreign investors who help in the development of projects and the real estate sector.

We lag behind in Oman from foreign investments and we need to come up with our own resources.”

Under their budgets, Oman is predicted to close out 2015 with a deficit of OMR2.5b (Dh23.8b) while Dubai expects to post a surplus of Dh3.6b (OMR377m).

The Sultanate and the Emir-

ate have a very different reliance on oil, with Oman expecting it to bring in 79 per cent of its revenue, while in Dubai they are counting on just four per cent.

In the state budget for 2015 there are various winners and losers in Oman, with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police pocketing the biggest increase in budget, each around OMR100 million more.

While the revenue estimate for Ministry of Manpower has

risen from OMR 152.72 million in 2014 to OMR 248.06 million, Royal Oman Police estimate is OMR 507.24 million this year, while it was OMR 402.25 million last year.

Other gainers are the Ministry of Finance whose revenue estimate stands at OMR 526.26 million in the 2015 budget, while it was OMR 424.12 million in 2014. The Ministry of Tourism’s estimate went up from OMR 9.97million to OMR 11.79 million

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5 Attacks on schools, teachers and students are further horrific reminders of the terrible price Syria’s children are paying in a crisis approaching its fifth year Christophe Boulierac, Spokesman for UNICEF

REGION UNCHARTED TERRITORY

Middle East conflict moves into new phase after Palestinians’ ICC bid GAZA: The Palestinians have moved into uncharted territory by bidding to join the International Criminal Court, analysts say, with the decades-old conflict with Israel now set to play out on the world stage.

After years of threats, the Palestinians finally turned to the ICC last month after the UN Security Council rejected a resolution set-

ting a deadline for ending Israel’s occupation of their lands.

A furious Israel responded by freezing the transfer of tax revenues it collects for the Palestinian leadership and threatening further punitive measures.

The moves dashed hopes of a return to peace talks that have failed time and again, including in last year’s aborted bid led by US Secre-

tary of State John Kerry. Analysts say the Mideast conflict has moved into a new chapter, with the Palestinians pursuing a fresh strategy of putting pressure on Israel through the international community.

“The peace process born at Oslo is dead and buried, and we’re now at the start of a new phase,” said Karim Bitar, a Middle East analyst based in Paris, referring to the

1993 peace accords. How far Israel will take its response to the ICC bid will be a key question, analysts say, as it will fear going too far in undermining the Palestinian Authority. “Israel has a dilemma—we want to have leverage against the Palestinians, to prevent them from referring (cases) to the ICC,” said Robbie Sabel, a former legal adviser to the Israeli foreign ministry.

“However, we don’t want to undermine them. It’s in our interest that they be in effective control of the occupied West Bank.”

Oslo Accords Under the 1993 Oslo Accords which established the Palestinian Authority (PA), the two sides agreed to coordinate on security issues in the occupied territories.

The Palestinians have threatened to halt that cooperation, raising fears of increased security risks to Israel.

Following the ICC move, Israel’s Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz threatened “severe” steps in response, even referring to a “gradual dissolution” of the PA. But analysts said such a step would be unlikely. — AFP

160 Syrian children killed in 2014 attacks There were at least 68 attacks on schools in Syria (in 2014), which killed at least 160 children and injured 343

BEIRUT: At least 160 children died in attacks on schools in warravaged Syria last year and the education of 1.6 million has been cut short by the fighting, the UN said on Tuesday.

Schools should be “zones of peace”, the UN children’s agency said, adding that pupils should be allowed to study without risking death or injury.

“There were at least 68 attacks on schools in Syria (in 2014), which killed at least 160 children and injured 343,” Christophe Boulierac, spokesman for UNICEF told reporters in Geneva.

“It is very probable that this is an underestimate,” he added.

HORRIFIC REMINDER: Baby strollers are seen near the debris of damaged buildings in Jobar, a sub-

urb of Damascus, on Monday. – Reuters

While many schools were caught in the crossfire of fighting that has been raging since March 2011, Boulierac said there were indications that some were deliberately targeted.

“Attacks on schools, teachers and students are further horrific reminders of the terrible price

Syria’s children are paying in a crisis approaching its fifth year,” UNICEF’s representative in Syria Hanaa Singer said in statement.

Between 1.3 and 1.6 million children in Syria are no longer able to attend school due to the civil war that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced around

half of the country’s population, Boulierac said.

He expressed concern over the recent closure of numerous schools in areas partially or fully under the control of jihadists of the Islamic State group in Raqqa and Deir-es-Zour governorates and parts of rural Aleppo. — AFP

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5 India will not do anything to disturb peace along the border but will retaliate befittingly if the situation demands D.K. Pathak, BSF chief

INDIA

Sunanda was poisoned; police file murder case by the news. “Needless to say I am anxious to see this case is investigated thoroughly and continue to assure the police of my full cooperation,” he said in a statement.

The FIR or First Information Report

Foul play He added, “Although we never thought of any foul play in the death of my wife, we all want that a comprehensive investigation be conducted and that the untarnished truth should come out.”

Tharoor’s party, the Congress, said that “everybody who is remotely connected should be questioned.” The party’s spokesperson, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also said, “Let us maintain a sense of balance. This is a complaint/FIR against persons unknown, not yet clear whether it is suicide or murder. We must not sensationalise this. Let us wait.”

Sunanda, 52, was found dead in a five-star hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014.

filed by the Delhi Police does not name anyone. There is also no clarity over the motive of the alleged murder

S. MOITRA

Our Correspondent NEW DELHI: What many people have long suspected has come true — Sunanda Pushkar, wife of flamboyant former Indian minister Shashi Tharoor was murdered, according to the Delhi Police.

“Sunanda’s death was unnatural. We have registered a case of murder on the basis of a medical report which says that poison consumed by the victim was the cause of death. Poison was either given orally or injected in the body,” Delhi Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi told the media in Delhi on Tuesday.

He added, “The poison could have been administered orally or it could have been injected. To proceed further in this matter, we have decided to register a case of murder. Viscera samples have been sent abroad for investigation.”

However, the FIR or First Infor-

AUTOPSY REPORT: Initially, doctors who carried out autopsy on

Sunanda Pushkar, had said that she might have died from an overdose of drugs. - PTI file photo

mation Report filed by the Delhi Police does not name anyone.

There is also no clarity over the motive of the alleged murder.

‘Probe whosoever required’ Asked if Sunanda’s husband and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor would be questioned, the Delhi Police chief said, “We will interrogate and investigate whosoever required.”

Asked why the police took

nearly a year to treat the death as murder, Bassi said the doctors examining the evidence had sought “additional information” on more than one occasion, and police had provided that.

Initially, doctors who carried out autopsy on Tharoor’s wife, had said she might have died from an overdose of drugs.

Tharoor, who married the former Dubai-based businesswoman in 2010, has said he was stunned

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Controversy The couple had become embroiled in a controversy over a series of Twitter messages before Sunanda’s death that appeared to reveal he was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.

Sunanda and Tharoor had later insisted they were happily married and blamed “unauthorised tweets” for causing confusion.

A former UN diplomat, the MP was forced to resign from his first ministerial position in 2010 amid controversy over his involvement in bidding for a cricket team. Sunanda had allegedly received a free stake in the Indian Premier League franchise he was bidding for.

T E R R O R B OAT I S S U E

Don’t play politics with soldiers: Shah BHUBANESWAR: BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday hit out at the Congress for questioning the government over the Coast Guard operation leading to the interception and subsequent sinking of a Pakistani terror boat and the death of suspected terrorists on board. He said the party should not play politics over the sacrifices of Indian security forces and instead encourage them.

“The Congress is asking whether they were terrorists or not. I want to know whether the Congress is going to contest elections in Pakistan or in India?” Shah said at a public meeting here.

“Don’t play such politics over the sacrifice of Indian forces,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president said, and asked the opposition party to encourage Indian soldiers.

Congress flayed He criticised the Congress for its “misrule” during the 60 years the party was in power in the country.

Referring to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, he said: “A worried Rahul baba is asking us for a report card on what we have done in the last six months.

We have taken several welfare measures in the period. But I want to ask Rahul baba, first you give a report card on what your family has done in the 60 years?”

Shah said Rahul Gandhi was angry as the Congress was denied the status of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Shah also focused on strengthening the BJP’s organisational base in Odisha.

He urged party workers to reach out to the people and convince them to join the development journey started by Prime

The Congress is asking whether they were terrorists or not. I want to know whether the Congress is going to contest elections in Pakistan or in India?

Amit Shah BJP chief

Minister Narendra Modi.

“Odisha has every potential to become the No.1 state. It can benefit from its rich natural resources. You have seen the progress that BJP-ruled states have achieved. So, if the BJP forms the government here Odisha can be the No.1 state in the country.”

He said that while Odisha’s mineral wealth was helping the nation to progress, the state itself has remained underdeveloped as the money was not being utilised properly. Criticising the underperformance of the Biju Janata Dal government, Shah said just 14 per cent of people in the state have access to safe drinking water, only 22 per cent have toilets in their homes and 46 per cent were still living below the poverty line. - IANS

BELIEF IN SPECIAL PROTECTION

Doorless India village sure thieves won’t be knocking SHANI SHINGNAPUR: Members of the Gade family proudly show off a stash of Indian rupees kept in an unlocked tin barrel in their bedroom, despite their home not having a front door.

In Shani Shingnapur village in western India, residents see little need for such security, thanks to their belief in special protection from the deity Shani.

As farmers trundle the roads in bullock carts piled high with sugarcane, they pass rows of homes bearing empty door frames -- a village tradition that goes back for generations.

“Years ago, Shani came in the dreams of devotees and told them you don’t need to put any doors on your homes,” housewife Jayashree Gade said. “He said: ‘I will protect you’. That’s why we don’t have any doors.”

According to legend, an iron and stone slab washed up in a nearby river during a flood more than 300 years ago, and began oozing blood when cattle herders poked it with a stick.

In a vision to a villager later

that night, the slab was revealed to be deity of Shani, and today it stands in an open square adorned with garlands of flowers, drawing crowds of pilgrims.

Shani, who is believed to be manifested in the planet Saturn, is considered so mighty that his shrine cannot be kept under a shelter — and he will not let thieves in the village of open homes go unpunished.

“The power of Shani is such that if someone steals, he will keep walking all night and think he has left the village, but when the sun comes up he will still be there,” said mill worker Balasaheb Borude.

Some villagers said they put loose panels against their door frames at night, but only to keep out wild animals.

ONE OF ITS KIND: A customer steps out of a bank which has no locks on the doors, in the village of Shani Shignapur in Ahmednagar district some 200km east of Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra in this photograph taken on November 24, 2014. - AFP

Prides in lockless status Similarly, the local branch of stateowned UCO Bank prides itself on its “lockless” status. Although money is kept in a strongroom, the front of the building has just a glass door with no lock, to avert stray dogs.

“We have no trouble,” said bank official Nagender Sehrawat, gesturing to the queue of customers when asked if they were happy with the arrangement.

Today the centre of the village, which lies in Maharashtra state,

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PHOTO GALLERY W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

in a devotional Hindi film about its deity in the ‘90s.

“The whole world got to know that there is a place called Shani Shingnapur, where houses have no doors, there are trees but no shadows, there are deities but no temples,” said Sayaram Bankar, a trustee at the shrine.

“Devotees from across the state and across India started pouring in to see this unusual village.”

BORDER AGGRESSION

BSF chief vows befitting reply to Pakistani firing JAMMU: India will not do anything to disturb peace along the border in Indian-administeredKashmir but will retaliate to any aggression by Pakistan, BSF chief D.K. Pathak said Tuesday.

The BSF director general said his men foiled three-four attempts by terrorists to sneak into India since December 31.

“India will not do anything to disturb peace along the border but will retaliate befittingly if the situation demands,” Pathak told the media.

“Prevalence of peace (is the) best situation. But if Pakistan does not want peace, if firing comes from their side, we will definitely respond,” he said.

“We cannot go on taking bullets,” Pathak said, after paying tribute to Border Security Force trooper Devinder Singh who was killed in shelling by Pakistani border guards in Samba district on Monday.

Pathak visited the international border in Samba, Kathua

and Jammu districts on Tuesday to take stock of the situation following indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan Rangers in the last three days in which two BSF troopers and a woman were killed.

Pathak admitted Pakistan too suffered civilian deaths but said it was “collateral damage”. India has never targeted civilian areas, he said. “The BSF never targets civilian areas, there can be collateral damage... But they always fire first and target our civilian areas.”

Asked about the provocation for the Pakistani firing, Pathak said: “There can be more than one.

Since December 31, we have foiled three to four attempts of infiltration. We have good proof of this.

There can be multiple reasons for the escalation in firing. It is possible they are trying to divert attention from Peshawar,” Pathak said, referring to the massacre of over 140 school students and teachers.

“Maybe it is because of the Republic Day,” he added.

He said the last communication

with Pakistan was on January 1.

“On January 3, we went to deliver a protest note which they refused to accept. The note was then sent to the Wagah border, they refused to accept it there as well.

So there has been no communication,” he said.

The BSF chief said it could not be said with certainty whether the infiltration attempts were plotted by Lashkar-e-Toiba founder and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

“Hafiz Saeed could be a factor, but this cannot be said conclusively,” Pathak said.

He said that intelligence reports indicate that a large number of militants could be waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 10,000 residents of border villages have so far abandoned their homes in Samba and Kathua districts because of the shelling

by Pakistan.

They are now lodged in makeshift accommodations in safer places away from the border. - IANS

has the feel of bustling small town, with stalls lining the dusty main road selling souvenirs and flowers to religious tourists.

Home to about 5,000 people, Shani Shingnapur rose to fame across the country after appearing

Reputation Shani Shingnapur’s reputation has been somewhat dented in recent years by reports of a few thefts. In 2010, a visitor from northern India complained that cash and valuables worth Rs35,000 ($553) were taken from a vehicle.

Bankar dismissed reports of stealing, saying it only happened outside the village.

Sceptics of the Shani legend re-

main unconvinced by the area’s appeal. “When you have a place in the middle of nowhere where no one goes and you have a legend like that -- then people will go there,” said Narendra Nayak, a leading Indian rationalist who works to expose fraudulent gurus and challenge superstitions.

According to a pamphlet handed out at the shrine, Shani Shingnapur is not just free from theft but from all sinful behaviour, a “model village” in contrast to the corrupt outside world.

“Professional robbers, thieves, dacoits, non-vegetarians, drunkards, never come here,” the pamphlet confidently stated.

“If they come, they behave like gentlemen.”

As for doors, a few have popped up over the years, but villagers were sure their tradition would continue -- much to the envy of visiting devotees.

“This is something special about this deity. He is a guardian of this place,” said Amit Sharma, a hotel manager, after paying his respects at the shrine. - AFP

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Of the migrant deaths on the Mediterranean

W

ell-organised criminal gangs are increasing the pressure on Europe to deal with illegal migration across the Mediterranean by using a terrible new tactic: Sending rusty old freighters filled with refugees hurtling full throttle toward Italy’s shores and certain disaster. It’s a game of chicken, and the smugglers know that Europe has no moral option but to rescue the ships’ human cargo. More than 3,000 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean in 2014 fleeing conflict-torn regions across the Middle East and North Africa. Even as the number of people trafficked soars, European governments persist in their magical thinking, believing that somehow these people, who have no legal options and no better hope for survival, will abandon dangerous attempts to reach Europe. Italy has stepped up to the immediate challenge, rescuing some 1,200 men, women and children from two separate crewless freighters last week.

But the country is overwhelmed. Of the 200,000 refugees and migrants who arrived in Europe in 2014, 160,000 arrived in Italy by sea.

Last month, Italy phased out its Mare Nostrum marine rescue programme, which was created after more than 350 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the coast of Lampedusa in October 2013. The programme is credited with saving more than 100,000 people, but the cost — 9 million euros per month — was too much for Italy to bear.

And Italy, rightly, feels as though Europe should pay for what is essentially a European problem. Europe’s limited replacement for Mare Nostrum, dubbed Triton and administered by the European Union border-control agency Frontex, doesn’t come close to Mare Nostrum’s Mediterranean-wide rescue effort. Triton’s €2.9 million per month budget is only a third of what Mare Nostrum’s was. The British government of Prime Minister David Cameron, which has claimed that rescuing migrants at sea will only encourage more to risk the journey, declined to contribute to Triton at all.

In the meantime, the smugglers operating out of the Turkish port of Mersin are using a despicable new tactic that is highly profitable.

They are reaping millions of dollars in profits by filling old freighters destined for the scrap heap with mostly Syrian refugees willing to pay $6,000 per person for an illegal passage to Europe. Unlike the rickety boats that have carried most migrants headed for Europe from Libya, the freighters setting out from Turkey can be operated on winter’s stormier seas, allowing smugglers to expand their business into a year-round operation. Europe should also move to decriminalize illegal migration. This would encourage migrants to identify smugglers and their unscrupulous agents, and help law enforcement break up the criminal networks that prey on the most vulnerable groups. Given the murderous tactics of the traffickers, European leaders must find the resolve to set aside growing anti-migrant sentiment, and forge a united and adequately financed policy to stop this tragic trend at Europe’s door. - The New York Times News Service

EUROPE IN DECLINE

A new Cold War now knocking at our doors MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

Polio marches onwards

P

olio ended the year 2014 grimly victorious in Pakistan. Across the country there were more than 290 cases diagnosed, with at least 22 of those found in Balochistan. The first day of the new year saw a 26-month-old boy diagnosed with polio in Chaghi district of the province and there is no indication that the current outbreak has either peaked or been brought under control. Chaghi district shares a border with Afghanistan, which has its own problems in addressing polio eradication — it also shares a border with Iran, which is unlikely to be pleased to find polio on its doorstep having been poliofree for many years.

Polio cases have been emerging in the Quetta zone of Balochistan allegedly because of the poor administration of the anti-polio campaign. The campaign in Quetta is anyway currently suspended as a result of security threats. Threats have been made against polio vaccinators and campaign administrators across the country. There are regular attacks on vaccinators and a steady stream of fatalities from among their ranks. That they do the job at all despite the very obvious risk is either a tribute to their courage, or a sign of their own desperation to earn a small wage — probably a combination of both. The drive to rid Pakistan of polio took a huge backwards step in 2014. In large part, this was due to deteriorations in the security environment, but it was also in large part down to determined resistance against vaccination in certain communities, where conspiracy theories about polio vaccination abound. The Pakistan Taliban are on record having said that they will target vaccinators everywhere — and they have done so in many parts of the country. They have roots within certain highly conservative communities, which is of significance in the context of battling polio. The provincial and federal governments need to focus on how to neutralise, to turn around, the crucial perceptions that are allowing polio to have a stranglehold on Pakistan. And they need to be doing that as of today, not tomorrow or the next month. - The Express Tribune

Crude prices will increase again by the year-end The whole of GCC, including Oman, and several other oil exporting countries across the globe are now standing at a very critical juncture. The free fall of the price of crude has put their economies in a tailspin.

Many of these countries have been forced to go slow on many of their projects and have been forced to reduce their public expenditure. Though jobs have not yet been slashed the situation everywhere in these countries looks very fragile. Recruitment in several countries has been put on hold, especially in the public sector. Recession is staring at these oil exporting countries, which are not expected to come out of the recession very soon. However, I am more than

confident that this recession will not be as bad as the one we saw in 2008-09 in the United States and then again in the Eurozone.

Price of crude will rise to at least USD100 by the end of FY2015, as the demand for oil is slated to rise.

Amit Vedprakash Muscat

Small, medium companies may face real challenges This refers to the question asked

by Times of Oman for the opinion poll, Do you think that even medium-scale companies should now be made to pay taxes? (January 6). Several small companies in Oman have already downed the shutters and medium scale companies are now about to follow the suit. Many of the

Instead of leading change in a globalising world, Europe has turned into an arena of political upheaval, competition for spheres of influence, and military conflict.

The consequence, inevitably, is that Europe is weakening

A

s 2014 comes to a close, it is clear that the European and international political structures that have been in place since 1989 have failed the test of time. Indeed, the world has not witnessed such a tense and fraught environment since the Cold War’s end, with bloodshed in Europe and the Middle East coming against the backdrop of a breakdown in dialogue between major powers. The world, it appears, is on the brink of Cold War II. Some even say that it has already begun.

Meanwhile, the world’s key international body — the United Nations Security Council — is scarcely playing a role or taking concrete action to stop the fires and the killing. Why has it not acted with determination to evaluate the situation and develop a programme of joint action?

One primary reason, I believe, is that the trust created by hard work and mutual effort in ending the Cold War has collapsed. Without such trust, peaceful international relations in today’s globalised world are inconceivable.

The Cold War’s end was supposed to mark the beginning of a path toward a new Europe and a safer world order. But, instead of building new European security institutions and pursuing the demilitarisation of Europe — as promised in Nato’s London Declaration of 1990 — the West, particularly the United States, declared victory. Euphoria and triumphalism went to Western leaders’ heads. Taking advantage of Russia’s weaknesses and the lack of a counterweight, they refused to heed warnings against claiming a monopoly on global leadership.

The events of the past few months are the consequences of seeking to impose one’s will while ignoring the interests of one’s partners. A shortlist of such faits accomplis would include Nato enlargement, the war in Yugoslavia (particularly Kosovo), missile-defence plans, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. As a result, what was a blister has now turned into a festering wound. And it is Europe that suffers the most.

Instead of leading change in a globalising world, the continent has turned into an arena of political upheaval, competition for spheres of influence, and military conflict. The consequence, inevitably, is that Europe is weakening at a time when other centres of power and influence are strengthening. If this continues, Europe will lose its influence in world affairs and gradually become irrelevant.

Fortunately, the experience of the 1980s suggests

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We don’t always get to choose what we love SCOTT WESTERFELD

a way forward. The international situation at the time was no less dangerous than it is today. Yet we succeeded in ameliorating it — not just normalising relations but ending the Cold War confrontation itself. This was achieved primarily through dialogue.

But the key to dialogue is political will and setting the right priorities.

Today, the foremost priority should be dialogue itself: a renewal of the ability to interact, listen to, and hear one another. Promising signs are now emerging, though initial efforts have yielded only modest and fragile results: the Minsk agreement on a ceasefire and military disengagement in Ukraine; the trilateral gas agreement concluded by Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union; and a halt to the escalation of mutual sanctions. We must continue to move from polemics and mutual accusations to a search for points of convergence and a gradual lifting of sanctions, which are damaging to both sides.

As a first step, the so-called personal sanctions that affect political figures and parliamentarians should be lifted, so that they can rejoin the process of seeking mutually acceptable solutions.

One area for interaction could be to help Ukraine overcome the consequences of fratricidal war and rebuild the affected regions.

The same is true of global challenges and panEuropean security. Today’s key global problems — terrorism and extremism, poverty and inequality, climate change, migration, and epidemics — are worsening daily. And, as different as they are, they share one key feature: none has a military solution.

Yet political mechanisms to solve these problems are lacking or dysfunctional, even as the continuing global crisis should persuade us to seek — without delay — a new model that can ensure political, economic, and environmental sustainability.

As for Europe’s security, only a pan-European solution is viable. Indeed, attempts to address the problem by enlarging Nato or through an EU defence policy are counterproductive. We need more inclusive institutions and mechanisms that provide assurances and guarantees to all.

Though I am, by nature, an optimist, I have to admit that it is very difficult not to be pessimistic as 2014 comes to a close. Nonetheless, we must not submit to panic and despair, or allow ourselves to be drawn into a vortex of negative inertia.

The bitter experience of the past few months must be transformed into the will to reengage in dialogue and cooperation. - Project Syndicate

companies — small and medium — have been hit hard by the Omanisation programme. My friend owns a company which works with five expat workers and has been making a meagre profit. He is about to close it down as he is under obligation to employ three nationals with a minimum salary of OMR350 for each of them.

He cannot afford to run the company now. Only big companies can survive in such a situation as they can afford to pay if they are taxed more. However, the fact is that small and medium scale companies cannot.

Khalid Al Shoaibi Muscat

Criticism of Modi is based on outright flawed notions This refers to the article Hin-

dutva dwarfs development talk (Times, December 24). The author commented on Narendra Modi’s party’s “Hindutva agenda”. Whatever is BJP’s agenda, the author’s only agenda seems to be see no good, hear no good and speak no good about the present government of India.

According to him anything positive done by the present government is due to external factors like the fall of petrol price. He would like the readers to believe that all positives of the Modi government are due to external factors and if there is anything negative, it is entirely due to Modi and his team. I would like to sympathise with him as I believe that he can’t see any colour other than saffron.

Damodar M. Bangera Ruwi

Letters, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

TIMES OF OMAN

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

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PERSPEC IVE The year 2015 could well end up as year of the Left T

he year 2015 will be a key election year across the world, with many countries holding legislative and presidential ballots. One key trend to watch for will be a potential pick-up in performance of parties of the left and centre-left, which have generally failed to capitalise electorally on the most acute period of economic crisis since the 1930s.

In the two years after 2008/09 alone, for instance, parties of the left and centre-left lost ground in countries as wide-ranging as Australia and New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the US and the UK. But the fortunes of these and similar parties may now be on the turn, spearheaded by a new generation of politicians.

After almost a decade of Conservative rule in Canada, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, the son of former long-serving prime minister Pierre Trudeau, is championing a narrative of the struggling middle class in advance of the 2015 ballot.

He’s enjoyed a poll lead for much of the period since he became leader of the opposition in 2013.

And of course, here in the UK Ed Miliband hopes to win office in May on a platform of voter discontent over stagnant living standards, and his party has led most opinion surveys since 2011 (although the gap is becoming increasingly narrow)..

While Trudeau and Miliband are championing centre-left platforms, more radical left-wing parties may also be on the cusp of power too. In Greece, Alex Tsipras, 43, the leader of Syriza (the coalition of the radical left) could become prime minister as soon as January 25.

He has campaigned on an anti-austerity mantle that could see the country leave the Eurozone. He has promised an end to “the regime that sank the country into poverty, unemployment, grief and desperation”, that has seen the economy shrink by over a fifth since 2008.

Meanwhile, Spain’s right-wing People’s Party faces a complicated re-election battle in Autumn 2015, due to a challenge from the insurgent leftwing party Podemos (“We Can”).

Podemos was founded in 2014 by Pablo Inglesia Turrión, in response to the festering social crisis in the country following economic turmoil in recent years which has, for instance, seen youth un-

ANDREW HAMMOND

While the ascendancy of Podemos in Spain in the last year is especially striking, economic inequality is a salient issue across much of the globe right now. And it’s not just politicians, but also other prominent figures, including Pope Francis, who are championing progressive agendas

employment rise to almost 60 per cent.

Despite being such a “young” party it has led numerous national polls in recent months.

While the ascendancy of Podemos in Spain in the last year is especially striking, economic inequality is a salient issue across much of the globe right now. And it’s not just politicians, but also other prominent figures, including Pope Francis, who are championing progressive agendas.

Professor Johannes Lindvall’s research on the political consequences of the 1930s Great Depression, and the post-2008 “Great Recession”, is illuminating about the left’s prospects.

What it shows is that parties on the right generally perform stronger in ballots soon after an economic crisis.

According to Lindvall, this can be explained by the number of middle class voters who cast their lot in with conservative parties, as they’ve always been seen as better positioned to tackle financial crises. However, Lindvall found that once the Great Depression was no longer seen by voters as a continuing threat, the political pendulum tended to swing back toward parties of the left and centre left. Although, of course, history doesn’t always repeat itself. Lindvall notes that politicians of the left and centre left today have less new agenda setting ideas and policy options than in the 1930s, when an era of expansionary fiscal policies and welfare programmes blossomed.

Today, leaders on the left still haven’t developed coherent or persuasive responses to the economic downturn of recent years, nor the growing salience among many national electorates of a range of other issues, including immigration.

Nonetheless, history shows that income and status differences can be a powerful source of appeal to the disaffected.

And the longer the legacy of the post-2008 crisis prevails (in the form of stagnant living standards, say), there could be much greater electoral opportunities for the left.

Just like the 1930s, economic hardship is now being felt in many countries not just by the poor, but also middle classes. And, it is this discontent that politicians of the left will seek to tap into in coming months to win power against conservative incumbents. - The Independent

Even my toddler could be a terrorist?

D

oes your toddler scream when he/she sees new people? Is he/she storming around nursery destroying Lego towers and ripping doll heads off whilst simultaneously shrieking and causing terror?

Does he/she fling himself to the ground prostrating before his/her Lord and refuse to be touched? If you answered yes to any of those questions then I am sorry to tell you, your toddler might be a terrorist. And I am not joking.

The British Government has stated that “Nursery staff and child-minders are given duty to report toddlers they risk of becoming terrorists under new Home Office measures.”

So basically if a child-minder thinks your toddler is showing concerning behavioural traits they have to report them, as if being a toddler isn’t hard enough already.

I dread to think what the British Home Office would make of my soon-to-be two-year-old. Let me tell you a little about him, his name is Yah’ya Khalil — yes I know he’s never going to be allowed into the US with that on his passport — and he is going through the tantrum stage at the moment, so if he doesn’t get what he wants he will scream and he will writhe and he will contort his body into many spectacular shapes just so you

SABBIYAH PERVEZ

give him that chocolate digestive he so badly craves.

He also recently received a mini thobe, a long gown that Arab men typically wear, from Saudi Arabia. My parents, who recently completed the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah, brought it back for him as a present. He wears this wherever he can, mainly because it’s so comfortable.

My mum has just taught him the declaration of faith, so in between “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” you will hear him bellow “LA ILA HA ILLAH MUHAMMAD RASULLULAH”. I find it cute, it makes me laugh and I get a fuzzy feeling hearing him twine the different cultures together.

My husband and I have worked very hard along with our families to give our children an enriched upbringing so they are proud British Pakistani Muslims — note all the labels — but it appears that this is not enough.

A Home Office spokesperson has said “it is important that children are taught fundamental British values,” pray tell me what are these British values?

We, just like pretty much every other parent around the world, are bringing up our children to be loving, kind, empathetic, generous, curious, brave, confident, compassionate, honest and everything

else you would expect from a decent human being.

Are these different from British values? I am sick of people telling me I and my children have to conform to these elusive British values without specifying what they are.

My parents came to this country and worked hard, my dad had practically nothing and today he is a successful businessman, respected by Muslims and nonMuslims alike because he was taught universal values.

My mother is the most selfless woman I have ever met, just ask our neighbours. These are the values I pass onto my children, are they not British enough? If we start attaching more labels to our children we isolate and marginalise them before they can even express themselves.

If we tell child-minders to be watchful of toddlers are we not breeding a culture of suspicion and distrust? Do we not have enough of that already?

Would it not be better to unite as a society to teach all our children tolerance and respect: would that not be a more successful way to prevent terrorism and stop the growth of the far right (which should be seen in the same light)?

These seem like the kind of questions even a toddler could answer. - The Independent

Re-conversions and polarisation

OOMMEN KURUVILLA

I

t is learnt that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has frowned upon the hype and hoopla attached to the so-called re-conversion campaigns by the BJP’s sister organisations.

It appears that the government think-tank has sized up the situation and wised up to the fact that the PM’s image has taken a hit. ‘Parivar’ managers are now forced to think up a method of conducting reconversion melas without the attendant hoo-ha and hot air.

It’s not that the prime minister is against such Hindutva campaigns. It’s just that he doesn’t like the sound and fury emanating from them at a time when he is being hailed by foreign investors as a strong leader focused on the country’s economic growth.

On cue, RSS, the parental organisation of BJP, has directed its fundamentalist affiliates like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to go slow on their re-conversion efforts. Even so, their leaders are making statements on a daily basis on the need to reconvert non-Hindus, not least Muslims and Christians.

Re-conversion and polarisation go hand-in-hand. If reconversion is a bugbear for the minority communities, polarisation is a desideratum for the Hindutva brigade. Sure, polarisation is a crucial weapon for the saffron party to garner votes and come to power.

And it plays this communal card pretty much perfectly during elections.

The question is why this pre-poll polarisation drive has segued into the post-election period. Perhaps the saffron policy wonks think that it is good to keep the Hindutvapolarisation light burning till Modi completes at least a decade in power.

The moniker, re-conversion, itself is a misnomer. After all, most conversions had happened over centuries ago.

Consider this: Once upon a time most of our neighbouring countries were part of India.

We would be accused of being Hitlerianesque warmongers or dubbed non-compos mentis if we lay claim on our current geographical neighbours.

Likewise, it’s pointless to think and hope that all nonHindus would re-convert to Hinduism one day. Anyhow, before that, we should re-

write the nation’s constitution, scrapping Article 25 which allows all citizens to propagate their faith and permits conversion sans force or inducements.

Now what the ‘Sangh Parivar’ is doing is nothing but absorbing mostly the Dalits and those who live below the poverty line into Hinduism by promising ‘good days’ (ache din) ahead. ‘Ache din’ could mean pecuniary or educational benefits or any types of advantages. It’s hard to believe that they would opt for ‘ghar wapsi’ or homecoming without being attracted to some carrots.

Recently there were protests in parts of north India by a group of Dalit Hindus warning the Hindutva leaders that they would embrace Christianity or other religions if their demands were not met. They knew full well that RSS holds sway over the government.

This may be a cack-handed byproduct of the re-conversion drive. But the Hindutva leaders cannot ignore such threats altogether.

Perhaps this is why BJP and its ideological siblings are pitching for an amendment of the constitution to make all conversions, forcible or otherwise, unlawful.

As of now, Dalit Christians are bereft of the benefits and concessions being enjoyed by their Hindu counterparts.

They have been demanding such low-caste benefits for eons now. Some Dalit Christians have indeed gone back to Hinduism, though many resist the temptation.

Sometime back, there was a row over whether a member of parliament from Kerala belonged to Hinduism or Christianity. He was elected from a reserved constituency. His rival filed a petition in court saying he was a converted Christian and so was not eligible to contest from a reserved seat.

The high court announced his election void as his school certificate showed that he was a Christian.

However, in the upper house, he was able to prove that this was a mistake committed by his parents and was corrected later. Fortunately for him, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling. Be that as it may, the fact remains that it is mostly the Dalits who are being re-converted. Unless there is a constitutional ban on conversion/ re-conversion, there would be people joining and exiting religions voluntarily or by force or allurements ad infinitum.

The re-conversion drive at a time when the Modi administration is trying to pass key amendment bills in parliament related to insurance, land acquisition and coal allotment is suicidal.

The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman.

Lebanon limits entry of Syrians fleeing war

TODAY IN HISTORY

Refugee camps Conflict areas

Kobane Hasakah

Raqqa Aleppo Baniyas

Hama

Deir al Zour

Homs Mediterranean Sea LEBANON 100km

SYRIA IRAQ

Damascus

Total number of Syrian refugees as of Dec 2014 3.2 million

Dera’a

Lebanon Restrictions Syrians wanting to enter Lebanon have to state clear purpose of their visit. If approved,visa will be issued for limited duration Syrians coming to work in Lebanon will have to be sponsored by Lebanese individual or company Syrians already inside Lebanon and not registered with UN refugee agency UNHCR will have to apply for visas when their current residencies expire

Syrian Refugees By Country (000s) Dec 2014 Unhcr Plan For Dec 2015 Lebanon

1,144

Turkey

1,097

Jordan

Egypt

King Edward II of England is deposed.

1558

The French, under the Duke of Guise, finally take the port of Calais from the English.

1807

Responding to Napoleon Bonaparte’s attempted blockade of the British Isles, the British blockade Continental Europe.

1865

Cheyenne and Sioux warriors attack Julesburg, Colo., in retaliation for the Sand Creek Massacre.

1952

French forces in Indochina launch Operation Violette in an effort to push Viet Minh forces away from the town of Ba Vi.

1,835 1,700

620 937

Iraq 228

1327

400

137 / 120

HISTORYNET.COM Source: UNHCR

Graphic News /

Graphics

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5 Some forces are trying to initiate a war between religious and secular forces in the country Fazlur Rehman, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) chief

PAKISTAN S E C R E T LY M A R R I E D

Imran finally ‘confirms’ his marriage to Pakistani journalist ISLAMABAD: Days after branding rumours of his marriage as “greatly exaggerated,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan confirmed last night that he has secretly married.

According to Daily Mail, Imran has confirmed the British tabloid’s earlier reports of his marriage to Reham Khan, a journalist who formerly presented the weather on the BBC. Speaking to reporters at Heathrow airport on Monday night before boarding a flight, Imran is reported to have said: “I am going to Pakistan to share good news about my marriage with the nation. I have nothing to hide.”

Mother of three The 62-year-old politician, who divorced heiress Jemima Goldsmith in 2004, has wed 41-year-old divorced mother-of-three against the wishes of his party and family.

Upon arrival in Islamabad, the PTI chairman reiterated that he TENSIONS

India stalling fight against militants: Islamabad ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday took aim at India accusing it of hampering its military operation against militants by escalating tensions along the Kashmir border.

Indian and Pakistani troops traded fire along their tense border on Monday, killing four civilians including a teenage boy and a soldier, the latest in a series of deadly clashes.

“The People of Pakistan see the escalation of tension by India on the Line of Control and Working Boundary, through continuous unprovoked firing and targeting of civilians, as an attempt to distract our armed forces from its valiant mission against all terrorists,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said in a statement.

The Pakistani military launched a major offensive against militant hideouts in the northwestern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan in June and says it has killed more than 1,700 militants so far, while 126 soldiers have lost their lives.

Terror boat “The baseless and preposterous Indian allegations regarding the so called “terror boat” from Pakistan are also in the same vein,” Tasnim added, referring to a Pakistani fishing boat that blew up and sank after a high-speed chase at sea on New Year’s eve.

All four people on board the vessel are believed to have been killed in the dramatic episode in the Arabian Sea as the crew tried to evade capture at the hands of the Indian navy, according to the Indian defence ministry.

‘Creating a wedge’ Aslam said that India was also trying to create a wedge between Pakistan and Afghanistan by creating “misunderstanding”, echoing a commonly traded accusation between that each other is using proxy forces to try to gain influence in that country. — AFP

Upon arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan reiterated that he would share ‘good news’ with the nation soon but did not confirm whether he had already married Reham Khan Imran Khan

would share ‘good news’ with the nation soon but did not confirm whether he had already tied the knot with Reham Khan.

“Marriage is not a crime. I will share good news with the nation

Reham Khan

next week,” Imran said, while addressing the media at his residence in Bani Gala.

Regarding earlier reports of his marriage which he had branded as “greatly exaggerated,” the PTI

chairman said he did not want to make any announcements regarding his marriage without meeting his two sons.

“When you have kids from your first marriage, they are your big-

gest priority. My kids happiness comes before my happiness,” said Imran, adding that his children had already suffered a lot due to his divorce with Jemima Khan.

The announcement comes after Imran returned from London earlier yesterday after meeting his children.

Imran’s sister Aleema had earlier branded the reports of marriage lies, saying they had been concocted by his opposition.

“This is the only way the opposition know how to attack him. These are the tactics they would stoop to. It’s out of control.

I guess that is politics,” she told the tabloid.

Asked if her brother is in a secret relationship with the TV broadcaster, she said: “It’s a confusing signal to everyone who follows him (but) we asked him if he was married and he said no. I don’t know if he is in a relationship.

“We just asked him if he was married.”

Reacting to news of Imran’s second marriage, his ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith tweeted on Tuesday that, “I hope Imran will be happy in this new phase of his life.”

She thanked the Pakistanis who had sent her messages of support, adding that the she felt like an honourary citizen of Pakistan owing to the love shown by the people.

‘Love Pakistan’ “I’ll always love Pakistan. Thanks to my sons and the love I’ve been shown there, I’ll always feel like an honorary Pakistani, no matter what.”

Earlier in October, responding to Imran’s decision to remarry, the cricket legend’s ex-wife revealed she planned to ditch the surname ‘Khan.’

“My ex-husband, Imran, recently announced that he intended to get remarried soon, which made me think it’s probably time to change my name back to Goldsmith,” said Jemima. — Express Tribune

Parliament okays military courts to try terror cases The measure was approved after members of both houses of parliament voted by more than a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution to allow for military courts to be set up

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s parliament on Tuesday approved the setting up of military courts to hear terrorism-related cases, after a Taliban massacre at a military-run school in the northwest shocked the nation.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced the plan after militants gunned down 134 children and 16 adults at the Peshawar school last month.

He also ended a six-year moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases, and several people have since gone to the gallows.

Members of the main opposition joined the ruling party Tuesday to pass the measure.

“The bitter pill of this new law is being swallowed for the security of Pakistan,” said Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, opposition leader in the lower house.

The measure was approved after members of both houses of parliament voted by more than a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution to allow for military courts to be set up.

Members of two religious parties, the Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), abstained. “We were not taken into confidence when the amendments were being made,” JUI (F) chief

COMMON GROUND: Pakistani security personnel stand guard at the main entrance of the Parliament House building in Islamabad on Tuesday, as legislators voted for an amendment to the constitution that will protect the establishment of military courts. — AFP

Members of two religious parties, the Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), abstained Fazlur Rehman told reporters.

“The story of 9/11 is being repeated here,” he said.

“After 9/11 Muslims were being targeted and the same thing is being done in the name of constitutional amendment. “Some forces are trying to initiate a war between religious and secular forces in the country,” Rehman said.

Sharif thanked the lawmakers from all parties who supported the amendments.

“This day is a very blessed day for Pakistan because the nation

has decided to uproot terrorism and terrorists and throw them out,” he told members of the Senate, the upper house. “The nation should have a commitment that we will not sit contented till the last terrorist is killed.”

The prime minister said the law was aimed only at “hard core” militants and the military courts would operate only for two years.

Apart from the religious parties, some moderate political bodies and members of the intelligentsia have criticised the military courts

plan. The leading English-language newspaper Dawn termed it a “sad day” in an editorial on Tuesday.

It accused political leaders of being unable to defend the country’s constitutional and democratic roots or resist the “generals’ demands”.

“Yes, we need a coherent strategy to fight militancy and political and military leaders to work together. But military courts are not the answer,” Dawn said.

An annual report by the independent Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies showed that the number of “terrorist attacks” declined by 30 per cent in 2014.

“A total of 1,206 attacks were carried out by militant, nationalist/insurgent and violent sectar-

ian groups in Pakistan in the year 2014,” including about 731 attacks by the Pakistani Taliban’s many branches,” said the report released on Tuesday. A total of 1,723 people were killed in these attacks including more than 1,200 in the ones perpetrated by the local Taliban, added the report.

It said military operations in northwestern tribal areas where militants have bases helped to improve the security situation in the country overall. — AFP

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SECURITY MEASURES A steamroller destroys weapons seized during various search operations against criminal gangs and banned organisations in Karachi on Tuesday.

Two paramilitary soldiers were killed and a passer-by injured during a shootout with Taliban militants in city, officials said. ‘The militants opened fierce gunfire while the paramilitary troops were raiding the house, killing at least two soldiers,’ a senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity. — AFP

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WORLD O C E A N P L AT F O R M

EXTREME COLD GRIPS US A woman makes her way through the snow with a baby in a stroller in New York’s borough of Queens on Tuesday. Extreme cold gripped Canada and northern parts of the US, prompting calls for residents to stay indoors amid increased risks of frostbite and hypothermia. — AFP

Glitch forces SpaceX to abort launch

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LOS ANGELES: A last-minute rocket glitch forced SpaceX to abort a landmark bid on Tuesday to transform rocket science into a recyclable industry by landing the first stage of the Falcon 9 on an ocean platform.

The problem that led to the delay involved the rocket’s second stage, which is the portion that carries the cargo vessel to orbit after the first stage falls back to Earth.

Thrust vector “A thrust vector control actuator for the Falcon 9’s second stage failed to perform as expected, resulting in a launch abort,” said a Nasa statement.

The company headed by Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk said it is aiming for another attempt on Friday at 1009 GMT to launch the rocket and its Dragon cargo ship on a routine mission to supply the International Space Station.

Experiment Minutes after blast off, when the cargo ship is on its way to orbit, the experiment will begin.

Instead of plummeting into the ocean, the rocket’s first stage engines should refire three times, guiding the 14-story tall portion of the Falcon 9 to land upright on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean, some 200 miles off the coast of Florida. — AFP

W E AT H E R

Australia sees third-hottest year on record SYDNEY: Australia experienced its third-hottest year on record in 2014, paving the way for an early start to the bushfire season, scientists said on Tuesday as hundreds of firefighters battled blazes in three states.

The biggest concern is a huge blaze in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, with firefighters racing to contain the inferno which has already destroyed up to 38 homes ahead of worsening weather conditions.

Wildfires are also burning in Western Australia and the southern state of Victoria, officials said, as the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed 2014 was “Australia’s third-warmest year since national temperature observations commenced in 1910”.

“Much of Australia experienced temperatures very much above average in 2014, with mean temperatures 0.91 degrees Celsius above the long-term average,” said the bureau’s Neil Plummer.

Abnormally warm The weather agency said that following Australia’s warmest year on record in 2013, both maximum and minimum temperatures remained well above average in 2014, with “frequent periods of abnormally warm weather”.

The years since 2002 have seen seven of Australia’s 10 warmest years on record, it added.

Sarah Perkins, a research fellow at the University of New South Wales’ Climate Change Research Centre, said Australia had sweltered through prolonged and extreme heatwaves in 2014 and its hottest spring on record. — AFP

Khaleda threatened with murder charges over unrest Minutes before his arrest, Alamgir had denounced Hasina’s government and renewed calls to enforce a nationwide transport blockade.

“This unelected government .. has turned the country into a prison,” he said.

Police have virtually sealed off all the exit gates of the press club in central Dhaka since Monday afternoon after Alamgir spoke at a rally of a group of journalists, lawyers and other professionals.

In another sign of the government’s determination to silence critics, a private television network was forced off air and its chairman arrested a day after broadcasting a speech from London by Khaleda’s exiled son.

While police said the detention of the ETV chairman was prompted by its airing of “pornographic” material, a senior editor at the channel dismissed the official explanation as a smokescreen.

A day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused Khaleda of trying to trigger anarchy, a minister said her arch rival should expect a murder charge over an arson attack which left three people fighting for their lives VIOLENT PROTESTS: Burning vehicles, set on fire by opposition demonstrators, are pictured during violent protests in Dhaka on Tuesday. — AFP/STR

DHAKA: Bangladesh authorities on Tuesday threatened to bring murder charges against besieged opposition leader Khaleda Zia and arrested her deputy over accusations that they incited a nationwide wave of deadly violence.

A day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused Khaleda of trying to trigger anarchy, a minister said her arch rival should expect a murder charge over an arson attack which left three people fighting for their lives.

The threat, which comes after four activists from Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party

were killed in the mounting unrest Monday, was made while the opposition leader remained confined to her offices in Dhaka, barred from leaving by police.

The three people injured in the alleged BNP attack in Dhaka last week were in an autorickshaw that was firebombed by protestors—a frequent tactic of BNP hardliners who are trying to topple the prime minister.

“She should prepare for a murder case,” Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said in com-

ments that will do little to ease tensions in the volatile South Asian nation, a year on from Hasina’s controversial re-election.

Non-stop blockade Confined and padlocked in her office in a up market Dhaka district, Khaleda on Monday called a nationwide non-stop transport blockade in an effort to topple the government and pave the way for inclusive polls.

As supporters took to the streets to clash with officers, po-

lice arrested BNP secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir over a series of violent protests by supporters.

“He was arrested on charges of arson, bombings and vandalism,” Shiblee Noman, assistant commissioner of Dhaka police, said.

Alamgir, the party’s defacto number two, had been holed up in the national press club since Monday but was arrested as he tried to drive away from the building, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.

Heir apparent Khaleda’s eldest son Tarique Rahman, who has been living in exile since 2008, is seen as his mother’s heir apparent.

He has become a particular bane of the government after claiming that Hasina’s father— who is widely regarded as the hero of Bangladesh’s 1971 war — was in fact a stooge.

Hasina and Khaleda, who have between them ruled Bangladesh for most of the last three decades, have a notoriously poisonous relationship and frequently exchange insults and barbs about each others’ families. — AFP

BLACK BOX STILL UNTRACED

Rough seas slow progress in AirAsia search efforts PANGKALAN BUN (INDONESIA): Recovery teams made patchy progress on Tuesday in the search for bodies from the wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501, finding the remains of just two more victims on the tenth day of operations.

Hindered by rough seas, the teams have found fewer than 40 bodies since the plane crashed during a storm early on December 28, carrying 162 people from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

Recovery workers are also yet to find the “black box” flight data recorders, crucial to determining the cause of the crash, although they say they have located five major parts of the plane on the seabed including a “suspected

tail”—where flight recorders are usually housed.

Divers were sent down to the sea floor earlier in the day but poor conditions again hampered their operations, according to search official S.B. Supriyadi.

“Divers haven’t managed to get close to the large parts of the plane so far,” he said from Pangkalan Bun, a town on Borneo island with the nearest airstrip to the wreckage.

Search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters in Jakarta that along with two more bodies, US ships assisting the search with sonar equipment detected two pieces of metal on Monday that may belong to the plane.

The operation has prioritised

finding the bodies of the victims, all but seven of whom were Indonesian. All of the bodies found so far were spotted floating on the sea’s surface, some still strapped into their seats, according to officials.

Strong currents The bodies found on Tuesday brought the total recovered to 39, despite an extension to the area of sea being searched in the belief that debris and bodies may have drifted in strong currents.

Indonesian navy commander Yayan Sofyan, whose warship Bung Tomo was the first to find debris last week, described to AFP some of the everyday objects they had recovered.

“We found backpacks, suit-

cases, shoes, a chair for a baby,” he said, adding that the search teams were determined to overcome the monsoon season weather to find more bodies.

“In our mind we just want to get the victims reunited with the rest of their families.”

Indonesia has ordered the suspension of aviation officials involved in the departure of the flight. It says the flight operated by AirAsia Indonesia was flying on an unauthorised schedule when it crashed.

The airline, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, has been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route—although Singapore officials said they had given permission for the flight at their end. — AFP

TOUGH TASK: A Malaysian Navy ship is seen from an Indonesian Air

Force Super Puma helicopter during a search mission for AirAsia flight QZ8501 off the coast of Central Kalimantan on Tuesday.

— Reuters/Veri Sanovri/Pool

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

WORLD

Dozens of people were injured in accidents caused by poor weather conditions that caused traffic snarl-ups in Turkey

Heavy snow causes travel chaos in Turkey; student killed in crash Female bomber kills policeman

The snowfall also seriously disrupted road traffic across Turkey and caused

ANKARA: A female suicide bomber on Tuesday blew herself up in the most-visited tourist district of Istanbul, killing herself and a Turkish policeman, officials said.

The woman went into the police station in the Sultanahmet district and told the police in English she had lost her wallet before setting off her explosives, governor Vasip Sahin said on Turkish television. One policeman was badly wounded and died of his wounds in hospital, the official Anatolia news agency reported.

trouble with the electricity network causing some power cuts in the northern parts of the country

ANKARA: Heavy snowfall descended on large parts of Turkey on Tuesday, snarling road and air traffic and leading to closures of schools, reports said.

In the northern province of Karabuk, a school bus went off the road and turned over on to its side in slick conditions caused by snow, leaving a student dead and 18 others injured, the Dogan news agency reported.

Precautions The snowfall also seriously disrupted road traffic across Turkey and caused trouble with the electricity network causing some power cuts, particularly in the northern parts of the country.

Turkey’s national flag-carrier Turkish Airlines cancelled 44 international and domestic flights in and out of Istanbul and some other

INCLEMENT WEATHER: People walk under the snow in Istanbul on Tuesday. Turkey’s national flag-carrier Turkish Airlines cancelled 44

international and domestic flights in and out of Istanbul and some other cities including the capital Ankara. – AFP

cities including the capital Ankara.

In mega-city Istanbul, the authorities appeared to take every precaution including closing down schools. But the snow has so far failed to appear in the city in the quantities predicted.

Some ferries across the Bosphorus have been cancelled.

Schools have also been shut down in some parts of Ankara where the snowfall reached 1520 centimetres (six-eight inches) in some areas.

Dozens of people were injured in accidents caused by poor weather conditions that caused traffic snarl-ups, media reports said. The snow led to the closure of the Istanbul-Izmir highway, with hundreds of cars being

stuck on the road. Authorities have been warning for days that the cold spell would be unprecedented, saying the temperatures might drop to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus four Fahrenheit) for Istanbul. — AFP

Wounded A second policeman was lightly wounded. Both were staffing a tourist police post intended to assist tourists with questions and problems. “She approached the police at around 5:00 pm (1500 GMT), saying in English: ‘I have lost my wallet’.

That’s all I can say. We are trying to identify the attacker,” said Sahin. - AFP

POLL VIOLENCE

Sri Lanka deploys commandos COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police said on Tuesday they were deploying elite commandos to guard polling centres ahead of voting in a closely-fought presidential election, after a campaign marred by violence.

Scores of people have been injured in pre-election violence, including a drive-by shooting at a rally addressed by the main opposition candidate, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.

Some 65,000 officers have been deployed to guard polling booths and counting centres during Thursday’s presidential election, Rohana said.

“We have deployed them with orders to use proportionate force to deal with anyone who tries to disrupt the electoral process,” he told reporters.

President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is seeking an unprecedented third term in office, was widely seen as the clear favourite until his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena mounted a surprise challenge two months ago.

Tough challenge He faces a tough challenge from Sirisena, who has managed to unite opposition to the 69-yearold leader.

The independent Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) accused the ruling party of tolerating “flagrant violation of election laws” and said opposition party offices had been targeted.

The CMEV, which is deploying more than 4,000 monitors across the country, said it had documented 420 incidences of violence since the election was announced on November 20.

It said the Tamil-dominated northern Jaffna district, scene of a bloody civil war with separatist rebels, was worst hit.

Rajapakse is widely detested by members of the country’s biggest minority and the main Tamil party has rallied behind Sirisena.

International poll monitors say there are fears the government may use the military to block votes for the opposition, although the authorities deny this.

Amnesty International said reports of violence and harassment of voters were “deeply troubling”. — AFP

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNES DAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

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Muscat 6,229.87 - 81.9 - 1.3%

Dubai 3,450.00 - 115.56 - 3.24%

Abu Dhabi 4,311.89 - 117.90 - 2.66%

Kuwait 6,397.87 - 99.24 - 1.53%

Saudi Arabia

8,057.43 - 49.37 - 0.61%

Bahrain 1,426.43 + 4.3 + 0.30%

Qatar 11,811.75 - 183.92 - 1.53%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................. 2.15 Pound ...........................................1.69 Indian Rs ..............................164.12 Pak Rs ....................................257.86 Bangla Taka.......................199.52

Indian Rs .................................. 165.00 Pakistan Rs .............................261.00 Sri Lanka Rs ....................................NA Bangla Taka.....................................NA Phil Peso .................................... 116.35

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.40

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$49.07 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$52.36 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$52.09 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$52.15 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ............ 51.78 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$48.83

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.85 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............146.25 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 138.75 * Rates as of Jan. 6

* Rates as of Jan. 6 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of Jan. 6 Source: BankMuscat

Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Oman crude slides below $50 as oil gloom deepens Oman Crude below $50 Per barrel

AV I AT I O N

Boeing beats 787 output goal as jetliner deliveries reach record

140

Oil prices on the

120

Dubai Mercantile

100

Exchange tumbled

80 60

to $49.39 a barrel for

40

the first time in more

20

than five-and-a-half

0 07 008 008 009 009 010 010 011 011 012 012 013 013 014 014 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 2 2 2 2 7/ 3/ 1/ 5/ 3/ 4/ 1/ /5/ 29/ 25/ 18/ 14/ /7/ 0/ 0/ 5/ 0/2 4/2 0/1 4/1 10/ 3/3 9/2 /1 / 6 / 11 5/ 2 5/ 1 1 11 1 11

years, as the 2014 oil price collapse

Source: Dubai Mercantile Exchange

Graphics

continued into 2015

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Crude price on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) tumbled to under $50 a barrel for the first time in more than five-and-a- half years, as the 2014 oil price collapse continued into the new year.

Front-month January DME Oman futures contract closed at $49.39 a barrel (12:30 Dubai time), down $2.65 on the previous close and the lowest closing price since May 2009, with almost 4,000,000 barrels traded during the five-minute window.

Prices peaked in June above $111 a barrel but have now fallen by around $62 a barrel, including almost $30 a barrel since late November when Organisation of petroleum Exporting Countrires (Opec) decided not to cut production at their meeting in Vienna.

DME Oman is now around 55 per cent down from last summer’s peak, drawing comparisons with the price collapse of 2008. In the 2008 reversal, which was triggered by the global credit crunch, Oman crude fell from around $140

a barrel to under $35 a barrel, or around 75 per cent, but prices quickly recovered in 2009..

Christopher Fix, chief executive officer of Dubai Mercantile Exchange, said: “Oil demand is notoriously inelastic so despite a price reversal of more than 50 per cent, we have yet to see an upswing in demand. There is still too much oil in the market, but markets always find a way of rebalancing.”

DME, launched in 2007, is the premier international energy futures and commodities exchange in the Middle East. It aims to provide oil producers, traders and consumers engaged in the East of Suez markets with transparent pricing of crude oil.

Oilfield writedowns loom On the global front, tumbling crude prices will trigger a flood of oilfield writedowns starting this month after industry returns slumped to a 16-year low, calling into question half a decade of exploration.

With crude prices down more than 50 per cent from their 2014 peak, fields as far-flung as Kazakhstan and Australia are no longer worth pumping, said a team of Citigroup analysts led by

Alastair Syme. Companies on the hook for risky, high-cost projects that don’t make sense in a $50-abarrel market include international titans such as Royal Dutch Shell and small wildcatters like Sanchez Energy.

The impending writedowns represent the latest blow to an industry rocked by a combination of faltering demand growth and booming supplies from North American shale fields. The downturn threatens to wipe out more than $1.6 trillion in earnings for producing companies and nations this year. Oil explorers already are canceling drilling plans and laying off crews to conserve cash needed to cover dividend checks to investors and pay back debts.

“The mid-cap and small-cap operators are going to be hardest hit because this is all driven by their cost to produce,” said Gianna Bern, founder of Brookshire Advisory and Research, who also teaches international finance at the University of Notre Dame.

An index of 43 United States oil and gas companies lost about one-fourth of its value since crude began its descent from last year’s intraday high of $107.73 a barrel on June 20. The price dipped be-

EXHIBITION

‘Scope for Oman-Iran tie-up in mechanical engineering’ ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: There is great potential for cooperation between Iran and Oman in the field of mechanical engineering as the Sultanate is focusing on the expansion of its industrials zones, said Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Oman’s minister of commerce and industry.

Al Sunaidy was speaking at an exhibition of Iranian products at the Oman International Exhibition Center yesterday, which was attended by Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iran’s minister of industry, mining and trade.

The exhibition, which will conclude on January 10, showcases the products and services of around 100 Iranian companies including Information Communications Technology (ICT), furniture, steel and metal products, food and agricultural products, construction materials and interior design, vehicles and spare parts, technical engineering, industrial machinery, handmade and machinemade carpets, detergents, power industry and related equipment and home appliances.

“The mechanical engineering companies that are represented here came timely just before our next Five-Year Plan and also as we expand our industrial zones in Sohar, Salalah and Duqm,” Al Sunaidy told reporters.

EXHIBITION: The exhibition, which will conclude on January 10,

showcases the products and services of around 100 Iranian companies engaged in various sectors. - JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

259 joint ventures There are 259 Iranian-Omani joint investment companies here in Oman, he said, adding that bilateral trade has increased in recent years and now stands at around $1 billion. However, the Omani minister said that the volume of bilateral trade is very low given the size of the Iranian market and Oman’s potential both for its local market and the neighbouring markets.

Iranian-made vehicles One of the highlights of the exhibition is the display of four models of cars (Dena, Runna, Samand SE, Soren ELX) as wells as C1230 city bus and Aryan minibus, all manufactured by Iran Khodro, the leading Iranian vehicle manufacturer. The Iranian minister

said that Iran is keen to share its expertise with Oman in various areas, including the high-tech industry, mechanical engineering and chemical industry.

Railway project The official also said that Iran can contribute to the Sultanate’s plan to implement a railway project considering the fact that Iranian companies are specialised in manufacturing locomotive, wagon and developing railway infrastructure.

According to Nematzadeh, Iran is setting up a plant to manufacture rails, which will start operation in less than a year with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year and this potential can be used for cooperation on Oman’s railway project.

low $50 on January 5, the lowest since April 2009. The decline represents a $4.4 billion drop in daily revenue for oil producers, which equates to $1.6 trillion on an annualised basis, Citigroup researchers led by Edward Morse said in a January 4 note to clients.

The stocks of oil and gas producers fell for a second day in Europe. Eni, Italy’s largest energy company, dropped as much as 1.9 per cent to €13.12 in Milan trading after crashing 8.4 per cent on January 5. Royal Dutch Shell, the region’s largest oil producer, fell as much as 1.6 per cent.

Exposing risk The oil-market rout is exposing projects dating as far back as 2009 that were either poorly executed or bad ideas to begin with, Syme’s team said in a note to clients.

Shell, Europe’s largest energy producer, may have as much as 5 per cent of its capital tied up in money-losing projects. For UK-based BG Group, the figure could be as high as 8 percent, according to the Citi analysts.

The biggest swath of asset writedowns probably will happen among US explorers such as Sanchez, Matador Resources and

Clayton Williams Energy Inc. that don’t have the same financial discipline as bigger producers such as Marathon Oil, Bern said.

Houston-based Sanchez fell 12 per cent Jan. 5 in New York trading, bringing its one-year decline to 66 per cent. Matador, based in Dallas, dropped by 8.5 percent and Midland, Texas-based Clayton Williams declined by 7.8 per cent.

“Impairments are unavoidable,” said Mark Sadeghian, an energyindustry analyst at Fitch Ratings in Chicago. The writedowns that occur will be in the form of asset impairment charges related to the declining worth of specific oilfields, rather than wholesale reductions in proved reserves, Sadeghian said.

Investors are less inclined to punish oil companies for impairment charges than they would for a drop in reserve volumes, said Gabriele Sorbara, an analyst at Topeka Capital Markets - With inputs from Bloomberg News

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NEW YORK: Boeing delivered a record number of planes in 2014 as the world’s largest jetmaker accelerated production to surpass its goal for the 787 Dreamliner.

The total rose 12 per cent from 2013 to 723 planes, boosted by deliveries of its 787 model, the Chicago-based company said yesrday.

Boeing had said it expected to hand over 715 to 725 jets. Dreamliner deliveries rose 75 per cent to 114, exceeding the company’s forecast of 110.

Rising deliveries are critical as Boeing looks to convert its sizable backlog into steady revenue streams, particularly on the money-losing Dreamliner, since the company receives payments when customers accept planes. Boeing said it booked 1,432 net orders, an increase of 6 percent from 2013.

Upgrade of fleet Boeing, benefiting as carriers upgrade their fleets amid rising global air travel, is set to retain its position as the world’s largest planemaker, edging out Airbus for the third consecutive year. The Toulouse, France-based company is poised to announce its 2014 results next week.

Boeing has boosted Dreamliner output as it looks to increase production efficiency and turn a profit on the jet, which entered service in 2011 after a three-year delay.

The plane, the first made chiefly of composite materials, has been plagued by development delays, including supply chain disruptions. As of last month, Boeing was awaiting delivery of luxury seats to finish work on a number of 787s.

Etihad Airways took delivery December 31 of the first of 71 Dreamliners the Abu Dhabi-based carrier has on order.

Boeing delivered 485 of its topselling 737s. - Bloomberg News

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

MARKET ECONOMY

Euro under pressure in Asia ahead of Greek vote TOKYO: The euro struggled in Asia yesterday after dropping to its lowest level in nearly nine years against the dollar, as traders fret about a possible Greek exit from the eurozone and falling oil prices.

In Tokyo, the single currency slightly recovered to $1.1955 in afternoon trade from $1.1933 in Untied States trade and $1.1864 on Monday in Asia, its lowest level since March 2006. But it weakened to ¥142.13, against ¥142.74.

The dollar slipped to ¥118.90, compared to ¥119.61 in New York.

The yen is considered a safe bet in times of uncertainty. “Crude keeps dropping and Greek politics are a worry,” said Etsuko Yamashita, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking in New York.

“There is broad pressure on stocks to fall, and risk aversion is spurring gains in the yen,” Yamashita told Bloomberg News.

Election in Greece Fears are mounting that Greece’s opposition anti-austerity party Syriza will win this month’s general election, jeopardising the country’s economic reforms mandated by an international bailout.

Over the weekend, German weekly Der Spiegel quoted government sources as saying that Berlin sees a Greek exit from the eurozone as “almost inevitable” should the left-wing Syriza party win.

That sent the single currency plunging, a drop that was exacerbated by expectations the European Central Bank (ECB) will unveil at its January meeting a round of bond-buying, known as quantitative easing (QE).

The euro’s sell-off started on Friday after German business daily Handelsblatt published an interview with ECB head Mario Draghi in which he said deflation was a threat to the eurozone and the bank needed to be prepared to counter it. -AFP

Plan to transform car into self-driving luxury lounge Mercedes plans to bring some of the technology in the futuristic prototype to the streets soon, offering an option for automated highway driving before the end of the decade

BIG LEAP: Chairman of the board of management of Daimler and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Dr Dieter Zetsche speaking at a press event unveiling the Mercedes-Benz F 015 autonomous driving vehicle at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas. — AFP

FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz aims to transform the car into a rolling luxury lounge that chauffeurs passengers autonomously.

In the F015 concept vehicle, the front seats can swivel to the rear as the steering wheel recedes into the instrument panel and the car takes control. Sculpted open-pore walnut wood veneers and icewhite leather add to the chill-out ambiance of the interior, while six screens allow passengers to interact with the machine via touch, hand gestures and eye-tracking.

“The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space,” Dieter Zetsche, chief executive officer of Mercedes parent Daimler, said in a statement. He presented the vehicle yesterday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The so-called Luxury in Motion prototype is part of an effort by upscale automakers to counter Google’s push for self-piloting cars as big-city congestion makes the thrill of driving less of a selling point. Audi tried to show that automation and performance can

go hand in hand last year when it showed an unmanned RS7 driving at racing speeds.

Mercedes plans to bring some of the technology in the futuristic prototype to the streets soon, offering an option for automated highway driving before the end of the decade.

The feature will allow the vehicle to steer itself at speeds as fast as 120km (75 miles) per hour.

That would follow the Stop&Go Pilot that’s being rolled out in vehicles from the C- Class sedan to the S-Class and takes control in traffic jams.

French doors The Mercedes highway feature is similar to a super cruise control system from General Motors, which plans to equip Cadillac cars with the technology from 2017.

In the Mercedes concept car, the expansive interior of the sedan is made possible by a 3.6-metre (12-foot) wheelbase, which is nearly two feet longer than the standard S-Class.

There’s also no support pillar between the front and rear doors,

SHARIA-COMPLIANT

Fully autonomous vehicles are a real possibility. Probably, in the next five years, you’ll see somebody introduce autonomous vehicles Mark Fields Chief executive officer, Ford Motor

which swing outward from the center like French doors to make getting in and out easier.

If the driver does want to take control of the vehicle, she can turn

toward the front, and the steering wheel will slide automatically from the dashboard.

Still, the car isn’t really designed to be driven but rather to let the passengers interact with each other and the outside world while in transit.

“Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society,” Dieter Zetsche said.

Driverless cars Ford Motor chief executive officer Mark Fields said that an automaker probably will introduce a self-driving vehicle within half a decade, but it won’t be his company, which is focusing on less expensive features that assist in driving. “Fully autonomous vehicles are a real possibility,” Fields said at a dinner with analysts and journalists on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. “Probably, in the next five years, you’ll see somebody introduce autonomous vehicles.”

Instead of being the first to sell autonomous vehicles, Ford wants

to ‘democratise’ technology that assists drivers throughout its model line, offering it at prices even economy- car buyers can afford, Fields said. That includes features that can automatically park a car, steer it back into its lane and brake to avoid collisions.

“You can go into a dealership and get a Ford Focus that can park itself right now,” Raj Nair, Ford’s product development chief, said of the automaker’s compact car that starts at $16,810. “If you want to go to the full extreme — full autonomy — literally a vehicle that has no steering wheel and has no pedals, that’s a tremendous technical challenge, but one that we believe that in the next five years will be possible.”

General Motors said in September it will introduce hands-free driving technology on a Cadillac in two years. - Bloomberg News

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PERFORMANCE

Dubai Islamic Bank hires banks for potential perpetual sukuk DUBAI: Dubai Islamic Bank, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest Sharia-compliant lender, hired banks for a potential perpetual bond sale as it seeks to boost Tier-I capital.

The lender appointed HSBC Holdings, Standard Chartered, Al Hilal Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Noor Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank to organise

meetings with fixed-income investors in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, according to a statement posted on the Nasdaq Dubai website. The meetings start on January 8 and a benchmark-sized, dollardenominated sukuk may follow, it said. A benchmark sized issue usually raises about $500 million.

Dubai Islamic Bank last sold bonds in March 2013, when it sold

$1 billion of perpetual securities that pay a profit rate of 6.25 per cent. The bank, 28 perc ent owned by the Dubai government, reported a 27 per cent jump in financing in the nine months through September as Dubai’s economy recovered.

It had a Tier-I capital ratio of 15.2 per cent at the end of September, according to data. Bond sales in GCC dropped. - Bloomberg News

IN DEMAND: Fiat Chrysler’s rugged brand rode a wave of consumer demand for sport-utility vehi-

cles, including its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, fuelled by lower gasoline prices. – Bloomberg News

Jeep sales top 1 million amid worldwide demand MICHIGAN: Jeep sales last year topped 1 million for the first time, as Fiat Chrysler’s rugged brand rode a wave of consumer demand for sport-utility vehicles, including its Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, fuelled by lower gasoline prices.

Global sales advanced 39 per cent to 1.02 million, the company said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. That was led by 692,348 deliveries in the United States, a 41 per cent increase from a year earlier, making it the fastest-growing major auto brand in the United States market, where gas prices are at their lowest since 2009. Jeep has increased sales globally and the US for five consecutive years.

Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler’s chief executive officer, said at last year’s Detroit auto show that Jeep sales would exceed the 1 million milestone in 2014. At the same time, brand CEO Mike Manley said reaching that goal would be a “stretch” and was more realistic for 2015. In 2009, Manley forecast about global sales of

800,000 Jeeps for 2014.

“Coming in at just over a million is clearly an amazing result,” Manley said in an interview.

“I’ve just been very pleased with the way the entire portfolio has performed.”

Jeep global sales have soared more than fourfold since 2009, buoyed by well-received new products and demand for SUVs. The popularity of the new Cherokee, which sold 178,508 in its first full year in the US, helped the brand reach its goal sooner than Manley anticipated. The SUV also helped Fiat Chrysler to gain the most market share.

United States sales The company, created by the merger of Fiat and Chrysler, increased its sales in the US by 16 per cent last year, lifting its market share to 12.7 per cent from 11.5 per cent in 2013, according to researcher Autodata.

The automaker now based in London moved its listing to the New York Stock Exchange from Milan in October. Its shares

gained 1.3 per cent to $11.40. The Cherokee name returned to the US market in late 2013 after last being used for a Jeep model in 2001. Fiat Chrysler is expanding Jeep’s US line-up this year with the subcompact Renegade, and adding production in Europe, Brazil and China, the world’s largest auto market.

Jeep plans to introduce a refreshed Grand Cherokee this year as well, Manley said.

The Renegade goes on sale in the U.S. by the end of March. The vehicle started deliveries in Europe in November, selling about 9,000 models in the region’s main markets, Manley said.“November and December are not the biggest months for sales in Europe, so it’s a really good start,” he said.

Production in China should begin by the end of this year and in Brazil early in the second quarter, he said. By 2018, Fiat Chrysler has said it will produce about 900,000 vehicles outside of North America to take advantage of consumer demand in Asia, Europe and Latin America. - Bloomberg News

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

B3

MARKET Rolls-Royce creates record in 2014 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said its car sales in Oman surged ahead by 27 per cent in the just concluded year

Times News Service

IN THE FAST LANE: Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer

of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said that the fifth consecutive record year saw Rolls-Royce Motor Cars break through the 4,000 car sales level for the first time in its 111-year history. – Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has achieved record sales for the fifth consecutive year, with 4,063 cars sold globally during 2014. This exceptional result means that sales have more than quadrupled since 2009.

In the Middle East, highlights

included Bahrain (up 50 per cent), Kuwait (up 45 per cent) and Oman (up 27 per cent). Emerging markets such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Vietnam all showed promising growth.

Strong sales were reported worldwide, with double-digit growth in most regions, North America (up 30 per cent), the Mid-

TECHNOLOGY SHOW

TV makers gear up to enter market with 4K LAS VEGAS: After several years of sluggish sales, television manufacturers are pegging growth hopes on new technologies that deliver a more immersive and interactive experience and stunningly realistic image displays.

As new TVs were unveiled at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it was clear that so-called 4K ‘ultra high definition’ televisions are gaining traction with consumers amid lower prices.

“We have seen 4K televisions in the past few years, but this certainly marks the year of them becoming affordable and much of the premium over high-definition vanishing,” Reticle Research principal analyst Ross Rubin said. He saw 4K as a major trend at CES, and expected prices for some well-known brands to drop below $1,000, essentially eliminating the edge high-definition televisions have with budgetminded consumers.

“It comes down to price,” the analyst said, dismissing concerns that a lack of 4K films or shows will discourage buyers.

“Once the price premium over HD disappears, there will be a certain level of television where the only option will be 4K.” The global market for bigscreen televisions is rebounding as consumers replace their flat-

WHAT IS 4K TV

4K television, also known as ultra HD or UHD, is the next generation of television picture quality, displaying four times the detail of HD (high-definition)

screen devices that hit the market a decade ago, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, which organises the annual event in Las Vegas.

The “ultra HD” market included fewer than one million units sold in 2013, growing to 9.3 million in 2014 with sales projected at 23.3 million in 2015, CEA said.

LG on Monday expanded a line of 4K Oled televisions launched at CES here last year. - AFP

DRIVE SLOWER LIVE LONGER

dle East (up 20 per cent) and Europe (up 40 per cent The United States remained the company’s most significant individual market. Rolls-Royce’s home market, the United Kingdom, is the company’s fourth largest individual market (up 13 per cent).

Europe saw strong growth in a number of markets with Germany up by 30 per cent, while in Asia Pacific, Australia grew by 75 per cent, Japan by 60 per cent and Korea 20 per cent. The best-selling RollsRoyce dealership in 2014 was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Abu Dhabi. As part of the marque’s commitment to long-term sustainable growth, six new dealerships were opened in 2014, including Mexico City, Calgary, Canada and Gold

Coast, Australia. A total of 127 dealerships are now in operation and further expansion is planned for 2015.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “This fifth consecutive record year saw Rolls-Royce Motor Cars break through the 4,000 car sales level for the first time in its 111-year history. The result confirms that our strategy of balanced, sustainable and profitable growth is delivering and that Rolls-Royce remains the world’s leading luxury goods brand. This extraordinary success has been built on strong foundations: pinnacle products, dedicated people and a commitment to ensuring a balanced global sales picture.”

B4

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

MARKET MSM index falls again

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,307.08 .............. 6,228.80 ................... 6,229.87 ....................6,311.77................-81.90 .................. -1.30 Financial Index ..................................... 7,578.51 ...............7,473.06 ....................7,475.78 ................... 7,616.22............. -140.44 .................. -1.84 Industrial Index ................................... 8,334.09 ...............8,293.41 ................... 8,333.35 ...................8,358.66................ -25.31 .................. -0.30 Services Index .......................................3,459.79 .............. 3,426.83 ................... 3,426.83 ................... 3,459.79................-32.96 .................. -0.95 MSM SHARIAH INDEX...................... 964.29 ..................958.43 .......................958.58 ...................... 964.63.................. -6.05 .................. -0.63 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 12,071,490 ................. 2,726,260 .................... 948 ............... 14,425,016,526 .................. 2 ..................... 24 .................... 17 .........................43

Al Sharqia Investments, up by 3.23%, was the top gainer, while Oman United Insurance,

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

which lost 9.64%, was the top loser ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: A renewed slump in oil prices weighed on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) to continue its slide for a second day in a row and closed at 6,229.87 points, down by 1.30 per cent. MSM Shariah index closed at 958.58 points, down by 0.63 per cent.

Bank Nizwa was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover. Al Sharqia Investments, up by 3.23 per cent, was the top gainer, while Oman United Insurance, declined 9.64 per cent, lost the most.

As many as 948 trades were executed in the day’s session generating a turnover of OMR2.7 million with more than 12 million shares changing hands.

Out of 43 traded stocks, two advanced, 24 declined and 17 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR346,000 worth of shares, while foreign investors were net sellers at OMR259,000 followed by Omani investors, who sold shares amounting to OMR87,000.

Financial Index declined by 1.84 per cent to end the session at 7,475.78 points. Al Sharqia Investments increased by 3.23 per cent to close at OMR0.128. Oman United Insurance, Al Anwar Holding, DBIH, Global Finance & Investments and Gulf Investment Services decreased by 9.64 per cent, 4.32 per cent, 4.24 per cent, 4.10 per cent and 3.73 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index ended the day at 8,333.35 points, down by 0.30 per cent. Gulf International Chemicals was the only gainer in the sector, up by 1.95 per cent.

Galfar Engineering and Al Maha Ceramics fell by 3.73 per cent and 1.20 per cent, respectively.

Services Sector Index declined by 0.95 per cent to close at 3,426.83 points. Oman National

Engine Investment, Al Jazeera Services, Ooredoo, Port Services and Sembcorp Salalah declined by 3.90 per cent, 3 per cent, 2.55 per cent, 2.26 per cent and 2.09 per cent, respectively.

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

OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 194,132............24,822......................21 ............0.124 ........... 0.130 ...........0.124........... 0.128 .............0.124 ........... 0.004............. 3.226 ................0.124..............0.124...................0.130............... 11,074,560 .......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 826,697 ......... 129,408..................... 47 ............0.157 ........... 0.160 ...........0.153 ............0.157 .............0.154............ 0.003............. 1.948 ................0.153 ..............0.154...................0.157 ................ 3,297,000 ........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS .................5,000 ................1,481........................2 ........... 0.297 ...........0.297 ...........0.296............0.316 ............. 0.316............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.296............. 0.300...................0.318...............10,608,578 .......0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ..........................................................2,364 ...............4,013........................2 ............1.690 ........... 1.700 ...........1.690 ............1.670 ............. 1.670............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.700 .............. 1.650...................1.700 ............. 334,000,000 .....0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ...................................................... 37,522 ...............5,328........................3 ............0.142 ........... 0.142 ...........0.142........... 0.142 .............0.142 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.142.............. 0.137...................0.142..............284,044,416 .....0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............ 28,260 ...............3,204......................11 ............0.113 ........... 0.114............0.113 ............0.113 ............. 0.113 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.113 ...............0.113................... 0.114 ................13,771,875 .......0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................2,000 ...............3,700........................ 1 ............1.850 ........... 1.850 ...........1.850 ............1.915 ............. 1.915 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.850 .............. 1.855................... 1.915 .............. 171,775,500 ......0.100

Dubai shares slump Every major stock market in the Gulf region fell, led by shares in Dubai, after Brent oil dipped below $55 a barrel for the first time since May 2009.

The DFM General Index slipped 3.2 per cent to 3,450 at the close, the lowest since December 18. The Tadawul All Share Index in Saudi Arabia, where income from hydrocarbon sales accounted for almost 90 per cent of the government’s estimated revenue last year, decreased 0.6 per cent.

The ADX General Index in Abu Dhabi, whose oil-based economy accounts for half of its gross domestic product, lost 2.7 per cent.

“With crude continuing its downward trend, regional markets are selling off once again with vigor,” Ramez Merhi, a Dubai-based director for asset management at Al Masah Capital Ltd., which manages $500 million, said by e-mail.

“Oil looked as though it would consolidate at the $60 level just before the end of the year. But it couldn’t, hence, there’s been an aggressive selling reaction from equity investors this year.”

With crude losing more than $50 a barrel in 12 months, investors are wary of putting their money in a region where governments rely on oil revenue to fund their budgets. Brent crude decreased 5.9 per cent on Monday, sparking a global equities rout that saw the S&P 500 drop for a fourth day, its longest losing streak since December 2013. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 2.2 per cent on Monday.

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .............................................................. 5,029 ...............2,605........................2 ............0.518 ........... 0.518 ...........0.518 ............0.518 ............. 0.518............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.518 ..............0.500...................0.518 ..............171,392,064......0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .......................................2,000 .................. 126........................ 1 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.063........... 0.068 .............0.068 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.063..............0.065...................0.072...............14,086,294.......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ............................... 500 ...................168........................ 1 ........... 0.336 ...........0.336 ...........0.336........... 0.336 .............0.336 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.336..............0.308...................0.336............... 41,965,715 .......0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ..............................................................22,677 ...............8,028........................2 ........... 0.354 ...........0.354 ...........0.354........... 0.354 .............0.354 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.354..............0.320...................0.354..............475,507,744 ......0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ...........................................................45 ....................... 7........................ 1 ............0.151 ........... 0.151............ 0.151 ............0.152 ............. 0.152............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.151 .............. 0.138................... 0.151 ...............38,545,680.......0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY .......................................................... 500 ...................185........................ 1 ........... 0.370 ...........0.370 ...........0.370........... 0.370 .............0.370 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.370..............0.338...................0.370...............22,385,000 ......0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER......................................................................60 .....................23........................ 1 ............0.376 ........... 0.376 ...........0.376........... 0.376 .............0.376 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.376..............0.342...................0.370...............83,099,760 .......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 175,902 .........294,621..................... 34 ............1.660 ........... 1.680 ...........1.660 ............1.675 ............. 1.695............-0.020 ............-1.180................1.675 .............. 1.675...................1.680............1,256,250,000....0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 162,042 ........... 50,454......................14 ............0.310 ........... 0.312 ...........0.310........... 0.312 ............. 0.316............-0.004 ........... -1.266 ...............0.310 ..............0.308...................0.310..............380,274,180......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 521,039 ..........103,168..................... 38 ............0.190 ...........0.200 ...........0.190........... 0.198 .............0.201 ...........-0.003 ............-1.493................0.200 ............ 0.200...................0.204 ..............39,600,000.......0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ......................................................................13,000 ............... 3,135........................4 ........... 0.235 ...........0.245 ...........0.235........... 0.241 .............0.245 ...........-0.004 ............-1.633................0.245..............0.235...................0.248 .............312,212,464......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................12,000 ...............5,520........................6 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.460........... 0.460 .............0.468 ...........-0.008 ............-1.709................0.460..............0.456...................0.460 .............129,763,449 ......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................14,500 ...............5,005........................7 ........... 0.352 ...........0.352 ...........0.338........... 0.346 .............0.354 ...........-0.008 ........... -2.260 ...............0.340..............0.336...................0.340 ..............32,883,840.......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 307,286 ........... 65,346..................... 25 ........... 0.202........... 0.215 ...........0.202 .......... 0.213 .............0.218............-0.005 ........... -2.294 ...............0.214..............0.214...................0.216............. 243,672,000 .....0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 178,147 ..........108,847......................13 ........... 0.628 ...........0.628 ...........0.604............0.612 .............0.628 ...........-0.016 ........... -2.548 ...............0.620..............0.620...................0.632..............398,377,869......0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................91,070 ............ 29,659........................9 ........... 0.336 ...........0.336 ...........0.320........... 0.326 .............0.336 ...........-0.010 ........... -2.976 ...............0.320..............0.320...................0.326 ..............56,535,980.......0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ........................................... 22,000 ...............6,408........................8 ........... 0.298 ...........0.298 ...........0.288........... 0.291 .............0.300 ...........-0.009 ........... -3.000 ...............0.290..............0.284...................0.290 .............. 17,810,443 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 978,333 ......... 536,657..................... 56 ............0.556 ........... 0.556 ...........0.544........... 0.548 .............0.568 ...........-0.020 ............-3.521................0.544..............0.544...................0.548.............1,196,113,127.....0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 413,473............ 64,076..................... 32 ............0.150 ........... 0.161............0.145 ............0.155 ............. 0.161 ............-0.006 ........... -3.727................0.159 .............. 0.158...................0.159...............40,860,908 ......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 369,860 ............47,555..................... 54 ............0.133 ........... 0.133 ...........0.123 ........... 0.129 .............0.134............-0.005 ............-3.731................0.130 ..............0.130................... 0.131 .................7,590,775 ........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 150,000 ............ 17,550........................7 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............ 0.117 ............0.117 .............0.122 ...........-0.005 ........... -4.098 ...............0.117 ............. 0.000................... 0.117 ...............23,400,000 ......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,431,998 ...... 252,777...................164 ............0.176 ........... 0.180 ...........0.167 ............0.177 ............. 0.185............-0.008 ........... -4.324 ...............0.178 .............. 0.177...................0.178 ...............23,098,500.......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 2,083,643......527,640................... 159 ........... 0.265 ...........0.265 ...........0.252........... 0.253 .............0.280 ...........-0.027 ........... -9.643 ...............0.255..............0.253...................0.255...............25,300,000 ......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 8,051,079 ...2,301,514...................726 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......30..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................63,639 ...............2,265........................7 ........... 0.034 ...........0.036 ...........0.034........... 0.036 .............0.036 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.035..............0.035...................0.037................3,060,000........0.100 OM0000001855 ............MAJAN GLASS .................................................................5,000 ...............1,200........................ 1 ........... 0.240...........0.240 ...........0.240 .......... 0.244 .............0.244 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.240 ............ 0.224...................0.246 .............. 10,253,685 .......0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................88,360 ...............8,669......................11 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.098........... 0.098 .............0.098 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.098..............0.097...................0.098................ 7,370,384 ........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ........................................ 58 ...................197........................ 1 ........... 3.400 ...........3.400 ...........3.400........... 3.400 .............3.400 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................3.400..............3.060...................3.400 ..............33,252,734 .......1.000 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 272,748 ...........46,094........................9 ............0.169 ........... 0.169 ...........0.169 ............0.169 ............. 0.171 ............-0.002 ............-1.170................0.169 ..............0.169...................0.170..............114,055,976 ......0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 266,981 ............45,156......................19 ............0.170 ........... 0.170 ...........0.168 ............0.169 ............. 0.171 ............-0.002 ............-1.170................0.170 ..............0.169...................0.174 .............. 120,734,671 ......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................65,569 .............32,291..................... 43 ........... 0.490 ...........0.498 ...........0.490........... 0.492 .............0.498 ...........-0.006 ........... -1.205 ...............0.492..............0.494...................0.500 ..............24,600,000 ......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 9,866 .............20,749........................6 ........... 2.100 ........... 2.105 ...........2.100........... 2.105 .............2.150............-0.045 ........... -2.093 ...............2.100..............2.100...................2.200 .............200,937,395......1.000 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 2,627,981 ......203,139..................... 64 ........... 0.079 ........... 0.079 ...........0.077........... 0.077 .............0.079 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.532 ...............0.077..............0.077...................0.078..............115,500,000......0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 251,102.............21,510.....................24 ........... 0.089 ...........0.089 ...........0.085........... 0.086 .............0.089 ...........-0.003 ............-3.371................0.085..............0.084...................0.085...............15,050,000 .......0.100 OM0000001152 ............OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. ......................10,000 ...............2,957........................2 ........... 0.308 ...........0.308 ...........0.295........... 0.296 .............0.308 ...........-0.012 ........... -3.896 ...............0.295..............0.295...................0.306 ..............23,680,000.......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 358,235 ........... 40,432..................... 33 ............0.111 ........... 0.115............0.110 ............0.113 ............. 0.118............-0.005 ........... -4.237 ...............0.110 ..............0.109...................0.110 ................3,390,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,019,539 ......424,658.................. 220 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......12..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ........................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004628 ...........BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 ................................................872 .....................89........................2 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.103 .............0.103............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102..............0.102...................0.000 ............... 7,364,500 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: ..........................................................................................872 .....................89........................2 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

- United Securities/Bloomberg News

INDIAN MARKETS

Indian stocks slump most in 16 months on falling energy shares MUMBAI: India’s benchmark stock index plunged the most since September 2013, led by energy companies, as Asian equities extended a global selloff amid a slump in oil prices.

Reliance Industries, owner of the world’s largest refining complex, dropped to a 10-month low.

ONGC was the worst performer on the S&P BSE Sensex. Hindalco fell for a second day, sending a gauge of metal companies to its biggest

drop since December 16.

The Sensex lost 3.1 per cent to 26,987.46 at the close, the worst performer in Asia. The tumble pushed up the cost of using options to protect against losses to a six-month high as 49 of 50 stocks on the CNX Nifty Index slid. While the fall in oil to below $50 has cut energy costs for India, the rout signals a weak global economy, according to Ambit Investment Advisors. The nation imports about

80 per cent of its crude needs.

“The concern on global growth has overtaken the positives that India’s economy gets from lower oil prices,” Vaibhav Sanghavi, managing director of Ambit Investment, said by phone from Mumbai. “The market is reacting to global worries.”

The India VIX Index soared 23 per cent to 17.42, the most since August 2013, while the gauges for small and medium-sized compa-

nies compiled by the BSE tumbled 3 per cent each. Reliance declined 4.5 per cent to its lowest price since March 6 on concern the oil’s rout may lead to inventory losses at the refiner, depressing its thirdquarter earnings.

ONGC plunged 5.7 per cent, the most since June 26. The S&P BSE India Oil & Gas Index lost 4.2 per cent, the most among the 13 sectoral indexes compiled by the BSE. “The large-cap energy compa-

nies would be significantly hit by inventory losses and depressing product prices,” Nipun Mehta, the founder of Blue Ocean Capital, told Bloomberg TV India yesterday.

The decline in oil prices “is clearly a concern this earnings reason.”

Hindalco fell 2.2 per cent, while Sesa Sterlite, a copper producer, tumbled 4.9 per cent. Tata Motors, owner of Jaguar Land Rover, had the steepest drop in three months.

The Sensex rallied 30 per cent in

2014, the most among the world’s 20 biggest markets after China.

The measure trades at 14.8 times its 12-month projected earnings, compared with its five-year average multiple of 14.4 times.

“High-performance markets like India are susceptible to investors taking some money off the table,” Aneesh Srivastava, who oversees $630 million with IDBI Federal Life Insurance said by phone yesterday. - Bloomberg News

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

B5

ROUND-UP omanoil contributes to development of citizens

R E F U E L L I N G L O C AT I O N

As part of the company’s In-Country Value initiative aimed at contributing to Oman’s socio-economic development, omanoil has helped create vast employment and business opportunities, empowering and cultivating the national talent pool all the while, encouraging growth in the SME sector

MUSCAT: Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) recorded investing over 90 per cent of its expenditure in the local market, with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contracted for logistics, maintenance, marketing and legal services, as well as construction projects and business consultation.

As part of the company’s InCountry Value initiative aimed at contributing to Oman’s socioeconomic development, omanoil has helped create vast employment and business opportunities, empowering and cultivating the national talent pool all the while,

encouraging growth in the SME sector, says a press release.

Through its 162 filling stations, 88 convenience stores and 17 car care centres, omanoil has not only increased its product and service offering but also new business opportunities throughout the Sultanate. In addition to its filling stations that are either fully owned or operated by Omanis and its car care centres managed by SMEs, the company’s outlets prioritise local employment from surrounding communities, opening doors to career prospects for the youth.

“We have a responsibility as

a home-grown establishment to lead by example and guide the youth as they enter the job market to become part of Oman’s economic progress,” said Eng. Omar Ahmed Salim Qatan, omanoil Chief Executive Officer. “The employment potential in Oman is vast, even more so given that SMEs represent over 90% of the total number of registered firms.

Our aim is to build strategic partnerships with entrepreneurs and SMEs and share our expertise to enhance their development, enabling them to establish a foothold in the market.”

With a decade’s worth of experience in the oil and gas industry, omanoil invests in broadening

FA S H I O N O U T L E T

the knowledge and expanding the capacities of the national talent pool with educational, coaching and leadership programmes to ensure skilled resources for a futureready Omani workforce. Extending its vision beyond its walls to support local startup businesses, omanoil hopes to instil a sense of ownership and pride amongst young entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers.

“Throughout our 10 years, we always believed that our actions today will form our future and so every step we take ensures that we leave a lasting legacy for the next generation of leaders who will propel this company and country forward,” said Eng. Qatan.

Muriya unveils new floating fuel station at Jebel Sifah marina MUSCAT: Muriya, Oman’s leading tourism development company, recently opened a floating fuel station at Jebel Sifah designed to provide a refuelling location for boats and yachts.

The station adds a new facet to the 84-berth marina by allowing residents to fill up onsite, while encouraging passing boats to enter Jebel Sifah and explore the growing array of dining, retail and accommodation options, says a press release.

“The floating fuel station is an important new amenity in the ongoing development of Jebel Sifah that delivers fuel directly to

residents and to boaters around the area. The new addition will help position our destination as a strategic stopping point for boats to explore nearby dive sites located along the scenic coastline.

By expanding our hospitality and leisure propositions on land and adding the extra dimension of convenience at sea, we encourage visitors to discover the Jebel Sifah destination as it transforms into a bustling town where residents and guests can tour the vibrant boardwalk and experience the unique natural beauty,” said Marko Randjelovic, Marina manager at Muriya’s Jebel Sifah.

H I - T E C H F E AT U R E S

twenty4’s new winter promotion Jaguar Land Rover launches receives overwhelming response transparent pillar project MUSCAT: Crowds have been thronging the newly opened twenty4 fashion outlet at the Bait Al Ahlam building in MBD area to experience the brand’s amazing winter collection that is now available at ‘Up to 50% off ’.

Fast becoming the number one family shopping destination across the Middle East, the ‘twenty4’outlet at MBD has been designed to reflect the dynamism and diversity of the products it houses and leverage the brand’s hip, cool and vibrant ethos; the most visible benefit of which has been an appealing store design and a stimulating shopping experience for consumers, says a press release.

The brand offers the latest in fashion at moderate prices, in a visually exciting destination for the whole family; and is fast shaping consumer perceptions in Oman, increasing brand worth and fuelling future growth for the BMA International Group.

“We have received a huge footfall in the first week itself and are very happy with the response to our promotion. December is a key time for our businesses and the winter promotion has helped us provide customers with great value and fashion whilst shopping for their winter apparel and accessories. ‘Up To 50% discount’, our in-store Santa Claus during Christmas, special decorations and window displays have certainly helped bring in the crowds. It has been our constant endeavour

We have received a huge footfall in the first week itself and are very happy with the response to our promotion Nasser Kunnummal Country head of twenty4 to bring the most incredible and unique promotions to the countries in which we operate, and we will continue doing so in the Oman as well,” said Nasser Kunnummal, Country head of twenty4. twenty4 is a one-stop fam-

ily shopping destination that has something for everyone in your household. The brand features a variety of fashion apparel for women that include the choicest of handbags, and shoes. Men and kids too can enjoy fantastic offers on clothes and footwear. For the more household savvy, twenty4’s stunning home décor collection is sure to blow your mind.

With an exciting collection of affordable fashion merchandise for women, men, young adults and kids; as well as décor items for one’s home, twenty4 has made a mark for itself amongst consumers in the region.

The brand has several outlets in UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and it is no secret that the brand’s retail philosophy of providing style-conscious customers with fashion and home-ware at affordable prices has gained attraction across the Middle East with continued growth expected across the region in coming years.

MUSCAT: Jaguar Land Rover has launched a research project to develop technologies that will offer drivers a 360 degree view out of their vehicle, uninterrupted by the pillars that support the roof, says a press release.

A screen would be embedded in the surface of each pillar inside the car and would take a live video feed from cameras covering the angles outside the car usually obscured in the blind spots created by the A, B and C-pillars.

Pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles would be visible all around the car – and by combining the transparent pillars with an advanced high quality Heads-Up display, the movement of other road users could be highlighted to the driver with an on-screen halo moving across the car’s virtual windscreen. When the driver indicates to change direction, when they move their head to look over their shoulder during an overtake manoeuvre, or as the vehicle approaches a junction, the system would automatically make the left or right-hand side pillars transparent.

Dr Wolfgang Epple, director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Our ultimate aim is to reduce the potential for accidents and enhance the urban driving experience. The Jaguar Land Rover research team is developing this technology to improve visibility and to give the driver with the right information

at the right time. If we can keep the driver’s eyes on the road ahead and present information in a nondistracting way, we can help drivers make better decisions in the most demanding and congested driving environments.”

The full potential for the 360 Virtual Urban Windscreen would be delivered by connecting the virtual windscreen to the Cloud.

By connecting the car to roadside infrastructure and businesses in the urban landscape, the Virtual Urban Windscreen could present information ranging from petrol station prices to the number of parking spaces available, so drivers won’t have to look for this information themselves.

The connected car could also enhance navigation by advising the driver to turn left or right at more visible landmarks, such as pubs or shops, rather than just

road signs or street names.

While the most intuitive and efficient way to navigate to a specific location is to be able to follow someone who knows the best route - so the Jaguar Land Rover team is developing ‘Follow-Me Ghost Car Navigation’, which projects an image of a vehicle in front of the driver’s car for them to follow, turn by turn, to their destination.

“Driving on city streets can be a stressful experience, but imagine being able to drive across town without having to look at road signs, or be distracted trying to locate a parking space as you drive by,” added Dr Epple.

“We want to present all of this information on a Heads-Up Display in the driver’s eye-line, so the driver doesn’t have to seek it out for themselves and take their eyes off the road ahead.”

I N T E R NAT I O NA L C U I S I N E

Impressive Cosmos opening highlights grand success of Cave 8 event MUSCAT: The Cave Group in Oman opened the gates to their long awaited eighth restaurant, Cosmos, which is also their final one under the current project, to provide international cuisine to the citizens of Muscat.

The restaurant was thrown open to the public on December 30, 2014 to add to the festive mood during the New Year celebrations, says a press release.

The largest man made cave in the world, The Cave leaves visitors awestruck at its sheer architectural presence and creativity.

This magnificent structure which houses seven other restaurants of different niches and food specialities has become a landmark of famed Omani hospitality and culture of dining in style. The Cosmos will only serve to further widen its international appeal.

“The city of Muscat has a significant cosmopolitan population with residents from all over the world. The city also sees a huge flow of foreign travellers from different parts of the world. The carefully selected international varieties of food on the menu from

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different regions will undoubtedly attract people with a liking for these dishes,” said P. Dayaparan, General Manager of The Cave.

Cosmos restaurant, as its name suggests, will serve universally famed delicacies for people who like to dine in style with their family and friends and are open to experimenting. This restaurant is set to become a favourite joint for food lovers in Muscat.

Cosmos restaurant will provide various international cuisines in buffet spreads. Guests will find a wide variety of famed preparations in Lebanese, Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean and even Sushi to satisfy the connoisseurs of quality food.

Prepared according to authentic recipes with the finest ingredients by expert chefs, the different cuisines are cooked and served in their traditional tastes and styles.

Guests here can enjoy an eclec-

tic mix of mouth-watering delicacies like shwarma, pizza, fatyar, mixed grill and different kinds of bread while also taking in the breath-taking panoramic view.

This restaurant will be serving its international buffet for just OMR9.5 per person.

The huge open air restaurant with a seating capacity of 500 can easily be called one of the biggest garden restaurants here. The seating ranges from pergola seating for families to Arabic majlis seating.

The restaurant serves customers from 7pm to midnight each day amidst its elegant décor and soothing illumination.

One of the first customers at Cosmos, Sharif, says, “The cosy environment of this place is designed to provide the utmost relaxation and comfort to the visitors.”

The restaurant will also serve shisha to its guests.

Spanning eight days, the Cave 8 event that preceded the opening of the Cosmos restaurant was

unparalleled. Kicking off with a candlelight dinner on Christmas Eve, the events included live music, games and a contest with a large buffet. This was followed by a Seafood Night at the harbour which saw more than 300 people in attendance exceeding the previous day’s numbers of 200. With tickets sold out completely far in advance, Family Day, Lebanese Night, Mediterranean Night and Arabian Night followed. Under the Stars and The Dance and Dine

events held on December 30 and 31 at the newly opened Cosmos restaurant’s on New Year’s Eve were the crowning strokes.

As Aalim Hashim, a guest at the celebration put it, “There couldn’t be a better way to usher in the New Year." Besides the stimulating five international cuisines buffet spread, the New Year Eve festivities were complemented by a live Music Band, Popular DJ, raffle draw and games and the like. All guests marked the beginning of 2015 by releasing balloons into the air at midnight. Beaming at the success of the launch, Dayaparan stated, “The Cosmos has achieved the standards of providing a world class dining experience to its guests and a grand New Year Eve celebration worthy of the most exclusive restaurant in Muscat.”

The sponsors for this event were Coca Cola, Mazda and Etihad airline with offers of Mazda 2 cars and Etihad air tickets as prizes for the raffle draw held on December 31.

The lucky winners walked away with the Mazda 2 car and two air tickets to Bangkok.

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UP Geely Emgrand hosts unique print contest

JA PA N E S E A R T O F F L O W E R A R R A N G E M E N T

In this contest, potential customers

Devyani conducts Ikebana exhibition

were required to post questions in a publication related to Geely Emgrand and Geely owners had to answer them.

It generated huge response

MUSCAT: Towell Auto Centre, the sole distributors of Geely Emgrand range of vehicles, conducted a unique print contest related to the Chinese automaker that is making waves within Sultanate and globally.

In this contest, potential customers were required to post questions in a leading publication related to Geely Emgrand and Geely owners had to answer them.

It generated huge response. Most queries were related to the safety and features aspect of the Geely cars. And these were brilliantly and meaningfully answered by the Geely owners, says a press release.

Explaining the idea behind the contest, a senior spokesperson of TAC said, “Our confidence with Geely range based on the customer feedback in the last three years enabled us to conduct this open public forum through a leading weekly publication, where there was a di-

Our confidence with Geely range based on the customer feedback in the last three years enabled us to conduct this open public forum through a weekly publication, where there was a direct communication between the Geely owners and those who have less idea or are apprehensive about the brand Senior spokesperson at Towell Auto Centre rect communication between the Geely owners and those who have less idea or are apprehensive about the brand. What better, authentic and experienced source to clear everyone’s doubts than an existing owner of Geely.

“We were overwhelmed with the response and it only reaffirmed our

RECRUIT

confidence in the brand. It was a win-win situation for all as the best question and answer won an iPad each. For our part, we were also delighted to know the viewpoints of existing Geely owners and whatever apprehensions of our potential customers to clarify the same.”

Adil Nasser Al Jabri and Abul

Hashem Muhammad won an Ipad each for their question and answer respectively. The question posted

by Adil Nasser Al Jabri was: “The Emgrand X7 is a best-selling SUV with excellent safety features but can we compare it to other SUVs? Some people think a Chinese brand is inferior without knowing the true features.”

Quality brand Abul Hashem Muhammad answered: “I am proud to say that my brother owns a Geely Emgrand 7, which both he and I drive. Most people are dumbfounded when they see our car. They always seem sceptical about Geely as a legitimate and quality brand of car.

However, once they get to ride in it, boy, do their opinions change! I’ve always found the Emgrand to be one of the best cars I’ve ever driven, if not the best. I love absolutely everything about it – comfort, daily drivability, the interior and exterior, you name it! I definitely wish to see more and more Geely vehicles gracing Oman’s highways in the very near future.

MUSCAT: Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is a passion of Devyani Sampat.

“Ikebana is an art for arranging flowers with different themes and style. Ikebana is not merely flower arrangement — it is an evolved art based on particular principles that improves one’s skills as they get involved in it,” said Devyani.

Devyani, who is the director of Bonsai Club in Oman, conducted an exhibition of Ikebana flower arrangements recently at her residence. She had already done two Ikebana exhibitions in Muscat; one each in 2010 and 2012.

Devyani Sampat, residing in Oman for more than 40 years and holding Omani citizenship, has attended various conventions in Japan and also connected with Sogetsu School of Japan.

She has been training for last seven years under the wellknown master Leela Rajkumar who has also achieved life time achievement award from the Japanese Emperor and is the Director of Mumbai Sogetsu School Branch. Leela Rajkumar also attended Devyani’s exhibition.

“Ikebana is an art of arranging flowers which is developed in Japan and use Kenzen the pin holder for holding flowers. The

lines and degree are very important. There are various ways you can do this arrangement, upright, slanting, free style, vertical, horizontal and so on. You can use various types of flowers, foliages and dry material things to be added in their arrangement,” says Devyani.

Devyani said she wanted to bring awareness to more and more people in Oman about the art of Ikebana. Her future plan is to teach as many people and school children as possible free of charge. She intends to organise more demonstrations by bringing well-known demonstrators next year.

“This will help a lot of people to know more about Ikebana and take advantage of this art,” she added.

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The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply. — Denis Waitley

CAREER COACH

10 best techniques to build and expand your career network THE problem for many jobseekers, though, is not so much in understanding the extreme importance of networking, but in the execution of networking. The thrust of this article is to provide you with 10 proven techniques for building and expanding your career network.

1. Ask members of your current network for referrals: There is probably not an easier way to expand your network than to simply ask your current friends, family, and associates for the contact information of others whom they think would be beneficial for you to know. The “friend-of-a-friend” connection is quite strong and usually very successful. “Who else should I be talking to?” is a good question to use when asking for referrals.

2. Join professional or trade organisations: No better method exists for finding people who share the same professional interests and goals than joining one or more industry organisations.

Once you’re a member, you’ll usually get access to the membership list, which can open up many new prospective network contacts.

Most organisations also run regional or national meetings and conferences, which leads to the next technique for building your network of contacts.

3. Attend professional/trade meetings, shows, etc: The great thing about trade shows and industry meetings and conferences is that you’ll encounter new people to meet — and opportunities for both “meetand-greets” and more in-depth meetings. Seek out peers as well as more experienced members — and even speakers — to add to your network.

4. Volunteer: Providing your time and effort to a needy cause is perhaps one of the strongest venues for networking — because you are working side-byside with people who share your passion for helping others — but often overlooked by job-seekers either too busy or too focused on finding industry contacts.

5. Attend networking events: This technique is a no-brainer for adding more people to your network of contacts. Various groups hold networking events, including colleges, professional and industry associations, chambers of commerce, and the like.

Review community calendars online or in your local newspaper for details.

6. Contact former professors, college alumni association, and/or career services office: One of the strongest ties that help in building new and strong network contacts is sharing the bond of a college or university. Making additional contacts with people affiliated with your college gives you a solid base of shared experiences — and a strong connection to build upon.

7. Join or ramp up your activities on social and professional networking sites: Once you’re a member of Facebook, LinkedIn, or a similar networking site, you’ll immediately be provided with strategies for adding friends or connections, such as reconnecting with people who attended the same schools.

Electronic connections are not nearly as strong as personal connections, but that should not stop you from at least trying this technique. You can use your virtual connections to grease the wheels toward face-to-face meetings.

8. Join or start job club. In some ways, a job club is the ultimate networking experience because the people you meet there all have shared experiences and the desire for a new job. Run the right way, a job club is a very positive and rewarding experience, a chance to help yourself and others.

9. Conduct informational interviews: There is no better strategy for entry-level job-seekers and career-changers to find and add people to your professional network than to conduct several informational interviews.

As the name implies, it’s an interview you initiate with someone in your profession/industry whose brain you can pick about how s/he got their start, moved up the ladder, and so forth.

10. Contact former co-workers, vendors, customers/clients: Many times as we move from job to job, employer to employer, we lose touch with former co-workers, customers, and the like. These people all had a relationship with you before and could again — you simply need to reconnect with them.

Above all else, remember that networking is a reciprocal relationship. You may be seeking help uncovering job leads today, but tomorrow someone in your network may be asking for your help. Never be afraid to ask people in your network for help; don’t ask them to get you a job, but do ask them for possible leads. — Randall S. Hansen/www. quintcareers.com

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

DON’T WASTE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE OMAN.

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break down

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Toyota excels at ‘Top Safety Pick’ Awards

ACCOLADES

In all, eight Toyota and Lexus vehicles earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating and four Toyota and

OTE secures 4th position in Isuzu technical contest

Scion vehicles were named Top Safety Picks

MUSCAT: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has bestowed 12 prestigious awards upon Toyota Motor Corporation.

In fact, Toyota Motor Corporation has won more awards than any other automaker, including the most of the institute’s highest honours.

In all, eight Toyota and Lexus vehicles earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating and four Toyota and Scion vehicles were named Top Safety Picks. The 2015 Toyota Top Safety

Pick+ winners are: Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius v, Toyota Highlander and Toyota Sienna.

2015 Toyota / Scion Top Safety Pick Winners are: Toyota/Scion: Scion FR-S, Scion tC, Toyota Avalon and Toyota RAV4 (built after Nov. 2014), says a press release.

“At Toyota, our focus remains on the safety and peace of mind of our customers,” said Dino Triantafyllos, Toyota’s North American Chief Quality Officer.

“We’re pleased the IIHS has rec-

ognised the strong and improved safety performance of our vehicles in a range of crash tests.”

IIHS in particular recognised the Prius V for its significantly improved performance all-around in the small overlap crash test – naming it a Top Safety Pick+. The Toyota Sienna was also the only

minivan awarded the 2015 Top Safety Pick + designation.

Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive. No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and wellknown brands in the country.

S AV I N G S S C H E M E

Al Mumayaz Scheme’s hourly prizes to continue MUSCAT: With the conclusion of the fourth quarter of the financial year 2014, Bank Sohar is all set to host its highly anticipated Year-end Grand Draw of the Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme in midJanuary, 2015.

The grand draw will witness three lucky customers walking away with cash prizes totalling over half a million rials. In addition, the popular OMR1,000 hourly draws under the scheme will continue till end of January

2015, says a press release.

Highlighting the success of the 2014 Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme, R. Narasimhan, DGM and Head of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar said, “Following a successful year of events and draws for the Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme, the time has finally come for us to conduct the year-end Grand Draw and announce the winners of the over half a million rials prize pool.

No doubt this is one of the most exciting times for all of us at Bank

Sohar as well as for our customers. Following the popularity of the scheme and to ensure excitement levels remain high, we will also be continuing with our hourly draws throughout January. Soon after,an entirely new and innovative prize draw scheme will be launched for 2015 with more prizes and winning chances for Al Mumayaz Account holders.”

Highly anticipated With the start of the New Year,

the bank is now gearing itself up to host the highly anticipated Year-end Grand Draw. This final draw boasts a prize pool of over half a million rials, with one lucky saver winning the OMR500,000 Grand Prize, one exclusive winner receiving OMR50,000 and one lucky minor receiving OMR5,000.

In addition, for the remainder of January, Bank Sohar will continue to give away five hourly prizes of OMR1,000 to winners every day from Sunday to Wednesday.

MUSCAT: OTE Service - Isuzu has secured global 4th rank in the recently concluded Isuzu I-1 Grand Prix World Technical Skill Competition. Takanobu Furuta, executive vice president and director, Isuzu Motors Limited, presented this award to OTE Service in a glittering ceremony held in Japan.

I-1 Grand Prix is an intensely contested event conducted by Isuzu Japan every year in order to test skills of its distributors’ technical staff across the world. This year’s 4th position is up from 5th position of 2013 and is the highest global rank among all Isuzu distributors from Middle East and Africa region. This continuing excellence in technical skills can be attributed to OTE Group’s dedicated and continuous focus on training and skill up-gradation of its workforce, says a press release.

OTE Group always believes in providing world-class and high quality service to its customers.

With every passing generation, vehicles are becoming technologically superior thus requiring

enhanced technician skills for efficient diagnostics and repair.

Hence, OTE Group continuously focuses on regular training and evaluation of its service advisers and technicians, in order to provide superior service and utmost care to its customers.

OTE Group also conducts internal skill contests amongst the service technicians on a regular basis and encourages them to participate in technician skills competition on a global level to enhance their skills and confidence levels.

OTE Group constantly innovates to provide creative solutions to meet the fast changing needs of its customers. One such recent innovation is the ‘Doorstep Service’ for commercial vehicles. As part of this initiative, OTE service team visits the premises of the fleet customers at a pre-appointed day and time to inspect and carry out routine lube service. The vehicles will also be subject to a thorough 21 Point Check by trained OTE Group service technicians.

DESERT EXCURSIONS

Mitsubishi plans more Pajero Adventures MUSCAT: General Automotive Company (GAC), the exclusive dealers for Mitsubishi in Oman, recently concluded the third round of desert excursions for Pajero owners and enthusiasts.

Titled ‘Team Pajero Adventure’, the event gave drivers the unique opportunity to experience the Wahiba Sands in the highly capable Mitsubishi Pajero that was split across three weekends beginning on December 12 and concluding on December 27.

However, due to the overwhelming demand from customers and enthusiasts alike, GAC has decided to conduct two more excursions in January 2015 – the first on January 9 and the second on January 23, says a press release.

“The Team Pajero Adventure provides owners with a unique opportunity to tackle the desert conditions and drive some truly spectacular scenery, and while doing so find out just how capable the Pajero is at tackling the most demanding terrain and conditions. However, these trips would

not have been possible were it not for the efforts of our sales team as well as the enthusiastic participation of our customers. As such, I would like to thank each and every one of them for making The Team Pajero Adventure such a success,” said Rajesh Sharma, the National Marketing Manager of General Automotive Company.

These Team Pajero Adventure events were the latest in an annual series of adventures for Pajero owners to give them a real-world driving experience in challenging off-road desert conditions – provided in a safe and secure environment. On each of the three trips,

participants first gathered at the Mitsubishi showroom at Azaiba, and once underway, moved to Wahiba Sands before fully testing their off-roading abilities at the Al Raha Camp in Bidiya. Throughout the trip the convoy of Pajeros were escorted 10 Marshall Vehicles, one of which was the fully upgraded Pajero model on display at the recently held Motorshow Oman 2014. Once at the Al Raha Camp, the participants were provided with specialised desert driving training. The drivers were then taken on a dune bashing session, after which the group is taken atop a dune overlooking the camp.

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S

Oman target semi spot in Singapore

WILLIAMSON, WATLING SMASH SRI LANKA HOPES A world record sixth-wicket partnership of 365 by Kane Williamson and B.J. Watling, who both posted career bests, slammed the door on Sri Lanka in the second Test in Wellington on Tuesday.. >C2

FOOTBALL

clinch one of three berths into the next round,” he added.

Coach Oliver Kurtz, after seeing the top Omani players’ encouraging performances in recent international and domestic tournaments, believes Oman has the potential reach the semifinals at the FIH Hockey World League in Singapore

A. SESHAGIRI RAO

We have the team to do well against Fiji and we can also fancy our chances against Ukraine.

So if we can perform well against these two we have a chance of progressing

raoas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: After being presented with a berth in the second round of the FIH Hockey World League Season 2, Oliver Kurtz-coached Omanis are hoping to make it to the semifinals of the seven-team event in Singapore.

Oman had failed to clinch a direct berth in Round 2 after finishing third in a four-team Round 1 competition which Oman Hockey Association (OHA) hosted in September last year. But FIH has invited Oman, along with Ukraine, for the January 17-25 tournament following the withdrawal of Mexico and Sri Lankan teams.

And now coach Oliver Kurtz, after seeing the top Omani players’ encouraging performances in the AHF U-21 Youth Cup in Bangladesh and the recently-concluded His Majesty’s Cup Championship with their respective clubs, believes Oman has the players to tar-

Oliver Kurtz Oman hockey coach

get a semifinal place in Singapore.

Speaking to Times Sport on the eve of a training-cum-conditioning camp, which is scheduled to run from January 7 to 12, Oliver Kurtz said: “I am confident of our team making it to the semifinals of Round 2 in Singapore and after that if everything goes in our favour we hope to clinch of three berths in the next round.”

The top three from the seven participating teams will qualify for the World League semifinal round, which will be organised in Argentina and Belgium in June this year.

In Round 2 competition, Oman are grouped with Fiji, Ukraine and Malaysia while Bangladesh, Poland and Japan are placed in the

second group. “Malaysia are very strong. But our matches against Fiji and Ukraine are vital for us," Kurtz said referring to Oman's first two outings in Singapore round.

While refusing to take any team lightly, he said: “At this level we cannot take any team lightly. But I should say we have the team to do well against Fiji. And we can also fancy our chances against Ukraine who are also considered.”

"So if we can perform well against these two we have a chance of progressing to semifinals," the former German forward said.

"After that we can keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

If we play to our potential, and of course with some luck, we can

To play two friendlies Explaining the reasons for his confidence in the team, he said: "We have fairly good players who have been doing well in the recent past.

There are some young players who have shown a lot of promise in the AHF Youth Cup and then I followed the performance the players in His Majesty's Cup. I am more or less happy with most of the players I had in mind.”

The German coach has called up 22 players, including three goalkeepers, for the training. The team also comprises around 10 players from the youth squad.

“During the camp we will be working for overall development of the team, though there will be special focus on fitness and shot corner conversions,” he said.

During the training camp, the team will undergo three separate training sessions on each day.

“The senior players will start training in the morning from 6.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and there will a afternoon session which will be run from 12 noon,” the coach said.

“The young probables, after their daytime engagements like school, will the join the seniors for the evening training, during which they will also be playing practice matches.”

After the camp, Kurtz will prune the team to 18, which will also include two goalkeepers. The Omanis, who are scheduled to leave for Singapore on January 12, will play two friendly matches ahead of the tournament.

“We have planned two friendlies. The first one will be against our hosts Singapore on January 14 and then we will be playing Bangladesh on the next day," he said.

Besides the team and the OHA officials, the Omani delegation to Singapore will include also international umpire Thani Sahim.

The FIH has already confirmed the nomination of Thani Sahim on the umpires committee of the World League Round 2.

TEST SERIES

Elgar guides South Africa to victory CAPE TOWN: Dean Elgar guided South Africa to a series-clinching victory by eight wickets on the fifth day of the third and final Test against the West Indies at Newlands on Tuesday.

South Africa won the series by two matches to nil, with one match finishing in a rain-affected draw.

The left-handed Elgar made 60 not out as South Africa reached a victory target of 124 shortly before lunch.

It was tough going for South Africa at the start of the day after they resumed on nine for one.

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor and left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn

did not concede a run until Elgar pulled Taylor for four after 26 minutes and off the 45th ball of the day.

The tall Benn was particularly difficult to score off, getting turn and bounce from a wearing pitch, with Faf du Plessis completely tied down.

Benn, who bowled Alviro Pe-

tersen with the last ball of the fourth day, did not give up a run until Du Plessis took a single off the fifth ball of his sixth over.

Brief scores: West Indies 1st innings: 329; South Africa 1st innings: 421; West Indies 2nd innings: 215 ; South Africa 2nd innings 124 for 2. — AFP

ENTERS FRAY: Fifa vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.

Jordan Prince to challenge Blatter AMMAN: Fifa Vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein on Tuesday threw down the gauntlet to incumbent Sepp Blatter for the leadership of football’s scandaltainted world governing body.

The 39-year-old Jordanian prince said he would be a candidate against Blatter, 78, who will seek a fifth term, when Fifa holds a presidential vote on May 29.

Prince Ali, an ally of Blatter rival Michel Platini, the Uefa president, said he had been encouraged by other Fifa members to stand. “I know Prince Ali well.

He has complete legitimacy to occupy the highest responsibilities,” Platini said.

“We are now going to wait for his proposals and his programme for the future of football,” the Uefa leader added.

The prince is guaranteed nearly all the 54 Uefa votes and must now aim to sway enough Fifa members from his Asia region and other confederations against Blatter to get 105 backers at the election. The rivalry threatens to become bitter. The prince said his campaign would be based on getting Fifa away from “contoversy”.

“I am seeking the presidency of Fifa because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport. The headlines should be about football, the beautiful sport, not about Fifa.”

Fifa has been dogged by scandal since 2010 votes that awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and 2022 event to Qatar. The prince, a Fifa vice-president for Asia since 2011, has been among leaders who want the full release of an inquiry into the vote process.

“This was not an easy decision.

It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected Fifa colleagues over the last few months,” Prince Ali said. “The message I heard, over and over, was that it is time for a change. The world game deserves a world-class governing bodyand a model of ethics, transparency and good governance.”

Prince Ali is Fifa vice-president for Asia, head of Jordan’s Football Association and founder of the West Asian Football Federation. — AFP

Prince Ali’s decision a bold step, says Sayyid Khalid NISHAD PADIYARATH

nishad@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman Football Association (OFA) chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi called the decision by Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s to challenge for the leadership of world soccer’s governing body Fifa as a “bold step”.

Currently the Fifa vice-president and head of the Jordanian and West Asian Football Federation, Prince Ali on Tuesday announced his plan to contest for the elections set to be held in May in Zurich.

Speaking to Times Sport from Canberra, Sayyid Khalid lauded the decision by the 39-year-old Prince will join Jermone Champagne in challenging the 78-year-old Blatter, who is widely expected to announce this month his candidature for a fifth term soon. “I am sure he must have done a lot of thinking before taking that bold decision. It’s always tough to take such steps,” Sayyid Khalid said.

On supporting Prince Ali’s candidature, Sayyid Khalid said: “Frankly, it is too early to comment.

We need to sit with him and listen to him on what he has in store. We need to listen to the AFC and Arab FA’s as well.”

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Hard toil on a hot day

I

ndia were made to toil hard on a hot day in Sydney by the Australians as they racked up runs at almost four an over to end at 348 for two wickets. It was no doubt a good batting pitch with nothing in it for the new ball bowlers and very little spin for Ashwin, but the Indians didn’t help themselves by dropping a simple catch off Chris Rogers when he was on 19 and the ball fairly new.

The opener went on to get 95, and along with David Warner who struck his third century of the series, gave the home team just the start that they wanted.

If that catch had been taken, then Shane Watson, under pressure in the local media for not converting his starts into a substantial score, would have had to come in with the bowlers buoyed by an early wicket.

The bowling simply lost steam after that, and Umesh Yadav in particular looked so bereft of ideas that he was giving away boundaries and runs and looking totally lost in the big bad world of Test cricket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, making a comeback, looked rusty, and with the Kookaburra ball not swinging as much as the ball used in England, he struggled to get past the batsman.

Shami bowled well in patches with a bad ball following a good tight four balls and so the pressure would ease. For some strange reason, he bowls a much shorter length than ideal for his pace and thereby loses the opportunity to get the ball to move. He can seam it both ways and so would be far more dangerous if he pitched the ball further up, but so ingrained is the fear of being hit over the top that comes with playing limited overs cricket, that even at the Test match the length

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Warner honours Hughes memory SCOREBOARD

becomes more of a limited overs one . It is something that the spinners also have, and so the flight that can deceive the batsman is simply not given to the ball.

On big grounds like the ones in Australia, there is every chance of the ball being caught in the deep, but to do that the batsman must be given the temptation to hit it in the air, and that can come only if the ball is floated above the eye line.

Ashwin did get Warner out in the end when, quite clearly, the batsman had lost his concentration after getting to his hundred. It was an emotional moment for him, for not only was it his home ground but also it was on the ground where his good mate Phillip Hughes’ life was cut short. Warner looked up at the skies and waved his bat there to acknowledge the hundred for his dear departed friend and he had lost focus after that.

Rogers seemed in a hurry to get to his hundred and played an airy drive and was bowled, as the ball moved marginally but enough to beat the bat. After that, Smith continued his good form and is on his way to a fourth hundred in the series and Watson, lucky to survive a dropped catch in the last over of the day, is looking to play himself into form and silence all those who are questioning why he isn’t converting starts into a century plus.

It is going to be tough day for India, but the good news is that the pitch will still be good for batting when it is their turn and they must capitalise on that. - PMG

The dynamic opener posted his third ton of the series and 12th in Tests as he honoured the memory of his fallen friend Hughes, who was fatally struck by a bouncer at the same Sydney Cricket Ground in November

EMOTIONAL: David Warner. – AFP

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PHOTO GALLERY SYDNEY: David Warner kissed the ground in Phillip Hughes’s memory to lead an Australian run spree with an emotional century on the opening day of the final Test against India on Tuesday.

The dynamic opener posted his third ton of the series and 12th in Tests as he honoured the memory of his fallen friend Hughes, who was fatally struck by a bouncer at the same Sydney Cricket Ground in November.

Upon reaching the symbolic score of 63 that Hughes had made when he was hit, Warner kissed the ground and then looked skywards before clapping in tribute.

Warner scored 101 and shared in an opening stand of 200 on a benign SCG pitch with veteran Chris Rogers, who again fell short of a ton in his fifth consecutive halfcentury of the series.

Skipper Steve Smith and Shane Watson maintained Australia’s grip with an unbroken 144-run stand after winning the toss to put the home side at a formidable 348

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

for two at the close. Smith, who glided to his half-century off 67 balls for his fifth innings beyond 50 in the series, was unbeaten on 82 with Watson 61.

Watson was dropped by Ravichandran Ashwin at slip off the second-last ball of the day.

“We got lucky the coin fell our way. At the moment it was a fantastic toss to win, we’re two for 348, fantastic position to be in,” Warner said.

“There was no swing, there was no sideways movement at all, so it was quite challenging for the bowlers. It’s going to be challenging for us to take 10 wickets as well.”

India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia holding an unassailable 2-0 lead following wins in Adelaide and Brisbane.

The tourists have wonly one of their last 22 Tests overseas and have been successful in only one of their 10 Tests at the Sydney

Australia 1st innings C. Rogers b Shami 95 D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 101 S. Watson not out 61 S. Smith not out 82 Extras (lb-3, w-6) 9 Total (2 wickets, 90 overs) 348 Fall of wickets: 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers) Bowling: Kumar 20-2-67-0, Yadav 161-97-0 (6w), Shami 16-2-58-1, Ashwin 28-5-88-1, Raina 10-2-35-0 To bat: S. Marsh, J. Burns, B. Haddin, R. Harris, M. Starc, N. Lyon, J. Hazlewood.

Toss: Australia Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Richard Kettleborough (ENG) TV umpire: Simon Fry (AUS) Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

Cricket Ground, that sole victory coming 37 years ago.

Tough day for India “It was a very tough day. It’s very important that we pick ourselves up tonight and try to be as fresh as possible tomorrow,” Ashwin said.

“It’s going to be a hard day. If we can keep them down to (a reasonable score) we can get back into it.”

Warner batted for 180 minutes with 16 fours, pulling Mohammed Shami to the boundary to bring up his ton off 108 balls with 16 fours.

He was out soon after for 101 off 114 balls, caught at slip off a leading edge from spinner Ashwin.

“It’s great to get milestones and I’ve done my job for the team as well as I can,” Warner said.

“The thing I’m most proud of is putting up a double-century partnership with Bucky (Rogers).

It’s our first one and we bat very well together.”

Rogers, who gave chances on 19 and 90, followed Warner to the pavilion six balls later when he was bowled for 95 by Shami. The Sydney Test was being played against the poignant backdrop of the tragic death of Hughes. — AFP

TEST SERIES

Williamson, Watling record smashes Lankan hopes SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

PHOTO GALLERY W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

WELLINGTON: A world record sixth-wicket partnership of 365 by Kane Williamson and B.J. Watling, who both posted career bests, slammed the door on Sri Lanka in the second Test in Wellington on Tuesday.

Williamson’s unbeaten 242, with Watling not out 142, rescued New Zealand from a deep hole and carried them to 524-5 declared in their second innings. Sri Lanka were left facing a 390-run final-day target on a ground where the record for a successful fourth innings chase is 277-3 set by Pakistan 11 years ago.

At stumps they were 45-1 with Kaushal Silva on 20 and Dhammika Prasad one.

Dimuth Karunaratne was out for 17 four overs before the close, the only dismissal of the day.

With wickets hard to come by on a flat track, and Sri Lanka holding middle-order strength led by Kumar Sangakkara, a draw seemed the likely outcome. This would give New Zealand the two-Test series 1-0.

Williamson and Watling came together as New Zealand’s last recognised batsmen with the score on 159-5, a perilous 24-run lead. They methodically ground the Sri Lankan bowlers into submission over the following eight hours.

Williamson said their focus was on occupying the crease to save New Zealand and records were secondary.

“We needed to draw on that to bat as long as we did. That was very much the motivating factor. Talk about 100s or 200s, it’s great to get them but more important to keep going to put the team in a better position,” he said. — AFP SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 1st innings: 221 (K. Williamson 69; N. Pradeep 4-63, S. Lakmal 3-71) Sri Lanka 1st innings: 356 (K. Sangakkara 203, D. Chandimal 67; J. Neesham 3-42, D. Bracewell 3-93) New Zealand 2nd innings: T. Latham c Jayawardene b Pradeep35 Rutherford c Chandimal b Pradeep40 K. Williamson not out 242 R. Taylor b Herath 0 B. McCullum lbw Prasad 22 J. Neesham lbw Pradeep 19 B. Watling not out 142 Extras (b-7, lb-7, w-4, nb-6) 24 Total (five wickets decl, 172 overs)524 Fall of wickets: 1-75 (Rutherford), 2-78 (Latham), 3-79 (Taylor), 4-122 (McCullum), 5-159 (Neesham) Bowling: Lakmal 32-4-89-0 (1w), Pradeep 37-4-117-3 (5nb, 1w), Herath 56-8-154-1, Prasad 28-1-102-1 (1nb, 1w), Mathews 11-3-29-0, Thirimanne 8-1-19-0 (1w) Sri Lanka 2nd innings D. Karunaratne c Rutherford b Craig 17 K. Silva not out 20 D. Prasad not out 1 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-1) 7 Total (one wicket, 17 overs) 45 Fall of wicket: 1-42 (Karunaratne) Bowling: Boult 7-0-21-0, Southee 4-3-4-0, Bracewell 2-0-11-0 (1w), Craig 2-2-0-1, Rutherford 1-0-2-0, Williamson 1-0-1-0 Toss: Sri Lanka Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

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SPORTS SAILING

Oman’s Al Salmi thrilled to be Team SCA’s ‘jumper’ MUSCAT: Oman Sail’s Ibtisam Al Salmi, one of the Middle East’s first professional female sailors, was invited to join the only all-female Team SCA crew at the Volvo Ocean Race in Abu Dhabi. She was welcomed on board by her mentor and former Oman Sail coach, Dee Caffari MBE, and took her place in the exclusive ‘Jump Seat’ position for the start of stage three and inshore course race.

“It is great that Ibtisam managed to find time to come and meet us here in Abu Dhabi and having her as our ‘jumper’ at the race start is just a great way to end our experience here in Abu Dhabi,” said Dee. “I look forward to following the development of the Oman Sail Women’s Sailing team, the pro-

gramme that Oman Sail has put in place is unique, and there has been a lot of progress with both male and female sailors.”

Ibtisam has been a long-time admirer of Team SCA’s achievements and said it was a privilege to be a guest of the team and experience how one of the competition’s leading teams prepares for a gruelling race around the world. She was on board as Team SCA won the inshore race ahead of Team Brunel, representing The Netherlands, and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, before leaving the boat just before the fleet entered open water.

Ibtisam said: “Today was such a great experience for me. Female sailing is growing stronger in the Middle East, and Dee and all the

‘GREAT EXPERIENCE’: Ibtisam Al Salmi speaks to the media.

other Team SCA women are inspirational role models to all of us.

This all-female crew is a wonderful stepping stone to get more women into professional offshore racing.”

Oman Sail’s Women’s Programme was launched in 2011 with the aim of creating a women’s team that can represent Oman in international competition. Now

in its fourth year, the programme has empowered dozens of Omani women to pursue their sporting ambitions and become coaches and mentors to the next generation. Ibtisam is part of the first batch of graduates from the programme and competes in the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour as part of the Middle East’s first all-female sailing team.

The Volvo Ocean Race, considered the world’s toughest ocean race, takes place every three years and covers more than 40,000 nautical miles over nine stages in nine months. Seven teams must traverse the world’s largest oceans and tackle some of the most notorious seas in a variety of testing weather conditions.

This year’s race began in Alicante, Spain, in October 2014, headed to Cape Town, South Africa, before reaching Abu Dhabi.

The teams have now set sail for the tropical Chinese island resort of Sanya and will arrive in approximately 22 days.

The fourth stage will start from Sanya to Auckland, New Zealand, before navigating around Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America, to the Brazilian port of Itajai, and north to Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The race then crosses the Atlantic to conclude in Europe with stops in Lisbon, Portugal, and Lorient, France, before resting in The Hague, The Netherlands, ahead of the finale in Gothenburg, Sweden, in June this year.

OMAN CRICKET

Cameron and OCT Al Hail register facile victories MUSCAT: Cameron recorded an eight-wicket victory over Khalsa United in a J Division Twenty20 match. After being asked to bat first, Khalsa United scored 147 all out in 19 overs with Arvind Singh contributing 31 and M. Danish and Manit Singh making 24 runs respectively.

Aiman Khalid was the most successful bowler for Cameron with three wickets while Arun Kumar has two dismissals to his credit.

In reply, Cameron scored the required runs in exactly 20 overs losing just two wickets after Arun Manohar (51) and Anoop Kumar (49) gave a superb start with a 106run partnership for the first wicket.

Brief scores: Khalsa United 147 all out in 19 overs (Arvind 31, Danish 24, Manjit 24, Aiman 3/25, Arun 2/18) lost to Cameron 148 for 2 in 20 overs (Arun 51, Anoop 49).

In another match, the all-Omani team of OCT Al Hail B beat Douglas OHI by five wickets after restricting them to a mere 91 all out in 14 overs. Except for 26 by Santosh Kumar and an unbeaten 24 by

Mohd Irbaz all scalped two wickets each. In reply, despite a fine knock of 50 in 42 balls by opener Mohammed Sumer and later a quick fire innings of 36 in 12 balls

by Mohammed Feshel, ISAS were dismissed for 162 in 22.5 overs.

Manzoor Ali was the pick of the bowlers with three dismissals and Ubaid Ullah and Abdullah Khan bagged two wickets each.

Brief scores: PSM 172 in 24.2 overs (Ubaid 60, Ehsan 53, Arul 3/11, Juber 2/23, Irbaz 2/25, Khalik 2/34) bt ISAS 162 in 22.5 overs (Sumer 50, Feshel 36, Manzoor 3/44, Abdullah 2/20, Ubaid 2/28).

J DIVISION: OCT Al Hail B after their win over Douglas OHI. – Supplied photo

Viplov Kumar there were no other noteworthy scores made by any other batsmen.

Rafeeq Ahmed scalped four wickets while Ismail Al Balushi and Rashid Al Balushi picked up two wickets each.

OCT Al Hail chased their target in 15.3 overs for the loss of five wickets thanks to an 37 by one drop batsman Abdul Ghani Rahim.

SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS editor@timesofoman.com webeditor@timesofoman.com

Subin Thomas dismissed three of the five batsmen.

Brief scores: Douglas OHI 91 all out in 14 overs (Santosh 26, Viplov 24, Rafeeq 4/20, Ismail 2/24, Rashid 2/24) lost to OCT Al Hail B 92 for 5 in 15.3 overs (Abdul Ghani 37 n.o., Subin 3/27).

PSM boys win Meanwhile, in an Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored Under-16

25 overs-a-side match, Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) beat Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) by runs after scoring 172 in 24.2 overs. Ubaid Ullah and Ehsan Ullah played superbly to raise the score from 16 for two to 134 when the former was dismissed for 60 scored in 47 balls.

Ehsan made 53 in 44 balls. Arul S got three wickets, while Mohd Khalik, Mohammed Juber and

Easy for SLSM, ISAS In the Under-13 T20 matches, Sri Lankan School Muscat (SLSM) beat Boshar Olympic Center (BOC) by eight wickets while Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) recorded an 85-run win over Pakistan School Muscat (PSM).

Batting first winning, BOC made 125 for nine in 20 overs. Their total included 52 extras. Osman and Yazid bagged two wickets each.

Thanks to an unbeaten 38 by

Udantha, the SLSM reached their target in just 16.1 overs with eight wickets in hand. Yazid, with 28 runs, and Dian, with an unbeaten 28, also made useful contributions.

Brief scores: BOC 125 for 9 in 20 overs (Yazid 2/20, Osman 2/26) lost to SLSM 126 for 2 in 16.1 overs (Udantha 38 n.o., Yazid 28, Dian 28 n.o).

In another match, batting first after winning the toss, ISAS made 165 for six in 20 overs, thanks to fine knocks of 38 by Mohd Sameer and 32 by Mohammed Kaif. Later Mohammed Saud scored 23. Adeel Abbas and Muneer Sarwar both scalped two wickets each for PSM. With no useful contributions coming by their batsmen, PSM found the going tough as wickets fell at regular intervals and they were dismissed for 80 in 13.3 overs. Harsh Gulwani, Mohammed Kaif and Fardeen all captured two wickets each for the eventual winners.

Brief scores: ISAS 165 for 6 in 20 overs (Sameer 38, Kaif 32, Saud 23, Adeel 2/24, Muneer 2/30) bt PSM 80 all out in 13.3 overs.

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP

India pick three spinners MUMBAI: India’s selectors on Tuesday chose three frontline spinners to help Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men defend the World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand from next month. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was joined by left-armers Ravindra Jadeja and young Axar Patel in a 15-man squad announced in Mumbai for the showpiece event from February 14 to March 29.

Jadeja was selected despite being treated for a shoulder injury that forced him out of the ongoing Test series in Australia. Patel, 20, has claimed 14 wickets in nine one - day internationals so far.

“Jadeja is doing wonderfully well in his recovery process and we

are hopeful he will be fit in 10 days time,” Indian cricket board secretary Sanjay Patel told reporters.

The squad includes just four players — Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Ashwin — who were part of the winning team in 2011. The selectors ignored Yuvraj Singh, the man of the tournament in 2011, who was not in the preliminary 30-man squad, but came into reckoning with centuries in three consecutive first-class matches.

Teams are allowed to select players from outside their preliminary pool, but the 33- year-old Singh’s absence from the one-day team over the past year due to poor form went against him.

The nucleus of the squad is the

same which helped India win the Champions Trophy one - day tournament in England in 2013.

There was no place for opening batsman Murali Vijay, one of the few Indian players to emerge with credit from the Australia Test series with 402 runs in the first three matches at an average of 67.00.

Vijay, 30, played the last of his 14 One-day Internationals in July 2013.

Rohit Sharma, who hit oneday cricket’s highest score of 264 against Sri Lanka last November, will open the batting with lefthander Shikhar Dhawan, despite both faring poorly in the Tests.

The squad includes seven batsmen, three spinners and five seam-

ers in Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and all-rounder Stuart Binny.

The same players, along with two extra new-ball bowlers Dhawal Kulkarni and Mohit Sharma, will take part in the One-day triseries with England and Australia starting on January 16.

India are drawn in pool B of the World Cup alongside Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Zimbabwe. The top four in the pool will advance to the quarterfinals.

Dhoni’s men begin their campaign with a mouth-watering clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15. — AFP

15-MEMBER SQUAD: From left: Top row — Mahendra Singh Dhoni

(captain), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma.

Second row: Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, R. Ashwin, A. Patel. Third row: Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. – PTI

TENNIS BRIEFS

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

Japan’s Ito advances in Chennai Open CHENNAI: Japan’s number two Tatsuma Ito moved into the second round of the ATP Chennai Open with a straight-sets win over Indian wildcard Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday.

Garcia-Lopez overcame error-prone qualifier Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3 in two hours. Sixth seed YenHsun Lu of Taiwan also breezed through to the next round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over India’s top player Somdev Devvarman. Lu’s next opponent will be Spaniard Pablo CarrenoBusta, who beat Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia 6-1, 6-3. Swedish wildcard Elias Ymer moved up by defeating Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania beat qualifier Luca Vanni of Italy 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.

Sharapova brushes Shvedova aside BRISBANE: Top seed Maria Sharapova began her 2015 campaign in ruthless fashion as she brushed aside Yaroslava Shvedova 6-0, 6-1 in the second round of the Brisbane International Tuesday. Earlier, third-seeded German Angelique Kerber remained on course for a semifinal showdown against Sharapova when she crushed Russian qualifier Daria Gavrilova in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. She will now take on Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic. Defending men’s champion Lleyton Hewitt suffered a shock 6-3, 6-2 loss at the hands of big-serving fellow Australian Sam Groth.

Listless Williams goes down PERTH: Serena Williams complained of tiredness after being trounced by Canadian Eugenie Bouchard at the mixed teams Hopman Cup on Tuesday. Williams was humbled by the sixth-ranked Bouchard in straight sets as Canada upset the tournament favourites 2-1. The result threw Group A at the tournament wide open, with Canada, the USA and the Czech Republic all in contention for Saturday’s final. — Agencies

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LIFE & STYLE

WE D NE S DAY, JA NUA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

Japan’s patisserie chefs lead the world in all things sweet

ames Campbell has the best job in the world — or the worst. The patisserie chef, currently masterminding a dessert revolution in the High Street, has tasted 140 Japanese desserts in one week, including 27 in a single day.

Campbell is Marks & Spencer’s dessert product developer — his team was responsible for the Jaffa Sphere sell-out success — and he is in Tokyo on a trip to find inspiration for this year’s new range of puds and even “the next big trend for 2016”. Japan may seem an unusual place to come to scout for new ideas, but the country’s patisserie chefs are world leaders after learning their trade in Paris and bringing it home with their own twists.

“It’s the absolute precision,” explains Campbell. “There is a ridiculous amount of detail that goes into the products here. There’s the real trend of French patisserie multiplied by the work ethic and precision of the Japanese which takes it to a whole new level.”

European-style patisseries can be found almost everywhere in Japan. Isetan — one of Tokyo’s most upmarket stores, has more than 30 patisserie concessions on one floor — far more than in top UK department stores.

Campbell, who has worked with Gary Rhodes and was head pastry chef at London’s Mandarin Oriental, has already created a stir at M&S since joining the company in 2013. The Belgian Chocolate Jaffa Sphere, dubbed Britain’s “dessert”, rapidly became M&S’s fastest selling dessert of all time with 10,000 a week being sold in the run up to Christmas. It is part of an overhaul of the range, which is bringing in patisserie style desserts for customers with more highend tastes than ever, thanks in part to the popularity of baking programmes.

“We’ve seen a massive trend for professional, patisserie

style desserts, especially on TV,” says Campbell. “As challenges on Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off become increasingly difficult, people are giving up on creating the desserts themselves, instead resorting to ready-made versions. I wanted to create restaurant quality, show-stopping desserts for people to enjoy at home.”

M&S’s team of developers travel the world searching for the next taste sensation. So, what can we expect to see in this year’s range, after the Japan trip? Campbell can’t give away all his secrets, but there will almost certainly be yuzu and passion fruit flavours and a big focus on seasonality, which is key to Japanese cooking. “We will be launching seasonal British ingredients in our desserts including rhubarb, gooseberry and damsons,” says Campbell.

Osami Kubota, executive pastry chef at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, one of the city’s finest, explains that using ingredients that are in season was vital in setting Japanese patisserie apart, as well as the “dexterity” and “very delicate craftsmanship”

European-style patisseries can be found almost everywhere in Japan. Isetan — one of Tokyo’s most upmarket stores, has more than 30 patisserie concessions on one floor

Given that green tea is everywhere in Japan, including in ice-cream and even KitKat bars with pale green chocolate, I assumed we could expect green tea to crop up, but Campbell says the people are not ready for this yet. Instead tea, whether it be green, earl grey, or various Chinese blends, will be used as perfume rather than flavour. This month, M&S is launching Matcha (green tea) and Earl Grey chocolates in the UK. Fortunately, Campbell still has “a reasonably sweet tooth” and a “heightened palette”. He had to taste 50 cheesecakes when developing the latest range and on an average week can taste between 100 and 200 desserts. Before Christmas his team tasted every single Christmas dessert by every competitor over three days. Campbell says he runs around 13 to 14 miles every Sunday “to keep the weight down”.

The Scot, now 39, wanted to be an accountant but, after leaving school at 17, a short stint as a commis chef at the Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond, convinced him he could be a success in the food industry.

“I grew up on a council estate in Glasgow and I could see this was a way of working yourself out of your situation,” he says. “It’s a very rewarding career and you absolutely make your own destiny.”

Chefs’ hours are notoriously punishing — Campbell regularly started at 5.30am and would work until midnight only to start it all again the next day — but he “loved the discipline, the meticulousness of it”. He says: “It’s a blood, sweat and tears industry and it’s one of those that if you work hard you can do well.”

“My focus totally shifted,” he says. “I’m no less industrious or passionate but I’m just not there 20 hours a day.”

A chef’s drive comes from a constant need to improve, he says. You have to constantly innovate.”

-Karen Attwood/The Independent

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Swelter (Action / Thriller) (15+)

Seventh Son (2D) Adv| Family(PG12) Cast: Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore 11:45 pm Vice (2D) Action | Adventure (15+) Cast: Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis 5:30, 9:30 & 11:30 pm Legend Of Never Beast (2D) Animation | Adventure (PG) 2:00pm Legend Of Never Beast (3D) Animation | Adventure (PG) 4:15 & 5:45 pm Swelter (2D) Act | Thriller (15+) 3:30, 7:30 pm Into the Woods (2D)Com|Family (PG) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep 2:15 pm P.K (2D) Comedy | Drama(PG) Cast: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma 8:50 pm Unbroken (2D) Bio| Drama (15+) Cast: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall 4:30 & 7:15pm Laggies (2D) Rom | Com) (PG) Cast: Keira Knightley 2:15 & 7:00 pm Woman In Black Angel Of Death (2D) (Horror | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Helen McCrory, Jeremy Irvine 9:45 & 11:45pm

Vice (2D) (Act | Adventure) (15+) Cast: Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis 1:30, 9:45 & 11:45 pm Gold Class: 3:45 & 11:15pm Legend Of Never Beast (2D) (Animation | Adventure) (PG) 12:30 pm

SCREEN 3

Legend Of Never Beast (3D) (Animation | Adventure) (PG) 2:00 & 5:15pm Gold Class: 12:15pm Swelter (2D) (Act | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme 3:30 & 6:45pm Gold Class: 1:45pm P.K (2D) (Com | Drama) (PG) Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anushka Sharma 7:15 pm Gold Class: 8:15pm Unbroken (2D) (Bio| Drama) (15+) 11:00 am & 8:45 pm Gold Class: 5:45 pm Laggies (2D) (Rom | Comedy) (PG) Cast: Keira Knightley 10:30 am, 3:30 & 5:30 pm Ironclad: Battle For Blood (2D) Action/Adventure (18+) Cast: Michelle Fairley, Roxanne McKee, Danny Webb 11:45 pm

Linga (Act|Drama) (Tamil) -(PG ) Cast: Rajnikanth, Sonakshi Sinha 3.30 & 6:45 pm Action Jackson (Act| Rom| Dr) (12+ ) Cast: Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha 10:00 pm

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies -3D (PG12) (Adv| Fantasy) Cast: Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage 7: 00 pm P.K. – 2D (PG) Com | Drama | Fantasy Cast : Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma 8:30 pm Swelter – 2D (15+) Act | Dr | Thriller Cast:Jean-Claude Van Damme, 3:45, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45 pm Vice – 2D (15+) Act | Adv | Sci-Fi Cast : Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis 5:45, 9:45, 11:45pm Legend of the NeverBeast – 3D (PG) Animation | Adventure | Family Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin 4:00, 5:30 pm Legend of the NeverBeast – 2D (PG) Animation | Adv | Family : 3:15 pm The Woman in Black 2 Angel of Death – 2D (15+) (Drama | Horror) Cast: Helen McCrory, Phoebe Fox 4:40, 11:30 pm Unbroken – 2D (15+) Bio| Dr | Sport Cast: Jack O’Connell, Takamasa Ishihara, Domhnall 06:30 , 11:15 pm Cousins – 2D (M) (PG) (Comedy) Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu 9:00 pm Laggies – 2D (PG) (Com | Romance)

SCREEN 1 P. K (Comedy | Drama | Social) (PG ) Cast: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sanjay Dutt 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 pm SCREEN 2 Action Jackson (Act| Rom| Dr) (12+ ) Cast: Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha 3:45& 6:45 pm P. K (Comedy | Drama | Social) (PG ) Cast: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sanjay Dutt 10.00 pm

Cast : Keira Knightley, Chloë Grace 03:15 , 05:00 , 06:45 pm Seventh Son – 3D (PG12) (Adv |Family ) Cast : Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore 09:45pm

Vice (Act | Adventure | Sci-Fi ) (15+) Cast: Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis 3:30, 6:30, 8:15, 11:45 pm Swelter (Act | Dr | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme 5:15, 7:00, 10:00, 11:30 pm P.K. (Com | Dr | Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt 3:45, 8:45 pm Legend of the NeverBeast - 2D (Animation | Adv | Family) (PG) 3:00 pm Legend of the NeverBeast - 3D Animation | Adv | Family) (PG) 4:30, 6:00 pm Cousins (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Kunchacko Boban 7:30 pm The Woman in Black 2 Angel of Death (Dr | Horror | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Helen McCrory, Phoebe Fox 11:45 pm Seventh Son (Adve| Family) (PG12) Cast: Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore 10:00 pm

Swelter (Act | Dra) (15+) Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme 11:30 pm Vice (Act| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (15+) Cast: Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis 04:30, 06:15, 09:45 pm

Legend of the NeverBeast(3D) (Animation | Adv | Family) (PG) 05:00, 06:30 pm Cousins (Mal) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Kunchacko Boban 10:45 pm P.K (Hindi) (Co | Dr | Fantasy) (PG) Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt 8:00 pm Seventh Son(3D) (Adv|Family) (PG12) Cast: Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges 08:00 pm

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (3D/PG12) (Adv/Fantasy) 11:45pm Vice (2D/15+) (Act/Adv/Sc-FI) 2:00, 5:45, 9:45, 11:45pm Swelter (2D/15+) Act/Dr/Thriller) 12:00, 7:45, 9:30pm Ironclad: Battle for Blood (2D/18+) (Act/Adv) 3:45pm Seventh Son (3D/PG12) (Adv/ Family) Cast: Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore 11:30pm Let the Bullets Fly (2D/18+)Act/Co 1:30pm Legend of the Never Beast (3D/PG) (Action/Adventure/Family) 4:00, 5:30pm Legend of the Never Beast (2D/PG) (Action/Adventure/Family) 11:00am, 2:30pm Unbroken (2D/15+) (Ro/Comedy) 4:00, 7:00pm P.K. (2D/PG) (Com/Dr/fantasy) 9:00pm The Woman in Black 2 Angel of Death (2D/PG) (Dr/Horr) 12:30, 11:45pm

Cast: Mindy Robinson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alfred Molina 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm Ironclad: Battle for Blood (Action / Adventure) (15+) Cast: Michelle Fairley, Roxanne McKee, Danny Webb 4.00, 8.00 & 11.55 pm Unbroken (Drama)(15+) Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman 4.30, 7.00 & 9.30 pm Camp X-ray (Drama) Cast: Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi 2.00 pm; CP No: 2673 (18+)

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Adventure / Fantasy) Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage 2.00 pm; CP No: 2574 (PG12)

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Cousins (Mal) (Com) Cast: Kunchako Boban, Indrajit 3:30 & 6:30 pm at Cinema Main, 9:45pm Cinema 3 PK (Hindi- Drama) Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt 3:45, 6:45pm at Cinema 3, 9:30pm Cinema Main Lingaa (Tamil) (Act |Dr| Thriller) (PG) Cast: Rajnikanth & Anushka Shetty 6:45pm at Cinema 4 Iyobinete Pusthakam (Mal) (Act) Cast: Fahad Fazil, Jaysurya 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm Cinema 2 Meagamann (Tamil) (Act) Cast: Arya & Hansika Motwani 3:45 & 9:45pm at Cinema 4 NEXT CHANGE: Mylanchi Monchulla Veedu (Mal) Chinnadana Nee Kosam (Telugu)

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

If you cannot do it, force the opponents

SUDOKU

4 4 3 1

6 2 3 4

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

— Seven Galaxies

9 2 6

6

2

8 4 5 1 7 5 8 3 6

1 7 8 9 4 3 9 6 8 3 4 1 8

4 1 8 3 7 6 9 5 2 5 9 7 4 8 2 6 1 3 3 2 6 9 1 5 7 8 4 2 7 9 1 5 8 3 4 6 8 5 3 6 4 9 2 7 1 6 4 1 2 3 7 8 9 5

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

48 Face card 50 Puppy-chow brand 51 Rx writers org.

52 The rain in Spain?

53 Thoughtprovoking 54 Like crudites 55 Ben & Jerry rival DOWN 1 Flee 2 Syria neighboUr 3 Pale brown 4 Stuns 5 Mimicked 6 Early jazz 7 Monkey — 8 Moon ring 9 Writer — Bagnold 10 Softball team 12 Coil of yarn 17 Reviews harshly 19 Roswell crasher 22 Fleming of 007 fame 23 Route follower 24 Checkout ID 25 Tijuana “that” 26 Prune

27 28 29 31 34 35 36 37

Wall climber Nothing 200 fins Data-storage acronym Portable computer Kiddie talk Speckle — board

39 Wife’s brother (hyph.)

40 Crisis point 41 Linchpin locale 42 No longer green 43 Soprano — Gluck 44 Canary’s home 45 Wind-driven mist 47 Thole filler 49 Boastful knight

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 Rumor, perhaps 4 Smidgen 7 Invitation info 11 Rainbows 13 GI mail drop 14 Sari wearer 15 Hamill of “Star Wars” 16 Airship 18 In a line 20 Battery terminal 21 Unknown factors 22 Business abbr.

23 Good, to Juan 26 Pounding, as waves 30 Elevator buttons 31 Howard or Guidry 32 “C’est la —” 33 Marine mollusk 36 Sherlock Holmes creator 38 Objective 39 Debtor’s note 40 Stringed instruments 43 Pranks 46 Election-night event (2 wds.)

S. NARAIN KARTHIK

GAMAN RAO

ADVAITH MANOJ

January 7, 2012

January 7, 2011

January 7

1 6 4 7 9 3 5 2 8 7 8 2 5 6 1 4 3 9 9 3 5 8 2 4 1 6 7

Previous puzzle Solution

DEAN Martin said, “When your opponent’s sittin’ there holdin’ all the aces, there’s only one thing to do: Kick over the table.”

When you seem not to have a way to make your contract, wonder if your opponents might be able to help you out. If not, kick over the table! (Yes, that’s a joke.)

In this deal, South is in three no-trump. What should he do after West leads his fourth-highest heart and East puts up the king?

South’s sequence shows a balanced 25-27 points. It is a bad auction for standard bidders, because if North has a very weak hand with a four- or five-card major, he does not know whether it is safe to use Stayman or a transfer. There is a solution, called Kokish, but it isn’t perfect and has some complexity. You can find details on the Internet.

South seems to have nine top tricks: one spade, one heart, four diamonds and three clubs.

However, he cannot get that third club trick, because the suit is blocked and he does not have a dummy entry. How can he get around the problem?

He needs to call on West’s assistance. Declarer ducks the first trick, takes East’s heart return with his ace and cashes his six minor-suit winners. Then he leads his heart jack. West can cash three heart winners, but then must either lead a club to dummy’s ace or a spade into South’s acequeen, each allowing the contract to make.

Yes, here South could have taken the first trick, but that might have required some good card reading if hearts were 4-3, not 5-2.

— By Phillip Alder

WITH LOVE

BORN LOSER

SAFI UDDIN ZAID

KRISH SHIBU NAIR

MOHD MAZIN

NAILESH KUMAR LADHER

January 7, 2010

January 8, 2013

January 9

January 9, 2002

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

W E DN E S DAY, JAN UARY 7, 2 01 5

PRAYER TIMINGS Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are not always able to enjoy things fully because you are always keenly aware of the dark mirror image of almost every situation. Even your most cherished successes come at a price, for you are always cognisant of parallel realities that are not in any way as positive.

You chalk this all up simply to being human: Because you are human, you are aware of your own mortality, you are aware that a smile is only the flip side of the frown, and that even the most golden opportunities have about them something intangible that is also dark and threatening. You balance the good and the bad, the light and the dark, the joyous and the sad, with great style and elan.

You are likely to be remembered, but not necessarily for doing the thing that you think is most important in your life. That is all right with you, for you know that not everyone will have the same reaction to the things you do; you cannot control the minds of others or shape their impressions of you in any real, lasting way.

Also born on this date are: Nicolas Cage, actor; Jeremy Renner, actor; David Caruso, actor; Katie Couric, journalist and television host; Kenny Loggins, singer-songwriter; Butterfly McQueen, actress; Millard Fillmore, US president; Alfonso Soriano, baseball player; Erin Gray, actress; Charles Addams, cartoonist; Rand Paul, U.S. senator; William Peter Blatty, author; Jean-Pierre Rampal, flutist.

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.18pm 3.20pm 5.40pm 6.55pm 5.30am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

5.35pm 6.50am

11:15pm 4:26pm

FIND-IT-ALL

10:20am 5:10am

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

M

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of Al-Wusta and Dhofar.

EXPECTED WIND: Wind will be easterly to northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming northwesterly light to moderate at night over most of the Sultanate.

SEA STATE: Slight along Oman Sea coast with a maximum wave height of 1.0 metres, while slight to moderate along the

western Musandam coast and the Arabian Sea coast with a maximum wave height of 1.75 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog formation.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies.

Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of Musandam, Al-Buraimi, AlWusta and Dhofar and the coastal areas.

Max

OMAN

WORLD

Max 27 Min 19 Max -3 Min -12

Max 21 Min 7

Max 26 Min 19 Max -12 Min -16

Max 25 Min 18

Max -15 Min -16

Max 27 Min 14

Max 25 Min 12

Max 25 Min 10

Max 26 Min 16

CAPRICORN

Max 29 Min 14

[DEC. 22-JAN 19] You’ll have to apply for something that you dearly want — be it recognition or financial support for a project. Preparation is the key!

Max 30 Min 20

Max 24 Min 14

Max 30 Min 21 Max 27 Min 22

—www.met.gov.om

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

24 25 24 20 24 24

14 14 14 11 15 9

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

8 16 1 4 -2 13 30 3 18 18 27 29 11 7 34 30 10 -12

4 6 -9 2 -14 7 22 1 13 17 17 24 6 4 13 24 3 -16

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ll seem to see things in a different way, and others are willing to change their own way of looking at things as a result.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] The focus of your work will not be entirely understood by those working with you, but you inspire trust, so they’ll stay by your side!

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] A plan made some time ago may have to change because of an unexpected offer that you simply cannot turn down.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You may hesitate to say what needs to be said, but in the end you’ll be glad that you did. After all, better late than never!

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] You and a friend may find yourselves at cross-purposes, but no serious friction should result as you both know how to avoid tension.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] Those who are able to see things from your point of view will surely benefit. Your circle of supporters will expand as a result.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You’re on the way up, and others are supportive of your every effort. Take a look back occasionally to remember where you were before.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] What another says without prompting may concern you for a time — until you realise that you’ve simply misinterpreted.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] What you had hoped would be “together time” with friends or family isn’t likely to pan out that way — but what does happen can bring you joy.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] What lurks underneath the surface is likely to pique your interest. When you look more closely, you’ll see what’s really going on.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] Now is the time for you to lay down the law to someone who hasn’t been willing to play by your rules.

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00 TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

WEDNESDAY

Min

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N NAT I O NA L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

AQUARIUS

C7

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

THURSDAY

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

ETA

WY682 WY406 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY824 4H583 WY916 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 WY638 WY902 WY686 WY658 WY668 WY644 WY692 WY674 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 NL768 WY342 FZ043 G9114 WY236 WY918 WY226 WY242 EK862 WY346 WY252 IX443 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY604 WY822 WY3922 G9841 FZ037 WY268 IX337 WY314 PA450 WY904 WY3302 WY606 WY326 WY918 WY918 WY906 WY274 WY656 WY632 FZ045 WY216 WY204 WY292 WY610 WY246 WY3304 WY284 WY232 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 G9116 WY254 WY144 FZ047 WY614 WY914 AI977 KL441 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 FZ049 AI907 QR1134 WY272 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY908 AI985 WY662 WY124 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY654 WY612 WY116 WY928 WY636 W696 WY717 WY910

RIYADH CAIRO JEDDAH KUWAIT BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR DACCA-CHITTAGONG SALALAH LAHORE ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI ABU DHABI SALALAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DOHA KUWAIT DAMMAM JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY TEHRAN LONDON HEATHROW LAHORE LAHORE DUBAI SHARJAH HYDERABAD KHASAB COCHIN DELHI DUBAI ISLAM ABBAD MADRAS COCHIN DOHA ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM TRIVANDRUM DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR DUQUM OMAN RAS AL KHAIMA DUBAI LUCKNOW CALICUT CHITTAGONG LAHORE SALALAH MUKHAIZNA DUBAI KARACHI KHASAB KHASAB SALALAH JAIPUR BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY CALICUT DUBAI DELHI MUKHAIZNA BANGALORE HYDERABAD DOHA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH MADRAS MALPENSA DUBAI DUBAI SALALAH BANGALORE-HYDERABAD AMSTERDAM-DOHA DUBAI DELHI BOMBAY AMMAN COCHIN DUBAI MADRAS DOHA JAIPUR BAHRAIN LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI ABU DHABI SALALAH AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY DOHA MUNICH ZURICH-DUBAI BOMBAY FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT SALALAH ABU DHABI DAMMAM ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM SALALAH

0005 0005 0005 0010 0015 0055 0130 0150 0215 0300 0345 0355 0405 0405 0415 0520 0630 0700 0700 0710 0715 0725 0730 0805 0815 0815 0820 0830 0835 0850 0915 0920 0930 0930 0935 0940 0940 0940 1010 1010 1015 1020 1035 1110 1115 1115 1120 1200 1210 1210 1210 1215 1215 1330 1330 1355 1440 1440 1445 1515 1530 1535 1555 1705 1710 1720 1730 1730 1730 1740 1740 1745 1745 1800 1810 1915 1920 1930 1945 2030 2035 2105 2120 2125 2125 2130 2135 2140 2145 2200 2210 2235 2240 2240 2250 2305 2310 2315 2320 2320 2325 2330 2330 2335 2345 2345 2350 2350 2355 2355

WY682 WY676 WY406 WY648 WY816 BG021 WY916 PK225 TK774 QR1132 ET624 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 MS930 WY324 4H584 WY638 WY658 WY668 WY674 WY602 WY902 WY202 WY102 NL768 WY342 FZ043 WY274 G9114 WY242 WY236 WY918 WY226 WY212 WY252 EK862 QR1128 IX443 EY382 9W530 WY282 WY604 WY372 FZ037 WY384 WY332 IX337 WY904 WY826 WY818 BG023 WY3302 WY606 PK291 IX817 WY906 WY812 WY656 SV530 FZ045 WY204 WY292 WY822 WY434 WY3922 WY246 WY3304 WY610 WY232 WY664 QR1126 WY268 EK864 GF564 WY646 G9116 WY254 TG507 FZ047 WY914 WY614 KL441 WY624 AI973 WY312 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 FZ049 AI907 QR1134 UL205 BA073 GF566 EY388 SG061 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 WY654 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY928 WY696 WY636 WY910 WY717

RIYADH JEDDAH CAIRO KUWAIT BANGKOK DACCA-CHITTAGONG SALALAH KARACHI ISTANBUL DOHA ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI CAIRO KARACHI DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DOHA JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY BOMBAY LONDON HEATHROW LAHORE LAHORE DUBAI JAIPUR SHARJAH DELHI HYDERABAD KHASAB COCHIN TRIVANDRUM MADRAS DUBAI DOHA COCHIN ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM BANGALORE DUBAI COLOMBO DUBAI MALE KATHMANDU CALICUT SALALAH KUALA LUMPUR BANGKOK CHITTAGONG MUKHAIZNA DUBAI LAHORE-ISLAM ABBAD MANGALORE-ABU DHABI SALALAH BANGKOK BAHRAIN JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY CALICUT KUALA LUMPUR TEHRAN DUQUM OMAN DELHI MUKHAIZNA DUBAI HYDERABAD DOHA DOHA LUCKNOW DUBAI BAHRAIN KUWAIT SHARJAH MADRAS BANGKOK-KARACHI DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI AMSTERDAM-DOHA DUBAI DELHI CHITTAGONG BOMBAY AMMAN COCHIN DUBAI MADRAS DOHA COLOMBO LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI AHMEDABAD SALALAH AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY DOHA ZURICH-DUBAI BOMBAY BAHRAIN FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN SALALAH DAMMAM ABU DHABI SALALAH ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM

0005 0005 0005 0010 0015 0100 0150 0210 0215 0345 0350 0355 0405 0405 0415 0430 0550 0640 0650 0700 0710 0730 0805 0815 0815 0820 0830 0835 0850 0855 0915 0920 0920 0930 0930 0940 0940 0940 1010 1010 1015 1035 1100 1110 1140 1200 1205 1210 1210 1215 1230 1235 1245 1330 1330 1430 1440 1445 1525 1530 1550 1555 1710 1720 1720 1720 1730 1730 1730 1730 1740 1745 1745 1750 1800 1810 1900 1915 1920 1935 1945 1950 2030 2120 2125 2125 2125 2130 2135 2140 2145 2200 2210 2225 2240 2240 2250 2300 2305 2310 2315 2320 2325 2330 2330 2335 2335 2345 2350 2350 2355 2355

FLT NO

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AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY345 WY341 WY431 WY241 WY151 WY643 WY313 WY637 WY657 WY115 WY667 WY123 WY143 4H584 WY691 PK230 TK777 WY267 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY617 WY3921 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY273 WY215 WY325 WY291 NL769 FZ044 WY283 WY245 WY231 WY3301 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY253 WY717 EK863 EY383 WY655 IX554 IX442 QR1129 9W533 G9842 WY631 IX350 FZ038 PA451 WY101 WY663 WY413 WY3303 WY927 WY609 WY405 WY331 WY913 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY661 WY647 WY653 WY695 EK865 WY909 G9117 WY611 WY635 FZ048 WY825 WY915 AI978 FZ050 KL442 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 WY901 EY381 WY673

BOMBAY DUBAI-ZURICH BOMBAY ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT RIYADH MADRAS BOMBAY COCHIN HYDERABAD DUBAI ISLAM ABBAD LAHORE TEHRAN DELHI ZURICH KUWAIT CHITTAGONG ABU DHABI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT DOHA MUNICH-PARIS MALPENSA DACCA DAMMAM LAHORE BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL LUCKNOW DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI KHASAB DUQUM OMAN BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI JAIPUR TRIVANDRUM KARACHI CALICUT LAHORE DUBAI BANGALORE DELHI HYDERABAD MUKHAIZNA SHARJAH BANGKOK BOMBAY SALALAH DUBAI MADRAS ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN TRIVANDRUM COCHIN DOHA COCHIN RAS AL KHAIMA ABU DHABI CALICUT DUBAI LAHORE LONDON HEATHROW DOHA AMMAN MUKHAIZNA SALALAH DUBAI CAIRO KATHMANDU SALALAH JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI DOHA RIYADH SALALAH BAHRAIN DOHA KUWAIT BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI SALALAH SHARJAH DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR SALALAH HYDERABAD-BANGALORE DUBAI DOHA-AMSTERDAM TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN SALALAH ABU DHABI JEDDAH

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BOMBAY DUBAI-ZURICH BOMBAY ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT KARACHI TRIVANDRUM MADRAS BOMBAY BANGKOK COCHIN HYDERABAD DUBAI JAIPUR KUALA LUMPUR LAHORE DELHI BANGALORE BAHRAIN ABU DHABI COLOMBO DOHA MALE CHITTAGONG-DACCA ISTANBUL KARACHI ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO KHASAB SOHAR DACCA BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI CALICUT LAHORE DUBAI LUCKNOW HYDERABAD DELHI MUKHAIZNA SHARJAH BANGKOK SALALAH DUBAI BOMBAY CHITTAGONG MADRAS ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM DUBAI TEHRAN ABU DHABI BAHRAIN COCHIN DOHA COCHIN KATHMANDU CALICUT DUBAI LONDON HEATHROW AMMAN DOHA KUWAIT FRANKFURT DUQUM OMAN MUKHAIZNA SALALAH CHITTAGONG DUBAI MUNICH CAIRO MANGALORE ISLAM ABBAD JEDDAH MEDINA-JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI RIYADH DOHA SALALAH BAHRAIN KUWAIT DOHA BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI SALALAH SHARJAH DUBAI ABU DHABI KARACHI-BANGKOK DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR SALALAH DUBAI DOHA-AMSTERDAM BANGKOK TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO JEDDAH SALALAH ABU DHABI

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W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

EXTRA HUNTERS TURN CONSERVATIONISTS Falcons have been coming to Nagaland in India for as long as anyone can remember, but a dam across the Doyang River created a reservoir in 1999 that has attracted millions more to Pangti

D

riving the last 20 miles of road to this tiny village takes at least two hours and a fondness for heights, so it seems unlikely that this area of jungle near the Myanmar border will ever become a popular destination for birders.

But those who do brave the road — ignoring State Department travel advisories about “sporadic incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups” that recently resulted in at least 75 deaths in neighbouring Assam state — will get to witness one of the most extraordinary migrations of a raptor species in the world.

Just two years ago, residents slaughtered hundreds of thousands of the birds — Amur falcons — and sold them to local markets here in Nagaland and in Assam, states in the crooked finger of Indian land that loops over Bangladesh beside China and Myanmar.

But this October and November, millions of the falcons passed largely unmolested through India on their way from Russia to their wintering grounds in southern Africa.

The reversal was the result of a concerted campaign by a few conservationists whose video of the killings produced worldwide revulsion and embarrassed state and local officials into action.

But villagers here have since become surprisingly enthusiastic stewards of the birds they once slaughtered for food.

“We saw the birds as a blessing, like manna from heaven, and we hunted them more and more and depended on them more and

more,” said R. Obemomo Jami, Pangti’s village manager. “Then the world came to know that the Pangti village people have created a great sin. And so the village passed a ban.”

In the wake of the hunting ban, many in the village have struggled.

Two private schools that depended largely on money generated by falcon hunting are suffering as families strain to meet tuition payments, officials and hunters said in separate interviews.

So people here are hoping desperately — and probably vainly — to attract cavalcades of tourists. Some villagers fixed up their homes and even installed new toilets for the hoped-for clientele, and conservationists helped construct several birding platforms.

So far, though, tourists have yet to discover this stunningly beautiful landscape, where the sounds of Christian hymns at several robust congregations drift over the village’s tin roofs every evening.

“Still, we will not go back to hunting,” said Zanthungo Shitiri, president of the local fishermen’s union, whose members did much of the hunting. “I have not gone even once to hunt.”

Amur falcons are small birds of prey that feed mostly on insects.

They breed in the spring in Siberia and eastern China and then, aided by strong westerly winds, migrate in hordes in October and early November through India to South Africa.

A recent effort to affix satellite trackers on seven falcons found that Amurs fly nonstop up to 2,000 miles for two to three days at a stretch when passing over the Arabian Sea. This feat may be

possible because of a counter migration of dragonflies, which the birds eat. They also feed on termites, locusts, ants and beetles, but will occasionally dine on small birds and frogs.

Falcons have been coming to Nagaland for as long as anyone can remember, but a dam across the Doyang River created a reservoir in 1999 that seemed to attract millions more to Pangti.

The Nagas, a tribal people proud of their hunting heritage, shot the birds indiscriminately, but soon realised that fishing nets spread over trees could capture

Local officials estimated that villagers killed 100,000 to 400,000 birds annually, and men carrying bamboo poles sagging with scores of dead birds became a common sight

thousands at a time as the birds flocked in the evenings to roost.

Hunters said that in five weeks of work they could earn almost $500, or nearly half the average annual income in India. Local officials estimated that villagers killed 100,000 to 400,000 birds annually, and men carrying bamboo poles sagging with scores of dead birds became a common sight.

Pangti is so remote that conservationists heard nothing but vague rumours about vast killings.

A slow-burning insurgency and a cumbersome government permit process for visitors discouraged travel, although violence has declined significantly and travel permits are no longer needed.

“Nagaland was closed for decades, so it’s mostly unexplored territory for Indian naturalists and bird watchers,” said Ramki Sreenivasan, a co-founder of Conservation India.

Bano Haralu, an amateur ornithologist, joined Sreenivasan and two others in finally visiting Pangti in October 2012.

“The closer we got to the village, the more dead birds we saw,” Haralu said. “It was awful.”

Less than a year earlier, India had participated in an international conference on protecting migratory species, so the pictures of mass slaughter that the conservationists published online were deeply embarrassing.

State wildlife officials, who had been in Pangti for nearly two years because of troubles with wild elephants, suddenly promised a crackdown on the killing. Under pressure, the Pangti Village Council banned the hunt. — Gardiner Harris/ The New York Times News Service

DRIVE SLOWER LIVE LONGER

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

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*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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W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

FOR RENT New deluxe building in Misfah Industrial Area, 11 shops with A/C, each 4cm x 9cm, an additional 12 huge spaces including kitchens and bathrooms which can be used for offices or residences. The building location first row close to main road.

Contact - 98880333 One / Two BR, directly from owner at Bausher. Contact 92158031 2 BHK available in Darsait, 1 B/R and hall, 2 B/R and hall. Contact 99357586, 97500025, 97884787 2 BR flats with split A/C’s & internet free & 2 BR fully furnished deluxe flats available at Al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket. Office space 115 SQ mtr with partition & cassette type A/C’s available at Al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket.

Contact 99460330 Premium 7 bedrooms villa with built up area of 550 SQM is available for immediate lease at Al Ghobrah North. The villa is suitable for office/ residential accommodation and is located adjacent to Hotels vicinity area (behind private preparatory science school). Interested party contact owner directly 99411607

Fully Equipped Restaurant / Industrial Kitchen for Sale with existing catering orders, CR & Labour Clearance, Restaurant space and Outdoor sitting area on Sale at Mawaleh Call: 9906 4589 Office space with cassette type A/C’s with free internet at al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket. Contact 99460330 Shop & flats available.

Contact-24813822 Apartments & villas available.

Contact 95178930 1 BHK residential flat at Honda road.

2 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact – 93219590 1 BHK flat Qurum RO.270/- with split A/C. Contact – 99358589 / 95570288 /97079146

Barber Shop for Rent/Sale in Hail North near Shell Petrol Pump.

Contact : 92864522 , 96448372

2 BHK flat at Al Khuwair RO.370/with split A/C. Contact – 99358589 / 95570288 /97079146

1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880

2 BHK in Seeb RO.200/Contact – 99455334

We have special villa in Bausher, Al Muna, 5 bedrooms, rent RO 800/-.

Contact 99622885 1 BHK commercial, Darsait, RO 225/-. Contact 97799175 1,2,3 BHK flats & Villas.

Contact 92144045 2 BHK Commercial Al Khuwair, RO 375/-. Contact 97799175 Separate Villa, Al Athaibah, 3 BHK, hall, living room, maid rooms, A/C split, family only, RO 600/-.

Contact 92479515 Villa, Al Khuwair 33, 4 BHK, living room, split A/C, family only, RO 600/Contact 92479515 Warehouse for rent : available for rent in Rusayl Area 2400 SQM with security. Interested parties please contact 91137033, 99386759

If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send messages through Whatsapp or call – 99376454

Fabulous A/C flat Al Khoud, 3 rooms, 280 rials. Contact 99334699 2 single room flats available @ RO 160/- per month, including Electricity & Water. Contact 99441798 New bldg 3 BR flats located at Darsait, Muscat close to Kims Pvt Hospital. Contact 92020004 / 99800838 Building of 3 flats each 4 BR, rent RO 2500/-. Contact 99776071 / 99057348 Villas & flats & stores. Contact 99776071 / 99057348

Fully furnished one bedroom penthouse Wadi Kabir behind Sana Hassan, weekly RO.140/- Monthly RO 350/- Contact – 99349990

Basement for rent behind Bank Muscat at Wadi Kabir. Contact 99373290, 24815012

2 BHK flat for rent RO.350/- at Al Khuwair near Sultan Taimur Mosque. Contact – 98893294

3 office spaces available in RUWI FOR RENT 450 OMR & 500 OMR. 96986132

Villa, Al Ansab, 5 BHK, living room, split A/C, family only. RO 550/-.

Contact 92479515

Luxury 2 bed room villa at BausherAL Ansab Phase 3.Call. 99324456

Flat in Ghala, opposite Zubair, 2 BHK, living room, split A/C, family only, RO 350/-. Contact 92479515 Fully Furnished ( A/C , Fridge, T.V, Cooking Gas ) 3 rooms in a flat with Kitchen at Azaiba. 2BHK Flats Un furnished at Azaiba next to Al Meera Hyper market ( Families) Contact -99424470 Time : 9 am to 7 pm

6 shops in Maabela Industrial Area.

Each Shop OMR 400 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 6 bedroom villas at Al Ansab (nr Express highway). Contact 99199365 Brand new 2BHK with split A/C near SQU round about at Al Khoud, near to Muscat highway, building no. 4558/1, way no. 5350. Contact 92850717

1 BHK with balcony new bldg, split AC + curtains near Khimjis Mart, MBD. Contact 99061408 / 99024039 Showroom in Barka Market (Souq), 600 sqm. Contact 99342661 3 BHK in PDO Heights, 2nd floor villa, RO 350 with A/C. Contact 99342661 Abu Adnan Tower - flat for rent available at Al Mabelah, 2 B/R, 1 hall, 2 toilets, 1 kitchen.

Contact 95566475 / 99654252 300 SQR mtrs Labor camp or Store for Rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99792181 Villa 3 BR, 2 sitting room, store, kitchen and 4 bathrooms with A/C in Al Khoudh 3. Contact 94671441 BHK flats Muttrah near Oman House. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 Villa 2 bedrooms & majlis, 2 toilets, kitchen in Mawaleh.

Contact 91376619 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. Electricty and boundary wall will be provided.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

We have 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK flats, 4, 5 bedrooms villa, open space offices & shops available in Ghala, Ghobrah, Qurum, Mabela, Ruwi, Darsait, Mumtaz, Wadi Kabir. All brand new buildings & very affordable prices.

Contact 93782735 / 99208033 Flat for rent 2 bedrooms one hall in South Al Hail. RO 270.

Contact 93221474 3 new Villas for rent, located in South Ghubrah behind American School, each has 11 bedrooms including 2 Majlis, 8 bathrooms and kitchen. For residential or institutional rent. Contact 99233729 / 98539366 5 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis Mart. Contact 24700120, 92584715 House in North Al Hail with 3 rooms, Majlis & 3 toilets. Contact 99439568 2 BHK with A/C near ISM RO.325/1BHK Al Falaj without A/C RO.200/2 BHK with A/C near Kims hospital RO.300/- Darsait commercial or residential with A/C RO.230/- Studio at Al Falaj RO.170/-. 2 BHK without A/C at Wadi Kabir RO.300/Contact - 92144045

For rent apartments: An apartment in old Muscat at Oman Arab Bank’s building. 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms, dining room, living room and a kitchen. Air conditioned apartments.

2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room area and kitchen in an excellent location in Al Khuwair opposite the court of first instance. For further information call 97072976 Flat for rent in Al Khuwair consists of 2 bedrooms and living room at RO 350. Contact 99109094 Flats and shops. Contact 93009999 2 Bedroom flat at Muscat OMR.180).

Call- 91393005 Studio flat in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 For rent (flats), 2 bedrooms +hall+kitchen, location: South Al Mawaleh. Contact 99870020

2 BR, 2 toilets, kitchen at Al Mawaleh. Contact 99444786, 99747560

1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880

300 Sqr mtrs store or labor camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact - 99792181

Show room on the main road Saham center total area 450 m sq. Contact: 99366558 / 99334226

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

OFFICES FOR RENT - Premium offices to let a very good location on the main road very close to Zakher Mall, Al Khawiar. Business Center has offices with sizes of 50m2, 110m2, 180m2, 207m2, 230m2, 437m2.

- Showroom also available at Business Center, Area 500m2 with central A/c.

- Offices with Central Air-conditions, Security System with CCTV cameras, and Security presence in the building.

Contact: 97377355 / 95530121, Email id: aaleem@ggcoman.com

FOR SALE

1 BHK at Ghobrah - Near Indian School. Contact: 99014885

FOR SALE

Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526

We are dealing with sale of all beauty salon equipments, furnitures & cosmetics.#942 888 61 / 942 888 63

Building of 3 floors with 20 rooms in Mawaleh near Pizza Hut. Contact 99044164

Used household furniture and other items for sale.# 91566996

1 BHK & Single room in Wadi Kabir.

RO 180/-. Contact 99376454 Al Qurum heights Sea view.

Contact - 99249069 / 92888376/ 93201688 For rent shops and offices in Al Mabela. Contact 99355330

Villa, ground floor in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99743569, 97004265 Apartments in Al Khuwair new area each apartment contains (2 bedrooms + living room) for RO 365. Contact 93181111 New Villa for Rent Two floors newly built villa in Maabillah, 8 Fullfledged Residential Area 6 Rooms, 8 Toilets, excellent finishing spacious Kitchen, Big Dining Rooms in Both Floors, Easy Access to Muscat and Sohar using Maabillah Bridge. Contact 92828303 Flats ground floor, 3 Rooms & AC, kitchen, hall, in Al Mabaila South.

Contact 99377290 1 BHK with attached toilet & bathroom behind Bank Muscat at Wadi Kabir. Contact 99373290, 24815012 2 B/ R Fully Furnished Executive Apartment @ Al Khuwair 33 Near Zaker Mall. 3 Bedroom Furnished executive apartment @ Al Khuwair 25 5 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished villas at Azaiba with servants, 3 Bedroom Unfurnished Villa @ Mawalah South Area 6 with Servant Quarter, 5 Bedroom Unfurnished Villa @ An Apartment that resembles a penthouse has 2 rooms with 2 toilets, living room & an elegant balcony.

Fully furnished, suited for families.

Final price RO.300/- Mabela 8 near German University. # 99888400

Furnished & unfurnished deluxe 2 BHK flats with split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliances, CCTV, security access system & secured car park, opposite Kims Hospital, Al Falaj. Contact 99657906 or 24702141 Industrial Land in Misfah.

Contact 93009999 2 BHK at Al Azaiba, Building No.5145 Way 4470. Contact 99224748, 99425665

Used Sofa, A/c, Table for sale.

Contact 99737812 Restaurant about 250 SQM @ 5/- SQM, heart of Ruwi Market in Plaza Hotel for sale / rent. Contact 99326339 / 24833314 Shop for sale near ONTC bus stand Ruwi near Sun City Hotel on main road.#99326339 / 24789801 Beauty parlour for sale Ghala Al Ansab near Al Maha petrol pump.

Contact – 92540355 / 97748706 Office for sale at Al Khuwair with furniture, more than 700 sqm good condition. Contact – 99055571

2 BHK with A/C, commercial Al Khuwair. Contact 92144045

Workshop for sale near Misfah behind Kanco with good fabrication shed electricity 1150 sqm area.

Contact – 98951026

Flat one bedroom at Al Khuwair 33, owner. Contact 92800007

Sanyo vacuum cleaner, cooler box 45 ltr. Contact - 99449801

BUYING/SELLING Looking for purchase of Used Portable Compressor (350 CFM, 7 Bar Pressure) powered with Diesel run Generator.

Kindly Contact 99014686 or operation@khancogroup.com Looking for commercial lands for sale in Al Ghobrah North (urgent serious buyers, commercial lands in al Ghobrah North (corners prime location). Contact 91155779 Used household & office furniture and electronic items. Contact 99834373, 97102699

HOUSEHOLD, SALES, Ghubra: Sofa 3x3, King Bed, Multi Gym, GymBike, Microwave, Table, Racks, Mixi, AttaKneader, Contact: 95053480 Sale!, all household items, like fridge, freezer, cooking range, washing machine, window/split A/Cs, LCD TV, Laptop, tab and many more for attractive prices. Location : near Toyota service Center, Honda Road.

Contact - 97048983, 95293643 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Restaurant for leasing/sale in Al Hail. Contact 94148970, 94148972, 97820877

Restaurant items on sale, like plates, spoons, soup spoons etc. please contact 93833107 A newly opened Barber Shop for sale at upcoming industrial zone in Misfah. Expat leaving Oman.

Genuine buyers call 93833107 (Sale Price Negotiable) 2 flats building in Al Khuwair 17/1.

Contact 99477009 Port cabins – New & refurnished Porta cabin for sale and rent.

Contact 96723468 Tables, chairs & shfandish for sale.

Call 99368907 Well running Computer / Mobile Sale & Service Shop. Good location in Darsait with 2 clearances.

Contact 98523634 Household items on sale.

Contact 93833107 Darsait Business Office furniture, Isuzu 4 ton brand new.

Contact 91391363 Running Electrical Building Material Shop for sale in Muscat.

Contact 95330905 3 floor Commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 20 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats.

OMR 207 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Flats for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand 1 bedroom. OMR 45 Thousand 2 bedroom. Monthly income 1 bedroom OMR 270 and 2 bedroom OMR 350. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

AVAILABLE Established Restaurant for rent with sponsorship. # 97628242 Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished single room for Exe. Bachelor at Rex Road (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil). Contact 92873832 Accommodation available for rent in SEEH AHMER FANJA near Oman Oil, only 10 mtrs drive from Rusayl industrial area, Please Call on 95200429 or 99224352 Room with A/C, furniture for expats at Al Khuwair. Contact – 97004265 / 99689315 Room available in Al Khuwair with sharing kitchen and bathroom near Blu Radisson. R.O 100/-+W/E. Contact 96930219

ACC. AVAILABLE

Furnished single room with separate bathroom near al meera hypermarket, azaiba. Gsm 94288863 Room for Sri Lankan executive at AL Khuwair. Contact – 96536307 Executive room at Mumtaz area.

Contact – 93103337 / 95212017 Sharing accommodation available near Khimji Mart at Mumtaz area in Ruwi for couple. Living room, bedroom, kitchen available.

Contact 96659817 Flat for rent in AlKhoudh Suq 3bedrooms, 3bathrooms, kitchen in Ground floor Contact 95151522 Room with separate toilet and WiFi, Wadi Kabir near pencil building.

Contact 93416854 Room with separate entrance & A/C in Al Khuwair near Rawasco for noncooking Indian Bachelor, rent RO 125/-. Contact 97201100, 95397442 Office space near KFC, Al Khuwair, office basement near Mars, Al Ghubrah, double & single bedroom flat Al Ghubrah near Mars and Wadi Kabir near Lulu. Contact 95755551 / 92222045 CONTD on Pg 6

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W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADMIN/HR

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc.

Holding valid Oman D/L .

Contact - 99054786

Indian Male, qualified ICWA, M.com with 2years experience in accounts, costing, auditing & SAP in reputed listed companies, seeks suitable placements. Mob: 94619453 Email: cmashahidkt@gmail.com.

Omani Man looking for a job with experience in HR/ Admin/ accounting. kindly contact me on: 99767666

Indian female, 25 yrs, B.Com with computer Application, 1 yr experience as Accountant, looking for suitable job. Contact 98847165

Graduate Indian female having 5+ Years Oman experience in Admin/Procurement/Logistics with excellent computer skills(PGDCA).

Seeking suitable Placement.NOC available.Contact:95382966

Indian Male 25 years B.Com having 3 years of exp of Oman in Accounts/Administration.Well versed with computer knowledge looking for suitable position. Immidiately available. Contact:93207867 email:tambeazhar@gmail.com

Indian male having NOC with 7 yrs Oman exp in recruitment, on boarding, general admin. Immediate joining. Contact - 96684424 Indian female with excellent communication skills, confident, dedicated to work and enthusiastic.

Knowledge about ms office. Has 6 years of experience in customer service, telecommunication, HR.Looking for immediate placement. Contact # 97348819 Pakistani Male, 27 yrs, MBA in HR, BBA in Marketing and Finance having 2 yrs experience in Sales and Admin, on family visit till 15 February looking for suitable position.

Contact 94543222, email: wajid_rais@hotmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Finance & Accounts manager based in Oman with multi-faceted experience in Finance, Costing, Audit ,Erp software implementation with over 18 yrs of post qualification experience in leading Gulf/ India based Companies involved in Construction, Contracting, Manufacturing, Trading activities. I am seeking suitable challenging position in leading coys/Groups in Oman.

Please contact mobile no-+968 99601390 or 92209357 or email vr6954@gmail.com for detailed experience Bangladeshi male, Chartered Accountant with 2 yrs London exp. looking for job. Contact 99640986/ ahammadmds@gmail.com, +447958036642

ENGINEERS

ADMIN A reputed 3 star hotel in Muscat requires qualified Omani Nationals for front office, security and food and beverage departments.

Interested candidates please contact 99061335, email : agm@hotelgoasis.com Omani Female receptionist wanted. Location Ruwi. Contact - 24781011/1101 Ext 107

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Required experienced Accountant Tally, excellent English & driving license. Contact – omanlaw.om@gmail.com / 24497762 / 92192510

DRIVER Urgently required light car drivers for a VIP service Company.

Preferred Philipino National.

Contact 98266319.

Email : lord.ofarts@yahoo.com Needed 2 drivers, offering good salary. Contact 99441798 Required driver for a Company in Ghala, preferably English speaking & present in Oman. Contact 99454425 Wanted driver. Contact 95112461

DOMESTIC HELP Required House maid urgently in Al Khuwair (Indian or Srilanka).

Contact. 96103792.

Housemaid required urgently.

Please contact +968 92806900 Required Housemaid for Indian family, Visa will be provided.

Contact 94291473

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER (full time) Responsibilities: To work with architect, To provide of construction issue documentation for a projects.

Desired candidate Profile: min of 3-5 years experience in Structural Design, Should be AutoCAD competent. Please send your CV to Email: info@pak2pak.com Tel. 99196733, 99419766

OFFICE/ SEC Looking for smart/ dynamic male for front desk office, pref. fluency in English.# 95176500 (Salalah)

MECH/ TECHNICALCAL Urgently required an experienced person in gliding, fixing & installation works at buildings, for a well established advertisement co.in Sohar. Send your CV to : mohammed.tauseef2@gmail.com younis.alshezawi@live.com, Call : 96367342,95728453

MEDICAL General practitioner Doctor is required to work urgently in Dreams Clinic at Al Khoudh and must be resident in the Sultanate of Oman.

Please send your CV to the following email: towershr70@gmail.com, balushi70@gmail.com & info@towersinternationalgroups. com, Mobile 99882340, Tel: 24545914 Dentist required to work urgently in dreams clinic at Al Khoud and must be resident in Sultanate of Oman.

Please send your CV to the following email – towershr70@gmail.com / balushi70@gmail.com / info@towersinternationalgroups.com Mobile – 99882340 / 24545914

Male Indian, 28 yrs MBA Finance, 3 yrs Building Material & Structural Steel Sales experience Omani Driving License. NOC available.

Contact 98840669 / 97162513

SALES / MARKETING

Required Salesman, Tailor and barber. Contact 91114884 Required Japanese, Korean car parts Salesman with Gulf exp. Contact – 98489140 A logistics company located at Sohar, requires Candidate for the post of marketing and accounts.

Valid Oman License and experience is added qualification.

Contact: 99381 82, 24499091, Email: info@excellenceoman.com Required Marketing Executive with experience female / male (Arabic or English) in PR for a media & advertising company.

Email : job08080@gmail.com Highly reputed Perfume Company requires Omani Sales girl promoters. Contact 95663682, 92956876

MISCELLANEOUS Required Laundry men (Ironing) visa ready. Contact – 92868123

A leading Fibreglass Products Manufacturing Company, required experienced GRP Technicians, Factory In-charge and Sales Executive.

Interested candidates please email CV to cvjobsmuscat@gmail.com Required an experienced person who has ideas to start a new business in electrical field or supply with minimum cost. # 99426421

TOUR/ TRAVELS Urgently required Ticketing Agent for travel agency in Muscat minimum one year experience.

Contact: 95417255

SIT. WANTED Pakistani male 32 years IT network + Computer Hardware professional A+ MCSE Termination Technician work Experience in Salalah airport.

10+ years experience in IT field and 2 years Oman working experience looking for a suitable placement contact no 96733205 Email faisalzaman24@gmail.com

MANAGER Excellent cleaning company required Operation Manager, experience in Muscat cleaning companies preferred.

Contact – 92868123

A reputed Oil & Gas Supplies Company is looking for Sales/Marketing in-charge personnel. Send your CV to : rahbi_mohd@yahoo.com

Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel. #91219787 Over 19 years of qualitative experience in automobile field. Expert in providing technical advice on repairs and servicing. Seeking jobs in sales/ servicing/managerial field. Contact 968-91176187, 0091-7736048460, yamaharajesh@gmail.com.

Indian Male, 23 years MBA (Marketing) (6 months experience as a Sales and Operation Officer looking for suitable job.

Contact 99106181, Email: akram8145@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Indian Female, having one year experience in Quantity Survey, also knows AutoCAD, primavera etc seeks placement.

Contact 91690345 IT software professional looking for a suitable position in Desktop/Web application development. Visit www. muhammedswafuvan.weebly.com for more details. Reach me on (+968) 98395032.

Indian male 27, CA inter 3years experience in accounts seeking placement. Contact 98494423.

Email. juss619tin@gmail.com

Pakistani Male, 26 yrs, MS-Supply Chain & Project Management, BSFinance & Business Administration, +2 yrs experience in Trading Firm responsible for Supply Chain & Accounts. Skills including strong operation managerial Communication & interpersonal, fluent in English, SAP and EPM. Contact 94663827, email : musadiqfayyaz@gmail.com Accountant / Auditor, Srilankan male 27, having 3+ yrs experience looking for suitable placement.

Contact 93556320 Accounts Finalization, Part Time Accounting, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Onsite Training for Accountants, Inventory Management.

Contact : 94669089, email : ibfcoman@hotmail.com Accountant, 4 yrs experience in Oman, NOC available.

Contact 96799714 Accountant, 2 yrs experience (purchasing, coordinator) with D/L and NOC. Contact 94174403 B.Com, 6 yrs experience in finance & accounts operations at Mumbai, currently on visit visa, looking for suitable position. #95941675 / 94302309.

Email : mayurparmar83@gmail.com Indian male MBA, 29 yrs having 3+ years of exp (India) urgently looking for job in financial services, accounting, administrator. Now on visiting visa, NOC available, join immediately. Contact 92187116 Accounts Assistant B.Com having 4 yrs of exp in accounts, well versed with computer languages like C, C++, SQL, HTML, VB Networking. Seeks suitable placement.#93995483 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306

Indian male, 32 years, M. Com.7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placement. Contact:93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian female, 25 yrs, bachelors of businesses management, having experience of 5 years as a fund/financial administration, on visit visa,looking for suitable placement.#94662416 Apurwaverma@gmail.com 26 hrs Indian Accountant with 2 years experience, B.Com, seeking suitable position, available immediately, contact No:9821 3292, e-mail: Indite2faraaz@gmail.com

DESIGNER AutoCAD Designer D/man 2D/3D/ Revit/Photoshop, experienced.

Contact : 97103168 Interior Designer, Gulf Exp, AutoCAD 2D/3D/ Corel draw.

Contact : 97103168 Indian male, 8 yrs GCC experience in 3D & Architectural Designing with D/L. Contact 97263199

DRIVER Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver Contact 92303692 Pakistani male light vehicle driver with 1.5 yrs experience.

Contact 98219599 Driver with car. Contact 96954496 6 Years experience light duty driver.

Contact – 96736744 Indian driver need job with car.

Contact 91254539 Light vehicle driver available.

Contact 96756014 / 97938893 Light driver looking for job.

Contact 96794309 / 98335778 Bangladeshi male light vehicle driver, looking for job. Contact 93113447 Pakistani male light vehicle driver 2 yrs exp. Contact - 96342684 Light driver looking for job.

Contact 92791678

DRAUGHTSMAN Auotcad, Well Experienced, Arch, Stucture, knows 3D, Revit Photoshop Ph : 97103168 Civil Draughtsman, Indian Male, 23 yrs with 3yrs experience in AutoCAD 2D & 3D, MEP, HVAC, 3Ds Max and Photoshop looking for suitable position, presently in Muscat, Oman on visit visa.

Contact 91764358, mohdsiraj02@yahoo.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL B.E Civil 5 yrs exp (2 yrs in India) 2 yrs Oman & 1 year in Qatar. Salary expected RO.500/- above.

Contact - 94412557 Looking Part time Job in HVAC93198128 Indian Male, 22 yrs, B.Tech, Marine Engineer, presently on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 93191777, email: ask.akash@gmail.com Experienced female Electrical Engineer.Contact 93800906

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECHNICAL Seeking job, BTech Instrumentation, 12 years experience Design, FEED, Detailed engineering, Oil & Gas, Instrumentation systems, Oman Driving license.

Email :- wilfridsjacob@gmail.com Mobile:- 00968 99048130 BE (Elec and Tele Engg), Experienced as Application Engg, Certified in BMS SCADA Ph: 94037935/ 97103168

SALES / MARKETING

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Graduate, Indian, having 6 yrs experience in Sales with D/L, NOC available. Contact 93410723

Civil Engineer with 12 years Experience Looking For Job.Ph#98162295

Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847

Indian B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, 26 yrs, 4 yrs experience in HVAC/MEP. Contact 94669629, rajeevhpd15@yahoo.com

Quantity Surveyor (Civil Building) looking for Part time job Contact no:-94391712 E-mail addressinayathhussain@yahoo.com

Indian male Graduate with 12+ yrs experience in Purchase/ Logistics/ Costing/Scheduling and Warehousing in Building Materials & Construction sector looking for suitable placement. Local release available on request. Contact: 94657319

Pakistani male, 34, College 2 yrs, 2 yrs experience as Sales Representative, 3 yrs experience as Clerk / Office Assistant, 3 yrs experience as Salesman in Oman, Computer Skill : Excel, BUSY, ERP, languages known – English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu.

Contact 96763346

Sr. Site Supervisor (civil) since March 2010 in Oman, looking for better opportunity (rel. available).

Contact 93061107

BE Mechanical, 9 yrs experience in Sales & Business Development, Oil & Gas equipments like pumps etc.

Contact 91139771

MBA Graduate 10+ exp FMCG food serv. Sales channel/ Branch Manager. Contact - 99185205

Indian male, 7 yrs Gulf exp in Sales (Indoor – Outdoor), looking for job.

Contact 99433816 / 93159202

Nebosh Qualified HSE 15 yrs exp safety Engineer Military (Indian Navy) background, valid Oman driving license. Contact – 97352324

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian Male, 24 yrs with 1+ yrs Indian experience (Certified in Quantity Survey/Primavera/AutoCAD) looking for a suitable position, available in Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on visit visa. Contact 91303860, email: mdayubmak@gmail.com

Looking for job, holding valid Oman Driving License, experience in food & beverage, McDonalds & Retail Starbucks Coffee, UAE. Working now as House Manager in HB Excellency house Muscat. Contact 93407470, email : sanjeevmulla@gmail.com

B.Com Graduate experience marketing 8 yrs (India) valid Oman driving license. Contact – 97916044 / 97382638

Land Surveyor 10 yrs experience on visit visa. Contact – 93522354 / sibivarun89@gmail.com

Industrial Electrician with Oman Driving license. Contact 96348016 Indian male, 26 yrs B-Tech (ECE) with MBA in Marketing / HR looking for a suitable placement. Currently on visit visa valid up to 30 January 2015. Contact 93754428, email : shijosirius709@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer, 10 yrs experience 4 yrs in Oman in Government Projects Supervision looking for a job with D/L. Contact 96966790 Civil Engineer (Diploma) looking for an urgent placement.

Contact 95200650 Civil Engineer (Fresher from NIT) skilled in Autocad & Primavera, holding oman D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact -97309804, Email-nizam.m5@hotmail.com Diploma of Associate Civil Engineering, Diploma of AutoCad, having 3.5 yrs experience, 2 yrs experience of Oman in Building Construction, valid transferrable ID Card.

Contact 94378581 B.Tech Civil Engineer, Indian, 16 yrs in Oman with experience in PDO Road Pipelines building with Omani D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact 98005456 A , M Tech GEO TECHNICAL ENGINEERING Lady Engineer PRIMAVERA - STADD holder on visit seeks suitable opening - preferably Sohar area Contact 91277256 satishcharuvil@gmail.com BE Civil Engineer, 5 yrs experience.

NOC available. Contact 98970233 Diploma in Civil Engineer, 15 yrs Oman experience (total 28 yrs) looking for senior position with valid D/L, NOC available. Contact 99013465 B.Sc in Civil Engineering, 2 yrs experience (1 yr 3 months in Oman + 10 months in Bangladesh) knowing AutoCAD, MS Office & detailing, fluent speaker in English, Hindi and Bangla. # 94038642 Email : shaikhhasib.ce@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, BE (Electronics & Electrical) with 2 yrs experience seeking suitable placement.

Contact 98201244 DAE (Civil) having 3.5 years Experience 2 years from Oman with driving licences, seeking for suitable position in Construction field NOC and release available Contact 96968554 mehranahmad26@yahoo.com M. Tech Electrical Eng. Female, now in visit visa. Contact +968-94654481.

B. Tech Civil Eng. 3 yrs exp in Oman with driving license.

Contact +968-93733627.

Mail id : joinvisam@gmail.com, neethusprakash@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Gold Medalist, B.Tech with 3.5 yrs experience in Thermal Gas Power Plant in LDO, HFO Pipeline Fabrication erection boiler banker turbine. GSM: 97025338 Email : warisheyat329@gmail.com Presently in Oman on visit visa.

Female, 26 yrs, B.Tech in Mechanical Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Piping Stress Analysis in Oil & Gas Sector, currently on family visa, looking for a placement.

Contact 95890939, email : rita.debnath682@gmail.com

Jordanian Engineer Electrical 7 yrs exp. Consulting, site & shop drawing works. Ready to join immediately.

Worked in UAE & Saudi Arabia.

Contact - 00971555594733 Civil Engineer B Tech, Site Engineer Experienced, Drafting on Visit Visa Ph : 91642050 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer, 3 yrs experience as Sit Engineer, HVAC System, and driving license, easy to transfer immediately.

Contact 91135140

EDUCATION Currently working as Lecturer of IT, (M.Sc IT) (M Phil computer Science) having experience for more than 5 years, looking for suitable placement. Contact 91105949

INFORMATION TECH IT Technical Support Engineer, 3 yrs experience in Networking, specializing in DHCP,DNS,NTP etc also Desktop level 3 helpdesk. jeni_personal@yahoo.co.uk 94525630 B.Tech IT Professional, Indian Male with 3 yrs of Exp. In System Admin, IT Support, Networking, Installing Active Directory, DHCP, DNS,RAS, configuring maintaining and managing servers, configuring cisco routers, Exp in handling SQL database, With Valid Driving Licence. Contact - 968 98863507 Indian Male 23 yrs – IT / Prepost Sales Consultant / Business Analyst / Web Designing. 2 yrs. exp. Languages-HTML5, WebRTC, Java, CSS, C++, .Net, SQL, Oracle, ERP-Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Looking for suitable job. Contact: 98802504, email:shrihari26@gmail.com Indian male, 23 yrs, having 1 yr experience in IT hardware & networking & 3 months in Oman, currently on visit visa, qualification B.Sc Electronics CCNA, MCITP, RHCE. ph : 92089719 Email : sujithvijayan119@gmail.com, Dual expertise – programming / networking, Indian male, 25 yrs, B.E, Computer Science, CCNA, certified, 2 yrs experience in programming, databases, server / network support & administration. Contact 91770547, mudassirdf@gmail.com IT Professional, Indian male, B.Sc Graduate with 4+ yrs Gulf (UAE) good exp in System Administration, IT Support, Server Desktop, laptop, smartboard, datashow biometric, CCTV, currently on visit visa. # 98936548, vaseemj@yahoo.com Female, B Tech (Software Professional), Oracle SQL .NET Database, Experienced (Teaching & Engg) Ph: 94550127 IT Prof, MCA having 6+ yrs exp, seeks suitable position.

Contact 94543668

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR General Manager / working partner 20 years in Dubai adverting agency experience. Contact 93031168

Indian male Graduate with 20+ years of Administration, Operations & Management experience in IT, Oil & Gas & Hospitality Industry. 12 years in Oman with vast contacts, very strong management, operational, communication and interpersonal skills, can handle any size of business and projects whether it’s in initial stage or established. Can join immediately. Local release available on request. Contact: 9906 4589 Indian male Graduate with 20+ years of Administration, Operations & Management experience in IT, Oil & Gas & Hospitality Industry. 12 years in Oman with vast contacts, very strong management, operational, communication and interpersonal skills, can handle any size of business and projects whether it’s in initial stage or established. Can join immediately. Local release available on request. Contact: 9906 4589 Management Professional, expertise in team building operations, project management, leadership, writing on visit visa till 19th January 2015. Contact 93516436, email: dsouza.amit@gmail.com Qualified Manager: (12+ yrs. Oman Exp.) Vast knowledge in A/c & Admin, Costing, Banking, Credit Control, Insurance, International Purchase/ Logistics & Finance, With D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: jskanchan01@gmail.com , Gsm: 93826090 Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel.Contact: 91219787

Indian male having 3 yrs Oman exp in sales and administration with valid Oman license. Looking for suitable placement. NOC available, own vehicle also available.

Contact – 98956725 18 yrs Oman experience in Building Materials seeking suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact 93105775 15 years experience in Business Development , marketing, purchase – UAE & Oman-staff coordination, documentation, civil & technical maintenance, -valid GCC license-looking for working partnership or management post. Contact:91568362 / Email vpj555pem@gmail.com Sales Executive with driving license, 5 yrs experience in IT seeks job. Contact 94263243, website : www.gulzeb7.webs.com Indian Male, B.Tech E&I, 10 yrs experience in Sales, Procurement, BDM. 6 yrs Oman experience in Oil & Gas Sector. Seeking suitable placement. Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact 97233074 Indian Male, MBA in Marketing and Finance, 10 years’ Sales & Business Development Experience with valid D/L of Oman & UAE looking for a suitable placement. NOC Available.

Contact: 93969961 e-mail abhilash.pvrk@gmail.com Indian male, 22 yrs, BBM Graduate looking for suitable job in sales/ marketing, currently on visit visa.

Contact 91757222, email : danishdani460@gmail.com Male, 26 yrs, M.Com, last 1 yr & 9 months in sales with Oman Driving License seeking for sales job.

Contact 95116991

MISCELLANEOUS SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934

MEDICAL Physiotherapist (BPT), Indian male, 4.5 yrs experience, looking for suitable job, available in Oman (Muscat) on visit visa. Contact 92692143, Email: asadshabeeh@yahoo.com Indian male Pharmacist (B.Pharma) 5 1/2 years experience in Oman seeking suitable placement in Muscat. NOC from the present employer available.

CONTACT +968 98525100 Indian female Nurse, prometric passed, 64%. Contact 97916986, 96146016, 22068598 Indian Female, Dentist fresher looking for suitable placement.

Contact 98857686, email : drsumbulahmad@gmail.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SALES / MARKETING Sales & Marketing Indian male MBA (marketing & sales) business development experience at all levels of management. Currently on visit visa. Contact – 91272819 Indian Male, 7 yrs experience in building materials trading having Oman D/L, immediate release available. Contact 98676713

Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5 years experience in Muscat.

Immediately available for joining.

Contact: 92139298

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Civil foreman maintenance D/L, 12 yrs in Oman, 2 yrs in Kuwait.

Contact 96405865, 99534138, India - +91 7589248550, +91 9464255409, email: sukhwinder9@yahoo.com

MISCELLANEOUS 3 Years experienced Administrative Executive seeking for Virtual Admin Opportunities. Can work for 6 hours/day from a virtual location for 100 RO/month.

Call: 95811820 MBA with 1 yr experience, Indian looking for job, salary 40000 INR. Contact 96271935 Part time delivery man available.

Contact 95178930 BLDG Caretaker Gulf Exp, knows HINDI/ARABIC/ENG PH: 94304348 Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 8+ years exp. in reputed companies, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456.

Email: muralimahdav77@gmail.com

Indian male, 26 yrs - MBA Graduate with 3 yrs of Experience in Banking (Standard Chartered Bank Scope International - Operations) & Coffee Vending Machine (Fresh & Honest Cafe ltd - , Operations) on Visit Visa seeks placement.

Ph: 91267867, Email: jai.ks1988@gmail.com

Indian Female, Graduate having good experience looking for suitable job. NOC available.

Contact 91774397

Looking out for the post of Travel coordinator/Senior travel Consultant, 14 years (10 years in GCC Countries) of experience in the travel industry looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96328687

22 Indian Female, BCA (MCA), 4 Years’ Experience in Teaching, Training & Management of Office and Computer Applications, looking for suitable vacancy in the field of Teaching/IT/Office Management Contact – 94540768, Email – paipreethi01@gmail.com

Filipino Accountant with 13 years working experience in the field of accounting looking for a suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 94547323 Tunisian women looking for job, khnows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 28 year Indian male with 7yrs(5yrs in Oman) of experience in Accounts & Finance up to finalisation in Construction Oil & Gas and also in Manufacturing industries with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement.

Contact me on 97104364 email: Moorthy_cbe@hotmail.com Structural Engineer with 14 years experience in structural design and supervision fields with full knowledge of structure design programs, Omani D/L, seeking a reputed engineering consultancy office vacancy Tel. 96248598.

Indian female dentist with 4 year experience. Call Nazia 96488737 Manager Maintenance/Engineering/Purchase, 31 yrs. exp. in mechanical, electrical, electronics, parts fabrication, purchase deptt, oman exp. 5yrs, have NOC, looking for job. Contact pkv2k3@yahoo.com, 99331289 Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/NOC Available.

GSM: 95036410 Indian Male, B.COM, ICWA, CMA Australia, 24 years experience in finance, costing, accounts, internal audit. Valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact 97917136 More than 10 years experience in Sales & Marketing, Insurance, Direct marketing, Advertisement, Credit Control & logistics.

Contact: 99322748, 91071097 Post Graduate Engineer with 5+ years experience in Project Planning & Management currently on visit visa looking for a Project Co-ordinator/Planning Engineer position in reputed organizations.

Please contact (968) 96105079 MECHANICAL ENGINEER (B Tech), Indian Mail, with NDT Level 2(ASNT), Autocad, Solidworks, 2 year above experience (as Mechanical Site Engineer and Design Engineer), Seeking suitable placement(on visit visa). Contact: 91591548, 00919447300022, Email: vishnu300022@gmail.com 3 Years experienced Administrative Executive seeking for Virtual Admin Opportunities. Can work for 6 hours/day from a virtual location for 100 RO/month. Call: 95811820

Indian male, 28 yrs in Civil Engineer (Diploma), 3 yrs experience in Gulf seeking suitable chances.

Contact 92063150

Indian Male Graduate 20 yrs in Oman, Accountant / Business Property Management seeking suitable position in Accounts / Administration working knowledge with TALLY. Valid Omani Driving License. Contact 99817183 Indian male 2 years experience in Light & Heavy motor vehicle Mechanic. Diesel & Petrol. Seek suitable placement Contact 99421537.

Indian Female 23 years M.Com Graduate on visit visa having four month experience as an Accountant in a company at Muscat. Looking for a suitable job. Immediately available for joining. Contact: 95846642, Email:shreedhanya916@gmail.com 28 years male, MBA in Marketing, 5 years experience in Marketing and Brand Promotion. On visit, looking for job. Contact: 96104833 B.Tech. (Civil), 2 years experience in designing, and training corporate professionals in Dubai in software, presently working in India, seeks suitable job opening. madhunambiarm@hotmail.com Indian female, 34 yrs, B.A, B.Ed (S.S), DCA, Doing M.A by distance, having 6 yrs experience in School (5 yrs in Indian School, Oman).

Contact 98728700, 92458872 Indian female 24 yrs, MBA (finance) (1 year experience as administrator cum junior level accountant looking for suitable job & holding visiting visa. Contact 97481488, Email: ayeshaowasi12345@gmail.com Indian Female, IATA, BSc looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95514305.

Email-jitureshmi@gmail.com Hotel Manager, Indian male, 25 years exp. in Budget & 3 Star Hotel, with Omani Driving License , Seeks Placement.

NOC/Release Available.

Contact: 99799774, Email: smoin_moinsb@yahoo.co.in M. Sc. Medical lab technician (Prometric passed) having 6 years experience in India. Currently on visit, looking for a suitable placement. Please contact 97248144, samiullah_ar@yahoo.co.in.

Project Manager civil, Indian, seeking suitable placement, having 18 yrs exp (13 yrs in Oman) in tendering, contracting and managing projects, available with release.

Contact: 99244245, 95321251 Indian male -39, Graduate 15 years experience in FMCG sales and marketing and logistics operations with valid driving license looking suitable placement.

Contact 92090949

D6

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

EVERY FRIDAY 2.00PM ON INDIA’S KAIRALI PEOPLE TV

● Worldwide ● Air Ticket ● Car Rental ● Holiday Packages ● Hotel Reservations ● Travel Insurance Call: 0096824790400, 0096898569830 Email: info@omanorienttravels.com

SITUATION WANTED 26,male, ACCA finalist, exp. upto finalisation of accounts, statutory and internal audit, expertise in using tally and focus & oracle software, have 2 years exp. in accounts till finalisation and statutory audit, seeking fill time / part time job,GSM-97654769,email idabdullah.nooralam@yahoo.com MBA & chemical Engineer having 20 yrs Purchase & Logistic experience in Petrochemicals & oil field seeking jobs in Oman/ Abudhabi/ Qatar/ SA .

Contact 97813849 Indian male 22 Yrs, diploma in fire & safety, special Trainings completed from Cochin Port Trust Fire Service & The Travancore-Cochin Chemicals Ltd searching for a suitable placement, now on visit visa, Contact No. 96722632 Indian Male 26 years B.Com having 5years rich experience in Accounts and Admin looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96897914340, 00919902200486, E mail: sudhakaranchan06@gmail.com Indian Male, 24 yrs, MBA in HR/ Marketing. More than 1 years experienced in retail Banking (Axis Bank) Presently in family visit in Oman seeking for a suitable placement.#99892082 / 997 43 709 26,male, ACCA finalist, have professional experience up to finalization of accounts, statutory and internal audit, expertise in using tally and focus & oracle software, 2 years experience in accounts till finalization, seeking job, GSM-97654769,email idabdullah.nooralam@yahoo.com Indian Male 26 years BCOM having 5years rich experience in Accounts and Admin looking for suitable placement. Contact: 96897914340, 00919902200486, E mail: sudhakaranchan06@gmail.com Operation Manager, Indian male, 30 yrs exp. In Front Office Hotel Industry with Omani driving license seeks placement.NOC / Release Available. #99799774 Indian Male, B.COM, ICWA, CMA Australia, 24 years experience in finance, costing, accounts, internal audit. Valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact 97917136 Indian female M.A B.Ed. with One year three months teaching experience. Subject: English seeking for a better placement. Now working in Oman #93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com.

Part- Time Accountant well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact 98803439 B.Sc. Computer science graduate with CCNA certification and also with a working 2 years experience, looking for a suitable position in IT sector. Please contact: + 96892595819 Diploma in Civil engineering, male, 5 yrs experience in Oman, worked as Site Engineer at Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company.

Beximco Engg Const Company, PHP Steel Mills Ltd seeking job urgently.

Contact 97140857 Indian male 27year B.Com graduate 2year experience in marketing.

Looking for good placement in any field, since from 4year in Oman.

Contact 98765838 Indian Male 23years B.E Electrical and Electronics Engineering having 1 year experience in Admin, Electrical Engineer, Electrical supervisor and Project Engineer looking for suitable placement. Contact : +96899682689, +91 8136994996.

Email: thalus09@gmail.com Indian Male, 22 years, B.Tech Mechanical (Fresher) from NIT, Calicut. Software skills – ANSYS, PRO-E Solid works. # 91294510 / 99437002, email: nsp1618@gmail.com Pakistani Male with 18 yrs of experience in GCC in Sales & Marketing, excellent English & Arabic speaking, NOC available, looking for suitable placement. #96383958 Diploma in Civil Engineering, Bangladeshi Male. Oman 5 yrs experience, seeks suitable placement. Contact 97140857 Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5 years experience in Muscat.

Immediately available for joining.

Contact: 92139298 Civil draughtsman part time work for job mob: 96023726 20 years experience in Indian Air force with Mechanical Engineering diploma. 5 years in Administration 5 years experience in handling general engineering tool store management. 8 years in banking cash management service. #95451097. jacobsam2010@gmail.com Indian Male, Post graduate with experience as Document controller on visit seeking a suitable job.

Please contact 97248144. samiullah_ar@yahoo.co.in

Indian Male having 10 years of Experience in Oman having Valid Omani Driving license working in Purchase Dept looking for a suitable position. Salary is negotiable. obarla313@gmail.com Mob: 92654817/ 97490313 B. Pharm, Indian Female, Oman MOH License holder, seeking job.

Email:shivallath@gmail.com Contact no: 99665183 Indian Male, 24 yrs, MBA in HR/ Marketing. More than 1 years experienced in retail Banking(Axis Bank) Presently in family visit in Oman seeking for a suitable placement. #99892082 /997 43 709 Experienced Salesman with 5 years experience vehicle looking for job.

Contact 93079087 Post Graduate with experience in sales and marketing on visit seeking a suitable placement. # 94562734,dyasaakhan@gmail.com Indian Experienced Driver, can work also as Salesman. looking for a suitable job Contact 99551310 Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman D/L and NOC available.

Capable to handle accounts up to finalization. Contact 96023965 MBA in HR, 6+ years work experience in HR & Admin in MNC, Indian Female, 26, Good communications skills seeking suitable placement. Contact 97914669 Male 25 Pakistani MA Economics/CAT.4 years experience in utility sector flexible to do any role in finance/HR & supply chain. https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=186570782.cell no 94626209 MBA in HR, 6+ years work experience in HR & Admin in MNC, Indian Female, 26 Good communications skills seeking suitable placement. Contact 97914669 Male 30, 6 years Oman experience in Sales, Currently working with an UAE based Company operating in UAE and Oman Market with valid UAE and Oman D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact +968 91212407 (NOC not required) Diploma in civil Engineer, Male, 5 years experience in Oman as a Site Engineer, worked at Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, JMB-1, 20 storied high rise building, Industrial building, sub-station, roads & highway at Indian Railway Construction Company, looking for suitable placement. #97140857

ACC. AVAILABLE

MATRIMONIAL

Indian Female 31, B.Com, TALLY having 6 years experience in Accounts department in Oman, seeking suitable placement.

Email: naibyjoshy@gmail.com, GSM: 92056034

Clean flat available for sharing, two big rooms, independent bath, kitchen sharing, quiet area RO 150, we actually near Al Falaj for small family. Contact 93218110, semi furnished

Parents of Christian girl (Roman Catholic),27yrs,fair,5.5”, from Kerala working in TCS, Bangalore as Systems Engineer seeks suitable alliances. Call: +968 92010215 / +968 99278649

Fish farming and inland pond development, management and research 5 years plus 1 year experience in Oman, fisheries training manual development. +98698262184.

Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area available for executive bachelors or single working woman for OMR 100. Contact 93079877

Christian Boy, 32 yrs Muscat Business looking for suitable alliance from reputed family.

Contact 98003111

Single room with sharing kitchen for Executive bachelor or working lady, Ruwi, in front of Apollo Hospital. Contact 98232567 / 91673718

Proposals are invited from parents of professionally qualified Nair Boys for 24 year old Upper Middle Class Nair girl hail from Trivandrum, (171 cm, Star-Bharani) employed in a reputed Company in Oman. Contact: 0968-9950 2593 /99798041.

(KM ID.2844689)

OPERATION MANAGER, Indian male, 30 yrs exp. In Front Office Hotel Industry with Omani driving license seeks placement.NOC / Release Available. #99799774 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.4 years experience in Administration seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact: 93359371, Indian Male, B.Sc Fashion & Apparel Design having 4+ yrs of experience (in Retail Sector as Designer-Visual Merchandising & Marketing) seeking suitable placement in any sections. Contact 94535866, Email: tomsjon@gmail.com Accountant, Indian male, 25 yrs, BBM CA, Computer proficiency: TALLY9, C+, 1 yrs Experience in Oman, Seeks suitable placements. mob: 97145531 Indian Male, 24 years old on visit visa, 3 years Diploma in Civil Engineering, 3 yrs experience.

Contact 98515106

Furnished room in CBD Area for non-cooking bachelor free Wi-Fi, advance deposit call 99078540 Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970 Room + balcony + separate toilet for non cooking single Indian Bachelor, RO 140/-. Contact 98928458 Furnished single room with attached bathroom near Mars Hypermarket, Al Ghubrah. Contact 97312111, RO 150/- per month

Urdu speaking Sunni Muslim boy working as physiotherapist in MOH hospital seeking suitable bride. Cont: 93753655, Email: inayath777@yahoo.co.in

BUSINESS

2 Bedroom flat for offices with furniture near Al Manaf Hotel, Ghala.

Contact 99525743, 99439705 Excellent 3 bedrooms , 2 sitting rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen & store with A/C. 92817777

MANPOWER

Indian Male, 22 years, B.Tech Mechanical (Fresher) from NIT Calicut, Software skills – ANSYS, PRO-E solid works.

Contact 91294510 / 99437002.

Email: nsp1618@gmail.com Indian Female, BSC Nurse, on visit having 4 years experience in Medical Surgical with Prometric Certificate looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 98329941/ Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com Indian Male, 23 yrs MBA Marketing & Finance, 6 months experience as a Sales and Operations Officer looking for suitable job.#99106181, email : akram8145@gmail.com

LOST

GOOD NEWS

Wanted dentist or investor to buy a well-running dental clinic in Sohar immediately. Contact 92625962, 95904234

Karl Wipfler has lost Austrian Passport No. S1102128. Finder please hand over to ROP

Omani National looking for expat investing partner in Restaurant in Al Amerat. Infrastructure almost ready. Jamal Adan Trading.

Contact 98711083, email : faisal.patel0038@gmail.com

CHANGE OF NAME & RELIGION I PRADEESH GOPALAKRISHNAN (holder of Indian Passport No.F6651916) son of MR.GOPALAKRISHNAN having permanent residence in India, Pookodan house, Nooluvally, p.o.

Chembuchira ,Trichur dt. Kerala (Complete postal address in India) and presently residing in OMAN, P.B.981; P.C.121; SEEB; MUSCAT; Sultanate of OMAN (Complete postal address in Oman) intend to change my name from PRADEESH GOPALKRISHNAN (old name) to IBRAHIM MUSTHAFA (new name) for all practical purposes. I have changed my religion from HINDU to MUSLIM. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No.1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

Licensed Engineering Consultancy (Chemical) Company looking for International or local partners to start operations in Oman. For enquiries call 99264162

Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 , www.siddhayur.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, ideal care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987

We assist in new business set up local sponsorship, real estate services, assist in company formation services. Contact - 93166088

FOR HIRE

TRUCK FOR HIRE Isuzu 10 ton cargo body truck (2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver available for long term / short term rent.

Contact: 95346950 Running truck wash for rent in Ouhi Sunia Sohar. Serious people can. Contact on 97864747 50 seater bus with PDO specification for rent or lease. # 99839898

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact98029602, 92808636

RENT A CAR

M.V. FOR SALE

Car for sale : Honda Civic LXI 2008, good condition, 119000 km.

Contact 92726558 Pathfinder silver 2008, Gulf, full option, No.1, in very good condition.

Contact 91376619 For sale, Ashok Leyland Bus, 66 seater, white color, model 2012.

Contact 99413089, 99235411 For sale, Nissan X-trail, white color, model 2009. Contact 99413089, 99235411 Pajero 3.8 v6 full option, 2008 model expat driven single owner, excellent condition, accident free, 217k.

Contact - 92590781 Lexus IS 250, model 2007, good condition.

Contact 95530560 Renault Safrane, model-2010 kms100000, full option, good condition. price-2900/- negotiable CONTACT-97881927

NRI

Toyota Yaris 1.5, full automatic 2010 Dec, new insurance, new tyres 83,000 kms in excellent condition, OMR 3300/-. Contact 93291179

10 cent (404.7m2) residential land for sale at kalamassery (kochi) for immediate sale contact Biny 95298395

Hyundai Elantra white 2010 model full auto. Contact - 95212017

Villa for sale 2200 sq ft in 8 cent.

Kottayam. Contact: 92652534

Lexus GS300, 2006 for sale.

Contact 93218349

For Astrological consultation, Jathakam. #99860435 / 97102599

TRANSPORTATION DRIVING

TRANSPORTATION

Driver with car.

Contact 92179395

Transportation. Contact 93425167

Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307

Pick & Drop any time. contact 97014786

Transportation. Contact 98505294

Transportation. Contact 99664703

Transportation available. Contact 97924934

Transportation available 99159277

Transportation. Contact 91379976

Transportation. Contact 96538078

Transportation with car & driver.

(VIP’s only). Contact 95040768

Transportation Available Contact 97180655

D8

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WEBSITE

CLASSES

Al Manar Vocational pleased to announce at vocational short and long term courses in tailoring, cooking and internal design. Contact us now : 24698070 or 91144335

COMPUTER

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

Contact: 91262820 / 96458007

Split & window AC servicing and repairing. Contact 99557080 Civil maintenance, electrical & plumbing work. Contact 99557080, 96236476 Building Caretaker, Gulf Experienced, knows Arabic, Hindi English Ph : 94304348 PRO services.

Contact 99368907 Fast & Right Way - For all PR related works – permanent Visa stamping, family visiting visa holders, clients contacts – with NOC letter with signed & sealed photocopy documents – Contact: 91568362 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Catering services We do industrial catering service, Canteen/ mess, 3 times packed meals, and all types of catering events.

Contact 92188777/ 99249899

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC all kind of pest control.

Contact 92326955

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. # 24793614/ 99314807

Window & split unit AC servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476

Pest Control Treatments!!!

Termites! Cockroaches! Bedbugs!

Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99344723 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges. Contact 99199376 A.M Trading Pest control.

Contact 99067923 Split & window A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089

Waterproofing, light weight Screed, Antitermite and MS Fabrication.

Contact 92888337 Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815 For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric. Contact.

99002390 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Window & split unit A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476 Civil Maintenance, Painting Electric, Plumbing, Decor, Tile Fixing, Lecithin Copra Board flat stifling , Carpet Cleaning and A/C Servicing.Contact 97897831 (Indian keralite)

For all your maintenance needs including, Painting, Plumbing, Electricity, Laying of Interlock Tiles, Marbles etc. Tel: 99383574 Mr. Chandran Electrical Plumbing Painting Contract and Maintenance.

Contact 98456535 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir AlRizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 For HT cable jointing and termination works 33KV/11KV. Contact 99056438 / Email: npgoman@gmail.com House shifting transport. Contact 99657644, 98518013 For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric. Contact 99002390

Painting Interlock plumbing maintenance. Contact 92142319 Carpet & Sofa Shampooing.

Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 Maintenance – 1) A/C Maintenance, 2)fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, 3)painting & cleaning services, 4)electrical & plumbing carpentry work.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

BEAUTY Varkey’s Gents Salon & Spa – Offer 25% on all spa facilities like hamam spa, massages with steam bath, Jacuzzi, aroma therapy, pedicure & manicure, facial treatments.

Contact 92935679