Times of Oman - January 10, 2017

TUESDAY January 10, 2017 11 Rabi Al Thani 1438 AH

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FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 27th National Day, 1997

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ The principles which are directing the policies of the country in all fields should be regarded as tools to enable us to reach one goal, which is our people’s happiness, well-being, development, progress, and security within a country that is powerful, ever progressing, and respected throughout the world.

FIRST SOLAR-POWERED MOSQUE TO BE BUILT >A3

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 262 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

CABLE

Private sector gets broadside over Omani job creation

HM sends condolences to Iranian president

‘UNFAIR AND UNACCEPTABLE’

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Dr. Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Iranian President and Chairman of the country’s Expediency Council.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Rouhani, the Iranian people and the deceased’s family, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the deceased’s soul in peace and grant his family patience. -ONA HM receives message from Egyptian president >A6

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

557 expat workers arrested

TIMES TV EXCLUSIVE

Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 500 expatriate workers were arrested in the first week of 2017 for violating the labour law in Oman, according to the Ministry of Manpower. Of the 557 arrested workers, 430 were commercial, 74 agricultural and 53 domestic workers.

Four of the illegal workers were undocumented while 305 were found to be absconded and 214 were fired from their jobs.

Muscat recorded the highest number of violators with 191 being arrested, followed by North Al Batinah governorate with 161 labourers. All were caught between January 1 and 7. The Ministry of Manpower stated that 457 illegal workers have been deported for violating the Sultanate’s laws. The Royal Oman Police has asked people not to provide shelter to illegal workers.

16,000

Majlis Al Shura

Omanis were hired by the private sector in the last five years, though 650,000 jobs were created

member Tawfiq Al Lawati also says Omanis should be hired and fired

REJIMON K

Chief Reporter SHRUTHI NAIR

MUSCAT: Oman’s private sector has been called out over its hiring of Omanis, branded ‘unfair and unacceptable’ in an exclusive interview with Times TV. The criticism came from Tawfiq Al Lawati, Majlis Al Shura member and Tanfeedh participant, who lambasted bosses for not stepping

up to the recruitment mark over the past five years.

He said resistance still existed to employing Omanis, but also said that one policy discussed by Tanfeedh, which aims to diversify and revive Oman’s economy, was to allow managers to ‘hire and fire’ citizens in a bid to remove one of the perceived negatives.

Speaking live on Times TV Al Lawati said: “During the last five years, around 650,000 jobs were created in the private sector in Oman. However, only 16,000 Om-

anis got recruited. “This means that around 3,000 Omanis were only recruited by private sector (per year). It is unfair and unacceptable.”

He accused the private sector of ‘not playing an active role in Oman’ even though their lifeblood is government-funded projects.

“Private sector should fulfil its responsibility.

“Yet it has not done enough.

They should be more responsible.

There is no space for jobs in the government sector.” >A5

Omanisation in construction to drop to 10% in proposed law SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Omanisation quotas for the construction sector could be slashed to 10 per cent for building trade if a new law proposed by Oman Society of Contractors (OSC) is approved by the government.

In the annual meeting of the society on Monday, Shahswar Al Balushi, CEO of OSC highlighted the framework of the law which proposes to cut mandatory Omanisation from 30 per cent to 10 per cent in 2017

M U S C AT - D U B A I F L I G H T

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Snake found on a plane in Muscat Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A Muscat-Dubai flight was grounded due to detection of a snake on Sunday.

Confirming this, an Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that flight EK0863 from Muscat to Dubai on 8 January 2017, was cancelled due to the detection of a snake in the cargo

hold prior to the boarding of passengers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to them,” the statement said. Airline officials said that the flight was scheduled to leave Muscat at 10.50 am and arrive at Dubai at 11.55 am. “All the passengers were booked in the best connecting airlines,” the official said. Emirates flies three times a day to Dubai from Muscat.

70% ambulance calls are of trauma cases

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Trauma cases, either due to road accidents or other kinds of incidents, accounted for more than two thirds of emergencies dealt with by the ambulance services. >A2

WORLD Assad ready to discuss ‘everything’ at Astana talks

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PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION

Dining becomes cheaper with scrapping of service tax RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Many diners used to find the eight per cent service charge irritating, but now waiters and waitresses in restaurants will have to earn their tips as the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has taken it off the bill.

However, those eating in hotel restaurants, or ones deemed to be in a tourism designated areas, can still expect to see the extra amount reflected in the bill.

Umar Faisal Al Jahdamy, deputy director of the PACP, said the new rule regarding service charge came into effect after Tourism Law number 2003/91 was amended and replaced with a new article numbered 2016/39.

“Now, any restaurants found adding a service charge in the bill can be considered as being in vio-

in the construction sector, to relax stringent labour laws.

“The 2017 budget shows expenditure for construction sector at OMR1.2 billion, a majority of which will be used to pay 2016 payments and dues, leaving very less for new projects,” he said. >A5

Those eating in hotel restaurants, or ones deemed to be in a tourism designated areas, can still see the extra amount reflected in the bill lation of the PACP law,” he clarified in a written reply to the Times of Oman.

In September 2016, the Ministry of Tourism removed the four per cent tourism tax from fast food restaurants and international coffee shops that do not fall under

the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), leaving only the five per cent municipality tax on bills.

Restaurateurs said they have started complying with the orders.

“We have removed the service tax mention from our menu.

However, there is still confusion regarding certain restaurants which fall in the tourism designated areas.

“However, as a precautionary measure, we are not levying any service charge,” one manager at the Cave Complex in Muscat said,

Widodo moves to rein in military chief

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Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo reproached his military chief in a meeting last week amid concerns the commander was “out of control”. >A10

adding that they are now only charging the five per cent municipality tax on food bills.

Consumers, however, are very happy. “This is a great relief for us as we used to pay 12 per cent extra (four per cent tourism tax and eight per cent service charge) at the restaurants,” said Kumar, an Indian expat living in Oman.

Good move Similarly, Mohammed Al Balushi, a citizen who loves dining out with his family at least twice a week, said, “My wife and I work and find little time to cook, so we depend mostly on restaurants. I feel this is a good move as some of the restaurants we often visit are not in the hotel or in tourist designated areas but we were made to pay these taxes. If we want to pay for the service, we will pay it as a tip to the workers there,” he said.

MARKET

Container terminal at Duqm by 2020

3

A new container terminal at the Duqm port is expected to become operational by early 2020, according to a top-level official of the port. >B1

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

THE BRIEFING Region

US Navy ship fired warning shots at Iranian vessels A United States Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels after they closed in at a high rate of speed, two US defence officials told Reuters on Monday. The incident, which occurred Sunday and was first reported by Reuters, comes as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20. >A7

INDIA

Samajwadi Party factional war escalates

OMAN

HM receives message from Egypt president His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said received a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt relating to the bilateral relations between the two countries and means of supporting and enhancing them, as well as matters of common concern between the two sides. The message was handed over by Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Envoy of the Egyptian President. Shoukry was received on behalf of His Majesty the Sultan by His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said in his office yesterday. During the meeting, the guest conveyed the greetings of the Egyptian president to His Majesty the Sultan, the government and the Omani people. The leaders exchanged cordial conversations and reviewed the relations. >A6

A brief summary of the top inside stories of different sections of the Times of Oman.

OMAN

Dhofar road project on track More than 50 per cent of the work on the Taqah-Mirbat road project has been completed, the Ministry of Transport has said. >A4

OMAN

For latest updates and live coverage log in to www.timesofoman.com

WORLD

London commuters endure transport misery as rail staff strike

Millions of Londoners struggled to work on Monday at the start of a week of travel chaos which sees rail networks brought to a standstill by a series of strikes. Commuters used cars, boats, bicycles and heaving buses to cope with a 24-hour walkout by underground station staff that left the majority of “Tube” stops in central London closed and no services operating from mainline stations such as Victoria, Kings Cross and Waterloo. >A11

WORLD The factional war in the Samajwadi Party escalated on Monday with the Akhilesh camp seeking an early decision on the disputed party symbol while the embattled Mulayam Singh Yadav asserted that he is still the party chief and has no differences with his son.

Parallelly, Mulayam urged Rajya Sabha chairman to derecognise his cousin Ramgopal Yadav as leader of the party group following his expulsion from the party on December 30. >A8

Workshop begins on juvenile cases

PAKISTAN

A three-day workshop organised by the Public Prosecution in cooperation with the Embassy of the United Kingdom in the Sultanate began yesterday. It aims to raise the skills of workers on the Juvenile Accountability Law.The training workshop is titled ‘Juvenile Cases’. >A6

Pakistan has successfully test-fired indigenouslydeveloped submarine launched cruise missile Babur-III, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Monday . >A9

Turkish president sees better ties with US under Trump Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed relations with Washington would improve under President-elect Donald Trump. Ties between the United States and Turkey have deteriorated sharply since a failed military coup in July. >A12

BUSINESS

Petrofac bags $600m gas project in Salalah Petrofac has signed a contract worth close to $600 million with Salalah LPG SFZCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company, to undertake the engineering, procurement and construction of its Salalah LPG extraction project. >B1

BUSINESS

SPORTS

Team ub-cool to compete in Muscat Marathon

Medina Ilyassova and her ub-cool team of 17 runners are undertaking the challenge of the Almouj Muscat Marathon to create awareness of epilepsy and to help support the Society for the Advancement of Epilepsy Research. >C1

SPORTS

Ali Al Balushi delighted to represent Awasr Awasr, Oman’s premier provider of specialised broadband internet services, has roped in the Omani drift champion Ali Al Balushi as the brand ambassador. >C3

Waste management operations start Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, popularly known as be’ah, started its waste management operations in the Dhofar Governorate on Monday.

The operations began in Wilayat Thamriat, and the rest of the wilyats in Dhofar Governorate will follow gradually. >B1

LIFESTYLE

Sink your teeth in delectable chops From oriental potato chops; a mix of potatoes, noodles, and bell pepper to fried lamb chops marinated in Indian masala, and Asian chicken chops; a super tender chicken wrapped in a crunchy batter and smothered in a rich tomato sauce, these are some easy-to-make chop recipes. Have it for supper or as starters. Serve with some accompaniments like hot and crispy French fries or a dip of your choice. >A14

Pakistan successfully test-fires Babur-III cruise missile

70% ambulance calls involve trauma cases The number of ambulance services provided in Oman in response to requests involving trauma and medical emergency cases stood at 11,123

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Trauma cases, either due to road accidents or other kinds of incidents, accounted for more than two thirds of emergencies dealt with by the ambulance services, according to the latest government data.

More than 70 per cent of the emergency calls that ambulance services responded to were of trauma cases, either due to road accidents or other cases, the data showed.

“The number of ambulance services provided in Oman in response to requests involving trauma and medical emergency cases stood at 11,123. Among these, trauma cases topped the list with 8,259 (74 per cent of the total cases), while medical cases numbered 2,864 (26 per cent),” the National Centre for Statistics and Information said in its latest release.

An official of the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) clarified that the trauma cases referred to injuries sustained in road accidents as well as other incidents.

Of the total, as many as 6,078 cases had occurred in the governorate of Muscat.

Al Batinah North came second, registering 1,864 ambulance-assisted interventions, accounting for 17 per cent of the total cases, while Dhakhliyah recorded 826 cases, claiming a share of 7 per cent.Al Batinah South had 760 calls for ambulance services, while Buraimi had 408 requests.

Ambulance services were availed in 380 cases in the Dhofar governorate, whereas Sharqiah North logged 352 ambulance services calls.

In the case of Dhahirah, 170 such emergency cases were reported in which ambulance assistance was needed.

In Sharqiah South, the number of such cases stood at 126.

The number of times ambulance services were offered in the governorates of Musandam and Al Wusta stood at 93 and 76, respectively, the lowest instance among the governorates.

According to the NCSI, there was a 9.3 per cent rise in the number of expatriates who lost their lives in road accidents during the first 11 months of 2016, compared with the same period last year.

As many as 223 expatriates, 29 of them females, died in road accidents during this period.

On the other hand, the number of Omanis who lost their

lives in road accidents fell by 6.7 per cent to 393, which included 62 females.

The number of Omani males who died in road accidents fell by 6 per cent to 331, compared with a 10.1 per cent drop in the number of Omani female deaths.

In contrast, the number of fatalities went up by 6 per cent to 194 among expatriate males, and by 38.1 per cent among expatriate females.

During the same period, cases of injuries in such accidents declined by 23.1 per cent to 2,604 from 3,388 cases logged in the same period last year.

The number of Omanis injured in traffic accidents decreased by 24.4 per cent to 1,949, while the number of injured expatriates dipped 19 per cent to 655.

The number of Omani males injured in road accidents dropped by 23.8 per cent to 1,455, while the number of Omani females who were injured declined by 26.2 per cent to 494.

The number of injured expatriate males fell by 20 per cent to 567, while that of injured female expatriates fell by 12.9 per cent to 88, as of the end of November.

Overall, the number of road accidents, resulting in both injuries and deaths, fell by 35.6 per cent during January-November this year, compared with the same period in 2015.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

OMAN

Project manager and founder, Hiyam Adil Al Fatha, termed the exhibition a great opportunity, not just for the brides-to-be, but also all those working in the wedding industry

OMAN BRIDE SHOW 2017

Oman’s biggest bridal exhibition to open this month Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 100 wedding vendors, workshops and designers will showcase their goods and services at Oman’s biggest bridal exhibition that opens on January 25.

The Oman Bride Show 2017, being organised at the New Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 25-28, will be open free of charge to anyone.

The exhibition will feature more than 40 international and local designers. Designer Walid Attalah will be coming from Lebanon and Aisha Muhairi from the UAE besides Mona Al Mansouri and the Lebanese designer Naja Saada.

They will display their latest couture designs.

The expo will offer courses in decorations and floral arrange-

ments. The best hotels and spas will be participating.

Project manager and founder, Hiyam Adil Al Fatha, termed the exhibition a great opportunity, not just for the brides-to-be, but also all those working in the wedding industry.

“Our company supports Omani women working in the field of fashion.

“We also look forward to owners of small and medium enterprises in this domain participating in this event.

“After all, it is called the Oman Bride Show and they must showcase their talent here,” she said.

Participants will offer a variety of special products and services that the Arab country has to offer to the international community, including jewellery galleries and fitness programmes.

First solar-powered mosque set to be built It will save up to 60 per cent of electricity consumption compared to other mosques run entirely on traditionallyproduced electricity, according to engineer Badr Al Hadabi, the project designer

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI A L YAW M

hassan@timesofoman.com

Cow shipment report by Saudi newspaper refuted Times News Service MUSCAT: Reports of a shipment of cows sent back to Oman from Saudi Arabia have been debunked by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It revealed that the cattle were registered as Somalians not Omani at the time of their export.

A Saudi newspaper reported that 1,000 cows’ birth locations were registered as of an Omani breed. But Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said that the Sultanate sent only one shipment of 1,100 Somalian cows to Saudi Arabia on December 1st 2016 from Sultan Qaboos Port.

It stated: “The shipment met the necessary exporting requirements (Issuance of birth location from Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a veterinary health certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the customs statement from Royal Oman Police).

“All these documents registered the cows as Somalians and not from any other offspring like it was reported.”

The ministry added that it is coordinating with specialised authorities in Saudi Arabia to find out the source of information and the data released by (Al Yawm) newspaper.

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MUSCAT: Work on Oman’s first solar-powered mosque is nearing completion, said the engineer behind the unique initiative.

The one-of-its-kind mosque will be able to save up to 60 per cent of electricity consumption compared to other mosques run entirely on traditionally-produced electricity, according to engineer Badr Al Hadabi, the project designer.

It will also save up to 40 per cent of the normal water consumption.

“The project is in its final stage,” said engineer Al Hadabi, adding that the mosque can house around 50 worshippers.

“We have completed 90 per cent of the work and are now placing the panels on the mosque’s roof, facing the sun,” he explained.

He is now waiting for the concerned authorities to complete the final formalities so that he can kick off the ambitious project.

UNIQUE: We have completed 90 per cent of the work and are now placing the panels on the mosque’s roof, facing the sun, said engineer Badr Al Hadabi, the project designer.

“This will be the first green mosque in the world. I hope this model will set a good example for pursuing the cause of sustainable energy in the Sultanate,” he said, adding that he designed the mosque free-of-charge as a “gift

to the nation.” After 12 months of hard work, the Omani engineer said he was confident that the project will turn out to be a success.

“This project will be good for the sustainable energy industry in the region as the GCC countries

do not have enough resources for solar energy,” he said, adding that the project is to be funded by the government.

Asked about the relatively small size of the mosque, Al Hadabi said, “The bigger it is, the more difficult it will be to supply and secure the power as air conditioning systems consume a lot of power.”

Al Hadabi, who is also the founder of Keystone Engineering Consultancy, explained that the main challenge in building a solarpowered building in Oman is the large amount of energy needed to run air conditioners.

With his academic background of studying the renewable energy field in the United States, Al Hadabi stressed the urgency of using solar power and to ensure it starts replacing oil and gas, which “are not sustainable.”

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

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

OMAN NATURAL BEAUTY DRAWS TOURISTS Hues of orange and yellow at the dawn near Sidab Beach, close to Muttrah Corniche, draw tourists, residents and expatriates alike. The pristine beaches of the Sultanate are a treat to watch. — Photo: Evin Mathew Manoj

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

OMR350 raised by school Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Students and their parents at OurPlanet International School Muscat raised OMR350 in charity for children with special needs.

In the spirit of the season, mothers of students from KG1 to Grade four organised a winter celebration with games, activities and food from all over the world and managed to raise OMR350 for children with special needs.

Everyone in the school enjoyed the international get together and had an opportunity to try out flavours from different parts of the world.

They also participated in a char-

ity raffle, that featured great prizes.

Local companies and organisations gifted generous vouchers and coupons to support the raffle, and proceeds from the raffle will go to the Early Intervention Centre for children with special needs in Muscat.

“Everybody can make a difference in this world if you put your mind to it and if you join forces with like-minded people,” said Sonja Salzsieder, one of the main organisers of the event.

Fashion designer, just 22, an expert in martial art Ahswaq Al Shaqsi, although very soft spoken with a feminine personality, is into martial arts

Ahswaq Al Shaqsi

and loves sports

DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Twenty-two-year-old Ahswaq Al Shaqsi is an Omani fashion designer and a certified makeup artist, but one not to be messed with.

Even before she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Modern College of Business and Science in Muscat, she was a Taekwondo practitioner, a sports enthusiast, a professional baker, a party planner, a certified makeup artist and an IOSH-certified HSE officer. Now, as life takes her forward, she is also the owner of her own boutique and ready for even bigger challenges.

“While I was about to graduate, I also wanted to have my own business. However, with so much going on in life, there was a lot of pressure and I realised I had to prioritise. So I stuck to pursuing my graduation studies but held on to the dream of owning a boutique.” When she finally gradu-

ated, she also had her boutique ‘AC Line’ up and running but that didn’t come before she had to make some difficult choices.

“I am a very social person and love hanging out with friends and travelling. However, I had to cut that down significantly because I wanted to make sure I do things right. I also stopped practising Taekwondo for a couple of months because it required about two hours of my time daily.

“I am someone who doesn’t like free time, which is like doing nothing; it’s not in my list, especially right now.”Al Shaqsi, although very soft spoken with a feminine personality, is into martial arts and loves sports. “I am really into sports, I love Taekwondo and swimming. I used

to play badminton in my high school days. Sports has nothing to do with one’s feminism, but you can be a feminist and also into sports. “For me, I just like trying out new things, and once I try out something and like it, I have to keep doing it.”

The fashion boutique came with Al Shaqsi’s interest in makeup and clothing. “I love makeup, jewellery and clothes and before knew before even my graduation that I wanted to have my own boutique. Although I had to drastically cut down on social life, but I knew it would be worth it in the end if I put in a lot of effort and hard work.“To compensate for it all, I got my family and friends also involved in the boutique project. They contributed in their free time and thus, we made my boutique a hangout spot.”

Her family and friends gave her enormous support, helping her set up the boutique. However, Al Shaqsi thinks it was her inner self which gave her the biggest power and motivation. “I see myself as my biggest support, because at a stage when I thought I couldn’t do it, I kept giving myself positive messages. The only negative message was ‘Ashwaq, you are only 22, so why are you doing this to yourself?’ and then it was like, ‘you are only 22, nobody does this when they are 22.’ I kept telling this to myself and motivated myself.”

Al Shaqsi seeks support for SMEs like hers. “I am an SME and we need a lot of backing when it comes to financial support or just motivation. Good advice and nice things said to us really inspire.”

TA Q A H T O M I R B AT

Dhofar road project on track Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 50 per cent of the work on the Taqah-Mirbat road project has been completed, the Ministry of Transport has said.

This road project from the Madinat Al Haqq roundabout in Taqah till the entrance of Mirbat in Dhofar governorate, is considered one of most important projects being implemented by the

Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The carriageway connects Salalah with the wilayats of Sadah, Kasik and Shuwaymiyah on Dhofar’s east coast.

Fulfill needs Eng. Saeed bin Mohammed Tabouk, Director General of Roads and Land Transport for the Dhofar Governorate, said in a statement that the project will fulfil

the needs of the local people.

He said it will make a socioeconomic contribution and willalso enhance tourism in the Dhofar Governorate.

Wadi Darbat “The Taqah-Mirbat road project includes construction of six flyovers, a bridge at Wadi Darbat, and two roundabouts,” a statement by the Ministry of Transport further said.

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OMAN

RADICAL OVERHAUL

A1 Sultanate should have a hire and fire policy, says Tawfiq < FROM

Al Lawati comments were part of a broader interview on the State Budget 2017 and how Oman can move its economy forward this year. One area where he again suggested jobs could be freed up for the tens of thousands of graduates coming into the employment market this year was ending the careers of those who had reached retirement age.”

“Let it be Omani or expatriate whoever reached retirement age should be moved out. We know that extensions are given in many case for five years and even 10 years.”

He argued that if companies could dismiss Omani employees who proved to be unproductive or disruptive then bosses may be far more willing to recruit.

“Many think that hiring an Omani is a liability. We should think how to change liability into asset.

“We should have a hire and fire policy. Government and private sector should be given the right to hire and fire Omanis.

“Private sector should take responsibility to provide jobs for Omanis, but if there is a mismatch they should have the liberty to fire the Omani.

“Currently it’s difficult. It becomes liability and it can draw legal consequences, “We need to amend these laws.

This was discussed in Tanfeedh on how to make private sector more dynamic but at the same time it doesn’t take away their responsibilities too.”

Reacting to Al Lawati’s remarks, Ahmed Al-Hooti, a member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said: “There are two issues in this case. The first problem is that our private sector is small and not as large as the country is. We are only focusing on some of the sectors that pay more, like oil and gas. Omanis are only interested in jobs that pay more, jobs that are secure. Most educated Omanis are only looking into these sectors and the private sectors cannot pay a lot for these jobs.”

“Omanis are only focusing on some of the sectors, and not willing to look into other industries.

For example, nobody wants to work in construction.

“Companies do not focus on the training that is required to get quality Omanis to work. Some people only have secondary schooling and want a low profile job. To employ an Omani, it costs around OMR 350 – OMR 400 compared to around OMR150 for expats, there is a big gap for the same job.”

“Another problem is that we don’t encourage our youth to be owners. If you look into most SMEs with Omani names, the leaders of those companies are foreigners. We must encourage our people to work in the private sector in any field and any job regardless of pay amount and standards. Omanis can work, but the environment is not helpful. If you look at some Small and Medium Enterprises, you can see so many success stories because of the healthy environment.” Nadeem Al Balushi, a senior Omani banker, said: “Omanis can contribute a lot to the country’s growth, however what I see is that if they are not being hired as much in the private sector; it’s probably because they are not giving that extra effort.

We as Omanis need to push our limits and show that we can work, whether the times are good or bad.

“What I see is that if someone is educated or not educated, they can’t accept just any job, they usually demand well paid jobs and that is hard to happen. I had hired an Omani driver sometime back, and he was turning up late or giving the regular excuses for being absent, I think we need to overcome that because if I were a businessman, I wouldn’t be able to afford that.

“The good thing is that I see things are changing around me, Omanis have improved a lot and are emerging as leaders in various corporate organizations. So the future looks bright,” said Nadeem Al Balushi, a senior banker.

Alkesh Joshi, Director, Tax Advisory Services Division, of Ernst and Young, said; “I think the jobs that are created do not match with the available talent or the available resources. Therefore it is important that the government or the educational institutes realign their course offering, or the government encourages people to take up courses for which there are jobs. “The labour law already provides for provisions to retrench Omanis, but the companies should follow these laws, because whether it is an expat or an Omani, the law is the same. — reji@timesofoman/ shruti@timesofoman

At least 2017 started on a positive note

Almost a copy-and-paste version of 2016 budget

Still dependent on oil and up to 2020 it will continue

Well, at least 2017 started on a positive note, compared to 2016 when oil prices were hovering around $30 a barrel. Today, we have a situation where a barrel is fetching at least $50.

This is good news.

But 2017 budget is also conservative.

It’s almost a copy-and-paste version of 2016 budget. The oil price is the first issue while the second issue concerns the deficit. We are expecting oil and gas and non-oil gas revenue.

We have agreed to Opec and non-Opec deal to cut production. Up to 65 per cent of the revenue expected is from oil and gas sector. We are still dependent on oil and up to 2020 it will continue.

Decent living conditions for an average Omani

Proposed merging some government entities

Not only in Oman but in other GCC countries also

The Shura council had formed a panel to look into the impact of the economic crisis on Omanis. The panel’s job was to look for more revenue resources, cut expenses and also provide decent living conditions for an average Omani. That was a matter of urgency.

We recommended certain proposals to reduce the government expenditure.

We felt that there are too many government organisations, so we proposed merging some government entities. There are 95 government units for five million people, a very high number.

Our problems related to the economy, not only in Oman but in other GCC countries also, are on account of the fact that the government is funding the private sector. The government’s development fund allocation has to be brought down to OMR1.5b from OMR2b.

Tried to go to North, but ended up somewhere else

Need to improve the business climate in Oman

Certain physical forces affecting the price

We do have certain challenges, but we have plans to deal with these. We tried to go to North, but ended up somewhere else.

Though 60 per cent participation was expected from the nongovernmental sector under Tanfeedh, only 40 per cent came.

Tanfeedh has proposed certain initiatives and projects. We need to improve the business climate in Oman for both local and foreign investors. It is a fact recognised by all, but we see that investors do face delays. There are still a large number of entities that they have to deal with.

Oil prices had even hit $10 in 1986.

This time the drop in the oil prices, as per the economists, was not only due to supply and demand. There are certain physical forces affecting the price. There has been some resistance from major oil producers to reduce export, which is affecting the prices.

< FROM

A1 Construction sector needs help in terms of relaxation of government laws “This year will remain hard for the sector and therefore we need to help the construction industry by relaxing the laws,” he said.

According to Al Balushi, the Omanisation percentage currently rests at seven per cent in the construction sector, much below the government allowed standards. The proposal mentions a gradual rise in Omanisation from 10 per cent this year to 15 per cent in 2020.

“Even at 10 per cent, we will

be doing much better than now.

This law will bring ‘true Omanisation’ and it is in process to get approved,” he added.

Outsourcing official work like bill of quantities and designs is often used as a tool by construction companies to cut expenses and according to OSC officials, the new law will curb the widespread freelance work by expats in the sector and allow companies more flexibility in hiring staff to do the work legally.

“Currently hidden trade and freelance work by expat workers are seen often because of the laws.

“When a company cannot hire workers according to their requirements, they are forced to outsource work,” he said.

Firms often blocked Al Balushi added that firms are often blocked because they can’t keep up with Omanisation percentage and are unable to secure clearances for workers.

According to the Dr. Hamad Al Dhahab, chairman of OSC, construction sector must shift to automation and skilled labour work to be more attractive to Omanis.

“The manual labour is not attractive for Omanis and therefore private sector must focus on technology which will require skilled labours. This will create more job opportunities for Omanis and the percentages will be easy to comply with,” he said.

The law however is unlikely to bring any respite to expat exodus as pool of contracts are running dry and most companies are struggling to secure contracts.

“There is nothing proposed on capping expat workers. The point is there is not a lot of work so expats leaving is imminent.

It’s even hard for Omanis to find work. The economic situation doesn’t allow companies to keep staff and pay them when they aren’t required,” he said.

A6

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

OMAN His Majesty’s wise policy praised by Egyptian minister

R E V I E W R E L AT I O N S

The challenges facing the Arab countries BILATERAL TALKS: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry with His Highness Sayyid

Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said in his office yesterday. – ONA

HM receives message from Egypt president

mandate Oman and Egypt to join hands to address them by enhancing the shared vision and Arab solidarity, the

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said received a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt relating to the bilateral relations between the two countries and means of supporting and enhancing them, as well as matters of common concern between the two sides.

The message was handed over

by Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Envoy of the Egyptian President. Shoukry was received on behalf of His Majesty the Sultan by His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said in his

office yesterday. During the meeting, the guest conveyed the greetings of the Egyptian president to His Majesty the Sultan, the government and the Omani people.

Cordial conversations The leaders exchanged cordial conversations and reviewed the relations between the two sides in various spheres, as well as means of enhancing and promoting them to serve the joint interests of the Omani and Egyptian people.

The meeting was attended by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs and Sabri Majdi Sabri,

Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Sultanate.

Alawi holds talks Alawi also held talks with the Egyptian minister yesterday.

They discussed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them in various areas.

The leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

The talks session was attended by members of the delegation accompanying the guest and a number of officials at the Foreign Ministry. -ONA

Egyptian foreign minister said

MUSCAT: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry has praised the wise policy of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in supporting and enhancing peace and stability efforts in Arab countries and around the world.

“The Omani-Egyptian relations are historic and have been characterised by similar views and taking identical policies that contribute

PROMOTING PEACE: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry at a press conference in Muscat. – ONA

to enhancing Arab stability and solidarity. The two countries work together to serve the interests of people of both the countries,” he said in a statement to ONA. “The talks session that was held yesterday with Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs touched on the bilateral relations and the common desire to develop these relations and activate legal frameworks to enhance bilateral trade and investment. The session also covered the Arab conditions and

challenges related to the situations in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and fighting terrorism,” he added.

Challenges “The challenges facing the Arab countries mandate us to join hands to address them by enhancing the shared vision and Arab Solidarity, he added.

“The upcoming Arab Summit is an opportunity for Arab leaders to exchange views and achieve a new breakthrough in the Arab joint action,” he concluded. -ONA

MEETING

WATER PIPE BURSTS A pipe which supplies water to the Al Qurum Natural Park and nearby shops burst on Monday. The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) said it will repair the damaged pipe in less than 12 hours.

Council discusses private sector challenges MUSCAT: A study on “The Challenges of Private Sector Development and Labour Market Policies” was discussed by the State Council when it hosted Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, head of the Economic Committee and Dr. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Maimani, Coordinator of the committee.

Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the Council pointed out that the meeting comes within the framework of regular meetings between the office of the Council and the heads of the standing committees of the Council with the aim of continuous communication and coordination to discuss anything that might boost the activities of these committees.

It will improve the council’s performance and help it in carrying out its duties and powers entrusted to it in the desired manner.

He pointed out that the coming period will witness intense activity of the Standing Committees to accomplish many works entrusted to them as these committees have a key role in the work of the Council during the study and discussion of the subjects referred to them according to their terms of reference, or suggestion of topics for study to enrich the work of the Council and enhance its perfor-

REVIEW MEETING: State Council hosted heads of standing committees of the Council at its third meeting of the second annual sitting of the sixth term. -ONA

mance of its vital role.

The meeting discussed with the heads of the committees a number of topics submitted by the office and the Standing Committees of the council for further activation of the activities of committees through overcoming the challenges facing their work.

The meeting addressed the timeframe for the referred subjects by the office to the committees for feedback in order of priority, and to create a mechanism to MAJLIS

check accuracy of data and information provided to the Council.

The meeting discussed activating communication channels with Majlis Al Shura and its various committees through joint meetings to discuss the subject studies by both parties in different fields.

It also discussed activating communication channels with the community in accordance with modern systematic mechanisms to ensure the benefit of its

visions and aspirations in everything that supports the work of the Council and contribute to the continuous development of its performance.

Office of the Council discussed the proposal submitted by the Committee on Culture, Media and Tourism on “ The Traditional Crafts: Reality and Ambition”, which the committee plans to study during the current annual sitting. The Office decided to transfer it to the State Council meeting for approval.

The Office was briefed on the report submitted by Suad bint Mohammed bin Ali Al Lawatiya, about the participation of the Council delegation in the Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament under the theme “ United for Shaping the Future, which was held in last week of December 12-13, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting also reviewed the hosting report by the Trade Union of education sector submitted by the Committee on Education and Research in the Council.

State Council hosted heads of standing committees of the Council at its third meeting of the second annual sitting of the sixth term under the chair of Dr. Mantheri, Chairman of the Council. -ONA

UK EMBASSY

Proposal to boost tourism, agriculture

Workshop begins on juvenile cases

AL HAMRA: Several proposals to promote agriculture and tourism sectors in Jebel Shams were discussed in the Wilayat of Al Hamra, one of the unique tourist destinations in Oman.

The meeting, which included the two members of the Municipal Council, sheikhs and dignitaries, stressed the importance of supporting aspects of production and water sources.

The Committee earlier visited some villages in Jebel Shams during which it reviewed services and development needs to achieve sustainable development.

The Committee also visited several sites that can be proclaimed or can be planned as residential, commercial or tourist layouts.

Further, the Committee reviewed the agricultural villages and the grazing lands in Jebel Shams, as well as its villages, which produce many field crops, such as high quality Omani fruits, citrus and garlic. -ONA

MUSCAT: A three-day workshop organised by the Public Prosecution in cooperation with the Embassy of the United Kingdom in the Sultanate began yesterday. It aims to raise the skills of workers on the Juvenile Accountability Law. The training workshop titled ‘Juvenile Cases’ began under the auspices of Hamad bin Isa Al Azri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, in the presence of Hussein bin Ali Al Hilali, Attorney General and John John Wilkes Ambassador of the Wilkes Ambassador of the Unit- United Kingdom in the Sultaned Kingdom in the Sultanate. ate. – ONA Hamad bin Isa Al Azri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice said that the workshop Sultanate to learn about the techcomes in continuation of the ef- niques and methods of dealing forts of the judicial and law en- with juvenile cases. forcement authorities in dealing Training with juvenile cases in Oman.

He added that experts from Officials from Public Prosecuthe United Kingdom will lecture tion, the judiciary, Royal Oman at the workshop during which Police and the Ministry of Social they will meet with specialists in Development will get a training the competent judicial and law on dealing with juvenile cases enforcement authorities in the and investigation methods. -ONA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

A7

REGION Assad ready to discuss ‘everything’ at talks Assad blamed truce violations on the insurgents, and said the army must prevent terrorists from using the water to throttle the capital

BEIRUT: A Syrian truce brokered by Russia and Turkey was under growing strain on Monday as rebels vowed to respond to government violations and President Bashar Al Assad said the army would retake an important rebelheld area near Damascus.

Assad, in comments to French media, also said his government was ready to negotiate on “everything” at peace talks his Russian allies hope to convene in Kazakhstan, including his own position within the framework of the Syrian constitution.

But he indicated any new constitution must be put to a referendum and it was up to Syrians to elect their president.

His opponents have insisted throughout nearly six years of war that he must leave power under any future peace deal. But since Russia joined the war on his side in late 2015, his government’s position on the battlefield has strengthened dramatically, giving him greater leverage now than at any time since the war’s earliest days. The ceasefire which came into effect on December 30 aims to pave the way for the new peace talks which Russia hopes to convene with Turkish and Iranian support. But no date has been set for the talks and the warring sides

BRIEFING: Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad speaks to French journalists in Damascus, Syria, in this

handout picture provided by SANA on Monday. – Sana/Handout via Reuters

have accused each other of truce violations.

The Moscow-led effort to revive diplomacy, without the participation of the United States, has emerged with Assad buoyed by the defeat of rebels in Aleppo, and as ties thaw between Russia and Turkey, long one of the rebels’ main backers.

Ankara, now seemingly more worried by growing Kurdish sway in Syria than toppling Assad, supports the diplomatic push.

The latest fighting has been especially intense near Damascus where the army and allied militia are trying to capture a rebel-held area that includes the main water source supplying Damascus. It was bombed out of service more than two weeks ago.

Assad blamed truce violations on the insurgents, and said the army must “prevent terrorists from using the water to throttle the capital”. He said it was the army’s job to recapture the Wadi Barada area, which he said had been occupied by a militant group not covered by the ceasefire.

Rebels deny the area is in militant hands.

The United Nations has said 5.5 million people have had little or no running water for more than two weeks in Damascus. It blamed “deliberate targeting” for destroying the pumping station, without saying by whom. Rebels accuse the government.

Talks between the government and rebels aimed at allowing repairs to the pumping station failed at the weekend, and heavy air strikes were reported in the area on Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported clashes in Wadi Barada on Monday and said government forces shelled several towns there.

In Idlib province in the north, a military media unit run by Damascus’s ally Hezbollah said rebel shelling killed two people in the pro-government villages of Al Foua and Kefraya.

The spokesman for one of the rebel groups that signed the ceasefire said rebel leaders had

MISSILE DEVELOPMENT

Iran to expand military spending DUBAI: Iranian lawmakers approved plans on Monday to expand military spending to 5 per cent of the budget, including developing the country’s long-range missile programme which US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to halt.

The vote is a boost to Iran’s military establishment - the regular army, the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) HIGH SEAS

US Navy ship fired warning shots at Iranian vessels WASHINGTON: A US Navy destroyer fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels after they closed in at a high rate of speed, two US defence officials told Reuters on Monday.

The incident, which occurred Sunday and was first reported

by Reuters, comes as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20. In September, Trump vowed that any Iranian vessels that harass the US Navy in the Gulf would be “shot out of the water.”

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Mahan established radio communication with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats but they did not respond to requests to slow down and continued asking the Mahan questions.

The Navy destroyer fired warning flares and a US Navy helicopter also dropped a smoke float before the warning shots were fired.

The Iranian vessels came within 900 yards (800 meters) of the Mahan, which was escorting two other US military ships, they said.

The IRGC and Trump transition team were not immediately available for comment. — Reuters

and defence ministry - which was allocated almost 2 per cent of the 2015-16 budget.

But it could put the Islamic Republic on a collision course with the incoming Trump administration, and fuel criticism from other Western states which say Tehran’s recent ballistic missile tests are inconsistent with a UN resolution on Iran.

The resolution, adopted last

year as part of the deal to curb Iran’s nuclear activities, calls on Iran to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Tehran says it has not carried out any work on missiles specifically designed to carry such payloads.

Tasnim news agency said 173 lawmakers voted in favour of an article in Iran’s five-year development plan. — Reuters

concluded they could not continue abiding the truce in what he described as a “unilateral way”, and they would respond to attacks by the other side.

“Even if the agreement continues within what has been agreed on, they have the full right to respond to breaches wherever they are,” Mamoun Haj Musa, spokesman for the Free Syrian Armyaffiliated Suqur Al Sham rebel group, told Reuters.

Writing on Twitter, the head of another rebel group said rebels had agreed to the truce to spare Syrian blood. But with violence continuing, “we will not remain silent” wrote Mohamad Al Mansour, head of Jaish Al Nasr.

President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he may cut US support for rebel groups, a move that would further strengthen the position of Assad, who has consolidated his rule around the major cities of western Syria and the coast. Last month his forces captured all of Aleppo, the eastern half of which had been in rebel hands since 2012. — Reuters

EGYPT

7 policemen killed in city of Al Arish CAIRO: At least seven policemen and one civilian were killed in a bomb attack on a checkpoint in the northern Sinai city of Al Arish on Monday, and five of the attackers were also killed, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said.

Security and medical sources told Reuters earlier that eight policemen were killed.

The attackers planted a bomb in a street cleaning vehicle they had stolen a few days earlier, security sources told Reuters. After the bomb exploded, attackers fired guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the checkpoint, the sources said.

The Interior Ministry said the attack was carried out by a group of around 20 men who had used RPGs and a vehicle bomb. Security forces had detonated the bomb before it reached the checkpoint, and had killed five of the attackers and wounded three others.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack,

which also wounded 13 people, including four civilians. Police found the body of one of the attackers behind the wheel of the vehicle that exploded.

An insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula has gained pace since the military toppled President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s oldest movement, in 2013 following mass protests against him. The militant group behind the insurgency pledged allegiance to IS in 2014 and called itself Sinai Province.

It is blamed for killing hundreds of soldiers and police since then.

In November, IS claimed responsibility for an attack on a checkpoint that killed 15 soldiers.

In a November issue of its weekly online magazine, Al Nabaa, IS urged members to join other branches of the group in areas like Sinai, Libya, Yemen and West Africa if they could not travel to its self-declared “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. — Reuters

A8

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

INDIA

According to a statement released by the CBSE, the annual examinations of class X and XII will be conducted from March 9 in view of the state assembly elections being conducted in Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

F O U R T H C O N S E C U T I V E D AY

Water, power lines hit in upper Himachal; 230 stranded in snow rescued NEW DELHI: Power, water and communication lines remained out of order in Shimla and two other upper districts of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, even as 230 people stranded in snow between Fagu and Kufri were rescued by SSB personnel.

In the national capital, shallow to moderate fog during morning hours delayed services of 41 trains.

The maximum temperature settled at 19.3 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 8.6, a notch above the season’s average.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department(IMD) said the northwestern plains can witness further dip (of up to 4 notches) in the minimum temperatures from Tuesday. The tribal areas and upper areas of Shimla, Kullu and Sirmaur districts remained cut off from rest of the state for the fourth consecutive day as vehicular traffic was disrupted due to slippery road

conditions. A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) spokesperson said the paramilitary force evacuated 230 people stranded in snow between Fagu and Kufri. “We received a call from the Petroleum Ministry that 130 persons (including officers in the ministry and their families) were stuck in snow.

Apart from them, some tourists were also rescued,” the spokesperson said.

The water supply pipes froze and burst at several places in higher hills. Several areas of Shimla remained without water for the fourth day while the supply was restored in half a dozen localities.

Manali and Shimla shivered at minimum temperatures at minus 2.0 degree an minus 0.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh reviewed the situation and ordered release of Rs 250 million for restoration works. Out of 565 roads closed due to snow, 208 have been reopened and 194 in Shimla and 63

notches. In 2012, Gulmarg recorded the lowest night temperature in the month on January 13, when the mercury settled at minus 16.5 degrees Celsius.

The mercury has not dropped below minus 12.0 degrees Celsius at the resort till Sunday night.

Kargil, in the Ladakh region, was another place which recorded its coldest night of the season so far with a low of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road link connecting Kashmir Valley to rest of the country, was opened for traffic, three days after heavy snowfall had led to its closure.

In Punjab and Haryana, the minimum temperatures hovered around the normal levels though fog cover disrupted rail, road and air traffic. Amritsar in Punjab was the coldest place in the region at 3.8 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. - PTI

in Kullu remain to be opened, official said. Similarly out of 700 water supply and irrigation schemes, 248 have been restored, they said. IMD said with the eastward movement of the current Western Disturbance as an upper air cyclonic circulation lying over north Pakistan and neighbourhood, dry northwesterly cold winds at lower and middle levels are very likely to prevail over northwest India’s plains from Tuesday.

“Under these circumstances, the prevailing minimum temperatures over plains of northwest India are very likely to fall further by 2-4°C till 13th morning,” it said.

Cold wave tightened its grip on Kashmir as many places experienced coldest night of the season with famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recording the lowest January temperature in last five years at minus 12.4 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature across the Valley and Leh region, except Kokernag, dipped by several

BITING COLD: People walking on a snow covered road after heavy snowfall in Shimla on Monday. - PTI

Note ban brought people to brink of disaster: Mamata Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the surprise announcement on high value note ban on November 8 last

KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Two months after note ban, the Modi government was on Monday still in the crosshairs of the opposition with the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee saying people were on the “brink of disaster” and urged President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene while former premier Manmohan Singh asserted it will adversely affect India’s GDP. Dubbing demonetisation as a “shameless flop show”, Mamata asked the common people to rise in protest even as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists staged dharnas in front of Reserve Bank of India office in Kolkata as well as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office besides many places in the districts in West Bengal.

Mamata while announcing the

FELICITATION: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee felicitates a local artist during ‘Mati Utsav’ in Burdwan district of West Bengal on Monday. - PTI

“nationwide protests” against demonetisation from Saturday claimed that the CBI was being used to victimise her party, accusing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of turning CBI into a “Conspiracy Bureau of India”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the surprise announcement on high value note ban on November 8 last. “I urge the president, who is the constitutional head of the country, that if some government through its arbitrary decisions takes the country to the brink of disaster, as the protector

of the Constitution give protection to the people and save the people,” the Trinamool Congress chief said.

“Famine has started. Indications of the beginning of the famine are coming. So save the people.

If people don’t survive then nothing will happen,” she said while inaugurating the ‘Mati Utsav’ (Soil Festival) in Burdwan. Asking the common people to rise in protest, Mamata said, “there will be some hardship, but someone has to bell the cat. Trinamool Congress will do that”.

“We will take care of all the

hardship that may befall us owing to our protests,” she said.

Earlier in a series of tweets, she demanded lifting of the restrictions imposed from time to time by the Centre.

“Restrictions should be removed. Hardships being faced by millions due to #DeMonetisation”, she said.

“Trinamool Congress is organising nationwide protest against Modi babu’s shameless flop-show #NoteBandi,” she wrote in another tweet. Mamata said protest dharna is being held for three days from Monday in Bengal, Bhubaneswar, Punjab, Kishanganj (Bihar), Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Delhi. She claimed that her party and its leaders were being victimised for protesting against the demonetisation of high value notes and its fallout.

“They (BJP-led Centre) have turned the CBI into a Conspiracy Bureau of India,” she said referring to the agency’s arrest of TMC MPs Sudip Bandopadhyay and Tapas Pal in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam.

“We don’t care about that. If he can, Modi babu may put all of us in jail, but we will not stop talking for the people,” she added.

“Even if they take us from Bengal to Odisha, Delhi or Uttar Pradesh, it does not matter, every place is our country,” Mamata said, adding, “But when people

react then where will Modibabu go?” Separately, Singh said demonetisation will have a “very significant adverse effect” on the country’s GDP and will be an issue in the upcoming assembly elections in five states.

Highly critical “You will see there will be a very significant adverse effect on the country’s GDP,” Singh said in New Delhi after releasing the Congress manifesto for Punjab polls.

Recalling his statement in Parliament that demonetisation will have a very adverse impact on the GDP of the country, Singh said subsequent developments have proved him right. In this context, he referred to the recent projection by the National Income Unit of the Central Statistical Organisation that the GDP in 2016-17 will slow down to 7.1 per cent from 7.6 per cent a year earlier.

This, he said, had not accounted for demonetisation, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an unusual address to the nation on the night of November 8. Asked whether elections would be fought on the issue of demonetisation, he said, “It will be an issue in the assembly elections in five states.” Singh has been highly critical of demonetisation decision and has predicted a 2 per cent drop in the country’s GDP due to it. - PTI

S TAT E M E N T

CBSE class X, XII exams to begin in March NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct annual examinations of Class X and Class XII exams from March 9, a day after the last phase of polling in the upcoming assembly elections in five states.

The CBSE class X examinations, in which 1,667,573 students are expected to appear, would end on April 10. Class XII annual examinations, for which 1,098,420 students are expected to appear, would go on till April 29.

According to a statement released by the CBSE, the annual examinations of class X and XII will be conducted from March 9 in view of the state assembly elections being conducted in Punjab, Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. On March 8, voting is scheduled in some constituencies of Uttar Pradesh and Manipur.

The board has given careful consideration to the situation before postponing the exams by a week which will now allow the students to get more time for preparation and ensure uninterrupted sequence of examinations, the CBSE statement said. The CBSE also said it has made all possible efforts to maintain reasonable time gap between the major papers and ensure that the students appearing for Joint Engineering Exam and upcoming National Eligibility cum Entrance Test complete the CBSE examinations ahead of these entrance exams. - PTI

U T TA R P R A D E S H

Samajwadi Party factional war in EC escalates NEW DELHI: The factional war in the Samajwadi Party escalated on Monday with the Akhilesh camp seeking an early decision on the disputed party symbol while the embattled Mulayam Singh Yadav asserted that he is still the party chief and has no differences with his son.

Parallelly, Mulayam urged Rajya Sabha Chairman to derecognise his cousin Ramgopal Yadav as leader of the party group following his expulsion from the party on December 30.

Disputed symbol He also urged Chairman Hamid Ansari to shift Ramgopal’s seat to the back benches following his expulsion. On his part, stepping on the gas Ramgopal approached the

Election Commission and urged it to take an early decision on the disputed symbol “Cycle” because the nomination process for the Uttar Pradesh elections will commence from January 17.

Ramgopal was accompanied by party MPs Naresh Agarwal and Neeraj Shekhar. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was to himself lead his camp to the Commission but decided against coming to Delhi at the last moment.

Earlier, Mulayam Singh and his close confidantes Amar Singh and Shivpal Singh reached Nirvachan Sadan to meet top EC officials.

Though the Mulayam camp did not submit any fresh documents, it claimed that Mulayam is still the SP chief and has legal claim over the party and its symbol.

Mulayam also told the Commission that the convention called by Akhilesh Yadav camp on January 1 was unconstitutional” as Ramgopal Yadav, who had convened the meet, was expelled from the party on December 30, 2016.

Mulayam also contested the affidavits of party leaders submitted by the party faction owing allegiance to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, alleging they were forged and asked the EC to get them verified. He also said that while there was a resolution appointing Akhilesh as party president and another one appointing him as its mentor, there was no resolution removing him from the party chief’s post.

Talking to reporters outside his residence here, Mulayam said

there were “no differences” between him and his son Akhilesh.

In an apparent reference to Ramgopal, Mulayam Singh said “one person has influenced his son” which has led to “problems in the party”. “I will sign Form A and B (relating to party affiliation and party symbol for contesting candidates). Now EC has to decide on the cycle symbol,” he said.

When asked about Mulayam’s remarks that “one person” is behind the feud in SP, Ramgopal refused to say anything. - PTI

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S H A R I F ’ S FA M I LY

Court grills PTI lawyer over failure to prove allegations ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday grilled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf counsel over failure to establish allegations regarding the Sharif family’s purchase of London flats.

As the final round of the legal battle between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the PTI begins, the top court questioned the party’s lead counsel over proof that the Sharif family owned luxury flats in London in 1993.

Despite having significant documents, Naeem Bokhari has seemingly struggled to substantiate the PTI’s case with verbal arguments.

“PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari is once again unable to substantiate his submissions regarding London properties,” Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh remarked.

Sheikh further said, “You did not submit any scrap of paper to establish that Sharif family owned London properties in 1993.” The apex court also raised questions over the National Accountability Bureau’s failure to file an appeal regarding the re-investigation of Rs612 million Hudaibia Papers Mill scam against the Sharif family. - Express Tribune

PAKISTAN

S I T UAT I O N W O R R I S O M E

Contrasting trends in Pakistan’s economy ISLAMABAD: Exports are going down whereas stocks are repeatedly breaking all-time high records on the KSE 100-share Index.

Does this contrasting situation worrisome for the observers of Pakistan’s economy? Many wonder how this is happening simultaneously. The factors that leave an impact on exports and stocks differ from each other.

Exports mostly bank on the demand and supply of goods as well as the cost of production.

However, equities rely on varying factors such as money-parking trend, prices of gold and real estate that are alternative investment avenues, investment deals in certain sectors and political situation at home and overseas.

Exports are impacted by economic, foreign and tax policies that drive the quality, volume and demand for the country’s products. Apart from K-Electric deal with a Chinese company and Engro Foods’ acquisition by a Dutch firm, no significant foreign investment has come to Pakistan over the past many years.

Also needs a mention is the winning of bids by a Chinese consortium for a 40 per cent strategic stake in the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Specific stocks have taken a flight with a push from such investments and have driven a rally in the overall market.

Export goods producing lines

ENGROSSED: A Pakistani stockbroker monitor share prices during a trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi on January 2, 2017. - AFP

have, however, not got such a boost for years. The rusting production processes cannot be improved in the absence of hefty capital, better technology, techniques and workforce. The failure to make improvements and remove hurdles in the way of production and marketing, along with the threat of terrorism, which has now subsided considerably, has long prevented the flow of export orders from the best global destinations and has harmed the overall economy.

While the government failed to do something meaningful in relation to the foreign policy and economic regulations, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

project emerged as a major incentive for the national economy.

Before it could spark a wave of industrialisation, joint ventures and higher exports, it gave a welcome fillip to the stock market.

Earlier, most of the free floating capital was being parked in gold and property.

This money could not be attracted by banks and industrialists desirous of pouring capital into the production processes.

A deeper look at profiles of companies whose stocks have done well, however, shows no significant efforts to make improvement and boost their share in the production of goods.

Bilawal, Zardari win intra-party election to hold intra-party polls. The ECP recently declared that parties failing to hold intra-party elections would be barred from taking part in upcoming polls.

Party sources said that recent developments had compelled the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to direct all political parties to hold intra-party polls

KARACHI: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari emerged as chairpersons of their respective factions of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PPP Parliamentarians (PPPP), respectively.

The two-day-long intra-party elections, held under convener Fouzia Habib at the party headquarters here, culminated in the election of former chairman Senate Nayyar Bukhari as secretarygeneral, Haider Zaman Qureshi as finance secretary and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed as information

ELATED: Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to head Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and Pakistan Peoples Party respectively. - File photo

secretary. According to the party’s spokesperson, the party’s officebearers reposed their trust and elected Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as chairman PPP. All office-bearers were elected for a period of four years.

PPPP, which is parliamentary party in the National parliament, elected Asif Ali Zardari as its president, Farhatullah Babar as secretary-general, Saleem Man-

dviwalla as finance secretary and Maula Bux Chandio as information secretary.

These elections were held under convener Farooq H. Naek.

Other members of the electoral body were Taj Haider and Sardar Ali Khan.

Party sources said that recent developments had compelled the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to direct all political parties

I N D I G E N O U S LY- D E V E L O P E D

Pakistan successfully test-fires Babur-III cruise missile ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully test-fired indigenouslydeveloped submarine launched cruise missile Babur-III, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Monday.

“Pakistan successfully test fired first Submarine launched Cruise Missile Babur-3. Range 450km. COAS congrats nation and the team involved,” DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a statement.

The Babur-III cruise missile can strike its target with high accuracy at a range of 450km.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah congratulated the nation and the missile launch team on the achievement.

The development came less than a month after Pakistan conducted a successful test of an enhanced version of Babur cruise

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BLASTOFF: Pakistan has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed submarine launched cruise missile Babur-III, the InterServices Public Relations said on Monday. -AFP/ISPR file photo

missile. Babur weapons system version II incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy at a range

of 700km. It is a low flying, terrain hugging missile, which carries certain stealth features and is capable of carrying various types of warheads. - Express Tribune

Avoid complication “Since Bilawal and Zardari will contest the by-elections, they held intra-party polls to avoid any complication,” a PPP leader said, adding that both would contest polls under the same election symbol ‘arrow’ following an understanding between both factions of the party.

Referring to the by-elections, the sources said that no MNA had yet tendered resignation to pave the way for Bilawal and Zardari to contest elections on Larkana and Nawabshah seats.

According to a party decision, PPP MNA Ayaz Soomro was to resign from NA-204 (Larkana) for Bilawal and Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Asif Zardari’s sister, would resign from NA-213 (Nawabshah) in favour of Asif Ali Zardari.

Meanwhile, PPPP’s newlyelected information secretary Maula Bux Chandio said that the process had started and both lawmakers had submitted their resignations to the party leaders, which would subsequently be sent to the National Assembly secretariat. - Express Tribune

A major group of players in this scenario is the one that is shy of investing in the production processes but keeps large piles of cash for profit-making.

The sentiment-based stock movement helped by such cash is not an encouraging sign as there is always the threat of bubble being burst. But this money flow hardly finds other investment avenues.

This is a cause for worry in a country that fails to win export orders on account of poor industrial progress and still uncertain law and order, which are direct consequences of the country’s domestic and foreign policies.

Talk to exporters who will often

complain about the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for withholding their tax refunds.

They are not able to borrow export-boosting capital from banks at a high mark-up and also could not attract market partners when their own money is stuck with tax authorities.

In this situation, they cannot think of being competitive in the global market by adopting stateof-the-art technology and trained workforce.

Exports are a major source of foreign currency earnings.

They can be improved through better-quality products, innovation, exploring new markets, outreach to buyers and financiers.

What is the government doing in such a scenario? Is this not a panic situation as foreign exchange earned via exports provides the backbone for making repayments both on the micro and macro scales? Has the government reprimanded the FBR for holding back the tax refunds? Does it talk about assisting the balancing, modernisation and replacement (BMR) programme for export goods industries? Are any efforts under way to bring down the mark-up on bank borrowings?

Nothing of this sort seems to be happening. So, how can Pakistan’s exporters hope of getting out of the quagmire in which they are sinking deeper? - Express Tribune

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

WORLD Joko Widodo moves to rein in Indonesia’s military chief President Widodo’s intervention highlights alarm about General Gatot Nurmantyo, who promotes the notion that Indonesia is besieged by ‘proxy wars’

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo reproached his military chief in a meeting last week amid concerns the commander was “out of control” after he unilaterally suspended defence cooperation with Australia, two sources briefed on the meeting said.

Widodo’s intervention highlights alarm about General Gatot Nurmantyo, who promotes the notion that Indonesia is besieged by “proxy wars”, in which foreign states seek to undermine the nation by manipulating nonstate actors. Analysts and some of Widodo’s aides are also concerned that Nurmantyo is laying the groundwork for an expansion of the military’s role in civilian affairs in the world’s third-largest democracy and may have political ambitions himself.

Widodo, the first president from outside the military and political establishment, needed to move quickly to demonstrate his authority as the country’s commander-in-chief, one senior government official said.

“With Gatot, the feeling is like he’s a little out of control,” he said.

Nurmantyo declared a rupture

‘OUT OF CONTROL’: Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, right, talks with military Chief Gatot Nurmantyo as walk past fighter jets and weapons during a military exercise on Natuna Island, Riau Islands province, Indonesia, on October 6, 2016. – Reuters File

in military ties after an Indonesian officer found “offensive” teaching material while on a language training course in Australia late last year.

The material suggested that Indonesia’s Papua province should be independent and mocked the nation’s state ideology, Pancasila, according to Nurmantyo.

Caught off guard One of the officials told Reuters Widodo and others in the government were caught off guard when local media reported Nurmantyo’s announcement of the suspension in military ties with Australia.

While the general was not formally reprimanded, the official said, Widodo served him a warning during a meeting at a presidential palace in Bogor, outside Jakarta. The meeting was confirmed by another senior government aide, who also spoke on condition of

anonymity. Nurmantyo declined requests to be interviewed and a military spokesman declined to comment on the meeting.

The senior government official said: “We suspect that Gatot is exploiting this incident for his own political agenda, his own political ambition.”

“He has been making many public appearances and speeches lately,” he said. “Frankly, we think many of them about proxy wars and the threat to Indonesia are absolutely ridiculous.”

Prediction In one speech, Nurmantyo predicted that a food shortage in China could trigger a flood of boat-borne refugees. He told listeners he would slaughter 10 cows and dump them into the sea to attract sharks that would devour the Chinese.

One of the officials who dis-

closed Widodo’s meeting with Nurmantyo said the military chief’s job was safe, downplaying speculation that the general would be relieved of his duties.

“For now, we are confident that he will not betray the president or the civilian government,” he said.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported last week that Nurmantyo told an audience in Indonesia recently he believed the Australian military was attempting to recruit Indonesian soldiers sent to the country for training. Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne rejected the allegation. The comments were just one example of the conspiracy theories Nurmantyo peddles as part of his ‘proxy war’ narrative.

In a booklet released in 2015, he wrote that foreign powers were seeking to infiltrate Indonesia’s media, education system, Islamic organisations, corporations and

political parties to weaken the nation, and seize control of its security apparatus and strategic industries.

Foreign powers are also trying to weaken Indonesia’s youth by trafficking drugs and inculcating a permissive culture, he wrote.

According to Al Araf, director of the human rights advocacy group Imparsial, Nurmantyo’s objectives are twofold: to promote his own political ambitions and to garner support for an expanded role for the military.

As the proxy war narrative identifies foreign powers behind a host of Indonesia’s challenges.

The implicit solution is that only the military that can solve them, said Araf. “These are all problems due to proxy war so the military must become involved in all these problems,” he added.

The military has a history of deep involvement in civilian affairs dating back to independence from the Dutch in 1945.

It once enjoyed power over civil and political affairs to promote nationalism and development, but this was largely jettisoned after strongman Suharto fell from power in 1998.

In recent years, including under Widodo’s government, soldiers have been creeping back into non-military matters. In the agriculture sector, where about 40 per cent of the labour force is employed, the military is now responsible for distributing fertiliser and ensuring production targets are met. Military personnel help with harvests and build rural infrastructure.

Some critics say Nuyrmantyo has cultivated links with hardliners at a time of mass protests led by conservative groups.

Last July, he addressed the Wahdah Islamiyah organisation, a prime mover behind huge rallies in Jakarta in November and December that alarmed Widodo’s administration. — Reuters

NORTHEAST NIGERIA

Boko Haram bombers kill 3 MAIDUGURI (NIGERIA): Two separate attacks by suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers - one by a female duo, the other by three men - have killed three people in northeast Nigeria, police said on Monday. All the attackers died.

The bombings late on Sunday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state where the Boko Haram insurgency began, followed a bloody clash on Saturday in which five soldiers and more than 15 militants died in neighbouring Yobe state. The violence marks a resurgence in attacks weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari said Boko Haram fighters had been pushed out of their last stronghold in the northeast where they have been trying to set up an IS. Maiduguri police said the women bombers claimed two victims there late on Sunday evening shortly after the male group had killed one person in the city. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks but they bear the hallmarks of the group.

The deaths in Yobe state came in Boko Haram attack on an army base in the remote town of Buni Yadi. The frequency of attacks had slowed down in the last few months, but security analysts say the spate of bombings in the last few weeks has coincided with the end of the rainy season, when movements in the bush are limited.

A man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a video denying Buhari’s statement that the group had been pushed out of the region.

Boko Haram’s seven-year-old insurgency, which is aimed at creating a state in the northeast of Africa’s most populous nation, has killed about 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million people.

In early 2015, Boko Haram controlled an area about the size of Belgium. It has been pushed out of most of that territory over the past year by Nigeria’s army and troops from neighbouring countries, moving to a base in the Sambisa forest, a vast former game reserve in Borno state. — Reuters

R A K H I N E S TAT E

UN rights envoy visits Myanmar amid border violence YANGON: UN human rights envoy Yanghee Lee has arrived in Myanmar on a 12-day visit amid growing concern about reports of abuse of members of the Rohingya minority in a government security crackdown.

Attackers killed nine police officers on October 9 in a coordinated assault on posts near Myanmar’s border with Bangladesh.

Authorities say members of the Rohingya minority carried out the attacks and launched a security sweep. Since then, at least 86 people have been killed and the United Nations says about 34,000 civilians have fled across the border to Bangladesh.

Residents and refugees accuse the military of killing, raping and arbitrarily detaining civilians while burning villages in northwestern Rakhine State.

The government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi denies the accusations and insists a lawful counter-insurgency operation is underway.

Lee would visit the north of Rakhine State, where the military

operation is taking place, the commercial hub Yangon, the capital Naypyidaw and Kachin State in the north, where government forces are battling autonomy-seeking ethnic Kachin guerrillas, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.

“The events of the last few months have shown that the international community must remain vigilant in monitoring the human rights situation,” in Myanmar, Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said in the statement.

Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner and champion of democracy in then military-ruled Myanmar, came to power in April after a landslide election win, installing her confidant, Htin Kyaw, as president.

However, increasing violence in border regions has raised questions about Suu Kyi’s commitment to human rights and ability to rein in the military, which retains a major political role.

The government has restricted

aid to northern Rakhine State, where most people are Rohingyas denied citizenship in Myanmar, and prevented independent journalists from visiting.

Malaysia and Indonesia have raised concern over the Rakhine crisis, which security officials believe is attracting the attention of international militant groups.

Lee will also investigate the impact on civilians of intensified fighting between the army and rebels in Kachin and Shan states, which she said “is causing some disquiet regarding the direction that the new government is taking in its first year of administration”.

Aye Win, UN spokesman in Myanmar, said Lee had arrived in Myanmar late on Sunday and was due to fly to the Kachin State capital of Myitkyina on Monday.

Presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said the government would provide Lee with security to visit conflict areas. Zaw Htay also said a Myanmar government delegation would visit Bangladesh on January 11-13 to discuss the situation on the border. — Reuters

REPORT OF ABUSE: This screen grab taken on January 4, 2017 from a YouTube video originally taken

by Myanmar Constable Zaw Myo Htike (pictured at far left, - looking at camera) shows a policeman, back centre, kicking out at a Rohingya villager seated on the ground with others, in the village of Kotankauk during a police area clearance operation on November 5, 2016. – AFP/Youtube/Zaw Myo Htike

FRANCE

Police arrest 17 over Kardashian robbery PARIS: Police in France arrested 17 people on Monday over a robbery in which reality TV star Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint in a Paris apartment by gangsters who made off on bicycles with jewellery worth 9 million euros ($9.5 million).

Many of those arrested in coordinated police swoops in several different parts of France were known underworld figures aged over 50 and at least three were women, a police official said.

Ski masks Attackers wearing ski masks and clothes with police markings burst into the luxury property where Kardashian was sleeping in the early hours of October 3, tying her up at gunpoint before making off with a ring and other jewels, police said at the time.

Most of arrests on Monday took place in the Paris region. One was in the city of Rouen further north and another was in Grasse, in the hills behind the Riviera coast.

French radio and TV reports said DNA traces from the scene of the heist led police to the suspects and that they would now be held for questioning, possibly for as much as four days, at the Quai des Orfevres police headquarters in central Paris. Kardashian, who is married to US rap star Kanye West, was badly shaken but physically unharmed, her publicist said at the time.

The robbery made world headlines and unwanted publicity for one of the world’s most visited cities, where hotels and the wider tourist sector have struggled to make a comeback commercially after deadly attacks by militants in 2015. — Reuters

REALITY TV STAR: Kim Kardashian arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, US, on August 28, 2016. – Reuters File

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

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WORLD

Cyprus leaders seek deal in ‘opportunity’ for peace The talks between the two are scheduled to broaden to include other nations with a stake - Britain, Greece and Turkey - on Thursday

GENEVA: The leaders of both sides of ethically divided Cyprus have sought to temper hopes of a swift breakthrough in unification talks that started on Monday, initially focusing on how to handle property disputes stretching back more than 40 years.

Hoping to succeed where others failed, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades met in Geneva to tackle dozens of disagreements stemming from the 1974 division of the Mediterranean island.

The talks between the two are scheduled to broaden to include other nations with a stake - Britain, Greece and Turkey - on Thursday. Both leaders have been careful this week to cool any expectations of a deal. Conference organisers have also begun suggesting the process might be more open-ended than initially thought.

Arriving at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva and asked if he was optimistic, Anastasiades said: “Ask me when we are finished.”

Akinci was equally circumspect, saying on Sunday: “We are not pessimistic, but I see no need for exaggerated expectations that everything will just happen. We are expecting a difficult week.”

HIGH HOPES: Left to right: Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, Michael Moller, Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Elizabeth Spehar, Deputy to the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci attend a new round of Cyprus Peace Talks, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. – Reuters

New UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was expected to attend the conference on Thursday, has described the talks as an “historic opportunity” for a breakthrough.

But the issues are difficult. Power-sharing, redrawing territorial boundaries, and security issues in a future reunited homeland are key sticking points in negotiations that have resulted in logjams in the past. Property rights were on the agenda on Monday, a sensitive issue for thousands of internally displaced people who were driven from their homes on one side of the island to the other in and after 1974. It was then that Turkey invaded the island’s north after

a brief Greek-inspired coup. The seeds of partition, however, were sown years earlier, soon after independence from Britain in 1960.

A combination of restitution, compensation and exchange were being discussed, the financing is unclear. IMF and World Bank officials in Geneva would be discussing the issue with the two sides on Monday.

Despite the caution expressed, mediators are keen to capitalise on the momentum of two moderates at the helm of their communities before domestic election cycles dislodge the process.

The status of some 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus’s north is crucial. The Greek side insists they must all be pulled

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out, while the Turkish side says some must remain.

That issue will dominate discussions between Britain, Turkey and Greece on Thursday. The three are guarantor powers of Cyprus under a 1960 treaty that granted the former colony independence.

Britain retains two strategically important bases on the island which are used in operations against IS. London has said it would be willing to relinquish about 49 per cent of the 98 square miles presently held to facilitate territorial adjustments. Much of that territory is now civilian.

Any agreement must be put to separate referendums in the two

communities, with diplomats anticipating a vote around June. A previous peace blueprint put to referendum in 2004 was accepted

by Turkish Cypriots but rejected

by Greek Cypriots.

Analysts shy away from suggestions the process could be a last chance for peace, but say a unique opportunity could be lost in settling a conflict which has brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war, and frustrates Turkey’s ambitions of joining the EU. “If this time it fails between these two pro-solution leaders... then a huge motivation will be lost,” said academic Ahmet Sozen, a Cypriot who has followed on-off peace talks for years. — Reuters

CHINA

Police shoot dead three ‘terror’ suspects in Xinjiang BEIJING: Chinese police shot dead three “violent terror” suspects in the western Xinjiang region, the government said on Monday, the latest clash with militants who the government says want to break the region away from China.

The government says separatists in Xinjiang, home to the Uighur minority, aim to form their own state called East Turkestan, and have links with militants abroad, including in Asia and the Middle East. Security officers in the southern Xinjiang city of Hotan, a one-time Silk Road outpost considered part of the Uighur heartland, encountered violent resistance late on Sunday while pursing three members of a “violent terror gang”, the Xinjiang government said on the Tianshan Net official news site.

“We shot the thugs dead at the scene. There were no casualties on our side,” the government said.

The suspects were wanted in connection with an incident in April 2015, it said, but did not give details. Hundreds of people have been killed in recent years in resource-rich Xinjiang, on the borders of central Asia and Pakistan, in violence between Uighurs and ethnic majority Han Chinese.

The government has blamed the unrest on militants, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of Uighurs is more to blame for the violence. China denies any repression in Xinjiang.

Xinjiang had been generally quiet in recent months, with no violence reported. But in December, state media said attackers drove a vehicle into a government building in Hotan, setting off an explosive device and killing two people with knives before all three assailants were shot dead. The government has delayed reporting some previous incidents in Xinjiang and limits on foreign journalists working there make it almost impossible to reach an independent assessment of the region’s security. — Reuters

RAIL NETWORK

London commuters endure transport misery as rail staff strike LONDON: Millions of Londoners struggled to work on Monday at the start of a week of travel chaos which sees rail networks brought to a standstill by a series of strikes.

Commuters used cars, boats, bicycles and heaving buses to cope with a 24-hour walkout by underground station staff that left the majority of “Tube” stops in central London closed and no services operating from mainline stations such as Victoria, Kings Cross and Waterloo.

Huge queues began building up outside stations while many major roads in the city were gridlocked.

“I’m giving up on even trying,” said software developer Rajiv Perseedoss, 30, who was trying to get to work in central London from Canary Wharf in the east of the city. “I’m not a Tube worker, I don’t know about their conditions, but whatever it is, they can’t take it out on everybody.” Monday’s walkout on the Tube, which carries up to 4.8 million passengers a day, begins a week of industrial action which will hit rail and air passengers, and there are warnings the problems could spread across the country.

Train drivers on Southern Rail are striking on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, bringing all rail services used by hundreds of thousands of passengers from the south coast and Gatwick Airport to London to a halt. Southern commuters have already suffered months of delays, cancellations and walkouts in Britain’s worse rail disruption in

decades, due to a row over whose role it should be to open and close doors on the trains. The Sunday Times newspaper said the dispute could spread to services in central and northern England as other operators look to bring in driveronly trains. British Airways staff will also begin a strike for two days over pay on Tuesday, although the impact of the walkout is likely to be limited. “It’s intolerable that key public services can be brought to a halt by a small number of militant trade unionists in what increasingly looks like a co-ordinated political action,” Nick Herbert, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The London Underground strike by staff in the RMT and TSSA unions comes in a dispute over staffing levels after the closure of ticket offices in recent years.

Transport for London (TfL) said it agreed more staff were needed in stations, and it had already started recruiting 200 extra workers. However, the unions said TfL’s offer did not go far enough. “The strike today is totally unnecessary,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan. “This Tube strike is causing misery to millions of Londoners.”

Many Conservative lawmakers have called for the government to bring in new laws to curb strikes which they say cost millions of pounds and damage London’s image as one of the world’s major economic and financial powerhouses — Reuters

TRAVEL CHAOS: Commuters wait for trains at Clapham Junction during a Tube strike in London, Britain on Monday. – REUTERS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

WORLD I N C L E M E N T W E AT H E R

Frosts kill dozens in central Europe, smog forces production cuts PRAGUE: Severe frosts and snow storms killed at least 25 people in central Europe over the weekend, mainly in Poland, as temperatures in the region dropped below -30 degrees Celsius in some places.

The Danube river was slowly freezing over in Budapest, a rare sight in recent years.

Air pollution, mostly from airborne dust particles, forced production cutbacks at large polluters in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Authorities made public transport free of charge in Warsaw and Krakow to help improve air quality. In Poland, 17 people died of the cold over the weekend, according to the Government Centre for Security, bringing the death toll since November to 65.

Czech media said six Czechs, mostly homeless people, died over the weekend, four of them in the capital Prague. Several weather stations in the Czech mountains reported temperatures below -30, including -34.6 Celsius in the south-western Sumava mountains. The Czech hydrometeorological institute forecast more harsh frosts across the region for the coming days, with night temperatures of -20 in the north-east on Tuesday morning. Hungarian state news agency MTI reported on Sunday that record lows were broken both nationally and in Budapest registering -28.1 and -18.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Two homeless men froze to death in Slovakia over the weekend as weather caused train delays and road closures in northern Slovakia, even shutting down some cable cars in ski resorts in the High and Low Tatra Mountains where temperatures fell to -30 degrees Celsius. In Bulgaria, snowfall and high winds blocked roads and left over 75,000 households in the US INTELLIGENCE REPORT

US hacking allegations ‘reminiscent of a witch-hunt’ MOSCOW: Allegations that Russia tried to influence the US election in favour of Donald Trump amount to a witch-hunt, the Kremlin said on Monday, in its first reaction to the release of a US intelligence report on the alleged Russian operation.

The report, a redacted version of which was released publicly last week, alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed a cyber campaign aimed at helping Trump beat his rival Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no new evidence had been produced to show that Russian officials was involved.

“We are observing a serious fatigue with these accusations,” Peskov told reporters on a conference call. “It truly is reminiscent of a witch-hunt.”

Peskov, commenting on the US intelligence report, said: “You know, that version of the report that was made public added no substance whatsoever that we can comment on.”

“Groundless accusations which are not supported by anything are being rehearsed in an amateurish, unprofessional way. We don’t know what information they are actually relying on.” — Reuters

HARSH WINTER: Deers graze on a snow-covered field, near the village of Kraenzlin, north of Berlin, Germany, on Monday. – Reuters

country’s north-east without electricity over the weekend.

Meanwhile, dozens of Asian, Afghan and Pakistani migrants, some with children, are camping out in makeshift tents in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees

Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) on Serbia’s northern border, waiting their turn to try to enter Hungary.

They are among 7,000 migrants from Asia and the Middle East stranded in Serbia. Refugee camps are packed and only women and

children are likely to be let into them, leaving the men to seek shelter where they can - in abandoned warehouses in central Belgrade, or the fields just south of the border.

By one reckoning, those in the tents are the lucky ones - those

who are near the front of an unofficial refugee-administered queue to submit an asylum application at one of only two recognised crossing points - Horgos and Tompa.

But in the current, brutal cold snap, they pay a high price.

Their rickety teepees, lined with blankets, are heated only with campfire embers brought inside at nightfall. Many of the children who crawl outside at first light are wearing only thin sweaters and slippers. — Reuters

Hard Brexit is not inevitable, says British prime minister Theresa May criticised British media for misinterpreting what she described as long-term position on EU talks

LONDON: A clean break with the European Union’s single market is not inevitable, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday, seeking to clarify comments that pushed down the pound on the possibility of a hard Brexit from the European Union.

She criticised British media for misinterpreting what she described as long-term position on EU talks but the pound failed to recover from a 10-week low and was down more than 1 per cent to the dollar and 1.2 per cent against the euro on the day.

May, under pressure to offer more detail on her strategy before

MAKING A POINT: British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during an address to members of the Charity Commission for England and Wales at The Royal Society in central London on Monday. – AFP

launching divorce talks with the European Union, said on Sunday in her first televised interview of the year that Britain would not be able to keep “bits” of its membership. Some commentators saw that as a sign she was heading for a hard Brexit, which business

says would damage the economy by breaking links with the single market of 500 million consumers.

May shot back that the media was using terms she did not accept.

“I’m tempted to say that the people who are getting it wrong are those who print things saying

I’m talking about a hard Brexit, (that) it is absolutely inevitable there’s a hard Brexit,” she told the Charity Commission, a government department that regulates charities in England and Wales.

“I don’t accept the terms hard and soft Brexit. What we’re doing is (that we are) going to get an ambitious, good, best possible deal for the United Kingdom in terms of... trading with and operating within the single European market.”

May’s frustration was clear.

The former interior minister, who was appointed as prime minister shortly after Britain voted to leave the EU at a June referendum, is increasingly concerned that Brexit will define her time in power, sources say.

In her speech on Monday, she said she wanted her government to help to heal the divisions in Britain that were deepened by the EU vote, and ensure that “everyone has the chance to share in the wealth and opportunity on offer in Britain today”.

She announced measures to boost support to those suffering from mental health problems and said she would do more on housing, education and schooling, but despite applause from the audience, two out of four question-

ers asked about Brexit. May has repeatedly said she will not reveal her strategy before triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to start some of the most complicated negotiations since World War II, but her reticence has spurred scrutiny of her every comment. She has largely stuck to the script that she wants Britain to regain control over immigration, restore its sovereignty and also to get the best possible trading relations with the EU, but any comment that seems to stray is pored over for signs of how May sees Britain’s future relationship with the EU. Asked whether May had ruled out getting preferential access to the single market in her interview on Sunday, her spokeswoman said she had ruled nothing out or in.

On Monday, May again said she was ambitious before the talks with the EU, which are due to be launched before the end of March.

“But we mustn’t think of this as sort of leaving the EU and trying to keep bits of membership, what bits of membership will we keep,” she said.

“It’s a new relationship, we’ll be outside the EU, we will have a new relationship but I believe that can be a relationship which has a good trading deal at its heart.” — Reuters

T E N S E R E L AT I O N S

Turkish president sees better ties with US under Trump

OPTIMISTIC: Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan addresses Turkish ambassadors at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, January 9, 2017. – Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via Reuters

ANKARA/ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday he believed relations with Washington would improve under President-elect Donald Trump and that the two NATO allies would reach an easier consensus on regional issues.

Ties between the United States and Turkey - which has the second largest army in the NATO alliance and is key to the US-led fight against IS in Syria and Iraq - have deteriorated sharply since a failed military coup in July.

Erdogan and the government blame the abortive putsch on Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, and want him extradited. Gulen denies involvement in the coup.

Ankara has also been angered

by US support for a Kurdish militia group fighting Islamic State in Syria. Turkey sees the group as an extension of the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey and has been behind a spate of recent bombings. “I believe we will accelerate dialogue when Mr Trump takes office,” Erdogan told a conference of Turkish ambassadors. “I believe we will reach a consensus with Mr Trump, particularly on regional issues.”

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the envoys he believed Trump would not make what he called the same mistakes as the outgoing US administration.

Washington should extradite Gulen and end cooperation with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.

The United States has long been

cast by some nationalist and hardliners elements as the guiding hand behind plots to undermine Turkey.

Conspiracy theories have reached fever pitch in recent weeks, and in some cases been fuelled by elected officials.

Yeni Akit newspaper said last week that a New Year’s Day shooting which killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub, claimed by IS, was a “joint production” by the CIA, Israel’s Mossad spy agency, and what the Turkish government calls “FETO”, the Gulenist Terror Organisation.

“Daesh (IS), the PKK and FETO are terror groups with strings linked to the same centre. Along with many secret services, the most active user is the CIA,” Samil Tayyar, a ruling AK Party lawmaker, said on Twitter after the attack.

Such comments prompted a rebuke last Thursday from US State Department spokesman John Kirby: “Incendiary and false accusations about the US in Turkish media are offensive and could endanger our citizens. Must stop,” he wrote on Twitter.

Any honeymoon with the new Trump administration is likely to be short-lived.

US officials have made clear the issue of Gulen’s extradition is a matter for the courts, not a question of political will, and that such a process could take years.

Trump’s policy on the Kurdish YPG is unclear. He has indicated, though, that his priority in the multi-sided Syrian conflict will be fighting IS - not forcing President Bashar Al Assad to leave power as Turkey has long desired. — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

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TIMESOFOMAN.COM/TIMESTV Noah Feldman BCCI pays tribute to MS Dhoni’s enormous captaincy career.

As millennials slowly age into family life, they’re faced with two daunting financial challenges: the rising cost of housing and the high cost of child care. One way to deal with these challenges is to use technology-enabled remote work so parents can live and work in cheaper small towns like their elders did generations ago.

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At a recent forum, China’s Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao warned that a “zero-sum” mentality in economic relations between the US and China hurts both countries. He’s right: Rising protectionism, of the kind favoured by President-elect Donald Trump, is a danger to the still-sputtering global economy.

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India’s Supreme Court ruling aids nationalism

Photo: bdoganphotography

I

ndia’s constitutional democracy has always struggled to tame the country’s religious and caste divisions, especially during elections. The Supreme Court of India has now issued an important ruling that makes things worse, not better.

On the surface, the court struck a blow for religious neutrality, holding that referring to religion or caste in a race for office will disqualify the results.

In reality, the decision delivered a gift to the ruling nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party at the expense of India’s minority faiths and castes. That’s especially worrisome in our present historical moment, when nationalist parties are challenging free democratic speech around the world.

The decision by the seven-member panel of the court was an interpretation of India’s Corrupt Practices and Electoral Offenses law, first enacted in 1951 and amended subsequently. Section 123(3) of the law makes it a corrupt practice for a candidate to make an appeal “to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language.” The central legal issue was whether the law only bans the candidate from appealing to his own religion or community, or whether it extends to cover references to the voters’ identities, too. At a technical level, this debate turned on the meaning of the word “his”: does it refer to the candidate or the voter?

In bottom-line political terms, the question was how extensive the ban should be. A narrow reading restricting the ban to the candidate’s own background would make it harder to overturn electoral results and allow greater range to candidates’ speech. That would allow politicians for example, to tell members of disadvantaged castes that they should vote for them because they would represent caste interests. So long as the candidate did not say that he or she was a member of the disadvantaged caste, the appeal would be lawful. A broader reading, in contrast, would make it easier to overturn electoral results and would impose heavy restrictions on the speech of candidates. It would make it impossible for candidates to present themselves as serving the interests of religious minorities. In India, the biggest religious minority is Muslim, with 172 million adherents as of the last census in 2011.

The broad reading would therefore affect them disproportionately. The court split 4-3, with the majority adopting the broader reading and the dissenters

the narrower one. The leading opinion of the majority emphasized that India’s founders “intended a secular democratic republic where differences should not be permitted to be exploited.” Treating this as the law’s purpose, the majority rejected the narrow reading of the word “his” as referring to the candidate’s identity as inappropriately literal.

The dissenters acknowledged India’s official secularism, but noted that the Indian constitution itself “recognises the position of religion, caste, language and gender in the social life of the nation.” That’s accurate: The constitution prohibits discrimination based on caste but also permits affirmative action for the advancement of historically disadvantaged castes. On the surface, the decision looks like a close legal case with a defensible conclusion. But the reality is otherwise -- for a concrete legal reason. In 1995, a three-judge panel of the court issued a famous judgment colloquially known as the Hindutva or Hinduism decision. In it, the court said that because Hinduism didn’t subscribe to a single dogma or worship a single God, it did not satisfy the traditional definition of religion. It was therefore “a way of life and nothing more.” Thus, according the 1995 precedent, Hinduism isn’t a religion for purposes of the election law. The result is that the broad reading of the statute doesn’t equally disadvantage all appeals to religion – it disadvantages only minority religions. Thus Muslim candidates can’t invoke their creed to win votes, but Hindu candidates can. In effect, secularism and Hinduism are treated as identical. As the Bharatiya Janata Party triumphantly put it in a manifesto issued more than 20 years ago and referring to the 1995 judgment, the Supreme Court “endorsed the true meaning and content of Hindutva as being consistent with the true meaning and definition of secularism.” It would be one thing for India genuinely to insist on total secularism in elections. Although such a rule would be in some tension with the Indian Constitution’s commitment to free speech, it might nevertheless be justified because of the risk of distortion to the electoral process from communal violence. It’s another thing for India’s high court to insist on a restrictive “secularism” that allows appeals to the majority religion but not to minority religions. - Bloomberg View

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READERS’ FORUM Government’s effort in promoting Oman has to be lauded This refers to the report, Oman second on Vogue’s hottest destination list (January 9). It is a great moment of pride for both the Omanis and expats as Oman has been recognised as a favourite tourist destination by one of the reputed magazines.

It is really heartening to note that the Sultanate has become more attractive to tourists and visitors from around the world. The government and the Ministry of Tourism have to be appreciated for its promotional activities to project the Sultanate as one of the best tourist places in the world. While Oman’s natural beauty is considered as one Scan this QR code of the fascinating factors for the tourists, to send letters to the the traditional local culture and customs Readers’ Forum, also have a great role in attracting visitors. containing not more than 200 words with While the neighbouring countries in the full name, address region are fully concentrating for a modern and telephone outlook, Oman has always maintained a number, may be sent balanced approach between modernity by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). and antiquity. It is not an easy task for the government and people to keep their geographical and cultural assets intact while moving forward along with the modern changes that take place around the world. Now, this new reputation brings a big challenge for everyone concerned to keep the name of the Sultanate atop forever on the world tourism map.

— P.A. Jacob, Muscat

QUOTE OF THE DAY Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.

COLIN POWELL

When US President-elect Donald Trump takes office later this month, Americans will be more divided than they have been in years.

Never before has an American presidential inauguration been met with so many hosannas from the United States’ oldest foe, Russia, and with such nervous anguish from its closest allies.

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JANUARY 2002 International Book Fair panel meets MUSCAT: The Muscat International Book Fair Committee met yesterday under the chairmanship of its vice chairman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, cultural affairs undersecretary at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. The committee reviewed initial forecasts of the number of exhibitors likely to take part in the seventh Muscat International Book Fair, which will be held at the Muscat International Exhibition Centre from March 26 to April 4.

PICTOGRAPH

NET PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY MUSANDAM (in Gigawatt/hour) 2016 August

September

44.9 39.9

TODAY IN HISTORY INVITATION TO WRITERS We invite our readers to write articles on topics related to Oman. The articles should not exceed 800 words.

Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1920: The Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.

1923: The US withdraws its last troops from Germany.

1943: German planes attack 12 ships off the British coast; sinking 3 ships and killing 35 people.

1984: The United States and the Vatican establish full diplomatic relations for the first time in 117 years.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

LIFESTYLE DINING Recipes Oneza Tabish

ORIENTAL POTATO CHOPS This is a mix of potatoes, noodles, and bell pepper wrapped in breadcrumbs and fried crisp. Have it for supper or as a fabulous starter.

Ingredients For the noodles and bell pepper stuffing 200g egg noodles ½ tablespoon oil for coating the noodles 2 tablespoon oil for stir frying 2 to 3 red or green chillies, broken and deseeded 11/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic 3 to 4 spring onions, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped or julienned 1 capsicum, finely chopped 1 teaspoon finely chopped celery ½ tablespoon soy sauce ¼ teaspoon rice or white vinegar Salt and pepper as required For the outer covering 750g potatoes boiled and peeled 1 tablespoon corn flour/ rice flour 1 egg beaten 3 tablespoons bread crumbs 3 tablespoons oil for shallow frying Salt as per taste Preparation for the noodles and stuffing Heat enough water in a pan with salt and a few drops of oil, till it comes to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions.

Drain and rinse noodles. Add oil and mix. Keep the noodles aside.

Heat oil in a wok. On medium flame add the chillies and garlic.

Sauté for a minute, then add the finely chopped spring onions. Increase the flame and stir fry for 3 minutes. Add the carrots, capsicum and celery.

Stir fry the capsicum on a high flame till they start getting slightly browned from the edges. This will take about 2 to 3 minutes after adding the carrots. Add soy sauce and stir.

Add the noodles and toss it well and stir fry for a minute on high heat.

Season with salt and pepper. Add vinegar. Continue to toss and cook the noodles on a high flame for a minute. Toss the whole mixture well and then add the chopped spring onion greens to the noodles. Your stuffing is done.

For the outer covering Boil potatoes until tender. Peel off their skin. Add salt and rice flour. Mash them. Dust some flour on your palm make small balls of mashed potato.

Make small cavities with your finger shaping it like a small bowl. Place small amount of filling over it. Cover the edges without any breakages.

Dip these balls over beaten eggs and roll them over bread crumbs or semolina. Heat some oil. Reduce the heat and shallow fry the chops. Fry until golden brown and crisp from both sides. Repeat the same with the rest of mince and potatoes. Serve the chops hot with sauce or food or salad.

Stop for Chops ASIAN CHICKEN CHOPS This super tender chicken wrapped in a crunchy batter, smothered in a rich tomato sauce will be a new family favourite.

Ingredients Chicken 4 - 6 pieces boneless, skinless, chicken thighs 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Sauce 2 tablespoon butter 1 small onion, cut into thin rings 4 tablespoons ketchup 1 teaspoon chicken stock powder 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

INDIAN MUTTON CHOPS Succulent lamb chops marinated in Indian masala and deep fried in egg serves as a delectable appetiser that will surely win your guests and family’s hearts.

Ingredients 1/2kg mutton chops 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 3 tablespoons yoghurt 2 teaspoons red chilli powder 1 teaspoon garam masala powder Salt to taste 4 eggs beaten Oil for deep frying Preparation Clean and wash the mutton chops thoroughly. Wipe dry with a kitchen towel and flatten slightly with the blunt edge of a knife. Add the ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, yoghurt, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt and marinate for one hour, preferably in a refrigerator. Pressure cook the chops till done with little water. Remove from heat and let the pressure reduce. Remove the lid and simmer till almost all the water dries up. Now dip the chops in egg batter and deep fry. Serve hot with green mint chutney.

Coating and Frying 2 cups flour 2 eggs, beaten 2 cups panko breadcrumbs Oil for frying Preparation Pound the chicken to medium thickness (about 1/2 an inch thick) Place chicken in a large ziplock bag.

Add soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well. Let it marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

For the sauce in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion. Sauté until onions are soft.

Add ketchup, chicken stock powder, water, brown sugar, and corn starch mixture. Bring to boil, stirring until the sauce thickens up a little bit.

Turn off heat; set aside. Heat up cooking oil over medium heat in a skillet or large frying pan.

Dip chicken in flour, dip in egg wash, then into breadcrumbs. Fry chicken till golden brown on each side. Pour sauce over chicken just before serving. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

WEATHER

T H I S

TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY

27 - 16 83-38% 0

0

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.19pm 3.22pm 5.43pm 6.58pm 5.31am

W E E K E N D

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LIFESTYLE

E A T

A T …

Where: Rumba Lattina Must Eat: Chimichanga Price: OMR 7.500 What Is It? It is simply the best burrito in the world. Stuffed with rice, cheese, meat, tortilla, and dipped in a rich tomato sauce is a favourite Mexican dish. It is a delicious deep-fried meal that you can have if you are extremely hungry as it will fill your stomach exactly the way you like it.

I like it mainly because I get a taste of all my favourite food in just one bite and the sauce complements perfectly well, making it mouthfully delectable.

Also Try The restaurant provides an array of South American dishes to choose from. The colourful cocktails are something you should definitely try.

Apart from that you could also order the enchiladas, tapas, nachos, and burritos, which you will love because of its authenticity and original flavours.

What’s Special The ambience is live and up-beat and the decor is very tribal and South American. The live band that performs every day will definitely get you in the groove if the trippy lights don’t. There is also an outdoor dining space, which is ideal especially at this time of the year if you want to enjoy the view and weather outside.

—shruthi@timesofoman.com Location The Cave, Qurum Heights, Muscat Website rumbalattina.com Call +968 2465 1051

R U M B A

L A T T I N A

Photos by Dawood Al Adhoubi and Salim Al Afifi

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

LIFESTYLE ONE NGREDIENT INGREDIENT

FIVE WAYS

Black Beans

BLACK BEAN DIP

BLACK BEAN BURRITOS

BLACK BEANS AND YELLOW RICE

BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD

BLACK BEAN SOUP

Combine 11/2 cups black bean soup, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco, 1 large onion, minced, 3 cloves garlic, finely minced, 1 teaspoon chilli powder, 1 cup grated, Cheddar cheese, in a blender. Add 1/4 cup grated or pureed Jalapeno peppers last and pulse a few times, leaving the dip chunky. Some diced ripe tomatoes about 1/2 cup can also be added as a variation. Serve with chips or veggies.

Drain and rinse 1 can black beans, and mix with 1 can tomatoes in micro-safe, covered dish. Cook until hot. Spoon 1/4 cup of bean mixture on 6 to 8 flour tortillas; roll into burrito. Top with garnishes of your choice like chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, chopped green onion, and cheese. Also use prepared salsa, sour cream, or plain yoghurt.

Rinse 3 (425g) cans of black beans, drain well and set aside. Take 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pot and sauté 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped green pepper, 2 cloves garlic, minced, until vegetables are tender.

Add beans, can tomatoes, undrained and chopped, 1 1/2 cups water, 200g tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon red vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour till done. Serve black beans over hot cooked yellow rice.

For garnish chop 1/2 cup green onions.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Combine 1 can black beans, 1 can canned corn, 1/2 chopped white onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon diced green chilli, 3 tablespoons cilantro salad dressing, 1 tablespoon Tabasco, and pepper to taste.

Mix all these ingredients well. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.

Soak 400g black beans for a few hours.

Now simmer beans in 8 cups of water until soft and keep aside. Chop 1 cup onions, 1 cup green pepper, 1 cup celery, and 1 cup carrots. Sauté in 8 tablespoons olive oil until the onions turn golden brown. Add 6 garlic cloves, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, 1 tablespoon salt, and 4 teaspoons white vinegar. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Drain about 1/2 cup water from beans and add it to the sauté. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Combine vegetables with beans.

Cook for another 30 minutes, adding more water if necessary. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

REGIONAL DINING

Gourmet Dining Experience at Chez Charles in Dubai

Chez Charles, a brand which has become regionally synonymous with premium catering of quality food, announced the opening of its first contemporary brasserie in the prestigious Dubai Design District (d3) in the first quarter of 2017. Destined to become the go-to destination for Dubai’s connoisseurs, the restaurant will channel the brand’s traditional wholesome French cuisine in the beautifully designed 5,400sq ft space.

Chez Charles Restaurant will offer an extensive gourmet dining experience through its contemporary French Sans Frontières cuisine, a modern French concept with influences from each chef’s international culinary journey. Presenting a diverse menu offering both lighter dishes as well as rich and indulgent French favourites perfectly paired with a notable selection of beverages and handcrafted cocktails. Chez Charles has build their success on using only the finest selection of ingredients flown in regularly for their much demanded catering business.

Designed by AAC interiors, the brassiere’s chic décor emulates an air of simple sophistication and elegance utilising fresh and subtle ‘provinciale’ tones all brought together by a striking custom-built chandelier at its heart. Chez Charles restaurant features an indoor bar and dining area, an outdoor lounge area as well as an exclusive, private outdoor dining area. The jewel of the restaurant is the extensive kitchen which is set behind a clear glass stage for all diners to see the meticulous preparation of each dish by their Michelin Star winning chefs.

“With a growing demand and loyalty for Chez Charles in the UAE, we felt that it was the right time to extend into a permanent location, hence the birth of Chez Charles Restaurant. Through this contemporary style brasserie strategically housed in the prestigious Dubai Design District, we will be able to offer the Chez Charles’ dining experience to a wider audience,” explains founder and CEO Charles Boghos, “Chez Charles is all about quality across the board. We always begin with the ingredients, the freshness and seasonality of our produce, and build the menu accordingly. Based on this philosophy we always have a delectable menu using the most in-season fresh produce with new dishes constantly being added.”

With fresh products and premium ingredients carefully handpicked from all over the globe, Chez Charles promises the richest flavours. Michelin Star Chef Jeremy Degras, Chez Charles Group Executive Chef will be at the helm overseeing each and every detail in the restaurant and its menu.

“Because we have been defined by our cuisine since the inception of the brand, we wanted to create a restaurant environment which embodies our desire to produce gastronomical dishes rooted in traditional French cuisine using modern cooking techniques, which are conceptualised by the produce and the ingredients — this is where the core of Chez Charles lies,” he explains.

The Chez Charles ethos is rooted in a passion for quality that stems across all aspects of the brand and has led to its unpreceded success in the region — the restaurant will be a yet another extension of the quality and culinary ingenuity traditionally demonstrated through the catering services.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TU ES DAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

MARKE

OMAN CRUDE RISES Oman Crude (March delivery) increased by one cent to $54.99 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (January delivery) stabilised at $44.54 per barrel, $4.64 higher than December delivery. – ONA

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Muscat 5,807.00 + 14.59 + 0.25%

Dubai 3,705.08 + 12.86 + 0.35%

Abu Dhabi 4,667.18 + 33.04 + 0.71%

Kuwait 5,944.56 + 48.07 + 0.82%

Saudi Arabia

7,063.75 - 75.11 - 1.05%

Bahrain 1,201.98 - 7.77 - 0.64%

Qatar 10,741.69 + 15.71 + 0.15%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.43 Pound ...........................................2.10 Indian Rs ..............................176.74 Pakistan Rs ........................ 267.81 Bangla Taka......................202.88

Indian Rs ................................... 177.00 Pakistan Rs .............................272.00 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka............................ 204.10 Phil Peso ................................... 128.35

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.05

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$55.28 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$54.54 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$56.12 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$54.16 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........ $56.87 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$53.74

* Rates as of January 9 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of January 9 Source: Bank Muscat

Container terminal at Duqm to open by 2020 The container handling capacity of the terminal will be eventually ramped up to 3.5 – Supplied picture

million twenty-foot equivalent units

ramped up to 3.5 million twentyfoot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum, from an initial capacity of 200,000 TEUs, according to Reggy Vermeulen, chief executive officer of the Port of Duqm.

He said the mandate of the port is to operate the container terminal itself. “Now we are assessing the exact situation in the market.

However, for the time being, the Port of Duqm will operate the terminal with an open mind (for handing it over to a third party).

Our priority is to have a container terminal up and running,” explained the port chief.

Once the port starts full-fledged operation some time in 20192020, it will have a 2.2-kilometre-

(TEUs) per year, from an initial capacity of 200,000 TEUs.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A new container terminal at the Duqm port is expected to become operational by early 2020, according to a top-level official of the port.

The container handling capacity of the terminal will be eventually

long commercial berth, a 2.2-kilometre long container berth, one kilometrelong government berth and a break bulk berth for miscellaneous cargoes.

The port has started operations for importing project cargoes and exporting dolomites, after a soft opening a couple of years ago. In the first phase, the port will handle general cargoes, containerised cargoes and bulk cargo.

Vermeulen also said the trend of containerised exports/imports is growing and there is a requirement for containerised shipping of operational cargo (chemicals and spare parts for equipment) for the oil and gas sector within the region.

W I L AYAT T H U M R I AT

Times News Service

– Times file picture

neered landfills. The infrastructure in Dhofar consists of an engineered landfill inthe governorate and two engineered transfer stations in Raysut and Mirbat.

Entering a new era The waste management sector in Oman is entering a new era as waste is now being collected and transferred using modern equipment. Besides, new bins are being distributed in residential, commercial and touristic areas. In addition, the service provider will clean and sterilise the bins.

Be’ah is also conducting an awareness campaign aimed at providing information about its

role and strategy as well as the correct mechanism to deal with municipal waste.

The Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah) was established in 2007.In 2009, a Royal Decree, No. 46/2009, granted be’ah the mandate and the legal status as the entity responsible for solid waste management in the Sultanate of Oman.

Be’ah strives to accomplish a vision to preserve Oman’s environment for the future generations. It’s main objectives are to control environmental damage during traditional waste dumping processes,organise the waste sector and fields related to it.

F O R G OV E R N M E N T C O M PA N I E S

Deal for governance code signed Times News Service MUSCAT: An agreement to prepare a set of corporate governance norms for state-owned companies was signed here on Monday. The pact was inked by Oman Centre for Governance and Stability (OCGS) with the Ministry of Finance, which plans to formulate better standards for corporate governance among government firms.

The agreement was signed on behalf of OCGS by Sheikh Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, chairman of the Board of Directors and for the Ministry of Finance by Nasser Khamis Al Jashmi Undersecretary for the Ministry of Finance.

Referring to the significance of

Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............142.25 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 133.75 * Rates as of January 9 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

EPC CONTRACT

Petrofac awarded $600 million gas project in Salalah Times News Service MUSCAT: Petrofac has signed a contract worth of $600 million with Salalah LPG SFZCO (SLPG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company LLC (OOFDC), to undertake the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of its Salalah LPG extraction project in the southern part of Oman.

Under the terms of the 36-month lump sum engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, which will be triggered when Salalah LPG issues to Petrofac the notice to proceed (NTP), Petrofac’s scope of work will include construction of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) unit and associated facilities, including tie-ins to existing pipeline infrastructure, together with LPG storage and jetty facilities at the Port of Salalah.

“This contract is our eleventh in the Sultanate and reinforces our commitment to Oman where we have been present since 1988,” said Marwan Chedid, Petrofac Group chief operating officer.

Petrofac’s scope of work under the coontract will include construction of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) unit and associated facilities.

“This project will further support our commitment to increase in-country value. We will continue to maintain strong focus on this aspect of our delivery, particularly by engaging the local supply chain and recruiting local resources. We are very much looking forward to growing and strengthening our team working alongside Oman Oil Facilities Development to deliver this project.”

INDIAN CURRENCY

Be’ah waste management operation starts in Dhofar MUSCAT: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, popularly known as be’ah, started its waste management operations in the Dhofar Governorate on Monday. The operations began in Wilayat Thumriat, and the rest of the wilyats in Dhofar Governorate will follow gradually.

International operator, Averda, has taken up these operations which are being closely monitored by a specialised workforce of be’ah to ensure safe, efficient and smooth transition of waste management services to be’ah, according to a press release.

Averda has international experience and has been in this sector for over three decades, providing waste management services across three continents.

Averda’s services in Dhofar cover allocating sufficient amount of bins and maintaining them, ensuring cleanlinessaround bins within an area of 0 metres, and finally collecting the waste and transferring it to engi-

Referring to the growth in cargo volumes at the port, Vermeulen said the port has achieved an exponential growth in volumes last year. “The port has achieved a three-fold growth in volumes in 2016, over the previous year. We have exported 200,000 tonnesof dolomites last year. The plan is to continue that growth. We would like to reinforce our position in the mineral sector,” said Vermeulen. The main export markets are India and Qatar.

“We are targeting at least half-amillion tonnes of mineral exports from the port this year.”

Vermeulen also said there is a potential for exporting limestone as well from the port due to the availability of the mineral.

Vermeulen noted that most of the packages for completing Duqm port have already been awarded. These contracts include gates, superstructure, remaining work at terminals, buildings for the port and dredging works. “The contracting firms are already working on the ground. This shows that now we have a firm date, the end of 2019, for completing the entire work for fullfledged operation (phase one) of the port,” noted Vermeulen.

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.00

preparing a code of governance, Sayyid Hamid Sultan Al Busaidy, executive director of OCGS, said that Oman has a prominent position in corporate governance with regard to the companies listed on Muscat Securities Market, thanks to the procedures adopted

by CMA. This include issuing the Code of Corporate Governance in line with best international practices to enhance the stock market.

It is high time to apply such practices on the other companies including the government companies, hence OCGS has briefed the Ministry of Finance on the importance of governance due to their role to the national economy and the initiative was accepted by the Ministry of Finance.

He added the governance represents an important part in the philosophy of management of investment institutions as a tool to direct the path of the company to best administrative standards.

The principles endeavour to regulate the relationship between the various parties in identifying the policies and performance of the companies.

The Ministry of Finance, as supervisor of the government companies, decided to set out a number of standards and directives to guide the path of the government companies. This will assist the managements in executing the administrative and financial policies to ensure sound management and to manage the risks.

Rupee falls 25 paise to 68.21 against US dollar; gold rises MUMBAI: India’s rupee on Monday tumbled by over 25 paise to close at 68.21 against the US dollar on renewed worries over fall in the country’s economic growth coupled with concerns regarding quarterly earnings due from this week.

Besides, Fed rate hike speculation triggered by stellar jobs report and also frantic dollar demand from importers and corporates added pressure on the local currency.

Sustained capital outflows and dollar’s strength against some other currencies overseas also weighed on the local unit, forex dealers said.

Forex market sentiment turned little shaky following lower economic growth projections stoked worries about its ability to meet its year-end growth target.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) last Friday projected India’s GDP growth to slow down to 7.1 per cent, from 7.6 per cent in 2015-16 even without taking into account of demonetisation impact.

Traders were also worried that cash crunch arising out of demonetisation is expected to paralyse economic activity in the short-term and likely to pull down growth.

Robust growth Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said both direct and indirect tax collections have shown robust increase during the April-December period, indicating uptick in economic activity including manufacturing, dismissing concerns of slowdown due to demonetisation.

Domestic bourses remained under pressure for the third straight session as concerns mount over risks for investors ahead of December corporate earnings against the backdrop of government’s recent move to ban high-value notes.

The home unit opened sharply lower at 68.16 from last Friday’s closing value of 67.96 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market and drifted further to hit an intraday low of 68.25 in late afternoon deals due to heavy dollar demand.

Though, it made a failed attempt to bounce back towards the fagend trade before ending at 68.21,

ROBUST DEMAND: Riding on positive global cues and increased buying by jewellers, gold continued its upward journey for the fifth day and increased by another Rs60 per 10 gram at the domestic bullion market on Monday. — Bloomberg file picture

revealing a hefty loss of 25 paise, or 0.37 per cent.

US jobs report In worldwide trade, the greenback edged higher against a basket of world currencies on the back of encouraging US jobs report and also growing prospect for a series of Fed rate hikes this year amid optimism over the health of US economy.

The British Pound fell sharply roiled by weekend comments from UK Prime Minister rekindled worries about a hard Brexit.

The US dollar index was trading firmly higher at 102.31 in late afternoon deals. The RBI fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 68.1863 and for the euro at 71.8206.

Gold gains Riding on positive global cues and increased buying by jewellers, gold continued its upward journey for the fifth day and increased by another Rs60 per 10 gram at the domestic bullion market on Monday.

Silver followed suit, rising by

Rs20 per kg following renewed offtake from industrial units. Standard gold (99.5 purity) rose by Rs60 to close at Rs28,395 per 10 grams from Friday’s level of Rs28,335.

Pure gold (99.9 purity) also moved down by a similar margin to finish at Rs28,545 per 10 grams compared to Rs28,485 earlier.

Silver (.999 fineness) edgedup by Rs20 per kg to conclude at Rs40,640 as against Rs40,620 previously. Globally, gold firmed as uncertainty ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President this month supported prices after the previous session’s retreat, though an uptick in the dollar kept a lid on gains. Spot gold was up 0.3 per cent at $1,176.15 an ounce in early European trade, while silver was flat at $16.48 an ounce. — PTI

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B2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,817.96 ...............5,792.54 .................... 5,797.16 ................... 5,792.54....................4.62 ...................0.08 Financial Index ..................................... 7,915.35 ............... 7,891.03 ....................7,891.98 ................... 7,892.56.................. -0.58 .................. -0.01 Industrial Index ....................................7,544.43 ............... 7,510.82 .................... 7,511.53 ................... 7,542.69................ -31.16 .................. -0.41 Services Index ...................................... 3,039.46 .............. 3,028.57 ................... 3,028.57 ...................3,030.29...................-1.72 .................. -0.06 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................873.40 .................. 871.38 .......................871.38 ......................872.30..................-0.92 ...................-0.11 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 9,392,681 .....................1,993,513 .....................549 ................17,510,955,653 .................. 7 ......................19 .................... 15 .........................41

The top gainer on Monday’s trading was Bank Dhofar, up by 2.61 per cent, while OIFC was

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 9

the top loser with a loss of 2.90 per cent 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: Shares on the Muscat bourse recovered on buying support at lower levels. The MSM30 Index closed at 5,797.16 points, marginally up by 0.08 per cent.

The MSM Sharia Index closed at 871.38 points, down by 0.10 per cent. Galfar Engineering remained the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover.

The top gainer was Bank Dhofar, up by 2.61 per cent,while OIFC was the top loser with a loss of 2.90 per cent.

A total number of 549 trades were executed on Monday, generating a turnover of OMR1.99 million with 9.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 41 traded securities, 7 advanced, 19 declined and 15 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR281,000 while foreign investors were net sellers of OMR213,000 followed

by GCC and Arab investors of OMR68,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index ended flat at 7,891.98 points, marginally down by 0.01 per cent. Bank Dhofar, Al Sharqiya Investment and National Bank of Oman increased by 2.61 per cent, 0.70 per cent and 0.40 per cent, respectively. Bank Sohar, Al Madina Investment, Al Madina Takaful and AlIzz Islamic Bank declined by 1.84 per cent, 1.72 per cent, 1.33 per cent and 1.33 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 7,511.53 points, down by 0.41 per cent. Oman Cement was the only gainer and was up by 0.82 per cent to close at OMR0.490.Al Anwar Ceramics , National Aluminium, Oman Fisheries and Galfar Engineering declined by 2.67 per cent, 2.06 per cent, 1.54 per cent and 1.05 per cent, respectively.

Services Index declined by 0.06 per cent to close at 3,028.57 points. Oman Telecommunications Company and Ooreedoo Oman increased by 0.63 per cent and 0.68 per cent, respectively.

OIFC and Phoenix Power declined by 2.90 per cent and 0.67 per cent, respectively.

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

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 62,000 .............30,319......................16 ........... 0.486 ...........0.490 ...........0.486........... 0.490 .............0.486 ........... 0.004............. 0.823 ................0.490..............0.486...................0.490 .................162,127,628 ........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 156,418 .......... 230,017..................... 49 ............1.460 ........... 1.550 ...........1.460............1.470 .............1.460.............0.010 ............. 0.685 ................1.460 ..............1.460...................1.465 ................1,102,500,000 ......0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 281,070 ..........178,755.....................42 ........... 0.632 ...........0.640 ...........0.632........... 0.636 .............0.632 ........... 0.004............. 0.633 ................0.632..............0.632...................0.636..................414,000,530 .......0.100

Sensex ends lower Benchmark Sensex on Monday closed almost 33 points lower at 26,726.55, extending losses for the second straight session, dragged down by healthcare, oil&gas and power stocks amid caution ahead of December quarter earnings due from this week.

A sense of uncertainty prevailed among investors, who fear that companies’ quarterly results will be impacted by the Centre’s surprise demonetisation move. Besides, other developments with regard to state assembly elections and next month’s Union Budget are also influencing sentiment.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, “The market is consolidating in a narrow range ahead of the kick start of earnings season this week. The participants are lined up with checklist to determine how the effect of cash crunch and the rise in commodity prices have impacted the margins and the profitability. Any underestimated impact is likely to create a cascading effect to the euphoria of a pre-budget rally.”

The key indices traded choppy with realty, IT, FMCG and industrials gaining and oil & gas, healthcare, energy and power sector stocks falling. The broader shares of midcap and smallcap companies outperformed the headline indices. The Sensex opened higher at 26,860.81 and hovered between 26,860.88 and 26,701.18 before ending at 26,726.55, showing a loss of 32.68 or 0.12 per cent. The gauge had lost 119.01 points in previous trade. The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed marginally lower by 7.75 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 8,236.05. — United Securites/ PTI

OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 778,390 ......... 195,463..................... 49 ........... 0.250 ...........0.253 ...........0.250............0.251 .............0.250 ............0.001 .............0.400 ................0.250..............0.250...................0.252 .................370,170,100 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .........................................................13,919 .............20,196........................3 ............1.480 ........... 1.500 ...........1.450 ............1.450 ............. 1.450............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.450 ..............1.450...................1.500................. 290,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ..........................13,000 ............... 3,315........................2 ........... 0.255 ........... 0.255 ...........0.255........... 0.255 .............0.255 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.255..............0.250...................0.255...................31,848,980 .........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .........................................3,000 .................. 675........................1 ........... 0.225 ...........0.225 ...........0.225........... 0.235 .............0.235 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.225..............0.225...................0.230 ..................70,212,754 .........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ...........................................................165 .....................79........................1 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.490 ..................29,645,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................10,000 ...............1,800........................2 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180.............. 0.177...................0.180.................. 121,479,737 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 160,000 ...........80,000........................2 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.500..............0.472...................0.500 ..................26,250,000.........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................25,400 .............39,878........................3 ............1.570 ........... 1.570 ...........1.570 ............1.570 ............. 1.575............-0.005 ............-0.317................1.570 .............. 1.550...................1.570..................140,829,000 .......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 576,500 ......... 109,223..................... 28 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.188 ........... 0.189 .............0.190 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.526 ...............0.188 ..............0.188...................0.190...................33,075,464 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ................................ 30,400 .............10,478........................4 ........... 0.344 ...........0.346 ...........0.344 .......... 0.344 .............0.346 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.578 ...............0.346..............0.344...................0.346 ..................34,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ........................................................ 15,594 ...............2,328........................5 ............0.150 ........... 0.150 ...........0.149 ........... 0.149 .............0.150............-0.001 ........... -0.667 ...............0.149 ..............0.149...................0.150.................. 217,927,618 ........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 402,330..........193,291..................... 53 ........... 0.484 ...........0.484 ...........0.476........... 0.480 .............0.484 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.826 ...............0.476..............0.470...................0.476................ 1,198,200,124 ......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 220,000...........26,280........................8 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.119 ............0.119 .............0.120 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.833 ...............0.119 .............. 0.118................... 0.119 ....................7,002,343 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................20,601 ............... 1,529........................3 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.075 ...........-0.001 ............-1.333................0.074..............0.074...................0.075...................12,950,000.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................65,600 ............... 3,739........................7 ........... 0.057 ........... 0.057 ...........0.057........... 0.057 .............0.058 ...........-0.001 ............-1.724................0.057..............0.057...................0.058................... 11,807,629 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 109,673............. 17,566........................8 ............0.163 ........... 0.163 ...........0.160........... 0.160 ............. 0.163............-0.003 ........... -1.840 ...............0.160..............0.160...................0.164..................256,719,895 ........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 764,500 ......... 139,292..................... 29 ............0.185 ........... 0.185 ...........0.182........... 0.182 ............. 0.187............-0.005 ........... -2.674 ...............0.182 .............. 0.181...................0.185 ...................53,910,890 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 524,309 .........105,220..................... 26 ........... 0.207 ...........0.207 ...........0.200 .......... 0.201 .............0.207 ...........-0.006 ........... -2.899 ...............0.201............. 0.200...................0.206 ................. 40,200,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,232,869 ..1,389,442...................341 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......21........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ..............................................................93,334 ............ 22,065......................14 ........... 0.232 ...........0.242 ...........0.232........... 0.236 .............0.230 ........... 0.006.............2.609 ................0.242..............0.239...................0.242 .................448,211,530........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 172,531 ............ 24,859........................8 ............0.146 ........... 0.146 ...........0.144........... 0.144 .............0.143.............0.001 ............. 0.699 ................0.144.............. 0.141...................0.144...................12,960,000.........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 311,000............ 40,700......................14 ............0.132 ........... 0.132 ...........0.130............0.131 ............. 0.131 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.131 ..............0.129................... 0.131 ................. 262,040,975 .......0.100 OM0000002077 ...........AL OMANIYA FINANCIAL SER. ...................................163 .....................46........................1 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.286 .............0.286 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280............. 0.260...................0.286 ..................76,608,973 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ........................................................................ 2,130 ..................405........................1 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.188 ............. 0.188............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190.............. 0.187...................0.190..................267,906,795 ........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...................................40,647 ............ 81,294........................5 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 .............1.950...................2.000 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES ...........................................170 ...................107........................1 ........... 0.632 ........... 0.632 ...........0.632........... 0.632 .............0.632 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.632............. 0.000...................0.632.................. 113,657,237 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,239,427 ......108,949......................31 ........... 0.088 ...........0.089 ...........0.087........... 0.088 .............0.088 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.088..............0.087...................0.088................. 132,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH..................................................5,000 ................1,175........................1 ........... 0.235 ........... 0.235 ...........0.235........... 0.233 .............0.233 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.235..............0.233...................0.235..................222,415,264 .......0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ................................ 8,533 ............... 1,476........................2 ............0.173 ........... 0.173 ...........0.173 ............0.173 ............. 0.173............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.173 .............. 0.174...................0.179 ...................17,300,000 .........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................19,024 ...............3,424........................3 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180.............. 0.175...................0.180.................. 128,593,141 ........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 104,570 ........... 30,325......................11 ........... 0.290...........0.290 ...........0.290 .......... 0.290 .............0.291............-0.001 ........... -0.344 ...............0.290............. 0.290...................0.293 ...................6,090,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING.............34,737 ...............4,832........................3 ............0.141 ........... 0.141............0.139 ............0.139 .............0.140 ...........-0.001 ............-0.714................0.139 .............. 0.139...................0.140...................16,940,625 .........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE .....................................................9,000 ............... 1,125........................1 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 .............0.126............-0.001 ........... -0.794 ...............0.125 .............. 0.125...................0.126................... 31,698,750 .........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 107,144 .............10,623......................11 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.102 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.100 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.000 ...............0.099..............0.098...................0.099....................2,970,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 2,520,560 ..... 236,174..................... 84 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.093........... 0.094 .............0.095 ...........-0.001 ............-1.053................0.093..............0.092...................0.093...................27,258,180 .........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 276,000 ........... 20,429........................4 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.075 ...........-0.001 ............-1.333................0.074..............0.074...................0.075...................74,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 197,885 .............12,735......................11 ........... 0.065 ...........0.065 ...........0.064........... 0.064 .............0.065 ...........-0.001 ............-1.538................0.064..............0.064...................0.065....................8,000,000..........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............... 17,000 ...............3,230........................1 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.194 ...........-0.004 ........... -2.062 ...............0.190..............0.182...................0.190.................... 6,378,576 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,158,855 ......603,975...................207 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......19........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ECONOMY

AUTOMOTIVE

Germany’s industrial production rises Fiat Chrysler to invest FRANKFURT: German industrial production rose in November, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy saw a strong finish to the end of last year.

Output, adjusted for seasonal swings, gained 0.4 per cent from October, when it advanced a revised 0.5 per cent, the Economy Ministry in Berlin said on Monday. The reading, which is typically volatile, compares with a median estimate for a 0.6 per cent increase in a Bloomberg survey. A separate report from the Federal Statistics Office showed exports increased 3.9 per cent in November, with imports up 3.5 per cent.

The reports follow a string of data published last week that underlined Germany’s economic strength heading into a year that will bear challenges from national elections in autumn to risks from Britain’s exit negotiations with the European Union. A survey of purchasing managers suggested manufacturing and services expanded at the fastest pace in a year in December, unemployment continued to decline and

$1 billion in the US

FOOLPROOF CHECKING: A survey of purchasing managers suggested manufacturing and services expanded at the fastest pace in a year in December. — Bloomberg file picture

the inflation rate posted a record increase to 1.7 per cent.

Germany is doing well “Germany is doing well — the economy is growing fast enough to bolster employment and slow enough to avoid inflationary tensions,” said Andreas Scheuerle, an economist at Dekabank. “If it

wasn’t for the rest of the world, it would be in an optimal position.”

Output was bolstered by a 1.5 per cent surge in construction, according to the Economy Ministry.

Manufacturing rose 0.4 per cent in November from the previous month, while energy production fell 0.4 per cent. Production was up 2.2 per cent from a year earlier.

“In manufacturing and construction, production picked up noticeably after a weak summer half,” the ministry said in an e-mailed statement. “Orders in manufacturing and construction, as well as sentiment indicators in these sectors, promise solid output growth in the winter half.”

— Bloomberg News

DETROIT: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will invest $1 billion to retool and modernise two plants in the US Midwest, including one that would be able to make the Ram heavy-duty pickup truck currently produced in Mexico, it said on Sunday.

The automaker said the investment would create more than 2,000 production-related jobs. The company also said it planned to add three new Jeep models, including a pickup truck, to its product lineup and make them in the United States.

The announcement comes as US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap large tariffs on vehicles imported into the United States from Mexico.

Trump, a Republican, has attacked Ford Motor and more recently General Motors and Toyota Motor for building cars in Mexico.

He mostly criticised Ford during the campaign. But in October in Michigan, the then-presidential candidate singled out FCA layoffs,

adding: “Those jobs went to Mexico, China, India and other countries.”

FCA executives did not confer with Trump before making the decision on the new big SUVs and a Jeep pickup truck, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking. The same source said Marchionne wanted to get out the news about adding jobs and investment in the United States in case FCA encounters more criticism from Trump.

Last week, Ford scrapped plans to build a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico and invest $700 million in a factory in Michigan.

FCA said a plant in Warren, Michigan, near Detroit, would make the Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUVs, while a Toledo, Ohio, factory would produce the Jeep pickup. The company said the production plans in Ohio and Michigan were “subject to the negotiation and final approval of incentives by state and local entities.” — Bloomberg News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

B3

MARKET I N D I A’ S I N T E R NAT I O NA L E X C H A N G E

India to open new bourse to rival Singapore and Dubai

STANDING TALL: India International Exchange is at the bottom of a 16-storey building that dominates the finance zone. — Bloomberg News

MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate an international exchange in Gujarat state’s new finance zone, seeking to grab some of India’s $48 billion in offshore banking activities from Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong.

The India International Exchange, at the bottom of a 16-storey building that dominates the finance zone, will get Modi’s blessing on Monday and start trading single stock and equity index futures on Jan. 16. It will add gold, silver, copper, oil and the rupee “soon,” Bombay Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Ashishkumar Chauhan said in an interview.

Ninety-six brokerage firms have registered in the zone, envisaged

by Modi when he was chief minister of the state.

“The exchange will reclaim some lost market share to equityfutures in Singapore, currency derivatives in Dubai and structured products in Hong Kong,” said Chauhan. “It is a dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is his baby as he has visualized various aspect of the project.”

The brochure of Gift city, or Gujarat International Finance TecCity, says it’s targeting the $48 billion in banking activities done

by Indian companies and individuals in offshore centers in 2015, estimated to rise to $120 billion by 2025. Modi envisaged a zone that offers products to satisfy hedging and investment demand in an economy growing at more than 7 per cent annually, without upsetting the central bank’s control on a depreciating rupee. The zone

has created about 5,000 jobs so far and has a long way to go to meet its eventual target of 500,000.

BSE is planning to invest Rs5 billion ($73 million) for trading and clearing at the new exchange in three to four years, said Chauhan. He said Indian companies can raise up to $1 trillion in 10 years via Gift city.

Finance firms setting up units in Gift City will pay a reduced tax valid for special economic zones and can more easily offer foreigncurrency loans to Indian companies abroad, overseas nationals and foreign companies. China is establishing a similar zone called Qianhai in Shenzhen, where pilot policies can be tested before being rolled out nationally.

Commercial banks operating in the area will be allowed to offer

structured products with prior approval from their board of directors, according to Reserve Bank of India rules issued on Nov. 10. BSE said last month it would like to offer single-stock futures on the top 10 Indian companies and almost round-the-clock trading.

Ajay Pandey, CEO of Gift City, said in an interview last month that three to four global banks are seeking approval from their home regulators to set up in the zone, in addition to the seven local banks and two insurers that had already started operations. He said the National Stock Exchange of India plans to open a bourse, and talks for cooperation with international exchanges are underway. Seven banks have already achieved $1 billion in financial transactions there, he said. - Bloomberg News

Gulf states comply with Opec output cuts: Kuwait

ISLAMIC DEBT

Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia Dr. Mohamed Damak.

- Supplied picture

Global sukuk market to remain subdued: S&P Times News Service MUSCAT: Global sukuk issuance fell short of market expectations last year, although it was higher than in 2015.

And the sukuk market will remain subdued in 2017, since the issuance process is still quite complex, according to Standard & Poor’s (S&P).

When oil prices started falling in 2014, several market observers predicted an issuance boom from 2015, arguing that governments in oil-exporting countries would tap the sukuk market to maintain their spending levels.

“However, as we anticipated, this did not happen. Issuance of sukuk increased only marginally in 2016 compared with 2015, and was even much lower than that of conventional bonds in some core Islamic finance markets.”

“The sukuk market did not play a countercyclical role in core Islamic finance markets in 2016, and we forecast a stabilisation of total issuance in 2017 at around $60 billion-$65 billion,” said S&P Global Ratings’ Global Head of Islamic Finance, Dr. Mohamed Damak.

“We believe the complexity of sukuk issuance will continue to weigh on issuance volumes, unless counterbalanced by tangible results on standardisation or the establishment of large issuance programmes. Returning issuers, new entrants, and regulatory developments can stimulate activity, but more likely in the medium term.”

Standard & Poor’s do not foresee a substantial increase in sukuk issuance in the GCC this year, rather, the rating agency thinks that some member countries might take the Islamic finance route alongside a conventional one. Bahrain will most likely remain a prominent player after issuing $3.2 billion of sukuk in 2016.

Other GCC members will probably tap the market in 2017.

and the United Arab Emirates are complying with cuts promised last year.

DOHA: Oil producers from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates are complying with production cuts promised last year to stabilise the market, Kuwait’s governor to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) said.

Cuts to customers Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are also complying, having announced cuts to customers, Nawal AlFezaia, Kuwait’s Opec governor, said in an interview Monday in Kuwait City where Opec’s Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo is scheduled to have talks on the cuts with Kuwait Oil Minister Essam Al-Marzouk and other officials.

Opec and crude producers outside the group, including Russia, are implementing production cuts of about 1.8 million barrels a day this year after crude prices slumped from more than $100 a barrel since 2014 amid oversupply. Libya and Nigeria are exempt from the cuts because of conflict.

Brent crude has dropped 1.4 per cent this year to $56.05 a barrel after rallying 52 percent last year.

“It’s a good time to do mainte-

AUTOMOBILE

World crude prices decline LONDON: Oil fell for the first time in four days as an increase in US drilling activity fanned speculation that Opec production cuts could revive output in North America.

Futures slid as much as 1.7 per cent in New York after rising 3.2 per cent the previous three sessions. Oil last year capped its biggest annual gain since 2009 as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and 11 other nations agreed to curb output starting Jan. 1 in an effort to trim a global

inventory glut. While producers from Iraq to Kuwait say they have started to curb supply, an increase from countries such as Libya, which is from cuts, could put pressure on prices.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery lost as much as 89 cents to $53.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $53.21 at 9:49am in London. Total volume traded was about 25 percent below the 100-day average.

— Bloomberg News

— Bloomberg News

C O N T R O L L I N G S TA K E

Kia to introduce Stinger sports sedan in the US CHICAGO: Kia Motors said its Stinger sports sedan will go on sale in the US late in 2017, a decision that may help raise its profile among buyers who focus on a vehicle’s speed, performance and handling.

Since 2012, Kia’s K900 has served as its luxury flagship, leaving a gap with performance enthusiasts. US supplies of that vehicle were short, with sales of just 834 cars in 2016, a 68 per cent slide from the prior year. Kia also has a relatively small stable of SUVs and no pickups — the types of vehicles that most competitors are using to lure buyers.

The automaker will equip the five-passenger, rear-wheeldrive Stinger with a choice of two turbocharged engines. At the top will be a 3.3-litre V6 that generates 390 horsepower and propels the car from zero to 62 miles (100 kilometres) per hour in 5.1 seconds. A 2.0-litre fourcylinder will also be available.

Kia said it will announce the Stinger’s price later this year.

Kia is also banking on the Bavarian roots of its chief designer, Peter Schreyer, whose 1998 design for the Audi TT roadster influenced a generation of Ger-

nance on oil fields during production cuts,” Al-Fezaia said. Kuwait will be producing 2.7 million barrels a day by the end of the month, she said. That compares with 2.89 million barrels a day in December, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Most of the cuts have affected Kuwait’s crude exports, and all other Opec nations will probably do the same to meet local demand, Al-Fezaia said.

Libya and Nigeria need more time to boost their production before they can be considered to join in the cuts, she said. “Once both these countries resume full production capacity, we will review this,” Al-Fezaia said.

“Extension of the current deal or additional cuts depends on conditions in the oil market, the recovery of prices and reduction of the oversupply,” she said.

— Bloomberg News

man stylists. In its press materials, Kia compared the car to the Audi A4, the BMW 4 Grand Coupe, and the Lexus IS. “Kia so far has been a volume brand,” Schreyer said at an event in conjunction with the Detroit auto show. “If we are able to make a car on a high level like those, it would be for us a big achievement.” Kia sold 647,598 vehicles in the US in 2016, up 3.5 per cent from the previous year. Its best-selling model, the Soul crossover, saw sales decline by 0.9 per cent, while the Sportage SUV jumped 51 per cent. — Bloomberg News

McDonald’s sells stake of Chinese business to consortium of investors HONG KONG: McDonald’s agreed to sell a controlling stake in its China and Hong Kong operations to a group of financial investors in the latest effort by the world’s largest fast-food chain to catch up with Western rivals by opening new stores in smaller Chinese cities.

A consortium including Citic and Carlyle Group will buy an 80 per cent stake in a deal valuing the business at as much as $2.08 billion, according to a group statement on Monday. McDonald’s will retain a one-fifth share in the business, with the partnership planning to add more than 1,500 res-

taurants over the next five years in China’s lower-tier cities.

Domestic competition Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald’s and rival Yum China Holdings, which owns the KFC and Pizza Hut brands in the mainland, are combating rising domestic competition as they fight to retain middle-class Chinese consumers who increasingly demand high-quality and healthier dining options. The fast-food giant is also looking at further deals in markets such as South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia as it streamlines its sprawling global operations.

“Citic and Carlyle’s resources will allow McDonald’s to expand rapidly and refurbish old restaurants, which is expensive to do,” said Ben Cavender, a Shanghaibased analyst at China Market Research Group.

“Given that McDonald’s lags behind KFC in terms of store count in China, we can expect them to expand aggressively and invest heavily,” he further added.

Under the deal, Chinese statebacked conglomerate Citic and Citic Capital Partners will jointly take a 52 per cent stake, while Carlyle will hold 28 per cent.

— Bloomberg News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

FEATURE

I

t is not looking pretty for department stores in the United States.

Other than electronics retailers and gas stations, department stores are the only major retail category in the US in which sales fell in the 11 months through November from a year earlier, according to US Census data released recently. And while most of the conversation about dying department stores centres on how Amazon is eating into clothing sales as the e-commerce giant becomes the largest apparel seller in the US, department stores are ceding another worrisome category to online competition: beauty and cosmetics.

The shiny Chanel and Clinique makeup counters, where smartly dressed salespeople spray perfume in customers’ faces and offer lotion samples, have been a staple on the ground floors of Macy’s and other American department stores for decades.

Beauty and cosmetics were once considered Amazon-proof traffic-drivers to department stores, as beauty companies had long-term deals with stores, rarely discounted their products, and barely sold their goods online. No longer.

Beauty market Department stores are losing beauty market share to online retailers such as Amazon, as well as specialty shops such as Sephora and Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance, which have big online operations, according to data from Euromonitor. This shift comes at a particularly rough time for department stores, which have seen sales decline in their other major categories, clothing and electronics.

As my colleague Andrea Felsted has written, in the absence of big fashion trends in apparel, the Selfie Generation has flocked to beauty brands that stoke sales with social media and technological innovations including plumping lipsticks, makeup-contouring kits, and nail polishes that go on like spray paint. Sephora, Ulta and others have pounced on these trends, offering tutorials, in-store experiences and celebrity partnerships. New York-based beauty store Ricky’s NYC

O N L I N E R E TA I L E R S D O M IN AT E B E A U T Y M A R K E T S

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even opened a pop-up concept shop, (pronounced “hashtag”), to showcase only products made famous on Instagram.

These trends have helped beauty and cosmetics become one of the fastest-growing segments in retail — but much of that extra juice is going online and to specialty stores.

J C Penney And the heaviest spending on beauty and cosmetics is concentrated among department stores’ most-coveted customers — millennials with cash in their pockets. Bucking the tide is J C Penney, which made a genius move a decade ago under then-CEO Mike Ullman to open Sephora stores inside J C Penney locations. Now, more than half of J C Penney’s 1,000 stores have a Sephora shop inside, and beauty is one of the chain’s three best-performing merchandise divisions, along with home and fine jewellery.

Macy’s tried to replicate that success last year with its $210 million purchase of Blue Mercury, a beauty and spa store. But the beauty chain remains too small to really make a dent in Macy’s fast-declining sales, with fewer than two dozen locations inside Macy’s stores. And its online store — and brand recognition among younger customers — needs improvement.

It is time for Macy’s and other department stores to look in the mirror and realise they are falling behind. For one thing, they need to reach out to consumers where they are, instead of expecting them to just show up at their makeup counters.

Beauty chatter has migrated away from antiquated store counters and magazine ads. Shoppers now turn to experts on YouTube, Facebook and other social media to keep up with the latest trends.

As the discussion moves online, product sales follow. Smart department stores will join this conversation.

And stores need more-exciting shopper lures than free makeup bags or perfume samples. — SHELLY BANJO/Bloomberg News

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ROUND-UP

JAC light-duty trucks help promote business

# W H O I S M I S S I N G C E L E B R AT I O N S

Available in Oman exclusively at Towell Auto Centre, these trucks are strong, safe and suitable for various road conditions

MUSCAT: JAC Motors light-duty 3 Ton (2.8L) and 4 Ton (3.8L) trucks are a powerful and reliable workhorse for several small and medium businesses.

Available in Oman exclusively at Towell Auto Centre (TAC), these trucks are strong, safe and suitable for various road conditions. Moreover, they are equipped with water tanks, refrigerated storage, strong load capacity and many other features that makes them an ideal vehicle for different business types, says

a press release. A senior spokesperson of TAC commented: “JAC trucks have a lot of strong points that make them a reliable partner especially in the SME sector. They are featureloaded and highly efficient with low maintenance costs and excellent value. Those in the fruits and vegetable sector, construction and transportation, farming industry are particularly appreciative of the truck’s performance, sturdiness and durability. Small and medium businessmen are always concerned with

the cost factor and they want maximum returns on their investments.

For the kind of performance they give, JAC trucks are reasonable and being fuel efficient, they help to promote businesses. They have been developed over many years of R&D based on advanced European and Asian technologies and are powered by world class independent technology diesel engines that offer impressive fuel efficiency, environmental performance and ultimate safety.”

Officially known as Jianghuai

Automobile Co Ltd, JAC Motors was established in 1964 and has been listed in Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2001. Today, JAC Motors is the No.1 commercial vehicle brand in China, selling passenger and commercial vehicles to over 100 countries worldwide. In Oman, TAC is the sole distributor of JAC light-duty trucks. With a network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is one of the leading automobile distributors in the region.

READY-TO-COOK PRODUCTS

A’Saffa barbecue and grill products a favourite among families in Oman MUSCAT: Outdoor cooking, backyard parties and barbecues are common during the winter season in the Sultanate, and what better way to celebrate the season with your family, than a barbecue feast with A’Saffa products.

A’Saffa Foods, Oman’s largest fully integrated poultry and snack foods producer has an appetising and tasty range of ready-to-cook products for barbecue and grill food lovers across Oman.

A’Saffa Chicken Seekh Kebabs, Khayrat Beef Seekh Kebabs, A’Saffa Chicken Shish Taouk, A’Saffa Tender Chicken Breast, and A’Saffa Chicken Tikka, all of which are quick and convenient to cook are available at retail outlets across the country and are a firm favourite among barbecue and grilled food enthusiasts, says a press release.

“Whether it’s a barbecue at the park or beach, or a quick backyard dinner on a busy evening, A’Saffa products provide families with a variety of options - all you have to do is put them on the grill and within minutes, a delicious A’Saffa meal is ready to enjoy,” said Sidhartha Lenka, head of Marketing and Sales, A’Saffa Foods. “Our core competence and expertise in fully integrated poultry technology, management and food production, processed food technology, and innovative food recipes that help us deliver new, flavourful choices that consumers can enjoy any-

time. As the market leader, we aim to provide consumers with food products that are wholesome and processed hygienically from pure, tasty, premium, natural, healthy ingredients and aromatic spices.”

Apart from fresh and frozen chicken that are 100% halal, Fresh, tasty and healthy, A’Saffa Foods also produces a range of other products such as – Zingle fillets, chicken franks, shawarma, burgers, nuggets, and more under ‘A’Saffa’, ‘Khayrat’, ‘Taybat’ and ‘Ekhtiari’ brands enormously popular amongst Omani and expatriate families, especially children.

A’Saffa Foods snack food products are produced in Oman’s big-

gest fully automated state-of-the art production plant in Muscat.

The farm facility at Thumrait, south of Oman is Oman’s largest fully integrated poultry farm built with stringent bio-security measures, advanced scientific farm, feed management system and health management systems making the farm a disease free and healthy environment for the healthy disease-free growth of their birds. The plant is also certified to the highest international standards with the farm having achieved ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004, and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) systems certifications.

Whether it’s a barbecue at the park or beach, or a quick backyard dinner on a busy evening, A’Saffa products provide families with a variety of options — all you have to do is put them on the grill and within minutes, a delicious A’Saffa meal is ready to enjoy

Sidhartha Lenka Head of Marketing and Sales, A’Saffa Foods

McDonald’s offers two new McChicken flavours for limited time MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants) is hosting four weeks of awesome fun as part of its celebrations for McChicken.

McDonald’s will also be offering two new McChicken flavours, Peri-Peri McChicken and Dijon Mustard McChicken for a limited time only until stocks run out. During this celebration, consumers will be invited to share and upload their own emoji, videos, or short posts, using the hashtag # WhoIsMissing, says a press release.

Ali K. Daud, development licensee and president of McDonald’s Oman, said: “These new bold flavours represents McDonald’s ongoing commitment to responding to the unique preferences of our loyal customers, we also celebrate our original McChicken that everyone loves this time in an exciting and engaging way.”

He added: “We are always missing a friend, neighbour, col-

league or a family member; we want to share such moments with our customer helping them to express their feelings, so we are asking our customers to share the McChicken with a person they are missing in a creative and funny way. We look forward to seeing who is missing during our campaign.”

McDonald’s is committed to serving the very best ingredients in the quick-service restaurant sector, and will never compromise on food quality.

All products served at all McDonald’s restaurants in the Middle East are Halal certified, inspected and approved by local authorities and Halal officers at the countries of export and customs officials at the port of entry. All meat used in McDonald’s restaurants can be traced back to a trusted supplier that shares the company’s dedication to the highest quality standards.

MODERN EXCHANGE REWARDS ITS SOCIAL MEDIA FANS Modern Exchange rewarded its social media fans with 10 gifts reflecting the joy and happiness of Christmas. — Supplied image

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

ROUND-UP ‘At 999,999km, I replaced the odometer, not my Toyota,’ says a loyal customer In the spirit of customer care, Toyota felicitated Nasser Hamood Ahmed Al Battashi, a long-standing Toyota owner at a special event and replaced his odometer for free

MUSCAT: Recently, Saud Bahwan Automotive, Toyota division felicitated Nasser Hamood Ahmed Al Battashi, a long-standing Toyota owner, for a momentous achievement, says a press release.

According to the group spokesperson, “We are happy to applaud Battashi, our customer, who has come to us for replacing his odometer. The odometer can only clock up to 999,999. He has clocked the maximum miles that his Hiace Bus odometer can show.

Not only this, we are proud to tell you that Battashi has been regular in service.”

A Toyota customer since 1997, Battashi recalled how his search brought him to the Toyota showroom, “I was searching high and low for the right vehicle to use for my taxi business. It was a difficult search since I needed a hardworking vehicle that my business

could depend on - and would also be and safe and comfortable for my family.”

“I found them both in Hiace bus,” he added.

The Hiace soon became an inseparable part of his life and Battashi went everywhere in it, never facing a problem. Time passed, and after many years of traversing the length and breadth of the Sultanate, the odometer of his dependable Toyota reached the maximum possible figure of 999,999km...after this, it could not clock any further.

Hence, Battashi approached the friendly Toyota salesperson. In the spirit of customer care that is the hallmark of Toyota in Oman, Toyota felicitated him at a special event and replaced his odometer for free.

Many people, upon noticing his odometer rating asked him how he had managed to keep his Hiace in

such a good condition, even after years of running...

To all the curious ones, Battashi replied, “I have made it a point to go to Toyota Service, always and on-time…For that reason and even after clocking a million kilometres,

DREAM COME TRUE

my Hiace still runs as good as new.

If I ever replace it, it will be another Toyota only!”

According to a Saud Bahwan Group spokesperson, “Battashi is a valued customer who has been regularly patronising Toyota ser-

vice. The regularity of the customer is nearly 100 per cent. The vehicle has covered the maximum limit, which means a staggering 1 million km. It is a remarkable testimony of the quality and durability of Toyota vehicles and how

Toyota service adds to its life.”

In Oman, Toyota is a household name...a part of people’s lives. On the one hand, Toyota offers enduring quality. On the other, nothing comes close to it in terms of value-retention.

COMPUTER-BASED TESTING

Infiniti campaign winner Aiman ISACA introduces CBT in 2017 Al Salmi drives F1 car in Spain MUSCAT: It was a dream come true opportunity for Aiman Mohammed Al Salmi of Oman, the lucky motorist from Oman who got the chance to get behind the wheel of a real Renault Sports Formula One car in Valencia, Spain, on December 8, 2016. Aiman was among eight lucky winners of Infiniti ‘Ultimate Test Drive’ campaign.

Customers who visited the Infiniti showroom in Oman between October 12, 2016 and November 6, 2016 to participate in an Infiniti Q50 test drive were entered into a prize draw. At the end of the contest, one lucky winner from Oman was selected to go to Valencia, says a press release.

The winners got the opportunity to perfect their driving skills on one of the world’s most challenging race tracks before making their dream a reality behind the wheel of a raceprepared Grand Prix machine.

Earlier in 2016, Infiniti continued its successful involvement in Formula One by entering the next phase, through a technical partnership with Renault Sport Formula One team. Leveraging the association, Infiniti offered the chance of a lifetime with the Infiniti Q50 test drive.

A spokesperson for Infiniti Oman said: “Our aim through this campaign was to deliver an unprecedented and enthralling motoring experience to driving enthusiasts which is not matched by others. Infiniti Q50 test drive numbers at our showroom are a proof that our customers loved this novel and unique exercise.”

Talking about his Formula One driving experience, Aiman, who is also a drag racer, drifter and a karting driver, said he was thrilled and lucky to be part of the team that visited Valencia.

Aiman said, “It was a dream come true. Every amateur motor sportsperson dreams about driving or at least to be close to F1 car and I lived that dream.”

Speaking of the meticulous planning, he said, “They made us

go through fitness test, flexible test reaction test, physiotherapy session, psychological rehabilitation before certifying us to drive the F1. I also got a chance to be a passenger in F1 two seats with official Renault F1 driver.”

He added, “The Renault Sports Formula One crew were shocked that I could reach 277 kmph in my first attempt at Formula One. They were applauding and started referring to me as ‘Iron man from Oman’. I clocked 277 kmph in less than four seconds and became the faster driver of the event.”

“I thank Infiniti Oman and Renault Sports Formula One team for this memorable experience.

Every detail of the programme was planned professionally during our three-day stay in Spain,” Aiman said.

A big fan of Infiniti Q50, Aiman says the 3.0-litre V-6 equipped with two turbochargers and direct injection excites him the most about the car which is studded with luxurious features.

The new Q50 also receives an upgrade with the company’s second-generation Direct Adaptive Steering, comprehensively modified from the daring and groundbreaking first-generation system.

Infiniti has enhanced the Direct Adaptive Steering after gathering

customer feedback from around the world and completing 625,000 miles of real-world testing. The standard steering mode now offers advanced levels of steering feel and feedback – more akin to that of a conventional steering system.

The new version of Direct Adaptive Steering works with Active Lane Control (Speeds over 70km/h) to maintain lane positioning against crosswinds and uneven road surfaces. This semiautonomous capability is a precursor to future steering systems that will form a key building block on the way to achieving fully-autonomous driving.

SBA commitment SBA is largely committed to supporting Infiniti Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 40 showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers. From the 2016 season, Infiniti is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.

MUSCAT: Candidates for ISACA’s highly respected CISA, CRISC, CISM and CGEIT designations can now enjoy the many benefits of computer-based testing (CBT).

The system of pencil and paper based examinations is moving to the computer based testing format in 2017 with three testing windows a year, instead of two on fixed dates at present. The news was announced by the ISACA Muscat Chapter board recently, says a press release.

In order to make a clear awareness for the same, ISACA Muscat Chapter is arranging an open session for the aspirants of the above certifications, tomorrow at 6.30pm at the Palm Restaurant, Al Khuwair, Muscat, (Behind KFC & Mustafa Sultan Electronics). The session is open to all and anybody interested can attend and get full information about the new examination system. The chapter will arrange review classes for the certification examinations.

The new CBT allows for inperson testing on a computer at an approved testing centre. In addition to providing secure, consistent environments worldwide, CBT offers increased access and flexibility. For those candidates who are busy and have multiple responsibilities, can choose from exam times and locations that are most convenient for them.

In 2017, CBT for the CISA, CRISC, CISM, and CGEIT certifications will be offered during three testing windows of eightweek durations. The windows will be 1 May 30 June 2017, 1 August 30 September 2017 and 1 November 31 December 2017. The opportunity to take the exams will increase dramatically, from two times per year (for CGEIT and CRISC) or three (for CISA and CISM), to three testing windows with an eight-week duration during 2017. With ISACA CBT exams, candidates will now receive a preliminary score report at the conclusion of their exam. Official scores will be sent to candidates via email within 10 working days

In order to make a clear awareness on computerbased testing, ISACA Muscat Chapter is arranging an open session tomorrow at 6.30pm at the Palm Restaurant, Al Khuwair of their exam. Candidates who are unable to take the exam on their scheduled date can reschedule within the same testing window.

There is no charge for rescheduling if done at least 48 hours prior to scheduled appointment.

ISACA is an independent, nonprofit, global association incorporated in 1969, which engages in the development, adoption and use of globally accepted, industryleading knowledge and practices for information systems. Previously known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, ISACA now goes by its acronym only, to reflect the broad range of IT governance professionals it serves. The CISA, CISM, CGEIT and CRISC certifications are ISACA brands, respected and used by the IT professionals for the benefit of their enterprises.

ISACA membership and its certification programs are globally ac-

cepted and recognized ISACA Muscat chapter was established in the year 2000 under the sponsorship of the College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS) which is affiliated to the Central Bank of Oman. As of date the chapter has 272 members representing from all sectors of business enterprises.

The chapter’s mission is to promote education for the CISA, CISM CRISC and CGEIT certifications, spread awareness of IT Governance, IS audit and controls, provide a platform for regular meetings and interaction amongst local IS audit and control professionals, thereby helping in raising standards and promoting best practices to manage Information technology effectively in their respective organisations.

This chapter is run by a pool of honorary Board of Directors, elected by the members of the chapter and led by Aji Bhaskar CISA, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT as the current president of the chapter.

ISACA developed and maintains the internationally recognised COBIT, Val IT and Risk IT frameworks, helping IT professionals and enterprise leaders fulfil their IT governance responsibilities while delivering value to the business.

In addition to the frameworks, ISACA offers publications that provide guidance on a wide range of topics, including how to implement the frameworks.

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Nissan Altima offers impressive mileage

BUSINESS IDEAS

OIFC conducts workshop on future strategy

With the potent, yet efficient, 182hp, 4-cylinder engine, you will get innovative engineering and

MUSCAT: Oman Investment & Finance Co. (OIFC) conducted its long term strategy workshop, which was held at Park Inn Hotel Muscat, recently.

The three days workshop was attended by all the department and section heads along with the senior management team, discussing new business ideas and initiatives for medium-long term as the company’s milestones and a platform of its future strategies, says a press release.

Said bin Ahmed Safrar, CEO of OIFC said; “OIFC has a well

maximum power delivery

MUSCAT: With a class-leading fuel economy of 17.7 km/litre, the new Nissan Altima makes a great vehicle to own in Oman.

With the potent, yet efficient, 182hp, 4-cylinder engine, you will get innovative engineering and maximum power delivery.

Along with the revised appearance, the X-Tronic D-Step CVT equipped in the new Nissan Altima is among the quietest in its segment. Altima has also improved in its coefficient of drag – to 0.26 Cd from the previous 0.29 Cd (currently similar to the GT-R). The changes come from the addition of an active grille shutter (three percent gain), under floor aero cover additions (three percent) and the new front and rear fascia and windshield designs (four percent). All of this defines into being best-in-class with standard fuel economy of 17.70 km/litre, says a press release.

A senior official of SBA said: “Nissan Altima’s innovative engineering gives you smooth power while contributing to the impressive fuel economy. Nissan Altima aims to attract a wider audience with its contemporary good looks, eye-catching exterior colour range, spacious and fashionable interior, in addition to a powerful high performance engine and a range of other options to make city driving easier.”

Innovative technologies Nissan Altima 2017 comes with a fresh new appearance including the ‘Energetic Flow’ exterior styling theme and ‘Gliding Wing’ interior layout, ‘Class Leading Fuel Economy’ and ‘Improved Driving Dynamics’ and Safety Technology’.

The front end of the 2017 Altima offers the most dramatic change with its energetic flow design, since all panels and pieces forward of the A-pillars are new – fascia, bumper, fenders, hood and lights.

Two key elements are the redesigned V-Motion grille and boomerang-shaped headlights, similar to those found on the Maxima.

The look is dramatically different from the previous Altima design, with a wide, deeply sculpted lower bumper, integrated fog lights (2.5SV, 2.5SL models) and prominent chrome-trimmed grille.

The rear of the new Altima is marked by a new sculpted bumper with a dark lower accent, a new trunk lid and lower, wider boomerang-shaped combination lights that help provide a more expressive, higher quality appearance when approaching the vehicle from behind. The four-piece combination lights incorporate the tail and stop lights, turn lamps and backup lights.

Nissan committed to adding value, incorporated customer’s feedback and added comfort features such as the standard Zero Gravity front seats which have been reshaped, the woven cloth seating and door panel materials feature a more open weave pattern, providing a premium look

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known service oriented business module, which works as interface between the utility and service providers and individuals and business establishments. It is critical to develop all the services and to further utilise all the available resources such as human and other tangible aspects in order to accomplish desired business targets, which are related to all our stakeholders. In addition, it was essential to assess and develop our existing investments, activities and explore future potential opportunities.”

ACADEMICS

Admissions open for various programmes at Waljat College of Applied Sciences

and feel throughout the Altima interior. Twin cup holders on the centre console now accommodate mug handles in response to customer input.

The already extensive Altima colour palette for 2017 includes Java Metallic, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Cayenne Red and Pearl White and a new 17-inch machine-finish aluminium-alloy wheel designs.

Latest active safety and technology The Altima have stepped up the safety technology by adding its First in Class Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), the Blind Spot Warning (BSW). Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). The new steering has been reshaped and tuned to provide real time road input and precision (available only on SL grades).

The 2017 Altima’s refined interior design follows the new “Gliding Wing” design language. Central to the new look is the revised C-stack with available 5.0-inch and 7.0inch displays for the Navigation with Mobile Apps. Finishing off with the Acoustic windshield that provides a new level of cabin isolation and quietness.

Remote engine starter The Altima have stepped up the safety technology by adding its First in Class Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), the Blind Spot Warning (BSW). Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert

(RCTA). The new steering has been reshaped and tuned to provide real time road input and precision (available only on SL grades).

Standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Smart technologies are designed to help monitor conditions like a warning to let the driver know about straying lane, or a system that helps ensure they are travelling on properly inflated tyres.

Standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System with Easy-Fill Tire Alert lets drivers know when a tire is low and the Easy-Fill Tire Alert takes the guesswork out of filling tires with a beep of the horn when they have reached the correct pressure.

Best-in-class seat comfort In the desire to help reduce the fatigue experienced during long commutes or extended road trips, Nissan turned to seating and posture from zero-gravity research.

According to this research, the least fatiguing seats are those that come closest to a ‘neutral posture’ – a relaxed position that the human body takes in a weightless environment.

Altima seats help reduce muscular and spinal loads, and improve blood flow – thereby helping reduce fatigue over long periods behind the wheel. Seat surface perforations provide increased ventilation, breathability and comfort.

Multimedia package The Altima Audio system includes an AM/FM/CD design

with RDS, MP3, and six speakers.

A BOSE Premium Audio System is available with nine speakers (including woofers), designed in collaboration with BOSE engineers to deliver a richer sound and acoustics experience.

Advanced Drive-Assist Display The new Advanced Drive-Assist Display comes standard on every model and is customisable, easyto-use and integrates key information right in front of the driver.

Dynamic driving performance Building on Altima’s reputation for superior dynamic performance, the Altima offers a redefined multilink rear suspension benchmarked to leading European sports sedans.

Responsive steering is provided by a new Electronic Hydraulic Power-Assisted Steering (EHPS) system that preserves the feel of hydraulic steering rack while offering the efficiencies of an electric power steering set-up.

SBA commitment SBA is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 20 showrooms, 22 Service centres and 35 Spare Parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

MUSCAT: Admission to various programmes for Spring 2017 session is open now at Waljat College of Applied Sciences.

With a strong alumni strength of approximately 4,000 students, graduated with MBA, EMBA, BCA, BBA and BE (Biotechnology, Computer Science and Electronics and Communication Engineering) programmes, Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS) has become a preferred destination for young aspirant candidates who want to get acceptance all over world, says a press release.

The application form can either be collected from the Admission & Registration office at Block 3, KOM Campus or downloaded from the college website.

WCAS has proven its academic excellence in the Sultanate of Oman. Established in the year 2001, the college shifted to the Knowledge Oasis Muscat campus in the year 2003. It has academic partnership with one among leading autonomous technical universities from India, the Birla Institute of Technology.

Whether it is in the government sector or in the private sector or even as an entrepreneur, our graduates have made their presence felt globally.

In the year 2016, WCAS introduced new academic programmes namely B. Engg.

(Chemical), EMBA (Weekend Mode) and BBA (Weekend Mode). The college also offers Advanced Diploma in Computer Science & Engineering and Advanced Diploma in Electronics & Communication. Students can also opt for Diploma in Business Administration, Computer Applications, Computer Science & Engineering and in Electronics & Communication.

WCAS has a vibrant CollegeIndustry Interaction Initiative and Entrepreneurship Development Society and IEEE Students’ Chapter to provide opportunities for students to visit industries and interact with top techno-managerial leaders in

WCAS has proven its academic excellence in the Sultanate of Oman. Besides imparting quality education, due emphasis is also given to co-curricular and extra-curricular activities at WCAS for holistic development of students

different domains. The students are groomed to start their own business entity or to become a researcher or to become job providers rather than job seekers, after their education. The college is equipped with video conference facility, learning resource centre, students’ recreation centre, auditorium, primary health centre and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The students get hands-on experience with software like NI LabView, Matlab with Simulink, SPSS, Xylinix, Multisim, ns2, OPNET, Oracle, NetBeans and Language Laboratory to name a few.

Besides imparting quality education, due emphasis is also given to co-curricular and extracurricular activities at WCAS for holistic development of students.

For holistic development of its students the College also conducts a wide range of extracurricular activities. WCAS has continued with its focus on inculcating the cherished values of wisdom, commitment, achievement and service in its students.

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Registration for Wathbah Businesswomen’s award closes on Jan. 15 MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has evoked good response to al Wathbah Businesswomen’s Awards 2016 to be presented in recognition of outstanding SME initiatives by women entrepreneurs.

Few more days are available for participation as registration for al Wathbah Businesswomen’s Awards 2016 closes on January 15, says a press release.

The second edition of al Wathbah Businesswomen’s Awards comes as part of the bank’s ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commit-

ment to partnership in supporting women entrepreneurs for making a mark with successful business projects. Encouraging entrepreneurial skills, the award recognises businesswomen for playing an important role in contributing to the country’s economy.

Applicants can make online registration for the award on www. bankmuscat.com and the last date for registration is 15 January 2017.

Bank Muscat is proud to have initiated a series of innovative programmes benefiting SMEs. al Wathbah Businesswomen’s Award has become a major annual

celebration aimed at appreciating and recognising Omani women entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence in their business and benefiting the community. al Wathbah Businesswomen’s Award has set a benchmark for business development initiatives

by Omani women entrepreneurs.

The award complements the series of initiatives launched by the bank as part of a comprehensive plan to support women entrepreneurs in Oman.

Eligibility The eligibility for the award in-

cludes that applicants must be Omani women and their business should be registered or a home business. Any woman registered in Bank Muscat al Wathbah Women Business Forum can also apply.

The evaluation of the projects for the awards will be based on the criteria of creativity and innovation, financial performance, leadership and commitment, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

The bank’s al Wathbah SME department offers a comprehensive suite of tailor-made finance solutions and non-financial services

targeted at small and medium enterprises. Credit facilities, both short-term and long-term in nature, are available to all sectors.

Further support is extended through non-financial services in areas of education, coaching, networking opportunities and workshops. One such example is the bank’s al Wathbah Academy.

The objective of this ongoing educational initiative is to impart the required skills and guidance for entrepreneurs drawn from diverse fields to embark on successful SME business ventures. al Wathbah Women Business

OAB conducts its first ‘Employee Health Day’ attendees with a series of presentations on health conditions and nutrition conducted by specialists from Burjeel Hospital and Nutrilife, says a press release.

With more than 170 people in attendance, the experts also provided free physical examinations to raise awareness on the importance of regular health maintenance and preventive care. Additionally, the Oman Blood Bank organised a blood donation booth at the event to offer OAB staff the opportunity to support hospital patients in the Sultanate.

Yaqoob Al Anbouri, head of the Social Committee said, “We believe that workplace wellness extends beyond the office and fosters personal as well as professional growth. From the outset, our approach has been to raise awareness, promote positive health choices, and create supportive environments that allow our team members to thrive. With ‘Employee Health Day’ becoming an integral part of our calendar, we are continuing to nurture a culture of wellness and balance for all.”

Regarded as one of Oman’s employers of choice, OAB’s commitment to its workforce has helped spearhead its growth since inception. Over the last 30 years, OAB has risen to operate more than 65 branches and offices in addition to over 135 ATMs in high footfall locations across the Sultanate.

Organised by the bank’s social committee team at its head office in Al Ghubra, the event provided attendees with a series of presentations on health conditions and nutrition conducted by specialists from Burjeel Hospital and Nutrilife

MUSCAT: Promoting wellness in and out of the workplace, Oman Arab Bank (OAB) held its first ‘Employee Health Day’ to inspire its staff to adopt healthier lifestyle practices.

Organised by the bank’s social committee team at its head office in Al Ghubra, the event provided

Forum is a first-of-its-kind networking initiative to provide guidance and help for women entrepreneurs to develop the requisite attitude, skills and abilities for leadership in business. The main objective of the forum is to play an important role in filling the gaps and empowering Omani businesswomen.

Serving as building blocks for existing and prospective entrepreneurs, all these initiatives assume importance in the backdrop of the priority accorded by the government to develop the SME sector in Oman.

E X PA N S I O N

Joyalukkas opens new showroom in India MUSCAT: Fresh from the success of opening two new showrooms in the USA, Joyalukkas continues its expansion plans with a new showroom opening in Chromepet, Tamil Nadu.

This is the first of several more openings planned by Joyalukkas for 2017.

The Joyalukkas Chromepet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu showroom was inaugurated on January 7, 2017 by Cine Actor Prashanth in the presence of Cine Actor Thiagarajan, Joy Alukkas (CMD, Joyalukkas Group), Dr Nalli Kuppuswamy (Nalli Silks), Aniyan George (KCCNA President), P.D Jose (executive director, Joyalukkas), P.D Francis (DGMRetail, Joyalukkas) Shaju K. R. (regional manager, Joyalukkas), says a press release.

“We are overjoyed that our goals to expand rapidly across

the USA, India, the GCC and new destinations are underway as scheduled. This newly opened showroom in Chromepet is our nineteenth in Tamil Nadu and is just the perfect start to the group’s 2017,” said Joy Alukkas, Joyalukkas Group chairman and MD. “We have big plans to enhance the shopping experience customers enjoy at Joyalukkas and we intend to surprise everyone with better offerings and even better service, starting here in Chromepet. We hope that the people of Tamil Nadu continue to support us with their patronage as they have through the years.”

The showroom will feature the brand’s signature bright and spacious interiors showcasing the jewellery collections’ world-class craftsmanship, as well as the high quality of service Joyalukkas is known for in all its locations.

SHARIA-COMPLIANT FINANCING

O M A N R E A L E S TAT E AWA R D S

Alizz bank enhances offerings of Bushra prize savings account

Telal Al Qurm wins ‘Best Developer of the Year (Residential) 2016’ award MUSCAT: Telal Al Qurm Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the Kuwait-based Alargan International Real Estate Company, has won the ‘Best Developer of the Year (Residential)’ at the second edition of Oman Real Estate Awards.

The Oman Real Estate Association (OREA) in association with MAF+Partners organised the award which recognises the accomplishments and contributions of developers in real estate sector in Oman. It also aims to motivate and inspire the industry players to create high quality standards of land mark projects, promote excellence, innovation and sustainability, says a press release.

Tony Safarian, general manager, Telal Al Qurm Real Estate Company said: “We are delighted to have been recognised at the Oman Real Estate Awards as the Best Developer of the Year. Our group is thrilled that our dedication has been recognised by such a distinguished association such as the

Telal Al Qurm is a residential and commercial district consisting of 164,900 sq. m of land located on the edge of the highly-in-demand Qurum area of Muscat OREA. It is a huge honour and we will continue to put our customers’ best interests at the heart of everything we do.”

The objective of Oman Real Estate Awards is to establish a healthy competitive spirit among companies to provide new and better quality services thus making the real estate sector in the Sultanate active and vibrate.

Recently, Telal Al Qurm made it to the Signature’s The Luxury 100 list with the ‘affordable luxury liv-

ing of the year’ award.

Telal Al Qurm is a residential and commercial district consisting of 164,900 square metres of land located on the edge of the highly-in-demand Qurum area of Muscat. The project encompasses residential units ranging from 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms besides stateof-the-art commercial space and shopping centres. It was recently announced that 46 townhouses will be added to Telal Al Qurm community and of which a model townhouse is open to public.

The overall Telal Al Qurm project is being developed into a modern mixed-use urban community while preserving local culture and heritage. The project is characterised by its key location, development quality, advanced infrastructure, modern facilities and picturesque hills surrounding the site. A total area of 49,920 square metres has been allocated to the roads network, gardens and walkways on the development area.

MUSCAT: Reaffirming its leading role in providing innovative Sharia complaint services and products Alizz Islamic Bank has enhanced the incentives of the Bushra prize savings account and other accounts.

Among the benefits are instant issuance of the debit card within minutes of opening the account, a range of discounts at a number of retail and dining outlets across the Sultanate. Bushra prize savings account customers also receive expected profit on their savings and the chance to enter the draws. The profit is given out on monthly basis while the draws happen daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual, says a press release. The daily draw has a total prize value of OMR500 distributed among five people with each winner receiving OMR100, while the weekly draw has the total value of OMR3,000, with three winners receiving OMR1,000 each. The monthly draw is worth OMR25,000 given to one winner and the quarterly draw is for OMR 50,000 given to one winner.

Grand prize The grand prize is worth OMR100,000 for one lucky winner. All of the cash prizes are hiba (gift) from the shareholder’s funds and all the customer has to do to enter all these draws is to maintain a minimum balance of OMR100 in his Bushra account.

Bushra savings account is based on the Sharia principle of ‘Mudaraba’ whereby the bank invests customer savings in Sharia-compliant financing in order to generate the best possible returns and profits.

The customer acts as a capital provider while the bank takes up the role of ‘Mudarib’ or entrepreneur.

All customer funds along with the bank’s own capital will be pooled

The launch of the ‘Bushra’ prize savings account comes as part of our plans to provide a wide range of carefully-designed financial products that meet all clients’ needs. This account gives clients the ability to increase their wealth Moosa Al Jadidi, Chief operating officer at Alizz Islamic Bank

and invested in Sharia-compliant modes of investment and the resulting profit is shared between the bank and the customer according to predetermined ratios. Moosa Al Jadidi, chief operating officer at Alizz Islamic Bank, said: “The launch of the ‘Bushra’ prize savings account comes as part of our plans to provide a wide range of carefully-designed financial products that meet all clients’ needs. Thanks to

the efforts of our team, we have been able to provide more than 24 Sharia-compliant financial products so far.”

He added: “This account gives clients the ability to increase their wealth. We aim to provide our clients with low-risk high-yield investment and savings solutions, and we ensure that meeting all their needs, with utmost transparency, is made priority.”

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MARADONA BACKS FIFA’S 48-TEAM WORLD CUP PLAN Diego Maradona is delighted by plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams and Argentina’s former captain said on Monday that it would rekindle interest in the tournament. >C3

On a mission, Team ub-cool to take part in Almouj Muscat Marathon Medina Ilyassova and her ub-cool team of 17 runners are undertaking the challenge of the Almouj Muscat Marathon to create awareness of epilepsy and to help support the Society for the Advancement of Epilepsy Research GEARING UP: Aspiring participants of Muscat Marathon going through fitness training. – Supplied photos

MUSCAT: Inspired by ub-cool’s co-founder and CEO Medina Ilyassova — an epilepsy survivor — the ub-cool team will take part in the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon on January 27, to raise money for epileptics in Ethiopia.

Medina Ilyassova and her ubcool team of 17 runners are undertaking the challenge of the Almouj Muscat Marathon to create awareness of epilepsy and to help support the Society for the Advancement of Epilepsy Research which is run by Professor Christian Elger of the University of Bonn.

Epilepsy can affect anyone, at any age and from any walk of life.

Each year, 200,000 people worldwide are diagnosed and in twothirds of patients diagnosed, the cause is unknown. Suffered by 65 million people around the globe, it is the 4th most common neurological condition.

Having been the victim of epileptic bouts for over 14 years, ubcool’s co-founder Medina Ilyassova knows the strength it takes to deal with and overcome the condi-

ON A MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS: Team ub-cool’s co-founder and CEO Medina Ilyassova.

tion. After suffering from uncontrollable seizures, she underwent risky brain surgery two years ago.

Now enjoying life epilepsy-free, Ilyassova’s lifelong goal is to raise awareness and educate society about this condition. On January 27 she will lead her 17-strong team to conquer a new challenge.

Ilyassova says, “Epileptics are

the same as you and me; they go to school, they have families and jobs.

Yet in many countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, epilepsy is often treated as a mental disorder and epileptics are stigmatised in their own societies.

“We want to communicate a message that epileptics are normal people, who need every bit of med-

ical support so that they can overcome all challenges posed by their condition and lead normal lives.

“The Almouj Muscat Marathon is a high profile sporting event that provides the perfect platform for engaging awareness about the condition. By promoting the cause at an international level we want to make a real difference with our

sponsorship contribution.” The Almouj Muscat Marathon, which takes place annually, is one of Oman’s most anticipated events.

There are distances to fit all ability levels, including the 42.2km full marathon, a 21km half marathon, and the 10K run.

By participating in the Almouj Muscat Marathon, Ilyassova and her team are supporting the head of the Epileptology Department at University of Bonn, Professor Christian Elger. Alongside his medical research, the Professor’s charity foundation exists to support epileptic patients and educate medical staff in Ethiopia.

One million people in Ethiopia are diagnosed with active epilepsy, yet currently fewer than five percent of these sufferers are receiving adequate treatment. When available, appropriate epilepsy treatment successfully controls most symptoms and leads to remission in at least 70 percent of cases.

Speaking about his foundation,

TENNIS

AT H L E T I C S

Cibulkova, Wozniacki advance in contrasting style SYDNEY: Women’s world number six Dominika Cibulkova and former top-ranked player Caroline Wozniacki took contrasting routes to the second round of the Sydney International on Monday.

Cibulkova dropped just two games in her 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Germany’s Laura Siegemund as the reigning WTA Finals champion set up a second-round meeting with Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.

Wozniacki survived a second set meltdown to beat Olympic champion Monica Puig 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

“It’s a tough match, because you kind of feel like ‘oh, I’m winning pretty comfortably right now’ but then she can go on a streak,” said the Dane.

“That’s where it started going in in the second set, and in the third set I tried to stay closer to the baseline and maybe play a little deeper,” Wozniacki added.

Cibulkova needed three gruelling sets against Siegemund in their only previous meeting last year in Wuhan but was a lot more assertive on Monday.

“I just felt pretty good, you know, overall when I practise here, and of course match and practice is different story, but I was ready,” said Cibulkova, who suffered a quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in Brisbane last week.

“I knew it was going to be tough, but I had very good answers for her good shots. I was really solid, and when I had the chance, I was going for my shots.

“The chances I didn’t take in Brisbane against Cornet, today I took almost all of them. So sometimes it’s like this. I really appreciate this performance I had today.”

Sixth-seeded Brit Johanna Konta and ninth seed Roberta Vinci also progressed with straight-sets victories.

Konta defeated local favourite

Professor Elger said: “Our aim is to improve the epilepsy-service in a poor country in which medical insurance is non-existent and patients cannot afford to go abroad.

We want to do this by training staff here in Bonn and in Ethiopia.”

By participating in Almouj Muscat’s Marathon, Ilyassova and the ub-cool team hope to inspire others to find the strength to overcome their personal obstacles and embrace a new endurance challenge.

Oman, Australia, Portugal, Jordan and Scotland are amongst the nations represented by the international ub-cool team.

All members are united by their enthusiasm for adventurous travel pursuits, as well as their commitment to enabling the advancement of research for such an incapacitating medical condition. With less than three weeks to go, there’s no better time to pledge your support of the team and support the epilepsy research foundation.

Nishikori pulls out of Sydney exhibition to rest hip

HAVING A DAY OUT: Tennis players Rafael Nadal of Spain and Kei Nishikori of Japan cuddle up to Lola, an Australian wombat, in

Sydney – Reuters

SYDNEY: Kei Nishikori has pulled out of an exhibition event in Sydney to recover from a hip injury, with the Japanese world number five reluctant to take any risks ahead of next week’s Australian Open.

The world number five needed a lengthy injury timeout in the

Arina Rodionova 6-3 6-4 while Vinci beat Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-0.

There was more heartbreak for local fans as Australian veteran

Brisbane International men’s singles final after drawing level in the second set against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Nishikori went on to lose the deciding set, suffering a first defeat to Dimitrov in four meetings.

“I hurt it during the match

Sam Stosur bowed out after her 6-3 6-1 defeat by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The defeat prolonged former U.S. Open champion Stosur’s poor

yesterday in the final. It’s not too bad but obviously I needed some rest,” the 2014 U.S. Open runner-up said.

The 27-year-old, who beat Stan Wawrinka in the Brisbane semi-finals, hopes to recover in time for Melbourne Park, where the year’s first grand

build-up for the Australian Open, starting in Melbourne next Monday, as she had also lost in the first round to Garbine Muguruza in Brisbane last week.

slam begins on Monday.

“It was a really tough tournament,” Nishikori said. “There were five of the top 10 in the tournament.

“I played Dimi in the final and it was another tough match and I used a lot of energy on the court last week.” - Reuters

“I don’t really know what to say.

I don’t feel like I played bad,” Stosur said after the match. “I don’t feel like I played obviously as well as I can.” - Reuters

Bekele to run London Marathon with eye on world record LONDON: Triple Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele, the second-fastest marathon runner in history, will make another attempt at claiming the world record over the classic 26.2 mile distance when he leads a stellar field for the London marathon in April.

Ethiopian Bekele, widely regarded as the greatest distance runner of all time and world record holder over 10,000 and 5,000 metres, ran two hours, three minutes and three seconds when winning Berlin last September, six seconds outside Dennis Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57 set on the same course in 2014.

Having been left out of the Ethiopian team for the Rio Olympics a month earlier it was a clear message from Bekele that he had mastered the marathon after intially producing very good, but not world bestthreatening times in his first forays over the distance.

The 34-year-old, with five track world titles to his name over 10,000m and 5,000, finished third in London last year behind Kenyan duo Eliud Kipchoge and Stanley Biwott and Kipchoge’s course record of 2:03:05 and Kimetto’s world mark will both be in his sights.

“London is the greatest marathon in the world and I would love to win there,” Bekele said. “The field is always the best and victory means so much. After finishing third last year, I know what I need to do to win.”- Reuters

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Dhoni’s captaincy swansong in Mumbai; Yuvraj, Nehra in focus Dhoni took the

Dhoni and I will conjure up the ‘fearless’ magic of good old days, says Yuvi

cricketing world by surprise when he announced his decision to step down from leadership last week, giving Virat Kohli the reins of captaincy in all three formats of the game

MUMBAI: His stellar reign as India’s national skipper is over but Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have captain written against his name one last time when the talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman leads out India ‘A’ against England in the first practice match here on Tuesday.

Dhoni took the cricketing world by surprise when he announced his decision to step down from leadership last week, giving Virat Kohli the reins of captaincy in all three formats of the game.

However, he would be leading India A in the first of two warmup games scheduled for the tourists at the Brabourne Stadium. But the match itself is expected to be watched by just a handful of spectators as heavy police presence is expected to keep away the fans.

The game is being held under the cloud of the Supreme Court’s sacking of the top BCCI President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke, making most of the senior functionaries of the body ineligible to cling to their posts.

While there have been reports of the disgruntled and ousted Board officials trying to persuade some BCCI-affiliated units from hosting games of the England tour, CCI has decided to go ahead and conduct both the warm-up games in

NEW DELHI: One of Indian cricket’s eternal comeback men Yuvraj Singh hailed Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to quit limited-overs captaincy as he feels that they can now conjure up the magic of good old days and enthrall the fans with their “fearless brand of cricket”.

“It will be like the old days playing with him (Dhoni) when we had started. Obviously, I started much before him (Yuvraj made his India debut in 2000 and Dhoni in 2004) but back then we were fearless when we used to play together.

We can do the same this time, in the upcoming series,” Yuvraj told bcci.Tv today.

Having been an integral part of the Dhoni-led World Cup winning teams (2007 and 2011), Yuvraj was very respectful of his contribution to Indian cricket as a player and a captain.

“We were the No 1 side, won two World Cups and I think these are like amazing achievements. I am not sure how many captains have that. He has been very calm and composed.

“I think he took a very good decision in stepping down as he must have felt that the next guy to take over and build the team

right earnest. As such there is no immediate threat to tomorrow’s first day/night warm-up game as well as the second game featuring another India A squad to be led

by Ajinkya Rahane on January 12 which is to be held as a day game.

The focus on the first game will be not only on Dhoni but also on recalled limited over specialists — Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra — who were both members of the triumphant squad led by the Ranchi superstar that regained the 50-over World Cup in 2011.

for 2019 World Cup and saw that in Virat. I believe he still has a lot to contribute in this team as a player.”

Making his fifth comeback to the team in all these years, Yuvraj feels that new incumbent Virat Kohli inspires others with his own performances.

“Talking about Virat Kohli, I have seen him grow up in front of my eyes as a youngster and was always getting better and better. What’s special about Virat is that he commands performance. He has been very consistent throughout his career and that fire and consistency has converted him into a very good captain.

“I think that is what he demands from the team all the time. 100 percent commitment and that’s the hallmark of a good captain. Every year he gets better with his performances.

He I think sets his own goals tries to get better with every performance.

“Earlier, he (Kohli) used to get lot of runs, converted them into hundreds and then this year he has started getting double hundreds. I don’t know, who averages over 50 in all three formats. Hopefully, Virat continues that and takes India to the next level,” Yuvraj said. - PTI

This is the first and last competitive game all these three ageing stalwarts will have before the sixmatch, 3 ODIs and 3 T20s, limitedovers series between India and England commencing on January 15 at Pune.

While Dhoni and Yuvraj have been included for both the ODI and T20 International series, Nehra has found himself back in only the T20 squad.

All three players have had a lengthy break from cricket going into the warm-up match against

CONFIDENT: Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh during a practice session in Mumbai on Sunday. – PTI

the Eoin Morgan-led England squad. The injury-prone 37-yearold Nehra has not played during the entire domestic season so far for Delhi, and thus will be keen to get quickly into the groove and also assess his match fitness.

The 35-year-old Yuvraj last played for India in the World T20 in March 2016 and has not played ODIs since December 2013, losing his place in the 50-over game after averaging just 18.53 in his last 19 matches.

The selectors have recalled

the left-handed Punjab batsman based on his form in the early part of Ranji Trophy in which he scored 672 runs in five matches, including a double hundred against Baroda.

All three players are proven performers at the international level, but would still need some match practice before the series against England kicks off. This game provides it and the trio would be keen to make the most of it.

Also coming back after an injury-forced lay-off is attacking opener Shikhar Dhawan, expect-

ed to launch the India A innings alongside Mandeep Singh, who too would be keen to show his worth against the quality opposition that England will provide.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who also got injured during the preceding Test series against England and has been declared fit, will be another player to get into match fitness after being chosen for the ODI and T20 series.

Ambati Rayudu and Mohit Sharma are two other players who will be keen to perform impressively to get back into the limitedovers squad for the Champions Trophy in England.

Indian selectors would also get a chance to see wrist spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal, who has got the nod for the T20 series, and Kuldeep Singh, in action in tandem. England too will be keen to hit their stride after landing here a few days ago. They had a serious net session on Sunday and are set to have another one on Monday under lights before plunging into the competitive part of the tour.

Morgan and three other players — Alex Hales, Jason Roy and David Willey — are coming from Australia following stints with respective Big Bash T20 franchises while nine others were part of the Test squad that got whipped 4-0 by India.

England, unlike India, who have four Test matches still to play before the Champions Trophy, are already in the white-ball mode and the warm-up game against Dhoni, Yuvraj and company offers them a good chance to start their preparations in earnest for the series against India and later. England’s star batsman Joe Root will join the team on January 12 as he has decided to stay back at home for some more time due to personal reasons.

Rival teams (from): India A: Shikhar Dhawan, Mandeep Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (capt and wk), Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ashish Nehra, Mohit Sharma, Siddharth Kaul.

England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey and Chris Woakes. - PTI

ODI SERIES

India great place to come and win series, says Morgan MUMBAI: England’s limited overs captain Eoin Morgan sees the upcoming three-match ODI series against India as a formidable challenge and expressed happiness at the quality of the teams his side will face in the two warmup games here on Tuesday and on January 12.

“Playing abroad is a different challenge, a challenge which everyone is looking forward to. India is a great place to come and win a series because they are very good at home,” said the Irish-born cap-

tain on the eve of England’s opening game against an India A side led by India’s most successful captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

England’s poor 50-over record in India of three successive defeats, including 5-0 whitewashes in 2008-09 and 2012 followed by the 3-2 defeat in their previous series in 2013, showed how big a task lay ahead of the visiting team.

“I think the two warm-up games (at the Cricket Club of India) have strong sides. It’s a great preparation to adapt and perform at skill

levels that are needed here to win,” he remarked. England and India open the three-match ODI rubber at Pune on January 15 which is followed by matches at Cuttack (January 19) and Kolkata (January 22) before the two sides start contesting in a three-match T20 series that concludes on February 1.

The hard-hitting batsman gushed about the captaincy skills of Dhoni, who has stepped down from the helm to pave the way for Test captain Virat Kohli.

“MS is obviously a very good

captain, has been for a long time and his leadership in the 2011 World Cup was exceptional. His record speaks for itself.

“Virat has a little bit of an advantage in that he has been captain in the Test scene now. Of course he is a very good player. (But) You know, until you captain (lead), you don’t know how things will go,” he added. England are now solely focused on white ball cricket till the Champions Trophy that the country is to host in June, and Morgan said the series thus assumes added

importance. “I am extremely excited about the next five-six months leading towards the Champions Trophy as we have only white ball cricket from now up to that,” said the 30-year-old Dublin-born cricketer. I think in the context of the next five months it’s important to get a good start. For the build-in that we have had and our record at home, considering that the next two (ICC) tournaments are at home, it’s crucial.”

England are to host the 2019 cricket World Cup.

Morgan brushed aside suggestions that the 4-0 Test series defeat, in which nine of his team members took part, would have any effect on how they will play in the limited overs versions.

“They are very motivated. In India, regardless which format has been played first, the side generally improves and since this side has been together there has been no backlash or no repurcussions from any performance. I don’t expect it to have any effect,” he emphasised. - PTI

OMAN TEAM LEAVE FOR UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO TAKE PART IN DESERT T20 TOURNAMENT Oman national team, accompanied by head coach Duleep Mendis and his support staff, left for the neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take part in the Desert T20 cricket tournament. While the entire team departed in the morning, captain Sultan Ahmed left by an evening flight. In the Desert T20, which will take place from January 15 to 20, Oman will play their Group B matches against Netherlands (January 15), Hong Kong (January 16) and Scotland (January 19). The semifinals and final will take place on January 20. — Supplied photo

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

C3

SPORTS FOOTBALL

OFA to pick futsal players from Mazda Power of 5 tournaments MUSCAT: The OFA Events team is once more set to reach out to the community and unearth talented gems with the all new Mazda Power of 5 tournaments.

According to a press statement issued by the Oman Football Association (OFA) on Monday, the idea is to have four tournaments and use the tournaments as a platform to scout talent for the Oman national futsal team.

“It is yet another effort by the OFA Events team to engage meaningfully with the community,” the statement added.

The four tournaments will be played at the Seeb Sports Stadium, with three players to be called up to a national team camp.

There will also be prize-money to be awarded for the winning team of each tournament.

OFA’s technical experts and coaches will be in attendance in each tournament to select players, many of whom will see this as a way to showcase their pride and passion for their country by staking a claim to the national futsal side.

“At the Oman Football Association, we take immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility towards representing Oman — something we want to give more people in the community an opportunity to feel. I think this is a great opportunity for players to come out, show their skills and passion to represent their country,” said Alister D’Silva, Head of Brand, Events and Marketing at the OFA. “We may even select more than the decided three in each tournament, as the objective is to only provide the best for the national futsal team,” the OFA official added.

“Mazda Oman has been involved with the OFA and football for some time now. We have felt the need to engage at a Grassroots Level with the community and helping unearth hidden talent is a great way to do that,” Riyadh Sultan, General Manager at Towell Auto Centre, said.

“We hope that through this tournament, we can discover lots of talent — allowing the national futsal team to have a stronger representation on the world stage,” Towell Auto Centre official added .

Those interested can find further details from the Oman Football Association. Teams can register with the OFA via Whatsapp on 90158158.

Maradona backs Infantino’s plan for 48-team World Cup The FIFA Council is expected to approve a proposal to expand the finals from 32 to 48 teams, starting in 2026, when it meets on Tuesday

ZURICH: Diego Maradona is delighted by plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams and Argentina’s former captain said on Monday that it would rekindle interest in the tournament.

The FIFA Council is expected to approve a proposal to expand the finals from 32 to 48 teams, starting in 2026, when it meets on Tuesday.

Maradona, one of the greatest players to grace the game, has been a long-time critic of FIFA but the two sides buried the hatchet last year after Gianni Infantino was elected president of the global soccer body to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter.

“I’m delighted by Gianni’s initiative because it gives chances to teams that otherwise would start the qualifiers knowing they had no chance of getting to the World Cup,” Maradona told reporters after a veterans’ match at FIFA headquarters.

“It gives each country the dream

BURIED THE HATCHET: Argentine great Diego Maradona, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino pictured during the FIFA Legends Tournament in Zurich on Monday. – Reuters

and it renews the passion for football, it appears to me to be a fantastic idea,” added Maradona, who captained Argentina to World Cup success in 1986.

He said it was important for the sport that FIFA’s image improved after it was battered by a corruption scandal that has seen 40 individuals and two sports marketing companies indicted in the United States.

“We want a FIFA that is clean so people come back to the stadiums, with so much corruption people

have got tired of always seeing the same thing,” said the 56-year-old.

Maradona was a frequent critic of Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter and claimed there was “a mafia” inside FIFA. He had also previously criticised Infantino, saying it was “very wrong to go from drawing the lots to running for FIFA president.”

The remark was a reference to Infantino’s previous role as general secretary of European soccer governing body UEFA, where his

‘King of Drift’ Ali Al Balushi delighted to represent Awasr MUSCAT: Omani drift champion Ali Al Balushi has signed up as the brand ambassador of Awasr, Oman’s premier provider of specialised broadband internet services, representing the coming together of two vibrant names associated with speed and action in the Sultanate.

Al Balushi also known as the ‘King of Drift’ has yet again managed to be on the podium at the Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman this year when he took second place at the Competition held on December 9 for the first time in Oman.

“We are proud to join hands with Ali Al Balushi, who has successfully upheld Oman’s name in the world of motorsport. Awasr’s association with the Champion of Drift reflects its status as a young

and innovative company that has taken Oman’s ambitious plans for high speed internet services to remarkable success within a very short time,” said Issam Al Ismaily, Head of Marketing, Awasr.

“Awasr stands out as a game changer not only in the Sultanate’s telecom sector but also in the community it serves through its continuous efforts to enhance people’s lives. I am proud to represent Awasr and thank them for their continued support to the Omani youth,” said Al Balushi.

“This support will drive me to achieve more in my career as a drifter and I will make sure to keep the winning spirit this year.” added Al Balushi.

Inspired by its values as a Simple, Smart, Caring and Agile tele-

com entity, Awasr has always been associated with many activities.

During the holy month of Ramadan last year, Awasr enabled over 600 visitors at the Al Makan Café to enjoy its premium internet services.

In September 2016, Awasr or-

All set for Republic Day of India Hockey Festival

Dr. Hammad Hamad Al Ghafri

Indramani Pandey

Talib Al Wahaibi

The day’s events will include the Republic Day Cup and Ambassador’s Cup hockey matches.

The teams that have confirmed their participation in the Republic Day Cup are Team Coorg Muscat, UTSC Muscat, Beatrice XI and Omani XI. The Ambassador’s Cup has attracted teams like Ambassador’s XI, Indian School Al Seeb, Indian School Muscat, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir, Indian School Al

Ghubra, Indian School Darsait and Indian School Al Mabela.

The Indian national anthem will be rendered by Indian School Darsait students.

Future Plastics LLC of Future Group of Companies will be the main sponsors of the Festival while the supporting sponsors are Mass International Co, Future Engineering & Manufacturing Company (FEMCO), Suhol Group of Companies, Oman Oasis Water,

Pocari Sweat (Muscat Pharmacy), Quality Printing Press, Mohammed Rafiq & Partners, Al Hayat Polyclinic, Bank Muscat, Al Raha Poly Products, UTSC Muscat and Team Coorg Muscat.

Meanwhile, the organising committee has decided to honour the principals of various Indian Schools and others who have helped in promoting hockey in Oman. The Festival will be held from 3pm to 8pm.

RUGBY

England flanker Robshaw ruled out of Six Nations LONDON: England flanker and former captain Chris Robshaw has been ruled out of the Six Nations after his club Harlequins said he would be sidelined for three months following shoulder sur-

Americas-wide qualifying Meanwhile, FIFA has proposed merging the CONCACAF and South American qualifiers as part of its plans to expand the 2026 World Cup. Venezuelan Football Federation president Laureano Gonzalez said in an interview the idea for the merger had come from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

MOTORSPORT

HOCKEY

MUSCAT: The Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg Muscat in co-operation with Future Group will organise the annual Republic Day of India Hockey Festival on January 20.

The event, which commemorates the 68th Republic Day of India, will be organised at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

“The Festival will be held under the patronage of the Embassy of India and in coordination with the Oman Hockey Association,” said chief organiser and hockey veteran S.A.S. Naqvi.

Indramani Pandey, the Ambassador of India, will be the chief guest, while the guests of honour are Dr. Hammad Hamad Al Ghafri, Adviser at the Ministry of Civil Services and former chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, and Oman Hockey Association Chairman Talib bin Khamis Al Wahaibi.

OHA General Secretary Dr. Khamis Al Rahbi and Oman Cricket General Secretary Madhu Jesrani will be the special guests.

duties included supervising draws for European competitions.

Gonzalez, who is also a vicepresident of CONMEBOL, the governing body for South America, said it would want at least 14 places at the finals for the two regions combined before accepting the proposal. CONCACAF represents North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

The FIFA Council is due to vote on Tuesday whether to increase the number of teams at the finals from the current 32 to either 40 or 48 from 2026. FIFA will decide at a later date which regions will be awarded the additional slots.

CONMEBOL currently has four-and-a-half places at the World Cup for its 10 members while CONCACAF, which has 35 FIFA members in its ranks, has three-and-a-half places.

“There is a suggestion from Gianni Infantino to unify the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF qualifiers,” Gonzalez told the Venezuelan sports daily Meridiano.

“This would have support if they gave us more places. At the moment, we have seven between the two confederations, plus two half places,” he said.

“If this went up to 14, similar to what Europe has for more or less the same number of teams, the idea would catch on on the continent.”

FIFA could not immediately be reached for comment. Europe currently has 13 places for 55 teams, plus one for 2018 World Cup hosts Russia. CONCACAF is also a leading contender to host the 2026 World Cup, possibly with a joint bid involving at least two out of the United States, Canada and Mexico. - Reuters

gery on Monday. Grand Slam winners England will play their first game against France at Twickenham on February 4 with the tournament ending on March 18.

“Chris Robshaw will undergo

surgery on his left shoulder today to repair an injury sustained in the match against Worcester Warriors on New Year’s day,” Harlequins said. “He is expected to be out of action for around 12 weeks.”

The 30-year-old, who has 55 caps, was replaced as captain after Eddie Jones arrived as coach but featured in all but one match of England’s unbeaten 13-Test run in 2016. - Reuters

ganised a FIFA video gaming tournament at its state of the art Awasr store in Avenues Mall in which 32 teams of Barcelona fans from all parts of Oman participated in a keenly fought on-screen contest using Awasr’s high speed internet

connection for the best player title.

A similar contest was held at the store for Real Madrid fans, which also involved the participation of 32 teams from all across the Sultanate.

Awasr has emerged as the champion of fibre based internet services in the Sultanate with its 1Gbps Fibrenet Home package. Apart from the 1 Gbps fastest internet package, which comes for just OMR 150, Awasr is offering other competitively priced Fibrenet Home packages, with rates starting as low as OMR 29 per month for 20 Mbps to OMR 50 for 50 Mbps, and OMR 70 for 150 Mbps.

Its Fibrenet Business packages include 5 Mbps for small businesses, 10 and 30 Mbps for medium businesses, and 70 and 120 Mbps internet for large businesses.

C4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017

SPORTS Australia withdraw O’Keefe from Big Bash ahead of India Test series There is bit of Kumble in Zampa’s bowling, says Mike Hussey

O’Keefe had been named in the Sydney Sixers squad to make his return to BBL action in Monday’s match against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG before Cricket Australia pulled him out

SYDNEY: Steve O’Keefe’s hopes of joining the Australian slowbowling attack in the four-Test series in India from next month have been boosted after the left-arm spinner was withdrawn from the remainder of the Big Bash League to prepare for the tour.

The 32-year-old returned home injured after playing his third Test in Sri Lanka last July and was only recalled to the national team for last week’s final Test of the home summer against Pakistan.

O’Keefe had been named in the Sydney Sixers squad to make his return to BBL action in Monday’s match against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG before Cricket Australia pulled him out.

He will now focus on the fiveday format and will be part of a group of players travelling to Dubai for a training camp ahead of the India tour.

“Post the Sri Lanka tour last year we have been in talks with Cricket New South Wales and Steve on the best way for him to prepare for the ... tour of India,” CA team performance boss Pat Howard said.

“After his recent injuries, which have caused him to miss Sheffield Shield matches this season, he has FOOTBALL

Record signing Jordon Ibe a disappointment: Eddie Howe LONDON: Bournemouth’s record signing Jordon Ibe has been a disappointment, manager Eddie Howe has said following his side’s third round exit from the FA Cup. Bournemouth, who made 11 changes to the starting lineup that drew 3-3 against Arsenal in the league last midweek, were defeated 3-0 by Millwall on Saturday. Ibe, who made only his 12th start at the club, failed to make an impact against the League One outfit as Bournemouth could not produce a single shot on target during the full 90 minutes.

“He hasn’t been a regular in the team and that will be a disappointment for him and for us,” Howe said of the 21-year old winger. “I still feel there’s a lot of potential in there, but obviously he’s got to fulfil that when he gets chances...”

Ibe, who is yet to score for the Cherries, signed for the club at the start of the season from Liverpool for a reported fee of £15 million ($18.29 million). Bournemouth are currently ninth in the Premier League and are now out of both the domestic cup competitions this season. - Reuters

FOCUS ON FIVE-DAY FORMAT: Australia’s left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.

had a lot less red ball match practice than other players that are likely to tour India and it is important he gets as much bowling in the format he is going to play.

“His focus will now be on grade and futures league cricket before likely being one of the first players to depart for Dubai in late January,” he said O’Keefe was impressive on his Australia return, posting match figures of four for 103 during the

hosts’ third Test win against Pakistan at the SCG and will be expected to partner off-spinner Nathan Lyon in India.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa believes he has done enough to stake a claim for selection in the Test squad, citing his experience of playing the Indian Premier League and last year’s World Twenty20 in the South Asian country.

“I’ve performed well in the World T20 and the IPL and I think I’ve

really earned the respect of some of the Indian players over there as well,” Zampa, who plays the shorter formats for Australia, said. “To have my experience over there I think it would lead me in good stead towards playing in India.”

Australia have not won a Test series in India since 2004 and were blanked on their previous trip to the subcontinent’s spinfriendly conditions in Sri Lanka last year. - Reuters

SYDNEY: Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey feels Adam Zampa’s approach to bowling reminds him of the great Anil Kumble, even as the young leg-spinner made a strong case for his selection for the upcoming tour of India with some impressive performance in the sub-continent last year.

A no stranger to Indian conditions, Zampa starred for Australia in the ICC World T20 last March and competed in the Indian Premier League alongside captain Steve Smith for Rising Pune Supergiants.

“Kumble was a lot taller but not a big turner of the ball and had a lot of success bowling in that manner. Kumble is a legend of the game so it’s a bit premature to compare the two, but the style of bowling is certainly very similar so you can make some comparisons there,” Hussey was quoted as saying by ‘cricket.Com.Au’.

In 11 limited-overs matches on the sub-continent for Australia, the 24-year-old has taken 18 wickets at an average of 16.11.

Zampa feels that world No. 1 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin doesn’t want to give too much away.

“I think the way Ashwin bowled in the nets, you ask someone like Smithy (Smith) or guys that you can tell he’s going to come up against in international cricket. I think there was one net session to Smithy where he just bowled

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

Careful management can extend Rooney’s career, says Mourinho LONDON: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes Wayne Rooney can extend his stay at the top level with careful management as the record-equalling striker enters the twilight of his career.

Rooney is one goal away from becoming United’s highest scorer after equalling Bobby Charlton’s 249goal tally during a 4-0 victory over Reading in FA Cup third-round.

The club captain, who arrived at Old Trafford from Everton in 2004, has two-and-a-half years left on his current contract.

“I don’t know, it depends on him — especially on his brain, on his desire,” Mourinho told the British media when asked about how long Rooney can contribute at the highest level.

“I think everything is about desire, more important than anything else. I think he has motivation so if he keeps motivation he can play.”

The 31-year old forward, who has scored just once in the Premier League so far this season, has lost his regular spot in the United starting lineup.

The match against Reading was only the seventh time he had a full 90 minutes this season.

Mourinho believes midfielder

leggies for an hour. I don’t think he (Ashwin) wants to give too much away,” the leggie said.

Zampa isn’t too perturbed by criticism around his inability to turn the ball too much.

“I know a lot of people say ‘he doesn’t spin the ball enough’ and all that junk. I don’t really see a difference if the ball goes under the bat, over the bat or next to the bat,” he said.

“People have a lot of criticism on that side of my game but there’s other ways of taking wicket than being a big spinner of the ball.

“A lot of people have been talking about my first-class statistics and all those things, but if I was given the opportunity, the way I bowled in Sri Lanka particularly and I know it’s Twenty20 cricket but during the IPL, the respect I’ve gained from those countries and the players now I think I would suit that role,” Zampa said. - PTI

ALL ABOUT DESIRE: Wayne Rooney

Michael Carrick and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, both 35, as well as Rooney must be utilised sparingly in order to get the best out the final phase of their careers.

“It’s always a pity when these

guys go to the end, but they get older and we cannot stop the clock,” the Portuguese manager added.

“But when they take good care about themselves, when the wives help, when they train well, when

the manager and the staff is intelligent enough to understand the difference between the body of a teenager or the body of a man of thirty something... they can delay the end of their career.” - Reuters

Ozil wants clarity on Wenger future before signing new contract LONDON: Mesut Ozil is ready to sign a new contract with Arsenal but the attacking midfielder wants to know if manager Arsene Wenger is staying at the club beyond this season.

Wenger’s contract expires at the end of the current season, while Ozil and team mate Alexis Sanchez both have 18 months left on their deals.

“I feel very, very happy at Arsenal and have let the club know I would be willing to extend. The fans want me to stay, and now it’s only down to the club,” Ozil told football magazine Kicker.

“The club knows I am here mainly because of Arsene Wenger, who brought me here and whose trust I have. The club also knows that I want clarity about what the manager is doing.”

Ozil, who joined the North London club in 2013, has been criticised by former Arsenal players including Thierry Henry, who said the German international was “holding the club hostage” with their wage demands.

Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premier League with 41 points, trailing leaders Chelsea by eight points. - Reuters

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Contact : 98294753 1. 2 BHK, M.B.D, R.O 250/-, 260/-.

Contact: 92144045 /97799175 2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/- .

Contact:92144045 / 97799175 1, 2 BHK WadiKabir.

Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 Villa in Al Khuwair 33, 6 bedrooms, hall & sitting room R.O 800/-. Contact: 93993354

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D3

DAILY GUIDE

- New Brand Building in Bowsher for sale

FOR SALE

- Twin villa in Azaiba & Ghubra for sale - Commercial/ Residential khuwair for sale.

Land in Al

Contact Hood: 91155779

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) 6. Scaffoldings 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Contact 93990154

FOR SALE 2014 MODEL VOLVO PENTA 650 KVA GENSETS (02NOS) 2000 KVA (01 NO) VOLTAMP TRANSFORMER CONCEALED PANEL SYSTEM FOR ABOVE. ALL ITEMS HARDLY USED IN A COMPLETED PROJECT OF 2YRS AND CAN BE REUSED. ONLY SERIOUS BUYERS CONTACT GSM :

92886778/99455690

FOR SALE Running coffee shop sale Al Mawalah, Rusayl.

Contact: 92992940 House for sale at Wadi Kabir rented to the company asking for (55 thousand rial) negotiable.

Contact: 92882414

FOR RENT

Pharmacy for sale in Mabela.

Contact: 92893890 / 98838252

OFFICE PROPERTY FOR SALE/RENT DAYS AWAY FROM DELIVERY - PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE AT PRIME LOCATION AT BAUSHER ON 2ND FLOOR BUILD UP AREA – 163 SQ. MTRS. SALE PRICE RO.1,050/- PER SQ. MTR -RENT PER MONTH RO.10/- PER SQ. MTR. OPTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT FURNITURE.

PREMIUM VILLA FOR SALE SANTINI A3 TYPE 2 STOREY VILLA WITH 4 BEDROOMS PLUS MAID ROOM AT AL MOUJ PHASE 4.

GREAT LOCATION WITH CUL DE SAC FOR PARKING. PURCHASE OPEN TO NON-OMANIS AS WELL.

Shops for rent at WK near primary IND SCH, Big shop monthly rent R.O 400/- including ceiling space small shop monthly rent 250/-, pent house1 room , 1 toilet, hall 150/-.

Contact: 99445880 Abdullah 2 BHK Mumtaz. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 Residential & commercial flats in a new building, at Muttrahfor office or shops any kind of commercial activates. More details.

Contact: 99364735/ 95729711 2 BHK Azaiba R.O 300/-.

Contact:92144045 / 97799175 2BR flat- luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair, 1 BR flat – luxury fully furnished at Al Khuwair, 5 BR villa fully furnished at Azaiba, 4 BR villa unfurnished at Azaiba, 5 BR duplex, 4 bathrooms – Qurum heights, 5 Br villa, 6 bathrooms – Madinat Sultan Qaboos (brand new), 5 BR villa at Al Hail. For short or long term lease contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a car : 99436312 / 94617563 / 92888376 2bed room flat in Azaiba, behind Zubair. Contact: 96788070 Apartment for rent three rooms and a hall - kichen-4bath-Next to City Centre Almwalh.

Contact 99336776 New apartment flat for rent, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms & kitchen, behind Indian School, short way to Lulu Darsait & Muttrah traditional Soqu.

Contact or Whatsapp: 91013331

Well running reputed travel agency for sale. Contact: 97992388

Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM

Twin Villa for sale in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Each side has three floors, five bedroom plus maid room. Each room has it’s own bathroom and one extra toilet between dining and sitting room. The villas are now about 5 years old and very clean and well maintained.

It has split A/C’s. OMR 215,000 each villa. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

No Brokers Please.

Villa complex for lease renovated deluxe villa complex with separate three flats , location AL Ghobra north ( near tourist hotels) is available for lease. Contact: Ali : 99411607, Luoy : 92466266

400 square meters residential land in Al Ghubra south near Millenium Hypermarket. OMR 134 thousand. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

No Brokers Please.

Flat for rent 2BHK split A/c near Kuwaiti Mosque in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

603 sq mtrs residential land in Al Hail North Block 45 NE near Radio station. OMR 96 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 - or 97509955. No Brokers Please

CONTACT NO. 91257475 New villa for rent in Azaiba 18 November Street. 6 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens & 7 toilets. To view the villa contact - 95919059

Villa Shatti Al Qurum area 920 SQM. Contact: 95202430

1-4 bedroom villa at Al Ansab.

Contact: 96788070 Apartment 3 bedrooms, sitting room, balcony at Al Ansab R.O 360/- monthly. Contact: 93993354 1 bed room, bathroom, kitchen in Al Hail South R.O 120/- Monthly.

Contact: 93993354 Villa for rent 2 brand new luxurious villas (No 411 & 413) for rent in Azaiba, Each villa with 6 bedrooms, servant quarters, 2 kitchens with all modern amenities which includes split A/C, dish washers, oven, ETC , Way No 4491 / 4405 . #99462980 1 bedroom attached kitchen, toilet for family in Al Khuwair RO 130/-.

Contact: 95154331 New 3 story 4 bedroom villa in Al Hail near to radio station. The spacious master bedroom has a sea view. It has a maids room.

All bedrooms have bathrooms and one extra bathroom between dining and sitting room. It has split A/c’s. 6 months advance payment required. Price is OMR 750 monthly.

Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. No Brokers Please.

Industrial land AL Misfah Boushar area 30.000 SQM attractive location. Contact: 95202430 Empty shop / laundry near Camelia café. Contact: 92868123 / 92841089 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only.

Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909 Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm.

Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239 RESTAURANT for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 99378964

NRI

FOR SALE

6.5 cents of Land Sq Plot In Ravipuram Near Ernakulam Shipyard in MG Road, behind Chaitanya eye clinic Expected Price – INR 30 Lakhs per cent But Negotiable Only Genuine Buyer Contact Oman – 968-94102519 Contact Kochi – 91 85477 01946 Suitable for 3 Storey building & office Premises.

Brand new luxury 3 BHK apartment for sale in South Bangalore, Bannerghatta main road, near Dairy Circle. Contact: + 968 99337995

ACC. AVAILABLE

MANPOWER

Toyota Yaris for sale 2009 September 93,000km white colour expat driven, in good condition accident free for sale. Contact: 93461297 2008 Model Hyundai Tucson 93,000 KM expatriate driven in very good condition & Accident free for Sale .Serious buyers contact Mobile: 91793079 Toyota Corolla 2016, white colour 8000 km, 4300 R.O. Contact 92811110

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES

Furnished room for Executive Bachelor near OK Center, RUWI. Contact - 99591669 Sharing accommodation in W/K. Contact: 94986587 Furnished room Indian bachelor near Al Falaj Hotel Ruwi& lady in WadiKabir. RO 100.

Call 96202458.

Furnished room CBD area for Executive bachelor free Wi-Fi, advance deposit. Contact: 90631572 Room for rent near Hamriya R/A for executive bachelor, Sharing kitchen. Contact 99640850, 97983501, 97443614 Furnished rooms with kitchen at ruwi. Contact : 91214897

ACC.WANTED Wanted a single room for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi area.

Contact: 93708595 Wanted a family shared accommodation for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi-Wuttayah area.

Please contact: 93708595

AVAILABLE House shifting and Transport.

Contact: 96737158 Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299

Special packages, Facial, Pedicure, Eyebrow, only 10 RO. (home service also) Al doom Beauty Parlour #99619409

SITUATION WANTGOOD NEWS 30th anniversary (January to February 2017) Anwar dental clinic , Ruwi offers free dental consultation and 50% reduction in treatment charges as 30th anniversary celebration Call Dr. Philip Thomas 24702086 / 99747481 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, 18th November Street Al Ghubra (North).

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 90558627

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

FOR EXPATS FOR RENT Flats & shops for rent at Ruwi Honda road Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

MV SALE

Two house in Zanzibar first line form the beach at Kibweni near the palace (R.O 77000) Contact Owner: 99348943

Transportation.Contact: 96968411 Driver with car transportation available. Contact: 95396905 Picking & drop Ruwi to Rusail.

Contact: 98957524 / 91287470

Skilled / unskilled Labors available under single sponsorship for hire. Contact: 92841089

MATRIMONIAL Pakistani 29 years old boy, MBA, working as Accounts head in Muscat looking for suitable proposal Contact: 96605624 Orthodoxgirl 24/5.1ft. BDS, seeking alliance from well settled orthodox Jacobite R.C Marthoma boy MDS, M.D, MBA (business). Contact: 99371509/ 92336530 Parents of a North Indian sheikh Sunni, Muslim, Engineer 33 with Canada PR, looking for a professionallyqualified tall and smart bride.

Mail details with photo to: bridesearch2017@gmail.com R.C boy, 29 years KothamangalamDiosees 180 cm working Muscat (FMCG) invited suitable proposal.

Contact: 92397926 Viswakarma boy 33 years Trissur Own Business,seeks suitable alliance. Contact: 97363585

BUSINESS Looking for investor for sugar factory project in Sohar Industrial Area - Contact: 99246127

Transportation. Contact: 94297820 Transportation.Contact 94087276

WANTED

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778

BUYING Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

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T U E S D AY, JA N UA RY 1 0, 2 0 1 7 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Sama veterinary Clinic Urgently Required Receptionist - Female • Minimum Graduate • Two years experience in the same filed.

• Fluent in English, Arabic advantage.

• NOC is must.

(Send CV and current picture with ref no:0911)

Email: jobs@sgoman.net

URGENTLY REQUIRED

Marketing Sales Person

SALES MANAGER

Should have experience in kitchens, wardrobes & sanitary wares Experience 2-3yrs Having valid Omani license Knowledge of Oman market

For a reputed Shoes & Leather Product Retail Co. Minimum 3 years experience, age between 30 to 35 years.

Must be fluent in Arabic & English. With driving license.

Send CV to:

careeroman@yahoo.com Reputed mineral water company required the following HEAVY/LIGHT DUTY DRIVERS VAN SALESMAN with Omani driving license

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES CO ORDINATOR with Omani driving license HELPERS Experience 3 to5 years

Contact - 90372638 WANTED Female/male Physiotherapist and female/male GP, and one female Lab Technician with or without MOH license & data flow for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre, Musanna.

Contact 92025033, Email : chillapalli76@gmail.com

ACCOUNTS Required Accountant for office with min 2 years experience. Visa Available.Contact-24691193, Send CV to: info@gmuco.com

HR/ ADMIN Required Omani PRO with driving license. Contact-24691193, Send CV to: info@gmuco.com

DOMESTIC HELP Required part time Indian cook in Darsait. Contact: 93322009 Full time Malayalee housemaid required for a Keralite family.

Contact: 92103688

DRIVER Driver required with valid Omani driving license, visa available.

Contact-24691193.

Send CV to:info@gmuco.com Omani light drivers 2 Nos with PDO driving license passed.

Contact: 96269676 Requirement - Omani Drivers for 3T Truck needed immediately for Natural Water Distribution Company with 3to5 years driving experience.

Candidates from Muscat/Sharqia is also required. Interested candidates contact: Mobile 99273774/ 99202278/95060390 Wanted expert Driver.

Contact: 97165972

EDUCATION/TRAINING Urgently required Science, Math and English Teachers for a bilingual school in Al-Ansab.

Applicants should possess qualifications of B.Sc/B.A/B.Ed and IELTS band 6 with minimum two years of experience. Forward your CVs to amal73@moe.om, Contact: 92515777 Required English Tutor (freelancer) for a construction company for teaching conversant English. Send your CVs to hr@oasisgreace.com Contact: 24826566 Fax: 24812226 GSM: 99881459

ENGINEER Urgently required senior QS (tendering) and safety officer with minimum2 years Gulf experience for a reputed construction company. Canforwardyour CVs to hr@oasisgrace.com.

Contact: 24826566 / 99881459

A REPUTED TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IN MUSCAT REQUIRES FEMALE CANDIDATE AS

COMMERCIAL COORDINATOR Requirements: • MINIMUM 5YRS EXPERIENCE IN GCC COUNTRIES. • FLUENCY IN ENGLISH AND HINDI LANGUAGE IS MUST. • EXPERIENCE IN SALES/OPERATION COORDINATION IN TRANSPORT /LOGISTICS INDUSTRY.

Contact No: +968 91717230 Mail.Id: shana@omantd.com SALES / MARKETING Urgently required Sales & Marketing person for a computer shop at Ruwi (IT Knowledge), Oman Driving License will be an advantage. (Preference for Keralite). Contact: 98048900.

Email: infor@smartpointcomputer. com

Apply with confidence send us your updated CV with photograph to:

hrmhire16@gmail.com

TECHNICIAN

Selected Candidates will be called out for a personal interview.

URGENTLY REQUIRED Filipino/Nepalese female sales associate for a fashion accessories outlet in one of the leading malls in Muscat.

Applicants on visit visa or with NOC only.

2 years experience is a must (GCC experience preferred) Please send CV to

irfan@krasa.co.uk ENGINEER Excellent Grade Company requires a Diploma holder Civil Engineer/ Supervisor with 5 years experience in building construction. Please contact 99346265 or send your CV to md.artllc@gmail.com Urgently required civil QA/QC candidates for areputed construction company, kindly Send your CVs to hr@oasisgreace.com Contact: 24826566, Fax:24812226 / GSM: 99881459 Urgently required qualified Project Engineer / Project Manager with gypsum work experience for a project inSalalah.

Contact: 95064848 / 98578425

IT Urgently required an SEO professional with experience in optimizing websites and improving organic SE rankings with knowledge of Analytics, keyword research, social media optimization and link building. Email: hr@cityvago.com

MISCELLANEOUS

MEDICAL Urgently required GP (MBBS) doctor with MOH license for locum in a reputed clinic.

Contact - 99048170 Required female Nurse urgently with MOH license.

Contact: 97304519 Email: drshehabclinic@gmail.com Urgently required for Doctor, Staff Nurse & Lab Technician with or without MOH license.

Contact: 93824902 Required female Dentist, Nurses, Pharmacist, Lab Technician for a Polyclinic at Ibra.

Contact 71100596, joharaajmal2016@gmail.com Urgently needed female dermatologist (priority for Omani) with minimum five years experience.

Please send CV to elixirhealthcenter@yahoo.com, P.S details of salary and benefits will be sent after submitting the CV.

MANAGER

Required Sales Manager / Sales Man 5 years experience, driver license preferable marble, natural stone. Contact: 95322037

Urgently required staff Nurse, Lab tech, Optometrist & Specialist Radiologist Doctor. Preferably Indian for a medical centre in Ruwi Muscat. Cont No.95220350 or bmdcsg@yahoo.com

Sales & Marketing Executive for interior design & Con. Co, Oman driving license , basic knowledge in computer). Contact: 92851122 Email: smathousemct@gmail.com Sales Executive (Textiles) – 3 Nos. Sales Executive (Paints) - 1 No. Sales Executive (Building Materials) – 2 Nos. With valid Oman D/L.Experience of 2 years in selling Textiles or Building Materials in Oman.Degree in any discipline.

Mail resume to fashionwear2016@ gmail.com for Textiles vacancies and sales.buildex7777@gmail.com for building material vacancies.

Speedy Enterprises United LLC Travel/ Tourism and Car Rental required Sales Executive with valid Oman driving license and fluent spoken written English, experienced candidate will be preferable. Interested candidates send resume to: Anil@speedyoman.com

MBA- Finance Indian male 14+ years experience in Finance & Accounting (9 Years in Oman) Valid D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 97628676 Indian female 22 years, B.Com with 1 year experience in India as accountant / Clerk, looking for suitable opening. Now on visiting visa.

Contact: 97754830 Indian male 30 years on visit visa, B.Com (Comp) 4 years experience in accounts. Seeks position in administration or accounts assistant.

Contact – 97047327 / shaikmasiuddin430@gmail.com Indian Accountant having 13 years experience in accounts in Oman & 6 years in India, Oman driving license excellent knowledge in Tally & MS Office, Seeking suitable placement Contact: 79039690 Email: thomas.mahesh@gmail.com Experienced business development investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field, holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact: 90157073 Accounts Manager looking for job in accounts or finance, 4 years Oman exp with accountancy degree & Omani D/L with NOC available.

Contact: 95661169 Email: moshin_zaman4u@hotmail.com MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.Contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com Finance / Account professional 18 yrs Oman experience can work independentor head the division looking for opening.

Contact: 92168401 / 92787747 Finance/M.Com Accountant 5+ yrs of exp including GCC seeking for suitable placement. #91329254 aneeshkrishnan007@gmail.Com

Pakistani male, MBA (HRM) Honor, B.Com, 4 years experience HRM & Admin 1 year experience in construction, experience in sales & marketing . Currently on visit visa. Contact: 94939319

Indian male, age 26, visit visa, B.SC Mathematics 4 years experience as an accountant seeks suitable job. Contact: 98615171 / (Father no) 95374978.

Email: worksite.tinson@gmail.com

8 years experience in administration, sales and purchasing in Oman with valid GCC driving searching suitable job.

Contact 98145825, email: sibitommy8844@gmail.com.

Indian female, 12 years experience in call center banking team management, 1 year exp in Oman as secretary to the G.M, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 95166496

Looking for Administrative or clinic administrative job, immediate hire. Contact: 98868692

Part time Senior Accountant 10 yrs exp. Contact: 91126314

SALES / MARKETING Looking for an Expat staff, with experience in Oman in real estate field not exceed the age of the employee 28 & Send CV with photos.

Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com

MBA- Finance Indian male 14 years experience in Finance & Accounting (10 years in Oman). NOC available.

Contact: 99206781

Omani lawyer & legal adviser experience in Business administration,HR, staff training.

Contact: 97243393 Email: mum30033@yahoo.com

7 years experienced in Administration & Sales with valid Oman driving license searching for a suitable job. Contact: 93347156

IT Marketing Executive (Required experiences +driving license) Maintenance person with driving license. dreamstravel66@gmail.com

Urgently required Internist, Orthodontist, Physiotherapist & Lab Technician for a reputed medical center in Salalah.

Contact 99714300 Email - hrmdimc2010@gmail.com

ADMIN

Indian male 14 years experience Dubai, Oman insurance,banking,office administration, seeking for suitable position immediately NOC available.

Contact: 98019340

Wanted Salesman, Merchandiser with minimum experience 3 years driving license.

Contact: 99440252

MEDICAL

SIT.WANTED

Marketing Manager: candidates with Chemical / Mechanical Engineering, 10 years experience in marketing oilfield items, tendering process, MS Office programs and with Omani driving license, may please mil CV: msindco@gmail.com

CCT.V Camera Technician, Electrician cum plumber with D/L, building material Salesman.

Contact: 99383044

Insurance broker looking to recruit commission based sales people if monthly targets achieved,bonus will be paid in addition to commission, If you are interested to work with us , send your name & phone to this email: policysalesmct@gmail.com

Well Known Automobile Service Company in Oman looking for Service Technicians / Mechanics and Electricians.

Interested please send resumes to vyasan.united@gmail.com.

Contact. 00968-91411657

ACCOUNTS

Administrator B.Com with D/L on release, 30 years India & Gulf experience in office. project documentation & logistics.

Contact: 92324789 / 97281023 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288

ACCOUNTS Qualified Chartered Accountant & ACS 10 +years Managerial experience, working in Bank, looking for suitable opening, Open to any GCC, MBL: +968-90788509, Email: kartirevy@gmail.com Experienced indian accountant 24 years,Mcom,BBA and having accounting diploma certificate from IAB .Currently on family visa in oman,seeking suitable job opportunities.Contact : 99076506 Email: rebi.rsf@gmail.com Accountant male 25 India with 3 year experience seeking suitable placement Mob.91425506 Accounts & Admin 3 years experience in GCC, BBA graduate, Indian male 29 yrs, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 79103778

Indian female (27), CA Intermediate, B.Com, 3.5 years experience in Audit, 2 years as Accounts Manager, looking for suitable positions.

Contact: GSM-94873369, Email id sarikasureshs@gmail.com Female Indian Accountant 28, CA Inter & MBA (Finance & I B) with 2 years Experience in Muscat available to join immediately.

GSM:- 90324530 Master of Business Administration (finance) Bachelor of Sciencediploma in Islamic banking & finance Somali lady 24 years old, languages known Somali, English and Arabic, one year experience.

Contact: + 971527626329 / istabraq66@hotmail.com Freelancer / part time Indian CA accounts / Tax / Audit / MIS finalization with tax queries answering, above 20 years Oman experience.

Contact: 95140332 / 99104151 Finance & Audit Manager Available CPA, MBA-USA ACCA ,Oman Experienced , Expert in Profit Maximizations , Business Developments, All Banking Facilities , ERP- Accounting Software , Internal / External Audits & Controls, with Best Solutions of Business Problems ,NOC available & Driving License Call 94886226 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis and finalization works.

Contact: 96247295 Indian male having long track proven record in all aspects of all management, rich in project management, business development & expansion and finance control, 16 years of experience in GCC and India, looking for suitable managerial post.

NOC available. Contact: 95207317 Email: mehulmodha@hotmail.com

Indian (M), Qualified CPA, CMA, CIA (USA), MBA (Finance) & M.Com, 15 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting & Audit, (3 years in Oman) looking for suitable Senior/Middle level position in Finance/Accounting/Audit. NOC available.

E-mail soji_ansu@yahoo.com, mob – 91595436 Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job.

Contact 93953613, Emailallen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact : 90157073 Indian chartered accountant, well experienced in manufacturing,service & telecom industries in Oman,Oman, as finance manager, seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92221129/ 97400600 Internal audit ACCA (finalist) 14years of experience including Gulf in internal audit field, on visit visa. Contact: 95916716 Email: usman.eshaal2016@gmail.com Sales & Accounts Manager, Indian male having long track proven record in all aspects of finance, total 9 years experience in GCC, NOC available, Ready to join immediately Mob-97200823 Emaildhirenbapodra@outlook.com Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA, ACCA-UK. MBA-USA , Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 /94403270 Indian Male 32, B.com Graduate with 10 years experience in Accounts & Sales, 7 years in (Muscat) Oman & 3 years in India with valid Oman driving License ready to join with NOC. GSM: 96216104 Email: yensajaz@gmail.com Indian Chartered Accountant 14+ years experience in Accounts & Finance working in Muscat looking for suitable change with Oman driving license and NOC Available.

Contact: 97728130 Email : vinoth77ca@gmail.com Srilankan male Accountant, holder of Diploma Chartered Accountancy Inter have 4 years experience in finance, available at Muscat, join immediately.

Contact: 79049355 / 93598736 Indian (M) MBA (f) more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiency in various A/C software SAP (F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95920740 Email Id: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com

ARCHITECT Architect with 3 yrs experience (interior, extensor shop drawings, revit and has good skills on 3ds, Max (vary) and cad software’s looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94866328 Email: jenokeer@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP Indian female, full time looking house made job.

Contact: 79039479 Indian lady (37) looking job in nursery or school 5 yrs exp in nursery (baby sitter) 10 years expin Oman, NOC available.

Contact: 99839187 Looking for full time caretaker or Housemaid. Contact: 93904732

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN AutoCAD Draftsman 9 years Gulf experienced. Contact: 93528255 Interior design and estimation with 7 years experience, holding D/L, NOC available seeking placement. Contact: 95973818 Email: umehanas@gmail.com

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D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Indian Male 32 Yrs, MBA, BCA with 9.7 Yrs experience in Sales & Marketing, Administration, Purchase, ISO & QA/QC Documentation, Stores & Project Management.

With valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Looking for any kind of desk job in Oman or Dubai.

Please contact: +91-7397754465 Whatsapp: +968-93483736 Email: kittu.1984@hotmail.com

DRIVER Light duty driver, 3 yrs exp, seeks placement. Contact: 97829730 Light duty driver seeks placement. Contact: 96381406 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 91788481 / 92231714

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN Interior Designer & Finishing Manager, over 20 Years Exp, including 10 years in Luxury hotels and resorts, seeking for a job. Has employee Visa / Omani Driving License. Contact: 95810483 Indian male , having wide experience of 4 years in GCC & 5 years in Indian for 3 D interior & exterior designing , AutoCAD drafting & NOC available & ready to join immediately. Contact: 91282841 Email: thankijb@gmail.com Indian male, 26 experience in web design & development currently in Muscat on visit visa looking for a suitable position. Contact: 95923554 Email: jabirmukkoth@ gmail.com Indian (M) well experienced draughtsman total 9 years experience , 4 years in Oman seeks suitable jobs, NOC available , immediate joining. Contact: 96705245/ 99758076 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.

Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780 Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168.

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784

DRIVER

Male 40 yrs, 15 yrs exp, D/L seeking job (Sales & driving) English, Hindi, Arabic.

Contact: 97003340 Driver with car have good experience in Oman. Contact: 94039796

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male 25 years of age EFF Qualified from reputed university in T. Nadu India seeking suitable job possess professional experience for 1.5 years working with Maruti Suzuki Motors Pvlmt India destination for team leader. Contact: 93985324 Email: areefm92@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer CSWIP, 4 yrs Gulf experience on visit visa Qatar driving license holder. Contact: + 968 96550807 Email: vishnusohanlal@gmail.com Arch’l Site Engineer more than 15 years exp in Saudi Arabia & Oman (finishing & marble field).

Contact: 91220168 Syrian Civil Engineer with 3 years experience in construction having D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 96649038 BE in Electrical Electronics Engg from India having 19+ yrs of exp in MEP projects ( 5 yrs in Saudi Arabia 14 yrs in India) looking suitable job. Contact: 0091-7353905687 Email: 90malim@gmail.com Indian Elec. Engineer 7 yrs exp in operations manufacturing quality flexible to handle any responsibility on visit. Contact: 97604106 Civil Engineer Indian 8+ years experience, NOC available.

Contact: 95831929 Indian male 29 years, Electrical / Instrumentation Engineer (4 years) experience in Oman looking for a suitable position, having valid Oman driving license. Contact: 93363104 Email: ma.mahboobkhan02@gmail.com

Look for job. Contact: 95371235

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 97403245

Indian female (22 Y) Electrical Engineer presently on a visit visa (fresher) looking for a job as Engineer / Teacher Engineer, Coordinator / office work. Contact: 91178172 (preferable location Salalah)

Bangladesh male, Oman driving license looking for job, 7 yrs exp Oman all location , 3 yrs exp for Dubai. Contact: 99327665

Indian male 30 years Civil Engineer Diploma holder 4 years experience in Oman N.O.C available.

Contact: 99498671

Looking for jobs light vehicle license 5 years experience with Toyota Corolla car.

Contact: 97034500

Electrical Engineer - 9 Yrs Exp (6 Yrs in Oman) with D/L seeks job - Contact 96946044

Light driver job 3 yrs exp.

Contact: 95939050

Pakistani male light vehicle driver release available, looking for job. Contact: 96069753 Light driver, 8 yrs exp.

Contact: 94214212 Bangladesh male 30 years light driver exp 2 years looking for job .Contact: 95728771.

Light driver, private, commercial.

Contact - 93729950 Driver with Oman driving license, looking for job. Contact: 94235254 Driver with car. Contact: 91355972 Pakistani male light driver with 6 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact: 92171166 Pakistani male light vehicle driver looking for job.

Contact: 96651070 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Light vehicle driver 4 years exp know, Hindi, English and Arabic.

Contact:98522914 Heavy duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 94939865 / 79039204

Indian male 24 years BE in electronics & communication 2 years experience in visit visa, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 096890885967 / 0091- 919591693246 Email: mohammedazween256@ gmail.com Civil Engineer looking for a job 6 years experience in building construction post Site Engineer.

Contact: 93304128 Indian male 25 years masters, Post Graduate in Petroleum Engineering (Australia) degree B.E Mechanical Engineering (India).

Contact: 98430330 Email: rovinyvincent@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor Degree honors with first class seeking a suitable job.

Contact: 94957250 Young Indian Civil Engineer, experience in India and Oman seeks suitable career in the field of Civil Engineering.

Contact +968 91620300, Email: lushyaraj@gmail.com Civil Engineer with 2.7 years experience currently working in Oman seeking suitable job, license under progress (driving) NOC available from sponsor, fluent in English,Hindi, Malayalam & Tamil.

Contact 97331023

Indian Female 27 Yrs, B.Com with 4 Yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Procurement & Sales Co-ordination in Oman.

NOC available and ready to join in Oman or Dubai.

Please contact: +91-7397795465 Whatsapp: +968-94617734 Email: reshmiarunz@gmail.com

Experienced IT Professional with over 20 years in Oman.

Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices.

Contact # 92839516

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. MBA B.Tech (InformationTechnology) male technical course M.S Office,computer hardware, 4 months exp. Contact: 99040662 Email: mshihab27@gmail.com

Indian Architect Engineer (MS from UK) specialized in sustainable architecture, 6.5 years experience in buildings design, preparation of construction drawings construction Administration.

Contact: 94401556

Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 91328079

Civil Engineer (Diploma) 8 years experience, bolding Oman D/L, NOC available seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95118939 Email: siyansiyad@gmail.com PMP Civil Engineer, Sudanese 14 years experience 8 years UAE & Oman hotels, villas &malls, costing,tendering, planning & site management.

Contact: 95476702 Indian male Mechanical Engineer having knowledge in alarm & firefighting system &AutoCAD with license, valid visa and NOC available. Contact: + 968 90355201 / 95444052 Email: jkkannau6@gmail.com 15 years experienced MEP Engineer seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99046313 / 91709409 Indian Male, 26 years, Aeronautical Engineer with 4 years of experience is looking for a placement.

Contact 97127523 Mechanical Engineer have experience in air-conditioning& MEP systems also HSE awareness and engineering design software.

Contact: 94906447 / 96654019 BEMechanical Engineer, 22, Indian malefresher, looking for opportunity in mechanical field trained in HVAC & fire lighting.

Contact: 97489256 Email: abdulmgid.ak@gmail.com Indian male 23 fresher, Mechanical Engineer looking for job in mechanical field special interest in HVAC and MEP, will be happy to hear from you.

Email: mdajaib@yahoo.com

Electrical Engineer with experience, 9 years in Oman.

Contact: 98148034 Keralite (m) Electrical Engineer seeks placement. Contact: 92757534 Email: arundevd588@yahoo.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job.

Ph number: 97964862, Email: jossyabraham20@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with 17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891

HOSPITALITY Chef de partie, 10 years (6 years in Oman) experience in food production at hospitality industry. Specialized in Grill kitchen, South Indian, Arabic, Butchery, Vegetable and Ice Carving.

NOC available Contact: 96768312 Front Office Manager with over 20 years of experience in the Middle East & preopening expertise with hospitality giants like Burj Al Arab, Address hotels &Millennium looking for similar opportunities.

Contact: 96383636

IT Indian male (24yr) B.Tech (IT) with 2years experience in office admin, looking for suitable position in Muscat on visit vis.

Contact: 91124306 Email: lefan1676@gmail.com IT & Network Engineer certified MCSA, CCNA virtualization have D/L. Contact: 98207829

Master in Civil Engineering with 5 years exp. Contact: 96658456

IT Support with a Bachelor Degree and CCNA, seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact: 97286908

Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech,male,Indian, having 1 year experience, on visit visa seeks suitable job. Contact: + 96894959233, +96897474225 Email: anandsunil94@gmail.com

IT & Network Engineer with a Bachelor Degree, CCNA & ITIL certified & valid driving license looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 98141623 Email: mm.sanhoury1@gmail.com

B.Sc Civil Engineer 5+ years experience in Building construction & Steel structural building with having valid D/L. Contact: 93850440/ shahadat033@gmail.com

BE Elec & Telecom Engineer, 2years Muscat experience. Exp in electronic integration & IT OSP & ISP &fiber optic implement, worked under Omantel & Hawaiiprojects as projected lead.

Contact: 92440406 Email: mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail.com

Indian female M.Tech biotechnology seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 91287047 Email: valliammai1000@gmail.com Electronics and Communication Engineer, male 24,1 yearexperience as Junior & network Admin in India,on visit visa, looking for job.

Contact: 90107380 Email: anoojgkrishnan@gmail.com Indian Engineer 25, B.E& Diploma in HSE with 3 years India exp, on visit Visa available to join immediately Contact: 93472629.

Email: jithujay.in@gmail.com Graduate female, with driving license, looking for a suitable position. Contact: 96234434 Indian male 28 civil engineer 1 year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 99206630 / 94471305 Civil Eng B.SC holder 6 yrs exp in Oman having D/L. Contact: 93654862 Electrical B.Tech Indian 26, 3 years exp in PLC/ SCADA IND. automation &supervision.

Contact: 97207570 / 90481773

abdallah.baloch@outlook.com Contact: 96116969

SALES / MARKETING

10 Years Cad Civil 3D D/Men highway design 5 yrs experience in architectural and structural drafting D/L available.

Contact: 93935786

Civil Engineer (Diploma) Indian, having 23 yrs experience in Oman with valid D/L, looking for suitable position, NOC available.

Contact: 94984890 Email: riyaspmd@gmail.com

Electronics/ Instrumentation Engineer With 3 years experience in a renowned Oil company (Air craft refueling equipments QC, instrumentation CP electrical systems) 1 year on job training at sea port (electricaland PLC systems) Having and HSE, IT and management trainings.

IT Engineer Graduated from Britain5+ years experience specializing in IT marketing and IT department management can implement effective IT strategiclocal and global NOC D/L available.

Contact: 94423351 dany_daring@hotmail.com Network, system & IT Engineer Indian 27 years, male MCA, CCNA,MCSEhave D/L S, 2.5 yrs experience, NOC available seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97703253 Email: albinmperakkattu@gmail.com IT and Network Engineer with Omani license certified CCNP, MCSA and MCSE. Contact 97069110

MBA graduate in marketing currently working in Oman seeking suitable placement NOC and driver license available.

Contact: 94550397

MEDICAL Indian Female, Bachelor in Prosthetics & Orthotics, 2 Years Experience (SVNIRTAR, Mobility India Rehabilitation Research & Training Center). Specialized in Clinical Prosthetics & Orthotics, Evaluation, Designing & Modification of Prostheses & Orthoses.

Contact: 96676984. E-Mail: supriya.pradhan11@gmail.com Indian Male (30 yrs) –BSC Bio Chemistry-10 yrs experience as chemist –with good communication skills-looking for suitable opening – Tel: 95562725 / Email: sanuksabu866@gmail.com Female Dentist Indian with MOH license & NOC looking for a job in Muscat. Contact-96035981

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR Purchase Office / Manager 16 years GCC experience in construction (Civil & MEP) Seeks suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 99109533 Project Manager (interior fit outs) specializing in shops, restaurants, offices etc, having 10 years experience looking to work in a reputed firm NOC available.

Contact: 94274437 CEO, Managing Director, Senior level manager, A senior level business developments executive with 18 Years of experiences in USA, Africa, GCC, with MBA from Texas A&M,USA) Contact - 92010247 NOC-Obtained professional with 30 years experience (Oman) in Purchase, Warehousing, and Logistics managerial roles seeks suitable placement-Contact 99022102 Project Manager (interiorfit outs)in shops,offices,restaurantetc having 10 years experience looking to work in a reputed firm, NOC available.

Contact: 94274437

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, completed graduation with 4 years of work experience in India and 8 months of work experience in Oman, currently on family visa looking for suitable job position.

Contact- 94647421.

Procurement, warehouse &logistics, Pakistani male,Graduate, over 10 years experience looking for suitable placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 91257663 Sudanese male Geologist seeking for a job, has one year experience in the field. Contact: 99549050 Indian, experience in logistics purchasing, advertisement. 13 Years in Oman with D/L NOC. Contact: 98020195 Omani male, with experience in purchasing, driver, administration, PRO & tourist guide, with very good English skills and costumer oriented person, looking for a suitable job. Contact: +96894129254.

2nd mate Officer, Indian 10 yrs experience in Tanker / chemical vessels, looking for an on shore job / port operations / TWG master.

Contact: 94972789 British National, 34, M.B.A young & energetic male, looking for any managerial position in Oman, having 12 years of experience in managing different types of businesses. Contact: 96056963 Email: asim_shah199@yahoo.com

MEDICAL SALES / MARKETING Male Dentist BDS with MOH license seeks for a job.

Contact – 94397499 Homeopathic doctor with MOH license looking for a business partner to start a homeopath clinic in Muscat. Contact: 90872012 Email: homeo64319@gmail.com

Indian male 27 yrs 3.5 yrs experience of Oman sales executive looking for suitable job Noc or Release available Mob 93192277 Marketing sales (Driver) Sohar preference N.O.C available .

Contact: 96953996

IndianMale 30 years, MBA, 5 plus years of work experience in Sales/ Services/Marketing. G.C.C Valid driving license, In Oman work visa.

Contact - 91739031.

Indian male looking for suitable job, MBA 4 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, having D/L & NOC. Contact – 96648175 / assetmedical.mf@gmail.com Indian male, 37 male 8 yrs exp in Saudi Arabic, Sales cum driver, having license seeking for suitable job. Contact: 92057353 Indian male having 10 years experience in Oman as sales coordinator, Admin and business development, presently cooking in an oil company in Muscat, holding valid Oman driving license seeks placement. Contact: 96287767 Indian 15 yrs exp sales supervising flexible to hand lean with D/L visa. Contact: 98604960 Indian male, MBA in marketing, 10 years sales experience as Sales Supervisor Assistant Sales Manager in Dubai holder Dubai driving license, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 96428186 Email: abdulazeezbnglr@gmail.com Indian male seeking opportunities in Oman visiting visa, MBA from UK 8+ years experience in UK, New Zealand & India valid license.

Contact: 90938161 Email: shinaskm@gmail.com Indian male masters in Petroleum Engineering with 1 year Oman experience in sales & marketing holding D/L, currently on visit visa looking for oil / gas industry field related or sales related job.

Contact - 93789123 33 Indian male, Graduate with 11 years Oman experience in sales & hospitality, looking for a job with NOC. Contact: 90307873 27 Years old male having D/L & more than 3 years experience as document controller & sales NOC available. Contact: 96439119 Indain male P.G, 10 years experience in purches looking for any suitable job. NOC available.

Contact: 99145776 Indian male 22 years old & graduated in commerce with professional knowledge in accounting MCFA,experienced in marketing field and looking for related job presently on visit visa seeks a suitable placement.

Contact: 98692907 / 98332412 Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact: 94774550 Engineering Graduate having 5+ years of exp as Marketing coordinator in Advertisement Company and 6 months as security system service engineer.

Mobile No. 79059197 Indian male 25, BSC with more than 2 years experience in India as sales & marketing searching for suitable vacancy currently on visit visa. Contact: 96332519 Email: ashrafajeesh@gmail.com Indian male 24 yrs exp in various trading including purchases sales marketing and handling overall business looking for suitable opportunity NOC&release available.

Contact: 99259543 / 92106768 INDIAN male, BBA with 4 years experience in SALES & MARKETING, holding omani driving license. seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95607037 Email: raaz0jannat@gmail.com.

Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India. +918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com

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T U E S D AY, JA N UA RY 1 0, 2 0 1 7

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SALES / MARKETING Filipina, 35 years old, looking for job can join immediately with NOC, have experience in 15 years as Sales / Marketing and Office Staff.

Knowledgeable in different office procedure. Accounting, Inventory and Purchasing.

Please contact +968 93560951

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female 16 years experience in Admin, Accounts, Sales & Logistics Co Coordinator, CRM and documentation also. Having good communication skills, seeking for job from reputed organization.

Currently on visit visa: 95332668, Mail: laksmi.b1122@gmail.com

Multinational FMGC experienced, qualified Sri Lankan lady seeking employment in Muscat. Marketing, Brands, Sales, Communication. Oman exp& DL available.

98250829

Experienced restaurant bar catering manager also can do purchasing & accounts with driving license looking for suitable placement release available.

Contact 96024158 / 90287443

Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. Contact 96143430 / 99875919

Indian male, 25 years, B.Com, MBA (Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/ finance field. On Visit Visa.

Contact: 90115058 safwanmeadows@gmail.com

Indian Male, with 8+ years experience in sales, currently in visit visa and seeking suitable placement. Contact 90181557 / 99386144 MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132 Looking for job sales executive good experience in scaffolding and foam work. Contact: 99592382 / 93222482/ Suresh

SKILLED LABOUR 7 years experience in aquaculture shrimp farming construction light license NOC. Contact: 92635313

TOURS Reservation and ticketing staff, Indian male, IATA consultant, 22 years, having 1 year experience in India, knows abacus,sabre.

Contact: 94602731 Email: azimkhot@gmail.com Indian female 25 years, bachelor in Travel & Tourism and 2 year experience in Oman as Travel consultant GDS-Sabre, Amdeus. NOC available.

Contact- 95883404

TECHNICIAN Looking for a job in Automobile service: DME with 4 years of experience in automobile Car service unit in India, working as a Technician; Contact no. in India 9843068896 & Local ref.

99256457

MISCELLANEOUS 35 female Filipino searching for a job, hospitality and sales job will be good offer for me, on visit visa.

Contact me 94833556 Indian Female MBA in (HR &Marketing) Having 3 Year of Experience as HR & Admin, Looking Suitable Placement. #92337629 Email: Anjuvs81@gmail.com Indian female pharmacist, 8 years experience in Oman, having MOH license.NOC available. Seeking suitable placement.

Contact- 92142835, 93327963 Indian female PhD, M. Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed, Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job.

Contact: 92245591, 95221665 A Filipino female searching for a job, with visit visa exp February 2017.hospitality and sales job will be a Good offer to me.

Contact no: 98271658

Specialist, Petrochemicals /Oil & Gas /AUTOMOBILE /CONSTRUCTION /PLASTIC POLYMER/PACKAGE MATERIAL PROCUREMENT /Contract Specialist , MBA &18 YEARS seeking suitable job, NOC available. Contact: 97813849 vved76@gmail.com Indian female PhD, M.Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed., Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job. Contact 92245591, 95221665 Indian male store keeper and sales person have four years good experience searching for suitable job. 95694990/ +918056761888/ ajinantony9@gmail.com Accountant Indian, 13 years experience can handle accounts up to finalization. Tally, Busy Accounting. Smart Accounting, NOC/Release available. Contact- 96133146 Email: kkcjob786@gmail.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact - 94774550 Pakistani male, ACCA (finalist) with M.A and B.Com Degree, holding Omani driving license and NOC available, can join immediately.

Contact: 94066698 Indian male 27 years, 3.5 years experience of Oman as sales executive. Looking for suitable job.

NOC or Release available.

Contact - 93192277 Male Accountant, MBA (Finance) 5 years Experience including UAE and India up to finalization Available immediately (On Visit) Contact: 91704866 Email: anees0989@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 94175848.

Indian male (26) MBA 2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management. With valid Oman license.

Availablefor immediate joining.

Contact: 92536194 EMAIL: suhailbs@gmail.com Indian male 34 years, MBA-HR with 10.9 years exp in Recruitment, Training, PMS, OD, Sites-HR and Omani nationals development, seeking a job, NOC available.

Contact saiprasad_18@yahoo.com 94179499 CIVIL/QS ENGINEER: B. Tech, Indian Female with 3 years’ experience in Oman, with D/L. Seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91361356/92882797

Electronics Systems Engineer (UK Graduate ) with skills in robotics , programming languages, IC, PCB design seeking suitable position , Indian female on visiting visa. Contact: 97848075 Email: s.dinesh1508@gmail.com Bio- MedicalEngineer (M.Tech) Indian 27 yrs, 1 plus years of research experience looking for a suitable job. Email: amluprasannan@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, 6 month experience, well versed in MEP, AutoCAD etc. looking for job.

Contact 94811072 B.Com, 2 years experience in Oman, Indian Male, 25 yrs. with Driving License. Handling day today accounts activities upto finalization. Proficient in Tally.

Looking for suitable placement.

Ph. 91470665 BE/Diploma Mechanical Engineering with 4 years exp. in Oman, Looking for suitable positions.

NOC available. Having valid driving license Contact-99335742 Indian male, M.Com, B.Com, looking for suitable opening, now on visiting visa. Contact 79103798, email- malikfaheem284@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3+yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 91496939.

Indian Male, 11 years’ experience as an Senior Accountant looking for part time Accounting job up to finalization of Accounts. Software knows MS office, Tally9 ERP MOBILE: 93884951Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer with two and a half years experience in production department, searching suitable job.

Contact no: 9500927480 Fresh B.Com Graduate in visit visa looking for a job. CONTACT: 93518923 / 99075027.

Email: sheikcok@yahoo.com Indian male, 26 years of age, mechanical engineer .B.Tech from Trivandrum engineering college 2013. M.Tech from NIT Warangal .Specialty, Materials and Systems Engineering Design. Looking for suitable placement, #99753809 Electrical Engineer (Indian) B.E in Electrical and 3.6 years of experience. Have experience in construction field. Seeking for a suitable job. NOC available.

Contact: 91120129 Email: mpshareef313@gmail.com Indian male 23 Fresher. Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC &MEP.Contact : 9586 1251 Email : ajaibmd39@gmail.com Indian, male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa. Seeks suitable placement in Cargo section.

Contact: 96370022 Indian female looking for an accounts part time job. area preferred Ruwi/CBD/MBD/ wk.contact-95482970.

Male Accountant, MBA (Finance) 5 years Experience including UAE and India up to finalization Available immediately (On Visit).

Contact: 91704866, Email: anees0989@gmail.com

Indian Male B-com graduate, 1.5 Year exp. in various office works, Valid Oman driving license looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 95322175 / 91987965 INDIAN male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa.

Seeks suitable placement in Cargo section. Contact- 96370022 Young professional, Energetic looking for Finance/Audit Job. BSC (Accounting) ACCA (Affiliate), CAT (Affiliate). Currently working in GOV. Experience of 4 Years .

NOC available. saleemraza218@gmail.com INDIAN male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa, seeks suitable placement in Cargo section.

Contact :-96370022 Mechanical Engineer/ HVAC/ Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com Contact: 90957740 Indian Male 29 years MBA, B.Com having 8 years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.

Contact :97914340.

Email: kvraj30@gmail.com Indian/male (26)/ca finalist and b.Com/3 years expereince in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa.

Available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.Usman.Su@gmail.Com Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa. Contact: 94175848.

Indian/male(26)/MBA/ 2 years expereince in proccurement,cordination and distribution management.With valid oman licenece. Available for immediate joining. Contact: 92536194 EMAIL: suhailbs@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, looking for professional job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of Exp and i am having Gulf driving license you can contact me on : - +96897017866.

Indian female PhD, M.Phil, M.A in English, B.Ed, Diploma TESOL,16 years teaching experience seeks suitable teaching, editing or relevant job. Contact 92245591, 95221665 Indian male B-com Graduate1.5 Year exp. in various office works, valid Oman driving license. Looking for any suitable post. Please contact: 95322175 / 91987965 Indian male 23 Fresh Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : mdajaib@yahoo.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550 Indian Male age 23) an i am looking for suitable job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an i am having Gulf driving license you can contact me on : - +96897017866.

Indian male 23 Fresh Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : mdajaib@yahoo.com Indian/male (26)/CA finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa. available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321, email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Electrical and electronics engineering graduate, 23yrs Indian male, NOC available, 2 yrs site experience in industrial and commercial building sites(MEP ELECTRICAL), expert in autocad, etap, ms office, electrical engineering design, fluent in English and Hindi, exp in handling a team of 20 workers, Ph:92201939.

Indian/male(26)/ca finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Indian female, holds masters in business administration (MBA) & LLB, 2 yrs oman experience as hr & admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ Sohar, Falaj.

Contact 96541959 Building maintenance foreman (all-rounder).10.year gulf Experience with Oman Driving License.90858522.

Indian female, 27 years, MBA in Finance, currently pursuing ACCA, having 10 months voluntary job experience as accountant looking for suitable placement. #94388910, E- mail Id: sowmya.vs1989@gmail.com Indian male, 23 Fresher, Graduate Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact: +968 9748 9256 Email: abdulmajid.ak@gmail.com Indian female B.E (I.T) Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills. Seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India.

Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

Indian Male 15 years gulf experience in HR / Admin Assistant, Purchase, Office Coordinator with good computer skills seeking employment for suitable position. Holding valid Oman Driving license. Contact 99709336 Indian Male,B.COM having 4+Years of experience in OMAN with Valid Oman Driving License.

Experienced in Accounts & Sales, looking for an opportunity in Sales or Accounts. Mob:- 94106834 email:- jobhuntmuscat@gmail.com.

Pakistani male 25 y, fluent in English, valid oman driving license experience of pak. & oman. Needs suitable replacement like teaching, administration, documents controller, sales and marketing, rent a car field and personal Assistant etc. aamirkhan_7860@yahoo.com.

Contact 94908725 Good knowledge in Planning and arranging works and sites. Estimation, drawing, Billing and project management. AUTO CADD, STAAD, MS Office and various software packages Contact 99334770 /997 43 709 33 years Indian Male MBA-HR & MSC having 8.9 yrs Exp (HR- operation/ SAP/ Admin) with Oman Driving License. Seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/backend jobs.

Contact:+968 99322978 /94129291 Indian Male, 26 years. B. Tech (Civil) Having 4 years experience as Project Engineer ¸ Site Engineer & Quantity surveyor. Good knowledge in Planning and arranging works and sites. Estimation, drawing, Billing and project management. AUTO CADD, STAAD, MS Office and various software packages. #99334770/ 99743709 Indian/male(26)/MBA/2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management, with valid oman license available for immediate joining.

Contact 92536194, email:suhailbs@gmail.com Indian female B.E (I.T) : Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills, seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India.

Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

Accountant. Having 9 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-93528057, Email waheed.murtaza@yahoo.com B. Tech in electrical and electronics engineering, 23yrs Indian male, 2yrs exp (MEP ELECTRICAL ), NOC available, expert in electrical engineering design, autocad, ETAP, MS Office. Contact ph:92201939 email:nabilism4@gmail.com Indian male, 24 years, B.com, MBA(Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/finance field. Interested in sales field also.

On Visit Visa. Contact: 90115058/ safwanmeadows@gmail.com

HSE Engineer, 4 yrs of experience in construction, Bachelor of Engineering (EEE), Nebosh, IOSH, DHSE, First Aid. Contact +97474018995, Email:midhunmich@gmail.mom Indian male, 23 yrs, looking for suitable job my qualification is Diploma in Electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an i am having Gulf driving license.

Contact me on : - +96897017866.

Mechanical Engineer/ HVAC/ Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com Contact: 90957740, email: nishadphoenix@gmail.com Indian male 22 B.com looking for job in ACCOUNTING OR DATA OPERATION special interest in Account’s will be happy to hear from you. C#+90758030, Email : uttiawesome@gmail.com INDIAN MALE (26)/CA-inter and b.Com/3 years expereince in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa.

Available for immediate joining.

Contact 98078321 EMAIL: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer/HVAC / Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. Contact: 90957740, email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com 27 years, Indian male looking for a senior mobile application developer job in Oman. 5+ years of experience as a software engineer, am available in Muscat till Dec 19th. arunkumar6207@gmail.com, +968 9600 3057, +91 8019897589 Indian male, 26 years, B-Tech Graduate with 3 years experience in Oman& 2 Years experience in india as Civil Engineer in a reputed construction company. Looking for suitable jobs.NOC available.

Seeking immediate placements.

Contact: 96179737/ 97076972, email:robinsj.sj@gmail.com Indian male, 23 yrs, looking for suitable job my qualification is diploma in electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field an i am having gulf driving license.

Contact me on : - +96897017866.

PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs work Exp.( 8 yrs in Oman) working in Construction Co LLC( for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTROMECHANICAL & Others projects) & having valid LT D/L, NOC/Local release available to join immediately M:+968 94064650 Email: nagauae@gmail.com A Filipino female searching for a job, with 3month visit visa.exp January 2017.hospitality and sales job will be a Good offer to me.

Contact no:98271658 Looking for a part time accounting & admin job, having 32 years of experience. Contact 9919621.

Indian male Mechanical Engineer, 1 year Omani Experience + 2 Years of local experience, NOC available, looking for suitable position. Contact +96896089598 Email: fasinizami@gmail.com Indian Male , M.Com , 6 years experience in the field of accountance Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement. Contact 92859733 Sri Lankan Male Mechanical Engineer, 1+ year of Omani experience, NOC available, Omani driving license, looking for suitable position. Contact No: +96893903463 Email: zaf1096@gmail.com Electronics & Communication Engineer, 23-year-old Indian on family visa, BE-ECE graduate looking for suitable placement in networking, hardware and electronics field. # 95148894, 99726963.

Email: sadathali0003@gmail.com MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER 3 years experience in production industry, B. Tech in Mech Engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified.

Contact arn9895@gmail.com, Mob 00919895233155 Indian male, B.com graduate well versed in English, Hindi, Malayalam holding a valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96799287

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

KTT & CO. LLC –Logistics Division- Customs Clearance & delivery (Airport& Seaport)Worldwide Air& Sea Cargo Services.Road Transportation inside Oman & GCC. Door to Door Services to India.

CONTACT: Mr. Deepak GSM: 93908980 Email: deepak@kttcustoms.com

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

SIT.WANTED Indian/ male (26)/ MBA/2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management, with valid oman license available for immediate joining.

Contact: 92536194 email: suhailbs@gmail.com Indian male Auto cad Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact: 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian male with Shorthand & Computer Skills also having 23 Years Gulf Experience is looking for suitable placement. NOC available. GSM No. 97227062 Masters(M.Sc) in Applied Psychology, Specialisation in Counseling, Indian Female 24 Years of good calibre in teaching and counseling with reasonable practical experience in some reputable schools and colleges, looking for an appropriate opportunity in related field.

Contact : 0096899133896; afsh.shariff@gmail.com.

Indian male Staff Nurse completed BSc nursing, having three years of experience in medical ICU having Oman license and NOC, seeking suitable situation. #94932245

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SIT.WANTED Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com An expatriate Indian female, graduate with 4 years experience in e-learning and ITes and 3 years experience in financial consulting and analysis seeks suitable placement.

Email : write2nishanair@gmail.com, Contact - 00968-93994505 Mechanical engineer/hvac/ indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visitvisa. # 90957740, email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com

Electronics And Communication Engineer: 23 Indian BE-ECE graduate 2016, looking suitable placement networking, hardware and electronics field, on family visa Contact:95148894,99726963,Email: sadathali0003@gmail.com

Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550

Indian/male(26)/CA finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321, EMAIL: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com

Indian male, Engineer, Procurement Officer, Construction. 23 years experience in Automobile Supply Chain, Production Planning, IT - Delivery Management, Business Analysis and Operations set-up. Contact: 90215985.

Senior Sales Executive, experience in trading industries with thorough knowledge of Oman market and wide customer contacts.

Driving license and NOC available.

Seeks senior position.

Contact: 98487311

HSE Engineer, 4 years of experience in construction certifications, bachelor of engineering(EEE), Nebosh, Iosh, Dhse, First Aid. Contact :+97474018995, email:midhunmich@gmail.com

25 years male from India looking for job having 3 yrs exp in contracting and trading co. release or NOC available, for immediate joining. Contact :+968 94574596 Indian/male (26)/CA - inter and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining.

Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com

MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified.

Contact arn9895@gmail.com Mob 00919895233155 Indian male, M.Com, 6 years experience in the field of accountancy and Stores. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733

SIT.WANTED Indian Female Nurse with MOH License, looking for suitable placement in Muscat. #95537685.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures. Aware of int.

Standards, B tech in Mech engg.

Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917350860889 Indian male Accountant 3 years good working experience doing accounts with tally and excel searching for suitable job. E-Mail : contactanand31@gmail.com, GSM : 95694990 Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com Indian Male B-com graduate, 1.5 Year exp. in various office works, Valid Oman driving license Looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 95322175 / 91987965 Indian Graduated MBA from UK, Seeking for suitable position in Sales & Marketing, 3 years experience. Mob. 99642275, Email: Navas.shereef13@gmail.com 29 yrs old Graduate(Male), 6 years Experience as an Office Assistant with Good English communication skills, is looking for a job in Muscat. (In Visiting visa).

Contact No:93271163 Email-ranjithraj08@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.com graduate Holding a valid Oman driving License searching for a suitable placement, currently on visit visa. Contact : 94175848.

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

Indian male,28 yrs old, B.A Graduate, 6 years Experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills , is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.

(In Visiting visa) # :90146616 Indian Male 48 years, B.Sc., MBAOperations Management with total 25+ Yrs of exp inclusive of 10 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC , seeks challenging senior position in Logistics/Procurement/SCM. GSM-94236414, Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com Indian male, having three years of experience in medical ICU and oman license. Seeking for suitable situation as staff nurse.

Contact 98416393 Indian Male age:- 23) an i am looking for job an my qualification is Diploma in Mechanical an i am having 4 years of experience in the Quality Supervisor And CNC Machine Operator, GSM: 97017866.

Indian/male (25)/ post Graduate/3 years experience in sales and marketing(Dubai), on visit visa. available for immediate joining. Contact: 93887916, email: shamji3851@gmail.com Pakistani Male having 6 years experience working as a Store Incharge, looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. Email : usman.saleem84@yahoo.com, Mob: +96894611858 / 95480426 Indian male, 29 yrs, Graduate, 6 years Experience as an Office Assistant with Good English communication skills, is looking for a job in Muscat. (In Visiting visa).

Contact No:93271163

SIT.WANTED Indian male, 28 yrs old, B.A Graduate, 6 years Experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills , is looking for a suitable job in Muscat, on Visiting visa.

Contact : 90146616

33year Indian Male MBA-HR & MSC having 8.9yrs Exp (HR-operation/ SAP/ Admin) with Oman Driving License, seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/backend jobs.

Contact:+968 99322978

Indian male Executive Secretary (To Top Management) having 10 years experience in Oman.

Also well experience in HR Executive & Admin related jobs.

Local release & Oman driving license available, seeking for immediate suitable placement.

Contact 92215110; email: hellosajans@gmail.com

Indian Male with 23 Yrs. experience in Secretarial Job and Administration is looking for opening in Oman. NoC available. #97227062 Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 9586 1251

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

RENT A CAR

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

WE SERVE OMAN

DRIVING

Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786 Caret & Sofa Shampooing General Cleaning & Polishing.

Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 24707833

Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center L.L.C. # 99344723

Pest control Gulfa international L.L.C .Contact: 92326955

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact: 94147874 / 24504281, mail:globalaccessunited@gmail.com

Marble Crystallization & Grinding, Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 92705130 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting.

Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading.

L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250

SITUATION WANTCLASSES Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551