Times of Oman - December 10, 2015

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6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

Speaking to the students of Sultan Qaboos University

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Knowledge is not absolute. Knowledge is subject to regeneration and renewal.

Scholars and scientists of the past, such as astronomers, had a limited view of the sky and the planets and only observed a limited number of bodies, which were given names. However, since that time numerous things have been discovered which were totally unknown in earlier times. So science and knowledge are renewable. Therefore we are eager that our sons and daughters, or our daughters and sons (though if we are going to be truly even handed, we should not put males before females first and then females before males), should have the opportunity to reach a level which will enable them to achieve and add to the knowledge or sciences taught at the earlier stages of the educational process.

THURSDAY, December 10, 2015 / 28 Safar 1437 AH

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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13 suspects arrested for 52 cases of theft

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An official source from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations under the Muscat ROP had arrested 13 suspects in 52 cases of theft. >A5

REGION

Syrian rebels leave Homs after truce

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MARKET

Oman plans to build large water project

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Oman is planning to develop another water desalination facility, with a combined capacity to produce 52.6 million imperial gallons per day (240,000 cubic metres per day). >B1

GCC LEADERS SUMMIT: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Wednesday. -ONA See also >A8

GCC leaders discuss joint action march, global and regional issues RIYADH: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, participated in the 36th GCC Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The 36th GCC Leaders’ Summit was opened by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

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King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Al Diriyah Palace in Riyadh.

The participating leaders dis-

cussed issues related to the GCC joint action march, as well as reports and recommendations raised by the ministerial committees and work teams on various economic, social, political, security and defence fields.

They also discussed several current regional and international issues of interest to the GCC countries. >A6

The head of the International Monetary Fund in Oman speaks out

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: New taxes, cutting fuel and energy subsidies, and halting the government’s rising wage bill are three strategies the Sultanate should consider to cope with the global oil crisis, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Oman chief.

CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS

Landmark dumps Trump brands REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. –Reuters

MUSCAT: Landmark Group, a retail giant with more than 170 stores across the Middle East, including in the Sultanate of Oman, has withdrawn Trump Home-branded products from its Lifestyle stores in response to the US Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s call to ban all Muslims from entering the US.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

Tax more and cut subsidies, says IMF

36TH GCC LEADERS’ SUMMIT

OMAN

Busloads of Syrians including rebel fighters left the last insurgent-held area of Homs on Wednesday under a rare local truce in that will shore up government control over the city. >A9

blog.timesofoman.com

“As one of the most popular home decor brands in the Middle East, Lifestyle values and respects the sentiments of all its customers.

“In light of the recent statements made by presidential candidate Donald Trump in the US media, we have suspended sale of all products from the Trump Home décor range,” Sachin Mundhwa, Chief Executive Officer, Lifestyle, said in a statement issued to the Times of Oman. >A6 See also >A14

Fair to boost reading, writing skills of children

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Ananthakrishnan Prasad, the IMF’s Oman mission chief, told the Times of Oman, “Oman should undertake reforms that limit current spending and increase non-hydrocarbon revenues. On the expenditure side, gradually phasing out subsidies, complemented by a safety net and a well-designed communication strategy and curtailing an increase in the government wage bill would generate savings.

“Undertaking these reforms in a phased manner and preserving room for capital expenditures would limit the downward drag on growth,” he said.

“There is a large potential for raising non-hydrocarbon revenues by expanding tax categories, and reconsidering tax rates and exemptions for corporate income tax,” the IMF official added. >A8

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015 We can provide whatever a film director needs here and we want to showcase Oman as a destination for wedding, corporate events and fashion shows Dr. Sathish Nambiar, MD managing director, KeyLight Productions

OMAN AWA R D

Arab Liberty Festival honour for Ithraa boss

Poetry convention in January nan Baig (United Kingdom) who will complete in the dream line-up on stage.

“We have organised such events in Qatar almost 20 times now and in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) for six times. We expect the event to help budding artists and local poets,” the Chief Organiser of the poetry symposium Fahad Awais Munir said.

Organisers of the international mushairah are counting on their main crowd-puller Anwar Masood, who is considered to have no parallel in the genre of humorous poetry in Pakistan

EXCEPTIONAL: Dr Salem ben Nasser Al Ismaily, chairman of Ithraa.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Dr Salem ben Nasser Al Ismaily, chairman of Ithraa has been awarded the “Man of the Year” at the Arab Liberty Festival, which was held in Marrakech, Morocco.

The chairman of Ithraa, Oman’s inward investment and export development agency, was honoured for his exceptional professional and academic contribution to the understanding of free enterprise in the Arab world, and to public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation and human fulfilment.

Al Ismaily is the recipient of two doctorate degrees, the most recent from the Newcastle University Business School for his contribution to “Economic Freedom and its Social Impact in the Arab World.”

A high-level Omani government delegation attended the recent Arab Liberty Festival held in Marrakech, Morocco.

The five-day event was organised by the Arab Centre for Scientific Research and Humane Studies in partnership with Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Washington D.C.-based Atlas Network and Canada’s Fraser Institute.

MUSCAT: An international mushairah (poetry convention) will be held at Oman’s Al Falaj Hotel next month, organisers said on Tuesday.

A battery of renowned poets from across the world will be flown to Muscat, who will entertain the crowd in an attempt to “promote friendship and peace” in the region, organisers said.

“The poetry event will attract expats and locals both, since Urdu and Hindi are popular languages in Oman,” Organising Committee member Qamar Rayaz told a press conference. The January 27 event

is being organised by Alpha Events Oman and promoted by Ittfaq Travel and Tourism and Double Road (Tires) Best Ittfaq.

The organisers are counting on their main crowd-puller Anwar Masood, who is believed to have no parallel in the genre of humorous poetry in Pakistan, which he delivers in a unique style in both Urdu and Punjabi.

Popular Meeruthi, an Indian satirist and poet, has a huge fan following in Oman, organisers said, adding, “His unique way of recitation adds to the appeal of his irresistible poetry and presence.”

ATTRACTIVE FARE: The event is expected to attract expatriates as well as and locals, since Urdu and Hindi are popular languages in Oman. – Supplied Photo

Others who will be entertaining the crowd include Wasi Shah (Pakistan), Abbas Tabish (Pakistan), Arshad Meena Nagri (India), Amir bin Ali (Japan), Zahoorul Islam

Jawaid and Sarwat Zahra (United Arab Emirates), Rehana Qamar (United States), Ambreen Haseeb Ambar (Karachi, Pakistan), Khalid Sajjad Ahmed (Kuwait), and Ad-

Muscat Urdu Adab Award Azra Aleem of the Pakistan Social Club in Oman hoped the event will create a niche among poetry lovers in the region.

“We hope to make it a big event.

We want to organise it every year.

We want people to wait for it like other major events organised in Oman and elsewhere,” she stated.

Organisers said Masood will be awarded the first Muscat Urdu Adab Award at the International Urdu poetry symposium.

This family-oriented and grand literary evening is free for the audience. The event will coincide with the Muscat Festival 2016.

ADIEU 2015

Promise of ‘power-packed’ show in year-end event Staff Reporter

PROMISE OF ENTERTAINMENT: The show ‘Adieu 2015’ will be anchored by South Indian film actress Remya Nambeeshan and playback singer Vidhu Pratap. – AR Rajkumar

MUSCAT: The South Indian community in Muscat will bid goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016 with a smile at the Al Falaj Hotel on Wednesday.

An event entitled “Adieu 2015,” which will entertain the crowd with music, dance and comedy, will be anchored by South Indian film actress Remya Nambeeshan and playback singer Vidhu Pratap.

Muscat Unique Diamond Entertainment has organised the show, which will begin at 7:30pm.

“We will do our best to make the crowd happy and will celebrate this event as a family,” Nambeeshan said in Muscat on Tuesday.

“I will perform a dance and will also sing some of my hit songs,”

The comedy section will be led by Saju Navodaya, a leading comedy artist

she added. Playback singer Pratap promised a power-packed evening for the audience.

“We have a good team here so everything will go according to plan and we assure you it will be an entertaining evening for the audience here,” Pratap added.

He is a much sought after sing-

er in the South Indian film industry and is all set to rock the stage.

The comedy section will be led by Saju Navodaya, a leading comedy artist. Navodaya is also known as ‘Pashanam Shaji’ and will be supported by two equally talented comedians: Rajesh Paravoor and Kollam Sudhi.

According to the organisers, the entry is by invitation only.

The gates of the Le Grande Hall will be opened at 6pm and the organisers have requested the guests to get to the hall as early as possible to avoid the last minute rush.

Organisers have also assured that this will be one event where the audience can happily bid 2015 goodbye and ring in an exciting 2016.

KEYLIGHT PRODUCTIONS

‘Oman an ideal destination for filmmaking, corporate events’ Staff Reporter MUSCAT: KeyLight Productions plans to promote Oman to the world through its movie productions shot in the Sultanate.

“We want to promote Oman to the world by shooting (our) movies here,” said Dr. Sathish Nambiar, managing director of KeyLight Productions.

“We can provide whatever a film director needs here and we want to showcase Oman as a destination for wedding, corporate events and fashion shows,” Nambiar added.

He was addressing the press during an official announcement made at the launch event, which

will include a fashion show entitled, “Fusion of Design,” encompassing the culture and rich heritage of India and Pakistan.

Globally renowned designers Anita Dongre from India and Rizwan Beyg from Pakistan will showcase their intricate and beautiful designs on Friday night at the lawns of the Al Bustan Palace.

Fashion show “‘Fusion of Design’ primarily showcases our company and what we can do in Oman,” said Nambiar. Dongre will showcase her Fall/Winter 2015 collection, “The Wedding Diaries” and Beyg will show his skills in embroidery for fashion enthusiasts in Muscat.

Dongre’s collection is a household name and she is a highly respected leader in the global fraternity. She is also celebrated for her commitment to reviving, sustaining and empowering traditional Indian crafts.

The inspirations for Beyg are infinite. Seashells, mother of pearl, turquoise stones and floss and floral embroideries in rich colours of ivory and black are common. The palette is subdued with flashes of colour, thrown in with a touch of whimsy.

Watermelon pink, beige and biscuit, turquoise and mustard mix with pomegranate red, black and always white silver and dull antique gold.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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OMAN UNIVERSITY

CRIME

13 arrested

by ROP in 52 cases of theft Times News Service MUSCAT: Thirteen suspects have been arrested in 52 cases of theft by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations under the Muscat Royal Oman Police (ROP), an ROP official said.

The crimes included stealing from houses, shops and vehicles, in addition to lifting motorcycles. On receiving complaints from victims about unknown criminals involved in the thefts, the ROP identified and detained the suspects and referred them to public prosecution before producing them in court, the source said. The ROP advised people to be cautious and report crimes to the nearest police station and not tamper with the crime scene.

The ROP has also called on them to switch off and lock their cars before stepping out for shopping and not to leave valuables exposed in their vehicles.

OMAN TENDER BOARD MEETING

Shihab reviews varsity project MUSCAT: Progress made by Oman University and Science and Technology City was reviewed on Wednesday at a meeting headed

by His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Advisor of His Majesty the Sultan and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Oman University Project.

This was the first meeting of the International Consultancy Committee for Oman University Project held at Chedi Muscat Hotel.

The first day of the two-day meeting was attended by Dr Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education and chairperson of the Main Executive Committee for Oman University Project, as well as members of the Committee.

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The meeting reviewed key progress made by Oman University and Science and Technology City.

Dr. Saif bin Abdullah Al Hidabi, Chairman of the Academic Committee of Oman University reviewed the academic programme plans for the University.

Fatin Hadi, Director of the University Project Office highlighted the strategic dimensions of the project, as well as the executive plans and the University’s identity. Eng. Dawood bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Chairman of the Technical Committee presented the work plans for building the University City and its site.

In a bid to provide broader explanation of the project and its integration with the Sultanate’s

plans and strategies at the coming period, Talal bin Sulaiman Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning explained the Sultanate’s strategy and plans over the coming five years.

Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al Hinaie, Secretary General of The Research Council (TRC) reviewed TRC’s future plans and its intersection with Oman University Plan in research aspects.

Sayyid Faisal bin Turki al-Said, Director General, Marketing & Media, of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (PAIPED) gave an overview about the relationship between investment and the University’s project. -ONA

Tenders worth OMR10.9 million awarded MUSCAT: Tenders worth about OMR10.9 million were awarded by the Tender Board at its 19th meeting for 2015, under chairmanship of Dr Rasheed bin Al Safi bin Khamis Al Huraibi, for these projects: Provision of cleaning and pest control services at Sultan Qaboos University, from January 2016 to January 2019, (OMR8,537,857).

Provision of renal hemodialysis services at the Governorate of

Muscat (OMR1,729,200).

Public Authority for Radio and TV’s purchase of rights for live transmission for the Gulf sports competitions (OMR270,000).

Additional works for providing technicians for the maintenance of the equipment and devices for the Ministry of Health’s health centres at the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah (OMR184,178).

Additional works for the provi-

sion of consultancy services for supervising the construction of 150 housing units with internal roads and lighting in the Wilayat of Shinas in Governorate of North Al Batinah (OMR111,129).

Additional works for the operation and maintenance of the underground assets of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water in the Governorate of North Al Batinah (OMR90,288). -ONA

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

OMAN

It is important for them (children) to have an imagination Talib Al Mazroui, Oman Society of Writers and Literati

Fair to boost reading, writing skills The exhibition is being organised

by East Expo and is dedicated to the cause of children’s education Workshops will be held for children, aged between five and 13 years, as well as parents and teachers.

TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Children need to be encouraged to read and write to develop their intellectual abilities and to make them realise the importance of reading and writing.

For the first time, the Oman International Exhibition Centre (OIEC) will hold the Oman International Child Book and Products Fair, which is being sponsored by the Ministry of Social Develop-

ment, along with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, the Oman Society of Writers and Literati and the Literary Forum. #OmanPride takes a look at how this exhibition will help enhance children’s reading and writing skills, as well as educate

parents and teachers on how encourage their children to read and write more.

The exhibition, which is set to start from December 16 and end on December 19 at OIEC, has been organised by East Expo, and is dedicated to the welfare of children’s education.

Several workshops will be held for children, aged between five and 13 years, as well as parents and teachers. Teachers will be educated on ways to encourage children, as well as teach and influence them to like reading and writing.

One of the workshops will be dedicated to child development and educating the public about the operational role of nurseries in the Sultanate. It will also serve as an information hub for introducing different services offered by child development establishments, as well as a platform to inquire and learn about early childhood.

“It is a chance for the public to know the authorities responsible for children’s welfare,” said Najah Al Zadjali, a representative for the Ministry of Social Development, during the press conference detailing the exhibition.

She added, “Many are unaware about Child Law so we also want to educate people about it.”

Puppetry Teachers will have the opportunity to learn how to make puppets

and dolls to entertain the children with. They will also be taught how to build a puppet stage with the right dimensions and size to perform puppetry.

They will also be educated on when to use puppetry and what the show, depending on the situation and age group of the children.

Dr. Amur Alaisri, educational expert at the Technical Office for Studies and Development, who is also the director of the Department of Education said, “Teachers and supervisors will be trained to act out in Arabic and foreign languages depending on the situation.”

Some children are more inclined to respond to international acts in English and are used to what they watch on TV, so teachers will be able to accommodate them.

“The children will also be divided into two groups and each of them will create a puppet or doll and act out a scene of their choice,” said Alaisri.

International artist Intilaq Mohammad Ali, from Iraq, will hold a workshop to teach children the

different methods of drawing and composition of artwork. The children will get to draw using colour pencils, water colours, as well as learn how to make a collage.

This exercise is aimed at enhancing children’s imagination and expressions through art.

On the final day of the exhibition, the children’s artwork will be displayed for the public to view. The children will also be taught how to write creatively and use their imaginations to create stories.

Talib Al Mazroui from the Oman Society of Writers and Literati said, “It is important for them (children) to have an imagination.”

Children’s books will be available for sale at the exhibition, where 14 publications from Omani authors will be on display; and parents will also be educated on how to pick the right book for their child, based on his/her age and how to encourage them and support them in reading.

The exhibition will be opened from 10am to 10pm, consecutively while on Friday, December 18, it will be opened from 4pm to 10pm.

GGC MEETING

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Saudi King welcomes Sayyid Fahd

On his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, said: “On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, I am honoured to lead the Sultanate’s delegation at the 36th GCC Summit in Riyadh and convey the greetings of His Majesty the Sultan to the GCC leaders and their representatives, as well as His Majesty the Sultan’s best wishes of success to the summit in achieving its prospective objectives.

The current stage has witnessed many developments that cast shades on the regional and international arenas.

“Thanks to the efforts made by the GCC countries, the GCC march has seen many achievements that every member is seeking to safeguard. They take into consideration the adverse conditions of the world economy and their direct implications on the region. Focus will be more on the socioeconomic development paths to promote growth rates that will contribute to achieving the aspirations of the GCC coun-

tries and people towards further growth and stability.

“The Sultanate of Oman, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, reaffirms its full support to the blessed GCC march and its continuous endeavours to coordinate with the GCC members to ensure more cooperation in the interests of the GCC countries and achieving the aspirations of the current and future generations.

“While expressing its deep appreciation for the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate prays to Allah to grant the Saudi people and all GCC people

more welfare and prosperity.”

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques led the welcoming party for Sayyid Fahd on his arrival at King Khalid International Airport.

Sayyid Fahd and his accompanying delegation was received

by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, Prince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of De-

fence, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General, Dr. Isam bin Sa’ad bin Said, Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers (accompanying Minister), Khalid bin Salih Al Abad, Chief of the Royal Protocols, Eng. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Sultan, Mayor of Riyadh Region, Sayyid Dr. Ahmed bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Sultanate’s ambassador to the KSA, and Eid Al Thaqafi, KSA ambassador to the Sultanate.

Sayyid Fahd is accompanied by an official delegation comprising Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ali bin Mas’oud Al Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Legal Affairs and some government officials.

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar received Sayyid Fahd. The two sides reviewed the relations between the two countries and issues of common concern, in addition to reviewing the topics to be discussed during the Summit. -ONA MINISTERS MEET

ADVERSE COMMENTS

Plan to raise

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A1 Trump criticised farm output According to the group’s website, there are nine Lifestyle stores in Oman.

It was earlier this year that the group’s retail brand Lifestyle announced a partnership to exclusively introduce the Trump Home collection across its outlets in the region.

The Trump Home collections include lighting, mirrors and jewellery boxes.

Trump drew strong criticism

from Republican rivals after he called on Monday for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

Trump’s comments were designed to capitalise on a shooting by a Muslim couple said to have become radicalised in San Bernardino, California, which killed 14 people.

MUSCAT: A meeting was organised by Dr. Fuad bin Jaafar Al Sajawani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, in the presence of Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises, improve the quality of Omani agricultural product and reduce wastage, in addition to boosting agricultural and fisheries production. -ONA

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015 In the absence of taxation systems and automatic stabilisers, the fiscal policy is limited to varying government spending Nasser Saidi, GCC-based economist

OMAN EVENT

SAUDI ARABIA

Grand Hyatt organises Christmas Carol Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A Christmas Carol event was organised for guests at the Sirj Tea Lounge of Grand Hyatt Muscat on Tuesday. Carols were sung by a group of adults from the Muscat Singers.

Guests, especially children and employees of Hyatt, also sang the carols, along with the Muscat Singers. The guests were treated to

special cookies and other Christmas treats. The festive mood was made merrier with festive decorations at the lounge. A special appearance by Santa Claus drew smiles and ignited the curiosity of children. Santa entered the lounge by ringing the bell and went around the lounge, with the children following him.

Meanwhile, the choir sang the well-known carol, “Jingle Bells-

Jingle Bells” and the entire crowd sang along with the choir.

Santa danced to the rhythm of the carols and handed over special gifts to children who had gathered for the event. He was also seen busy taking pictures with the guests and saying, “It was really awesome and I really felt I am somewhere in Europe,” said Steve, who was in Muscat to attend a conference.

His Majesty sends message RIYADH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia received a written message from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said related to enhancing the existing relations between the two countries in different fields and continuous consultation between the leaderships of the two countries

on a number of issues of mutual interest. The message was handed over to the Saudi King

by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers.

During the meeting, Sayyid Fahd conveyed the greetings and good wishes of His Majesty to the Custodian of the Two Holy

Mosques and wishing Saudi people further progress and prosperity. On his part, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques requested the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers to convey his greetings and good wishes to His Majesty and the Omani people further progress and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Majesty. -ONA

CRUDE PRICE SLUMP

A1 VAT introduction to boost < FROM

economy, say economists

On Tuesday, Brent crude prices sank under $40 for the first time in almost seven years, rocked by Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec’s) recent decision to maintain oil output levels, despite a chronic supply glut.

Oman oil prices slipped to $36.44 on Tuesday from $38.13, on Monday.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-based economist Nasser Saidi said introducing taxation, such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) system will strengthen the economy.

As oil prices remain low and most GCC nations are unable to follow an independent monetary policy (given the peg to the dollar), the only adjustments that can be made are on the fiscal side, Saidi stated.

“However, in the absence of taxation systems and automatic stabilisers, the fiscal policy is limited to varying government spending. This needs to change and one of the means is to diversify revenue by introducing taxation. Being discussed at the GCC level, VAT is the most notable,” the economist added.

According to Saidi, a multiyear fiscal plan is necessary to diversify GCC government revenue: this would include introducing VAT (to generate a stable, growing revenue source, with least detrimental effects on investment) and corporate income taxes (applying to all companies operating domestically), in addition to setting up property taxes and selective taxation in the form of excise duties (imposed on commodities, such as cigarettes/tobacco, alcoholic and non-alcohol-

ic drinks, to petroleum products, cars, and mobile telephony).

“Once tax collection capacity is built, the GCC can envisage the gradual introduction of personal income taxes. All this should be done under a multi-year plan to allow the build-up of tax capacity and administration, as well as allow for the private sector to adjust to the new tax system,” Saidi added.

Manjot Sing Chug, a business tax advisory, also said that given the current oil prices, the implementation of VAT is likely to be accepted as a positive measure for diversifying and strengthening governments’ revenue base.

“However, businesses need to plan ahead for incremental costs and compliance requirements associated with VAT, to offset any financial burden,” Chug said.

Oman’s income has fallen by more than 60 per cent since June 2014 when it sold oil at a price of $115 per barrel.

Budget deficit According to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman’s budget deficit for the first eight months of 2015 rose to OMR2.68 billion as plunging crude oil export revenues started affecting the fiscal balance. This is against a surplus of OMR205.7 million for the same period last year and against a projected deficit of OMR2.5 billion for the entire year by the government.

Meanwhile, commenting on the base oil price, which will be set in the 2016 budget, economic experts said there is no magic number.

“There is no magic number

at which Oman can base the oil price during next year’s budget.

The exercise should be based on a medium-term budgeting framework that is integrated, with a medium-term economic framework. In 2015, the deficit would be around OMR4 billion, according to our projections,” IMF’s Prasad pointed out.

The 2015 fiscal budget was based on the $75 per barrel oil price.

“In 2016, a budget based on a $52 per barrel (oil price) would result in a projected fiscal deficit of OMR4.7 billion in 2016, based on current policies.

“The situation calls for measures to contain spending growth and enhancing non-hydrocarbon revenues,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Muscat-based economic expert said the government will be forced to rethink on investing more on infrastructure development and will have to control welfare scheme expenditures as the country will have to adjust with half of the oil revenue, compared with the previous year, while preparing the 2016 budget.

“A major part of Oman’s revenue, around 75 per cent, comes from oil. When oil prices are in free fall, around 50 per cent down, compared with the previous year, the country will be compelled to adjust,” N. Gurumurthy, the Muscat-based economic expert explained.

He also said that actual oil price realisation is almost 25 per cent less than projected and with the exception of geo-political shocks, which can sway the oil price to the higher side, it would be safe to project the price in the around $55 to $60 per barrel band.

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Syrians exit from rebel-held Homs Homs was a centre of the protests against President Bashar Al Assad

HOMS (SYRIA)/BEIRUT: Busloads of Syrians including rebel fighters left the last insurgentheld area of Homs on Wednesday under a rare local truce in Syria’s nearly five-year conflict that will shore up government control over the city.

The rebels and their families are being moved to insurgentheld areas of the northwest near the Turkish border under the deal, an example of the type of local truce US President Barack Obama has said could happen in Syria more frequently.

Homs was a centre of the protests against President Bashar Al Assad. The deal follows a major Syrian army ground offensive to the north of the city backed by Russian air strikes.

Witnesses saw 15 buses leave SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE

Iran blast kills policeman ANKARA: A bomb blast killed one policeman and three civilians on Wednesday in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan.

“A policeman was killed and several others were injured after a bomb exploded in the town of Nikshahr,” Tasnim quoted provincial police chief Hossein Rahimi as saying. — Reuters

the area. Homs governor Talal Al Barazi told reporters 300 fighters were on board, together with 400 members of their families. The fighters took light weapons with them, he said.

The deal echoes a local ceasefire agreed in September elsewhere in Syria under which rebel fighters were supposed to be transferred to Idlib, though it has yet to be fully implemented.

Buses Several buses left the Homs district of Waer early on Wednesday and others were queuing up to leave on its outskirts, witnesses said. Children on buses waiting to leave peaked around the drawn curtains and aid workers handed out juice. Barazi said the buses would make a stop in Hama province, where rebels who wished to could disembark, before continuing to Idlib, a province that is a stronghold of insurgents including the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. He described the rebels who left as “militants who reject the agreement”, saying they would leave with their families.

“The Waer neighbourhood arrangements will be completely safe and there will be no weapons in Waer after the implementation

of the agreement,” he said, adding security forces would go back to work in the area and would be the only ones armed.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said about 750 people were expected to leave during the day for rebel-held areas in the Hama and Idlib provinces.

The United Nations is presiding over implementation of the deal, which was agreed directly between the Syrian sides.

Syria peace talks involving world powers in Vienna in October called for a nationwide ceasefire and a renewal of UNbrokered talks between the rival Syrian sides. “Our clear goal is to reach as soon as possible a nationwide ceasefire. Meanwhile, initiatives like this one bring relief to besieged or isolated communities and have great value, “UN mediator Steffan De Mistura’s spokeswoman Jessy Chahine told Reuters.

“They help the perception that a nationwide ceasefire brokered by the members of the ISSG (International Syria Support Group) is doable and that the UN can and will do its part,” Chanine added, referring to the Vienna meeting countries. — Reuters

REGION

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

INDIA BRIEFS

Kerala surgeon makes device to treat snoring KOCHI: A wearable device designed by an ENT surgeon here is expected to treat sleep apnea and snoring by changing the habit of sleeping on the back to sleeping on the side. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one of the main causes for snoring. The wearable device — named ‘Sleep on Side’ made by surgeon R.S. Rejith — is more of a clothing accessory with a ball stitched at the centre. It can be worn across the body, with the ball on the backside.

Lifetime award for Naseeruddin at Dubai festival

India and Pakistan to hold comprehensive dialogue The two countries should set aside decades of mistrust to invigorate the region’s economies and boost stability, the Indian external affairs minister

DUBAI: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to cinema at the Dubai International Film Festival.

Shah, 66, has appeared in more than 200 films in a remarkable and diverse career spanning 40 years.

46 per cent of rape victims in Delhi are minors NEW DELHI: In the past three years, five minor girls were allegedly raped in every two days, forming around 46 per cent of the total rape cases reported in the national capital in the corresponding period. “In 2013, 1,636 rape cases were reported in Delhi of which, in 757 cases victims were minors. In 2014, 2,166 rape cases were reported in which 1,004 pertained to minors.

Two Indians win Queen’s Young Leaders award LONDON: Two Indians have won the Queen’s Young Leaders award in the UK for their exceptional work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities. Kartik Sawhney, 21, and Neha Swain, 28 from India are among 60 others who won the Queen’s Young Leaders award 2016 which will be presented by the Queen in June. - Agencies

said in Islamabad

BOOSTING TIES: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. - PTI

ISLAMABAD: Breaking the logjam in their ties, India and Pakistan today announced that they have decided to engage in a “comprehensive” dialogue that will include peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir.

Capping a series of positive developments since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in Paris only ten days ago, it was announced here that the foreign secretaries will meet to decide the modalities and schedule of the dialogue.

Pakistan has assured India of

“steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion” of the Mumbai attack trial, something that India has been pressing for long.

The National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan who had met in Bangkok, will continue to address all issues connected to terrorism, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries.

The joint statement came after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Sharif and later his Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz here on the concluding day of her two-day visit for attending a multi-

lateral conference on Afghanistan.

‘Increase trade’ Earlier, India called for greater trade with Pakistan as the neighbours seek to improve ties that have deteriorated since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office last year.

The two nations holding 1.5 billion people between them should set aside decades of mistrust to invigorate the region’s economies and boost stability, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told a regional conference on Afghani-

stan being held in Islamabad. She is the highest ranking Indian official to visit Pakistan since Modi took office.

“Let me take this opportunity to extend our hand to Pakistan,” Sushma said in a speech.

“It is time that we display the maturity and self-confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation.”

The remarks present a path to restart talks that have been repeatedly canceled over the past two years due to increased fighting along their disputed border.

The rivalry between the nations that separated 68 years ago has been marked by three wars, hampering the development of the world’s least-integrated region.

India is willing to join an Afghanistan-Pakistan transit agreement and create facilities at the border town of Attari to receive Afghan trucks coming through Pakistan, Sushma said. India is also backing a port project at Chabahar in Iran that would allow landlocked Afghanistan to export minerals bypassing Pakistan.- Agencies

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Modi to visit Pakistan for Saarc meet ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan next year, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here on Wednesday.

Modi will participate in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, Swaraj told the media. This will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Pakistan since Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the South Asian neighbour in January 2004 to attend that year’s Saarc summit.

Sushma said she would accompany Modi during his visit, Geo TV reported. Sushma is in Islamabad to participate in the Heart of Asia Conference. - IANS

I N N O VAT I O N

Student makes jacket that helps visually impaired NEW DELHI: Unlike most children of his age, Prithvi Raj isn’t interested in science experiments like baking soda volcanoes or balloon rockets.

A class 10 student from Rajkiyakrit (Government) School at Garwah in Jharkhand, Prithvi has built a jacket which enables visually impaired people to walk more accurately.

His innovation won him the bronze at the 5th Insipre Expo at the first India International Science Fair (IIFS) in IIT-Delhi earlier this week.

After working on the concept for more than five months and understanding the basic structure of a circuit diagram, Prithvi Raj created a jacket and a fire

MILITARY CANINES EXHIBIT SKILLS A trained military dog attacks an Indian army soldier wearing protective gear as they demonstrate skills during celebrations to mark the 255th anniversary of the Indian Army Service Corps (ASC) in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. – Reuters

alarm device which would help visually impaired individuals.

The combined cost of the two devices is less than Rs1,000 ($15).

Science enthusiast A science enthusiast, Prithvi Raj said that he had always desired to build a device which would help the blind live more independently.

He said the reason behind this was he wanted to help his grandmother and uncle, both of whom are blind.

The jacket can be used in two ways. First, it would help a blind person walk on the streets and second to enable them to perform household chores without any physical assistance. - IANS

C A P I TA L O U T F L O W S

India ranks fourth in black money outflows: Survey WASHINGTON: India ranks fourth in black money outflows with a whopping $51 billion siphoned out of the country per annum between 2004 and 2013, a United States-based think-tank’s report said on Wednesday.

Notably India’s defence budget is less than $50 billion.

China tops the list with $139 billion average outflow of illicit finances per annum, followed by Russia $104 billion per annum and Mexico $52.8 billion per annum, according to the annual report released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based re-

search and advisory organization.

The illegal capital outflows stem from tax evasion, crime, corruption and other illicit activity, the report said, according to which a record $1.1 trillion flowed illicitly out of developing and emerging economies in 2013, the latest year for which data is available.

In all, during this decade-long period of 2004-2014, GFI estimates that more than half a trillion $510 billion went out of India and in the case of China the figure was $1.39 trillion and Russia $1 trillion.

Titled ‘Illicit Financial Flows

$258.64 billion in just that one year, the report said.

from Developing Countries: 20042013’, the study shows that illicit financial flows first surpassed $1 trillion in 2011 and have grown to $1.1 trillion in 2013, marking a dra-

matic increase from 2004, when illicit outflows totalled just $465.3 billion. China also had the largest illicit outflows of any country in 2013, amounting to a staggering

Emerging economies “This study clearly demonstrates that illicit financial flows are the most damaging economic problem faced by the world’s developing and emerging economies,” said GFI president Raymond Baker, a longtime authority on financial crime.

“This year at the UN the mantra of ‘trillions not billions’ was continuously used to indicate the amount of funds needed to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Sig-

nificantly curtailing illicit flows is central to that effort,” he said.

Noting that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls on countries to significantly reduce illicit financial flows by 2030, the report said the international community has not yet agreed on goal indicators, the technical measurements to provide baselines and track progress made on underlying targets and subsequently the overall SDGs. In its report, GFI recommends that world leaders should focus on curbing opacity in the global financial system, which facilitates these outflows. - PTI

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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CHENNAI

Declare floods as national calamity, Jaya urges Modi CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare as a national calamity the floods that has hit many districts, and also suggested schemes for the federal government to formulate to assist the affected families.

In a letter to Modi, the text of which was released to the media, Jayalalithaa said: “You are personally aware of the catastrophic destruction and devastation caused by the four rounds of floods that have overrun numerous districts of Tamil Nadu over the past few weeks.

“I request you to immediately declare this unprecedented, catastrophic and cataclysmic event a national calamity,” she added.

Heavy rains have battered Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur districts for the past one month, resulting in floods that have killed over 325 lives and destroying assets worth several thousand millions of rupees. - IANS

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INDIA

Congress steps up attack in parliament over Herald case the case is “One hundred per cent political vendetta. Pure political vendetta coming out of PMO. It is their way of doing politics. Pure 100 per cent vendetta”.

Rahul Gandhi accuses the Prime Minister’s Office of adopting ‘100 per cent pure political vendetta’ in the National Herald case

NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday stepped up protests disrupting proceedings for the second day as Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of adopting ‘100 per cent pure political vendetta’ in the National Herald case but the government hit back saying Parliament was being used to threaten judiciary.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that a Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED), who had ‘rightly’ decided to close the

Herald case, was transferred and a new chief appointed to ‘reopen’ the case.

While the upper house was adjourned for the second day without transaction of any business due to slogan shouting by Congress members, the Lok Sabha saw one adjournment and a short discussion on the issue that saw trading of charges between the two sides.

However, the lower house functioned, notwithstanding the continuous shouting of slogans by

Rahul Gandhi. – PTI

Congress members before it was also forced to be adjourned for the day about an hour before schedule.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is an accused in the Herald case along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and four others, upped the ante telling reporters

‘Full faith in judiciary’ “I have full faith in judiciary. We will see at the end what comes out.

Truth will come out.” Asked about Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu’s charge that Congress was using Parliament to threaten judiciary by disruptions, he said, “It is the other way round.

Who is threatening judiciary, we all know.”

Venkaiah Naidu, who also addressed a press conference, accused the Congress of using Parliament to “intimidate and silence” the judiciary after the Gandhis were not given relief by court in the Herald case. He alleged that the party was practising ‘mobocracy’ which was posing a “danger

to democracy” by making Parliament ‘dysfunctional’.

Venkaiah Naidu rejected Rahul’s contention that the case was “100 per cent vendetta coming out of the PMO” and wondered if he was attacking former prime minister Manmohan Singh because the case was filed when the UPA was in power.

He said Subramanian Swamy, who is the complainant in the case, was not in BJP when he had lodged it. “Congress is thinking that it is hurting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But it is wrong because it is hurting India,” Venkaiah Naidu said.

“How is Parliament involved if some people (Gandhis) have been summoned by a court? Is this the job of Parliament? You want to silence the judiciary. You want to intimidate the judiciary. You are telling judiciary how dare you summon us,” he said. - PTI

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READERS’ FORUM Bullet trains augur well for commuters This refers to the news article, ‘Delhi set to sign deal with Tokyo for bullet train,’ Times of Oman (December 9). I am happy the railway ministry is modernising the Indian railways. India is signing a deal with Japan for a high speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad — a distance of 505 kilometres. The joint feasibility report of the Japanese agency and India’s railway ministry has recommended the Shinkansen format. The bullet train will be financed by a $8 billion loan from Japan. The Japanese consortium of JR East, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Scan this QR code Hitachi will bring new technology to the to send letters to the Indian market. The bullet train will make Readers’ Forum, life easier for the commuters by reducing containing not more than 200 words with time taken to travel and giving them better full name, address facilities. The Swachh Bharat campaign and telephone led by Suresh Prabhu, the minister of number, may be sent railways, has helped spruce up railway staby mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, tions throughout the country. Most of the P.C. 112, Ruwi). people still prefer railways as the mode of travel in India and the bullet trains introduced on different routes will give joy to the commuters. Better infrastructure facilities will also invite more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and tourism in India. I congratulate Suresh Prabhu for his vision and hard work to improve the experience of travel. — Srikumar Pai, Wadi Kabir

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

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The renewable energy revolution is not being driven by a tax on carbon emissions or subsidies for clean energy; it is the result of reductions in the cost of manufacturing that will soon make it more costeffective to generate power from water, wind, and the sun than from burning coal. bit.ly/clintontaxplan

ven as world leaders were meeting in Paris to address climate change, the city of Chennai, the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, reeled under the onslaught of the heaviest rainfall in 104 years. The city, home to five million people, has virtually shut down, with roads flooded and nearly 5,000 homes under water. More than 450 people have died. Air and rail services have been suspended, power and phone lines have been disrupted, and hospital patients are succumbing as life-support equipment fails. Victims had to be rescued in boats by India’s army and air force.

It is difficult to imagine India’s fourth-largest city — schools, colleges, IT companies, factories, and commercial establishments – being brought to a halt. And yet global automakers such as Ford, Daimler, BMW, and Renault took the unprecedented decision to halt production at their local factories. The venerable Chennai newspaper The Hindu failed for the first time in 178 years to bring out a print edition, Inevitably, many linked the flooding in Chennai to the talks in Paris, seeing the devastating rains as proof of the catastrophic consequences of human action on the world’s weather. More such disasters, they suggested, are inescapable unless world leaders in Paris take decisive action to limit global climate change. “We are feeling climate change’s fastgrowing impact now,” said India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing to Chennai and calling upon industrialised countries to do more to mitigate global warming.

Indeed, scientists predict that India will become significantly hotter over the next few decades, and therefore more prone to a range of weather-related calamities such as droughts, floods, crop failures, and cyclones. Chennai, they say, is just a warning.

But another factor arguably offers a more proximate explanation for what went wrong. It is normal for India’s east coast around Chennai to suffer heavy monsoon rains at this time of year. And, although this is the most severe precipitation to hit the region since 1911, the flooding was also the result of human error: the irresponsible and unplanned urbanisation that has transformed India in recent decades.

In virtually every affected area, the flooding can be linked to ill-planned construction, which has taken place without regard to hydrology or Chennai’s natural ecosystems. Norms set by the Environment Department of Tamil Nadu have largely been ignored, because politicians make common cause with builders in the name of development.

As a result, airports and bus terminals have been built on floodplains; warehouses and factories on wetlands and marshlands; and housing projects on former lakes. Drainage courses and catchments have been fair game for developers. Bypass roads and expressways have sprouted up without regard for data on water flow in the city.

The result has been rapid degradation of water bodies. Because construction has occurred with scant regard for the provision of adequate waste disposal and sewage systems, the city’s rivers and canals have become garbage dumps, so choked that they can no longer serve as effective conduits to channel rainwater to the sea. Likewise, the destruction of crucial wetlands and inadequate infrastructure to contain flooding means that rainwater runoff has nowhere to go.

The same phenomena can be found in dozens of Indian cities. Urbanization is inevitable: an economy of 1.2 billion people cannot employ two-thirds of them in agriculture and hope to grow; rural people will inevitably move to cities to seek work and better lives. India’s urban population has risen from 10 per cent at independence, less than seven decades ago, to almost 40 per cent today. It will not be long before a majority of Indians live in cities. But those cities cannot all grow the same way as Chennai has.

Many Indian cities have a higher population density than Chennai, and a similar catastrophe in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram could lead to much higher casualties. We need to rethink our city drainage systems, rework our disaster-management institutions, and ensure that monsoon rainwater can drain out of our cities in the shortest possible time.

The Chennai tragedy is a wake-up call to India.

The disaster could have been avoided if strict measures had been taken to preserve water bodies and respect environmental imperatives. If we get our priorities right, we will heed the lessons of this horror and create urban space only in environmentally sustainable ways.

If we see Chennai as a one-off event, an “act of God” rather than an error of Man, further disasters will be unavoidable. In line with the Modi government’s slogan “Make in India,” the country is planning to build a hundred “smart cities” to bring hi-tech growth to urban centres. But India’s cities must be smart in a low-tech sense, too. The lesson of Chennai is that we cannot let more construction, urbanization, and manufacturing erode our natural resilience to familiar monsoon weather events.

“Make in India” must not become the unmaking of India. – Project Syndicate

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Seminar on security of banks MUSCAT: The seminar on Security of Banks, organised by the Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the Central Bank of Oman, yesterday continued its sessions at the ROP Head Office. Brigadier Suhail bin Amer bint Fadil, director general of criminal investigation, and a number of ROP officers attended the sessions. A number of international experts are addressing the seminar, which aims at tackling issues of bank security, the necessity of cooperation between the police and banks and measures to combat organised crimes against banks and other financial institutions.

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PAKISTAN Afghanistan urges help to restart talks ‘Heart of Asia’ meet comes months after the first inconclusive talks between the Afghan government and the Taleban

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s foreign minister called on Pakistan to help restart stalled peace talks between his government and the Taleban, as he spoke at a conference on Wednesday that risked being overshadowed by a major Taleban attack in Afghanistan.

The ‘Heart of Asia’ meeting, an annual gathering of countries to pledge support to Afghanistan, being held this year in Pakistan, comes months after the first, inconclusive talks between the Afghan government and the Taleban.

Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said he hoped to see “positive moves in the coming weeks” regarding peace talks. “We very much hope that Pakistan can play a very influential role and very important role in the peace and reconciliation process,” he told a news conference in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

USDeputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a similar appeal for Pakistani help before joining the conference.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stressed his commitment to “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process”, a reference to the talks,

PEACE INITIATIVE: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, left, walking with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif jointly opened the one-day ministerial conference in Islamabad. – PTI

hosted by Pakistan, that foundered in July after news leaked that Taleban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead for two years.

But hope for a resumption of Afghan talks appeared even more remote as Taleban rebels and Afghan security forces battled at the airport in the southern city of Kandahar into a second day on Wednesday. At least 18 people had been killed, Afghan officials said.

Bomb blasts Cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is seen as essential for Afghan peace but hopes for ties after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated last year were quickly dashed, largely because of a series of bomb attacks in Kabul. Ghani told the conference ‘enemies’ had unsuccessfully tried to divide Afghanistan but they had been foiled.

He blamed “regional and international terror groups” for the

violence in his country. “I have had to become a war president, because an all-out war has been imposed on us,” Ghani said.

Waiting for change Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, took over as leader but violent splits have emerged in the militant group.

Sharif also spoke of Pakistan’s aim to repatriate the 2 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, some of whom have been in Pakistan for decades. “The massive cross-border movement of refugees constitutes a security risk,” Sharif said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan accuse each other of supporting insurgencies across border. - Reuters

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More than 150,000 Britons sign petition to ban Trump The US Republican presidential frontrunner has called for a complete ban on Muslims from entering the US

LONDON: More than 150,000 Britons have signed an online petition to ban US Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump from the country following his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Trump, who owns two golf courses in Scotland which he visited earlier this year, called for a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”, following last week’s deadly shooting spree in California by a couple.

“The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech,” the text of the British petition said.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR: A picture taken on July 10, 2012 shows US tycoon Donald Trump, centre, escorted by Scottish pipers as he officially opens his new multi-million pound Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. – AFP Files

“If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful.”

Britain’s interior ministry has the power to ban people from entering the country if they have engaged in what the government determines to be unacceptable behaviour. In the past people have

been banned for fostering hatred that might provoke inter-community violence. Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether she would consider banning Trump, Home Secretary Theresa May merely said it was important for politicians to ensure “cohesion among communities rather than division”.

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who gave a speech in London alongside May, said she could not comment on Trump’s remarks

or whether his policy would be legal. However, she said entry to the United States was based on specific criteria and whether someone was legally entitled to be there.

“We do try and focus more on what people do as opposed to the inimitable characteristic of who they are,” Lynch told reporters.

“I’m sure there will be a lot of ink spilled on this in the days to come. What I would say is when it comes to religious tests for things as important as transiting borders, that that would be inconsistent with the American values that this administration is trying to uphold.”

The petition was launched by Suzanne Kelly, a Scottish-based campaigner and longtime critic of Trump’s latest golf course in Aberdeenshire.

Rising By midday on Wednesday, it had attracted over 150,000 signatures, a number which was rising quickly. The government responds to all petitions that gain more than 10,000 signatures, and the topic will be considered for a parliamentary debate if they reach 100,000.

British politicians generally avoid commenting on the politi-

cal affairs of other countries but on Tuesday a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron said Cameron thought Trump’s comments were “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”.

In seeking to defend his proposal, Trump said the United states needed to be vigilant because parts of London and Paris were now so radicalised they could no longer be policed by officers who feared for their lives.

London’s Metropolitan Police took the rare stance of criticising Trump while London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “the only reason I wouldn’t go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”

The police said: “We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however on this occasion we think it’s important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong.”

Britain has an estimated 2.7 million Muslims among its 65 million population. Earlier this year, the government said fighting extremism was one of the defining battles of this century and announced a strategy primarily designed to counter the ideology promoted by IS militants, Al Qaeda and other radicals. — Reuters

R I G H T S WAT C H D O G

China urged to end torture, shut down ‘black jails’ GENEVA: A United Nations rights watchdog called on China on Wednesday to halt torture of detainees that it said remains rife in police stations and prisons, and to close its secret “black jails”.

The UN Committee against Torture voiced deep concern about the deaths in custody of several highprofile political prisoners and at China’s crackdown on lawyers. At least 25 of 200 lawyers rounded up since July remain in detention, it said. The 10 independent experts asked Beijing to report back in one year on progress in complying with an international treaty banning torture. “The Committee remains seriously concerned over consistent reports indicating that the practice of torture and ill-treatment is still deeply entrenched in the criminal justice system, which overly relies on confessions as the basis for convictions,” the Committee said.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had not seen the report. “But in recent years China has been promoting the rule of law and has made great efforts in all regards including on opposing torture,” she told a daily news briefing, speaking ahead of the report’s release. — Reuters

$20 BILLION PLAN

AMBITIOUS PROJECT: A resident of the shanty area of Al Dweiqa in Cairo in this October 4, 2012 file photo. – Reuters

Egypt to build one million homes for poor CAIRO: Egypt plans to build 1 million homes for poorer people at a cost of almost $20 billion over the next five years, the housing minister said, to ease a crunch that has seen slums and unlicensed buildings spread since the 2011 protests.

With a population of about 90 million, and projected to exceed 120 million by 2050, and with many Egyptians living in sprawling slums, the country is struggling to build enough houses for the poorest in society.

So many people live in a network of tombs in Cairo that the area has become known as the City of the Dead.

Housing Minister Mustafa Madbouly told Reuters Egypt needed to build 500,000600,000 new homes a year to keep up with demand, 70 per cent of which should be aimed at the poor.

Social housing project The social housing project will see 200,000 new homes built each year, meeting over half the annual demand for cheap housing. Private developers, who have built new suburbs around Cairo, are meeting the needs of middle and higher income Egyptians who can buy homes outright or obtain mortgages.

Egypt is financing its social housing scheme through land sales to developers building higher-end homes, Madbouly said.

“This is totally being implemented by the Egyptian government and the ministry of housing with a total investment that exceeds $19.16 billion (150 billion Egyptian pounds),” he said on the sidelines of the Egypt Mega Projects conference.

Projects “We are making use of the projects we are offering to the private sector to finance and crosssubsidise the social housing programme.”

Madbouly said he was also

working to upgrade informal settlements, which comprise 40-50 per cent of urban areas, and to bring 24-hour piped water to all homes within three years.

No running water Three per cent of Egyptian households have no running water at all and in rural areas some homes receive water for only 12 hours a day. Madbouly also plans to bring sewage treatment to 50 per cent of rural areas, up from 15 per cent now. “(We are) upgrading slums and unsafe areas. We are talking here about 248 areas...

150,000 families,” Madbouly said.

But Madbouly faces a mammoth task. Egypt’s population is squeezed into a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Nile, the river delta and the Mediterranean coast. The rest of the country is largely desert.

As the population grows, the government is searching for a solution to poorly lit, poorly ventilated rows of unlicensed red brick buildings that have mushroomed in the turbulent nearly five years since the overthrow of president Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt had also planned to build 1 million homes for middle-income Egyptians by 2020 in a $35-billion joint venture with Dubai-based Arabtec.

Announced in March 2014, the project was a pillar of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi’s election campaign. Madbouly said the latest proposal from Arabtec foresees the construction of just 13,000 units in the first phase.

“The company had continuous change of its board and its strategy and its policy. They limited their ambitious programme,” Madbouly said. “It’s not the project we were expecting.”

That had not, however, dampened enthusiasm for Gulf investment in the most-populous Arab country, he said, adding: “We have offered several projects with a lot of Gulf country investors and we are in negotiations with some of them.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

WORLD

I am sure the chancellor will cherish this as an incentive in her job Steffen Seiber, Merkel spokesman

SOURING OF TIES

Russia halts nuclear plant work in Turkey ANKARA: Russia’s Rosatom has stopped construction work at Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, Turkish energy officials said on Wednesday, as relations between Moscow and Ankara continue to worsen after the downing of a Russian jet.

State-owned Rosatom has not terminated the contract for the building of the $20 billion project and is reluctant to do so because of the heavy compensation clauses, energy officials said.

The possible cancellation of the project is unlikely to have any impact on Turkey’s immediate energy supplies, as the planned nuclear power plant was not seen coming online before 2022 and had already run into delays due to regulatory hurdles and Moscow’s financial woes. Keen to wean itself off on dependence on imported energy, Turkey in 2013 commissioned Rosatom to build four1,200 MW reactors. - Reuters

Chancellor Merkel named Time ‘Person of the Year’ Angela Merkel celebrated her 10year anniversary as chancellor last month, making her the EU’s longestserving leader

WASHINGTON: Time magazine named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its 2015 “Person of the Year” on Wednesday, noting her resilience and leadership when faced with the refugee crisis and turmoil in the European Union

INSURGENCY

Dozens killed in Taliban attack on Kandahar airport

CLOSE VIGIL: Afghan National Army soldiers keep watch after clashes against security forces at Kandahar airport on Wednesday, a sprawling complex which also houses a joint NATO-Afghan base. - AFP

KANDAHAR: Dozens of people were killed in fighting at the airport in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar after an overnight attack by Taliban insurgents while a key district in neighbouring Helmand province fell to the insurgents, officials said on Wednesday.

The attack on the airport, one of the most heavily protected bases in the country, underlined the Taliban’s ability to inflict serious damage on security forces that are still shaken by the insurgents’ brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz in September.

With final mopping up operations continuing late on Wednesday afternoon in Kandahar, 24 hours after the attack began, 37 civilians and members of Afghan security forces had been killed and 35 wounded, the defence ministry said.

In addition, nine Taliban were killed and another wounded with a final survivor still resisting security forces, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the effort to repel the attack had proceeded slowly to minimise casualties.

“Afghanistan’s national army forces are bravely fighting terrorists in airport areas and are trying to act cautiously to avoid harm to civilians,” the ministry said.

A doctor at the local hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 41 people — 37 civilians and four soldiers — had been killed. In a separate incident in neighbouring Helmand province, where the Taliban has been increasing pressure for weeks, insurgents captured the district of Khanishin, a major control point for drug smuggling routes through the south.

Fourteen policemen were killed and 11 others wounded, provincial council chief Karim Atal said. The airport in Kanda-

A15

har, Afghanistan’s second biggest city, has for years been a major hub for operations of international forces, most of whom had withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

A spokesman for NATO’s Resolute Support mission said there had been no reports of casualties among the hundreds of international personnel at the air base, but he had no other details.

The raid in one of the Taliban’s traditional strongholds coincided with the start of a regional security conference in Islamabad, where Afghan President Ashraf Ghani made a plea for more support from neighbours to fight the growing insurgency.

The Taliban, fighting to reestablish hardline rule after US-led military intervention ousted them from power in 2001, have been struggling to settle a leadership dispute which has seen scores killed in fighting between factions.

But the attack in Kandahar showed their continued ability to inflict damage and will also increase pressure on Ghani’s government to contain the spreading insurgency, which has claimed thousands of civilian and military casualties since the start of the year. Officials said fighters attacked a perimeter area of the huge and heavily fortified complex on Tuesday evening, initially taking up position in a school in a residential area of the site, which houses both a civilian airport and military base.

NATO military personnel, civilian contractors and Afghan forces are based there.

Earlier, the Taliban said in a statement 150 soldiers had been killed after suicide attackers had entered the base and attacked international forces and their Afghan allies. - Reuters

HONOUR: German Chancellor Angela Merkel appears on the cover of Time magazine’s Person of the Year issue. - Reuters

over its currency this year.

In a statement explaining the magazine’s choice, managing editor Nancy Gibbs said despite crises in the region that caused “reason to wonder whether Europe could continue to exist,” Merkel emerged

as an “indispensable player.”

“For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME’s Person of the Year,” Gibbs wrote.

In response to the news, Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert told a government news conference: “I am sure the chancellor will cherish this as an incentive in her job.”

Merkel celebrated her 10-year

anniversary as chancellor last month, making her the European Union’s longest-serving leader.

For years she was seen as a cautious, risk-averse leader who paid close attention to public opinion in formulating policy.

But her leadership in the Ukraine crisis last year, her clinching of a deal this summer to keep Greece in the euro zone and her stance in the refugee crisis have changed that view.

In late August, when tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war in the Middle East streamed

into Hungary, threatening a humanitarian crisis, Merkel agreed to suspend the European Union’s asylum rules and allow them to continue into Germany.

She declared to skeptical countrymen: “Wir schaffen das,” which translates as, “We can do this.”

Her “open-door” stance has led to a fall in support for her conservatives and her own popularity ratings slid to 54 per cent from 75 per cent over eight months.

Time also noted her leadership this year in leading the West’s response to Vladimir Putin’s “creeping theft of Ukraine” and welcoming refugees to Germany despite “the reflex to slam doors, build walls and trust no one.”

Merkel topped a short list of finalists that included US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who came in third, and IS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, who was runner-up. - Reuters

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THU RS DAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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DIGEST VIDEO Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

Muscat 5,502.87 + 34.37 + 0.63%

Dubai 3,000.95 - 9.69 - 0.32%

Abu Dhabi 4,083.86 - 26.40 - 0.64%

Kuwait 5,729.52 - 23.23 - 0.40%

Saudi Arabia

7,014.73 + 23.29 + 0.33%

Bahrain 1,212.61 + 5.34 + 0.44%

Qatar 10,110.90 + 14.48 + 0.14%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.35 Pound ............................................ 1.71 Indian Rs ............................. 172.92 Pak Rs ...................................264.97 Bangla Taka.......................200.16

Indian Rs ...................................173.50 Pakistan Rs ............................ 268.50 Sri Lanka Rs ........................... 347.00 Bangla Taka........................... 204.60 Phil Peso .................................... 122.10

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......13.85

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........ $35.87 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$36.21 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ......... $37.73 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$37.37 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........ $40.77 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........ $38.07

Oman plans to build large water project Project is part of a series of new water desalination plants planned by OPWP and will come up at three different sites

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman is planning to develop another water desalination facility, with a combined capacity to produce 52.6 million imperial gallons per day (240,000 cubic metres per day).

The project, which is part of a series of new water desalination plants planned by the Oman Power and Water Procurement

Company (OPWP), will come up across three different sites, according to a tender document.

OPWP, the sole procurer of new power generation and water desalination capacity, has floated a request for qualification (RfQ) tender seeking applications from multinational developers. The RfQ document will be available for purchase until December 21 and the last date for submitting bids is January 17, 2016.

The floating of RfQ for a water project comes close on the heels of similar projects initiated in Barka, Sohar, Salalah and Sharqiya.

According to earlier reports, the Barka and Sohar projects on the Sultanate’s Batinah coast, which have a combined capacity of 116.8 million imperial gallons per day, are in an advanced stage of selecting a developer. The water schemes for both project locations are slated for commercial operation by April 2018.

Likewise, the proposed Salalah desalination project will have

* Rates as of Dec. 9 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of Dec. 9 Source: Bank Muscat

a capacity to produce 20 million imperial gallons water per day.

The newly planned projects are expected to substantially enhance the availability of potable water in the country, as the Sultanate has recently witnessed a shortage in water supply due to a phenomenal growth in consumption.

The demand for potable water in Oman’s northern region is projected to grow by 6 per cent per annum in seven years, from 238 million cubic metres in 2013 to 349 million cubic metres in 2020, according to a seven-year outlook for power and water demand released by OPWP last year.

A combination of population growth and industrial development, including tourism projects, are cited as the major reasons for the growth in demand for potable water.

Demand for potable water in Salalah is projected to grow by8 per cent, and peak water demand to increase from 75,000 cubic metres per day in 2013 to 132,000 cubic metres per day by 2020.

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.40 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............ 128.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............ 122.00 * Rates as of Dec. 9 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN

Financial position of banks looks sound, says CBO chief Times News Service MUSCAT: All banks in the Sultanate are in sound financial positions in line with international standards, said Hamood bin Sangour Al Zadjali, the executive president of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO).

In his foreword to the latest issue of the Al-Markazi magazine, a publication of CBO, Al Zadjali addressed questions raised by a section of people on the need to establish new banks in Oman in view of the current global changes.

He affirmed that the current number of banks, whether local commercial banks, branches of foreign banks or Islamic Windows, are considered sufficient, and proportionate to the size of the Omani economy.

He also explained that these institutions can mobilise national savings and meet the banking needs of various economic activities in the country, adding that banks in the Sultanate are flexible enough to deal with various economic changes, certainly including the decline in oil prices in the world markets.

Al Zadjali pointed out that the Omani banking sector today has 16 commercial banks, of which seven

are local and nine are the branches of foreign banks, alongside two government specialisedbanks— the Oman Housing Bank and the Oman Development Bank, as well as two Islamic banks and six Islamic windows, affiliated with local commercial banks.

Tight vigil The CBO chief added that the Banking Law of 2000 and the regulatory framework for Islamic banking issued in 2012, as well as the circulars issued by the Central Bank of Oman when necessary have been drafted keeping in view all the developments in the banking industry at the local and regional level, conformto the global trends, are commensurate with the nature and characteristics of the Omani economy and fitwell with the banking and investment activities in the country, which have remained under the tight vigil and supervision of CBO. The Omani banking sector is fit enough to deal with various economic changes and can absorb the repercussions that are being witnessed in the international arena at present.

He also made a reference to the many challenges facing the banking sector, of which the banking

sector must be aware and vigilant in order to maintain the financial and banking information security and confidentiality.

Thus, information should not be disclosed to unauthorised persons and the integrity of information should be preserved during the transition from a specific point to another.

Information should also be available when needed, especially in the case of emergencies and natural disasters, protected from the risk of piracy and financial crimes that are prevalent globally and stored in secure information centres.

Exchange of information Al Zadjali confirmed that to this effect; CBO has developed a strategy to promote the exchange of information with banks operating in the Sultanate, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Economic Crimes Unit of the Royal Oman Police, and has also enhanced cooperation and coordination with these institutions.

Circulars are issued periodically instructing banks to monitor suspicious financial transactions and report them as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,511.94 ...............5,469.25 ................... 5,502.87 ...................5,468.50................. 34.37 ................... 0.63 Financial Index .................................... 6,649.62 ...............6,573.12 ................... 6,639.88 ................... 6,566.61................. 73.27 ................... 1.12 Industrial Index ................................... 6,852.45 .............. 6,820.25 ...................6,830.90 ...................6,820.25..................10.65 ................... 0.16 Services Index .......................................3,126.24 ............... 3,121.57 ................... 3,125.90 ................... 3,122.72.................... 3.18 ................... 0.10 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................870.26 .................. 867.33 .......................867.33 ...................... 868.66...................-1.33 .................. -0.15 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 12,278,910 .................2,666,560 .....................735 ............... 14,613,660,505 ................20 ........................5 .................... 15 .........................40

As many as 735 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating OMR2.6 million

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9

turnover on a volume of 12.2 million shares 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: Institutional buying helped the MSM30 Index partially recover losses from Tuesday. The index closed at 5,502.87 points, up by 0.63 per cent. The Sharia Index fell by 0.15 per cent to close at 867.33 points. Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover.

Tuesday’s top gainer was Ahli Bank, up by 7.22 per cent, while Gulf Investment Services, down by 4.26 per cent, was the top loser.

As many as 735 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating turnover of OMR2.6 million with 12.2 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 20 advanced, five declined and 15 remained unchanged.

Omani investors remained net buyers for OMR348,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR334,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR683,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index rebounded to reach 6,639.88 points, a gain of 1.12 per cent. Ahli Bank, Al Madina Investments, United Finance, Al Anwar Holding and Oman and Emirates Holding increased by 7.22 per cent, 5.45 per cent, 3.77 per cent, 2.48 per cent and 2.22 per cent, respectively.

Gulf Investment Services declined by 4.26 per cent to close at OMR0.090.

Industrial Index advanced by 0.16 per cent to close at 6,830.90 points. Al Jazeera Steel, Gulf International Chemicals, Oman Fisheries, Galfar Engineering and Al Hassan Engineering increased by 5.47 per cent, 4 per cent, 3.85 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 1.35 per cent, respectively.

Oman Chlorine and Oman Cables declined by 3.77 per cent and 2.43 per cent, respectively.

Services Index finished at 3,125.90 points, up by 0.10 per cent. Port Services, Phoenix Power, Renaissance Services,

OoredooOman and SMN Power gained by 3.73 per cent, 1.40 per cent, 0.61 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.54 per cent, respectively.

Oman Telecommunications Company, down by 0.32 per cent, was the only sector loser.

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

OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 247,385 ............47,742..................... 10 ............0.180 ........... 0.194 ...........0.180............0.193 .............0.180 ............0.013 ............. 7.222 ................0.191 .............. 0.181...................0.192..................275,031,976 ........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 1,226,100 .......165,126..................... 56 ............0.135 ........... 0.137 ...........0.132 ............0.135 .............0.128............ 0.007............. 5.469 ................0.132 ..............0.132...................0.133................... 16,861,225 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .......................................5,300 .................. 307........................2 ........... 0.058 ........... 0.058 ...........0.058........... 0.058 .............0.055 ........... 0.003............. 5.455 ................0.058..............0.056...................0.057................... 12,014,780 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ................ 7,800 ...............2,028........................5 ........... 0.260...........0.260 ...........0.260 .......... 0.260 .............0.250 ............0.010 .............4.000 ................0.260..............0.255...................0.260 ...................5,460,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 134,000 ............14,750..................... 10 ............0.110 ........... 0.112............0.110 ............0.110 .............0.106 ........... 0.004............. 3.774 ................0.112 .............. 0.110................... 0.112 ...................34,184,144 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 135,444 ............18,763......................14 ............0.135 ........... 0.142 ...........0.135 ............0.139 .............0.134............ 0.005..............3.731.................0.140.............. 0.133...................0.140................... 13,210,560 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,879,305 ......309,439..................... 88 ............0.162 ........... 0.166 ...........0.162 ............0.165 ............. 0.161 ............ 0.004.............2.484 ................0.163 .............. 0.163...................0.164...................24,762,375 .........0.100

Emerging stocks fall Emerging-market stocks fell for a sixth day as declining Chinese producer prices deepened concern about the weakness in the world’s second-biggest economy. The yuan dropped after the nation’s central bank cut its reference rate to the lowest level since 2011.

A gauge of Chinese shares in Hong Kong slumped for a fifth day. Poland’s largest insurer dragged the equity benchmark to a six-year low after its chief executive resigned as part of a government reshuffle of stateowned companies. Polish bonds declined, sending 10-year yields to the highest in almost three months. The yuan fell for a fourth day, while the Mexican peso and Brazilian real strengthened.

“Weak PPI numbers show how the manufacturing sector is struggling,” said Hertta Alava, who helps oversee about $395 million as the head of emerging markets at FIM Asset Management Ltd. in Helsinki and prefers Indian and Russian stocks to shares in China and Brazil.

“China is the key for emergingmarket sentiment and certainly these issues will still be there in 2016. Oil is a bit up after the Opec-related selloff, so that is helping Russia and Middle East,” he further added.

Developing-nation stocks are headed for their worst year since 2011 on concern China’s slowdown was deepening as the US moves closer to raising rates has eroded demand for riskier assets in emerging economies.

OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............. 97,810 ...............8,996..................... 10 ........... 0.092 ...........0.092 ...........0.089........... 0.092 .............0.090 ........... 0.002.............2.222 ................0.089..............0.089...................0.090 .................. 11,212,500 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 731,015 ............ 54,957..................... 52 ............0.075 ........... 0.076 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351.................0.075..............0.074...................0.075...................21,748,548 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,365,300 ...... 654,155..................... 99 ............0.476 ...........0.482 ...........0.476........... 0.480 .............0.474 ........... 0.006............. 1.266 ................0.478..............0.478...................0.480 ............... 1,100,074,847 ......0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................. 24,690 ...............5,432........................3 ........... 0.220...........0.220 ...........0.220 .......... 0.220 .............0.218............ 0.002............. 0.917 ................0.220 ............ 0.220...................0.222 ................ 339,840,280 .......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ...................................... 29,000 ...............4,785........................2 ............0.165 ........... 0.165 ...........0.165 ............0.165 .............0.164.............0.001 ............. 0.610 ................0.165 .............. 0.165...................0.167................... 47,957,418 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO.........................................................................50,700 ............ 36,504........................4 ............0.720 ........... 0.720 ...........0.720........... 0.720 ............. 0.716............ 0.004............. 0.559 ................0.720.............. 0.716...................0.720..................468,679,846 .......0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING ........................................... 48,400 ............ 35,970........................3 ............0.740 ........... 0.744 ...........0.740........... 0.744 .............0.740 ........... 0.004............. 0.541 ................0.744 ..............0.744...................0.760..................148,528,886........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ....................................................... 50,940 ............ 53,070........................7 ............1.050 ........... 1.050 ...........1.035 ........... 1.040 ............. 1.035............ 0.005............. 0.483 ................1.035 ..............1.020...................1.035 ................. 208,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .........................................................3,160 .................. 341........................2 ............0.108 ........... 0.108 ...........0.107 ........... 0.108 .............0.108 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.107 ..............0.107...................0.108.................. 216,033,781 ........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 417,156 .............68,413..................... 25 ............0.164 ........... 0.164 ...........0.163 ........... 0.164 .............0.164............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.163 .............. 0.163...................0.164...................32,800,000 ........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................2,000 .................. 876........................1 ........... 0.438 ........... 0.438 ...........0.438........... 0.440 .............0.440 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.438..............0.420...................0.438..................243,259,122........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 300,000.........135,000........................3 ........... 0.450 ...........0.450 ...........0.450........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.450..............0.450...................0.460 .................148,892,720........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ................................... 19,930 ............ 39,860........................1 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 ............ 0.000...................0.000 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................78,700 ............... 7,014........................6 ........... 0.089 ...........0.090 ...........0.089........... 0.089 .............0.089 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.089..............0.087...................0.089....................2,670,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 845,801 ............83,734..................... 65 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.098...................0.099....................8,910,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 261,732............ 28,070.....................22 ............0.109 ........... 0.109 ...........0.107 ........... 0.107 .............0.107............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.107 ..............0.106...................0.107...................21,400,000.........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 1,268,590 ......202,976......................13 ............0.161 ........... 0.161............0.160........... 0.160 .............0.160 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.160.............. 0.158...................0.162................. 230,630,400 .......0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 101,601 ............42,266......................11 ............0.416 ........... 0.416 ...........0.416 ............0.416 ............. 0.416............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.416 ..............0.414...................0.416...................25,168,000 .........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER..............................................................15,820 ...............5,569........................3 ........... 0.352 ...........0.352 ...........0.352........... 0.352 .............0.352 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.352..............0.352...................0.370................... 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ................................30,549 .......... 134,441......................13 ........... 4.400...........4.405 ...........4.400 .......... 4.400 .............4.400 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................4.400 .............4.405...................4.600 ..................43,032,950.........1.000 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL.............................................. 24,500 ...............1,960........................3 ........... 0.080 ...........0.080 ...........0.080........... 0.080 .............0.080 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.080..............0.079...................0.080 ..................14,000,000.........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 140,950 ......... 219,483.....................24 ............1.560 ........... 1.560 ...........1.550 ............1.555 .............1.560............-0.005 ........... -0.321 ...............1.550 .............. 1.545...................1.550................1,166,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................21,948 .............39,770........................6 ............1.825 ........... 1.825 ...........1.800............1.810 ............. 1.855............-0.045 ........... -2.426 ...............1.800.............. 1.780...................1.820..................162,357,000........0.100 OM0000002341............OMAN CHLORINE........................................................ 12,810 ...............6,533........................2 ............0.510 ........... 0.510 ...........0.510 ........... 0.510 .............0.530 ...........-0.020 ............-3.774................0.510 ..............0.510...................0.530...................33,078,920.........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 368,016 ............33,124......................17 ............0.091 ........... 0.091 ...........0.090........... 0.090 .............0.094 ...........-0.004 ........... -4.255 ...............0.090..............0.091...................0.094 ...................5,295,890 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,946,452...2,461,453...................582 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ...................................................... 42,500 .............. 2,290........................9 ............0.055 ........... 0.056 ...........0.053........... 0.054 .............0.052 ........... 0.002............. 3.846 ................0.053..............0.053...................0.054 ...................6,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 147,796 ...............9,855......................11 ........... 0.066 ...........0.067 ...........0.066........... 0.067 .............0.066 ............0.001 ..............1.515.................0.066..............0.066...................0.067...................67,000,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 480,806 ........... 69,486..................... 66 ............0.143 ........... 0.145 ...........0.143 ............0.145 ............. 0.143............ 0.002............. 1.399 ................0.145 .............. 0.145...................0.146..................212,077,212 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,635,066 .......121,215.....................60 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.075 ...........0.073........... 0.074 .............0.073 ............0.001 ............. 1.370 ................0.074..............0.074...................0.075..................111,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................15,000 ............... 1,125........................3 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351.................0.075..............0.074...................0.077....................5,640,600 ..........0.100 OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING .......................................... 300 .................. 108........................1 ........... 0.360 ...........0.360 ...........0.360........... 0.370 .............0.370 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.360..............0.360...................0.370....................2,220,000..........1.000 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,321,468 ......204,078...................150 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 6........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS AND SUKUK MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .............................................2,248 .................. 225........................1 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.100............0.101 ............. 0.101............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.104...................32,283,910 .........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ........................8,742 ..................804........................2 ........... 0.092 ...........0.092 ...........0.092........... 0.092 .............0.093 ...........-0.001 ............-1.075................0.092..............0.092...................0.099...................29,822,868.........0.100 .............................................SUM: ....................................................................................10,990 ...............1,029........................3 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

– United Securities/Bloomberg News

STOCK MARKET

MEDIA SUMMIT

Indian stocks fall for sixth day Arab aviation set for growth MUMBAI: Indian stocks slid for a sixth day, with the benchmark gauge at a three-month low, amid concern over the passage of the goods-and-services tax bill in parliament and continued outflows from local equities by overseas investors.

Gati capped its biggest two-day decline in more than three months, pacing losses among logistics and delivery companies that would

benefit from the unified tax bill.

Bharti Airtel decreased to its lowest level since May 2014. Vedanta, the biggest copper producer, was the top loser on the main gauge.

The S&P BSE Sensex tumbled 1.1 per cent to 25,036.05, the lowest close since September 7.

Gati plunged 7.9 per cent, extending Tuesday’s 5.7 per cent decline. Gateway Distriparks fell one per cent, ending two days of

advance. VRL Logistics tumbled 2.1 per cent to its lowest level since November 20. Snowman Logistics plunged 4.1 per cent, taking this week’s retreat to 10 per cent.

Transport Corp of India fell 8.8 per cent, while Allcargo Logistics slid 5.2 per cent. Container Corp Of India declined 5.9 per cent. Bharti Airtel fell 2.2 per cent. Vedanta fell 5.6 per cent to the lowest level since August 24. — Bloomberg News

Times News Service MUSCAT: Strategic important role that aviation and tourism continue to play in the ongoing development of Arab economies was highlighted at the recently concluded Arab Aviation and Media Summit.

The aviation and tourism sectors can help in creating employment and market cities and countries to overseas investors.

There was broad consensus among participants that aviation and tourism are set for a period of sustained growth in the Middle East, driven particularly by internal demand and the growing importance of the neighbouring regions of Africa and Asia. However, some participants believe growth will be significantly higher if key issues such as infrastructure and regulatory constraints, environmental concerns, the slowdown in world trade, and the need to recruit tens of thousands of skilled professionals, are dealt with effectively.

The fifth Arab Aviation and Media Summit (AAMS) conclud-

ed on Tuesday with speakers in agreement about the positive outlook for the region’s aviation and tourism industry, despite the potential impact from a number of existing and emerging challenges.

More than 200 industry leaders, government officials and journalists attended the 2015 conference, which this year was held in Manama in partnership with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company.

Event began with a keynote address from Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain, who highlighted the importance of investing in both infrastructure and talent. He provided an update on the Bahrain International Airport modernisation programme, which is anticipated to act a catalyst for further growth in passenger numbers, swell as the important role that the successful Bahrain International Airshow has played in developing the aviation sector.

Other speakers and panelists included Hussain Dabbas, region-

al vice president, IATA; AbdelwahabTeffaha, secretary general, Arab Air Carriers Organisation; Fouad Attar, managing director, Airbus Middle East; Ahmed Al Nemah, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication’s Acting Under Secretary for Civil Aviation Affairs, Bahrain; Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, chief executive officer, Bahrain Airport Company; Jerad Bachar, executive director tourism and leisure, Bahrain Economic Development Board; Omer Kaddouri, chief executive officer and president, Rotana (UAE); Kapil Kaul, CEO South Asia, CAPA (India); HaithamMattar, chief executive officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (UAE); Andrew Gordon, director strategic marketing and analysis, Airbus; and Mario Segovia Sman, head of business development MENA, Amadeus.

The AAMS is industry-led initiative supported by organisations including Airbus Middle East, Air Arabia Group, CFM, Amadeus, Alpha Aviation and ITP Group, among others.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

B3

MARKET I N T E R E S T R AT E

Gulf bank deposits hit by falling oil DUBAI: Waning profile of local banks in the Gulf region’s $350 billion loan market is another symptom of the falling price of oil, which acts as a bulwark for the economies of countries from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. Declining oil revenue is hitting deposits, forcing banks to raise lending rates to compensate and pricing them out of deals.

“This trend is going to become more pronounced next year, both in the loans and bonds market, as liquidity pressures persist from a lower oil price,” Andy Cairns, the global head of debt origination and distribution at National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the United Arab Emirates’ biggest bank, said by phone on Sunday.

“International banks who are not experiencing the same pressures from tighter liquidity are in a position to benefit and exploit that.”

Monetary boost About $65 billion of syndicated loan deals were signed this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That includes Dubai World Corp.’s $10.3 billion restructured debt, which altered terms on existing loans.

Saudi Arabian Oil Co.’s $10 billion facility, arranged mostly by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, accounts for about 15 per cent of the total.

N O V E M B E R D ATA

Inflation in Brazil grows RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s consumer prices in November rose more than economists forecast, as President Dilma Rousseff faces impeachment proceedings that hamper attempts to fix the economy. Consumer prices rose 1.01 per cent in November, up from 0.82 per cent in October, the national statistics agency said on Wednesday. That was above the median 0.95 per cent estimate from 40 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, and the fastest pace in eight months. Annual inflation accelerated to 10.48 per cent.

Inflation running in the double digits has shattered consumer and business confidence and is helping push Brazil into its deepest recession in 25 years. The central bank has signalled it’s ready to resume interest rate increases should policy makers fail to pass fiscal austerity measures, which the government says would tame inflation and boost economic growth. With Congress focused on impeachment proceedings, the debate around economic policies has come to a stop. Swap rates on the contract due January 2017 fell four basis points to 15.74 per cent at 9:04am local time. The real strengthened 0.8 per cent to 3.7648 per US dollar. It has dropped 30 per cent this year, the most of all 31 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg. — Bloomberg News

Stimulus programmes in Europe and Japan are helping to support bank liquidity in those regions. The European Central Bank announced an interest rate cut and a six-month extension to its bond purchases last week, and the Bank of Japan is buying as much as 12 trillion yen ($98 billion) of Japanese government bonds each month as part of its plans to boost the economy.

Just one of the six banks hired to help the Qatari government raise $5.5 billion is a Gulf-based bank, a person familiar with the matter said this month. The country has the fourth-highest credit rating at Moody’s Investors Service.

For Saudi Arabia, where oil income accounts for most of the government’s revenue, the retreat in energy prices contributed to a 4.7 per cent slide in demand deposits in October from the previous month, or SR50.5 billion ($13.5 billion).

It is probably the biggest decline since the 1990s, Murad Ansari, a bank analyst at EFGHermes Holding in Riyadh, said last month. That helped raise the three-month Saudi Interbank Offered Rate, which is used to price some loans, to an almost sevenyear high. A similar rate in the UAE climbed to the highest since May 2013. — Bloomberg News

Islamic banks achieve solid growth in finance Such a robust growth in Islamic finance shows that Shariacompliant banks have established themselves in the market and are now overcoming their teething problems

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s Islamic banks and window operations have showed a robust growth of 65.9 per cent at OMR1,500.50 million in financing for the first nine-month period ending September 2015, over the same period of the previous year.

Such a robust growth in Islamic finance shows that Sharia-compliant banks are able to establish themselves in the market and are

able to overcome its teething problems. Two Islamic banks and window operations of conventional banks have launched innovative products to attract Omani customers, besides opening several branches in different parts of the country. A leading Islamic bank recently said that it would achieve break-even by the end of current year. The bank aims at increasing profit on a monthly basis after reaching the break-even point.

Total customer deposits held

by Islamic institutions also shot up by 210 per cent to OMR1,331.9

million by end-September, from merely OMR429.7 million for the same period of last year, according to the latest monthly bulletin released by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO).

There has been considerable increase in number of branches and assets held by these entities for almost two year, ever since these banks started operation. Islamic banks are opening up new segments and players and thus adding to the competitive environment not only in terms of efficiency and innovations, but by also provid-

ing the consumers the benefit of choosing between both conventional and Islamic banking products.

An important focused area for Islamic banks now is small and medium enterprises. Sharia compliant institutions are also focusing on creating awareness on Islamic products among the potential customers.

In Oman, two Islamic banks — Bank Nizwa and alizz Islamic bank — and window operations of six conventional banks have scores of branches across the country.

C O M M E N TA RY

High-performing boards are supported by four pillars Board members in the Gulf are becoming more aware of the necessity to enhance their knowledge, skills and capabilities in order to build better boards. This was evidenced in a study carried out by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Board Directors Institute (BDI) earlier this year, where less than a third of the board members surveyed believed that boards in the Gulf are effective.

NATHALIE POTVIN*

Company board performance is under the spotlight more than ever before. Media coverage of recent governance failures, including at Volkswagen, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and Toshiba, have highlighted that the effectiveness of boards can at times, be strongly tested, and this test may unfold under the scrutiny of shareholders, customers, media and the public.

While no company wants to ever face such highly disruptive events, sometimes even the smallest organisation will need to tackle emerging issues that require strong leadership from the chairman and his board.

Effective board But what makes an effective board? The institute has conducted extensive research into the facets of a board’s performance, and has found that four specific key areas are conducive to boards being highly effective.

First, the role of the Chairman is crucial in driving a board’s performance. Broadly speaking, the Chairman ensures that the board performs effectively and supports the business and strategy of the company. The characteristics of a good Chairman centre on the ability to work well with people, gain consensus, and be ‘brave’ enough to do what is right for the organisation.

A good Chairman has the responsibility to challenge and support the management, frame the discussions in a manner that enable the board to address key

S TA K E S A L E

Yahoo to scrap plans of Alibaba divestiture SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo will scrap the long-planned spinoff of its stake in Alibaba Group Holding, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, under pressure from investors concerned about the tax risks of the deal.

The Web portal will instead explore a spin-off of its main Internet businesses, said the person, who asked not to be named because the decision hasn’t yet been made public.

The shift came after Yahoo’s board convened last week to consider options for the company’s future, including whether to press ahead with the Alibaba divestiture after questions arose about whether the transaction would be tax-free.

The reversal is an admission of defeat for chief executive officer Marissa Mayer, who was brought aboard in 2012 to revitalise the once-dominant Internet brand yet has struggled to find the right strategy to return the company to growth. With sales hovering around 2006 levels, investors’

STRONG GROWTH: Total customer deposits held by Islamic institutions also shot up by 210 per cent to OMR1,331.9 million by September-end, from merely OMR429.7 million for the same period last year, according to the latest monthly bulletin released by the Central Bank of Oman. - Times file picture

patience has begun to wane, and activist shareholder Starboard Value last month called for the company to drop the Alibaba spin-off and instead to sell off its Web businesses — or risk a proxy fight.

The company’s shares rose as much as 3.8 per cent after CNBC first reported the change in plan.

The TV network also said the company is considering options for its stake in Yahoo Japan Corp.

The stock had gained less than one per cent to $34.85 at the close in New York, bringing its decline for the year to 31 per cent.

Elusive turnaround While Mayer has until now persisted in talking up prospects for the Internet businesses, such as search, advertising and media content, investors have been focused on the stake in Alibaba — and concerns about taxes. That holding, about 15 per cent of the Chinese e-commerce company, is worth more than $30 billion. Yahoo’s total market value is about $33 billion. — Bloomberg News

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

issues and formulate proper resolutions. In times of a crisis, a strong Chairman does not lose sight of the company’s purpose and continues to lead the board effectively, deals with disruptive, unforeseen events and protects the organisation’s longterm interests above all else.

Second, succession planning for senior management roles is pivotal for the long-term success of all companies alike— whether they are publicly listed, state-owned, family owned or privately held.

Over 40 per cent of BDI’s survey respondents revealed that their organisations did not have a succession plan in place.

Highly effective boards develop and continuously revise the plan.

To ensure a successful transition, implementation of the succession plan can begin as early as three years prior to the transition in question. In the most effective chief executive officer (CEO) replacement plans, the CEO also plays a key role in selecting, grooming and bringing on boardhis/her successor.

An ongoing succession plan also helps the board remain aligned with the development of the senior management team and the specific needs of the organisation. A solid plan leads

to a smooth transition, which contributes to sound governance, mitigates risk, and fosters the trust of shareholders and stakeholders.

Risk management The third pillar for high-performing boards is risk management. According to the institute’s survey of GCC board members, 44 percent of the respondents identified audit and risk management as being an area where they would like to see more expertise.

In addition, more than a third of the respondents disagreed when asked if all their colleagues had a clear understanding of the top five risks facing their company. A paper by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) summarises the responsibilities of a board in relation to risk well, and states that the board is responsible for understanding the company management’s approach to risk appetite —and also for having substantive discussions about it as part of strategy and risk oversight.

According to PwC, it is this active involvement of the board in risk discussions that is pivotal to a company’s adequate approach to risk taking and management and will ensure a company’s success in the long term.

Strategy is the fourth driver of high-performing boards.

Many organisations spend time reflecting on pastperformance, when looking forward is essential to driving future growth.

Over half of the respondents in the BDI survey agreed that all members of the board had made a significant contribution to strategy development and strategy-related discussions.

These same discussions ensure that the board is fully engaged with the strategy of the company, and allows boards to play a role in understanding and shaping company direction in partnership with management.

Boards then must hold management accountable while delivering on that strategy.

The board’s performance recipe counts several essential ingredients, but four are indispensable to highly effective boards, which are role of the Chairman, succession planning, risk management and strategy.

Ultimately, they will enable the company to successfully navigate emerging issues, sustain organisational performance and longevity, and overcome intense difficulties, both in or out of the public spotlight. * The writer is Executive Director at the GCC Board Directors Institute.

B4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

FEATURE About seven per cent of US adults plan to give the Watch as a gift this holiday season, including current owners, a poll has found. That could translate to sales of up to 16 million watches over the holidays, based on 2014 US Census projections and excluding younger teens

FESTIVE BOOST FOR APPLE WATCH A

s Apple Watch enters the critical holiday Communication features shopping season, it looks likely to get a sales Apple has touted the watch’s fitness-tracking and boost from happy customers, almost two- communication features.

But none of the functions, which also include thirds of whom are planning to give one as a playing games and telling time, were mentioned gift, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.

The poll found that about seven per cent of US by more than 50 per cent of owners asked about adults plan to give the Watch as a gift this holiday their main uses for the watch.

“It suggests users are not really clear on what season, including current owners.

That could translate to sales of up to 16 million (the watch) is for and what it’s supposed to do,” watches over the holidays, based on 2014 US Cen- TECHnalysis Research analyst O’Donnell said.

Nevertheless, the poll showed high engagement, sus projections and excluding younger teens.

If even a fraction of consumers follow through, with 63 per cent of owners wearing the watch daily.

The poll also showed 91 per cent of owners used Apple would be well-positioned to meet or beat Wall Street’s 2015 sales forecasts, which generally it as much as or more than when they purchased range from 10 million to 12 million watches, said it, while only five per cent had given up.

Ipsos polled 15,595 US adults online between FBR Capital Markets analyst Daniel Ives, who exOctober 21 and December 4 about the watch. Of pects about 12 million sold worldwide.

Cupertino, California-based Apple appears to be that sample, 179 responded to the question combenefiting from its loyal fan base with its first new paring their use of the watch with the day they first got it. device since the iPad. The credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, Sixty-two per cent of US adults who already have an Apple Watch plan to give the gadget as a for that question is about nine per cent.

The engagement numbers are impressive for holiday gift, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Holiday sales of the product will be scrutinised wearables, which users often abandon, said Caroas a barometer of how much promise it holds for lina Milanesi, head of US business at consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. the company.

“There’s a lot of people that fall out of love after After an April debut marred by supply constraints and lukewarm demand, Apple must reas- the honeymoon period,” she said.

That has not been a problem for website desure investors of the watch’s potential, said Ives.

Apple has not provided any sales figures for the veloper Jason Jennings of Rutherfordton, North watch, which has a starting price of $349, and an Carolina.

Jennings, 38, said he had been wearing his ApApple spokesman declined to comment on the poll.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that watch ple Watch every day, using it to listen to music owners were sticking with the device, with most and play games.

Fellow owner Joe Aniceto, 29, has been recomusing it at least as much as when they bought it, mending the watch to his friends and plans to give but no one feature dominated.

Previous Reuters/Ipsos polls have shown about one or two over the holidays.

The Boston-based management consultant said 6 percent of U.S. adults planned to buy the watch, he would dole out more if not for the steep price. with men about twice as likely as women.

“It’s definitely not a stocking stuffer,” he Six percent of respondents in the latest poll said.”That’s for sure.” — Reuters said they had it.

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Napco inks pact with Profils Systemes Gulf Napco will be the official aluminium extruder for doors and windows for the luxury beachfront project for Saraya Bandar Jissah project

MUSCAT: National Aluminium Products Company (Napco), one of the leading extruders of aluminium profiles in the GCC, has entered into a partnership with Profils Systemes Gulf FZCO, a leading French aluminium system designer and supplier based in Dubai, for Saraya Bandar Jissah, a premium mixed-used development in the

Sultanate of Oman.

Under the terms of the agreement, Napco will be the official aluminium extruder for doors and windows for the luxury beachfront project for Profils Systemes, says a press release.

Saraya Bandar Jissah is located on the natural Bandar Jissah beach and offers resort-style living that integrates contemporary architectural features with the complex mountainous terrain. The project features upscale villas, world-class hotels, an indulgent spa, a heritage

P R E S E N TAT I O N

village built around an archaeological site, a recreational centre with restaurants and retail outlets, a social club, and sports amenities.

Robert Holtkamp, CEO, Napco, said: “In a landmark deal, Profils Systemes has sub-contracted us to be the aluminium extruder for the Saraya Bandar Jissah development in Oman. The deal is a valuable addition to our portfolio of elite projects and demonstrates our reputation as a leading aluminium extruder in the region.

"Moreover, the contract com-

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plements our expansion strategies as well as our aim to be among the GCC’s top five extruders. Going ahead with our plans, we have introduced new products and services which will help to widen our reach to other markets.”

Napco has been part of several landmark projects in Oman and the rest of the region. Its current portfolio in Dubai includes Citywalk, an upcoming retail destination on the junction of Al Wasl and Safa Roads; Onyx Tower, a 3-tower commercial project close to Emaar Business Park on Sheikh Zayed Road; and Dubai Design District (d3), an ambitious and innovative purpose-built destination for creative. In addition, it is working on Abu Dhabi Plaza, a mixed-use development underway in Astana, Kazakhstan. Napco’s long list of developments comprise the Supreme Court in Muscat, Salalah Airport, the Dubai International Airport Expansion (UAE), the Burj Khalifa (UAE), and the Al Rayyan Complex (UAE), to name a few.

C E L E B R AT I O N

ISC hosts Rajasthani folk music, dance show SALALAH: The Indian Social Club (ISC) Salalah along with Rajasthani Wing, Embassy of India and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, India, organised Rajasthani folk music and dance evening recently.

This programme was also attended by Amararam Gujar, First Secretary (HOC) & Commercial Representative at the Embassy of India, Muscat, as the chief guest, says a press release.

ISC chairman Manpreet Singh welcomed the chief guest and the audience and spoke of the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

He thanked Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India for ar-

ranging this troupe to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee year of Indo-Oman diplomatic ties.

Dr Khadernawaz Khan welcomed and thanked the chief guest and the audience for their presence. He also introduced Thane Khan, the troupe leader.

The chief guest thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his benevolence.

Dr Sandeep Ojha thanked everyone who attended the event. On this occasion Sohanlal, convener, Rajasthani Wing also sang a song in Rajasthani.

Manpreet presented a memento to Amararam and the troupe members.

SHOW OF SOLIDARITY

Indian School Ghubra walks for Chennai

Orpic’s Supplier Symposium gets good response MUSCAT: Orpic recently conducted its 4th Annual Supplier Symposium at Majan Hall, Sohar.

The event was held under the auspices of His Highness Dr Fahad bin Al Julanda Al Said, Assistant Secretary General of Innovation Development at The Research Council. This year’s event saw hundreds of national and international suppliers, says a press release.

The successful symposium was attended by senior personnel of Orpic who made presentations on the strategic growth projects that are currently being undertaken by Orpic. With Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP), and Muscat-Sohar Product Pipeline (MSPP) already under construction, a number of exciting opportunities were presented to suppliers.

Additionally, with the EPC contracts for Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC) signed; the project is steadfastly moving on course and scheduled for completion in 2019.

Then project, which is the largest undertaken so far, will also

provide numerous opportunities.

Apart from operational updates, other departments also discussed their particular roles and processes, including new ones. The company’s In-Country Value Department was formed early in 2014 and has added significant value in sharpening the focus on the level of procurement disbursed locally and nationally, and engagement with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

The Procurement, Contracts and Inventory Department also shared the latest news regarding their procedures and requirements, and how a potential supplier can best serve their own interests in dealings with Orpic through the tendering process.

The Joint Supplier Registration System (JSRS) organisation spoke on their contribution to the national supplier process, and the importance and benefits of registering on the JSRS. At the heart of the symposium’s activities a panel discussion explored issues on SME support and development, within Orpic’s framework.

MUSCAT: A wonderful initiative was taken by the students, staff and the members of the School Management Committee of Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG) to organise a walk on the school grounds to raise funds for the people of Chennai who have been affected by the floods.

the entire school come forward to lend support to all their countrymen in Chennai. He stated that an act becomes a habit if it is repeatedly performed. He insisted that everyone should practice doing a small good deed which eventually becomes a habit.

The proceeds of this campaign

will be handed over to the authorities concerned for relief work in Chennai. The placards which carried the slogans showed solidarity of the ISG family with the people of Chennai.

This is yet another initiative taken by ISG to develop a sense of empathy amongst students.

E D UC AT I N G D R I V E R S

Bridgestone conducts Tyre Safety campaign MUSCAT: Towell Auto Centre (TAC) in partnership with Bridgestone successfully conducted Tyre Safety campaign, honouring its corporate social responsibility initiative. The campaign was recently held in the Information Technology Authority of Oman premises in Rusayl.

“The Tyre Safety campaign is an endeavour to educate drivers on the subject. Safety checks are done and information is shared with motorists on how to maintain tyres resulting in extended life.

Tyres are exposed to the maximum amount of wear-and-tear and constant friction with the road. Tyre is the primary and most important contact of the vehicle with the road. Tyre upkeep should be considered an absolute necessity,” said Oommen John, AGM, Bridgestone Tyre Division at TAC. “Oman roads have recorded

I N D I A N R E S TAU R A N T

high number of fatal road accidents. Statistics report from last year shows that about 285 road accidents were caused as a result of bad tyres. Our persistent efforts are to spread awareness on tyre safety and initiatives by the ROP have rsulted in a significant decrease in the rate of accidents this year. We stay committed to the cause,” he added.

As leaders in the tyre industry, Bridgestone understands the responsibility to create awareness amongst users on the importance of tyre safety.

Keeping a regular check on tyres not only significantly reduces the possibility of having accidents but also has a positive impact on the life of the tyres. A tyre with the recommended air pressure also di-

minishes the rolling resistance of the vehicle, which in turn also affects fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

During the campaign, a well equipped team explained the importance of tyre safety to visitors with easy and effortless steps to keep a track on the condition of the tyres.

Visitors were guided to check tyre pressure, tread wear and remaining tread depth and also detect signs of visible damage or irregular wear.

“It takes a couple of minutes for a quick check of tyres,” said a visitor who did not want to be named.

“Realising the consequences of being ignorant to the hazards of improper tyre maintenance has been an eye-opener for me. As a responsible motorist as well as for personal safety, maintaining a regular check on this critical component of our vehicle is essential.”

PA R T N E R S H I P

Al Zaman Hospitality adds Indus restaurant to its roster MUSCAT: High end Indian restaurant The Indus now falls under the Al Zaman Hospitality umbrella. The addition was solidified earlier this month.

Al Zaman Hospitality has been expanding rapidly within Oman and regionally in the past year.

Indus is another feather in the group’s cap, says a press release.

The food and beverage industry in Oman has been experiencing a period of sustained growth, and has the potential for more. Al Zaman Hospitality’s growth mirrors the health of the industry. Earlier this year, Al Zaman Hospitality added Caramel Restaurant and Lounge to its roster.

The group’s plans for Indus are diverse. From a revised menu to cosmetic changes and the inclusion of live music, Indus will retain its reputation as one of the best

The walk was flagged off by Ahmed Rayees, president of the School Management Committee.

The entire ISG family participated in this walk with great enthusiasm as it was for a worthy cause, says a press release.

The president in his address expressed his happiness on seeing

Priceless UEFA experience awaiting MasterCard customers at McDonald’s MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman and MasterCard have collaborated to launch a new adrenaline-filled UEFA campaign this November.

To promote its cashless payment system now available in Oman, McDonald’s customers using their MasterCard will enter a raffle to win a priceless four-day Europe trip for two to watch a UEFA Champions League RO16 match, says a press release.

Indian restaurants to dine at in the country.

Khalid Mohammed Zaman, director of Al Zaman Hospitality, said: “Indus has developed a positive reputation and a loyal custom-

er base in the past few years."

“Al Zaman Hospitality plans to explore its potential and make the venue even more exciting. We are proud to welcome Indus to our group," he added.

Raffle voucher There are prizes up for grabs and entry to the raffle is simple. Every customer who, with a MasterCard, purchases an Extra Value Meal (EVM) will receive a raffle voucher to be placed inside a raffle box in-store. Each customer is entitled to one voucher for every EVM purchased meaning multiple opportunities to win.

In partnership with MasterCard, we at McDonald’s want to celebrate our customers’ loyalty and highlight how simple it has become for them to purchase their favourite meals Ali K. Daud President of McDonald’s Oman

The priceless prize package consists of two return air tickets, two match tickets to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 games, four-star hotel accommodation and transfers, a private tour of the stadium and match hospitality, dinner at an acclaimed local restaurant and much more for the winner and their guest to enjoy.

Ali K. Daud, development licensee and president of McDonald’s Oman, said: “In partnership with MasterCard, we at McDonald’s want to celebrate our customers’ loyalty and highlight how simple it has become for them to purchase their favourite meals.

“With such an exciting trip to the UEFA Champions League up for grabs – we can confidently say that winning will never taste so great!”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

ROUND-UP Maisarah named ‘Best Islamic Bank’ in Oman This is the third award won by Maisarah in 2015

MUSCAT: BankDhofar’s Maisarah Islamic Banking Services has been named Oman’s ‘Best Islamic Bank 2015’ by the UK-based Global Banking and Finance Review magazine. This is the third award won

by Maisarah in 2015, says a press release.

Commenting on the award, Sohail Niazi, Chief Islamic Banking Officer said: “It is a great honour to be consistently recognised for being the leading financial institution. This is the third award we won this year, and it reflects the determination of Maisarah to lead the Islamic banking market in the Sultanate by providing most innovative Islamic banking products and best-in-class services to all

our customers across Oman.

“Our team of experts and dedicated professionals are committed to excellence, and we pledge to continue to enrich our customers’ banking experience through customised products and best quality services.”

The Global Banking and Finance Review is a leading online and print magazine that provides informative and independent news within the financial community.

The publication provides quality and in-depth insight on the global banking and finance industry, providing leading players and key figures in over 200 different countries with up-to-date information within the finance sector.

Maisarah was selected as the best Islamic banking service provider in Oman as a result of its outstanding performance, great response to its innovative products and banking solutions.

“Our comprehensive operational strategy revolves around making life easy for our corporate and retail customers, and we constantly evaluate the market needs to serve our customers in the best way possible,” added Sohail.

Showing an impressive growth since the start of its operations in 2013, and demonstrating a high degree of product innovation and best services, Maisarah has been recognised for its commitment to lead the Islamic finance market in

the Sultanate, earning prestigious awards and titles from leading local and international organisations including the ‘Best Islamic Banking Window - Oman 2015’ award by the London based International Finance Magazine (IFM), the ‘Islamic Bank of the Year – Oman 2015’ award by The Banker, ‘Best Islamic Community Support Bank 2014’by Global Financial Market Review and ‘Best Islamic Window in Oman 2013’ by Global Financial Market.

Maisarah offers a wide range of financial solutions, products and services that cater to the needs of its retail and corporate customers.

The Islamic banking window currently provides products and services out of 5 dedicated branches located in Azaiba, Salalah, Sohar, Birkat Al Mouz and Al Hail. As part of its future growth strategic plan, Maisarah plans to distinguish itself by focusing on prominent customer service, developing and launching new products, and investing in technology to provide the best customer experience in timely and convenient manner.

T E R M I NA L E X PA N S I O N

OICT receives four new electric cranes SOHAR: Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) received four electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (eRTGC) for deployment at Terminal C, located at the Port of Sohar, recently.

The use of eRTGCs saves fuel and reduces CO2 emissions. In addition to the delivery of the RTGCs, 25 yard tractors and 30 trailers had already arrived at the terminal last month, says a press release.

Commenting on the delivery, Albert Pang, chief executive officer, OICT, said: “The delivery of the new equipment is in line with the expansion of Terminal C. OICT is investing on multiple fronts to achieve full use of the new terminal by the end of 2016.

The eRTGC’s are a welcome addition, since environmental sustainability is high on our list of priorities. “Another example of OICT’s effort for a better environment is the participation in the Go Green campaign; a global environmental initiative

launched by Hutchison Port Holdings in conjunction with DP World, APM Terminals, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group – five of the world’s largest port operators.”

An additional six RTGCs will be delivered in the last quarter of this year, bringing OICT’s total to 32 RTGCs. In addition to the RTGCs, Terminal C has 39 yard tractors and 67 chassis trailers.

Pang said: ‘The delivery of the new equipment is in line with the expansion of Terminal C. OICT is working hard and investing in corporation with Hutchinson Port Holdings on multiple fronts to achieve full use of the new terminal by the end of 2016. Since sustainability is high on the priority list of OICT, the eRTGC’s are very welcome.”

In the first quarter of 2016, it will receive 4 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes, enabling it to handle the latest generation of mega-vessels.

The use of eRTGCs saves fuel and reduces CO2 emissions

EXCLUSIVE

James Bond car is now on display at Al Hashar showroom MUSCAT: The James Bond car Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre is on display at the Aston Martin showroom in Azaiba, headquarters of Al Hashar Group in Muscat.

According to Tariq Diab, sales manager at Aston Martin Oman, “The stunning James Bond’s Aston Martin Spectre DB10 is one of the 10 models built. If there is one thing that is synonymous with Bond it’s the car he’s driving. And 12 out of 24 times he’s appeared on the big screen, he’s driven an Aston Martin. But the Aston used in the Spectre film marks a first for the car manufacturer, as they are never going to build it for general sale.

“The DB10 might be exclusively for the British Secret Service agent, however it does feature many design cues that Aston Martin will incorporate into future.

Although no customer cars will be built, there are 10 DB10s in existence. Two are full-functional stunt cars fitted with roll cages used for the action sequences, including the chase scene through Rome.

Another couple are ‘pod cars’ also used in driving instalments — these are controlled by the stunt driver from the roof with Daniel Craig being filmed sitting at the wheel. A further two are ‘gadget cars’, meaning there probably isn’t one fitted with the full arsenal of devices. Two more are ‘hero cars’ used only for the close-up shots.”

Continuing the description, he said: “The remaining duo of DB10s are promotional cars used at events around the world. Despite the number of high-octane scenes, all 10 cars remain intact today, with one of the DB10s (chas-

PROMOTION

sis number 10) being auctioned in 2016 for charity. Not all of the cars run, though. Models used for still close-ups in the film have no engines fitted, but the ones that do use a tried and tested Aston V8.”

In fact, the nearest thing to the DB10 you can buy today is the V8 Vantage S. The DB10 uses a modified version of the same chassis - though the wheelbase is longer and the car is wider - and the same

430bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine and sixspeed manual gearbox as the Vantage S. It’s lighter though, thanks to an entirely carbon fibre body draping over the chassis and engine.

Aston wanted to minimise the number of panels on the car — the entire front end is one piece of carbon fibre, meaning the DB10 has a clamshell bonnet, so it opens away from the windscreen to expose the V8 lump. It’s all done in an attempt to keep the design as sleek and uninterrupted by panel gaps as possible.

The protruding shoulder line running from the front of the bumper over the bulging rear wheel arches is designed to make the DB10 look even more muscular than the Vantage S, and is a nod to the British firm’s original Bond car, the DB5.

The total weight of the DB10

is marginally lighter than the V8 Vantage S at a smidgen over 1.5 tonnes — the two stunt cars used in the action sequences fitted with roll cages are 101kg heavier than those without.

This combination of V8 power and reduced weight means an estimated top speed of 190mph and a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds, contrary to the 3.2 seconds stated by Q in the film trailer.

Also new are the ‘knife blade’ wheels, which are consistent with the rear lights that create a knife graphic using the LEDs. The DB10 - which is the sixth different Aston Martin model to appear in a Bond film - went from pen to manufacturing in less than five months, with Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman overseeing the entire design process.

INTRODUCTORY TRIP

Zubair SEC sends member to Jordan

Mega sale at Danube MUSCAT: Danube Home and Al Danube stores announced this year’s mega sale, keeping in mind the usual shopping binge ahead of the winter festive season.

The sale encompasses Danube Home & Al Danube’s portfolio which includes luxury sanitary ware, ceramic wall and floor tiles, parquet flooring, elegant curtains, wallpapers, window blinds, chandeliers, carpets, home decors, hardware tools, ceiling, doors, paints, decorative paints, wall panels, garden and outdoor furniture, garden accessories, gazebos, pergolas, modular kitchens and many more building materials and home interior products. The stores will offer 25% to 70% off on products, says a press release.

Adel Sajan, director, Danube

Home, said: “Our mega sale is here and we are excited for our clients, as they can take advantage of the great offers and revamp and refurbish their abodes.

“This time around our sale boasts of new products as well so that everyone who walks into Danube Home and Al Danube Stores walks out with minimum spend and maximum products. Quality is one of our most guarded brand attributes hence the sale will be satisfying in every sense. The idea behind running the sale for the whole month is to make sure that our patrons don’t feel left out and miss on great offers.”

The sale is until December 26 at the Danube Home store (Al Khuwair, Muscat) and Al Danube store (Salalah and Barka).

MUSCAT: In alignment with its strong conviction of the importance of exposure to regional and international experiences, Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) organised an introductory trip for one of its members to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in order to learn about the education and schooling experiences in a number of leading private schools in the kingdom.

Accompanied by Zubair SEC team member, Kathia Hamid Al Nabhani, founder and principal of Jana’en Al Hamra School in the wilayat of Al Hamra, and one of the winners of the Zubair SEC’s Direct Support Programme for 2015, visited four private schools in Jordan, each one unique in its own experience, says a press release.

The visit included the first private schools for girls in Jordan founded in 1926, the first private school for boys founded in 1927, a private school for gifted and talented students, and a newly established academy. The visiting team was familiarised with the teaching practices applied in these schools, educational strategies and the latest global standard educational systems applied. The team toured schools facilities, at-

tended classes and interactive sessions with students and met with teachers and administrators.

A main aspect of the visits was being introduced to the special care provided to students with disabilities and learning difficulties and the systems and methods applied in those schools to seamlessly integrate such students with their colleagues and build a healthy and supportive environment that promotes acceptance of differences as a basic life value. The team also discussed with the managers and teachers the differences in methods used

to motivate students and interact with parents in order to build an integrated support system that enables students and promote a healthy growth and sound intellectual development.

The team also visited The Children’s Museum Jordan, established under royal directions in order to promote love for knowledge among children through interactive and innovative experiences for early childhood development. The museum has many interactive sections covering many educational fields such as science, chemistry, biology, geography and space sciences in addition to reading corners, various workshops and internal and external modern interactive games facilities.

Moreover, the team visited one of the leading publishing companies in Jordan, which provides premium children’s books and diverse and modern educational materials in Arabic language.

“I extend my sincere thanks to Zubair SEC for organising this visit to have such a unique opportunity to be acquainted with various scientific and educational experiences; I also thank The Zubair Corporation for its won-

derful support and care for entrepreneurs, in various progress and intellectual aspects,” said Kathia Al Nabhani.

She added, “This visit provided me with a large and excellent experience that will serve many aspects and areas in my school.

I became acquainted with the constructional planning of the schools I visited, the educational approaches, principles and activities organised and evaluated by the schools according to the applied educational approaches. After the visit many approaches and experiences were explained to our school teachers and implemented at Jana’en Al Hamra School.”

“The recent visit to Jordan is also in line with this approach; we were encouraged to arrange this trip for Kathia for the remarkable efforts she’s been doing and for her eagerness to adopt best practices at her school Jana’en Al Hamra; the best educational and schooling practices she’s been introduced to in Jordan were of pivotal impact and insightful towards her current managing and future expansion planning of her school,” said Lina Hussein, head of Communication & Social Impact at Zubair SEC.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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ROUND-UP

Meethaq participates in Home Show exhibition Meethaq utilised the opportunity to showcase the popular Sharia based home finance and other Islamic banking products and services

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, participated in the Home Show inaugurated by Ayisha bint Khalfan Al Siyabiah, president of the Public Authority for Craft Industries, at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.

The three-day event organised

by Global Exhibitions & Conferences highlighted the Sultanate’s home grown products and services

catering to the real estate sector, alongside prominent international brands, says a press release.

Meethaq utilised the opportunity to showcase the popular Sharia based home finance and other Islamic banking products and services. Meethaq recognises the real estate sector as a major component of the national economy and is committed to extending a helping hand for easy access to Sharia based home finance.

The attractive Meethaq home finance is designed to help families

fulfil their dream homes. The Sharia based finance is tailor-made to suit everyone’s needs with simplified documentation and processing across the network of branches in Oman.

The residential segment of the real estate sector in Oman assumes importance in light of the growth in population as well as the developing economy. The deregulation granting property ownership rights to GCC nationals and expatriates has also attracted Oman as an investment destination.

I N S U R A N C E E D UC AT I O N

a training centre in the NIA premises is an initial move towards setting up an affiliate of Insurance Institute of India in the Sultanate of Oman in near future.

Sebastian further emphasised that since insurance is not a part of curriculum in the Sultanate of Oman, by opening of an Insurance Institute in the Sultanate will provide more opportunities to the employees especially to the Omani nationals to have additional qualifications in insurance thereby to attain reasonable insurance knowledge for securing good positions in the insurance industry. He also reiterated that New India Assurance training centre is committed for providing primary insurance education and training to the existing employees and all stakeholders.

Sebastian made it clear that by providing continued training to the existing employees, NIA can serve its valued customers more professionally and ensuring

customer service and satisfaction beyond industry standards.

He further reaffirmed that NIA is committed to develop general insurance business of Oman by offering insurance products and services of high quality at an affordable price and launching new products to cater the requirements of the public.

Sebastian also thanked His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and citizens of Oman for their support to the New India Assurance since its inception in the Sultanate of Oman in the year 1974. He also thanked Majid Abdul Rahim Jaffer, chairman, M/s.

Abdul Aziz & Brothers and Majid Group Companies, the business partner of the New India Assurance in the Sultanate of Oman.

I. M. Jacob, General Manager, Agency Operations and Mariyam, faculty member of NIA extend felicitations and Viswanathan, senior manager, Marketing extend vote of thanks.

PREMIUM PRODUCT

Primewell’s PS830, PS850 tyres gain popularity among customers MUSCAT: A successful division of the WJ Towell Group, Eint Automotive has established itself as a leader in the auto care aftermarket segment.

With a specialised division dedicated to the service and sale of tyres, Eint Automotive has an extensive range to suit the varying needs and preferences of their customers.

Among the best-selling tyres, Primewell has gained much preference in the local market, says a press release.

With a number of models matching the varying needs of its vast customer base, Primewell’s PS830 and PS850 tyres have been gaining immense usage in the country. These high-grade tyres deliver all-season traction at an affordable price. The S- and Tspeed rated tyres offer four main circumferential grooves to help ride stability thus guaranteeing an absolutely smooth, safe and comfortable drive. Equipped with this special feature, Primewell’s PS830 and PS850 also ensure effective water evacuation for opti-

As the leading Islamic financial services provider in the Sultanate, Meethaq has many achievements contributing to the growth and development of the Sultanate’s economy. The Meethaq contributions are not limited to products and services, but as reflected in the leading home finance, there are many benefits accruing to society and economy as well.

Meethaq, under the umbrella of Bank Muscat, is the centre for Islamic financial service in Oman, operating on the principles of Transparency, Trust and Partnership, ensuring the comfort of remaining true to one’s religious tenets and values.

Meethaq has adopted the best practices in Islamic banking and finance worldwide to combine a robust model which protects customers and complements the Islamic banking industry. Every Meethaq product goes through the process of Sharia compliance certification by the Sharia Supervisory Board and is created in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Oman.

SUPPORT FOR OCA

Taageer Finance Co. takes part in Cancer Awareness Walkathon MUSCAT: As part of Taageer Finance’s ongoing commitment to the community, a number of Taageer Finance Company volunteers recently took part in the Cancer Awareness Walkathon organised by Oman Cancer Association (OCA).

Participating as a sponsor, Taageer Finance Company’s support of OCA went beyond the walkathon. Now in its 11th year, the walkathon aims to raise awareness of the treatment and support

services available for people with cancer, as well as sharing success stories and offering free scans to participants, says a press release.

As a result of the walkathon events, the OCA reports that doctors now receive over 30 per cent more patients at the out-patients clinic to treat early stage cancer.

Mohammed Redha, CEO, Taageer Finance said: “We have always supported our community and we will always look into finding means to cater to their needs.”

ASSURED CASH GIFT

New India Assurance opens training centre MUSCAT: The New India Assurance Company has opened a training centre in the head office of the company at Hamriya on December 8 to provide training on insurance and allied subject for its employees, sub-agents and various intermediaries.

The training centre was inaugurated by Safinaz Safinaz Naseeb Al Raisi, director, Compliance & Examination Dept., Capital Market Authority, Oman in the presence of Dr K. P. Sebastian, chief operating officer, NIA Oman, I. M. Jacob, general manager, Agency Operations and Wilson Raj, chief financial officer, P. Muraleedharan, general manager (Marketing) and the staff members, says a press release.

In the inaugural speech, Safinaz appreciated the excellent initiative shown by New India Assurance for opening a training centre specially for promoting insurance education in Oman. She further ensured that all the necessary support and cooperations will be provided by CMA as a local regulator and hope that in future the centre will cater the entire Oman for their all kinds of insurance and allied training requirements.

Sebastian thanked CMA for providing NIA a reasonable space in the General Insurance market of Oman and also thanked Safinaz for accepting the invitation as chief guest for this function.

Sebastian in his speech informed the gathering that the opening of

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mum all weather performance.

The All-Season Tread Design with open-slotted shoulders enhances year-round performance.

The advanced variable pitch tread depth promotes quiet and smooth ride even under high speed driving conditions.

Along with road traction, the PS830 and PS850 have extended shoulder grooves that help in

achieving excellent cornering stability, while the circumferential centre rib comes into play to augment lateral traction.

Proud to be manufactured by a brand recognised for quality and environmental responsibility throughout the world, Primewell has innumerous manufacturer’s certifications to its name. Awarded with the ISO/TS 16949 standard, a technical specification for automotive quality management systems, Primewell can boast of quality management system requirements that are a prerequisite for those trading in the automotive industry.

“Primewell caters to a huge market here in the Sultanate,” said Raj Nair, Business Unit Head, Eint Automotive Tyre Division.

“It is due to their wide range of tyres which are not only high on reliability, durability and comfort, but also maintains a cost-effective pricing. Their uncompromising take on quality at affordable rates, coupled with our dedicated service team has made Primewell a preferred choice in the market.”

Renault Duster offers smooth drive MUSCAT: The Renault Duster, a strong and reliable SUV with genuine off-road ability, is versatile and combines a spacious interior with saloon-car comfort. The Duster’s compact footprint and high ground clearance ensures that it is meant for all kinds of roads.

The Renault Duster is designed to face all types of terrain, globally. In order to meet these wideranging needs, Renault Duster is available in both 4x4 MT and 4x2 AT version. The 4x2 AT version has been designed for customers who want good ground clearance and a reassuring elevated driving position, as well as loose-surface ability, but who don’t have a real need for all-wheel drive, says a press release.

Offer highlights Customers will be entitled to receive assured cash gift of OMR500 on the Renault Duster 2.0L (2 wheel drive) PE, SE and LE models and other benefits include free registration, six years unlimited mileage warranty and two years/30,000km free service (whichever is earlier).

Customers will also receive free AAA/Road Assistance card for the first year only and as supported by AAA Oman.

The scheme is applicable for all customers purchasing Renault vehicles for personal use only.

Today’s all-terrain vehicles are often synonymous with bulk, but the Renault Duster is an antidote to that idea. With a length of 4.31 metres and a width of 1.82 metres, the Renault Duster is very compact but roomy.

From the front, it exudes an impression of toughness: the wide

wheel-arches, the imposing lines of the chrome grille and the sump guard clearly emphasise the 4x4 DNA of the Renault Duster. Seen from the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheelarches, protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks.

Despite its compact footprint, the Renault Duster is a very spacious car, with five people able to travel in total comfort. Rear passenger headroom (seat cushion to roof ) is 895mm, knee room is 183mm and elbow room amounts to 1,438mm, enabling it to comfortably seat three adults at the rear, where there is also ample space to fit child seats.

There are several pack options available on the Renault Duster, The Modularity Pack on the PE version is meant to enhance the driver’s comfort, as it contains 1/3 - 2/3 split folding rear bench seat, height adjustable driver’s seat, height adjustable (tilt) steering wheel and height adjustment on front seatbelts.

The Safety Pack on the SE version is made to keep every Renault Duster passenger safe as it has

ABS with Emergency Brake Assist, front passenger airbag (deactivatable), front side airbags and unlock alarm (visual and audible) on front passenger seatbelt.

Drivers enjoy a reassuring, highup seating position which gives them better visibility of potential hazardous situations, while all versions are equipped with safe, precise power steering that delivers a good standard of driving pleasure. Depending on trim level, the driver’s seat comes with height adjustability to help find the ideal driving position. Drivers are also pampered by the height-adjustable steering wheel (Depending on trim level) and user-friendly steering wheel-mounted controls.

Thermal comfort has been engineered to meet the challenge of the GCC punishing climate. Particular care has been taken with the routing of ducts to ensure fast cooling after starting in extreme heat.

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

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THU RS DAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

SECTION

IF PCB WANT TO PICK AAMIR THEN IT’S FINE WITH ME: WAQAR YOUNIS

SPOR YOUR GAME

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INSIDE LIFESTYLE

TIME TO REIN IN ‘KILLERS’ LERS’ ON THE ROADS SO TO SPEAK BY SALEH AL-SHAIBANY >C9

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Arouba to open HM’s Cup title defence against Sur

SPORTS APPOINTMENTS

Five Omanis on OCA standing committees

The 2015-16 edition of the Sultanate’s premier football championship kicks off on December 29

OCA PLATFORM FOR OMAN OFFICIALS: From left, Dr. Sultan bin Yaarub Al Busaidi, Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry, Khamis bin Mohammed Al Balushi, Dr. Mansoor Al Touqi and Saada Al Ismaili.

MUSCAT: Four-time champions Al Arouba will launch their His Majesty’s Cup title defence against Sur when the 2015-16 edition of the Sultanate’s premier football championship kicks off on December 29.

The draw ceremony of the championship was conducted at the Al Fahm Amphitheater - Cultural Centre of Sultan Qaboos University on Wednesday under the auspices of chief guest His Highness Nabigh bin Talal bin Tariq Al Said and in the presence of several dignitaries and sports officials.

The ceremony began with a speech by Oman Football Association (OFA) chief Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad Al Busaidi and a brief documentary show on Oman football.

Then, Saleh Al Farsi, the newlynamed OFA Competitions Committee chairman, revealed the details of the championship as well as the format.

Meanwhile, the OFA officials informed that the first round matches will be played across the Sultanate from December 29 to 31.

However, the governing body of Oman football is yet to finalise the fixtures of the remaining rounds.

“We are waiting for the final word on the availability of sports

MUSCAT: Five Omani sports officials, including a woman administrator, have been selected to the various committees of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

According to information received from Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry heads the list of five Omani officials.

Taha Al Kishry, the OOC Secretary General and chairman of the Oman Swimming Association, has been selected as a member of the OCA Sports Committee.

The Sports Committee includes members from Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Macau and Maldives.

Dr. Sultan bin Yaarub Al Busaidi, Chairman of Oman AntiDoping Committee, was selected to the OCA Medical Committee which includes members from Laos, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, India, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Mansoor Al Touqi, former vice-president of Oman Athletic Association and the current chief of Oman Paralympic Committee, was chosen a member of COA Athletes Committee, which

THE DRAW: His Highness Nabigh bin Talal bin Tariq Al Said, left, presides over the draw ceremony of 2015-16 His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University on Wednesday. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

complexes and grounds which are currently being used for various sports and National Day activities,” an official said.

“We will be finalising all the dates in a day for two,” he added.

While Al Arouba will take on Sur in their first match, nine-time champions Fanja will open their campaign with a relatively easy match against Bahla. Dhofar, hop-

ing to match Fanja’s record ninetitles, will also be having an easy start as they will play Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi in their first match.

1st round fixtures Diba vs Suwaiq Dhofar vs Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi Muscat vs Al Tale’ea Salalah vs Al Salam Al Mudhaibi vs Oman

Sohar vs Al Nadha Bausher vs Rustaq Bahla vs Fanja Al Musannah vs Mirbat Jalan vs Al Khabourah Al Shabab vs Ahli-Sidab Nizwa vs Bausher Saham vs Bidiya Al Wuhda vs Seeb Al Ittihad vs Al Nasr Al Arouba vs Sur.

includes members from from Mongolia, Tajikistan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Maldives.

Saada Al Ismaili, an OOC board member and official of the Oman Women’s Sports Committee, made it to the OCA’s Women and Sport Committee. The panel includes members from Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Hong Kong, Jordan, Pakistan, Syria, Nepal, South Korea and Iran.

Meanwhile, popular TV and Radio journalist Khamis bin Mohammed Al Balushi was selected as member of the OCA Media Committee along with members from Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Malyasia, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Maldives.

The OOC statement said: “It is noteworthy that four representatives of Oman Olympic Committee were selected in 2015 for the four Standing Committees of West Asia Games Federation, including Legal Committee, Financial Committee, Information & Statistics Committee and Environment Committee in addition to chairmanship of the Media Committee.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

SPORTS

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Problems mount for Van Gaal as Rio labels United embarrassing A night of naive defensive blunders saw United lose 3-2 at Wolfsburg and finish third in Group B, consigning them to the Thursday night sideshow known as the Europa League

LONDON: Manchester United’s lack of goals has been the bugbear of the Old Trafford faithful this year but after Tuesday’s elimination from the Champions League it appears Louis van Gaal has got problems at both ends of the pitch.

A night of naive defensive blunders saw United lose 3-2 at Wolfsburg and finish third in Group B, consigning them to the Thursday night sideshow known as the Europa League.

However manager Louis van Gaal tries to dress it up, and he was still insisting United have improved on last season in the wake of the Wolfsburg defeat, this is not the glorious return to Europe’s elite competition the club was expecting.

Former defender Rio Ferdinand, who won the Champions League

DEJECTED LOT: Manchester United’s players look dejected as they leave the pitch after the UEFA Champions League Group B second-leg football match VfL Wolfsburg vs Manchester United in Wolfsburg. – AFP

with United in 2008, did not mince his words when describing United’s latest setback as “embarrassing”.

“Listen, I was in a squad that went into the Europa League and it’s an embarrassment,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “You don’t want to come out of your house or walk around Manchester. You see people looking at you and thinking you’re not good enough, questioning you as an individual.”

“If you strip it back, I think this squad needs a good looking at. There’s no pace in the team, power and any great resilience at times,” he added.

“At the moment it looks like everyone is looking around at each

other rather than being the man to stand up and say ‘I’m going to drag you through.’”

United returned to the Champions League after a year’s absence thanks to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League in Van Gaal’s first season in charge — the minimum expected of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

It was expected that would be the catalyst for United to make further strides and return the swagger back to a club that has dominated English football over the past decade.

The project is in danger of stalling. Last weekend’s 0-0 draw at

home to West Ham United — their fourth goalless stalemate in their last six matches at Old Trafford, was greeted with boos from the stands.

Fourth-placed United have scored only 20 goals in 15 Premier League matches — the joint lowest tally in the top seven — and while their defence is still the meanest in Premier League and they are only three points behind surprise leaders Leicester City, goodwill towards van Gaal is in short supply.

Summer signings Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger have yet to have the desired impact, while youngsters Anthony

Martial has not scored a league goal since September, although he was on target against Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

With defender Chris Smalling joining a long injury list that includes Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera, January’s transfer window could provide Van Gaal with the opportunity to strengthen.

Although former striker Michael Owen warned: “They probably will (spend millions more in the transfer window) but whether they can rely on Louis van Gaal spending them wisely is the big question,” he told BT Sport. - Reuters

SOCCER

Stoilov says as Astana coach SOFIA: Stanimir Stoilov said he will continue as coach of Kazakh champions Astana for two more years following his team’s maiden appearance in the group stages of the Champions League.

“We shook hands with the president of Astana, which, for me, is more than signing a contract,” Bulgarian Stoilov, who led Astana to their second successive Kazakhstan’s league title last month, told local media.

Two weeks ago, Stoilov said he had received several offers from foreign clubs as well as Astana’s local rivals Kairat Almaty, who finished second in the domestic league.

“I’ll stay at the club for the next two years,” the 48-year-old said, expressing hope that the club’s management will sign two or three quality players to bolster the team.

The Kazakh team, founded in 2009, finished bottom in Group C, featuring Spain’s Atletico Madrid, twice winners Benfica and regular Champions League combatants Galatasaray but were no pushovers. Stoilov was pleased with Astana’s overall performance in their debut. “Out of the six games we have played in the group, we lost only two,” former Bulgarian international said.

Stoilov, who has twice coached the Bulgarian national team, was also at the helm of Levski Sofia nine years ago when they became the first side from the Balkan country to compete in the Champions League’s group stages. - Reuters

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Gladbach win will give Man City huge lift, says Sterling LONDON: Manchester City’s comeback 4-2 win in Tuesday’s Champions League match against Borussia Monchengladbach will give them a huge lift ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Swansea City, winger Raheem Sterling has said.

Having won just one of their last four league games, third-placed City will immediately turn their attention to climbing up the table and Sterling is certain they can pick up the three points if they im-

plement their brand of football.

“The results have not been going our way in the last few games and we were really trying to make it right,” Sterling told the club’s website (www.mcfc.co.uk).

“It’s (Tuesday’s win) a massive, massive lift obviously. The players that we got here we expect to win every game. Going into the game against Swansea, we know we can win the game and we just need to go out there and play our football.

“Not really concentrate what’s

going on elsewhere in the league.”

Needing a win to have any chance of pipping Juventus to top spot in the Champions League, City trailed 2-1 at half-time after David Silva’s opener was cancelled out by goals from Julian Korb and Raffael.

Sterling, who grabbed the headlines after scoring twice in as many minutes in the second half, attributed their comeback to the half-time team talk given by midfielder Yaya Toure and the

senior players in the squad.

“There was definitely a great connection in the changing room with the team talk from Yaya and the boys to dig deep if we needed to and that’s what happened today and it’s a credit to the spirit in the camp,” Sterling said.

“This is a team that’s going to score goals. We just got to, on the whole, be more solid and try to keep more teams at bay and I think we can to that and it’s just a matter of time.” - Reuters JUBILANT: Raheem Sterling, third from left, celebrates scoring. – AFP

FOOTBALL

Real Madrid needs to show Malmo flair against bigger oppositions MADRID: Real Madrid’s thrashing of Malmo was the perfect response to criticism that coach Rafa Benitez is too defensive but they still need to prove themselves against tougher opposition with more at stake.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit four and Karim Benzema three in their record-equalling 8-0 Champions League group stage win to ease the pressure built up by last month’s hammering from Barcelona and intensified further by disqualification from the King’s Cup. It was a match, though, where Real had already qualified for the last 16 and rested players, including Gareth Bale and Luka Modric.

Facing teams with greater calibre, Real have not shown the same attacking flair. Along with the El Clasico loss, they were beaten by Sevilla and had a fortunate 1-0 over Paris St Germain, where Ronaldo did not touch the ball inside the opposition area.

The Madrid press have criti-

PERFECT RESPONSE: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his fourth goal against Malmo FF. – AFP

cised the team’s lack of creativity and it explains why there were still whistles at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, but Ronaldo came out in support of Benitez.

“I didn’t realise (about the whistles). I don’t know why there

is a problem, it is up to the fans to respond how they want but the coach is doing a good job and is still adapting to Real Madrid,” he told reporters.

“You have to give him time and in my opinion he is doing well.

“It is normal at a club like this that you are criticised when things are not going well but we are improving.”

Real came in for ridicule last week after being eliminated from the domestic cup tournament for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz.

In La Liga, they have won their last two games and reduced the gap behind leaders Barcelona to four points but face a tricky away match against Villarreal on Sunday.

Ronaldo also played down rumours of a rift with Benitez and said that he was happy at the club.

“It is all speculation, it happens each year and people are used to hearing this kind of thing but the club has helped me a lot,” Ronaldo said.

“I have a good relationship with him (Benitez) and it is the same with all the players.

“I have a contract with Madrid and I will stay.” - Reuters

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

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SPORTS Skipper Holder backs Windies bowlers to fire in cool Hobart The 24-year-old Holder maintains the hosts have a fragile middle order and said a drop of around 10 degrees Celsius between tropical Queensland and Australia’s southernmost state would help his pace attack

HOBART: West Indies captain Jason Holder has backed his fast bowlers to thrive in the relative cool of Tasmania and exploit what he perceives as Australia’s batting weaknesses when the first Test gets underway on Thursday.

The tourists are 14-1 outsiders with the bookmakers to win the match at Bellerive Oval against an Australian side who could return to the top of the test rankings with a 3-0 series sweep.

Holder, however, has manfully stuck to the line that his eighth-

LET ME HAVE IT: West Indies cricket captain Jason Holder, left, and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith, right, hold the Frank Worrell Trophy ahead of the first cricket Test match in Hobart. – AFP

ranked side can upset those odds, even after being hammered by a Cricket Australia XI featuring six first class debutants in a warm-up game in Brisbane last week.

The 24-year-old maintains the hosts have a fragile middle order and on Wednesday said a drop of around 10 degrees Celsius between tropical Queensland and

Australia’s southernmost state would help his pace attack.

“Obviously, our fast bowlers can go for a bit longer,” the allrounder told ABC Radio in Ho-

bart on Wednesday. “They’ve been the guys that have been pulling us through for the last few test matches, so hopefully they can come through and just be

explosive and aggressive.

“Our bowling has really pulled us up in our last few test matches, and most of the time when our bowlers have been asked to come up with a big spell, they’ve done it.”

West Indies have lost their last four Tests, two to Australia and two to Sri Lanka, and have not enjoyed a single win in Australia since the 1996-97 tour.

The failure of the Caribbean islanders to muster up an innings score over 251 in those last four Test outings indicates that a big improvement in their batting will be required if they are to break those droughts in Hobart.

“Our bowling is our big strength at the moment but I have full confidence in our batting, hopefully we can back ourselves a bit more and get some runs on the board,” Holder said. “Once we apply ourselves, allow the Australian players to come to us, we’ll spend a lot more time at the crease.

“That’s one key area we’ve highlighted... the more patient we are, the better off we’ll be at the end of the Test match.”

How much better off remains to be seen but Holder is convinced West Indies can emerge triumphant. “We can beat them because cricket is played on the day,” he said.

“We just need to execute our plans, they have weaknesses and we just need to exploit them as quickly as possible and put them under pressure.

“Once we do that, we can definitely beat them.” - Reuters

REPORTED

TEST PREVIEW

Doping and Cairns questions shroud Dhawan reported for New Zealand-Sri Lanka Test build-up suspect bowling action DUNEDIN: A positive doping test and questions over a contentious criminal trial in London have threatened to overshadow the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which begins on Thursday.

The match in Dunedin was supposed to contain the storyline of a Sri Lanka side in transition and a New Zealand team looking to build on the momentum from their series in Australia before a return clash at home next February.

Instead, news broke on Tuesday that Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kusal Perera had tested positive earlier this year for a banned substance and was forced to return home.

Coach Jerome Jayaratne told reporters that Perera had taken medication for an insect bite on his foot, with the belief that the treatment was not on the banned list of substances.

Then on Wednesday, home captain Brendon McCullum was subjected to questions concerning the recent Chris Cairns criminal trial, where the former all-rounder was acquitted of perjury and perverting the course of justice charges.

McCullum was one of two former team mates, along with selfconfessed match-fixer Lou Vincent, who gave evidence against Cairns in the trial, accusing him of twice asking him to fix matches.

The 34-year-old McCullum, who will play his 98th Test at University Oval, did his best to tone down the outcome of the trial and his role as a witness.

New Zealand favourites “It was quite a big deal in New Zealand cricket but I think it’s time to move on,” McCullum told reporters in Dunedin.

“This isn’t the time or place to dive into those types of discussions, that was the court room in London and it’s time to move on,” he repeated.

Despite suffering a 2-0 loss to Australia, McCullum’s side head into the Sri Lankan fixtures as heavy favourites, having been unlucky not to have snatched a share of the spoils across the Tasman as they improved the longer the series progressed.

As well as the dashing strokeplay of Perera at number seven, the visitors have also lost pace bowler Dhammika Prasad to a back injury after their only warmup match in Queenstown ended in a draw.

The side were already in transi-

MUMBAI: India opener Shikhar Dhawan, who occasionally bowls off-spin, has been reported for a suspect action during the recent fourth test against South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

India captain Virat Kohli called on Dhawan to bowl just three overs during South Africa’s second innings to break a dogged third-wicket stand between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers in New Delhi.

Dhawan, who has never bowled in a one-day international or Twenty20, must undergo testing within two weeks according to ICC regulations but can continue bowling in international cricket until the result is known.

“The match officials’ report,

TIME TO MOVE ON: New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum. – AFP

FA C T B O X

MATCH FACTS December 10-14 (Day match, 2130 GMT start) University Oval (capacity 4,500) Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (England), Nigel Llong (England) Third umpire: Paul Reiffel (Australia) Match referee: David Boon (Australia) *** NEW ZEALAND Test ranking: 6 Captain: Brendon McCullum Coach: Mike Hesson Highest ranked batsman: Kane Williamson (4) Highest ranked bowler: Trent Boult (6) Team (likely): Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (captain), Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling (wicketkeeper), Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Trent Boult. *** SRI LANKA Test ranking: 7 Captain: Angelo Mathews Coach: Jerome Jayaratne

tion after the international retirements in the last 12 months of two of the game’s all-time greats in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Such a blow, of losing the experience gained in accumulating more than 20,000 Test runs between the pair, would rip the heart out of most teams and Jayaratne has acknowledged that his side are on a steep learning curve.

Their biggest concern will be

Highest ranked batsman: Angelo Mathews (6) Highest ranked bowler: Rangana Herath (8) Team (possible): Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dinesh Chandimal (wicketkeeper), Angelo Mathews (captain), Milinda Siriwardana, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera. *** HEAD-TO-HEAD Test matches played: 30 New Zealand wins: 12 Sri Lanka wins: 8 Draws: 10 Tied: 0 *** PREVIOUS DUNEDIN TESTS (both at Carisbrook) 1995 Match drawn 1997 New Zealand won by innings & 36 runs *** SERIES Second Test December 18-22 Hamilton.

the fact that only three of their batsmen, Dimuth Karunaratne, skipper Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, have batted in New Zealand in a Test before.

The inexperienced top seven will also come under fire from new-ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who were building some rhythm against Australia and are likely to relish the more bowler-friendly conditions at home. - Reuters

McCullum ‘comfortable’ DUNEDIN: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is “very comfortable” with the evidence he gave against former all-rounder Chris Cairns, who was found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice in a trial last month.

“I was very comfortable with the evidence I gave in London and I stand by that evidence as well,” McCullum told reporters in Dunedin on Wednesday.

“I was one of a number of witnesses who gave evidence.

“For me it’s not about whether someone is guilty or not guilty. My role was to give evidence in the trial. People will have their own opinions on what unfolded. I was comfortable with it, and as I say it’s time to move on and focus on a bit of cricket.” — Reuters

which was handed over to the India team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 30-year-old’s off-spin deliveries,” the ICC said in a statement. “Dhawan’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in tests, ODIs and T20Is.”- Reuters

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

SPORTS ‘FIFA probe of Blatter finds scant evidence’ Citing an unnamed source, Handelszeitung said the internal inquiry had been unable to substantiate bribery suspicions.

“Tangible and legally admissible evidence for the allegation of corruption can be found nowhere in the entire investigative report,” it quoted the source as saying.

The newspaper said Platini had asked FIFA for his overdue salary at least twice in 2010 and that FIFA’s finance chief had set aside money for the payment.

FIFA will hold an election in February to replace Blatter.

Platini, once a front runner for the post, cannot run while he is banned although he might be allowed to take part if he is cleared.

The report, which could not be independently verified, said Blatter also faced suspicions of ethics violations given that payment had failed to appear in FIFA accounts for some time

ZURICH: An internal investigation of suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter has found no evidence of corruption over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment to European soccer head Michel Platini, the Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung said on Wednesday.

The report, which could not be independently verified, said Blatter also faced suspicions of ethics violations given that the payment had failed to appear in FIFA ac-

NO EVIDENCE! Sepp Blatter

counts for some time. FIFA referred questions to its independent ethics committee, which said it did not comment on “rumours”.

The ethics committee, due to rule on the case by year’s end, has taken a hard line so far in corruption cases. Both men were suspended in October amid a wider graft scandal that has triggered criminal investigations in the United States and Switzerland and cast soccer’s global governing body into turmoil. They deny wrongdoing and have not been charged.

Investigators have raised questions about the payment in 2011 from FIFA to Platini, a former France team captain and coach who has been president of European socer body UEFA since 2002, for work he did between 1998 and 2002.

Blatter had been seeking reelection in 2011.

Blatter has said there was a verbal agreement between the two while Platini says the payment was delayed only because of financial problems at FIFA.

CRICKET

Platini hopes Meanwhile, Platini said he hopes his 90-day suspension will be lifted in time for him to attend the Euro 2016 draw in Paris on Saturday. Platini said he did not like “injustices” as he spoke to reporters at a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where he has appealed against his ban.

Platini, who until recently was seen as the man to lead FIFA out of its worst ever graft crisis, was suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee on October 8 pending a full FIFA ethics investigation into his conduct. - Reuters

S P E C I A L M AT C H

Oman hockey veterans plan special match to mark National Day celebrations MUSCAT: Oman Hockey Veterans have chalked out plans to celebrate the 45th National Day of Oman with a hockey match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Friday.

Speaking to Times Sport, Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi, a former official of Oman Hockey Association and International Hockey Federation, said: “We have invited Team Coorg to field an Indian Community hockey team to play Oman Veterans.”

The match will be played from 6.30 pm according to former national hockey player Mohammed Shambeh. Adding on he said, the event will be witnessed by various dignitaries and hockey fans.

“Dawood Ali Al Raisi, former Oman Hockey Association chairman, will be the chief guest for the evening,” said the hockey veteran.

Oman’s first hockey coach Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi will play a crucial role in the event organised to celebrate a great occasion.

‘ C O L L A B O R AT I V E E F F O R T ’

OFA’s Harun conducts goalkeeping coaches course in Ras Al Khaimah

GCC Blue lift National Day Veterans Cup MUSCAT: GCC Veterans Blue team defeated GCC Veterans Red to clinch the title at the National Day Veterans Cup cricket tournament organised by the Gulf Cricket Centre (GCC) here recently.

In the eight-overs-a-side match, GCC Veterans Blue elected to bat first and scored 67 runs. Kiren top scored 33 runs and Vikram made 17 runs. In reply, GCC Veterans Red

fell short of the target scoring just 54 runs. Nishant was top scorer with 12 runs. For GCC Veterans Blue, Kiren claimed two wickets and also won the man of the match award.

Chief guest Ahmed Al Yahmadi of Ministry of Sports Affairs presided over the prize-giving ceremony and handed over the trophy.

Kishore Sampat, Managing Director of Intesar Corporation LLC,

Sanjay Tiwary GM of National Stone LLC, Latha Ramakrishnan, Mohammad Nawaz, Attaulah Niazi and Khalid Jadoon were the guests of honour.

The tournament wa sponsored

by Intesar Corporation LLC, Al Nafeesa Jewellery, Oasis Water, Al Hosani Group of Companies, National Stone LLC, Al Faisal and Purushottam Kanji Exchange LLC.

MUSCAT: Harun Amor Al Bartamani, the Sultanate’s experienced goalkeeping coach, and FIFA and AFC accredited coaches instructor, conducted a goalkeeper coaches course at the Ras Al Khaima Club.

According to a statement issued by the Oman Football Association (OFA), Harun conducted the course ‘in a collaborative effort’.

Twenty goalkeeper coaches from the UAE Arabian Gulf League and the 2nd Division benefited from the course, during which the coaches developed and shared their training experiences, got introduced to international level of practices and preparation for coaches and the latest international training techniques.

“There is a special relationship between the OFA and the UAE FA which is very collaborative in nature. I thank Ras Al Khaimah Club for organising this workshop successfully and wish the coaches all the best in their endeavours,” Al

Bartmani said. He also presented a souvenir on behalf of the OFA to the Ras Al Khaimah board members, who also expressed their gratitude to the OFA. Haroun Al Bartmani, through

his role and contribution in these kinds of workshops, serves as an ambassador for the OFA, as well as FIFA and AFC. He will soon be travelling to Riyadh for a similar workshop on December 13.

MAJAN COLLEGE, TEAM ALLEY OOPS TRIUMPH AT RAHRC TOURNEY

Majan College boys and Team Alley oops girls won the titles at the 5th five-a-side basketball tournament organised by Ras Al Hamra Recreation Centre (RAHRC) here recently. The tournament, a one day affair, was sponsored by Majan College. In the boys final, Majan College got the better of Alpha A team to clinch top honours. In girls final, Team Alley oops defeated Fab 6 in reclaim their title. The club thanked Red Bull for their participation in the tournament while also expressing special thanks to Pocari Sweat and Cono Pizza for sponsoring the event. — Supplied photos

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SPORTS

If PCB want to pick Aamir then it’s fine with me: Waqar Younis Inzamam or Hafeez? (laughs) Our running between the wickets was very ordinary in the limited overs series against England and there is no excuse for it. There were four or five episodes where we looked like schoolboys.

It’s something we need to sort out but I don’t actually know why it suddenly happened. It was very embarrassing and I’ve spoken to the players about this and hopefully they will fix that issue.

You cannot keep someone who midway or towards the end of his career keeps getting run out on a regular basis. Hafeez needs to fix the issue and not just him but the rest of the players too.

In an exclusive interview with Saj Sadiq of PakPassion. net, Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis speaks about the possible international return of Mohammed Aamir, his ‘struggle’ to understand Younis

We all have to move forward. I think Aamir has served his sentence and I honestly feel that he deserves a second chance. It’s not that we need someone like him badly in the team at the moment, but our culture allows people to come back if they have made a mistake and served their punishment, so why can’t we give Mohammed Aamir another chance?

Khan’s sudden retirement from ODIs and the need for young Pakistani players to understand modern game

The recent two-nil Test series win over England must have been very pleasing?

It was very pleasing. Conditions of course suited us and looking at the Test side it’s a well-settled and well-balanced team with a lot of experience. When we play at home in the UAE we play a lot better and our strengths are the experienced batsmen in the middle-order like Misbah-ul Haq, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali. On top of that we have Yasir Shah who is showing his class and he was ably supported

by Zulfiqar Babar. I think we are a balanced team in Test cricket and the players compliment each other well and understand each other’s game very well.

On the other hand, the Pakistan fifty over team continues to struggle. What do you feel are the problems with the Pakistan One-day team?

I don’t think there is much wrong with the Pakistan One-day or Twenty20 squads. The simple fact is that against England we just did not play that well. We were superb in Sri Lanka before the series against England where we beat Sri Lanka in their own back yard.

I think credit should be given to England for the way they played in the UAE. They played really well and their youngsters performed and played some wonderful and modern cricket. They went after our bowlers and showed that modern day limited overs cricket has changed. The Pakistan One-day team is going though a change in order to bring us up to the level of other teams in terms of our approach. We need to bring power cricket into our game in the limited overs formats. One-day cricket is so fast these days and you need to have players who are not only technically sound but also have the ability to clear the boundary at will as we saw the England players do. We need to work on this and get ourselves up to the level of other teams.

Someone is surely responsible for the fact that Pakistan is lagging behind in terms of the approach and being behind the times in the shorter formats?

I don’t think it would be fair to blame any individual or one department within Pakistan cricket for being responsible for this.

Waqar Younis Pakistan head coach

Some countries have really put their foot down and changed their entire look and approach in limited-overs cricket and we haven’t done that. If you go back a year we were a really good One-day side but since we have lost Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez with the ball we have struggled.

Losing these two bowlers was a huge setback as Hafeez and Ajmal were the bowlers who more often than not were our match-winners even when we didn’t put too many runs on the board. Back then we could say we only needed 250 or 260 on the board and Hafeez and Ajmal would see us home with the ball. But now we don’t have that luxury and with our bowling attack we need closer to 300 runs to defend. We had been playing a certain brand of cricket for a long time and to change that is not going to be a sudden process.

This message of change needs to go to domestic cricket also particularly when it comes to preparing young cricketers for the challenges of international cricket. The talent is there but there has to be more direction for the players for the limited overs formats from their departments and regions.

When the Pakistan Test team wins it’s because of the players, but when the limitedovers teams lose, it’s because of the coach. Is that fair enough? (laughs). In Pakistan we have some interesting television channels with some interesting people on them who like to enhance things when we win or lose. I don’t mind what they do, as long as Pakistan wins. It doesn’t matter to me who is getting credit because it’s the players doing when we win as they are the ones that make you win games and they deserve credit. When the team loses it shouldn’t be about individuals, rather we all need to sit down and see where the problems are.

It doesn’t honestly bother me about what some in the media are saying, because if you are trying to

put things right with honesty then the words of such people amount to nothing.

Younis Khan retiring after a solitary One-day match in the series against England must have been confusing and unsettling for you and the rest of the squad?

The whole episode wasn’t a very pretty sight. I’m still trying to struggle why Younis did what he did. If he wanted to make a comeback to the One-day team and prove to people that he can still play that format he should have just said it and asked for it and I guess the selectors would have given him the game time and opportunity in not only the series against England but prior to that. It was an unfortunate way for Younis to exit One-day cricket.

He wanted to prove a point and I guess he feels he has proved his point but I feel it wasn’t the right way to do it.

I gave Younis full confidence once he was selected for the Oneday team. I gave him the batting position that he wanted and I gave him the guarantee that he would play in all four of the fifty-over matches against England. I’m not sure what happened after that, perhaps he wasn’t backing his own ability or not trusting his own form. I’m still very confused why Younis did what he did and I’m sure the selectors, the chairman and a lot of other people are too.

It was heartbreaking what he did as it had a huge affect on the team going forward.

Recent reports suggest that the chief selector Haroon Rasheed wasn’t happy with some of the team selections in the UAE. Can you elaborate on that and why Haroon should feel aggrieved?

The problem in Pakistan is that some parts of the media look for negatives more than positives. I feel that some people can take the negatives and criticism whilst others do get bothered by the criticism. This whole episode is

due to the media putting pressure on some people and they reacting to it. I feel that if Haroon Rasheed or any other selector should be part of the tour and be part of the on-tour selection committee then that’s fine, yes please be a part of it as long as we are all on the same page and thinking alike.

I have no problem at all with that, as long as we are all working together and not throwing dirt on each other.

Junaid Khan’s international career seems to have gone backwards. Where’s he going wrong and what can he do to rectify any issues?

Well he was part of the Pakistan Test squad against England so he’s not been totally forgotten about.

Unfortunately conditions in the UAE don’t allow for three pace bowlers so we could only pick two pace bowlers and Junaid had to miss out.

I felt that he was lacking in pace and also lacking reverse-swing in the UAE compared to the other bowlers like Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan and Rahat Ali. Unfortunately Junaid had to miss out but I felt that he wasn’t at his best in the UAE. But he shouldn’t be disillusioned, he’s young and I’m sure with more cricket under his belt in Pakistan and for Pakistan A he will bounce back.

Have you forgiven Mohammed Aamir for his actions of 2010?

We all have to move forward. I think Aamir has served his sentence and has served his punishment and I honestly feel that he deserves a second chance. It’s not that we need someone like him badly in the team at the moment, but our culture allows people to come back if they have made a mistake and served their punishment, so why can’t we give Mohammed Aamir another chance?

I have given a thumbs up to the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selectors that if PCB want to pick Mohammed Aamir then it’s fine with me and I have no issues with that.

Do you feel though that with five years of his career lost, Aamir can be the bowler he once was and could potentially have been?

That is impossible to predict. I’ve only seen a few clips of him bowling recently in the Bangladesh Premier League. He looked OK, but the most impressive thing was that he looked hungry for wickets and success. He needs time at the international level and we cannot expect instant success from him.

Once he gets back into his rhythm I feel he has a lot to offer. He’s only 23 and some bowlers don’t peak until after this age so he has a lot of cricket ahead of him and plenty to offer his country.

Mohammed Hafeez recently made some comments where he stated that he would not be prepared to play in the same team as Mohammed Aamir.

That promises to be a tricky situation for you and the management?

We all need to be very careful and very honest when it comes to this situation. When Mohammed Aamir is brought back into the Pakistan squad then it’s very important for all parties to sit down and clear the air. It will be important that the PCB sits down with the players and explains to them that Aamir has served his punishment and that he deserves another chance. I don’t think it will be a problem as none of these boys are bad people and will understand the situation.

From what I know Hafeez’s comments have been blown out of proportion and he was talking to one of the journalists off the record and the next thing there was an article out there. I don’t think Hafeez meant what has been written. It’s sad that it came out like this as it shouldn’t have. I’m sure we can all sit down and sort out any misunderstanding or problem.

You played a lot of cricket with Inzamam-ul Haq. Who in your opinion is the worst runner between the wickets,

Moving onto social media.

Some Pakistani players have taken to social media but seem to be favouriting/liking tweets that criticise you. How do you feel about such behaviour?

When you are a professional cricketer and playing cricket then I don’t think it’s wise to go on any of these social media sites. I think as a player it upsets you when you read some comments and are also liking negative comments about teammates or coaching staff. You are just putting more pressure on yourself and dragging yourself down rather than using it to enhance and improve your performance. I’m not really in favour of it and whoever is doing this really isn’t doing justice to himself or his country. I even hate those selfies!

I know it’s a modern-era thing but I feel there’s got to be professionalism and some privacy when it comes to social media.

Do you think being the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team is one of the toughest jobs in sport?

It is, definitely. Because when you look around at a lot of other teams and boards, their resources are far superior to ours. There is a lot of money involved and backing.

Pakistan is a poor country and we cannot compete with the likes of the top teams when it comes to resources.

Having said that though, we have achieved a lot and to be near the top of the ICC Test rankings is a fantastic achievement and one that fills me with great pride especially for the players. It’s a tough job, it’s not easy but at the same time it’s very satisfying particularly when Pakistan win and the entire nation stands up and appreciates the efforts of the team and coaching staff.

Pakistan faces a crunch year next year with the World Twenty20, a tour of England and a tour of Australia. What targets have you set yourself and the team?

The biggest challenge for me at the moment is to try and change the mindset of the players. I’ve been trying to do this for the last year or so. We’ve had a number of young cricketers come through since the World Cup and we’ve had a change in captaincy in the fifty over format.

So the task and challenge is to change the mindset of the players that in the One-day format it’s not just about batting fifty overs and scoring 240 or 250. Instead it’s about making a hundred and making sure it’s at least at a run-a-ball.

You just have to look around at the likes of AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Hashim Amla and at their consistency and that is what our batsmen need to try and aim for. My main aim for the period of my contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board is to make sure the players understand the modern game of cricket and to make sure they play accordingly.

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Hamburg withdrawal is no major concern at IOC IOC spokesman Mark

Kuwait ban remains in force as ties with IOC deteriorate

Adams confirmed on Tuesday Executive Board members had discussed the Hamburg issue, with Bach outlining the reasons for the rejection of the world’s biggest multisports event, but there did not seem to be a lengthy analysis of the referendum result

LAUSANNE: The surprise rejection of Hamburg’s 2024 Olympics bid made it to the International Olympic Committee agenda at their Executive Board meeting this week but while experts warn the Games may have been ‘tarnished’, the IOC is convinced external reasons forced the city’s withdrawal.

Hamburg became the second city to pull out of the 2024 race, after Boston, when citizens of the German city voted against a bid 10 days ago.

Four cities had also pulled out of the 2022 winter Games bidding process but IOC President Thomas Bach said it was not the Games’ size or cost that scared people in Hamburg but a string of other reasons, including the Paris attacks, ongoing world sports scandals and the refugee crisis in Europe among others.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams confirmed on Tuesday Executive Board members had discussed the Hamburg issue, with Bach outlining the reasons for the rejection of the world’s biggest multi-sports event, but there did not seem to be

LAUSANNE: Kuwait’s Olympic ban will remain in force with ties between the Middle Eastern nation and the International Olympic Committee deteriorating, the IOC said on Wednesday.

Kuwait was banned in October for the second time in five years over government interference in the country’s Olympic committee but efforts to find a solution have failed, said IOC Executive Board member Patrick Hickey, in charge of overseeing the autonomy of sport for the Olympic body.

“We have had an exchange of letters (with the government) which have not been very helpful,” Hickey told reporters. “Since we suspended them, 13 international federations have followed suit and more is to come.”

“It has become very personal with the minister of sport. He is now threatening to ban athletes from international events,” Hickey said.

He added that work was continuing to try and settle the issue as the ministry has also ordered the Olympic Council of Asia to vacate its headquarters in Kuwait by April 2016. The head of the OCA is Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad AlSabah, an influential IOC member.

a lengthy analysis of the referendum result.

Marketing experts, however, are seeing a pattern of cities pulling out of the Games, especially from Europe, affected also by the very nature of the Games themselves.

“Obviously there is the economic interpretation that the Games cost too much money and there is no tangible return on investment,” Simon Chadwick, professor at the Centre for Sports Business, Salford University, told Reuters.

“In the post-austerity era Europeans are a lot more sensitive in getting value for money.

O LY M P I C S

Tokyo 2020 Olympics track cycling events moved from capital LAUSANNE: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics cycling track races and mountain bike competitions were moved to the Japan Cycle Sport Centre some 120km from the capital on Wednesday after the International Olympic Committee confirmed the new venues.

The IOC Executive Board in Lausanne signed off on the finalised venue locations, saying it was “placing a focus on cost effectiveness, sustainability and legacy,” and saving about $100 million in the process.

The road races and time trials will be held in Tokyo, starting and finishing at the Imperial Palace Garden while the BMX event will also be staged in the capital, in a temporary 5,000-seater facility in the city centre.

“I met with the (sports) minister (Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah) here in Lausanne. He is a very intelligent man but he is determined this has become a personal issue. He cannot see reality. We have to try to make him see what reality is,” Hickey said.

Kuwait was also banned in 2010 over a similar dispute but was reinstated before the 2012 London Olympics.

“Clearly people seem to be unconvinced. Hospitals are being closed, school places reduced and we see that across Europe. Staging a sports event is not that important.”

Chadwick said the Games had gradually become a ‘tarnished brand’. “It is true that the Olympic Games is a tarnished brand. There is general collective public cynicism of trustworthiness of sports bodies,” he said. “The Olympic movement has tried to change but the Olympics will continue to be tarnished with the same brush as (world soccer’s governing body) FIFA.” FIFA has seen dozens of officials, ISL

Atletico have ‘to be smart’ against Chennaiyin KOLKATA: Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) coach Antonio Lopez Habas on Wednesday said his team needs to play intelligently against Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) first-leg semifinal in Pune on Saturday.

“We will have to play intelligently against Chennai. They are a very competitive team so we have to give our best,” Habas.

The Spaniard believes playing at a neutral venue would not be much of an advantage as the opponent remains the same, Chennaiyin. The match was shifted to Pune due to the recent Chennai flood that played havoc with arrangements in the affected city. “For us playing in Pune or Chennai it is the same.

The opponent is the same, Chennaiyin FC. We have to play against a good side, it will be a difficult game,” he said. — IANS

The country’s football federation was also banned by world soccer’s governing body FIFA earlier this month over government interference in the running of the Kuwait FA. The IOC said even if its ban continued to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games the organisation would make sure Kuwaiti athletes would not be affected.

Athletes of banned countries have in the past competed under the Olympic flag.

including vice presidents, arrested on suspicion of corruption, moneylaundering and racketeering with the federation struggling under the weight of its biggest crisis.

The IOC, alarmed among other reasons by the four withdrawals for 2022, including winter sports heavyweights Oslo and Stockholm, has tried to reduce the size and cost of the Games by passing a string of reforms last year.

So far they have yet to deliver tangible results with Boston pulling out this year only months after the reforms were voted in and Hamburg following suit on Nov.

Hickey also confirmed a deal with Mexico over government interference had been achieved and an agreement between the government and the IOC would be signed in the coming days, ending any speculation of a possible ban.

“The Mexican situation is now completely solved. An agreement will be signed in the next two days between the two sides and we will not be taking any action.” - Reuters

29, leaving Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome in the running.

But the financial fallout will not be as serious as some might expect, Chadwick said, with Asian nations — South Korea, Japan and China — hosting the next three editions after 2016 and offsetting any slumping interest from western cities.

“I don’t think the financial imperative is necessarily quite so serious as we might think it is,” Chadwick said.

“Some of the geo-political shifts at this level of sports are financially underwritten by increasingly powerful Asian nations.” - Reuters

Izu to host The track cycling events, however, will be held at the Japan Cycle Sport Centre in Izu, along with the mountain bike events that will use an existing course next to the velodrome.

“The course will feature the spectacular Mount Fuji as a backdrop,” the IOC said.

“The athlete experience will be guaranteed, as all athletes and team officials whose events will be at Izu will have the option to stay in the main athletes’ village before and after their competition.

“During the competitions, they will stay at a satellite village located close to the event venues.”

The Tokyo Olympics are the first to benefit from a string of IOC reforms approved last year and aimed at making the Games more manageable and less costly.

Among the changes are staging competitions outside the host city if venues already exist somewhere else, lifting the burden on Olympic host of having to build new venues for each sport and reducing both the budget and construction work. - Reuters

CHESS

ISM U-14 teams leave for India to take part in CBSE Chess Nationals MUSCAT: The under-14 boys and girls teams of Indian School Muscat (ISM) left for India on Wednesday to take part in the CBSE National Chess Championships.

The ISM boys and girls qualified for the CBSE Nationals after clinching the top honours in their respective categories at the CBSE Oman Cluster Chess Championships hosted by Indian School Sohar.

The CBSE National Chess Championships will take place at Lakshmipat Singhania Academy in east Indian city of Kolkata from December 10 to 13.

Wishing all success The ISM under-14 boys team comprises Vishal Raam, C.S. Vikram Ganesh, Vedant Mukul Anand, Adithya V. M and Adithya Pradeep. The under-14 girls squad consists of Harshini Manivannan, Prathyusha Annapragada, Krishi Thiruppathi, Amoolya Subash and Ananya Singh.

INDIA-BOUND: Indian School Muscat’s U-14 boys and girls team left for India on Wednesday to take part in the Nationals. – Supplied photo

The CBSE National Chess Championships will take place in Kolkata from December 10 to 13 The teams are accompanied by their coach Ezekiel Israel.

Principal Srinivas K Naidu, Head of the Department of Physical Education Rajinder Singh

Pathyarch, who is also the CBSE Clusters Observer for Oman, and the entire ISM fraternity wished the teams all success at the Kolkata nationals.

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STORY T.A. AMEERUDHEEN PHOTOGRAPHY A.R. RAJKUMAR

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T-BAND Tarek M. Khorshid, Lebanon (vocal, rhythm guitar, and lead guitar) Ashraf Dahab, Sudan (base guitar) Adil Ali Al Mahrouqi, Oman (lead guitar) Akbar Al Balushi, Oman (drums) Contact T-Band Tarek M Khorshid, founder member. +968 9520 4250

hen they met during a jam session at a famous hotel in Muscat on a Friday night in 2009, little did the four musicians know that they were on course to form one of the sought after bands in Oman.

Six years have passed, but memories of the chance encounter that changed their musical career forever still stay strong with Tarek Khorshid, Ashraf Dahab, Adil Ali Al Mahrouqi and Akbar Al Balushi.

“All of us used to walk into different hotels in Muscat on weekends to jam with resident bands.

On that Friday evening, I was strumming guitar on the stage and I noticed a bespectacled man with a friendly smile blaring his base guitar standing next to me. Ashraf gestured to me and we exchanged pleasantries after the show. The friendship blossomed, and it laid the foundation for a new musical journey. Guitarist Adil and drummer Akbar joined us later,” Tarek sounded nostalgic while reminiscing the band’s formative days.

The rest, as they say, was history.

The four musicians met quite often and played rock n’ roll till late into the night. But the band continued without a name until their debut performance in 2009.

“It was the Red Bull Sunset event at Oman Dive Centre. We hadn’t named the band till then. And the organisers suggested a title a few hours before the show. ‘Shall we call you T-Band?’ Everyone readily agreed. We were happy to overcome a huge embarrassment,” Tarek says in a jocular vein.

T-Band has been regaling rock n’ roll fans all over Muscat for the last nine years with their impeccable style of performing the hits of Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, and The Police. “Rock n’ roll is our forte.

We love the music of the 70s. So we find it easy to play the songs that are close to our hearts,” Ashraf explains the success of T-Band.

Love for rock is not the only factor that binds the four members together. All of them are open-minded, and are keen to learn new instruments.

The attitude helped them learn at least one musical instrument on their own. Tarek was part of the music club at the American University in Lebanon. “I learnt guitar by looking at other musicians. Later, I found Youtube a good learning tool.

Even now, I don’t know how to read music,” Trek confesses.

Ashraf, who hails from Sudan, used to play keyboard at the age of four. He had his first performance when he was in the fourth grade. “I have been playing base guitar for

the last 15 years. Now I am learning saxophone on my own,” he says.

Omani youngster Adil’s tryst with music began when he was in school.

“I used to play keyboard from the school days. But learnt guitar on my own,” he says.

Coming from a family of Omani musicians, Akbar didn’t learn music formally. “I grew up watching the elders in the family playing musical instruments. I can play many instruments, but I decided to focus on drums as I enjoy it very much,” says Akbar.

T-Band has been performing at Route 66 for the last two years. Besides, they play gigs during Traffalgar Ball, Battle of Britain Ball, Thin Red Line Ball, Oman Sail’s Regatta, Mardi Gras Party at PDO. The band had its best moment when they won the ‘battle of the bands’ contest and got a rare opportunity to open for the world famous

T-Band has been regaling rock n’ roll fans all over Muscat for the last nine years with their impeccable style of performing the hits of Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, and The Police

Stereophonics Band at Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah last month. “We normally don’t participate in competitions. But we decided to enter the competition as it offered a chance to do the opening act for a world famous band,” says Ashraf.

“We are happy to know that people liked our performance. It was another huge event for us,” Ashraf adds.

One may wonder how these four working professionals get time to carry on their musical interest.

“We have a busy schedule. It is a bit hard to come together and play regularly. But love for music keeps us going,” says Adil.

And ask them about practice sessions, you will be stunned to hear a loud laughter. “It is the funniest part. We don’t practice,” they said in unison. When I look at them in disbelief Tarek explained: “We had a place to practice, but we

lost it four years ago.”

Then how do they manage the shows? “We communicate through emails and decide on the songs for the week. We try to pick the songs that fit to our character.

There are always some arguments, but we will settle for it at the end of the day,” Ashraf explains.

And the foursome takes pride in the fact that T-band is the only music platform that invites all music lovers to jam with them. “We like people coming and playing together,” says Adil. With requests from different parts of Oman and Dubai pouring in, T-band sees a big opportunity to grow and become a famous band in the region. So will they expand the team? “Personal bonding is very important. We are happy with just four. T-Band will remain as a four-member band,” they say in unison. ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

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Katy Perry is highest-paid musician of 2015

Singer Katy Perry is on top of Forbes magazine’s list of highest-paid musicians of 2015 — she towers over others with $135 million in earnings. Perry owed her huge earnings to her Prismatic world tour over the course of 17 months during which she visited Australia and Asia in addition to Europe, North America and Latin America. Each city grossed around $2 million. Counting in record sales, publishing, endorsements, and other business ventures, Perry’s fortune propelled her from 23rd position to number 1. Perry appeared on the cover of Forbes under the headline “America’s Pop Export”.

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might have dozed off on the sofa when I heard the terrible crashing sound.

It came from the street.

I parted the blind and looked outside at the road. There was a small cloud of smoke rising from a small car. It was battered at the passenger door.

There were all the signs of a horrible accident. Out of curiosity more than compassion, I walked out of my office and ran to the road. A crowd was already there and someone was frantically pressing the buttons of her mobile phone.

I noticed a white van facing the opposite direction with a huge dent on the front.

A quick assessment told me that the van did not stop at the traffic lights and hit the small car.

Someone shouted saying that a child was trapped under a seat.

Two brave people went to help. I saw a limp body of, perhaps, a sixyear-old girl being rushed to another car. The driver of the small car was laid on the ground, perhaps unconscious or even life-

less. I searched for the van’s driver. He was nowhere to be seen. I learnt later that he had vanished from the scene.

The ambulance came a good 20 minutes later and the medical attendants complained that accident victims should not be moved. Someone in the crowd lost his temper. We understood his argument. Twenty minutes was a long time. It was enough for doctors to save someone’s life. If a victim was going to die, it is better they died in hospital than on the hot tarmac. But why should road accidents happen at all? People like the van driver take away lives while in a tearing hurry to get some job done. It was a delivery van and he might well have blamed his employers for working on a tight schedule.

In Oman, the statistics show that six people died every week on the roads — people who never returned home because of someone else’s negligence. Yes, at one time or another, all of us tend to drive carelessly. We either lose concentration while in deep

When you speed excessively, then you are responsible for injuring anyone on the road thought or we just want to be somewhere in a hurry. I know of a woman who always leaves a glass of water on the table when her husband drives to office. She drinks the water when he comes back safely. It is not meant to calm her nerves. Just her way of celebrating his safe return when she sees him opening the door of their house.

The problem is that road killers, if you could put it that way, get away lightly. Rarely does anybody spend more than three months in prison for causing

road deaths. Most of them just get their insurance company to pay compensation. They get on the road the next day and continue with their lives as if nothing has happened. A man who lost the use of his legs from an intoxicated driver, is still bitter about it. Who can blame him? Ten years after the accident, he is still in a wheelchair while the other men continue to terrorise the roads.

Why should killers on the roads get away lightly? I understand it is difficult to lock them away for a long time, but at least they should get their licence suspended for many years, if not for life. They defend by saying that such incidents are ‘accidental’ even though the driver is under the influence of alcohol.

Statistically, more people die from the wheels of careless drivers than from the hands of cold-blooded murderers. When you speed excessively, you are intoxicated or break traffic rules, then you are unequivocally responsible if you injure someone on the road.

Actor Brad Pitt has reportedly purchased a watch, which is said to be around five million pounds, from an auction. The 51-year-old is believed to have bid for the collector’s item when he attended the Only Watch auction. He is said to have managed to get his hands on a rare Patek Philippe wristwatch, which sold for a record-breaking price.

The Swiss-made watch was originally listed with an asking price of roughly £460,000 but after an intense bidding war it went under the hammer for just under five million pounds.

Music relieved my anxiety, says Olly Alexander

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander says music is like a therapy to him and it has helped him cope with his anxiety and depression.

Alexander admits he has struggled with anxiety and depression in the past, but found an outlet through music and songwriting.

“No. Therapy is much better. But music is definitely something I do that helps channel my anxiety in a positive way.”— IANS

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CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI In the Heart of the Sea (3D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy 2:30, 09:15 PM Bridge of Spies (Biography | Drama) (PG) Cast: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda 4:45 PM Bus 657 (Action | Crime | Thriller) (12+) Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dave Bautista 2:45 PM The Good Dinosaur (3D) (Animation | ) (U) 2:30, 04:30, 07:00 PM Hyena Road (Drama | War) (15+) Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross 4:45, 9:00, 11:30 PM Howl (Horror) (18+) Cast: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler 10:15, 11:45 PM Close Range (Action | Crime) (12+) Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund, Caitlin 8:30, 11:30 PM Victor Frankenstein (Horror | Drama) (12+) Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy 6:30 PM Zinzana (Arabic) (Crime | Drama) (PG12) Cast: Ali Suliman, Ahd, Saleh Bakri 7:30 PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL The Good Dinosaur-3D (Animation) U 11:00AM, 1:00, 2:30, 4:30 & 7:15PM Gold Class: 7:00PM Macbeth (Drama | War) 12+ Cast : Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 9:15 & 11:30PM Gold Class :2:30 & 9:00PM Close Range (Action | Crime) 12+ Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund 3:00 & 11:30PM Gold Class : 2:30PM & 9:00PM In the Heart of the Sea (Action) PG12

Macbeth (Drama | War) 12+ Cast : Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 9:15 & 11:30PM Gold Class : 2:30 & 9:00PM

Salt Mango Tree – 2D (PG) (Comedy, Drama) Cast: Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 7:10, 9:30 PM

Cast : Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy Timing : 12:15PM & 09:00PM Gold Class : 04:45PM & 11:15PM The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-2 : 3D Cast : Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson 4:45PM; (Sci-Fi) PG12 A Second Chance (Romance / Drama) PG12 Cast : Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz

Close Range (Action | Crime) (12+) Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund, Caitlin Keats 8:30, 11:30 PM

Lary Gaye (Comedy)(2D)(15+) Cast: Rebecca Romijn, Jessica Lowndes 5:30 pm Harbinger Down (Horror, Sci-Fi)(2D)(15+) Cast: Lance Henriksen, Matt Winston 7:30 pm /11:45 pm Macbeth (Drama, War)(2D)(12+) Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 2:45 pm /11:30 pm The Godd Dinasaur (Animation)(3D)(U) 2:30 pm /05:00 pm /07:00 pm Hyena Road (2D)(15+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross 3:45 pm /11:00 pm Macbeth (Drama, War)(2D)(12+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 6:30 pm

6:30PM PANORAMA MALL In The Heart of The Sea (Action)(3D (PG12) 7:00, 9:15 pm In The Heart of The Sea (Action, Adventure) (MX4D)(PG12) 2:45, 5:45, 8:30, 11.30 PM In The Heart of The Sea (Action, Adventure) (3D)(PG12)- VIP LOUNGE Cast : Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy Timings : 8:45 PM Creed (Drama, Sport)(2D)(15+) 4:30 pm Bridge of Spies (Biography, Drama)(2D)(PG) 9:00 pm Hyena Road (2D)(15+) Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross 3:15 pm /09:15 pm /11:30 pm

Hate Story – 2D (PG12)Thriller Cast – Zarine Khan, Sharman Joshi, Daisy 2:00, 04:20, 06:40, 09:05, 11:30 PM Pathemari – 2D (PG12) Drama 6:45 PM Tamasha – 2D (PG12) Romance, Drama 2:30, 04:35, 09:00, 11:00 PM Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – 2D (PG) Family 3:00 PM Bengal Tiger – 2D (TBC) Action Cast – Ravi Teja, Tamannaah, Rashi Khanna 6:15 PM RUWI Screen 1 Hate Story 3 (Thriller) – PG12 Cast : Zarine Khan, Daisy Shah, Karan Singh 2.30, 5.30, 11.30 PM Tamasha (Romance/Drama) – PG12 Cast : Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor 8.30 PM Screen 2 Tamasha (Romance/Drama) – PG12 3.45, 11.45 PM Salt Mango Tree (Drama) – Malyalam – PG Cast : Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 9.30 PM

AZAIBA Close Range – 2D (12+) Action, Crime Cast – Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund 5:15, 09:15, 11:45 PM In the Heart of the Sea – 2D (PG12) Action 2:15, 11:55 PM Salt Mango Tree – 2D (PG) Comedy, Drama Cast – Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 7:10,9:30 PM

Screen 3 Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (Family) – PG 3.30, 8.45, 11.45 PM Salt Mango Tree (Drama) – Malyalam – PG Cast : Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 6.30 PM

Zinzana - 2D (PG12) Crime | Drama | Thriller Cast : Ali Suliman, Ahd, Saleh Bakri 9:30 PM Salt Mango Tree - 2D (PG) Comedy | Drama Cast : Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 9:00 PM

SUR Close Range (Action | Crime ) (12+) Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund, 3:15, 8:30, 11:45 PM Howl (Horror ) (18+) Cast: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler 4:45, 10:00, 11:30 PM The Good Dinosaur 3D ( Animation ( U ) 3:00, 5:00, 6:30 PM Salt Mango Tree ( Malayalam) ( PG) Cast : Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 6:45 PM In the Heart of the Sea 3D (Action) (PG12) 9:15 PM

BURAIMI In the Heart of the Sea– 3D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy 5:15, 9:15PM Close Range– 2D (Action, Crime) (12+) Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund 3:30, 9:45, 11:30PM The Good Dinosaur – 3D (Animation) (U) Cast: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand 3:00, 5:00, 7:30PM Harbinger Down – 2D (Horror, Sci-Fi) (15+) Cast: Lance Henriksen, Matt Winston 5:15, 11:45PM Macbeth– 2D (Drama, War) (12+) Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 3:15, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30PM Salt Mango Tree – 2D (Comedy, Drama) (PG) Cast: Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 7:00PM

SOHAR In the Heart of the Sea - 3D (PG12) Action 6:25, 11:45 PM In the Heart of the Sea - 2D (PG12) Action 3:00 PM Victor Frankenstein - 2D (12+) Drama Cast : Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy 11:30 PM Pathemari - 2D (M) (PG12) Drama Cast : Mammoty, Joy Methew, Srinivasan 7:00 PM Hate Story 3 - 2D (PG12) Thriller Cast : Zarine Khan, Sharman Joshi 6:15 PM Macbeth - 2D (12+)Drama | War Cast : Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard 3:00, 9:30, 11:45 PM The Good Dinosaur - 3D (U) Animation Cast : Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand 5:30, 7:30 PM The Good Dinosaur - 2D (U) Animation 4:15 PM Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attandant - 2D (18+) Comedy Cast : Rebecca Romijn, Jessica Lowndes 4:30 PM Bengal Tiger - 2D (Telgu) (TBC) Action 4:30 PM Harbinger Down- 2D (15+) Horror | Sci-Fi Cast : Lance Henriksen, Matt Winston 2:30, 5:15, 11:30 PM

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) Sinaw

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Yanqul

Nizwa Al Araqi

26 20

0

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

Ruwi

10:25

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

08:40 11:00

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Programmes are subject to change

DAN MATHEW PHILIP December 10, 2005

ROHIT S. NAIR December 10, 2002

ABHISHEK MANOJ December 10, 2004

SIMRAN RIAZ SHAIKH December 10, 2002

ALWIN THOMAS VARGHESE December 11, 2008

LISTINGS

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 14:30

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Pathemari (Mal) (Rom/Drama) Cast: Mammootty, Jewel Mary & Srinivasn 6-30 Pm At Cinema Main; 9-45 PM At Cinema -3 Anarkali (Mal) (Rom/Drama) Cast: Prithviraj, Biju Menon & Priya Glor 3-30 Pm Cinema -2; 6-45 PM Cinema-3 Amar Akbar Anthony (Mal) (Act/Drama) Cast : Prithviraj & Jaya Surya 3-45 Cinema -3; 10 Pm At Cinema Main Salt Mango Tree (Mal) (Com) Cast Biju Menon, Sohasani & Mani Ratnam 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 Pm At Cinema -4 Bengal Tiger (Telugu) (Act) Cast : Ravi Teja, & Tamannaah 6-30 & 9-30 Pm Cinema-2 3-00 Pm At Cinema Main Next change: DILWALE (Hindi)

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

MOHD. AARON KHAN December 10, 2008

RAHUL CHAKRABORTY December 10, 2003

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

40-60%

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

07:00

Close Range (Action / Crime) Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund, Caitlin Keats 4.00 p.m., 8.15 p.m., 10.00 p.m. & 11.55 p.m.

CP No : 3041 (12+) Howl (Horror) Cast: Ed Speleers, Holly Weston, Shauna Macdonald 2.00 p.m., 6.00 p.m. & 10.00 p.m.

CP No : 3042 (18+) Hyena Road (Drama / War) Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Clark Johnson 1.30 p.m., 3.45 p.m., 7.45 p.m. & 11.55 p.m.

CP No : 3043 (15+) In the Heart of the Sea (Action / Adventure / Biography) Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson 6.00 p.m.

CP No : 3031 (PG12)

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Minimum

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

SALALAH In the Heart of the Sea (3D) (PG12) (Action) 12:00/06:45/11:15PM Hyena Road (2D) (15+) (Drama | War) 10:00AM/ 02:00/09:00/11:35PM Close Range (2D) (12+) (Action | Crime) 12:15/08:15/09:55/11:55PM Howl (2D) (18+) (Horror) Cast: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler 4:30/10:05PM Creed (2D) (15+) (Drama | Sport) Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone 2:05PM The Good Dinosaur (3D) (U) (Animation) 10:05AM/12:10/02:15/06:15PM Tamasha (2D) (PG12) (Romance| Drama) 4:10PM Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attandant (2D) (18+) (Comedy) 10:30AM/04:15PM Zinzana (2D) (PG12) (Arabic) (Crime/Drama) Cast: Ali Suliman, Ahd, Saleh Bakri 6:05PM Salt Mango Tree (2D) (PG) (Malayalam) Cast: Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priya 7:45PM

BAHJA CINEMA

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.04pm 3.06pm 5.26pm 6.41pm 5.17am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE Movie Buffs Flock to Dubai for Visual Treat 12th edition of Dubai Film Festival to showcase over 120 feature films, short films and documentaries from around the world

GHAWI BAZAAR

LIMU OMANI (DRIED LIME) The round-shaped dusky brown fruit that lies in heaps in all the souqs in Oman is an essential ingredient for Omani culinary delights as well as Irani, Iraqi, and Indian dishes.

WHAT Dried lime has the magical power to transform the texture and taste of any dish for good. The fruit gains the superpower when it is exposed to the desert sun for many weeks. The harsh rays of summer sun turns the lime black or dusky brown on the outside and it loses so much weight that it feels hollow. But the juicy green flesh turns glossy and maroon-tinged black. In the process, the flavour becomes spectacular and better than the fresh lemon.

HOW Dried lime keeps the pleasantly sour, aromatic tang of citrus. And holding one to your nose is a bit like sniffing freshly grated lime rind. Dried limes are also used in a powdered form. It is better to grind and keep it in box as lime begins to lose its volatile oils the moment it is pulverised. You have to cut them in half, remove seeds and grind them in a grinder or blender until very fine.

Dried lime is added to soup, stew, and shuwa and biryani. You have to wash it well, pierce it a couple of times with a sharp knife or a fork, and drop three or four pieces into the pot. When the cooking liquid sluices through the limes, they add an evocative tang and a subtle complexity to the entire dish.

WHERE Dried lime is available in all souqs across Oman. The current market price is OMR 1 per kilogram.

Have a favourite Omani product or shop?

Tell us about it: ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

TRIBUTE

I

t’s been 40 years since Steven Spielberg’s Jaws first gave the audience a chill down their spine. To celebrate its journey, the forthcoming edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will honour the Academy Award winning aquatic thriller.

The 12th edition of the film gala, which began on Wednesday at Madinat Jumeirah, will conclude on December 16. Jaws will be screened on December 12. A post on the official Facebook page of the film fest read: “Delighted to announce that we’ll be paying tribute to Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg’s Jaws one of the truly great and lasting classics of American cinema as it marks its 40th year anniversary.”

In Jaws, Spielberg weaved a terrorising tale with a monstrous shark striking a beach and gulping down tourists. The blood, gore and

the thrilling storyline captivated d the audience.

The 1975 film, featuring a whitee shark terrorising Amity Island, ass well as actors Roy Scheider, Robertt Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, wass released on June 20. Dreyfuss willl attend the special complimentaryy presentation screening. Accordingg to variety.com, in the first three dayss since its release in 1975, the film m earned $7 million, jumping to $14 4 million in its first week. In its 59th h day of release, the Universal moviee passed the $100 million mark.

Meanwhile, the 12th Dubai In-ternational Film Festival will show-case over 120 features, film shortss and documentaries from around thee world which will include a plethoraa of world premieres.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com For more details, log on to dubaifilmfest.com

Screening schedule • December 10: Savva. Heart of The Warrior directed by Maksim Fadeev • December 11: The Idol directed by Hany Abu-Assad and performance by Mohammed Assaf • December 12: Jaws directed

by Stephen Spielberg, presented by legendary actor Richard Dreyfuss.

• December 13: The Lady in The Van directed by Nicholas Hytner.

• December 14: Song of Lahore with a live performance from the film’s musicians.

• December 15: Yallah! Underground by Farid Eslam • December 16: All Roads Lead to Rome by Ella Lemhagen

Avinash launches ‘Friends Forever’ song AVINASH KUMAR MATHUR is at it again. The music teacher at the Indian School Muscat (ISM), who loves to extol the virtues of Oman and its friendly ties with India, launched a song titled India-Oman, Friends Forever on November 26 when ISM celebrated the 45th glorious National Day. Avinash penned, composed and sung the song.

Sayyid Ahmed Hilal Al Busaidy, Wali of Muttrah was the chief guest at the event, attended by dignitaries from the Municipal Council, Shura Council, and members of the Indian School Managing Committee.

The song is available on youtube, Whatsapp and Facebook.

Avinash had created ripples when he launched Song for Oman during the 44th National Day. The song was aired on Oman FM and Oman TV. His efforts to foster ties between two countries had won appreciation of former Indian Ambassador to Oman, J.S. Mukul. “The Indian Ambassador gave me the idea to do the song, Friends Forever,” said Avinash. Contact Avinash at: +968 9953 6703.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

WHO

C1 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

LIFESTYLE

COLOURS OF MY LIGURIA FAMOUS ITALIAN ARTIST GIAN MARCO CROVETTO’S WORKS ARE ON DISPLAY AT BAIT AL ZUBAIR MUSEUM Story T.A. Ameerudheen Photography O.K. Mohammed Ali

G

ian Marco Crovetto felt at home when he strolled around Muscat last week. The famous Italian artist, who hails from Italy’s north-western coastal town of Liguria, was in for a surprise when he found plenty of similarities between Oman’s capital region and his home town. “The landscapes and seascapes of north-west Italy reflect the mountains and rocky coastlines of Muscat and the colours remind me of the hues of the pomegranate and date harvests,” said Crovetto.

His works that portray a rainbow of Fauvist colours and textures are on display at the Bait Al Zubair Museum till January 7, 2016.

The exhibition, organised by Bait Al Zubair Museum in association with Embassy of Italy in Muscat, was recently inaugurated in the presence of Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.

Crovetto brought to Muscat some of his best works during the last 25 years. “I draw inspiration from my life’s experiences. My work convey my emotions,” he said in a chat with Times of Oman.

But Crovetto doesn’t limit himself to certain genres. “One can find influences of different

Gian Marco Crovetto’s Exhibition Where: Bait Al Zubair Museum, Muttrah When: Till January 7, 2016 Contact: sara.ali@baitalzubair.com Phone: +968 2473 6688

schools in my work. I learnt from great artists but I am not ready to limit myself,” he said.

He uses oil on linen for his paintings as the works last longer. “I portray the same places but each time in a different light, paying more attention to detail. I also use natural colour.”

Crovetto exhibited his works in France, Germany, United States and won accolades from connoisseurs of art. “I hope the exhibition will help art lovers learn more about Liguria.”

Paul Doubleday, Director of Bait Al Zubair said Crovetto’s works portrays elements of Fauvism and Expressionism and it reminds the audience of artists such as Matisse and Cezanne. “His works on oil on linen are spectacular. It is a wonderful educational opportunity for Omani students, artists and young people. The art movements of Fauvism and Expressionism from the early 20th Century have influenced Omani artists with their use of colour, symbol, and shape.”

During his stay, Crovetto will interact with students from Sultan Qaboos University and conduct workshops for children at the Bait Al Zubair Museum. ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

D

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Showroom space available at MBD area near old manpower building ground floor 220 Sq.MTR Mezzanine floor 320 SQ. mtrs, rent R.O 2650/per month. Contact: 99449885

2BHK flats available for near PDO gate no 2 Qurum. Contact: 94057023

House for rent in Hamriya of 2 floors, flats vacant with 4 rooms, balcony 3 toilets, 1 kitchen R.O 300/- per month , Omani families only. Contact: 96266768

02 BHK commercial / residential (with split AC) flats at Honda Road.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

Restaurant for lease running restaurant at excellent location in Wadi Kabir is available on lease.

Contact: 93334685 / 91760712

Flats for rent at Al Mablah block eight. Contact: 99445177

Shops for rent good for offices + stores behind bldg, behind whole sale center Al Amerat space 11 x4 meters R.O 250/- per month.

Contact: 92877449

02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nadha hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

1 Bed room in Al hail south R.O 130/- Monthly. Contact: 93993354

4 B/R, 3 flats building in Azaiba behind Al Meera. Contact: 99776071 /99057348

1000 sqm industrial land with compound wall & two rooms at Misfah.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi Honda road Mumtaz.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

2 B/R flat in Wattaya and Azaiba.

Contact: 99776071 /99057348

1&2 BHK M.B.D R.O 280/- & 300/-.

Contact: 92144045

Flat in Wadi Kabir, 3 BHK rent 280/- R.O. Contact: 99330810

6 B/R villa for office use in Al Khoudh, 2 & 3 B/R flat in AL Khuwair for office.

Contact: 99776071 /99057348

1,2 BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-, 325/- & 350/-. Contact: 97799175

2BHK Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti mosque. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

1 BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-.

Contact: 92144045

1BHK Nr Oman house & Kmj H.O Muttrah. Contact 99233116

Single flat sharing for Keralite bachelor in Ruwi near Qaboos Mosque R.O 95 (W/E).

Contact: 98478286

2 BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045

Big room attach bath kitchen in Muscat near Palace R.O 90/-.

Contact: 95094028

Luxurious 2 BHK flat with 3 toilets, store, equipped kitchen, splits, free gym & party hall, 24 hrs security at Mumtaz area Ruwi rent 375/-.

Contact: 92622506

House for rent at Seeb Souq two bedroom, majlis, sitting room, kitchen & 2 bathroom.

Contact: 99700908

1BR, 3BR Mars hypermarket Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99338133 / 92103604

2 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Mabela and Al Khoud shop at Al Khoud. Contact: 24834644 / GSM : 93994401 /02/03/3lines

Shop / office Nr Oman house & Kmj H.O Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

Single BHK flat available in Honda road Ruwi. Contact - 24833972/ 24833974/99367448 1 BHK available at Al Khoud in Baskin Robbins building. RO 200/Contact: 97261418, 99478492, 98181649 One flats for rent 2 bedroom all with bath al Ghobrah north near Indian school (hot burger restaurant) tell 9976610 Store available in Honda road Ruwi. Contact 99481931 1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/-.

Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact: 99388994 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454 600 SQT commercial flat for rent opposite Oman flourmill Darsait more details. Contact: 91214849/ 99364735 7 Bedrooms villa in Ghobrah North.

Contact - 96420432

Flat for Rent 1/2 BHK Flat at Muttrah, near Oman flour mills, 10 min. from Corniche.Equipped with split unit ACs, internet points, free-to-air dish connection, CCTV monitored, basement parking. Rent RO.250/350 per month. Contact: 99229263; 93221054; 95215289 For Rent Flats in Ghala Heights 94051789-97201688 For Rent Flats in Wadi Kabir 94051789-97201688 For Rent flats in MuttrahContact – 94051789-97201688 For Rent Flats in Darsait 94051789-97201688 For Rent Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) 94051789-97201688 For Rent Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum- 9405178997201688

For Rent Flats in Mawalah south-94051789-97201688

WANTED Required commercial villa from Azaiba to Al Khoud area adjacent to main Roads.

Contact: 92640246/91395738

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com Available office space in Prime location on 18th November Street, Azaiba Kindly. Contact: 99288664

Offices for Rent GalaContact –94051789-97201688 For Rent offices in Qurum opposite city center- 9405178997201688 For Rent Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud-Contact 9405178997201688 For Rent brand new villas in Al Ansab- Contact 9405178997201688

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

T H U R S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 0, 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE HOME THEATER & KARAOKE BRING HOME - LIVE MUSIC & CINEMA GENERAL ELECTRONICS SERVICES LLC CONTACT: 99627299 / 93327841

Business in Oman for Sale Profitable business in Oman running since 20 years having more than 3 outlets in various locations.

Serious parties may send email to :

sprtnftns@gmail.com FOR HIRE Bobcat available for rent.

Contact – 97623299

Toyota Coaster 32 seater bus with driver available on monthly lease rent. Contact – 99705821 / brightsilverllc@gmail.com

MV SALE Single owner Ford Escape 2012 white, 2.5L, 10100 kms. All tyres recently replaced, Comprehensive insurance including UAE Mulkiya valid Oct 2016. OMR 5250 92320155 divadmuscat@gmail.com Toyota Yaris, Model 2006, KM 38000, Expat driven, all services at Toyota. Very clean. RO.2300.

Contact 93430580 Grand Cherokee full A/M 2009 model KM 90,000 only excellent condition. Contact: 99869897 Mitsubishi Pajero 380CC full option 2008 model 137,000 km Expat driven white maintained Mitsubishi workshop. Contact: 99513510

Indian Granite 600x300x20 - 15000 sq mts Indian Granite Slabs 20000 Sq mts Our factory yard at Ghala Industrial area.

Contact 99337723 / 95118906

SCRAP EQUIPMENT

FOR SALE We have scrap equipment for sale more than 20 years old.

Interested Parties please contact Mr.A.Ronish,

GSM 91296439 Al Jauf LLC. P.O.Box 1880, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman

Beauty Salon for urgent sale in Azaiba prime location behind Al Fardan building. With sponsor and 1 staff and 1 ready visa clearance.

Call: 95318629 / 95169411

Chaverlet Epica 2004 model RO -700, for sale.Contact 92194205 BMW 318/ 2003 for sale.

Contact 96364990 Ford focus, automatic, 2010 model, silver colour, expat driven, 58000 kms, dealer serviced, registration till sep 2016, price ro 2750.

Contact- 93207590

FOR SALE

2,688 sq mtrs commercial land in MBD North. OMR 1.39 Million.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Land for sale in Goa Indian Verna near big mosque RS 30 lakh negotiable. Contact: 99468166

Immediate sale of well running pharmacy at prime location.

Contact- 99627621, 99516236

Scrap available for sale, power cables & accessories. Contact – 24446399 / Email – ravi.ztc@omzest.com Zawawi Trading Road no.8 Rusayl

Shop for sale at Ghala Sanaya main junction (prime location) shop for sale. Contact: Kamil 92696479

For sale villas in Al Khoud 95056808-97201688

Darsait small Business & office furniture for sale special price 5 gallon per bottles. Contact: 99869897

Running barber shop for sale in Ruwi with all equipments.

Contact: 99343735

Barber shop for sale in Ghubra.

Contact 92955874 3Ton Forklift, Special made for Oman market, Japanese Isuze C240 Engine, Cascade side shifter, High amount exhaust, 3m lifting height, Solid tyres, One year warranty.

Contact: 98883445

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2.

OMR 155 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Plot for sale Shadnagar Municipality, Mahboob Nagar District, walk able distance to existing colonies, national highway and basic amenities at reasonable price. Contact – 0091 8686631669 33 Cents facing national highway kuriachira, best location for shopping complex, flat, cinema theater, hospital, auditorium. Also house plots at Guruvayoor 22.0 Cents, Mundoor 5.225 & 7.070, Paramangalam 8.330 & 6.0 Nadathara by pass 9.0 And palakkal 4.450 Cents. Contact: 91637137 / 00919746573948

Plot, propeties for sale in prime location in pune 95272138,(+918390982975)

Window AC 30 Nos (general make all good conditions), refrigerator, freezer & mess equipments for sale.

Contact: 98064113/ 99315878 Quotation fax on: 24448101 /24448103

Top Quality sparingly used Outdoor Catering & Bakery Equipments including chairs etc for sale in Muscat .Please call for viewing 99471085.

Serious buyers only.

royal castles

vakathanam, kottayam Luxurious villas in a Gated community with all the modern facili es at Vakathanam By-Pass (MC road-NH 220) Web: www.royalcastles.in email: info@royalcastles.in +968 92855909, +91 9961 11 9988

Prado 2010 expat driven good condition. Contact: 91396589 /91396776

We have laundry for sale in Ghala prime location 3 visa clearances available. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

Sports shop for sale at Ruwi.

Contact: 98453599 /93050776

NRI

Fancy villa for sale at pathanamthitta, kerala. Visit kenindi.Wix.Com/house for details. Contact 94533975

5 plots of fertile agriculture lands in Misfah East totaling 4,532 sq mtrs having date trees and using falaj water for irrigation. OMR 158 Thousand for all 5 plots. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

FOR SALE

Car with driver available for rent.

Contact: 93015630

Honda Accord 2012, 60,000 km, good condition, RO 5600, expat leaving Oman.

Contact 99577462.

FOR SALE or rent Tata Dawoo Truck 12 ton 2014 Model.

Contact: 92719681

STOCK CLEARANCE SALE

FOR HIRE

Sale house & office furniture & electronic items. Contact : 99834373/ 96642500/22010080 For Sale Luxury Apartments in Bousher (35) Contact: 9505680897201688 For sale Fully Furnished apartments in Bousher (35) Contact: 9505680897201688 Beauty parlor for sale Muttrah.

Contact: 93142676

ACC. AVAILABLE Spacious separate room with A/c and Bed, for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell filling station, Ghobrah round about.

Contact: 94263390 Furnished sharing accommodation in ruwi near O.K. Center for noncooking indian bachelor.

Gsm 9880-5474 Spacious separate room with A/c and Bed, for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell filling station, Ghoubra round about.

Contact: 94263390 2BHK Hamriya round about main road rent R.O 170/- PM. Contact: 99513510

GOOD NEWS

TRANSPORTATION

AL RAZI AYURVEDIC CLINIC

TRANSPORTATION

Near Khimji Mart, MBD Area, Ruwi Our Ayurvedic Treatment includes Abhyangam, Kizhi Massage, Shirodhara, Vasti, Udwarthnam 50% Discount on full body massage.

7 Ton/ 10 Ton- Trailer Local transport- MCT- UAE

Contact 24814222 or 97112510 for appointment

Contact 96609857 Amir Ali

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage steambath, obesity, Spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 98342990

Transportation. Contact: 98505294

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Muttrah to Bausher. Contact: 99022790/24712088 Transportation. Contact: 95190627

MANPOWER

MANPOWER Tile Masons, Masons, Electricians, Plumbers, False Ceiling / Gypsum Works and Carpenters required immediately on Labor supply basis.

Interested parties please contact

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Single bed room with attached bath, separate entrance, Honda road near NBO for ex bachelors.

Contact: 91410434

GSM: 96775023 / 96775024

MATRIMONIAL

Big room available near Hamriya R/A for Muslim couple / small family / Executive bachelor rent 150/- per month including W+ E. Contact : 99495131

23 Years Malayalee Christian girl born & educated in Bangalore, seeking suitable alliances from well settled Keralite Malayalee Christian boys. Contact 99494371

Furnished room in new building for working Muslim lady/ Muslim couple only. Location AINT, Darsait. Contact - 99008069

Muslim Girl, M.B.B.S 23 years 5’ 4” fair, looking for suitable alliance from Doctors from Kerala / Tamil Nadu. Contact: 00968 98553628

1 Bedroom with bathroom available for rent. Only Indian female.

Contact - 92394614

RCSC MOH Nurse 27 yrs hailing from Kanjirappally Dioces looking for suitable alliance.

Contact: 92801093 / 94005802

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sitting room, Kitchen & store including utilities bills at Al hail.

Contact 92817777 Single room bathroom in Darsait R.O 140/-. Contact: 93289652 Single room for expat Indian bachelors near Al Aktham restaurant Al khuwair for RO 120. Water and electricity included.

Contact : 98803261

We will register LLC. trade license for foreign investors and do all actions. Contact: 92833566

ACC. AVAILABLE 1 Bedroom with attached Bath, fully furnished, separate entrance at Mabela for ladies only.

Contact: 99634841

ACC. WANTED Sharing Accommodation Required for Non cooking Executive Lady in Darsait /Ruwi/Wadikabir.

Contact 99360615

D4

T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 0, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT We are looking for a Business Development Manager With Oman market experience in Scientific Laboratory Equipment / Digital Signage / New Business development and sales. Age around 35 years with at least 3 years of proven track record in one of the above fields. Should have excellent communication skills.

Oman D/L and NOC required.

Pls Send your CV to jobs@bishara.com or Fax : 24794807

URGENTLY REQUIRED Sales Executive - Ladies (Omani/ Expat) With oman D/L 2 years of Experience in the same Field.

Gym Instructor - Ladies (Omani/ Expat)

URGENTLY REQUIRED

An Indian female HOUSEMAID (Muslim) to take care of an Omani lady.

Salary best in the industry.

Contact - 99250595 or mail to tc.subi@yahoo.com Engineering Company based in Oman (Muscat) is looking urgently to hire the following position:

Position: Accountant

For a reputed four star hotel Please send CV at

(Omani Only) (Bachelor or Diploma ) Experience: 2 to 3 years

hoteljbs@gmail.com, Fax -24593277

Email:therecuiter@hotmail.com

Waitress - Ladies Massage Lady

Fax NO. 24596440

SITUATION WANTED

We are looking for a

SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE For ELV Systems with Oman Market Sales track record in the field of CCTV, Security, Access Control Systems, Age around 30 years with at least 3 years of successful Sales Career in the Security field. Should have excellent communication skills + able to scope client requirements + prepare Tender Responses. Oman D/L and NOC required.

REQUIRE AN OUTDOOR CATERING SUPERVISOR

Pls Send your CV to

For a restaurant in Muscat.

The candidate must have 3 to 5 years of experience in this field.

A valid Omani driving licence.

Fluency in spoken English.

jobs@bishara.com or Fax : 24794807

CONTACT - 91170489

URGENTLY REQUIRED

RECEPTIONIST • Omanis Only (preferably female) • Must speak English fluently • Ability to handle Office/Admin works • Good knowledge of computers Interested candidates please send CV to: hilalproperties@hilalprp.com.om or contact 24600688/ Fax: 24600683

Looking for Executive Sales and Sales Engineers with experience in earthmoving equipments, cruchers, quarry & mining industry.

Email:

applyinggchr@gmail.com

WANTED

VACANCY 1. Service Administrator:

Van Salesman:

Civil Engineer (Building Construction) 2 Nos

3 Year experience with NOC

Qualification: BE in Civil Engineering

Drivers – Omani National Only:

Electro Mechanical Engineer (Building Services)1 No.

A reputed Dairy Company in Oman is looking for following Vacancies.

2 year experience with Valid Omani D/L

Debt collector: Omani National with 4 years experience with Valid Omani D/L Please forward your CV’s to

vacancy097@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Experienced Omani female required as Accountant Cum Secretary. Send CV to s.safar@celarwater.com We are looking for Chief Financial Officer, Male 40- 45 years old, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 - 15 yrs. of experience.

Contact: +968 24702133 Email: admin-dept@daud.om

DRIVER Wanted driver. Contact 91025698

ENGINEER Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

Required Diploma Civil Engr, 2-5 years experience in Oman D/ License. Contact: 99814741 Required Project Manager (Civil – degree) for a reputed construction company, with at least 7 yrs experience in Gulf & GCC license.

Contact 968 94144230 or mail: slvjob2015@gmail.com Required Project Engineer (Civil – Diploma) for a reputed construction company, with 5 to 7 yrs of experience in Gulf & GCC license.

Contact 968 94144230 or mail: slvjob2015@gmail.com Required Electrical industrial Technician and SW/ Gear panel technician with minimum 2-5 years Gulf experience.

Contact: 99262678 Urgently required senior purchaser civil expats candidate, must have at least 10 years of experience in similar field. Email: samtrading@altaher.com address P.O. Box 1413, PC 112, Ruwi Experienced Civil Foreman with driving license. Visa available.

Contact: 99169512 Civil Site Supervisor for telecom tower projects across Oman. Send CV to fyjo@spec-link.com or call +968 9946 7227

EDUCATION A well known private school is in need of English, Mathematics, Science and Computer Teachers.

Contact: 96910649 Email: staffing.oman@gmail.com

MEDICAL Urgently required Philipina Nurse with MOH license at prometric parsed.

Contact: 99724013

A qualified Electro/Automobile/Electric Diploma holder with minimum 2 years’ experience on deskjobs such as preparing quotation, supplier correspondence, warranty claims etc. Age between 25 – 30.

2. Accountant: experience in accounting with banking knowledge.

Age between 25-30.

Attractive Salary and terms Offered

Send detailed resume to sskpvr@gmail.com

Candidates with NOC or on visit visa can apply, please drop your CV at

careerhr1972@gmail.com

FOR VARIOUS LOCATIONS MUSCAT | IBRI | SOHAR | NIZWA SALALAH | BARKA | BURAIMI KHABOURAH | KHASAB

92325542 | 93657915 | 91321880 engominst@gmail.com

GP, Pediatrics, Gynecologist doctors, Nurses urgently need to work in Polyclinic in Sur, with MOH/Prometric pass also can apply. Dr. Raji: GSM : 99567864 Wanted GP Doctor with MOH license, job location in Muscat with good salary and benefits. Drop your cv at careerhr1972@gmail.com.

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Urgently required Project Managers, Civil Engineers, Foreman, Electrical Engineer, electrical quantity surveyors for a reputed construction company. Send your CVs to mohamed@oasisgrace.com Contact: 99881459 / 24826566 can send fax: 24812226 Traveling agency Manager Director. Contact: 92223669

MISCELLANEOUS Sales Ladies wanted for Ladies Boutique. Age: 20-35 yrs.

Al Khoudh. Send CV to sameer916@hotmail.com or call 91159905 Urgently required for a reputed company in Oman (Tyre, Battery & Lubricant division) Sr. Executives/Executive-5 nos (Sohar, Nizwa & Muscat), Techno Commercial Professional-5nos, Driver (Omani)-1no. Required minimum 3-5 yrs experience in the same field with market exposure holding valid Omani driving license or GCC. Kindly fwd your CV’s to ashwin@taasintl.org Contact: (+968)93891700 Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com or call Ph:+968 99450811

Indian male , 21 yrs accountant with 1 and half years experience looking for suitable job for more discussion. Contact: 96512733 Email: azazahemad1994@gmail. com CPA AUS with 5 years PWC exp in field of accountant finance audit seeking urgent placement now available on visit visa.

Contact 94150073 Accountant, Indian Male, 15 Years experience (8 Years in Oman with Driving License & NOC) Seeks suitable placement, Contact 94117616, 91238272 Email: praveen78oman@gmail.com Hard working and 2 years experienced Indian male MBA (fin & mktg) on visit visa looking suitable jobs. Contact: 93279943 / 97876709 Indian male 20 years in Oman experience with language institute (registrar, admin, account clerk) seeking a suitable position. NOC available. Contact: 96553961 Email: u.m.sulfi@gmail.com

Indian male 26 years B.Com C.A Inter tally ERP’s 3 years experience in accounts, audit on visit visa. Contact: 90185373 Email: shaheervahid@gmail.com

MEDICAL

Wanted Dentist with license for leave vacancy for 2 months Jan 15 to March 15. Contact: 92520054

Indian male MBA 2 years experience on visit visa.

Contact: 90196322 Email: nithinvarghese19@gmail.com

Chief Accountant IndianMale, B.Com Graduate+ PGDCA, Total 18 Years Experience, 13 Year in GCC, 7 Years in Oman. Exposure in Tally ERP9, Peach Tree, MS Office.

Having NOC Available for Immediate Joining. Contact - 97060826 Email-tomnedum71@yahoo.co.in

ENGLISH TEACHERS WANTED IMMEDIATELY

Required a Philippino or Indian female cleaner for a medical center in Azaiba , Muscat. Interested candidates please send your CV to: mdcjobs2015@gmail.com

28/male/MBA - Finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ india experience looking for a suitable placement. shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com 90187483

A qualified B.Com/M.Com/C.A. Inter accountant with minimum 4 years’

Qualification: BE in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Required a male Pharmacist with MOH license for a medical center in Azaiba Muscat, excellent English and valid Omani driving license. Interested candidates please send your CV to mdcjobs2015@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MISCELLANEOUS Looking for a FOREIGN STAFF has experience in Oman in real estate field. Interested contact: Mobile: 99109094 Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com

SECT. /OFFICE Urgently required Female Secretary : Oman based leading manufacturing company has immediate requirement Graduate with min. 5 yrs of experience & capable to handle Management office work independently & Secretarial work, knowledge of computers & accounts will be an advantage. Age limit upto 30 yrs.

Send CVs to vacancyinoman123@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Urgently required Salesman with 2 years experience in electrical outdoor sales in Oman D/L and NOC must. Contact: 91373200 Email: oman@sentorsupplies.com Kitchen cabinet manufacturing company is looking sales person, most have Oman D/L and must know any kitchen designed software and two years experience.

Contact: 93326636

TECHNICIAN /MECH. Urgently required cold room refrigeration Technician must know up to commissioning gulf experience preferred .Pls forward CV to nasmatmasirah@gmail.com Contact: 97982623/ 95183616 Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

ADMIN Egyptian woman resident has considerable experience in the administration and Secretarial Executive for companies. Contact: 97221126 HR/ Admin with total 7 years GCC experience looking for immediate change over with suitable position NOC available. Contact 95521535 Email: kbino110@gmail.com 10 years experience in secretarial / Admin job. Contact: 94868626 Indian male 27Yrs, having total 7+ yrs of experience in HR/ Admin looking for suitable position.

Contact 91507099 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030

CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DRIVER Experienced Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic Well knowledge of Oman Areas Seeking Suitable placement 97950869 Light duty driver. Contact: 98505294 Pakistani with light duty driver license seeks job.

Contact: 92789805 3 years experience driver available. Contact: 95859247 Looking for driver job.

Contact: 98219182 3 years driving experience in Muscat languages known English, Arabic, Hindi and Bengali.

Contact 97462781

Accountant Indian female, 26 yrs, B.Com 2 yrs experience in accounting, purchase vouchers, bank reconciliation. Contact: 95690207 Email: pereira.rita08@gmail.com

11yrs exp light duty driver looking for job. Contact: 94554450

Looking for Job driving.

Contact: 97418036

AutoCAD D/man Experienced.

Contact : 93837973

Chartered Accountant with ICWA Inter having 5 years experience in Finance, Accounts, Costing, Budgeting, Insurance, Treasury & Banking operations - NOC Available + Oman Driving License Contact : 97881548 Email-financecost2@gmail.com

Interior Designer Experienced knows 3D max Photoshop: Contact 93837973

Accountant Experienced Indian B. Com looking for suitable positions please call 91422074

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ARCHITECT /AUTOCAD

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available. Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com 12 years of Oman experienced chief accountant looking for suitable position.

Contact: 99513082 Indian female, MBA HR & Finance, having 1 year experience, seeking suitable placement. Currently in Oman. Contact: 96052366.

28/ male MBA – finance /B.com – accountant with 4 years of Dubai / India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 90187483 Email: shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Indian male B.Com Accountant 10 yrs in Oman exp in accounts, knowledge of sales, purchase, admin, hr, tally ERP & focus RT. Having NOC & D/L, looking for suitable job. Contact - 93086105 Senior Accounts Admin Manager B.com M.com 25 years experience accounts up to finalization holding light duty license seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93064975

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact – 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com 25 years (20 years in Oman & 5 years in Indian) well experienced finance controller seeking for suitable position, with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 99756765

Light driver, looking for job.

Contact: 98372745/99090362

Driver with new car looking for job.contact: 95873286 Driver (light & heavy duty) valid gulf /Indian) looking job.

Contact: 95175192

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Civil Draughtsman with 12 yrs experience 9 yrs Gulf exp.

Contact: 93528255 Email: bijumudackamannil@gmail.com 25 years male BA. English , Qualified as mast in digital animation having 5 yrs ex in character animation specialized Auto Desk mago and motion building software knowledge, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97917357

Indian male 29yrs M.com (finance) MBA (Finance & HR) ICWA (pursuing) 5 yrs experience in accounts, tally sage sap on visiting visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 92840519/98450609

Professional architect 3ds max (interior, exterior) looking for private work. Contact: 96041201

Indian lady, bachelor degree in Preparatory Programme (BPP) and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), completed training course in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook from KTI looking for full time / part time job opportunity in Oman.

Contact 92437568, 96795853, Email: linda_navs@yahoo.com

House maid looking for job.

Contact: 98257659

ADMIN Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position.

Contact - 99897280

Accountant Bachelor of commerce English, 2 years experience visit visa.

Contact: 98584398/ 95539923

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 90196235

Male Indian with 7 years experience in accounting & 6 years experience in sales and marketing very good knowledge of tally currently in Muscat on a visit visa.

Contact: 96148427 Email: jijokurianp@gmail.com

29 male MCA qualified 4.6 years experienced skilled in system administration and basic networking, seeking job in IT Admin iteration now on visiting visa.

Contact: +96892805363 Email: anukkuttan1986@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP

EDUCATION Indian, Female 27 Years; B.Sc, B.Ed - Chemistry, 3 years’ experience in teaching field, seeking for Suitable placements. Contact: 93216103; Email:laksshmi1988@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Indian male, 24 years, M.tech in Electronics and Communication CCNA Certified , currently on visit visa seeking a relevant job.

(Certificates attested).

Contact: 93814376 Email: robinplakezhil@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95345591

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ACCOUNTANT with 8 years of experience (working in Oman since Jan 2013) is looking for a change.

Experienced in all aspect of accounting up to finalization of accounts.

NOC will be available

A result oriented professional B.E.(Mech), 30+ years experience in Oil & Gas Projects, Fabrication, R & M and Services. Seeking job as GM, CEO, Country Head.

NOC & immediate availability.

Phone : +91 9773828663, Email : jvp291367@yahoo.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Well experienced team available to provide feasibility reports & business solutions, product development, risk management methods for startups, progressive, defunct operations.

Creating of ERP modules.

Contact - 93343251 Email: profitoman@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Female Engineer material / controller 3 years experience in road companies, with D/L. Contact: 98001764 Male, B.E in industrial & production engineering, 8 years experience (5 years in oil & gas) and 3 years in available currently on visit visa, seeking immediate placement.

Contact: 97863823 Indian male, 38 yrs old diploma in engineering with 9 yrs gulf experience looking placement in admin office management IT co-ordination, marketing fields having Oman D/L NOC available. Contact: 90187927 Email: blessam2@yahoo.com Indian female 22 years old electrical engineer fresher currently in Oman visit visa B.Tech knowledge in AutoCAD /ECAD seeking placement in electrical related field.

Contact: 90372125 Email: limisha93@gmail.com Indian female on visit visa master of engineering (M.E) in computer science with 2 years experience software trainee, worked as mathematics and IT Teacher seeking for suitable job. Contact: 94528019 Email: indgu101291@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) Indian m with good knowledge in MEP, currently in Oman on visit visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 90154793 Email: sangu.vazhoor@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement Contact:- 95042656 Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license.

Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Project Engineer 6 years experience in Oman, construction (site manager) fluent Arabic, English and good Hindi. Tele 97858589 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1Year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97416564, Email: jovinmathias@gmail.com

Structural Draughtsman having 10 years experience in engineering consultancies N.O.C available.

Contact: 00968 97612846

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518

Hygiene Officer/QC, B.Tech Bio tech. HACCP LVL. 2 &3.Experienced in Food & water industry.

92940218 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Civil maintenance painting, tile works decor works, plumbing, electric, shop furnishing carpentary works and all other maintenance.

Contact 97897831, 92112094 (Indian, Keralite) 29 yrs Indian male B.E (ECE) with more than 5 yrs experience in Oman with valid D/L. Contact 96652145 Indian male, B.Tech Engineer, 6.5 years exp, PHP Developer working in UAE seeking a relevant post. Email: jibycj@gmail.com Contact: + 971563801785 Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahmlktr@gamil.com Telecommunication Engineer looking to obtain a job in the specified field, Sudanese nationality with a valid residence.

Contact 95000024 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 B. E Mech, MBA project & design management around 2 years experience seeks suitable position in automobile oil & gas, any other industries. Contact: 93360821

Indian male 24 yrs bachelor mechanical 2 yr experience looking for job. Contact: 95179021 / 96974981 Email: atharhussain54@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer (BE) 25 years, Indian male with NDT level2, 2 years above experience (as QC Engineer and Site Engineer) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 90249803 / 00919446048596 Email: naveenbasheer@gmail.com

Bldg . Const site Supervisor since MAR 2010 working in Oman, with Omani D/L, looking for suitable placement. Contact 93061107

Civil Engineer with 5 years in Oman with 5 years in Oman with driving license (Sudanese with bachelor degree). Contact: 91448244

B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering female 2 years experience in teaching field and management skills seeks suitable placement on visit. Contact 93371834 / 97378922 Indian male 23 yrs old PG Diploma in Petroleum Engineering and B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering having UAE driving license on visit visa seeks suitable placement immediately.

Contact: 95880127 / 95084905 Email: vijith2573459@gmail.com Sr. Civil Engineer, Indian male with 22 yrs of experience in building construction, pipeline work specialist in tendering, billing, quantity surveying with Gulf experience.

Email : rafiksimna@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer (MEP) having 18 years of experience (10 years in Gulf) seeks suitable placement in the field of Building Construction and HV/LV/Cable Installations. NOC available for contact GSM :92203584, email: sajisivan@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (UK) , 28 years old male, having 4 years experience in Oman looking for suitable placement with valid Oman D/L immediate available, NOC available.

Contact: 968 97612297 Email: ymirza11@caledonian.ac.uk

B. Tech Safety Engineer, 10 years exp, NOC available, seeking suitable placement. Mob: 97061817, Email: jayanammu1977@gmail.com 16 years experienced civil Engineer B.Tech including 8 yr experience in Oman with D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99802579 BE civil Engineer (4 years exp) Indian male looking for job (site Engineer, planning estimation, QS, job (primavera, Ms excel) available in Oman for interview. Contac: 97214512 /92822310 Email: sreeragsgk@gmail.com (expected CTC 350 Rial) Electrical Engineer (B.E) with 8 years experience valid Omani driving license looking for job.

Contact: 93909951 Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience as HVAC design engineer rev IT M.E.P AutoCAD. Contact: 91050913 Email: rahmanmechengg@yahoo.com Mechanic Tractor Diesel Engines & Hydraulic, 25 years Experience in Multinational Companies.

Contact - 91685048

Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/ Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/ COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470 Dutch male qualified commercial pilot (Faa-ME-IR certified) is looking for job openings in middle east. rutjestom@outlook.com

IT Hardware & net working, 2 years exp. Contact: 96244031 Female, 24yrs, B-tech Computer Science, currently on visit,1yr experience and certified special training .skills in software testing ,management,administration,jav a,oracleDB,Android,C++,C.seeking suitable placement.

Contact:98741930, amruthamohandas515@gmail.com System Support Engineer qualification (BCA) bachelor of computer application professional certification Microsoft certified Engineer windows 2012 certified,hardware and networking two years experience in system support engineer.

Contact: 95492886 Email: samips49@gmail.com Structural Steel Supervisor / foreman 12 and half experience in overseas, I.T.I fitter, NOC available. Contact: 96195185 India: 917356668511 Omani 6 years excellent exp looking for opening in IT. Contact: 95356166 Well experienced instructor available & teach stadpro primavera P6 for 2 months. Contact: 94412557 Indian female M.Com qualified CME (INTER) good communication & computer skills fresher presently in Muscat seeking placement. Contact: 90387811 Email: ghazalasuhan@yahoo.com Sit Lankan male 22 yrs seeking immediate employment in the travel & tourism sector IATA/ UFTAA qualified 2+ years at extensive experience.

Contact: 90202538 / 99743569 Email: donheshan69@live.com B.Tech (IT) Indian male 29 years having 4 years experience in software support, hardware & networking in Oman looking for IT / Admin job in Oman. NOC available with valid Oman D/L. Contact: 91906494 Email: rajanit1988@gmail.com Indian male B.Tech (ECE) MCSE, CCNA having 1.5 years of experience seeks job. Contact: 99257702 Email: jithu.m.moolayil@gmail.com CCNA MCITP network support /network technician with 2 years experience Indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. Contact : 93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com Indian female 29, BCA, MCA, ASP. Net certified SAP - ABAP certified having 1.5 yrs of experience, seeking placement. Contact: 99109121 Email: ashamaryphilip@gmail.com Age 28 years experience 2years & 8 month in IT accounting technical skill, java, J.S.P tally Peachtree M.S excel, SQL ,Working java programmer India , accountant , Dubai ,Qualification MCA, B.C.A mathematic visit visa. Contact: 95673451

SALES / MARKETING

Candidate with communication & analytical skills. Contact 90187827

Indian male 22 years B.Com Graduate residing in Oman on family visa with a valid Oman driving license, looking for a job in sales / marketing. Contact: 98504698

Indian male 30 yrs, 6 years experience in Oman, Oman driving license, BSc, food technology (food sciences) and M.B.A. Contact 93405643

IT

Contact: 95503646 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male IT, CCNA, RHCE, MCITP, 3 years experience have GCC driving license seeking suitable position on visit visa (until 27th Dec).

Contact: 93311963 Email: sajal035@gmail.com Indian male 20 plus years experience intonation resource customer management IT business development transformation D / license NOC transfer seeks senior dost reputed company. Contact: 91719892 Email: mmjoman@gmail.com An Indian male 27yrs, B. Tech in (Computer Science) 6 years of exp in technical support, troubleshooting and managing seeks suitable placement. Contact:- 97483775, email:- mir.jak89@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 MBA In Operations Management Indian male : MBA in Lean Operations And Systems with 3 years of experience seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact : 0096894369897 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact: - 92385033 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact : 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com Sudanese male Manager & Accountant master degree in Economics, 15 years experience in accounts and Banking looking for job.

Contact: 97396088 / 96436517 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments& transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact :- 92385033

MEDICAL An experienced Staff Nurse with MOH license and data flow cleared looking for job, NOC available.

Contact: 97045785 / 98899146 Indian female , Masters in Nursing Specialized in Medical & Surgical with 1.3 years of nursing tutor experience after MSC & 1.5 years of clinical experience after BSC seeks suitable vacancy near Sohar.

Currently in Oman on family joining visa. Contact 93217746 ; Email: thomasalexander1983@gmail.com Experienced prometric cleared Indian female dentist seeks suitable placement in Muscat.

Contact: 94673720 /92880267 An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact: 96436517 /97396088 Palestinian dentist looking for job in Muscat privet hospitals , polyclinics or dental centers – 15 yrs experience out Muscat at privet hospitals or polyclinics.

Contact: 96951750 Male Nurse, Experienced, Pass Prometric (Oman) 93837973

MISCELLANEOUS Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, omani d/l , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 9880-5474

24 years Indian female MSC Biotechnology 1 year exp.in clinical microbiology, worked in icrisat for project work as Trainee, looking for suitable job. Contact: 92619048 Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian lady with release paper. searching for admin or accounts asst or showroom sales job.

Contact 94417080 Secretary MBA Indian male 5 years exp in India, 1 yr exp as Secretary / document controller in tendering dept in Oman seeking urgent placement. Contact 91566118 / 93089367

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Masonry / finishing foreman 20 years experience NOC available.

Contact: 98435309/ India + 91 9446958838 Indian male, having 15 yrs of exp in site supervising, telephone line, supervising with valid D/L, looking for job. Contact: 93931162 Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192 Electrician, plumber (exp gulf / Indian) looking job.

Contact 95175192

SALES / MARKETING Manager Post of Family Visa, MBA 14 years Experience (2 Years in Oman) in Multinational Groups in Sales & Marketing. M.Z. 96220975 Indian male 38 yrs, 11 yrs exp Oman worked as a Sales & MKT in Medical consumables items, looking for any suitable job D/L Oman NOC available.

Contact: 99501046 Purchase officer with 8 years exp in Oman having D/L & NOC looking for urgently placement.

Contact: 96174564 email: azhar_5012@yahoo.co.in Indian male MBA 7 yrs ex in sales & marketing with Omani D/L N.O.C available. Contact: 93431039 Indian male 40 yrs MBA marketing having 18 years of experience sales filed 11 years in Oman with a leading tyre trading company having Oman driving license seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 94743828 Email: barretjohnr@gmail.com Indian male, 24, MB Marketing and HR, I year experience. On visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94014073 Indian male MBA holder one year experience looking for job sales & marketing & any office related with. Contact: 97138592 Email: mohammedathish24@gmail.com Indian male MBA with 15 years experience in sales / customer care, looking for suitable position currently Oman on visit visa. Contact 98144691/93891423 Email: satishvelage@gmail.com Indian Male 32, MBA (Marketing & Finance) with 10 years experience in Marketing of Banking Products & Insurance Industry.

Seeking for a Job in Oman.

Contact: 93576980, 97750460 Email: senthil.cbe83@gmail.com 12 years of experience in Oman; marketing strategies & operations, logistics, government tenders, public relations & dealing with international companies -4 years of experience in UK, engineering CNC & industrial areas, have dual nationality, fluent in English & Arabic speaking and writing , (I can travel abroad easily without visa, for finalizing business or any other purpose). Contact: 94123939 Marketing Executive/Merchandiser, Omani License, BA 8 years Experience in Multinational Groups. Contact 97601343 10 yrs exp in Oman in logistics/ purchase-have Oman D/L-looking for suitable placementcontact 96410767 email: harishkts@yahoo.com

Indian male with more than 14 yrs of experience in business development / marketing valid Omani D/L , looking for Managerial position in business development / marketing. Contact : 93400177 Indian male 23 years with 4 years experience in Purchase and Sales, graduate in EC, currently on visiting visa, seeking suitable job in Oman. Contact: 96761020. Email: adikmuthumuttam@gmail.com Indian male, with experience in sales, marketing, and client relation, with UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 95269818 Email: naushers@yahoo.com Indian male, MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with Driving license, Hospital Phrma Herbal Marketing, construction A/c & sales , F&B industry, 93379044 Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com Indian male 29 yrs, BHM , 6 years overall 3 yrs in Oman in sales with D/L. NOC available to join immediately. Contact: 92594055 Indian male 46 years, Sales Manager experience in modular kitchens & furnitures.

Contact: 94522616 Sales & marketing building materials (G. hardware, tiver, steel etc) Indian male fluent English, Arabic, Malayalam etc GCC D/L 8 years exp available release letter or NOC. Contact: 92882101 Email: sameermoul@gmail.com Indian male having 5 years Oman experience in coordination level seeking any suitable post. NOC available and can join immediately as the visa issued.

Contact: 92889617 24 years, Graduate on visit visa with diploma in advertising film making from Zee Institute Mumbai and with two years work experience in digital marketing social media & event management seeks suitable placement. Contact: 98257207 / 99747481 Indian male sales marketing with G.C.C license 7 years exp.

Contact: 98097459 Email: shl_kami@yahoo.com

TOURS & TRAVELS Indian female 24 yrs, Bachelor in Travel & Tourism and 2 year exp in Oman as ticketing executive.GDSSabre, Amdeus, Galilio. seeking suitable job.contact- 95883404

MISCELLANEOUS Project Manager in Mechanical Engg. (M.sc.) with 8 years experience in Building Construction, oil & gas seeking job-94625598 (nima.azimzadeh@gmail.com) Indian male 23yr BA TTM(Travel and Tourism Management) with Advanced Diploma in Supply Chain Logistics and Shipping Management, Experienced in Logistics(Customs Clearance) seeking in suitable placement.

Currently on visit visa (Oman) Contact; 90291092 email: iyas.adhur@gmail.com Driver Cum Salesman Professional, Indian male having 7 Years of Experience in Oman Having Valid Driving License working as a Office Driver, Looking for a suitable Position, NOC available. Contact: 99680429 Email:anzarkutty1975@gmail.com 31 year Indian male PG in HR ,with 5 yrs Professional experience in HR in Construction Oil & Gas Oman seeking for a suitable placement(NOC Available).Kindly contact me on 93488914, emailKaarthickshankar@gmail.com MBA(HR & Marketing) & B.Com, Indian male 28 yrs,2 yrs exp. in Qatar, having oman driving license, currently on family visa (NOC available).looking for hr, admin, assistant accountant, marketing & sales job in salalah.

Contact:98138376, email: subinabraham87@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

TOURS

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

ABDULHAKIM AL BIMANI TRADING & CONTRACTOR Expert in Shipping cargo by sea & air to Zanzibar, Pemba, Dar es Salam in Tanzania, Burundi, The Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Reasonable price.

Contact: 97440625/95416662 Email: abdulhakimalbimani@hotmail.com

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

T H U R S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 0, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

CLASSES

IELTS PREPARATION Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE 92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

IELTS & TOEFL Academic / General Target Band 8 TQT Institute.

Ph # 24480800 / 99347202

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

WEBSITE

Rental car. Contact: 92516090

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

SITUATION WANTSERVICES A/C maintenance, installation spilt A.C and maintenance window A/C and ducted and package the reunites. Contact: Asad Abbas 98667326 We are doing electrical, plumber, painting, & carpentering work any type of job small or big. Contact: 99208033 / 93782735 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

DRIVING A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. Contact: 99447257 /97014234 / 24504281

Learn driving with professional.

Contact: 94022250

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130

Marble grinding resurfacing & ceiling crystallization / polishing general cleaning of villas & flats.

Terrazzo floor scrubbing, ceiling, polishing & buffing. Contact: 98598280 /94134784 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/ 24792998 Cleaning Sofa shampoo carpet shampoo house.

Contact: 92179395 Debt collection services your money we collect value commercial services. Fax: 0096824783669 Contact: 009682479815 /00968- 24701422 /00968- 94665476 Email: salim@valuedbtcollection.com

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing, Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 House shifting. Contact: 99657644/98518013

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 0, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiďŹ eds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624