Times of Oman - January 14, 2016

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FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

Speech of His Majesty at the opening of the 5th term of the Majlis Oman, 2011

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Government work, as is well-known, is a matter of trust and responsibility. It should be carried out with total disregard for personal interests and with complete honesty for the service of the community, and it should never countenance corruption. Here we should like to affirm that corruption must not be allowed in any shape or form; we instruct our government to take all necessary measures to prevent it and we direct all the audit authorities to fulfil their duties resolutely in this regard with the full force of the law, away from doubt and uncertainties, since justice must take its course and become our goal and objective,

THURSDAY, January 14, 2016 / 4 Rabi Al Thani 1437 AH timesofoman.com

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LOW PRESSURE

Rain brings down temperature in parts of Oman Times News Service

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

14 Arabs arrested for theft in Dhofar

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14 Arab nationals including an Omani were arrested for theft in the Dhofar governorate by the ROP. The crimes ranged from larceny to burglary at several places. >A5

WORLD

Iran releases 10 American sailors

MUSCAT: Rain was reported in different parts of the country, including Muscat, on Wednesday afternoon.

Heavy to moderate rain also fell in Rustaq, Buraimi, Sohar and Saham on Wednesday morning bringing down the temperature further.

Seeb, Al Koudh and Mabella received light showers on Wednesday afternoon, according to Badr Al Baddaei, a weather enthusiast in Oman.

The Public Authority for Civil Aviation’s (PACA’s) Meteorology Department had predicted that several areas in northern Oman could receive rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday.

PACA had said there could be a possibility of rain in South Sharqiyah, coastal cities along the Sea of Oman and Al Hajar Mountains because of low pressure.

2016 Muscat Festival locations

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Seeb

Mutttrraah R i Ruw

Airport

Muscat a Express Highway a

Co min g fr om

Satellite station

AMERAT A PARK

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Parking (not paved) a

1 Oman Oil station North To Quriyat

North

Muhij roundabout 500m 10 km

To Quriyat

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To Bait Al Baraka

North parking (not paved) a

To access Naseem Garden, drivers should take the service road after the Bait Al Baraka roundabout

NASEEM GARDEN

ar

ka

MARKET

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Al Akhdar roundabout

Sultan Centre

Al Batinah Highway a

To B

As many as five Omani companies, including three state-owned, are expected to float initial public offerings (IPO) on the local bourse this year. >B1

Coming from Ruwi

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Five firms in Oman plan to offer shares

Shell station

Amerat Park and Naseem Garden

Bausher

Iran released 10 US sailors after holding them overnight, bringing a swift end to an incident that had rattled nerves days ahead of the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear accord. >A13

COOLER WEATHER: Rain fell in Buraimi and Dhank on Wednesday.

East parking (paved) a

Oman Oil station

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Expat visa fees to bring Oman extra millions

Bait Al Baraka roundabout

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Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra

North Oman Oil station To Muscat a Express Highway a

500m

Source: Muscat Source: Sour M tM Munici i ipality p lity

Steps to ease jam at Muscat Festival

A new Royal Oman

To Mabella

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G R E AT C O N T R I B U T I O N

Police charge to process visas, or renewals, is set to cost companies millions in rials

A veteran who sowed the seeds of hockey in Oman MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi is a known face in the Sultanate. The 85-year-old hockey veteran has played a major role in setting up the Oman Olympic Committee and has contributed tremendously to the sports scenario in the Sultanate.

Today, the Times of Oman is featuring Naqvi in its #OmanPride campaign.

Naqvi was the coach of the Indian hockey team (men) in 1973 and 1975, coach of the Indian hockey team (women) in 1978 and 1979, the national hockey coach of Oman in 1982, and technical adviser to the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) for 18 years from 1984 to 2002.

In fact, it was he who estab-

- Photos: @azhr_ss, WeatherOman

Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi

lished the OOC and designed the blueprint for the development of sports in Oman in 1983. He has the rare distinction of representing Oman at all sports-related meetings and seminars at the international and Olympic level.

Recently, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is also the recipient of the Indo-Oman Friendship Sports Award in 2010 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sultanate of Oman in 2011. This hockey great is an epitome of hard work and honesty. He is revered, remembered and rewarded in both India and Oman. >A6

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Expat visa fees are set to pour more than OMR15 million extra into Oman’s coffers every year, as Royal Oman Police (ROP) introduces a new charge which companies will have to pay.

From January 1 this year, the ROP began charging companies OMR20 to process new visas, or renewals, for all expatriate workers. Earlier, the service was free, with fees only charged for family members of expats.

As of November data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), there were 1,682,752 expatriates workers in Oman. If that number holds steady over the next two years (the lifetime of a single visa), and new arrivals and renewals balance out departures, then those numbers will generate OMR33,655,040 in fees by the end of 2017, a little more than OMR16.82 million per year added to the country’s finances.

The sum is fluid and depends on the level of expat worker numbers, and it remains a drop in the ocean as far as Oman’s predicted budget deficit of OMR3.3 billion for 2016, it does show how the government’s plan to increase fees for services will generate income, Oman Chamber of Commerce (OCCI) member, Ahmed Al Hooti welcomed the move, but said he doubted if such an amount would minimise the budget deficit of the country.

“It’s quite difficult to believe that such an amount will make a big change in the country’s financial budget, but at least it will have good impact on reducing the deficit of the country.”

He added that it would be more effective if other government bodies also announce similar moves.

Salim Al Ghammari, a Muscat Municipal Council member,

said: “This was supposed to have started many years ago. The government should start charging more for its services, especially for expatriates.”

He added that it’s never too late to impose a service fee, however, if the country had started doing this five years ago, the financial situation could have been better.

“Many countries impose a higher fee for services provided for expats. That will reduce the dependence on oil revenue in the coming years,” said Al Ghammari.

Faisal Al Wahaibi, who works in the public relations department of a company, said his company had to pay OMR20 to renew the visa for a staff some days ago.

He further explained how companies would become liable to pay such fees. “I guess such fees will be imposed on companies rather than expat employees, but after all this will help the country’s finances and subsequently help everybody living on this land.”

Rashid Khalfan, the owner of a construction company, said his company would have to pay such fees, but expressed his concern if it is raised further. “It’s okay now to pay the fees for my employees, but I am afraid the fee might be hiked in future,” he said.

Rashid added that the government should also understand the companies’ situation, especially those struggling in the market.

The decision to levy such a fee comes in the wake of a number of similar measures adopted by the Sultanate to embrace costcutting measures and reduce subsidies. >A6

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Sultanate’s rich boating heritage reflects those of the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, where people have always looked at water as a source of food, business, and entertainment Erwin Bamps, Chief executive officer of Gulf Craft

Luxury yacht maker eyes Oman’s booming marinas for sales growth As more marinas are developed in Oman, boating enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the lifestyle aspect of water leisure, thus transforming what was once a fishing heritage into

GROWING MARKET: With its gorgeous coral reefs and exotic marine life, the Sultanate offers a rich on-water experience that is unique to the region. — Supplied picture

a quickly growing yachting culture, CEO of Gulf Craft said

BABA UMAR

babaumar@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As Oman looks to develop further waterfronts; more sea travellers will look to the Sultanate as a cruising destination, thus adding to the tourism economy, a top executive from leisure industry giant and luxury yacht manufacturer, Gulf Craft, said.

“This presents us with a promising yachting market, not only among resident owners, but also among charters, and even hotel groups that are looking to enhance their service offerings,” Erwin Bamps, chief executive officer (CEO) of Gulf Craft told the Times of Oman (TOO) in an exclusive interview.

The Gulf Craft CEO further said that as more marinas in Oman are developed, boating enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the lifestyle aspect of water leisure, thus transforming what was once a fishing

heritage into a quickly growing yachting culture.

Gulf Craft claims to be Oman’s market leader for luxury yachts and leisure boats, and is returning to Omani waters for its exclusive three-day preview event, which kicks-off on Thursday.

“The Sultanate’s rich boating heritage reflects those of the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring markets, such as Qatar and Kuwait, where people have always looked at water as a source of food, business, and entertainment. However, Oman’s key differentiator is its beautiful coastline and mesmerising islands,” Bamps stated.

Unique region Bamps pointed out that with its gorgeous coral reefs and exotic marine life, the Sultanate offers a rich on-water experience that is unique to the region.

“Oman’s natural seascapes form its key asset, one that attract people from the Gulf and around the world, and which entices both residents and visitors to explore the country’s natural wonders,” he added. Boat enthusiasts are look-

Oman’s natural seascapes form its key asset, one that attract people from the Gulf and around the world, and which entices both residents and visitors to explore the country’s natural wonders Erwin Bamps

CEO of Gulf Craft

ing for a more luxurious homeaway-from-home experience, in which the journey becomes the destination, Bamps noted.

“As their needs evolve and diversify, so will their boating requirements. This is what makes Oman

a valuable market for us and what has us returning to the Sultanate year after year,” he said.

With Oman looking to boost its non-oil revenue by focusing more on the tourism and leisure industry, the official said his company’s

goals would fit into the Sultanate’s vision as well.

“We believe that the Sultanate has tremendous potential as a tourist destination, and with its unique experiential offering, the country has the ability to offer a very attractive proposition for people looking to explore the region, and therefore exceptional opportunities for generating revenue,” he added.

Bamps said as facilities develop along the Omani coastline, tourists will not only travel by airplane to enjoy the holiday experience, but also by yacht and boat, “and that is where we come in.”

Purchasing patterns Oman is currently awaiting the completion of an OMR500 million project that will transform the Port Sultan Qaboos into the region’s primary waterfront destination.

And Gulf Craft, Bamps said, would help enable its success.

“As more people aspire to the waterfront lifestyle, and as one generation of yachting aficionados dawns on the next, our role will always be to fulfil those aspira-

tions. This is not only how we as a company benefit from the Sultanate’s vision, but also how we can help enable its success,” Bamps told TOO. Asked about Oman’s purchasing patterns and the key drivers in the country’s market for leisure craft, he said, “We are seeing that Oman, which has been traditionally known for its fishing heritage, is slowly moving towards bigger boats and increasingly entering the yachting arena.

“Today, you frequently find that many owners who have started with smaller fishing boats and family cruisers are upgrading to larger craft.”

He said, “If you look at the overall boating community, it has evolved from one that looks for water leisure in the form of fishing trips to one that desires a floating majlis. Today, sea travel has become more family oriented, it is an experience owners are looking to share with friends and loved ones.

Thus, onboard space and comfort has become more important as trips increase in length.”

Boost to seafaring culture CEO Bamps said there are a number of drivers behind these purchasing patterns, which he explained are led by a growth in private wealth, an increase in leisure time and the developments along the coastline that further bolster what is already a deeply rooted seafaring culture.

“In addition, as Omanis travel more extensively and are exposed to different boating communities, they also encounter the many possibilities of water leisure and are therefore inspired to make that experience their own,” he added.

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JOINT COMMITTEE REPORT

State Council meeting clears report on three important laws MUSCAT: The report of the State Council/Majlis Al Shura’ joint committee on three laws, namely “Vehicle Insurance”, “Takaful Insurance” and “Land Transportation” was approved by the State Council on Wednesday.

The State Council held its fifth meeting of the first annual sitting of the sixth term under the chair of Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri, Chairman of the State Council. The Chairman of the State Council delivered a speech at the beginning of the session

in which he valued the “generous support and care extended by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to the State Council. He said, “The meeting will approve the report of the State Council/Majlis Al Shura’ joint committee on the three draft laws referred back at the order of His Majesty the Sultan to the Council of Oman with some remarks on them.”

The meeting approved the amendment of Article (28) of the State Council regulations on the terms of reference of the standing

committees of the Council. The meeting also proposed amending the organisational structure of the Council and approved the action plans of the Standing Committees of the first annual sitting of the sixth term, the meeting reviewed the report of the Secretariat, in addition to the new structure of the Parliamentary Friendship Committees of the Council with brotherly and friendly countries, and the selection of a member of the Council for membership of the Arab Parliament. — ONA

Indian schools to have common textbook policy It was decided in a meeting that common text books will be introduced in all Indian schools from the next academic year

Times News Service MUSCAT: Common text books will be introduced in all Indian schools from the next academic year. This was decided by the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman. (BoD).

Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), Wilson George, chairman, BoD of Indians Schools in Oman, said it was decided during a recent meeting that common text books would be introduced in all

community Indian schools.

“Consequently, a meeting of principals of the community schools in the capital area was called in December 2015 and strategies to implement it during the ensuing academic year was chalked out,” he told TOO. Next academic year The schools that have books in stock will be geared up with the common text book policy after the next academic year. “Accordingly,

these schools will only be able to carry out a partial implementation of the policy in the forthcoming academic year,” he added.

He also said: “The decision of the Board will be a boon to parents, whose children will be transferred from one school to another due to their change of job and residential location.”

The common textbook policy will also entail common pricing of books.

“The Board’s decision to streamline the prices will benefit parents, who used to pay different prices for different publications. It was pending for a long time. The decision has already been communicated to all Indian schools in Oman and this is in the process of implementation,” he added. There are 16 community schools in which about 30,000 students study.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

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OMR2.45b

Is the expected non-oil revenue that the government hopes to achieve this year

Elena Moscu to perform at Royal Opera House Muscat Moscu is an unusually compassionate diva, aware of the responsibility that comes with the gift of a wonderfully

THE QUEEN OF LUCIA: One of the things that sustains Moscu is the power of music as therapy. — Supplied picture

beautiful voice or two in her stunningly melodious voice to illustrate the dramatic points in the opera.

PATRICIA GROVES

MUSCAT: She has sung for the title role in Donizetti’s famous opera, Lucia di Lammermoor about 150 times on the world’s greatest opera stages, and has become renowned as “The Queen of Lucia.”

I met the superstar Romanian soprano, Elena Moscu at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) this week just before the dress rehearsal. As Moscu talked about her role as Lucia, she would take my breath away by singing a line

Lucia and the ‘Mad Scene’ Lucia di Lammermoor is the story of a beautiful young Scottish noblewoman, who falls in love with Edgardo, the sworn enemy of her clan. When Lucia is forced to marry another man in the interests of her clan, she loses her senses and fatally stabs the groom before he can claim her.

The powerfully dramatic scene that follows is one of the most famous in all of opera. Elena explained the emotions involved

in Donizetti’s incomparable ‘Mad Scene.’

“You can feel Lucia’s madness in the music as it is incredibly expressive. Her madness starts when Lucia receives a fake letter supposedly from Edgardo saying he has abandoned her. No one in her family cares about Lucia’s feelings; they care only about the socio-economic concerns of the clan. But Lucia is thinking only of Edgardo, the light of her life.

She is desperate to meet Edgardo and rejoice again in the beauty of their love, but realises the only place she can meet her beloved again is in Heaven… and so she

wills herself to die, collapsing at the end of the scene.”

Traditionally in the ‘Mad Scene,’ Lucia appears in a white wedding gown that is violently splattered with blood; however, the new production by Teatro Carlo Felice of Genoa takes a more subtle approach.

There is no blood to horrify and distract the audience; instead Moscu conveys the drama through the eloquence of her voice, with articulate gestures and dramatic facial expressions amplifying the power of the music.

Moscu remarked that she never tires of singing Lucia because each time she discovers something new in its interpretation and by expressing feelings that are deeply moving as the young woman struggles with a 19th century masculine world dominated by her brother, who is obsessed with hatred for the man she loves—a world that neither understands Lucia nor cares to do so.

A compassionate diva The life of a superstar opera singer is far from easy with the demands not only of the roles sung, rigorous rehearsals and arduous study, but of constant air travel while taking precious care of the voice,

and adapting to varied audiences around the world. One of the things that sustain Moscu is the power of music as therapy, lifting the spirits of those who listen and bringing joy and insight to their lives.

Moscu is an unusually compassionate diva, aware of the responsibility that comes with the gift of a wonderfully beautiful voice.

“I will never forget my debut at La Scala in 1992. I thought, ‘Here I am on the stage where Maria Callas once sang.’ I am so fortunate to have this great gift from God to give to others. My work is incredibly challenging, but I love it.”

Just how magnificent is Moscu’s voice became apparent in the dress rehearsal. She appeared on stage in a gorgeous period costume looking marvellous with abundant red hair in flowing tresses.

But of course, the world-renowned soprano’s voice outshone both her costume and the stunning sets. Although she sang comparatively lightly, saving her voice for the final performance, Moscu filled the auditorium with the exquisite sound of bel canto at its expressive best.

Performances of Lucia di Lammermoor at the ROHM will be held at 7:00 pm on January 14, 15 and 16.

0–17 YEARS GROUP

Number of children in Oman reaches 965,747 MUSCAT: The number of Omani children in the age group of 0–17 years reached 965,747 by the middle of 2015, a booklet entitled ‘Our Children ... A Statistical Outlook’, shows.

The book was issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) on the occasion of the Sultanate’s participation in celebrating the Gulf Children’s Day, which falls on January 15 every year.

Regarding health status, the statistics show that the stillbirth rate fell in 2014 to reach 7.1 deaths per thousand newborns compared to 7.4 deaths recorded in 2013. The rate of diarrheal diseases recorded in 2014 reached 0.24 per the children under the age of five.

With regard to the pre-school and school education, 205 kindergartens accommodating 7,900 children have been recorded in the Sultanate. The Governorate of Muscat came first in number of kindergartens with 68 per cent of the total number, the Governorate of Al Wusta came last in number of kindergartens and the Governorate of Musandam had no kindergarten. — ONA

G E N E VA

United Nations Committee on Child Rights praises Sultanate’s progress GENEVA: The Sultanate received praise from members of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the progress made by the country in the field of children’s rights, in a report submitted to the Commission and the replies given by the Sultanate’s delegation during the discussion of the second and third national report.

The report was submitted under the accession of Sultanate to the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva.

The committee formed to discuss the report of the Sultanate, consisting of several countries from around the world, expressed

its satisfaction with the efforts of the Sultanate in order to achieve the best interests of the child.

The committee looked forward to further progress for the rights of children in the Sultanate, praising in this context the efforts that have been made in the field of childhood in various sectors, which qualifies the Sultanate to be a friendly country of the child.

United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child had considered at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva the third and fourth national report of the Sultanate under the Sultanate’s accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Suayed Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development led the Sultanate’s delegation to the meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva.

The delegation included Abdullah bin Nasser Al Rahbi the Sultanate’s Permanent Ambassador to the UN, the members of the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate in Geneva, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social development.

The Minister of Social Development reviewed in the report, the Sultanate’s government, the civil

and private efforts for children, noting that their protection received priority in the policies and programmes, which is committed to providing a safe environment for the development of child’s abilities and to take appropriate steps in the health and education areas, for the provision of the psychological, social and cultural needs of children.

He said Oman has put a set of important laws, notably the Children Law, Juvenile Accountability Law, the Law on the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, the Social Security Law, Civil Societies Law, Human Trafficking Law, the Personal Status Law, and other laws. -ONA

H A S YA K AV I S A M M E L A N

Annual ‘laughter festival’ held at Indian Embassy Times News Service MUSCAT: World Laughter Day is celebrated on May 1 every year.

However, Oman celebrated its laughter evening called “Hasya Mev Jayate” or Hasya Kavi Sammelan (humorous poetry forum) recently at the magnificent lawns of the Indian Embassy in Muscat.

Traditionally, such forums have remained very popular and sought after entertainment programmes.

Renowned poets and literary experts use their creative thinking and reel out poems and anecdotes, based on current events that affect society and its people.

The art of taking lessons out current events or social causes in a very humorous and satirical manner is an art that is fast vanishing and poets are keeping this wonderful art alive.

The Hindi wing of the Indian Social Club organised the mega and eagerly awaited event for the 24th consecutive year for the lovers of humorous poetry in Oman, which saw a group of six famous poets and an upcoming poetess perform at the event.

The group was led by well known poet Dinesh Raghuvanshi, who has a daily poem published in a popular national daily in India. The setting was absolutely stunning as a brightly lit stage and a colourful backdrop attracted the audience’s attention as soon as they entered the green, well laid out huge lawn of the Indian Embassy.

The convenor of the Hindi Wing Gajesh Dhariwal welcomed the dignitaries, sponsors and audience. C.M. Sardar introduced the poets in his usual funny and interesting manner. He has tak-

HUMOUROUS POETRY: The Hindi wing of the Indian Social Club

organised the mega and eagerly awaited event for the 24th consecutive year. — Supplied picture

en upon himself to organise this event successfully year after year for the last 24 years.

Chairman of the Indian Social Club, Dr. Satish Nambiar, spoke in English for a change. When the audience urged him to speak in Hindi, he promised to do so next time. Indra Mani Pandey, the India’s Ambassador to Oman, also addressed the gathering and the sponsors were thanked

by Rajesh Daga.

Once the programme kicked off, there wasn’t a moment of monotony or dullness. Smiling faces, full throated laughter, an audience seen clapping with hands raised is appreciation and salute was frequent and frantic. Even the photographers at the event were seen bending forward, holding their belly and laughing out loudly in the midst of clicking photographs.

Dinesh Bawra filled the opening slot and set the tone for the evening. The sonorous voice of the beautiful and charming poetess Padmini Sharma touched the audience’s hearts. Rajendra Malviya and Anil Agravanshi

were also very impressive despite being first timers.

Another first timer, Sudeep Bhola stole the show with his remarkable satire of politics and current events. Even his exquisitely timed pauses and gestures created roars of laughter.

Finally it was time for stalwarts and experienced poets, such as Arun Gemini and Dinesh Raghuvanshi. The whole programme went on for nearly four hours, with the audience remaining glued to their seats until the end.

Minara Sunflower oil was the presenter of “Hasya Mev Jayate”.

The gold sponsors were Bahwan Engineering Co., Poly Products, Al Rawahi International, Gulf Petrochemical, Hasan Juma Backer. The silver sponsors were Unique Contracting, Intesar Corporation, Ramniklal Kothari, Shah Nagardas, Imtac, Al Ansari, Bank of Baroda, Lakhoos, Oasis Water, Khimji Ramdas, Air India, NPA and Ruwi Modern Printers.

The Hindi wing thanked the sponsors, embassy staff, volunteers and members for making the event a grand success.

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14 Arab nationals arrested for theft in Dhofar region The crimes ranged from simple larceny to burglary in several locations in the governorate where well known restaurants and shops were targeted after dark using professional methods

Times News Service MUSCAT: Fourteen Arab nationals, including an Omani, were arrested by the Department of Criminal Investigations and Dhofar police, for theft and robbery, an official source from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) revealed.

The crimes ranged from simple larceny to burglary in several locations in the Governorate where well known restaurants and shops were targeted after dark using professional methods.

The ROP source added that a team was formed to gather intelligence to follow up on the cases, which led to the capture of the suspects. When faced with evidence against them, the suspects confessed to their crimes after which they were sent to the public prosecution for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the ROP also arrested 114 individuals for robbery in December 2015 in different parts of the Sultanate.

The official reiterated the Oman Penal Code Article (279) under “Simple Larceny,” which states that “Theft shall be punishable by imprisonment from three months to five years and a fine of OMR10 to OMR500.”

Article (282) under “Burglary”

states, “Sentence to life imprisonment shall be pronounced if the theft compounds the following: If the theft is committed during night by two or more masked persons, one of whom at least bears an apparent or hidden weapon; if the theft is committed by entering into a house or its dependencies through breaking, pulling out, climbing of walls, use of forged keys, special device, or by deceit or any other unusual way; if the theft acts are accompanied by coercion or threat to use arms, either to prepare for the felony, to facilitate it, to secure the escape of offenders or to take hold of the stolen things.”

In addition, Article (283) states, “Sentence to imprisonment for 10 years at least shall be imposed if the theft is committed without compounding the events stated above (Article 282) and if carried out by entering inhabited places, either by breaking, pulling out or any other unusual means.”

14 illegals held in Buraimi Police patrols from the Buraimi branch of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) have arrested 14 individuals; among them five persons, who entered the country illegally, seven had expired residency visas; one had absconded from his

workplace and the last one was arrested for driving a motorcycle without a licence.

They have been referred to the public prosecution for further investigations.

Drug charges The Royal Oman Police (ROP) is exerting every effort possible to combat the trade of narcotics, with the Directorate General of Narcotics Control arresting two Omanis for possession, peddling and use or drugs in the Wilayat Baushar. Forty-seven pieces of hashish, weighing 385 grams, were found in their possession.

Meanwhile, the ROP also arrested three Omanis in Wilayat Sohar for smuggling and possession of drugs, with the intent of peddling.

Around 100 psychotropic tablets, six ready-wrapped and medium bag filled with heroin were found in their possession, including electronic equipment used to coordinate the smuggling and trading of drugs.

Forge documents Recent crime statistics on forging private and official documents in 2015 point to the occurrence of 290 crimes, compared to 386 in 2014. Those crimes are usually detected due to the development of modern technologies owned by the ROP to combat this type of crime. It should be noted that the falsification of the private documents is one of the most important problems that the ROP is firmly seeking to combat.

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After completing my task, I was asked to stay on and help set up the OOC and was sponsored by Dr. Hammad Al Ghafri to do so Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi, hockey veteran

2016 Muscat Festival locations

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Coming from Ruwi

Shell station

Amerat Park and Naseem Garden

Al Akhdar roundabout

Sultan Centre

2 Al Batinah Highway

Seeb

Muttrah Ruwi

Airport Bausher

Muscat Express Highway

Co mi ng

Satellite station fro m

AMERAT PARK

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Parking (not paved)

1 Oman Oil station North To Quriyat

North

Muhij roundabout 500m 10 km

To Quriyat

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To Bait Al Baraka

North parking (not paved)

To B

To access Naseem Garden, drivers should take the service road after the Bait Al Baraka roundabout

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Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra

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To Mabella

500m

To Muscat Express Highway Source: Muscat Municipality

Graphics

Municipality takes steps to ease traffic at Muscat Festival venues Muscat Municipality has created additional parking space for visitors to the Muscat Festival venues PREPARATIONS ON: Additional parking space has been created for visitors in both Naseem Garden and Amerat Park.

Times News Service MUSCAT: With the Muscat Festival commencing on Thursday, the Muscat Municipality has taken steps so that visitors can easily arrive at the main venues of the festi-

val. It will also ease the flow of traffic and reduce congestion.

The Municipality has planned three routes for reaching the Amerat Park’s parking area. Visitors coming to the park from Amerat,

Quriyat and the Baushar/Amerat streets can enter via the Muhij roundabout. For those arriving from the Wadi Aday/Amerat Road, entry has been provided via the Al Akhdar roundabout.

While entering through these roundabouts, there are several ways to direct traffic towards the parking areas. In the case of Naseem Garden, those arriving from Qurum via the Bait Al Baraka

roundabout will be able to take the service road to enter the North and East parking lot.

Visitors arriving from the Al Batinah Governorate will be able to enter through the Al Naseem

roundabout, which will take them to the West and North parking lot.

Signs in the parking areas are placed to guide visitors to and from the venues without difficulty.

The municipality has organised these parking areas to receive maximum number of visitors, as well as installed signs to allocate parking areas for participants, sponsors and other investors at the festival.

About 5,000 parking spots have been created in the Naseem Garden, where 1,500 are located on dirt patches. A 130,000-square metre parking area has been created in Amerat Park, along with additional space to receive more than 6,000 vehicles. The service road around the park has been utilised to ease the flow of traffic in and out of Amerat Park and to ease the pressure on the main street.

WORKING VISA

CONTRIBUTED TO SPORTS

Visa cost Naqvi seeks changes in A1 A1 Oman’s hockey scenario < FROM

< FROM

According to him, Oman’s hockey scenario is not in a good shape at the moment, but should change soon.

Naqvi was asked to come to Oman in early 80s to establish a hockey team.

“In the early 1980s, I came to Oman after Dawood Al Raisi, former chairman of the Oman Hockey Association, was looking for a coach for the Oman National Hockey team,” Naqvi said.

“After completing my task, I was asked to stay on and help set up the OOC and was sponsored by Dr. Hammad Al Ghafri to do so,” he added.

According to Naqvi, after the national team was set up, there

wasn’t much trouble in attracting players at the time because hockey was more popular than football.

In 1982, Oman was ranked sixth out of the 12 teams that participated in the 9th Asian Games held in New Delhi.

“We were the first Arab country to have taken part,” Naqvi said. During his time with the OOC as a technical adviser, Naqvi accompanied the Omani delegation to five Olympic and seven Asian Games. In Sydney and Seoul, stamps were issued with his photo on them in recognition of his contribution to sports.

Naqvi praised the contribution of His Majesty Sultan

Qaboos bin Said in the field of education, sports, etc. in the Sultanate and urged the people of Oman to pray for His Majesty’s health.

He also hoped His Majesty will be honoured with the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Naqvi’s hockey journey started in India when he was only eight- year-old. He got opportunities to play with some legendary Indian hockey players, such as K D Singh, Kishan Lal and Dhyan Chand during his childhood.

From 1949 to 1973, Naqvi played for numerous teams within India and has represented India in a test series against various countries.

Tonia Gray, general manager at Competence HR, said it was essential and understandable in the current economic climate, for any government-related authority to consider raising income and reducing costs, and the proposed OMR20 fee the ROP will charge for renewal of working visa should not be passed on to the employee.

“My understanding is that all costs related to labour cards (and the residence card) should be paid for by the company.

The Oman Labour Law states, ‘Neither the employer or the person licenced to provide foreign workers shall charge the worker any sum in consideration of his employment.’ Now this could refer to payments for providing the work, but in a wider sense does also refer to costs related to legitimising the employment e.g. labour cards,” she said. In her view, costs related to job of an individual should be borne by the company, however, costs related to renewal of family members residency could be a different matter.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

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REGION

The IAEA will issue its final report on Friday to confirm Iran has met its commitments under the JCPOA Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister

Iran expects IAEA report tomorrow Under the terms of the agreement, known as JCPOA, sanctions against Iran will be lifted once the UN nuclear watchdog confirms Iran has restricted its nuclear programme

DUBAI: Iran expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to issue a “final” report on Friday confirming Tehran has met all its obligations under its nuclear deal with world powers, an Iranian minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Under the terms of the agreement, known as the JCPOA, international sanctions against Iran will be lifted once the IAEA, the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, confirms Iran has restricted its nuclear programme.

“The IAEA will issue its final re-

port on Friday to confirm Iran has met its commitments under the JCPOA,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, according to the Fars news agency.

The IAEA declined to comment on the report. A report by the UN nuclear watchdog saying Iran has kept its promises under the nuclear deal is a crucial precondition for sanctions relief to kick in.

The IAEA will, however, continue to regularly report to its member states on Iran. “What we’re expecting is that the IAEA final report will be able to say that Iran is in compliance,” said a senior western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Our expectation is that (the report would be submitted) at some

VIOLENCE

Israeli jet kills Palestinian fighter in Gaza GAZA: An Israeli aircraft attacked a group of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and killed a Palestinian fighter.

Local residents in the Hamasrun enclave said the incident occurred on a beach about 1km from the Israeli-built border fence in the northern part of the territory. In a statement, the Israeli military said an aircraft “targeted a cell” plotting to detonate an explosive device along the Israeli-patrolled frontier.

Intelligence Israel’s Shin Bet security service was involved, the statement said, indicating the strike was launched on the basis of intelligence information about an imminent Palestinian attack. Palestinian hospital officials said a 26-year-old man was killed.

Al Aqsa martyrs brigades, an armed wing of the Fatah movement, identified him as one of its members. — Reuters

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point either right at the end of this week or at some point next week,” he said. Under the agreement reached in July last year, Tehran promised to reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to below 300 kg (660 pounds), cut the number of its installed uraniumenriching centrifuges to around 6,100 from 19,000, and decommission the Arak heavy water reactor.

Tehran has drastically reduced the number of centrifuges installed at the Fordow and Natanz enrichment sites within the last few months, and shipped tonnes of low-enriched uranium materials to Russia. However there are contradictory reports in state media about the fate of the Arak heavy reactor and it is not clear if Iran has

removed the core of the reactor and filled it with cement, as promised. On Tuesday, the spokesman for Iran’s atomic energy agency said IAEA inspectors had arrived in Iran to verify the final steps.

“The technical work under way is very demanding, but the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran has been trying to do it as fast as possible,” Behrouz Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency.

Araqchi said on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s representative for foreign affairs, would issue a joint statement on Saturday or Sunday on the implementation of the deal

and the lifting of EU, US and UN sanctions. “Implementation will be very soon,” said a senior Western diplomat.

“Everything is ready for the lifting of sanctions. The US and European Union are ready. To some extent it’s just about pressing the button,” the diplomat added.

Iran, keen to export oil freely again once sanctions are dismantled, has repeatedly said that it has enriched uranium only to create an alternative source of electricity.

The IAEA’s Board of Governors passed a resolution in December ending its long-running inquiry into whether Iran once had a secret nuclear weapons programme or so-called “possible military dimensions” (PMD). — Reuters

A8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 If the media reports of the arrest (Azhar’s) is correct, then it is a positive step which is good a thing for the peace-loving and development-oriented people of the two countries Shrikant Sharma, BJP national secretary

INDIA

Sending NSG to Pathankot was ‘serious lapse’: Digvijay

O L D AG E C O M P L I C AT I O N S

Jacob, who played key role in 1971 war, dead

BJP says Masood Azhar’s arrest a ‘positive step’

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that it was a ‘serious lapse’ to deploy National Security Guards in the counter operation at the Pathankot air force base

HYDERABAD: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Wednesday said sending NSG commandos to Pathankot air force base was a “serious lapse” and questioned the role of NSA Ajit Doval in the decision even as he denounced Narendra Modi’s recent Lahore visit, saying it was unbecoming of a prime minister.

It was a “serious lapse” to deploy National Security Guards in the counter operation, Singh told reporters here.

“The role of Ajit Doval, the NSA, has been questioned too. When there was an Army unit close by, they could have easily taken on the terrorists. The National Security Adviser chose to send NSG which is not trained to handle such situations. This is another serious lapse on the part of the government.

“Unfortunately, the prime minster has given a clean chit to Ajit Doval while most of the army people have questioned the decision to send NSG and not hand over the operation to the Indian Army,” he said.

Replying to a query, Singh claimed that Doval could not fulfil his role properly in the Pathankot attack issue.

Saying that Congress is always

Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has given a clean chit to Ajit Doval while most of the army people have questioned the decision to send NSG and not hand over the operation to the Indian Army Digvijay Singh, Senior Congress leader

in favour of improving relations with Pakistan, he maintained that the approach adopted by the Centre is not correct.

“Narendra Modi, who used to speak in the most derogatory language against Pakistan, went to Pakistan in a very informal manner which I suppose unbecoming of an Indian Prime Minister.

“The result was two days later, an attack on our Air Force Station in Pathankot,” he said.

Raising doubts on the behaviour of former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh in the Pathankot attack, the

Congress leader demanded that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conduct a thorough probe into the whole issue.

“It is also very important to note the behaviour of the SP Salwinder Singh in the incident. What was he doing at midnight with a jeweller and his cook without the security?

“Information is now coming in that there was an intelligence warning of infiltration of some of the terrorists in that border and this information is there with the Punjab Police. But the Punjab Police did not act the way it should have.”

NEW DELHI: BJP on Wednesday described the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a “positive step” which was a “good” thing for the peaceloving and developmentoriented people of India and Pakistan.

“If the media reports of the arrest (Azhar’s) is correct, then it is a positive step which is good a thing for the peaceloving and development-oriented people of the two countries,” BJP national secretary and its media cell in-charge Shrikant Sharma said.

“If Pakistan acts against terrorism then it is good for the people of both countries because terrorists are enemies of the humanity. The whole world today is united in rooting out terrorism,” he said. Sharma noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “conveyed the nation’s anger” to his Pakistani

“The National Investigation Agency is investigating the incident and the deputy chief minister of Punjab is opposing the investigation by the national agencies.

“It is an open secret that the Punjab Police and the politicians of a particular party are totally involved in drug trafficking in Punjab from across the border,” he said.

Recalling that the heads of senior leaders of United Progressive Alliance(UPA) had rolled after the 26/11 attacks, he maintained that BJP has not taken action against anyone in the aftermath

counterpart Nawaz Sharif who, he added, had assured him of action. These arrests have come within 13 days of the incident so it is a positive step, he said. BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said India has put its position before Pakistan and hoped results will come. “We want to maintain good ties with them.

We want friendship but the balm on the wounds inflicted upon us in Pathankot will only be applied when action is taken against the attackers and the conspirators of the attack,” he said.

Pakistan on Wednesday arrested Masood Azhar, his brother and “several individuals” belonging to his outfit, which is suspected to have engineered the Pathankot attack, and sealed its offices after India demanded action on the group linking it to the fate of Foreign Secretarylevel talks. - PTI

of Pathankot terror attack.

Asked if Congress is ready to join hands with PDP to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said the matter is to be decided by the party high command.

Referring to a media report that India’s most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim had attended an event related to the wedding of Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif’s grand-daughter in Lahore, Singh said the Centre should seek a clarification from Pakistan if the report is true. - PTI

Lt General (Retd) J. F. R. Jacob

NEW DELHI: Lt General (Retd) J. F. R. Jacob, who played a key role in the 1971 war, died here on Wednesday at the age of 92 due to “old age complications”. Jacob, who was also Governor of Punjab and Goa, breathed his last at the Army Hospital here at around 8am.

He was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital since January 1 after suffering from pneumonia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise and said India will always remain grateful to Jacob for his impeccable service to the nation.

He also recalled his association with him.

“RIP Lt Gen JFR Jacob.India will always remain grateful to him for his impeccable service to the nation at the most crucial moments. Lt Gen JFR Jacob and I interacted often. Had a memorable interaction when he presented his autobiography to me,” he tweeted.

Born in 1923 in Bengal Presidency under British India, Jacob joined the army at the age of 19 in 1942 and also fought in World War II and the IndoPakistan War of 1965 before he retired in 1978.

Post retirement, he joined BJP and headed its ex-servicemen wing. - PTI

COLD CONDITIONS

Cold claims two lives in north; 89 trains cancelled due to fog

BITING COLD: A man crosses the road at Raisina Hill as India Gate is seen in the background in foggy morning in New Delhi on Wednesday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Cold conditions intensified across north India on Wednesday claiming two lives in Rajasthan while a dense fog engulfing the region forced cancellation of 89 trains.

There was shallow fog and traces of rainfall witnessed in some areas of the national capital on Wednesday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 12 degrees Celsius.

While flight operations were normal, as many as nine Delhibound trains, including Guwahati Rajdhani Express, Vikramshila Express and Magadh Express, were reported to be running late and one rescheduled due to fog.

Eighty nine trains remained cancelled as announced earlier, a senior railway official said.

The maximum temperature settled at 23.2 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season’s average while the minimum temperature was recoded at 12 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal, said a MeT department official.

The humidity in air oscillated between 95 and 59 per cent.

In Rajasthan, cold wave has claimed the lives of two people in Jaipur during last 24 hours, as the state continued to reel under cold conditions.

A 70-year-old man was found dead at New Gate in Chaura Rasta, while another 45-year-old was found lying dead in Bajri Mandi in Gopalpura area in Jaipur due to cold weather, police said.

Dabok in Udaipur recorded

the lowest temperature of 7.8 degree Celsius followed by Sikar 8, Mount Abu 8.4, and Jaipur 10.6 degree Celsius last night, a MeT official said.

There was dense fog in Bikaner district, which cleared around 9 am. Elsewhere the minimum temperature varied between 11 and 15.1 degree Celsius including at Jodhpur, Pilani, Ajmer, Sawaimadhopur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Churu.

Many parts of Indian-administered-Kashmir, including Srinagar were engulfed in a thick layer of fog on Wednesday morning affecting visibility even as the minimum temperature went down at most places in the Valley.

Leh at minus 13.2 degrees Celsius was the coldest. - PTI

WEST BENGAL

Eight killed, 15 hurt in road accident MIDNAPORE (WB): Eight persons, including a child and two women were killed and 15 others were critically injured when a bus hit a roadside culvert and rolled down a ditch at Chandrakona in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Wednesday.

Police said the bus was on its

way to Midnapore town from Palashchapri in the district when it hit the culvert near Panchkuri village this afternoon.

The dead included passengers and pedestrians, the police said adding the critically injured were admitted to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.

The locals jumped to the rescue and broke windows to pull out passengers from the bus.

About 20 injured were admitted to Chandrakona and Ghatal hospitals.

The bus was later pulled up, the police said adding the bus driver is absconding. - PTI

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

INDIA

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M U FT I ’ S D E AT H

Suspense over government formation in J&K continues SRINAGAR: Even as it maintained suspense over government formation, PDP on Wednesday said it has begun a process to review the work done during the 10 months of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led coalition government to assess how much of his vision had been fulfilled.

“Mufti Sahib had a vision for

making Jammu and Kashmir a modern state. Due to his death, his vision is yet to be realised.

“The party under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti will need to review how much we have succeeded to fulfil Mufti Sahib’s vision so far,” senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said. Akhtar said being a political issue, Mufti had envisioned to

make Indian-administered-Kashmir paradise of peace.

“The party will assess whether our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who has a massive mandate of the country, has taken any decisions on it”, he added.

Keeping in view “the changing situation”, he said, the party will “analyse whether our ministers

‘BJP slapping false cases on Congress leaders to hide its failure’ Surjewala said to deflect attention

‘politics of vendetta’

Congress leaders will not be deterred by such acts of ill will or vicious agenda in registration of false cases

against their rivals

Randeep S. Surjewala

from ‘paralysis of governance’, Modi and Khattar have unleashed a sinister

Congress spokesperson

CHANDIGARH: Congress on Wednesday alleged that the barrage of “false cases” registered against its leader were nothing but a part of political “vengeance” unleashed by BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana, and asserted that it will “unmask” the evil design of the ruling party.

Referring to “false cases” registered against family members of P. Chidambaram and Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shankarsinh Vaghela in Gujarat, Virbhadra Singh, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the ruling party was doing it to disguise its failures at the governance front.

Apparently referring to the National Herald case, in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were summoned in a lower court recently, Surjewala alleged the BJP was using “lumpen elements” like Subramanian Swamy to target

Congress leadership and shamed the democracy by its “dictatorial” behaviour, he said.

“Both the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Manohar Lal Khatar government in Haryana are targeting their political opponents by fabricating opposition leaders in false cases with political vendetta and vengeance,” Surjewala said here.

“Gimmickry” and “rhetoric” have become synonymns of Narendra Modi and Khattar, Surjewala said, adding that the BJP rode to power promising good days but has “utterly failed” to govern.

To deflect attention from “paralysis of governance”, Modi and Khattar have unleashed a sinister “politics of vendetta” against their rivals, he said.

“Defeat, deception and double speak” have become the hallmarks of the BJP both at the national and state level, he said

adding that “Incompetence of governance was being sought to be explained by surreptitious blame game on opposition or shifting of focus by malicious acts of foistering false cases on opponents,” he said.

“Congress leaders will not be deterred by such acts of ill will or vicious agenda in registration of false cases,” he said, adding that “Congress is determined to give a reply to this autocratic behaviour to Modi and Khattar governments and take the fight to court of people.” Surjewala said that the Congress will “unmask” the evil design of BJP. Referring to the issue of allotment of industrial plots in Panchkula by Hooda government, he said that the matter was sub judice, but the Khattar government first ordered vigilance inquiry and then suddenly handed over the case to the CBI. - PTI

can fulfil their governance agenda smoothly. Our governance agenda was to make smart cities, bring back power projects, and other development projects. We will analyse whether we can work smoothly on the governance agenda.”

Akhtar said PDP’s main aim was not power but to represent people of Jammu and Kashmir to fulfil N E G O T I AT I O N S

‘Real opposition to GST bill is from within BJP’ NEW DELHI: Amid reports that the Centre has expedited back channel negotiations to push the GST bill, Congress on Wednesday claimed the real opposition to it was from within BJP while the “main opposition” party is being made an “excuse” by the government.

“The real opposition to the GST is from within BJP. Congress is just an excuse. Narendra Modi does not want it. Amit Shah does not want it. Piyush Goyal does not want it. Gujarat government does not want it”, party leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said at the AICC briefing.

Ramesh insisted that the “maximum opposition” to the key reform measure was from within BJP and Congress is being given as a “convenient excuse” for its non-passage.

Noting that Congress wanted a “good and simple” GST, he recalled that party Vice President Rahul Gandhi has said that the party was for GST. Ramesh said that the party has given three suggestions in writing on the bill.

“It is all a game being played by the Finance Minister and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to fool people when they (some in BJP) themselves do not want the GST”, he said. - PTI

their rights and expectations.

The PDP leader’s statement came as the seven-day state mourning for Sayeed ended on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Akhtar had said the formal consultations within the PDP for formation of the new government had not begun yet, hinting that the process may take longer than ex-

pected. “We have not yet begun the formal process of consultations on government formation in the state.

A decision on the issue can only be taken after the consultations get underway,” he said. Akhtar, however, refused to comment whether the PDP will continue its alliance with the BJP or look at other alternatives as well. - PTI

A10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

PAKISTAN Suicide bomb blast kills 15 outside Quetta polio centre The bomb blew up a police van that had just arrived at the centre to provide an escort for workers in a drive to immunise all children under five years old in the capital of Balochistan province

QUETTA: A suicide bomber killed at least 15 people, most of them police, outside a polio eradication centre in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Wednesday, the latest militant attack on the antipolio campaign in the country.

Two militant groups — the Pakistani Taliban and Jundullah, which has links with the Taliban and has pledged allegiance to IS separately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bomb blew up a police van that had just arrived at the centre to provide an escort for healthworkers in a drive to immunise all children under five years old in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

“It was a suicide blast, we have gathered evidence from the scene,” Ahsan Mehboob, the provincial police chief told Reuters.

“The police team had arrived to escort teams for the polio campaign.”

Ahmed Marwat, who identified himself as a commander and spokesman for Jundullah, said his group was responsible. “We claim

CARNAGE: Pakistani paramedics move an injured survivor following a bomb blast near a polio vaccination centre, at a hospital in Quetta on Wednesday. — AFP

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the bomb blast on the polio office.

In the coming days, we will make more attacks on polio vaccination offices and polio workers,” he said by telephone.

The Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility in a state-

ment released by their spokesman, Mohammad Khorasani.

Teams in Pakistan working to immunise children against the virus are often targeted by Taliban and other militant groups, who say the campaign is a cover for Western spies, or accuse workers of distributing drugs designed to sterilise children.

The latest attack killed at least 12 policemen, one paramilitary officer and two civilians, officials said. — Reuters

TERROR STRIKE: Pakistani security officials examine the site of a bomb blast near a polio vaccination centre in Quetta on Wednesday. — AFP

BLAST HITS ARY NEWS BUILDING

AFGHAN CONFLICT

Imran tells Taliban to shun violence ISLAMABAD: With peace talks between Kabul and Taliban expected within days, Imran Khan has advised the Afghan insurgents to shun violence and join politics if they want to rule Afghanistan.

Top officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States met on Monday to chalk out a roadmap for kick-starting negotiations for a final peace settlement in Afghanistan.

The quadrilateral huddle has renewed hopes of reviving the moribund peace process.

On Tuesday, Pakistani and Afghan regional security experts also met in Islamabad on the sidelines of the bilateral Track-2 dialogue.

Speaking during the meeting, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran urged the Afghan Taliban to give up weapons violence and join mainstream politics.

“If they [Taliban] want to rule Afghanistan, they should contest the elections and seize power through the electoral process,” he said. “They should come through elections and not through the power of guns.”

Afghan participants, including parliament members, retired generals, former insurgency leaders and security analysts, also asked Imran questions about his reported comments on Afghan Taliban.

They said Imran was regarded highly in Afghanistan as he was a Pakhtun, but some of his statements, like his comments on supporting the insurgency, had not gone down well in the country.

The PTI chief, however, contended the media distorted his statements sometimes. “I am antiwar. I do not support any ideology, which is against the spirit of democracy,” he said.

He also opposed any interference in Afghanistan either by Pakistan and any other country. “Foreign interference in Afghanistan has been destructive and we must not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs,” he added. — Express Tribune

Police pass evidence bags at the ARY News offices after a blast injured several people and caused property damage in Islamabad, on Wednesday. They dropped pamphlets linked to the IS’ self-declared province of Khorasan in Afghanistan and Pakistan, ARY reported on its website. — Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

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South Korea calls for painful sanctions in response to nuclear test SEOUL: South Korea warned North Korea on Wednesday that the United States and its allies were working on sanctions to inflict “bone-numbing pain” after its latest nuclear test, and called on China to do its part to rein in its isolated neighbour.

With tension high on the border between North and South Korea after the North’s fourth nuclear test on last Wednesday, South Korean forces fired shots towards a flying object that Yonhap News Agency said was a suspected North Korean drone.

It returned to the North after the shots, South Korean military officials said.

The North’s nuclear test has angered both China and the United States and again raised questions about what can be done to stop its development of nuclear weapons.

North Korea said it had tested a powerful hydrogen bomb but the United States and various experts doubt that, as the blast was roughly the same size as that from its pre-

vious test, of an atomic bomb, in 2013. The US House of Representatives voted nearly unanimously on Tuesday to pass legislation to broaden sanctions on the North.

Nuclear arsenal But apparently unperturbed by the prospect of further international isolation, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an expansion of the size and power of his country’s nuclear arsenal, urging the “detonation of more powerful H-bombs”, the North’s state media reported.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said more “provocations” by the North including “cyber-terrorism” were possible, and new sanctions should be tougher than previous ones.

She did not give specifics.

“We are cooperating closely with the United States and allies to come up with effective sanctions that will make North Korea feel bone-numbing pain, not only at the Security Council but also bilat-

ONE FOR ALBUM: South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, Hwang Joon-kook, centre, poses with US State Department’s Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim, right, and Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Kimihiro Ishikane, for their meeting to discuss bilateral and multilateral responses to the North Korea’s nuclear test in Seoul, on Wednesday. - Reuters

erally and multilaterally,” she said in a speech.

Park said South Korea and China were discussing a UN Security Council resolution on North Korea, noting that China has stated

repeatedly that it would not tolerate the North’s nuclear programme. China is the North’s main ally and trade partner but it has made clear it opposes its bombs, while China’s ties with South Ko-

rea have grown increasingly close in recent years.

“I am certain that China is very well aware if such a strong will isn’t followed by necessary steps, we will not be able to stop the North’s fifth and sixth nuclear tests and we cannot guarantee true peace and stability,” Park said.

“I believe the Chinese government will not allow the situation on the Korean peninsula to deteriorate further.”

Last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had told his Chinese counterpart that China’s approach to North Korea had not succeeded and he called on it to do more.

China rejects complaints it is not doing enough on North Korea.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China’s efforts towards a denuclearised Korean peninsula would continue.

“This is in everyone’s interests and is everyone’s responsibility, including China and South Korea,” he said.

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all three attackers and at least seven members of the security forces died during the attack

by IS which has so far avoided striking high-profile Pakistani targets

KEEPING VIGIL: Afghan security personnel keep watch along a street after an attack from a building

close to the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad on Wednesday. A suicide bombing followed by gunfire rocked an area near the Pakistani consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Wednesday. - AFP

JALALABAD: IS group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday that was followed by a deadly gun battle lasting several hours.

Afghan officials said all three attackers and at least seven members of the security forces died during the attack by IS which has so far avoided striking high-profile Pakistani targets.

The attack, which comes amid

efforts to restart the stalled peace process with the Taliban and ease diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, resembled an assault on the Indian consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif last week.

Witnesses in Jalalabad, the main trade gateway to the Khyber Pass and Pakistan, said heavy gunfire and a series of explosions could be heard during the battle and residents and children from a

nearby school were evacuated.

Nangarhar, the province in which Jalalabad is located, has become the main Afghan stronghold of IS, which has battled the Taliban for leadership of insurgency.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said a suicide bomber had tried to join a queue of people seeking visas to Pakistan and blew himself up after being prevented from entering the building.

IS said on its official Telegram messaging service channel that three members wearing suicidebomb vests carried out the attack, which it said had killed dozens of people including “several Pakistani intelligence officers”. It said two suicide attackers had been killed while a third escaped.

Pakistan condemned the attack but said all members of the consulate staff were safe, with one official slightly injured by broken

glass. Last week, a group of attackers barricaded themselves in a house and resisted security forces for about 24 hours after a suicide attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The group responsible for that attack has not been identified but the incident.

Tension between India and Pakistan has risen since the attack on its consulate and on an Indian air base that killed seven Indian military personnel near their border.

A rare meeting between the foreign secretaries of both countries had been tentatively scheduled for later this week, but it is unclear if it would still happen after the attacks.

Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States also met this week to try to resurrect efforts to end nearly 15 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan, even as fighting with the Taliban intensifies. Pakistan says many Pakistani Taliban militants, who are separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban have sought refuge in Afghanistan from a Pakistani army offensive. - Reuters

The US House sanctions measure passed by 418-2 and Senate leaders expect to consider a similar bill shortly.

The House bill had been introduced in 2015 but was not brought up for a vote until after North Korea’s latest test. “(The bill) uses targeted financial pressure to isolate Kim Jon Un and his top officials from the assets they maintain in foreign banks, and from the hard currency that sustains their rule,” said Republican Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an author of the measure.

To become law, it must be passed by the US Senate and signed by President Barack Obama.

The 28,500 US troops in South Korea have been put on high alert as a noisy propaganda battle is played out across the heavily fortified border with the North.

South Korea has for days been blaring propaganda through loudspeakers into the North. -Reuters MOVEMENT ANONYMOUS

Hackers target Thailand websites over British tourists murder verdict BANGKOK: International hacking movement Anonymous said it attacked hundreds of Thai government websites on Wednesday over death sentences handed down to two migrant workers for the murder of two British tourists.

A court sentenced Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, to death on December 24 after finding them guilty of murdering tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in 2014. Witheridge had been raped and bludgeoned to death, according to police, and Miller suffered severe head injuries and was left to drown. But the investigation drew allegations of police incompetence, torture and mishandling of evidence.

Police rejected the complaints but protests erupted in neighbouring Myanmar after the verdict, with many people there believing the two workers, who denied killing the tourists, were scapegoats.

Some rights workers say they believe police forced the two into confessing under duress. In a message posted on the ‘We Are Anonymous’ Facebook page the hacking group said it had shut down Thai judicial websites in protest over the verdict. - Reuters

RISING TENSION

Philippines offers eight bases to US under new military deal MANILA: The Philippines has offered the United States eight bases where it can build facilities to store equipment and supplies under a new security deal, a military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid rising tension with China over the South China Sea. Last year, the Philippines and the United States signed the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) granting Was-

ington increased military presence in its former colony, rotating ships and planes for humanitarian and maritime security operations.

“The list has been prepared many months ago when we had earlier discussions,” Colonel Restituto Padilla told reporters, saying five military airfields, two naval bases and a jungle training camp were offered to the United States.

“These are still subject for ap-

proval and we’re going to hold final discussions about these areas.”

Three of these bases are on the main island of Luzon in the northern Philippines, including Clark airfield, a former US air force base, and two are on the western island of Palawan, near the South China Sea. The Americans are also seeking access to three civilian seaports and airfields on Luzon, including Subic Bay, a former US

Navy base, a senior defence official said. Last year, more than 100 US Navy ships docked in Subic and two advanced nuclear-powered stealth submarines made visits in the first two weeks of this year.

“Subic is important to the Americans because it is one of the few areas in the country where they can actually dock safely,” said a defence official, who declined to be named because he is not author-

ised to speak to the press.

In Washington, Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said security cooperation with the US had become more intertwined amid increasing tension over the South China Sea. The Philippines has filed a protest against China’s test flights from an artificial island in the South China Sea, a foreign ministry spokesman said, describing the actions as “provocative”

and a violation of an existing informal code. China’s official Xinhua news agency, in an English-language commentary, said the EDCA would only escalate tension and “could push the situation to the brink of war”.

“The deal is groundless because China, which sticks to a defensive defence policy, has never coerced any country on the South China Sea issue,” it said. - Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM Caught off guard, Philippines had to seek US help This refers to the story, Philippines offers eight bases to US under new military deal (January 13). By this pact, the southeast Asian country is making itself a colony of the US. It is hard to imagine that the Philippine leadership failed to learn from American policies in the region. US President Barack Obama, by announcing the Asian pivot, unnerved China and has been upping the ante. Manila was caught completely off guard and started to act belligerently against Beijing unilaterally. As the status quo of cold peace was lost, the Philippines had to resort to seeking help Scan this QR code from its former ruler. to send letters to the — Ariel Costa, Ruwi Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Famous football personalities involved in wrongdoings This refers to the news story, Barcelona’s Neymar to appear in court as defendant in fraud case (January 13). It seems that all of a sudden, the world of football has become full of not-so-innocent personalities.

The wrongdoings of Fifa bosses Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter, along with scores of other top officials, has marred the image of the most popular game. But the currents players — Neymar and Lionel Messi — show that the big guns of the sport believe their fame will protect them from court proceedings.

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EU membership key for Britain’s security

CHRISTOPHER FLAVELLE

Liberals may dismiss the findings on climate change as semantic, or as a distraction from political battles. But the research suggests that unchecked assumptions about how people think could be just as problematic as Republican obstructionism. And they’re a whole lot easier to fix bit.ly/climatewrongadvice

ritish Prime Minister David Cameron has lately begun to speak out about the importance of European Union membership for the United Kingdom’s security.

That is probably the most compelling argument for remaining in the EU that Cameron could present to British voters ahead of a referendum on whether the UK should withdraw. But is Cameron, who has promised to hold the vote by the end of 2017, making the security argument too late in the day?

Many claim that, because NATO ensures the UK’s defence, a British exit from the EU (“Brexit”) would not undermine the country’s security. But security and defence are not the same thing. True security entails the expectation that a country will not have to call upon the defence alliances to which it belongs – and that is what membership in the EU, as it stands today, provides.

Between World Wars I and II, America’s defence did not depend on its membership of the League of Nations. But the country’s decision not to join the League of Nations – based on sovereignty arguments much like those now being used to promote Brexit – led to the League’s collapse, severely weakening US security.

Today, the UK enjoys an unprecedented level of security. Despite instability and violence in countries like Ukraine and Syria, the UK does not face even a remote strategic threat.

And EU membership virtually guarantees cooperation against the tactical threat posed by the IS extremist group.

A Brexit may well set in motion a cascade of events that could profoundly undermine that security. Euroskeptic and nationalist parties, not to mention some on the extreme left, would be strengthened across the EU. And while one cannot doubt the democratic and pro-Western credentials of most UK Euroskeptics (though one can doubt their wisdom and strategic sense), the same cannot be said of many of their counterparts on the continent.

Consider Marine Le Pen of France’s far-right National Front party, whom Brexit could help propel to victory in the 2017 presidential election. Le Pen, whose popularity has been driven largely by resentment of Germany’s growing in-

fluence, is openly hostile to the euro and the EU. With Le Pen in power, a major EU and NATO member would be pursuing a profoundly antiWestern foreign policy. Her defence of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, for example, suggests that she would block any form of resistance to President Vladimir Putin’s adventurism, which is threatening NATO’s eastern flank.

With or without Le Pen, Brexit could spur a “flight to nationalism” across Europe, as countries react to rising chauvinism among their neighbours by electing the domestic brand.

Political conflicts would then intensify and become increasingly difficult to resolve, with the return of vicious national enmities, unseen in Europe since 1945, confronting the EU with an existential crisis from which it would not be easy to recover.

In fact, such forces are already on the rise. The trend began, somewhat unexpectedly, in Western Europe and is moving eastward. So far, the effect of nationalism has been most potent within countries, in places like Scotland and Catalonia, rather than among them.

But, triggered by Brexit, that could easily change, with countries turning against one another to protect their perceived interests. In addition, as many observers (including Cameron’s first foreign secretary, William Hague) have pointed out, Brexit could give a huge boost to Scottish nationalism; the breakup of the UK would further weaken Britain’s security.

Beyond Europe, Brexit would estrange the UK from the United States, where presidents from both major parties, beginning with Dwight D. Eisenhower (who also served as NATO’s first Supreme Commander), have touted European integration. By thumbing its nose at so fundamental an American interest, Britain would almost certainly undermine what remains of the bilateral “special relationship” that UK governments have cultivated since Winston Churchill’s premiership.

Thus, there is hardly a dimension of Britain’s security that would not be devastated by Brexit.

One can only hope that this point will get the attention it deserves in time to influence the outcome of the referendum. - Project Syndicate Jacek Rostowski was Poland’s Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2013

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JANUARY 2001 Alawi, Khamis holds talks with Austrian minister MUSCAT: A session of official Omani-Austrian talks was held at the Foreign Ministry yesterday. The Omani side was headed

by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs, while Benito Ferrero-Waldner, Austria’s foreign minister, who is currently visiting the Sultanate, headed the Austrian side. The talks covered the warm relations between the Sultanate and Austria, in addition to bilateral, political and economic cooperation in the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

PICTOGRAPH

GOVERNMENT TEACHERS IN THE SULTANATE 2010

2011

2012

52 53

2013

2014

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45

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1911: The USS Arkansas, the largest U.S. battleship, is launched from the yards of the New York Shipbuilding Company.

1920: Berlin is placed under martial law as 40,000 radicals rush the Reichstag; 42 are dead and 105 are wounded.

1980: The United Nations votes 104-18 to deplore the Soviet aggression in Afghanistan.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

A1 3

WORLD Iran releases 10 US sailors after their brief detention Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had freed the sailors after determining they had entered Iranian territorial waters by mistake.

The sailors had been detained aboard two US Navy patrol boats in the Gulf on Tuesday

END TO ORDEAL: A handout picture released on Wednesday, by the news website and public relations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sepah News, shows US soldiers under detention in the Farsi Island by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, after investigations showed their patrol boats had entered Iranian waters unintentionally, a statement said. - AFP/Sepah News

had earlier said that the two US Navy boats entered Iranian territorial waters due to a broken navigation system.

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Safe release Confirming the sailors’ safe release, the Pentagon said there were no indications they were harmed while in Iranian custody.

A carefully worded statement did not explain how the sailors and their two riverine command boats ended up being detained

by Iran, saying only that “the Navy will investigate the circumstances that led to the sailors’ presence in Iran”.

The sailors were later taken

ashore by US Navy aircraft, while other sailors took charge of the boats and headed towards Bahrain, their original destination.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said he was pleased the sailors had been freed and appreciated “the timely way in which this situation was resolved”.

He added: “I want to personally thank Secretary of State John Kerry for his diplomatic engage-

WA R N I N G

Britain could be heading for EU exit: Scottish leader LONDON: British voters may opt to leave the European Union if Prime Minister David Cameron holds a referendum on membership as early as June, Scottish nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon has said, The Scotsman newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Cameron is pushing for a deal on new membership terms from other EU leaders before a referendum which he could call this summer, though opinion polls have shown that opposition to the European Union is growing in Britain.

Sturgeon was quoted by The Scotsman newspaper as saying that if the referendum was called in June there might be too little time to convince voters in the rest of Britain that EU membership was the right choice.

Scottish election “It would leave barely four months - including the period of the Scottish election - for the public to fully engage in and for the arguments about EU membership to be heard fully,” she told a news conference, according to the report.

Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party and of Scotland’s devolved government, said she was confident Scotland would vote to stay in the EU, but was now less sure about what the rest

David Cameron needs to get away from the very narrow focus on these renegotiation issues and make the big picture case for staying in Nicola Sturgeon Leader of the Scottish National Party

of the United Kingdom would decide, the paper reported.

Scotland has 5 million people, compared with England which has 53 million and represents about 84 per cent of the population of the United Kingdom.

Scots voted 55-45 per cent against independence in a referendum in 2014, but Sturgeon’s party then won 56 of the 59 seats representing Scotland in the national parliament in London in an election last May. — Reuters

D I P L O M AT I C T I F F

Swedish man held on security charges BEIJING/STOCKHOLM: A Swedish man detained in China last week was suspected of acts detrimental to the country’s national security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday in its first comments on the case against the foreign human rights and legal reform advocate.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it had summoned China’s ambassador over the case on January 8, a meeting that also

Spain parties wrangle over government formation MADRID: Spain’s lower house of parliament reconvened on Wednesday for the first time since an inconclusive election last month with political parties still wrangling over the formation of a government.

The failure to make progress in forging a coalition before deputies took their seats again suggested the stalemate could last weeks and a new election might be have to be called.

Parties agreed on naming a Socialist lawmaker as the lower house’s speaker, although the way the deal was reached signalled more divisions rather than a political rapprochement.

But expectation of change was in the air after the December 20 election broke the mould of Spanish politics in the four decades since the restoration of democracy and brought two new parties - the leftist Podemos and liberal Ciudadanos - into the Cortes.

Iran’s Islamic

DUBAI: Iran released 10 US sailors on Wednesday after holding them overnight, bringing a swift end to an incident that had rattled nerves days ahead of the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear accord between Tehran and world powers.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had freed the sailors after determining they had entered Iranian territorial waters by mistake.

The sailors had been detained aboard two US Navy patrol boats in the Gulf on Tuesday.

“Our technical investigations showed the two US Navy boats entered Iranian territorial waters inadvertently,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by state television. “They were released in international waters after they apologised,” it added.

IRGC Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi

INCONCLUSIVE ELECTION

touched on the disappearance of a Swedish citizen in Thailand, who is one of several missing publishers and book vendors with business in Hong Kong.

“We take a serious view on the fact that the embassy has not yet been allowed to visit the Swedish citizen detained in China,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Ekberg said.

Peter Dahlin, the 35-year-old co-founder of the Chinese Urgent

Action Working Group, was taken into custody January 4, the organisation said.

“Swedish citizen Peter Dahlin has been put under coercive measures in accordance with the law in Beijing on suspicion of engaging in acts that harm China’s national security,” said ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular briefing. ”This case is currently being investigated.” — Reuters

ment with Iran to secure our sailors’ swift return.”

Iran thanked Kerry thanked Iran for its cooperation in the release of the navy sailors. “That this issue was resolved peacefully and efficiently is a testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong, Kerry added.

The incident raised tensions between Iran and the United States, which, along with other world powers, reached a deal last year under which Iran will curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Some conservatives in both countries have criticised the deal that is due to be implemented in the coming days.

Iran’s armed forces chief, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, said the incident should demonstrate Iranian strength to “troublemakers” in the US Congress, which has sought to put pressure on Iran after the nuclear deal.

And at a presidential campaign rally in the United States, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, who accuses President Barack Obama of being weak on foreign policy, described the incident as “an indication of where the hell we’re going”. — Reuters

Change institutions “Politics in this country has already changed, now we must change the institutions,” Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez said as the session opened.

In a tweet, Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera called it “a second transition.”

Their comments reflected the sentiment that Spain’s first transition after the 1975 death of dictator Francisco Franco is now history and the country needs a new generation of leaders.

In the election, the conservative People’s Party (PP), in power for the past four years, won the most seats but not a majority.

Lost support The Socialists (PSOE) came second but lost much of their support to third-placed Podemos, which sprang up in response to the PP government’s stiff austerity measures. — Reuters

A 14

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

WORLD

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Deportations to rise after Cologne attacks: Germany Maas and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere outlined plans on Tuesday to speed up the deportation of foreigners who commit physical and sexual assaults, resist police or

KEEPING TABS: This picture taken on Wednesday during a press

damage property

conference in Berlin shows a tablet displaying an app called ‘Arrival’ (Ankommen in German) specially designed for asylum seekers in Germany. This application is a project conducted by German Office for Migration and Refugees. — AFP

BERLIN: German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday more foreign criminals would be expelled once new restrictions are rolled out in the wake of sexual attacks on women blamed on migrants in Cologne.

Maas and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere outlined

plans on Tuesday to speed up the deportation of foreigners who commit physical and sexual assaults, resist police or damage property - crimes which mostly carry probationary sentences but do not trigger expulsion under current law.

“There will certainly be more

deportation orders as a result of changes to the law because we are lowering the requirements for a deportation,” Maas told German television channel ARD. Germany would still not deport people who come from countries where war is raging or where they could face the death penalty

or torture, he added.

The attacks have deepened doubts about Merkel’s deicsion to throw open Germany’s door to asylum seekers, the majority of whom have escaped wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

A spokesman for Merkel’s leftleaning coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), said on Wednesday the majority of the suspects in the assaults were from Algeria and Morocco.

The coalition, led by Merkel’s conservatives, on Tuesday presented plans aimed at making it easier to deport foreigners who are found guilty of committing physical and sexual assaults, resisting police or damaging property.

Under current laws, most of these crimes carry probationary sentences and do not trigger expulsion. Merkel has endorsed the proposals.

Burkhard Lischka, domestic affairs spokesman for the SPD, said asylum requests from Algeria and Morocco are almost never approved after the standard processing time of 15 months, and that the party now wants to cut this period to a few weeks.

“An especially important protective measure against such

criminal practices by people from these countries is to decide on asylum claims from North Africa within a few weeks.”

Members of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavaria-based Christian Social Union (CSU) sister party have suggested classifying Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia as “safe countries,” which would allow quicker deportations of failed asylum applicants from those countries.

Last year, the German government declared states of the Western Balkans, namely Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo, to be “safe countries”.

Following that move, asylum applications from citizens of these countries significantly dropped.

But the total number of migrants reaching Germany surged to some 1.1 million in 2015.

Maas, the justice minister, said there would certainly be more deportation orders as a result of changes to the law “because we are lowering the requirements for a deportation”.

Germany will still not deport people who come from countries where war is raging or where they could face the death penalty or torture, he added. — Reuters

INFLUX OF MIGRANTS

Denmark extends border checks COPENHAGEN: Denmark said it would extend temporary border controls by 20 days in order to deter migrants as parliament started to debate tough immigration reforms.

Denmark, which swung to the right in the last election in June, is one of several European Union countries trying to discourage migrants from seeking asylum on its territory.

The question of how to deal with the influx of migrants and refugees fleeing war and poverty has divided EU members, and has also triggered a surge in anti-immigration sentiment across the bloc.

At 1400GMT, parliament started to debate a raft of proposals on changing immigration laws, including a measure that would allow the authorities to confiscate all valuables belonging to refugees worth over 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), and then use them to pay for the refugee’s stay.

The proposal has been condemned by international media as well as the United Nations refugee agency.

“It is very odiously reminiscent of the German past -- leave the valuables and go to the showers,” Derek Beach, an associate professor in political science at Aarhus university. — Reuters

C O N T R O V E R S I A L L AW

STANDOFF: European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans gives a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. — Reuters

Brussels takes on Warsaw, launches investigations BRUSSELS: The European Union began an unprecedented inquiry on Wednesday into whether Poland’s new conservative, Eurosceptic government has breached the EU’s democratic standards by taking more control of the judiciary and public media.

The first use of the EU executive’s new Rule of Law Framework could in principle eventually lead to sanctions such as the suspension of Poland’s voting rights.

But the main impact now may be to further sour relations among EU member governments already strained by multiple crises and mounting nationalism.

“The European Commission does not wish to put into question any of the democratic choices made by the Polish people,” its deputy head, Frans Timmermans, wrote to the Polish justice minister in a letter on Wednesday that was seen by Reuters.

“However, the European Union is founded on a common set of values... which include in particular the respect for the rule of law,” he added. ”There can be no democracy and respect for fundamental rights without respect for the rule of law.”

The decision, by consensus, followed intense debate at the weekly meeting of the European Commission.

Its 28 members, one from each EU state, weighed whether to continue informal talks with Warsaw or launch a formal confrontation which might harden attitudes within Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Diplomats said Warsaw did itself no favours in Brussels by its combative reactions ahead of the Commission debate.

One key minister dismissed criticism from EU powerhouse Berlin as “silly”.

European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker has said it should not be seen to be “bashing Poland” and officials had indicated the executive might hold off on triggering a formal review

Timmermans, who has responsibility for human rights on the executive, pushed his colleagues hard to launch the procedure, sources familiar with the meeting told Reuters.

The Polish government played down the Commission’s move.

A spokesman called it “standard procedure” and a “fact-finding operation by the European Commission on the basis of some speculation that has surfaced in western Europe”.

Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski, visiting the European Parliament, said: “We are ready for dialogue.”

Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told Reuters he found Timmermans’ statements “contradictory”, however, and Szymanski said the EU risked “taking sides” against PiS in Polish politics following its election victory in October.

Timmermans said the Rule of Law Framework would usher in a “structured dialogue” with Warsaw. — Reuters

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

A1 5

WORLD

The guide of the German group was quoted by Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper as saying she had yelled “run” after seeing the bomber, who was standing among the tourists, pull a pin on his explosives, enabling some of them to get away

‘Bomber was not on wanted list’ Istanbul suicide bomber was registered with Turkish immigration authorities

ISTANBUL: A suicide bomber who killed himself and 10 German tourists in Istanbul’s historic heart had registered with Turkish immigration authorities but was not on any list of known militant suspects, Turkey’s interior minister said on Wednesday.

The bomber, an IS member thought to have come recently from Syria, blew himself up on Tuesday in Sultanahmet square near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, major tourist sites in one of the world’s most visited cities.

Asked about a report in the

PAYING TRIBUTE: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, centre,

and German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere, third left, leave flowers in tribute to the victims at the site of Tuesday’s attack in the tourist hub of Sultanahmet in Istanbul, on Wednesday. – AFP

Turkish media that the bomber had registered at an immigration office in Istanbul a week ago, Interior Minister Efkan Ala confirmed that the man’s fingerprints were on record with the Turkish authorities. “Your assessment that his fingerprints were taken and there is a record of him is correct. But he was not on the wanted individuals

DISPUTE OVER HISTORY

ROW OVER RACISM: The statue of Cecil Rhodes is seen on the

facade of Oriel College in Oxford, southern England, in this file photograph dated December 30, 2015. – Reuters files

Oxford University chancellor warns against campaign over Rhodes statue LONDON: The chancellor of Oxford University has warned against rewriting history in his first public comments on a student campaign to remove a statue of 19th century colonialist Cecil Rhodes from one of the university’s colleges.

Inspired by protests at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, which led to its statue of Rhodes being removed last April, the “Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford” campaign says the statue at Oriel College celebrates a brutal racist.

The dispute is one of a growing number of university controversies over issues of history and identity, often pitting freedom of speech arguments against demands for symbols deemed offensive by some students to be removed.

In the United States, southern campuses have been rocked by arguments over the confederate flag, while at Yale a row erupted when an academic pushed back against suggestions that students should self-censor Halloween costumes to avoid causing offence.

Chris Patten, Oxford’s chancellor, spoke against removing the Rhodes statue in a speech widely reported on Wednesday.

“Our history is not a blank page on which we can write our own version of what it should have been, according to our contemporary views and prejudices,” he said. A fervent imperialist and mining magnate, Rhodes was a central figure in Britain’s colonial project in southern Africa, giving his name to Rhodesia, presentday Zimbabwe, and founding the De Beers diamond empire.

A student at Oriel in his youth, Rhodes left the college money when he died, which helped fund the construction of the building where his statue stands in a niche on the facade.

The student campaigners see it as a “veneration” of a man who made his fortune from the exploitation of African miners, secured power through bloody imperial wars, and paved the way to apartheid with his beliefs and measures on racial segregation. “(Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford) is NOT an attempt to ‘rewrite history’, but its opposite - a campaign to bring its uncomfort-

able truths to salience,” said Jack Kellam, a political theory student at Oxford, on Twitter after Patten’s speech.

The campaigners have also argued that the statue is a symbol of racist attitudes that black and ethnic minority students still encounter at Oxford today, and that removing it would demonstrate a commitment by the university to combat racism.

The decision will be made

by Oriel, one of 38 colleges that make up the university. It has announced steps to improve the representation and experience of students from minority backgrounds at the college, and will launch a six-month consultation on whether to pull down the statue.

Patten, whose role as chancellor is largely ceremonial, told BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday that Oxford should welcome debate on historical issues, no matter how uncomfortable, but that taking aim at physical monuments was the wrong way to go.

“Our cities are full of buildings that were built with the proceeds of activities, the slave trade and so on, which would nowadays be regarded as completely unacceptable,” he said.

He asked rhetorically what should be done about Trinity College in Cambridge, which was founded by King Henry VIII, who had two of his six wives executed.

Patten, a former Conservative politician and governor of Hong Kong, also said that Rhodes’ views on race and empire were “common to his time” and probably not very different from those of Britain’s World War II hero Winston Churchill.

Rhodes endowed the famous scholarships that bear his name and that have allowed 8,000 students from countries around the world to study at Oxford over the past century. Patten said some Rhodes scholars had become campaigners against apartheid and for civil liberties.

The long list of prominent Rhodes scholars also includes Bill Clinton and former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who waded into the Oxford dispute in an email to British newspaper The Independent in December. — Reuters

list. And neither is he on the target individuals list sent to us by other countries,” Ala told a joint news conference with his German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere.

Turkey’s Haberturk newspaper published what it said was a CCTV image of the bomber, identified in some local media reports as Saudiborn Nabil Fadli, at an immigra-

tion office in Istanbul on January 5. It said he was identified by a sample of a finger taken from the blast site.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Tuesday the bomber had been identified from body parts at the scene, was born in 1988, and was thought to have been living in Syria, from where he was believed to have recently entered Turkey. Ten Germans were killed in the bombing, a spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said, raising the death toll among Germans from 9 previously.

Turkey, which like Germany is a member of the US-led coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq, has become a target for the radical militants. It was hit by two major bombings last year blamed on the group, in the largely Kurdish town of Suruc near the Syrian border and in the capital Ankara, the latter killing more than 100 people at a pro-Kurdish rally in the worst attack of its kind on Turkish soil.

The Istanbul attack, targeting groups of tourists as they wandered around the square, appeared

to mark a change in IS’s tactics against Turkey.

“This incident is a bit different.

In previous attacks, it was Turks who crossed into Syria to fight Kurds and then crossed back to attack Kurdish targets,” said Aaron Stein, senior fellow at Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. “It’s different in terms of intentions and in terms of its targets,” he told Reuters.

Foreign tourists and Turks paid their respects at the site early on Wednesday. Scarves with the Bayern Munich football club emblem were left along with carnations and roses at the scene, before Turkish police sealed off the area.

De Maiziere said there were no indications Germans had been deliberately targeted and that he saw no reason for people to change travel plans to Turkey.

He said Germany stood resolutely by Turkey’s side in the fight against terrorism. “If the terrorists aimed to disturb, destroy or jeopardise cooperation between partners, they achieved the opposite.

Germany and Turkey are becom-

ing even closer,” he said.

“Based on what we know from the investigation so far, there are no indications that the attack was explicitly targeting Germans so there cannot be a link with our contribution to the fight against international terrorism,” he said.

The guide of the German group was quoted by Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper as saying she had yelled “run” after seeing the bomber, who was standing among the tourists, pull a pin on his explosives, enabling some of them to get away.

One person was detained late on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the blast, Ala said, but gave no details. He defended Turkey’s record in fighting IS, saying 200 suspects had been detained just a week before the blast.

Turkish media reports said on Wednesday the authorities had detained three Russian nationals as part of the crackdown on IS, but it was not immediately clear whether the move was part of the investigation into the Istanbul attack, for which there has been no claim of responsibility. — Reuters

A16

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

B

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CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.37 Pound ............................................1.78 Indian Rs ............................. 172.98 Pak Rs ....................................267.88 Bangla Taka......................200.84

Indian Rs ...................................173.52 Pakistan Rs .............................272.20 Sri Lanka Rs ............................371.50 Bangla Taka........................... 203.25 Phil Peso ................................... 122.80

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......13.95

Oman Crude............. (Spot) .........$27.62 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ......... $27.12 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$30.28 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........ $25.97 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$31.55

Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 130.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 123.75 * Rates as of Jan. 13

* Rates as of Jan. 13 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of Jan. 13 Source: Bank Muscat

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ..........$31.19

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.50

Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

FUNDING SMALL UNITS

Scope for new funding agencies to help small units ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

Abdullah Al Jufaili, general manager of Sharakah

MUSCAT: There is room for the establishment of one or two more funding organisations to fill the existing gaps in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Oman, said an official from Sharakah.

Every SME has unique needs, all of which may not be served by Sharakah or any other organisation, Abdullah Al Jufaili, general manager of Sharakah, told the Times of Oman.

That is the reason why Al Jufaili said he did not see a new venture capital company called, ‘Ethmar’

or any existing or upcoming organisation supporting SMEs as a competition. They play a complementary role as the services of funding organisations may be different in terms of investment amount, investment income, schemes, process and requirements, he noted.

According to him, Sharakah’s door is always open to all organisations that would like to work with the company. Sharakah has cofinanced in the past and would not mind doing it again and again, the official explained.

Al Jufaili said given the size of the market, the establishment of just one or two more funding organisations could help add the missing

links in the chain of supporting SMEs in the Sultanate and provide more options for entrepreneurs.

Existing gaps He noted that according to Sharakah’s latest observation, one example of the existing gaps is related to the situation where an Omani, who is currently working at an organisation, does not have any investment to contribute and would like to get financial support to start a business.

“He would only have one option in a way to take a personal loan from a bank and offer his salary as security,” Al Jufaili stated. If he approaches some funding organisa-

Five firms in Oman plan to offer shares within the next couple of years to comply with the amendments in the insurance law.

Apart from Falcon, the national insurance firms that are expected to float shares on the local bourse are Al Ahlia Insurance Company, Muscat Insurance, Muscat Life Insurance, and National Life Insurance, in addition to Oman & Qatar Insurance and Vision Insurance.

Further, the Sultanate’s only reinsurance firm - Oman Reinsurance Company - will issue shares to the investing public.

These firms include Mining Development Oman, Falcon Insurance and three other state-owned firms, said Abdullah bin Salem Al Salmi, executive president of CMA

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As many as five Omani companies, including three stateowned, are expected to float initial public offerings (IPO) on the local bourse this year.

These firms include Mining Development Oman (MDO), Falcon Insurance and three other stateowned firms, Abdullah bin Salem al Salmi, executive president of Capital Market Authority (CMA), told ‘Times of Oman’.

He said the minister responsible for financial affairs had recently mentioned about plans to divest stakes in three government companies.

This is part of a major privatization programme, which was planned few years ago, in a move to raise resources for the government

Four state-owned agencies — the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), the Oman Investment Fund (OIF), the Oman Oil Company and Oman National Investments Development Company (Tanmia) — have jointly promoted the Mining Development Oman, which will have a capital of OMR100 million. Of this, OMR60 million will be contributed by the promoters and the remaining OMR40 million will be raised from investing public through an initial public offering in the second quarter of this year.

Insurance companies Also, Falcon Insurance, a subsidiary of Al Anwar Holding, last year said that it plans to float an initial public offering on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM).

The Sultanate’s insurance regu-

ABDULLAH BIN SALEM AL SALMI, executive president of

Capital Market Authority. – File picture

lator, Capital Market Authority, in 2014 asked national insurance companies to go public within three years (in line with an amendment in the Insurance Companies Law) and that is one of the reasons for Falcon’s proposed share offer.

As many as eight locally-incorporated insurance companies, including a reinsurance firm, will offer shares to investing public

Corporate performance Al Salmi said that the performance of the corporate sector is still good.

Referring to the recent decision to amend a law allowing brokerage firms to sell shares of defaulting clients, he said “this will give more trust in the market. The brokers will be able to sell shares in case the client does not pay within the settlement period. Earlier, brokerage firms had to go to court for selling shares of defaulting clients.”

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BOND MARKET

Omantel’s maiden sukuk issue to close subscription on January 26 Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s largest telecom operator Oman Telecommunications (Omantel) said its debut sukuk issuance which opened for subscription on January 11, is likely to be closed on January 26.

The sukuk, which will have a tenor of 5 years, is offered on private placement to Omani and international investors. The size of the offering is OMR50 million and is being offered in both Omani rials and United States dollars.

The maturity will be in 2021. The minimum subscription amount for the Sukuk is OMR100,000 or $260,000.

The profit rate on the sukuk will be set through a uniform price auction and will be finalised upon closing of subscription period on January 26.The sukuk issue has been provisionally rated A3 (stable) by Moody’s.

Omantel has mandated Standard Chartered Bank as sole structuring advisor. HSBC, National Bank of Oman and Standard

AT A GLANCE

TALAL AL MAMARI

Chartered Bank have been mandated as joint placement agents for the issue.

Reiterating the objectives of the sukuk issuance, Talal Al Mamari, chief executive officer of Omantel said, “The first sukuk issuance is a significant milestone for Omantel in its long and successful journey.

We are proud to be the first to bring out a listed corporate sukuk issuance following the Government of Oman’s successful debut sovereign sukuk issuance recently.”

“We are confident that the Omantel sukuk issuance will help contribute positively to the govern-

The sukuk, which will have a tenor of 5 years, is offered on private placement to Omani and international investors.

Minimum subscription amount for the Sukuk is OMR100,000 or $260,000

ment’s objectives of enhancing the liquidity in the fast growing Islamic financial sector in Oman, and we hope that it will set a new benchmark amongst corporate sukuk issuances and further strengthen the country’s capital market and wider economy,” he added.

New headquarters For the purpose of the sukuk, an issuer SPV has been created and registered with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry named First Issue SAOC. The proceeds of the sukuk is primarily aimed at being utilised for building a new

headquarters for the company, besides other corporate purposes.

Once issued, the certificates of the sukuk issuance is expected to be listed on the Muscat Securities Market and Muscat Clearing &Depository Company will act as certificate holders’ agent, paying agent and registrar for the sukuk.

Omantel is the largest telecom company in Oman with a domestic subscriber base of over 4.3 million including mobile resellers and 59 per cent mobile network market share as at third quarter of 2015.

Omantel was awarded the Leading Corporate for Investor Relations and Best Investor Relations Professional in Oman for the year 2015, at the 7th Annual Middle East Investor Relations Society (MEIRS).

Omantel has been voted by Brand Finance as the most valuable brand in the Sultanate for the fifth consecutive year as well as the most trusted brand in telecom sector in Oman as revealed by Oman Economic Review brand survey.

tions, he may be told that he needs to quit his job because they would not be able to finance him as long as he is employed somewhere else, he added. Some other organisations would tell him that he has to contribute an investment amount otherwise he cannot receive financial support, Al Jufaili said. So this is one example of the existing gaps in supporting SMEs, which needs to be filled, he noted.

SME loans Al Jufaili also commented on a stipulation by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) that commercial banks’ loans extended to SMEs must account for at least 5 per cent

of their total loans. It is challenging for the banks to meet the 5 per cent target, he said, adding that there should be an agreement between the definition of SME used by the banks and the authorities.

Also, banks offer different financial packages that contribute to SMEs, which may not be taken into consideration if the authorities only look into the loan portfolio, Sharakah’s general manager stated. Al Jufaili believes that either the 5 per cent target should be revised or a mechanism should be developed to take into account banks’ other contributions to SMEs. In general, it is a challenging situation, he noted.

N O N - B A N K I N G C O M PA N Y

ONE FOR THE ALBUM: A signing ceremony in Dubai was attended

by the management team of LOLC Finance, Alpen Capital, ADB as well as the representatives from the UAE and Omani banks involved in the transaction. - Supplied picture

Major Omani banks partly fund leasing firm in Sri Lanka Times News Service MUSCAT: Major Omani and UAE banks along with Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded a $69 million facility through a syndicate loan for LOLC Finance, one of the biggest and rapidly growing non-banking financial institutions in Sri Lanka. Alpen Capital, Dubai acted as the financial advisor to LOLC Finance.

The syndication was structured to house two tranches — tranche A, which is for a period of seven years, has been funded completely by the Asian Development Bank.

Tranche B, which is for a period of three years, has been funded

by Bank Muscat, First Gulf Bank, Emirates NBD, National Bank of Oman and RakBank.

ADB acted as the lender of record for both the tranches and Bank Muscat and First Gulf Bank acted as the mandated lead arrangers for Tranche B. A signing ceremony took place on January 13 in Dubai and was attended by the management team of LOLC Finance, Alpen Capital, ADB as well as the representatives from the UAE and Omani banks involved in the transaction.

LOLC Finance, the flagship finance company of LOLC Group, is the second largest non-banking financial institution by asset size with 140 outlets and services which include Islamic financial products.

The principal activities of LOLC Finance comprise leasing, loans, micro finance, hire purchase, margin trading, mobilisation of public deposits and Islamic financing.

The company is rated A (Stable) by ICRA, a Moody’s associate.

“I would like to extend our gratitude to all parties involved in the transaction. We have worked closely with ADB in uplifting the entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, and this transaction is even more special as it is the first time a consortium of Middle Eastern banks join us in our developmental role,” said Ishara Nanayakkara, deputy chairman, LOLC Group, Sri Lanka.

FUND TRANCHES Tranche

B, which is for a period of three years, has been funded

by Bank Muscat, First Gulf Bank, Emirates NBD, National Bank of Oman and RakBank

Tranche A, which is for a period of seven years, has been funded by the Asian Development Bank

“We are proud to be associated with this transaction and are happy to support LOLC Finance in their business growth. This transaction is unique since it marks Alpen Capital’s first syndication with the Asian Development Bank and also the closure of our first ever transaction for a Sri Lankan financial institution,” Mahboob Murshed, managing director, Alpen Capital.

“We are currently witnessing an increased appetite from regional banks to lend to financial institutions and corporates in emerging markets as a part of their diversification strategy. We are confident that the experience gained from this transaction will help us make further in-roads on such cross border transactions,” he added.

Alpen Capital is a regional boutique investment banking advisory firm which provides advisory solutions in the areas of merger and acquisitions, debt, equity and capital markets. It has offices in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and India. Alpen Capital has executed several complex transactions and worked for some of the largest business conglomerates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and India.

Alpen Capital also provides indepth research on GCC sectors covering growth trends, challenges and opportunities.

B2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

MARKET MSM index in red zone

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,287.91 ...............5,199.09 ....................5,199.09 ...................5,289.34................-90.25 ...................-1.71 Financial Index .................................... 6,289.52 ............... 6,215.75 ....................6,215.81 ...................6,289.93................ -74.12 ...................-1.18 Industrial Index ....................................6,672.10 .............. 6,662.62 ...................6,662.62 ...................6,660.29....................2.33 ...................0.03 Services Index .......................................3,014.98 .............. 2,968.72 ...................2,969.96 ................... 3,015.39................-45.43 ...................-1.51 MSM SHARIAH INDEX...................... 844.94 ..................838.96 ...................... 838.96 .......................845.31.................. -6.35 .................. -0.75 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 12,950,471..................4,445,509 .....................653 ................15,553,481,563 .................. 5 ......................12 .................... 21 .........................38

The top gainer was Al Jazeera Steel, up 5.84 per cent, while the top loser was Bank Sohar

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

with a loss of 5.84 per cent ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: Heavy selling in banking and telecom stocks pushed the MSM 30 Index down 1.71 per cent to 5,199.09 points, its lowest close since April 2009. The MSM Shariah index closed at 838.96 points, down 0.75 per cent, Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of volume, while Ooredoo Oman led in terms of turnover. The top gainer was Al Jazeera Steel, up 5.84 per cent, while the top loser was Bank Sohar with a loss of 5.84 per cent.

As many as 653 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating a turnover of OMR4.45 million with 12.9 million shares changing hands. Out of 38 traded securities, five advanced, 12 declined and 21 remained unchanged.

Omani investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR697,000 worth of shares, while foreign investors remained net sellers at OMR657,000 followed

by GCC and Arab investors, who sold shares amounting to OMR39,000.

Financial Index retreated 1.18 per cent to close at 6,215.81 points.

BankDhofar and Ominvest gained 2.86 per cent and 0.92 per cent, respectively. Bank Sohar, National Bank of Oman, Bank Muscat and Al Madina Takaful declined by 5.84 per cent, 5.38 per cent, 3.64 per cent and 1.32 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index remained stable at 6.662.62 points, up 0.03 per cent. Al Jazeera Steel gained by 5.84 per cent while Al Anwar Ceramics declined by 1.32 per cent.

Services Index was down heavily by 1.51 per cent to close below 3,000 points at 2,969.96 points. Al Jazeera Services and Al Batinah Power advanced by 0.67 per cent and 0.52 per cent, respectively.

Al Maha Petroleum, Renaissance Services, Oman Telecommunications Company, Ooredoo Oman and Phoenix Power declined by 4.97 per cent, 4.35 per cent, 3.23

per cent, 2.92 per cent and 2.10 per cent, respectively.

Emerging markets rise Emerging-market stocks rose the most in three weeks and currencies strengthened as a surprise increase in Chinese exports and an advance in oil prices improved sentiment.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index rebounded from Tuesday’s lowest close since 2009 as overseas shipments from Asia’s largest economy climbed in December for the first time since June.

That failed to halt declines in Chinese shares, which dropped to the lowest levels since the depths of last year’s rout, while South Korea’s Kospi index led the rest of Asia higher. A measure of developing-nation currencies climbed for the first time this year as China’s central bank set the yuan’s fixing little changed.

South Africa’s rand strengthened the most in almost a month and Russia’s ruble rallied as oil halted a seven-day drop.

Asian stocks tracked gains in United States and European equities amid speculation a rout that had wiped more than $5 trillion from global share values this year had gone too far. The unexpected jump in Chinese exports suggested that a weaker yuan may be starting to boost the competitiveness of the world’s largest trading nation. The fourth steady fixing for the currency in a row, after it was cut by the most since August last week, supported exchange rates.

“Sentiment in Asia improved after US and European stocks recovered and the stability of the yuan also encouraged investors,” said Steve Wang, research director at Reorient Financial Markets in Hong Kong.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index gained 0.7 per cent to 728.45. - United Securities/Bloomberg News

INDIAN MARKETS

OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 775,858 ......... 112,230..................... 52 ............0.140 ........... 0.150 ...........0.140............0.145 ............. 0.137............ 0.008............. 5.839 ................0.150 ..............0.150...................0.000 .................. 18,110,204 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 250,000 ........... 53,920......................12 ............0.210 ...........0.220 ...........0.210........... 0.216 .............0.210 ........... 0.006............. 2.857 ................0.220 .............0.207...................0.220 .................333,661,366........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 316,544 ......... 139,369..................... 10 ........... 0.440...........0.444 ...........0.440 .......... 0.440 .............0.436 ........... 0.004............. 0.917 ................0.442..............0.442...................0.444 .................243,259,122........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 114,100 ............ 34,486......................12 ........... 0.304...........0.304 ...........0.300 .......... 0.302 .............0.300 ........... 0.002............. 0.667 ................0.300 ............ 0.290...................0.300 ..................18,483,690 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 231,514 ............ 44,597........................9 ............0.193 ........... 0.193 ...........0.190............0.193 .............0.192.............0.001 ............. 0.521 ................0.190..............0.190................... 0.191 ..................130,253,274........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ..................................41,116 ...............7,950......................12 ............0.194 ........... 0.194 ...........0.193 ............0.193 ............. 0.193............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.193 .............. 0.193...................0.200 ..................19,300,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...........................................................3,148 ...............3,009........................5 ........... 0.960 ...........0.960 ...........0.952........... 1.000 .............1.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.952..............0.952...................0.996................. 200,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING..................... 78 ....................... 6........................1 ............0.081 ........... 0.081 ...........0.081 ........... 0.090 .............0.090 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.081 ..............0.081...................0.089................... 10,968,750 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................4,000 ...............6,600........................1 ............1.650 ........... 1.650 ...........1.650 ............1.650 ............. 1.650............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.650 ............. 0.000...................1.650..................148,005,000 .......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 719,769 ........... 113,311..................... 54 ............0.157 ........... 0.158 ...........0.157 ............0.157 ............. 0.157............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.158 .............. 0.157...................0.158................... 23,561,775 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ............................................................................ 131 .....................25........................1 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190............0.193 ............. 0.193............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190............. 0.000...................0.190..................275,031,976 ........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ..............................637 .....................45........................2 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.070........... 0.070 .............0.070 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.070..............0.070...................0.073....................2,100,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 501,553............ 43,363.....................22 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.085........... 0.086 .............0.086 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.085..............0.085...................0.086.................... 7,740,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ............................. 1,500 .................. 134........................1 ........... 0.089 ...........0.089 ...........0.089........... 0.089 .............0.089 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.089..............0.085...................0.089.................... 5,237,046 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 189,000 ............11,340........................5 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.059...................0.060 .................. 17,398,838 .........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER.................................................................... 110 .....................39........................1 ........... 0.352 ...........0.352 ...........0.352........... 0.352 .............0.352 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.352............. 0.000...................0.352................... 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 231,780............ 44,638..................... 10 ............0.193 ........... 0.193 ...........0.190............0.193 ............. 0.193............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190..............0.190...................0.193..................137,880,424 ........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH..................................................4,862 ............. 11,783........................3 ........... 2.440...........2.440 ...........2.400 .......... 2.425 .............2.450 ...........-0.025 ........... -1.020 ...............2.400 ............ 2.400...................2.435..................231,483,698........1.000 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 193,825............ 35,540........................9 ............0.184 ........... 0.184 ...........0.181 ............0.183 ............. 0.185............-0.002 ............-1.081................0.181 ..............0.182...................0.184...................36,600,000.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ..................................16,614 ...............4,976........................2 ........... 0.300...........0.300 ...........0.295........... 0.300 .............0.304 ...........-0.004 ............-1.316................0.295..............0.295...................0.300 ..................88,864,105 .........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................... 14,753 ................1,113........................3 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.077 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.076 ...........-0.001 ............-1.316................0.075..............0.075...................0.077...................13,125,000 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 1,761,417 .....1,172,211................... 110 ........... 0.680 ...........0.680 ...........0.652........... 0.664 .............0.684 ...........-0.020 ........... -2.924 ...............0.656..............0.652...................0.656................. 432,226,969 .......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 484,854 ..........727,581..................... 63 ............1.510 ........... 1.510............1.500........... 1.500 ............. 1.550............-0.050 ........... -3.226 ...............1.500..............1.500...................1.530................1,125,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 2,449,108 ... 1,037,438................... 110 ........... 0.434 ...........0.434 ...........0.420........... 0.424 .............0.440 ...........-0.016 ........... -3.636 ...............0.422..............0.422...................0.424 ................. 971,732,781 ........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 1,020,673 .......156,731.....................24 ............0.160 ........... 0.160 ...........0.150 ........... 0.154 ............. 0.161 ............-0.007 ........... -4.348 ...............0.150 .............. 0.147...................0.150...................44,760,257 .........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ..... 100,000 .........172,250........................6 ............1.750 ........... 1.800 ...........1.700 ............1.720 ............. 1.810............-0.090 ........... -4.972 ...............1.800.............. 1.650...................1.800..................118,680,000........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 881,500 ......... 216,423......................31 ........... 0.258 ...........0.258 ...........0.245........... 0.246 .............0.260 ...........-0.014 ........... -5.385 ...............0.245............. 0.242...................0.245 .................329,814,722 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 706,336 ......... 102,619......................11 ............0.145 ........... 0.146 ...........0.145 ............0.145 .............0.154............-0.009 ........... -5.844 ...............0.145 .............. 0.145...................0.146................. 209,008,800 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 11,014,780.....4,253,726 ...............582 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......28........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................26,013 .................. 780........................2 ........... 0.030 ...........0.030 ...........0.030........... 0.030 .............0.030 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.030..............0.030...................0.031....................2,550,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ...................................................5,000 ...............2,030........................2 ........... 0.406 ...........0.406 ...........0.406........... 0.410 .............0.410............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.406..............0.402...................0.406 ..................64,575,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................38,100 ...............1,849........................4 ........... 0.048 ...........0.049 ...........0.048........... 0.049 .............0.049 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.049..............0.048...................0.049 ................... 6,125,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES .............................................20 .....................13........................1 ........... 0.640 ...........0.640 ...........0.640........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.640............. 0.000...................0.640 .................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING......................................3,000 ...................213........................1 ............0.071 ........... 0.071 ...........0.071 ........... 0.072 .............0.072 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.071 ..............0.065...................0.070.................... 5,414,976 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,052,367 ........ 73,384..................... 29 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.069........... 0.070 .............0.070 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.069..............0.068...................0.069................. 105,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 806,180 ......... 113,000..................... 28 ............0.141 ........... 0.141............0.139 ........... 0.140 ............. 0.143............-0.003 ........... -2.098 ...............0.139 .............. 0.139...................0.140................. 204,764,204 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,930,680 ...... 191,269..................... 67 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ..............................963 .................. 106........................1 ............0.110 ........... 0.110............0.110 ............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.110 .............. 0.110...................0.200 ..................33,302,402.........0.100 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .............................................4,024 ..................406........................2 ............0.101 ........... 0.101............0.101 ............0.101 ............. 0.101............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.101 .............. 0.101...................0.110 ...................32,283,910 .........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 .............................24 .......................2........................1 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.095........... 0.095 .............0.095 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.099...................30,795,353 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................5,011 ...................515........................4 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 3........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

SHARE MARKET

Sensex recovers; rupee gains MUMBAI: In a volatile market, the S&P BSE benchmark Sensex snapped its last two-day losing streak, ending higher by 172.08 points to close at 24,854.11 due to fag-end buying on the back of higher global cues.

The Sensex recovered afterwards to 24,956.54 before ending at 24,854.11, showing a gain of 172.08 points or 0.70 per cent.

The Sensex had dropped by 252.30 points or 1.01 per cent in previous two days. The 50-share Nifty also

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

rose by 52.10 points or 0.69 pct to close at 7,562.40 after hitting a day’s low of 7,425.80, the lowest level since July 14, 2014.

Rupee rises In a volatile market, the Indian rupee ended marginally higher by one paise to 66.85 against the US dollar on mild selling of dollars by banks and exporters. The Indian unit resumed higher at 66.82 per dollar against the Tuesday’s closing level of 66.86. - PTI

Biggest Asian software exporter dips as Indian floods affect sales HYDERABAD: Shares of Tata Consultancy Services headed for a 19-month low after sales fell short of estimates in a quarter marked by seasonal holidays and floods that stalled work at a key development centre in India.

The stock fell 1.8 per cent to Rs2,286.10 in Mumbai, extending losses for a third day, compared to a 0.8 per cent gain in India’s benchmark S&P BSE Sensex. The shares have dropped 6.2 per cent in January, heading for the worst month since March 2014, according to data.

Group revenue at Asia’s biggest software services provider rose 11.7 per cent to Rs273.6 billion ($4.1 billion) in the quarter through December, missing the Rs276.4 billion average estimate in a survey of 27 analysts.

Net income climbed 12 per cent to Rs61.1 billion, exceeding the Rs60.1 billion estimate.

“The reported numbers came in even lower” than expecta-

tions, Credit Suisse Group AG’s Mumbai-based analysts Anantha Narayan and Nitin Jain wrote in a research note on Tuesday. “The seasonal weakness seems a bit more pronounced this year.”

Challenging quarter The Mumbai-based company, which in October predicted weaker growth in the second half of the fiscal year ending March, had to struggle with the worst flooding in a century in the southern Indian city of Chennai, where it has 65,000 employees. The natural calamity disrupted work for four days, reducing billable hours during the quarter on top of the furloughs and holiday seasons in the United States including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“In a challenging quarter with significant cross-currency and other headwinds, we have generated excellent cash flows,” chief financial officer Rajesh Gopinathan said in a statement, referring

to the depreciation of the British pound and euro against the dollar.

The local unit of Nomura Holdings, in a report dated Wednesday, said it expects Tata Consultancy’s revenue growth to trail Infosys, which is scheduled to announce its earnings on Thursday.

Tata Consultancy reported a revenue growth of 0.5 per cent in constant-currency terms from the previous quarter, while profit increased 0.9 per cent.

Chief executive officer Natarajan Chandrasekaran told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday that he doesn’t see any ‘negative news’ barring another slow quarter for its UK unit Diligenta.

The company will pay a dividend of Rs5.5 a share.

Crucial markets “I think customers are going to continue to invest in digital, continue to grow,” Chandrasekaran said. “Now we need to see how fast they will ramp up.”

The operating margin for the quarter was 26.6 per cent, and there’s no threat to its projected band of 26 per cent to 28 per cent, Gopinathan told reporters in Mumbai.

US, Europe markets The company added one client with potential for $100 million in revenue during the quarter, and two that could bring in $20 million each. Gross employee addition in the period was 22,118, with the attrition rate falling to 15.9 per cent.

Markets such as the US and Europe, and the healthcare sector are crucial to Tata Consultancy and the company will seek acquisitions there, Chandrasekaran said. - Bloomberg News

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

B3

MARKET 2015

China imports record crude

after price crash SHANGHAI: China imported a record amount of crude last year as oil’s lowest annual average price in more than a decade spurred stockpiling and boosted demand from independent refiners.

The world’s largest energy consumer increased imports last year by 8.8 per cent to a record 334 million metric tonnes, or about 6.7 million barrels a day, according to preliminary data released by the Beijing-based General Administration of Customs on Wednesday.

Inbound shipments in December jumped to 33.19 million tonnes, while oil product exports rose to 4.32 million metric tonnes, both also records.

Exploiting price fall China has exploited a plunge in crude prices by easing rules to allow private refiners, known as teapots, to import crude and by boosting shipments to fill emergency stockpiles. The nation’s overseas purchases may rise to 370 million metric tonnes this year, surpassing estimated United States imports of about 363 million tonnes, according to Li Li, a research director with ICIS China, an industry researcher.

“China’s crude appetite will continue to be driven by a boom in teapot imports this year and the filling of strategic reserve sites amid multi-year low prices,” Li Li said by phone from Guangzhou. “In the meantime, US dependency on oil imports will gradually decline with higher domestic output.”

China may start four additional strategic petroleum reserves this year as part of a plan to stockpile enough oil to cover 100 days worth of net imports by 2020 and thirteen independent refiners have been granted import quotas totaling a combined 55 million tonnes, or 18 per cent of the nation’s annual imports. - Bloomberg News

GCC can diversify revenue sources without taxation In an 18-point plan developed for a GCC government, Oxford Strategic Consulting identified non-tax revenue sources with the potential to generate 10 per cent to the GDP

Times News Service MUSCAT: It is possible to diversify government revenues without taxation even in the face of the significant drop in domestic energy prices, research by Oxford Strategic Consulting for major Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments has found.

Given the volatility and unpredictability of oil prices, the primary economic strategy for all GCC countries is to diversify government income and reduce dependency on oil and gas revenues.

However, introducing taxation in the GCC region may prove a hard pill to swallow for citizens whose economic, political and social lives are based on a tax-free, subsided and levy-free way of life.

In an 18-point plan developed for one particular GCC government, Oxford identified non-tax revenue sources with the potential to generate at least 10 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP).

B U S I N E S S S T R AT E G Y

DIVERSIFICATION: Given the volatility and unpredictability of oil prices, the primary economic strategy for all Gulf Cooperation Council

(GCC) countries is to diversify government income and reduce dependency on oil and gas revenues. – File picture

One of these innovative revenue sources is maximising government revenues, such as stateowned enterprises (SOEs) and pension funds, which are currently untapped and could produce a huge rate of return.

National workforce Oxford has also suggested better utilising and deploying the national workforce in creative ways to not only generate government revenue but also to support other objectives such as increasing entrepreneurialism and private sector employment.

This is feasible given that GCC

governments are, on the whole, the favoured employer for nationals and often have an excess of human resources.

Another revenue source is increasing the willingness and ability of citizens to contribute to the national economy using ‘nudge’ motivational techniques as used by the UK government’s Behavioural Insights Unit.

Creating new revenue generating ventures in areas where effective service impacts the well-being of the population or where it could compete effectively with the private sector, Oxford says.

The consulting agency says that

this is more desirable than selling overseas investments and privatising state assets, both of which provide only ‘one-off’ revenue whilst losing long-term income.

New ventures Oxford has also recommended minimising cost in new ventures.

As many resource-rich governments are embarking on massive infrastructure projects for national development, there is great potential for increasing revenue and reducing risk.

Oxford’s research demonstrates that there are previously unconsidered solutions to help balance

government revenues whilst also maintaining economic and social stability. Every GCC state and other resource-dependent economies need to act now before it is too late to adopt these innovative solutions.

Oxford Strategic Consulting is an Oxford- and GCC-based consultancy that specialises in building human capital across the GCC and Europe.

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AGREEMENT

PDO joins hands with Oman Society of Contractors to create job opportunities Times News Service

NEW CONNECTIONS: The team said they were able to leverage

existing links and create new connections with associations representing some of the key industries for Oman’s 2020 economic diversification strategy. – Supplied picture

Drive to promote Oman convention centre in Canada Times News Service MUSCAT: International promotional campaign of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) continued in 2016 by participation in the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) convening leaders held in Vancouver, Canada.

During this event, the OCEC team connected with key decision-makers and meeting planners and shared the possibilities of Oman as an emerging destination and the OCEC as the region’s business events hub.

“The OCEC has a unique partnership with PCMA and the development of strong relationships with professional associations is one of the cornerstones of our business development plan,” said Trevor McCartney, the OCEC general manager.

“We were able to leverage existing links and create new connections with associations representing some of the key industries for Oman’s 2020 economic diversification strategy. It was also a great opportunity to update the PCMA Oman International Advisory Board on the final preparations for our fast approaching launch in September 2016,” he added.

The OCEC general manager said that there is a great deal of interest in the business events industry in Oman as a country and the OCEC as a venue.

According to McCartney, various elements prompting that

interest include the centre’s phenomenal facilities, the Sultanate’s outstanding natural assets, as well as the incredible wealth of intellectual capital in a variety of sectors and the opportunities of knowledge exchange it offers.

Global convention Richard L. Baltimore III, adviser to the Omran Board of Directors, the Sultanate’s master developer of the OCEC, commented, “Networking among this prime concentration of over 4,000 senior international business meeting industry leaders afforded a prime opportunity to introduce and promote the Sultanate of Oman as a serious contender within the growing global convention and business events industry.

“Although less well known than some other established destinations, I found both North American and other attendees to be very receptive to representations about the historical richness and uniqueness of Oman and its people. Indeed, the OCEC will herald a wide range of new opportunities and serve as an ideal vehicle to showcase the Sultanate’s immense intellectual capital, while acting as a catalyst to promote economic growth, research innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

In addition to various meetings with industry representatives from around the world, the OCEC team met Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International.

MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Oman Society of Contractors (OSC). The agreement is part of PDO’s national objectives programme to create sustainable employment and training opportunities for Omani jobseekers.

It was signed by Raoul Restucci, PDO managing director, and Shahswar Al Balushi, chief executive officer of Oman Society of Contractors. Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), both parties will cooperate to promote Omanisation through training and direct employment in the construction sector.

PDO’s national objective programme, which aims to create 7,000 job opportunities in the private sector for young Omanis each year through to 2020, will work with OSC to identify the areas for collaboration and exchange experiences.

PDO will also work with its contractor Apex E-Commerce to support OSC in training and employment through the ‘Mujeed’ initiative which matches qualified and experienced jobseekers with both public and private sector vacancies free of charge.

“PDO is committed to providing jobs and training opportunities for young Omanis across a broad range of trades and skills that will benefit the individuals and their families as well as generating sustainable long-term economic benefits for

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS: The cooperation agreement was signed by Raoul Restucci, PDO managing director; and Shahswar Al Balushi, chief executive officer of Oman Society of Contractors. – Supplied picture

the Sultanate. This is a further example of our commitment in action and we look forward to working with the OSC to deliver this important programme for the construction industry,” said Restucci.

Al Balushi stated that the MoU is a live demonstration of crosssector collaboration as well as client contractor partnership.

“A competent and skillful local workforce is a great asset for everyone. We will be working with PDO to identify the appropriate develop-

ment of young Omanis in fields that suit their career aspirations and sector requirements,” he noted.

National objective “This is a continuous national objective that requires our dedication and commitment. The best way to address the present challenges is to build appropriate capacity and a talent pool that is committed and productive. The private sector needs to be proactive and should join forces to resolve their chal-

lenges,” the official added.

Since 2011, PDO’s national objectives programme has generated more than 20,000 job and training opportunities with its contractors for Omanis in the oil and gas industry as well as construction focusing on areas such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineering trades. This has been achieved working closely alongside partners including the Ministry of Manpower, PDO contractors, and local training institutes.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

FEATURE

PUERTO RICO IN DEBT TRAP C

aribbean island of Puerto Rico — the largest United States ‘territory’ – is broke, and a human calamity is unfolding there. Unless a constructive course of political action is found in 2016, Puerto Rican migration to the 50 states will rival the scale of the 1930s Dust Bowl exodus from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other climate-devastated states.

With public debt service (principal plus interest) projected to reach nearly 40 per cent of government revenue in 2016, Puerto Rico needs a new set of economic policies. But austerity will not work; this must be an investment-led recovery, with official measures oriented toward boosting growth by reducing the cost of doing business.

The question is whether Puerto Rico will have that option. Much of its $73 billion debt has been issued by government corporations. But, though federal law allows such municipal debt to be restructured under Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code in all 50 states, this does not apply to US territories like Puerto Rico. As a result, a protracted series of confusing legal battles and selective defaults looms. The cost of essential infrastructure services – electricity, water, sewers, and transportation – will go up while quality declines.

One response has been to demand further belt-tightening, for example, in the form of wage reductions and healthcare cuts.

But residents of Puerto Rico are also US citizens and they vote with their feet – the population has fallen from 3.9 million to 3.5 million in recent years as talented and energetic people have moved to Florida, Texas, and other parts of the mainland.

The more creditors insist on lower living standards and higher taxes, the more the tax base will simply leave the island – causing bondholders’ losses to rise. Disorganised defaults by public corporations will make it hard for any part of the private credit system to function.

Leading conservatives in the US – including at the Hoover Institution – have long argued in favour of using established bankruptcy procedures when large financial firms fail. The same logic applies here: A judge can remove any doubt that actual insolvency exists, while also ensuring that credit remains available during a restructuring. During that process,

a judge can rely on precedent and ensure fairness across creditor classes based on the precise terms under which loans were obtained. Puerto Rico needs private-sector investment, which requires taking three steps. For starters, bureaucratic hurdles to job creation should be eliminated, including by using state-of-the-art technology to make government more transparent. Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, has long emphasised this point.

Second, the cost of essential inputs for industry needs to fall. Electricity on the island is significantly more expensive than in Florida, in part because of underinvestment. More broadly, there are pressing needs for public investment to improve infrastructure, which implies great opportunities for private-sector participation. But none of this will happen until the debt overhang is removed.

Finally, Puerto Rico needs better fiscal management. The island’s idiosyncratic tax and expenditure system – and the lack of effective local control over fiscal policy – has become part of the longer-term problem. With congressional support and pro-growth policies, Puerto Rico can attract talented Americans (and legal immigrants) to move to the island, start companies, and work hard. Higher education in Puerto Rico remains strong, but more than 80,000 people leave every year (and only 20,000 move in).

In part, high levels of net migration reflect Puerto Rico’s badly frayed health-care system. Puerto Rico doesn’t need a bailout. It needs to reduce the cost of doing business – cut the red tape, encourage investment, and attract people to work (and pay tax in) a beautiful place. It also needs what has been a constructive part of the American economic model over 200 years – the ability to restructure municipal debt through bankruptcy.

– SIMON JOHNSON/Project Syndicate

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ROUND-UP

Lulu opens yet another outlet in Saudi Arabia

Speaking at the inauguration, Lulu group chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali announced the proposed launch of four more hypermarkets this year, two in Jeddah and one each in Hail and Hofuf

DAMMAM: Marching ahead with its aggressive expansion in the Saudi Arabian market, Middle East’s retail major, Lulu Hypermarkets has opened its latest outlet in Dammam, the capital city of Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

It’s the sixth in the Kingdom and 121st in the GCC. The latest hypermarket was officially inaugurated

by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz yesterday. The occasion was attended by Eng. Abdullah Al Ahamed, president of Dammam Municipality and several high ranking officials from various gov-

ernment departments, representatives from local business community and prominent citizens, says a press release.

Speaking at the inauguration, Lulu group chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali announced the proposed launch of four more hypermarkets this year, two in Jeddah and one each in Hail and Hofuf.

“In 2017 we will launch six more in the Kingdom including in Mecca and Medina,” added Yusuff Ali. The new hypermarket, located in Prince Mohamed bin Fahad Road in Dammam provides a one-

stop shopping destination for the growing city dwellers, which include a growing community of Nationals and expatriates.

The hypermarket also houses Sparkys family entertainment, food court consisting of authentic Arabic fine dining, Arabic and Filipino cuisine, and Coffee shops, Pharmacy from ATM and money exchange.

Revealing his investment plans, Yusuff Ali said: “We have already invested more than SAR 800 million till now and intend to further invest SAR 700 million by the end of 2017, taking our total investment to more than SAR 1.5 billion in the Kingdom.”

“We are very confident that this great country will further prosper under the visionary leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The support and love extended by the rulers give us further impetus to serve

B5

the growing economy of this country. Lulu is committed to doing its bit to help the kingdom by opening more outlets, thereby generating employment opportunities to talented Saudis. The opening of the hypermarket in Dammam underscores our increasing presence in the region and our commitment to serve one of the growing and important markets in Saudi Arabia.”

“We have always believed that it’s our duty to nurture the local talent and currently there are more than 1,500 Saudis who work with us and our goal is to provide employment to 5,000 Saudi nationals by the end of 2017,” said Yusuff Ali. Currently Lulu has more than 30 per cent Saudis in their workforce and provides best quality training to absorb them in various managerial and specialised sections.

Other important attendees at the inauguration were Lulu Group executive director Ashraf Ali M. A., directors Althaf Mohamed and Salim M. A., regional directors of Saudi Arabia – Abdul Basheer, Mohammed Shehim and Mohammed Mustafa.

E X PA N S I O N

EXHIBITION

Comex to offer cost-effective ICT solutions from April 12-16 MUSCAT: OITE Trade Fairs has confirmed that the 26th edition of Comex previously scheduled to take place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), will now take place at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from April 12-16, says a press release.

“The last edition of Comex attracted more than 120,000 participants over a steady course of five days, which was the highest figure ever recorded in the 25 years of the show’s history.

"This proves that the ICT sector, which is growing at a steady pace in Oman, has a lot of potential within both the country’s public and private sectors,” says Tarek Ali, general manager- Exhibitions, OITE. Although Oman’s economy is still heavily reliant on oil with the oil and gas sector representing 75 per cent of total revenues, non-oil revenues are expected to grow marginally from OMR1.5b in 2015 to OMR2.45b this year, as the 2016 budget focuses on increasing the contribution of nonoil revenue. In reducing dependency on the oil and gas industry, as companies from the public and private sector step up cost-effective measures for their business practices Comex this year will go one step further to offer solutions that aim to minimise cost and maximise productivity for com-

panies from industries related to transport infrastructure, education, warehousing, oil and gas and related sectors.

“Comex 2016 has already received international participation from countries including UAE, Iran, India and USA. Keeping in line with the government’s initiative to connect all homes and businesses to the national broadband network by 2040, Comex 2016 will also have a dedicated pavilion for FTTH Broadband Companies to discuss strategies that will spearhead Oman’s ICT infrastructure development,” says Ashit Barnes, Exhibition director, OITE Trade Fairs.

Value-added features Other value-added features at Comex include the Comex B2B matchmaking platform which will organise tailor-made business meetings between potential customers and the government with exhibitors, the Comex conference which will invite dialogue between key dignitaries from the government, private sector and industry experts, the Comex seminars which will provide opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors to deliver presentations on their products or services and the Comex Demo Zone where exhibitors will be given an opportunity to demonstrate or talk about their products and solutions.

PA K I S TA N S E C T O R

Gulf Air celebrates inaugural service to Multan, Faisalabad

Joyalukkas opens 6th showroom in Dammam DAMMAM: Joyalukkas' commitment for growth and expansion continues in the year 2016.

This year the ‘world’s favourite jeweller' has planned to open more than 15 showrooms around the world. Joyalukkas has also started the year in the festive spirit for its customers with new exciting promotions wherein jewellery lovers get the opportunity to purchase a host of exciting designs, says a press release.

Joyalukkas showroom in Lulu Hypermarket, Prince Mohammed bin Fahad Road, Ash Shathi Sharqi, near Sheraton Hotel, Dammam was inaugurated by Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in the presence of Yusuff Ali M. A., managing director, Lulu Group International, John Paul Alukkas, executive director, Joyalukkas Group, Sattam Al Omairy, director, Joyalukkas KSA, many local dignitaries and VIP’s yesterday.

Joy Alukkas, chairman & MD, Joyalukkas Group said: “We are very pleased that our goals to expand rapidly across GCC and India are coming to fruition ac-

cording to schedule proving that there is quite a demand for the unique Joyalukkas experience. I personally thank each and every customer for the support and encouragement offered.”

John Paul Alukkas, executive director, Joyalukkas Group stated: “It’s our first in Dammam hence a milestone for us because it is the fastest growing city in Saudi

Arabia and a developing business hub. This new showroom is part of our plans to expand our reach further to be more accessible to our customers and continue offering only the best in products and services.”

Customers at the Joyalukkas showroom in Dammam located in Lulu Hypermarket can enjoy world-class collections in stunning

designs, as well as irresistible offers and surprises, such as free 2-gram gold coin on purchase of diamond, polki and pearl jewellery and free quarter gram gold coin on purchase of gold and precious stone Jewellery, zero deduction on exchange of old 22K gold Jewellery.

These offers will be available till January 31, along with no making charges on 8 gram 22K gold coins.

BAHRAIN: Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, recently celebrated the airline’s inaugural service to its two newest Pakistan destinations: the cities of Multan and Faisalabad.

The Gulf Air aircraft were welcomed into Multan International Airport and Faisalabad International Airport with a celebratory water cannon salute and, upon arrival, Gulf Air crew joined a number of local media and travel industry representatives, Muhammad Saleem Motiwala, Gulf Air’s Country manag-

er to Pakistan, and the sales and airport teams in both locations for an inaugural event, says a press release.

Taking the airline’s total Pakistan destinations up to seven, Multan and Faisalabad supplement Gulf Air’s current service to five cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot. Gulf Air flights to Multan, Pakistan’s 5th largest city by population, and Faisalabad, a major industrial and manufacturing hub, are operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft.

‘ FA S H I O N F O R R E A L P E O P L E '

Max's new campaign features Arab Idol season 2 winner MUSCAT: Max, the largest value fashion brand in the region announced the launch of its new brand campaign ‘Fashion for Real People’.

It highlights human authenticity and encourages people to embrace their own unique style by treating fashion as an extension of one’s personality. Max’s new campaign aims to inspire consumers to embrace their individuality and motivates them to dress for their

comfort, says a press release.

For the new campaign, Max has worked in collaboration with Mohammed Assaf, well known for being the winner of the second season of Arab Idol. Assaf’s humble beginnings and ‘down to earth’ characteristics blend seamlessly into the essence of the campaign and together they have created a campaign that emotionally connects with real people. Assaf has been chosen for this association

not only for his accomplishments, but also because he is a strong role model and inspiration for youth in the region.

Ramanathan Hariharan, CEO of Max said: “This isn’t a typical advertising campaign about the brand proposition, instead we want to connect with the real people through the brand communication.

Our consumers are families,young adults, boys and girls that shop at Max because it feels real to them

and we wanted to showcase our shoppers, their unique styles and personalities and the synergy they have built with the brand Max. This campaign recognises true comfortable fashion not solely dictated by glamour pages or catwalks and allows our shoppers’ unique individuality to shine through the fashion choices they make. Ultimately, the campaign recognises that the best kind of style is one that allows you to be comfortable in your own skin.”

Adopting an integrated marketing communication strategy, Max’s new 360-degree campaign included a social experiment launched on YouTube, a series of TVCs, radio spots, print and outdoor advertisements as well instore branding featuring ‘real people’ from all walks of life as their most authentic selves. The social experiment sets the stage for the campaign as it poses the question: What is fashion?

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ROUND-UP Bank Muscat supports camel racing festival The support comes within the bank’s strategy to promote and preserve the country’s traditions, heritage and culture

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, in step with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in events of national importance, extended support to a traditional camel race held in the wilayat of Ibri recently.

The popular event was a big attraction for residents and visitors, says a press release.

Established on the directive of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, camel racing festivals held across the Sultanate reflect His Majesty’s focus on the preservation of Omani heritage and care for the country’s camel wealth.

The event attracted strong participation of thoroughbred camels from across the Sultanate. Camels are an important element of the desert life in Oman, representing a deeply appreciated and highly valued tradition. Omani thorough-

bred are reckoned among the finest racing camels in the region.

Aimed at encouraging people to raise camel livestock, which contributes to sustainable development and economic growth, the bank’s support to the event complements the government efforts in boosting the camel livestock sector. The support comes within the bank’s strategy to promote and preserve the country’s traditions, heritage and culture. The livestock wealth is of economic importance

and the bank remains committed to supporting all segments of society, including the farming and herding community.

Alongside the country’s modernisation, the heritage and culture of Oman remain a major attraction for tourists visiting the country. Traditional sporting activities like camel racing, which reflect the deep-rooted Omani heritage, are major tourist attractions, offering an opportunity for visitors to experience the country’s vibrant heritage and culture.

Bank Muscat supports all important national events aimed at preserving the country’s rich traditions, heritage and culture.

In appreciation of the support to the event, Sultan bin Mohammed Al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, honoured Bank Muscat and Abdul Rahman Al Shizawi, deputy regional manager – Dhahirah Region, received the commendation memento.

M A JA N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O M PA N Y

Workshop on eTendering System held MUSCAT: Continuing the implementation of the eTendering System at Majan Electricity Company and in collaboration with the Information Technology Authority (ITA), a workshop was held recently at Majan office in Muscat for Majan Electricity Company and the ITA officials to discuss the development of the system and to achieve the desired outcomes of it in the short and long term.

Both sides agreed on the importance of concerted efforts and cooperation of continued development of the system so as to ensure the completion of Majan projects in 2016 on time. Moreover, the importance to provide support

to the staff as well as companies and bidders and to overcome the obstacles raised were discussed, says a press release.

During this meeting participants in this project from both sides were honoured and presented certificates of appreciation. After this

IRRESISTIBLE OFFERS

Street food magic at its best as Mumtaz Mahal offers great value dishes MUSCAT: Mumtaz Mahal is a great place for food in general, but now with their newly launched Street Food @ Mumtaz, it treats guests to a variety of great value dishes that won’t disappoint.

Set in the lush green lawns of Mumtaz Mahal, the fully-licensed Street Food @ Mumtaz offers the ambience and gastronomical delights inspired from the various streets of India, says a press release.

Highlights from the menu include special dishes like the grilled chicken wings with pineapple BBQ Sauce, kurkure aloo bondas with spicy green mango and mint dip, chicken tikka wraps, keema pav, traditional chaats, the much-loved Kolkata signature Jhal Muri, and the ever-popular Bombay vada pav, alongside beverages like Punjabi lassi and the Indian favourite masala chai. Each dish is an iconic representation of a different part of India and has its own texture and taste that combines with the condiments to make it incredibly flavoursome.

“Street Food @ Mumtaz is an attempt to take food-lovers on a journey through the various

Set in the lush green lawns of Mumtaz Mahal, the fully-licensed Street Food @ Mumtaz offers the ambience and gastronomical delights inspired from the various streets of India lanes and bylanes of India to experience the flavours and excitement they usually experience on the streets of India,” said Gautam Moudgill, general manager, Mumtaz Mahal. “And the menu of Street Food @ Mumtaz complements Mumtaz Mahal’s menu in terms of authenticity and quality,” he added.

If you’re looking for a casual eat out, this incredible al fresco dining place is a fine choice. Open Monday to Saturday from 6pm onward, it offers light items that are light on your pocket too.

C E R T I F I C AT I O N

Customers continue to win big at Malabar Gold festival MUSCAT: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the prominent jewellery retailer, is running the fifth edition of Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival, one of the biggest jewellery events in GCC until January 31.

The festival will display distinctive pieces of jewellery from across the world and offers massive gifts and irresistible offers, says a press release.

During this much-awaited festival customers get unprecedented opportunities to win a total of 250,000 gold coins and up to OMR200,000 instant cash refund.

Customers have already won over 90,000 gold coins through this promotion with the successful completion of the 25 days of the festival, the customers continue to win big across all the outlets of Malabar Gold & Diamond. This great winning has created excitement among customers.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival will captivate the customers by exhibiting eye catching designs in gold, platinum, diamonds and precious stones from different parts of the world to flaunt any occasion or event and are well priced too. The festival stands apart from the usual jewellery exhibitions and promotions and as the tag line indicates - ‘Everyone Wins’, i.e. every customer gets a chance to be a winner through this festival.

session, Majan staff started floating new tenders of 2016 projects electronically at E-Tendering system.

By the way the E-Tendering system was developed by a joint body with the efforts of the Tender Board and some of the relevant government agencies. ETendering site has a database of more than 4,000 registered and approved company to the Tender Board, where Majan Electricity Company is one of the first companies and organisations that have sought from the beginning to use the system in line with the company’s move into the development of its business and improve the level of performance.

I C O N I C R E P R E S E N TAT I O N

For every purchase of gold jewellery above OMR200, the customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon through which they can win a guaranteed gold coin or up to 100 gold coins instantly. With every diamond jewellery purchase, the customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon for a guaranteed cash refund and get a chance to win up to 100 per cent cash back. The customers who buy diamond jewellery worth OMR200 or above are eligible to get both the coupons.

To add customer’s delight, the group also offers ‘Zero Deduction Exchange’ scheme through which customers can update their old ornaments to the latest collection of Malabar Gold & Diamonds without any loss. Any 22 ct old gold ornaments can be exchanged

with the latest Malabar Gold & Diamonds designs by paying only making charges ensuring they don’t lose any value on the rate of gold. Furthermore, 8gm gold coins can be bought from their outlets with absolutely no making charge during this period.

Operating 144 retail outlets globally, the group is always at the forefront when it comes to promotions and celebrations. The last four editions of ‘Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival’ elicited tremendous response from the jewellery lovers.

This time also the customers are excited to be a part of this much awaited festival to witness the rarest collection of jewellery from across the world and to avail fabulous offers.

Sharakah ISO 9001: 2015 Transition Programme to be held on February 2 MUSCAT: Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said, director general of Investment Promotion at Ithraa, Alhuwiya International Management Consultancy is hosting a programme in Muscat on February 2 at Crowne Plaza Muscat, as a response to the official publication of the ISO 9001:2015 recently.

It will be led by Colin Macnee, UK delegation leader at ISO/TC 176 (the ISO technical committee responsible for Quality Management and Quality Assurance) and secretary of the ISO 9001:2015 update, says a press release.

The one-day programme will cover the key changes to the ISO 9001 standard, its impact to government institutions, private entities and practitioners and what organisations need to do for transition from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015. Faisal Al Said will be speaking about Ithraa’s journey as the first government organisation in the Sultanate to be certified in ISO 9001.

Participants can expect an intensive and interactive session with a case study on transitioning from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015. There will also be sharing of lessons learned in various industries, specific to the region. The targeted audience comes from organisations that are currently certified as well as

When the new management took over in 2011, one of our first priorities was to implement quality standards and many consultants advised us to go for ISO 9001:2008. We are delighted that we have been certified and we are in the process of upgrading to ISO 9001:2015 Abdullah Al Jufaili General manager of Sharakah

those which are planning to be certified in the near future.

Marwa Ali Al Kharusi, an entrepreneur and founder of the company said: “I was intrigued when I was told that one of the significant changes in the standard is replacement of the clause ‘management responsibility’ to ‘leadership’ and that the role of the ‘management representative’ has been removed.

Since ISO 9001 is the world’s leading quality management standard and people are keen to know about the revision, we decided to offer the programme.”

Abdullah Al Jufaili, general manager of Sharakah, will also be sharing Sharakah’s story in implementing the ISO 9001 standard. “We very much value the importance of applying best practices and abiding by international standards. When the new management took over in 2011, one of our first priorities was to implement quality standards and many consultants advised us to go for ISO 9001:2008. We are delighted that we have been certified and we are in the process of upgrading to ISO 9001:2015,” said Al Jufaili.

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India Education Exhibition 2016 set to be held on January 18, 19 The exhibition displays attractive options available to NRI and other students from Muscat and beyond to obtain undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in various disciplines

MUSCAT: Indian Education Exhibition 2016 being held in Oman is a one-stop information event for learning about a variety of professional and vocational courses that NRI and other students can pursue in reputed institutions of higher learning.

Students, along with their parents will get an opportunity to personally interact with college administrators and professors, to know about the variety of educational programmes available in India, on January 18 and 19 at Hotel Haffa House, Ruwi, Muscat, from 3.45pm to 9.30pm says a press release.

The event is being held for the 11th consecutive year. The exhibition is co-sponsored by Manipal University, India and organised

by WNE, Indus Fairs & Events (India) Pvt. Ltd, Lynx Ads, Muscat and World nation Expo.

The exhibition displays attractive options available to NRI and other students from Muscat and beyond to obtain undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, business management, marketing and communications, arts and science, hospitality & hotel management and allied health sciences.

The visitors will get an opportunity to interact with the faculties / officials of the leading educational institutions, get updated information, fee structure, eligibility criteria and programmes which are currently in high demand, few of the institutions are also offering spot admissions. Information about personality development, communication skills and demanding IT courses and programmes will be available at the venue, for which students otherwise has to travel a distance and spend time and money.

This event will have nearly 18 leading and highly reputed Indian universities with more than 100 institutions under them offering nearly 250 and above programmes. Few of the leading institutions are Anna University, Manipal University, Thapar University, SDM Society, SRM University, Hindustan University, Datta Meghe Medical Science University, D.Y Patil University, KJ Somaiya Group of Institutions, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, MVJ Institutions, NITTE University, Sona Engineering College, Ramdeo Baba Engineering College, Jain International School. All the participating institutes are recognised by the AICTE, UGC and respective government bodies in India.

Courses offered by the participating institutes: BE, ME / BTech / MTech / MCA / BCA / BArch / BBA / BBM / MBA / MFA / MIB / PGDM / BCom / MCom / BA / BSc. / MSc. / MA / BEd / MEd / DEd / Diploma in Engg/ PG Diploma / DPharm / BPharm / MPharm / MBBS / MS / MD / BDS / BPT / MPT / BHMS / Nursing / GNM / Paramedical / BAMS / MCM / MFC / LLB / LLM / PG Diploma in Medicine & Law / ANM / Hotel Management & Catering Technology / PhD / Pre Univesity Programmes / International Boarding Schools, Bank Management, Marketing Management, Accounting and Finance, BS (Biotechnology, Computer Science, Information Technology.)

M.Phil (Library and Information Science, Education), DFA (Film Acting), PG Diploma (Journalism), BDesign, MArch, BASLP, BSc. Medical Laboratory Technology, BSc. Medical Record Science, BSc. Optometry, BOT,MOT, MPH,

MBA - MPH (Dual Degree), M.Sc in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Record Science, Ophthalmic Technology, Blood Bank Technology, Health Inspector, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, ME Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Aviation Management, Media & Entertainment, Flight Radio Telephony Operators Licence, Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence, Nautical Science, Higher National Diploma in Nautical Studies, Marine Engineering Documents required: 1. Admission request form 2. HSSC/XII Marks Sheet / “A” Level or equivalent certificate examination passed / appeared with respective subjects 3. SSC/X Marks sheet / “O” level certificate or equivalent certificate.

4. School / College Leaving / Transfer Certificate.

5. Migration Certificate 6. Nationality Certificate / Citizenship Certificate.

7. VISA (Either working / business) of NRI / Guardian of NRI. 8. Employer Certificate or Salary Certificate of NRI. 9. Passport copy of NRI / Guardian of NRI. 10. Affidavit of Guardian of NRI (Original) 11. Affidavit of Parents of NRI if Guardian is appointed (Original).

12. Transcripts, if any (applicable for Foreign Students)

of education to its students. Last 60 years, have seen institutes at Manipal taking meticulous, small steps to build reservoirs of intellectual wealth and academic excellence.

Dr D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune was granted the status of (deemedto-be) University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 on 11th of a Medical College, a Dental College, a Nursing College, a College of Physiotherapy, an Institute of Optometry and Visual Sciences, an Institute of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and a Global Business School & Research Centre. The constituent colleges have state-of-the- art infrastructure and qualified faculty.

The university has during its short existence created for itself a reputation for high quality education and research.

Thapar University Thapar University, Patiala (TU) established as a deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956, is recognised as a leading privately managed engineering institution of the country and one of the best of its kind in the northern region of India. The success of the university, backed by one of India’s most diversified conglomerates, the Avantha Group, lies mainly in its state-of-the-art research facilities, impressive infrastructure and smart institute-industry linkages.

Anna University, Chennai Anna University is one of the top ten ranking universities in India. It offers higher education in Engineering, Technology and allied Sciences relevant to the current and projected needs of the society. Besides promoting research and disseminating knowledge gained, it fosters cooperation between the academic and industrial communities.

K. J. Somaiya Institutions The Somaiya Vidyavihar campus comprises 34 individual institutes dedicated in the streams of arts, sciences, management, engineering, medicine, humanities, philosophies and social sciences. The campus is spread across 2 main campuses – a 65 acre complex in Vidyavihar, in north central area of Mumbai and an adjoining 35 acre complex in Sion, both in the heart of Mumbai besides a number of other smaller campuses across rural Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Manipal University Manipal University, Manipal, India, established in 1993 under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. The university was founded on one principle; one unshakable belief that it must make available the best

Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences A Deemed University was granted this status by the University Grants Commission in 2005. Its Chancellor is Shri Dattaji Meghe and its founder Vice-Chancellor

G R A D UAT I O N C E R E M O N Y

25 new graduates of Core Banking Programme begin their careers at NBO MUSCAT: Twenty five recently hired employees have become the latest graduates of National Bank of Oman’s (NBO) flagship ‘Core Banking Programme’, which provides individuals with a comprehensive package of theoretical and practical training before they take up roles within the organisation.

The occasion was marked during a graduation ceremony at the bank’s Academy of Excellence attended by Ahmed Al Musalmi, NBO’s chief executive officer, and Nasser Al Hajri, general manager, Chief Human Resource Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs, says a press release.

Nasser Al Harji said: “Hiring the best people and enabling them to reach their full potential is a core pillar of NBO’s business and is central to our long-term strategy to be the bank of choice in the Sultanate of Oman. I congratulate all the latest Core Banking Programme graduates and wish them well in their future careers with National Bank of Oman.”

The Core Banking Programme is an intensive 10-week course covering the theory and practice of banking. It involves classroom training as well as hands-on approach covering a range of areas, including banking systems and operations, processing transactions, sales strategies, and delivering top-class customer experience among others.

Al Hajri added: “The Core Banking Programme is a highly prestigious springboard to a career in financial services, equipping candidates with an unparalleled breadth of skills and know-how.

It forms a key part of the Academy of Excellence’s industry-leading suite of training and continues to provide NBO with a steady stream of exceptional banking professionals able to take the organisation forward.”

One of the young graduates mentioned, “The programme was excellent and the way it was delivered made it very easy to understand. The exercises that we did during the training have given me lots of confidence. The system training and the practice in the model branch will help me in applying the knowledge and the

skills at the workplace.”

The training involved practical modules in a virtual branch setting, enabling trainees to gain on-the-job banking experience while preparing them for critical roles within the bank. The bank has a wide variety of training and development programmes offered by its training arm, Academy of Excellence. It has been consistently delivering a diverse mix of high-quality technical and softskill courses aimed at various divisions and levels, and is spearheading the bank’s transformation journey.

is Dr. Ved Prakash Mishra. It is the first self funded University of this region and another feather was added to its cap when it was accredited with an “A” grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) which is an autonomous body set up by the University Grants Commission.

Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune A highly commendable private institute, occupies a place of pride amongst the premier technical institutes of the western region of India. Established in year 1983, financed and run by the Bansilal Ramanath Agrawal Charitable Trust,Pune. It is affiliated to Pune University.

Hindustan University Hindustan College of Engineering, started in the year 1985, was conferred the “University Status”

by University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, Under Section 3 of UGC Act 1956 from the academic year 2008-09 and under the name HITS (Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science). Today, Hindustan Institution of Technology and Science is one of the most sought after engineering Institutions in Tamil Nadu, reputed for its highly qualified and experienced faculty and excellent infrastructural facilities for curricular and extra curricular activities, the university has maintained an enviable academic excellence right from its inception.

NITTE University The NITTE Education Trust with over 3 decades of experience in the field of providing quality education manages 35 educational institutions in 3 campuses at Mangalore, Bangalore and Nitte. It has under its wing 17 Health Science institutions, 2 Engineering Science, 2 Technical institutions, 5 Management institutions, a college of Mass Communication & Journalism, 2 First Grade colleges, 3 Preuniversity colleges, 4 schools and a health care network of a 1,200 bed multi-speciality hospital and 20 satellite health care centres.

Jain International Residential School Is the first international residential school in India and first school

in Karnataka to be accredited by NABET-National accreditation board for education & training, for quality school governance by quality council of India,HRD ministry, Govt of India and is rated among the TOP TEN international residential schools.

SDME Educational Society Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore approved by Medical Council Of India, New Delhi SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad established in 2004 stands on a sprawling 62 acres plot at Dharwad, a small city of North Karnataka. Apart from the most advanced medical gadgets and equipment the hospital has introduced several services such as cardiology, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, neuro surgery, paediatric surgery, urology etc. for the convenience of the people in the region.

MVJ College of Engineering (MVJCE), Bangalore Ranked amongst the Top 75 engineering colleges in India and amongst the Top 10 Engineering colleges in Karnataka (Source: Outlook, June 2013) has a 32 year legacy of producing top quality industry ready engineers. Till date more than 20,000 engineers have graduated across 11 well established undergraduate courses.

Sona College of Technology Sona College of Technology, one of the top ranking engineering colleges in India, has achieved global identity through its involvement in research in recent technology and successful completion of projects and products. Situated in Salem, Tamil Nadu, the southern part of India, Sona is the best destination for engineering aspirants.

Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management RCOEM was established in 1984

by Shri Ramdeobaba Sarvajanik Samiti, a trust which has been involved in community service for over four decades. 31 years of existence has helped RCOEM grow deep roots and establish a strong foundation in technical education.

To avoid long wait and save time, visitors can do online registration to visit the exhibition by visiting website www.indusevents.co.in

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H O S P I TA L I T Y & R E TA I L U N I T S

Omran offers key opportunities to SMEs at Al Baleed tourism cluster SALALAH: The senior management team of the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) recently visited the Al Baleed archeological site in Salalah to oversee and inspect the final development stages of a new tourism cluster; a concentration of interconnected tourism infrastructure and services built for local SMEs. The visit was part of an ongoing process to evaluate the status of existing hospitality offerings in Salalah and to enhance investment and partnership strategies in order to broaden the sector opportunities in the Dhofar region, aligning with the execution of the National Tourism Strategy in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, says a press release.

Omran has announced the availability of nine unique hospitality and retail units located at the iconic beachfront area within Al Baleed tourism cluster that will be available for lease to new and existing hospitality and retail providers and are an ideal location for coffee shops, restaurants, retail outlets and beachfront activities.

Commenting on the visit, Eng Ali Al Rasbi, Omran COO said: “Local businesses and SMEs are the backbone and our nation and have an important role to play in boosting the capability and capacity of the sector. For the businesses

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Cashback offer on 2016 RAV4 The current generation RAV4 has been ‘Fungineered’

by Toyota engineers.

that decide to take up this venture, they will situated in easily accessible locations with available car parking facilities and other utilities and services, as well as benefit from the footfall from the natural attractions such as the archeological site, the Land of Frankincense Museum and the upcoming fivestar Al Baleed Resort all adding to the area’s growing popularity.”

“The Dhofar Governorate and Salalah specifically have seen increasing numbers of visitors over recent years with events such as the Khareef Festival. According to NCSI, last year the region witnessed over half a million visitors during the Khareef season, a 19.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The region has also recorded strong growth in the number of visitors from GCC member states.” He added: “Tourism clusters play an important role of Omran’s vision moving forward.

The proximity of the related infrastructure forms a network of services that gain competitive advantages for their own businesses and make the location a more attractive, competitive and encompassing destination.”

“We encourage the Omani nationals and SMEs in hospitality, tourism and retail to consider expanding their operations to Salalah, to enjoy the benefits of the burgeoning tourism sector in Dhofar and to capitalise on the emerging growth opportunities. We are particularly looking for established Omani brands who will help to shape an authentic and uniquely Omani feel to the sector. Our nation and the region of Dhofar is home to many innovative and talented businesses and individuals who have the potential to bring a standard of excellence to the growing tourism services within the cluster,” Al Rasbi concluded.

Its unique design, emotional appeal and appointments are testimony to Toyota’s clever innovations

MUSCAT: The Toyota RAV4 is a global model that is sold in more than 150 countries and regions.

The recently arrived 2016 Toyota RAV4 is winning many hearts with its totally-new funfilled features that include sporty leather seat material, 6.1” display audio with 6 speakers, LED rear combination lamps, power back door, 6-speed multi-mode automatic transmission and a TFT multi information display, says a press release.

The RAV4 also has another treat for its customers - a three years / 30,000km service package. For those who do not wish to avail this offer, there is a cashback gift of OMR100. (Scheme ends on January 21.

“Now, the RAV4 is even more tempting to own, given the exciting offer,” says a spokesperson for the brand in Oman.

The current generation RAV4 has been ‘Fungineered’ by Toyota engineers. Its unique design, emotional appeal and appointments are testimony to Toyota’s clever innovations.

The exterior has been recreated to be more dynamic, bold

and upscale — 18” alloy wheels set off a sleek grille and bumper along with new Bi-cam LED Xenon headlamps and attractive daytime running lights, aero stabilising fins, aerodynamic roof rails — all add to its unique external design.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine in the RAV4 uses Dual VVT-i technology that enhances power delivery efficiency via a 6-speed gearbox. The technology works by controlling both intake and exhaust timings to produce 177 horsepower.

The RAV4’s interior has a premium, urban look with softtouch accents and driver-centric controls. The high-tech features include HDD type 7” navigation system, display audio with a 6.1inch. Touchscreen, AM/FM/CD, bluetooth connectivity, USB and AUX mini-jack, and six speakers.

Apart from these, there are many exciting features adding to RAV4’s overall interior appeal- as well as to its functionality. These include the smart entry & start system, rear view camera with back guide monitor, leather seat material, power driver seat with tilt & slide function, automatic climate control with pollen-removal type clean air filter and retractable power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators The RAV4 builds on the very highest standards of occupant

safety and pedestrian impact protection evolved over three generations of the compact Toyota SUV. It has class-leading six airbags and is packed with a host of safety features like Traction Control (TRC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist (BA), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Downhill Assist Control, Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Hill-start Assist Control and Back and Clearance Sonar.

Visit the nearest Toyota showroom to take a closer look at the thrilling 2016 RAV4, it added.

All specifications listed above are standard Toyota equipment.

Safety kit (fire extinguisher, warning triangle, tyre pressure gauge and first aid kit) is a dealer installed non-Toyota item provided on applicable Toyota model grades as standard equipment.

Vehicle specifications may change without prior notice. Pictures and colours shown may differ from actual specifications of the vehicles. For further details and stock availability, please visit the nearest Toyota showroom.

In Oman, the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive supports Toyota’s outstanding product quality. No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and well-known brands, concluded the press release.

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Will OFA’s search for coach stop with Al Azzani or will it be Jaber?

Speculation is rife that Oman Football Association may go for in-house experts as Hamad Al Azzani and Rasheed Jaber are the two in fray among the five pruned list (other three being Europeans), which will be put on the

FRONT-RUNNER: Hamad Al Azzani.

ANOTHER LOCAL CONTENDER: Rasheed Jaber.

of Oman, the board members are scheduled to meet late in the afternoon at the OFA Headquarters at Seeb Sports Stadium to ‘finalise’ the right candidate for the post that has been lying vacant since Paul Le Guen’s contract was terminated back in November.

“It is likely the board will announce the name tomorrow but it’s not a certainty. But what I can confirm is that board meeting is taking place tomorrow and the main topic of agenda is appointment of national team coach,” one source said on condition of anonymity.

formed to overlook recruitment process had prepared a list of seven candidates, including two Omanis, for the board to discuss and finalise the right man for the job.

However, the OFA board members will be discussing only five names in Thursday’s meeting.

Ahmed Al Mayyasi, the head of the special committee, told Times Sport: “Yes. Now it is down to five candidates.”

While refusing to reveal any further details, he said: “Of the five, two are Omani coaches and three are from Europe.”

table in Thursday’s crucial meeting

A. SESHAGIRI RAO

raoas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The suspense on who will be picked as Oman national football team coach may well end on Thursday when the board members of the Sultanate’s soccer governing sit to finalise the name.

The Oman Football Association (OFA) sources revealed to Times

It’s is believed that association is not interested in hiring a ‘big name’ coach this time around as they did in 2008 when they roped in Frenchman Claude Le Roy, leading to their successful Gulf Cup campaign at home the following year, and in 2011 when they signed Paul Le Guen, on the recommendation of departing Le Roy. Going by the speculations as well as the hints given by the reliable sources from within the association, the OFA board may prefer an Omani coach from the list of applicants.

Initially the special committee

Al Azzani is the man!

Though the board members will be looking into five applications, everyone is expecting them to choose Oman Olympic (U-23) team coach Hamad Al Azzani, one of the two experienced Omani coaches who applied for the job, the other being Rasheed Jaber.

And rightly so. Not just because of his experience but also due to two factors that indicate to their interest in Al Azzani.

First, the OFA, interestingly, has sent Al Azzani, along with Oman U-17 team coach Yacoub Al Sa-

CRICKET

AT H L E T I C S

Cook, De Villiers urge ICC to protect Tests JOHANNESBURG: Test cricket must adapt to survive in the face of the ever-tightening squeeze from shorter, more lucrative, forms of the game, both England and South Africa’s captains said on Wednesday.

Calling for more structure in the cluttered cricket schedule, Alastair Cook and AB de Villiers agreed there is a growing tug on player commitments between the traditional format and Twenty20 competitions like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash.

“I think it’s a growing concern for the ICC (International Cricket Council) and they’ve been talking about it for the last few years,” De Villiers, whose own workload between Test cricket and his earning potential in the T20 format has been widely debated in recent weeks, said.

He reportedly earns $1.4m playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore — dwarfing his South Africa contract.

In a separate news conference

bahi, to Qatar for a nine-day stint with Germany’s Bayern Munich, who are currently undergoing training camp in Doha.

That stint ends on Thursday. Secondly, Al Azzani is towards end of his two-year contract, signed on May 25 in 2014, with the Oman-23 team.

However, one cannot rule out Rasheed Jaber’s chances as he has coached national team back in 1995-96 and later in 2002.

He also has the distinction of leading Oman to title triumph at the 2015 GCC Under-19 Football Championship.

Al Azzani, a former Al Nadha Club player, is quite an experienced Omani coach having had long stints with Al Nahda.

He also served the senior national team twice as caretaker and as assistant coach on two occasions, before being handed the reins of the team from 2010 to 2011.

Interestingly, Al Azzani sort of lost his job to Pal Le Guen twice in the past.

In 2011, Al Azzani was replaced

by Le Guen as the national team coach. And then in 2012, the Frenchman took over the Under-23 team even though the Omani coach guided them to the Asian play-offs of the London Olympics football competition.

For the record, under Le Guen, the team won the Asian play-offs but lost the inter-continental playoff and with that the final Olympic qualifying berth to Senegal.

If speculations come right, probably, it will be Al Azzani’s turn to take the post vacated by Paul Le Guen.

South Africa ditch spinner Piedt JOHANNESBURG: South Africa spinner Dane Piedt was released from the Test squad on Wednesday so that he could play for his domestic franchise, a sign that the hosts will field four fast bowlers in the third Test against England starting on Thursday.

Piedt played in the first two Tests in Durban and Cape Town, taking nine wickets, and will return to the squad for the last Test in Pretoria

on Wednesday ahead of the third Test between the two countries at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Cook said that while the five-day game still represented the ulti-

from January 22 to 26, Cricket South Africa said.

With the third Test wicket at the Wanderers in Johannesburg expected to offer more for the pace bowlers, Piedt was released to play for the Cape Cobras. Batsman Rilee Rossouw was at the same time allowed to play for the Knights in four-day fixtures that start on Thursday.

South Africa will likely keep the attack trio of Morne Morkel, Chris Morris and Kagiso

mate test for a player, it could not risk standing still. “Everyone loves Test cricket, I believe,” Cook said.

“We all know we have to protect Test cricket. As the game progress-

Rabada from the previous Test at Newlands and replace Piedt with either Kyle Abbott or Hardus Viljoen in an all-out pace attack.

Abbott, 28, missed the Cape Town game because of a hamstring strain but is valued for his consistent line and length and has 21 wickets in six previous Test appearances. England won the first Test in Durban by 241 runs and played out a draw at Newlands. - Reuters

es and evolves, you can’t stand still.

“We have to always look to how we can improve the game. The people who run it must know there is a responsibility on their shoul-

ders to look after it and try and push it forward.”

The recent introduction of daynight Tests in Australia is seen as a positive step, but De Villiers said the the Future Tours Programme, which determines bilateral cricket fixtures for the next six years, needed to be examined.

“I believe there are areas to improve and help keep the players focused in on the test game, he said.

“Obviously there are one or two (T20) tournaments going on around the world and financially you cannot ignore them because they do make a huge difference to our lives.

“You’ve got to look after that side as well but test cricket comes first. One or two things will have to change for the future.”

On Monday, England’s most successful bowler James Anderson said he would not be seeking to play in the IPL in order to rest for England’s home Test commitments against Sri Lanka and Pakistan from May to August. - Reuters

FANJA, AL KHABOURAH, SUWAIQ AND RUSTAQ ENTER HM’S CUP QUARTERFINALS

Coe denies Russian doping was covered up LONDON: IAAF President Sebastian Coe says there has been no cover up of Russian doping cases despite the latest leaked documents appearing to show that officials of athletics’ governing body were discussing how to suppress news of positive tests.

“There is no cover up here,” Coe told CNN in an interview on Wednesday.

The athletics chief, in a separate interview with Sky News, also denied knowledge of IAAF officials discussing Russian doping problems as early as 2009 and of internal IAAF notes obtained by the Associated Press proposing some Russian dopers be sanctioned while other, less well-known athletes be allowed to disappear from the sport unpunished. - Reuters

Record nine-time champions Fanja and twice winners Suwaiq reached the quarterfinals of His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship with contrasting victories on Wednesday. In the the last 16 matches, Fanja blanked Oman 2-0 at the Seeb Sports Stadium while Suwaiq ended the reign of Al Arouba with a 1-0 victory at the Sohar Sports Complex. In the second match of the double header at the Sohar Sports Stadium, Al Khabourah edged Nizwa 3-2 to book their place in the last eight stage. In the second match of the evening at the Seeb Sports Stadium, Rustaq defeated Mirbat 2-1 to enter the quarterfinals. The remaining last 16 matches will be played on Thursday. — ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

SPORTS TENNIS

Sania and Martina in semifinals SYDNEY: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis clinched their 28th consecutive victory to equal the record for most wins in a row in women’s doubles with a straight sets triumph in the quarterfinals of the Sydney International tennis tournament here on Wednesday.

The Indo-Swiss combination overcame the Chinese pair of Chen Liang and Shuai Peng 6-2, 6-3 to enter the semifinals and stay on track for their second title of the year.

They have thus pulled level with Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva, who won 28 consecutive matches in 1994 to set the present record.

Sania and Martina hardly broke sweat, breaking their opponents’ serve twice to win the first set easily. The top seeds were a bit erratic in the second set, wasting seven break points.

But they did manage to break the Chinese pair twice, which proved to be enough.

Sania and Martina, who are currently the top ranked team in women’s doubles, have won 10 titles together. They won titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and WTA Finals in 2015. - IANS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Halep holds off Pliskova, meets Kuznetsova next The Romanian withdrew from the Brisbane International last week because of a nagging Achilles injury, which also affected her 2015 campaign GOOD GOING: Simona Halep of Romania eyes a return against Karo-

SYDNEY: World number two Simona Halep continued her preparations for next week’s Australian Open by booking a semifinal berth at the Sydney International with a gritty straight-sets win over Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

The Romanian withdrew from the Brisbane International last week because of a nagging Achilles injury, which also affected her 2015 campaign, and played through pain on Tuesday night in her second-round match against

lina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their women’s singles third round match at the Sydney International. – AFP

Caroline Garcia of France.

Pliskova did not make it any easier for Halep, twice the Czech fighting back before the top seed won 6-4, 7-5 to set up a last-four clash against Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The Czech player rallied from 5-1 down in the first set and in the second set made it 4-4 from 4-2 down before the 24-year-old

Halep prevailed. “It was tough today. It was very close,” Halep told reporters. “I was leading in the first set, 5-1, but she came back really strong.

“I know she’s been playing tough, she’s playing well and she’s strong with her serve, and I expected she was going to hit the balls well today.

“I did well to stay focused in the

last few games of the second set, and that I could finish it in two sets.

“The weather was pretty warm and it was tough for me to handle it out there today.”

Kuznetsova made a slow start in her match against Italian Sara Errani and fell 5-1 down in the first set before fighting back to win 7-6(1), 6-0.

“I know her pretty well,” Halep said of her semifinal opponent.

“I’ve played against her and I know she plays a lot of topspin, so it’s a different type of player tomorrow — a different style.

“But I like to play against her.

I have had good matches with her before and I expect another tough one — of course every match is tough.”

Australia’s Samantha Stosur suffered a setback in her preparations for her home grand slam as she went down 6-4, 6-4 to Monica Puig of Puerto Rico.

The 24-year-old Halep is one of four leading women players heading to the year’s first grand slam, which begins in Melbourne on Monday, under an injury cloud.

World number one Serena Williams (knee), fifth-ranked Maria Sharapova (arm) and number three Garbine Muguruza (foot) all withdrew from matches in the last week. - Reuters

THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT

Escape artist Serena will struggle to match 2015 feats, says Evert LONDON: Serena Williams must stop giving opponents head starts if she is to come anywhere near emulating last season’s feat of winning three of the year’s four grand slams, according to former world number one Chris Evert.

Williams, 34, has hardly struck a ball in anger since a shock semifinal defeat by Italian Roberta Vinci at last year’s U.S. Open dashed hopes of a rare calendar year grand slam.

The American will begin as favourite for next week’s Australian Open, despite slight concerns over a niggling knee injury, but Evert believes she cannot afford the slow starts to matches that were a feature of 2015.

Despite compiling a 53-3 winloss record last year, she often found herself behind in matches.

At the French Open she fought back from losing the opening set four times on her way to the title while at Wimbledon, where she went on to claim her 21st grand slam crown, she flirted with a fourth-round defeat by Briton Heather Watson.

“There’s so many matches in the first set she played like listless tennis, lethargic, like she was going through the motions with no energy,” Evert, who will be commentating for U.S. broadcaster ESPN at the Australian Open, said in a conference call.

“She’d get it when she got mad

in the second set. She would finally pull these matches out. I would like to see her start out from the first point and play some motivational tennis, then I think she won’t put herself in those dangerous positions. She can’t have another year like she had last year. She narrowly escaped so many matches, down a set, down a set and a break. It can’t happen again like that. That would be like immortal for that to happen,” Evert added.

Williams, who beat Russian Maria Sharapova to win last year’s Australian Open.. Evert says Williams will find it increasingly tough to keep the chasing pack at bay, particularly the likes of a rejuvenated Victoria Azarenka. - Reuters

TEST SERIES

Cook expects results in last two Tests against South Africa JOHANNESBURG: England expect results in both the remaining cricket Tests against South Africa, with captain Alastair cook saying he was excited at the prospect of wrapping up the series when the third Test starts at the Wanderers on Thursday.

England won the first Test in Durban by 241 runs but played out a draw at Newlands in Cape Town last week - despite scoring 629 runs in their first innings, giving them a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.

“It’s an exciting time to play and we are in a really good position. The next two games are probably both on result wickets which means we need to win one of them to win the series, and that’s a great situation to be in,” he told a press conference on Wednesday.

“We’ve played some good cricket so far on tour but obviously there is a danger in saying ‘Ah, we just need to win one game’ and looking too far ahead.

There is a lot of hard work still, and you need to do a lot of good things to put South Africa under pressure and win the game.

“As players, leading into the game, that’s what we have started to concentrate on and the results will look after themselves if we play well,” cook added.

Asked about South Africa’s mid-series change of captaincy and any destabilising impact that might have on their opponents, the England captain said there was little focus on the opposition from his side.

“We focus on what we can control and how we intend to play our cricket. How are we going to get our 20 wickets here? How are we going to score the runs? South Africa are a strong side and showed a lot of resilience in Cape Town, and they’ll be trying to get back into the series.”

Opener Alex Hales batted in the nets on Wednesday despite a stomach virus. cook said that if Hales could not play then Nick Compton, who has recovered from a similar bug, would open with Gary Ballance brought into the Test line-up. — Reuters

OMAN CRICKET

Muscat humble Sinha in a 10-wicket victory

MUSCAT: Muscat CT eased to a ten-wicket victory over Sinha CT in a Muscat Pharmacy and Stores-sponsored Premier Division match played at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground early this week.

Batting first, Sinha were bowled out for 81 in 19.4 overs. Munis, Ganesh and Ashish claimed two wickets for Muscat.

In reply, Muscat CT raced to 82 in just 8.5 overs without losing any wickets. Aman Shama and

Aaqib Ilyas scored 47 not out and 26 not out respectively.

Brief scores: Sinha CT 81 in 19.4 overs (Ashish 2/15) lost to Muscat CT 82 in 8.5 overs (Aman 47 n.o., Aaqib 26 n.o). Points: Muscat CT - 3, Sinha CT - 0.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

C3

SPORTS Dhoni unable to put positive spin on India’s blunt attack Injuries to fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma have blunted India’s attack for the five-match series and on the eve of the first contest, Dhoni spoke of the need for someone to step up to the mark

PERTH: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lamented a “very bad day” for his spinners after the tourists failed to defend a big total on a docile Perth pitch in the fivewicket defeat to Australia in their opening one-day international on Tuesday.

Injuries to fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma have blunted India’s attack for the five-match series and on the eve of the first contest, Dhoni spoke of

DISAPPOINTED: Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni was surprised to see his

spinners having a bad day at Perth. –AP/PTI

the need for someone to step up to the mark if one of his bowlers had an off day. Dhoni had also banked on his frontline spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja using a tight line to prevent the Australian batsmen from scoring freely as they chased down a target of 310 for victory.

However, both spinners were powerless to prevent Steve Smith and George Bailey from blasting vital hundreds as they stitched together a 242-run stand for the

third wicket that took the match out of India’s hands.

“When I was speaking about sharing the load yesterday, I was speaking about when the fast bowlers don’t have a very good day then I will have to use the spinners,” said Dhoni, who retired from the Test arena at the end of 2014.

“I never thought it will be the spinners who will have a very bad day and the others will have to share that responsibility,” he added. “It’s a tricky one. If you

see the bowling department, the fast bowlers did a very good job; it was the spinners who could have bowled better if they could have just avoided the easy boundary deliveries.”

Debutant fast bowler Barinder Sran gave India, who tallied 309 for three batting first, an ideal platform by dismissing both Australia openers cheaply to reduce the hosts to 21-2.

But Bailey (112) and Smith (149) then shut the Indians out with offspinner Ashwin, who picked up two wickets at the end of Australia’s innings, and Jadeja going for 129 runs in their 18 overs.

Dhoni tried part-timer Rohit Sharma too, but the off-spinner gave away 11 runs in the only over he bowled.

The Australian duo picked up singles and twos with ease and the occasional boundaries kept their required run rate well under control as India failed to exert any pressure.

“I think they batted really well,” Dhoni said of the opposition.

“They played a few big shots but other than that, they were rotating (the strike) well and they were still getting more than six an over.

“That was an area where there was a lot of pressure on us because the spinners also went for quite a few boundaries. I felt that was a phase where we could have maybe bowled slightly differently.” - Reuters

CRICKET

De Villiers still motivated to play all forms JOHANNESBURG: AB de Villiers said he is still motivated to perform in all forms of international cricket and hopes the responsibility of being appointed South Africa Test captain will improve his performances.

The 31-year-old, one of the most explosive batsmen in the game, has taken over from Hashim Amla who resigned the leadership following last week’s second Test against England, saying he wanted to concentrate on his batting.

De Villiers’ Test future has been the subject of some doubt but he made an emphatic commitment to the longer format at a news conference on Wednesday.

“My focus is on international cricket and I want to play for as long as possible. I still have dreams of winning World Cups and keeping our top Test status,” De Villiers, who is also South Africa’s one-day skipper, told reporters.

“You are never guaranteed of performance but I’m definitely more motivated with added responsibility. I’ve always enjoyed it

NO PROBLEMS: AB de Villiers still dreams of winning World Cups

and keeping South Africa on top of Test rankings.

throughout my career.”

De Villiers has scored over 8000 Test runs at an impressive average of 51.52. He was the leading South African batsmen in an otherwise

ODI SERIES

Khawaja in Aussie squad for Warner SYDNEY: Top order batsman Usman Khawaja was brought into the Australia squad for the next two One-day Internationals against India on Wednesday after opener David Warner was granted paternity leave.

Warner scored five runs in Australia’s innings as the hosts registered a five-wicket victory in the opening clash of the fivematch series in Perth on Tuesday but will miss matches two and three in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Khawaja, who recently made a successful return to Test cricket in the home series against New Zealand and West Indies, will replace his fellow left-hander, whose wife Candice is expecting their second child.

“Usman has been in fantastic form this season and was unlucky to miss out on a place in our squad ... in the first place,” chief selector Rod Marsh said in a news release.

“This call-up is a reward for that form and it is great to have someone of his quality to step into the squad in David’s absence.

“We wish both David and Candice well and look forward to welcoming David back into the squad when circumstances allow.”

Khawaja has played only three One-day Internationals, the last coming against West Indies in Perth nearly three years ago.

The 29-year-old hopes he can make the opportunity count if he does get one. “The hunger is to

Usman Khawaja has played only three Oneday Internationals, the last coming against West Indies in Perth nearly three years ago play as many forms of the game as possible,” he told reporters at Sydney airport. “I’ve made it clear that I’ve always wanted to play one-dayers.

“But sometimes it’s about timing. If I’m going to get my opportunity, I don’t know, but when I do get it hopefully I can take it and be more than just a Test cricketer. At this moment I’m really happy with how I’m hitting the white ball.”- Reuters

dismal Test series in India which the tourists lost 3-0 last year and said his motivation was to lead from the front.

“I’ll try score the runs, throw my

body around the field, do the hard yards and I believe the team will follow,” he said.

“I’m a very competitive person and I truly hate losing. It’s a big focus on winning. Lots of energy and I like to lead by example. It makes my job a lot easier when you go out there and do things in away you want the team to follow.”

South Africa trail England 1-0 after losing the first Test in Durban and drawing the second Test in Cape Town.

The third Test starts at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Thursday and De Villiers said his first job was to try and unsettle England.

“I want to remind them they are away from home and not to enjoy the Pound and the Rand currency difference too much,” he said in a reference to the fall of the South African currency against the British Pound that has given tourists added spending power in recent weeks.

“To make them uncomfortable is the way that Test cricket should be played.” - Reuters

C O M M E N TA RY

How about 4-1 plus Mann and Dhoni?

F

or a very brief period of time Steve Smith and George Bailey looked like simple, shaky guys doing their bit wearily, cumbrously to get their team as close as they could to the 300-plus target and Barinder Balbirsingh Sran seemed to have put the smile on the faces of millions of Indian fans who watched in awe the rookie fast bowler snaring two quick wickets in the second and third over of his international debut.

That was when Australia lost both their big-hitting openers inside the first five overs, and almost lost a third wicket when Bailey’ leg-side glance off Sran landed in the hands of MS Dhoni to which the umpire had different, disappointing view, with just 21 runs on the scoreboard.

What happened after that was simple, smooth and uncomplicated. A bit boring, though.

After watching Rohit Sharma posting the highest individual ODI score against Australia in Australia, which lifted India to a seemingly secure position in the first match of the series, a hot, hurried Australian pursuit of the target was what one would have normally expected.

What we got in reality was not something we used to witness in high-scoring matches.

Smith and Bailey went about their business like robots programmed to do a murder in the slowest, sedate, relaxed way ever.

What Smith and Bailey did at Perth was just the opposite of what Martin Guptill and Colin Munro unveiled at Auckland a few days ago. The New Zealanders chased the 143-run target in the second T20 match at the Eden Park with brute power and the Sri Lankans were humiliated inside 10 overs. That was one way of doing the mighty, doughty thing to snub and crush the rivals.

The other way, the one taken by the Australians, was not just as pleasing or popular in terms of the thrill quotient, but just as effective in sending out the message to the opposition clearly and confidently that ‘we don’t give a damn about you’.

Now that a 300-plus score was proved to be damn little to put the fear in the minds of Smith and his mates, it’s interesting to look at the options Dhoni has as India get ready for their second game

One of the surprise elements in Dhoni’s armory was Sran at the Gabba tomorrow.

One of the preferred ways forward for Dhoni in ODI games has been to win the toss, bat first, post a huge total and hope for the panic factor to work against the opposition, but after the Perth setback the MS recipe for success requires a bit of messing up. Unfortunately, the Indian skipper got very little under his disposal to spice up the curry.

One of the surprise elements in Dhoni’s armory was Sran who obviously had a good debut, but why was the wicket-taker held back for such a long time at Perth?

Sran had an impressive first spell of six overs that earned him two wickets, and when he came back for his second spell Smith and Bailey were well set scoring centuries and Australia required just 68 runs from 11 overs.

Sran may not have put the brakes on the Australian innings even if he was brought on earlier than the 40th over, but that’s not the point. The point is: you needed to back your guy of the moment. The point is: it made no sense to toss the ball to Rohit Sharma as early as the 12th over, and to trust Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to do the impossible even when Smith and Bailey kept moving the scoreboard without getting adventurous.

Spinners are a built-in part of the Indian plan, all right, but two of them are too many on Australian pitches. A fourone strategy, plus an additional guy for emergency by way of getting Gurkeerat Singh Mann in in place of Manish Pandey, may be a good way to go about at the Gabba.

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

C4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

SPORTS FIFA fires Secretary General Valcke If he wins, Sheikh Salman may revisit World Cup bid processes

World soccer’s governing body is facing criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States, where 41 soccer officials and sports entities have been indicted on corruption charge

LONDON: World soccer body FIFA said on Wednesday it had fired Secretary General Jerome Valcke, a move that comes amid alleged corruption involving World Cup ticket sales and a number of swirling scandals at the sport’s governing authority “The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect,” the Zurich-based organisation said in a statement.

It gave no reason for the dismissal but Valcke’s lawyer in New York, Barry Berke, was defiant on behalf of his client.

“Jerome Valcke is proud of all that was accomplished for the game of football during his long tenure as Secretary General, including two of the most successful World Cups in history in South Africa and Brazil,” he said.

“He remains confident that he will be fully vindicated and history will recognise all of his contribuFOOTBALL

Kuwait fined, forfeit match due to FIFA ban LONDON: Kuwait have been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($9,932.46) and forfeited November’s World Cup 2018 qualifier against Myanmar after failing to play the match due to a FIFA ban, soccer’s governing body said in a statement on Wednesday. The Kuwait Football Association were suspended from FIFA in October because of government interference in their local football association.

They had been scheduled to play Myanmar on Nov.17 last year in their sixth fixture in Asian qualifying Group G but the FIFA ban prevents them from taking part in international competition. Kuwait are currently second in Group G with 10 points, level with Lebanon and eight behind leaders South Korea. - Reuters

Jerome Valcke was once one of the most powerful men in FIFA and responsible for ensuring that preparations for the last two World Cups, in South Africa and Brazil, were completed in time. His lawyer says Valcke remains confident that he will be fully vindicated and history will recognise all of his contributions to the sport he loves

tions to the sport he loves.”

Valcke was once one of the most powerful men in FIFA and responsible for ensuring that preparations for the last two World Cups, in South Africa and Brazil, were completed in time.

An ethics investigation into the case recommended a nine-year ban for the Frenchman, former right-hand man to FIFA President Sepp Blatter who himself has been banned for eight years.

Last week FIFA’s ethics judges announced they had opened formal proceedings against Valcke, who has denied wrongdoing in the

past. Valcke was placed on leave

by FIFA in September following the allegations and initially suspended for 90 days in October when the ethics committee started its investigation.

That suspension was extended for another 45 days last week and a ban from all soccer activities remains in effect.

The secretary general’s duties will continue to be carried out by Acting Secretary General Markus Kattner, FIFA said.

Valcke has now been sacked twice by FIFA. He joined the organisation in 2003 as marketing

director but was fired in December 2006 for his part in botched sponsorship negotiations with credit card firms MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc. His case has been overshadowed by the turmoil which has engulfed FIFA in the last year, with criminal investigations into the sport in both the United States and Switzerland.

Altogether, 41 people and sports entities, including top FIFA officials, have been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for offences including corruption, fraud and money laundering. - Reuters

LONDON: Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could revisit the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if he wins next month’s FIFA presidential election and previous “wrongful conduct” has been proven.

World soccer’s governing body is facing criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States, where 41 soccer officials and sports entities have been indicted on corruption charges.

Switzerland’s prosecutor is also investigating FIFA’s award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, a small, wealthy desert country with no real soccer tradition. Asked by fans in a survey conducted on social media by campaign group #NewFIFANow of the five presidential candidates, the Sheikh declined to answer if he would vote again for Russia and Qatar if the bidding process was hypothetically re-run.

However, the Asian Football Confederation president did say “if serious wrongful conduct is proven by a court of law we would of course revisit the (hosting) issue”.

Frenchman Jerome Champagne, one of the Bahraini’s election rivals, said he would vote again for Russia to stage the finals in 2018 and award the 2022 tournament to the U.S. The other presidential

TENNIS

UNDER A CLOUD

Sharapova fully fit for Australian Open MELBOURNE: Multiple grand slam champion Maria Sharapova has declared herself fully fit and ready for next week’s Australian Open after having her preparations hampered by a forearm injury.

The Russian world number five was forced to withdraw from the Brisbane International last week with the ailment, sparking fears she might miss the first grand slam of the year which begins on Monday.

The 2008 Australian Open champion and last year’s runnerup opted to arrive in Melbourne early to practice rather than seek matches at one of the other warmup tournaments taking place across the country this week.

“The injury was a bit of a roadblock but the great thing is that I’ve been healthy the three days and everyone’s been away playing so I’ve had a lot of court time which has been really beneficial,” Sharapova was quoted as saying by Australian Associated

candidates, Jordanian FA president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, declined to respond to the survey.

Prince Ali, Champagne, Infantino and Sexwale are due to present their plans for the FIFA role at a Jan. 27 forum convened jointly by the European Parliament Sports Intergroup and #NewFIFANow in Brussels.

On Tuesday, FIFA ethics investigators said they planned an appeal that could extend eight-year bans on outgoing president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini, raising the possibility of lifelong exclusion.

Blatter and Platini were banned from soccer last month for ethics violations, leaving the global game leaderless as it seeks to dig itself out from beneath a slew of corruption cases. Both have denied wrongdoing.

Earlier on Wednesday, FIFA fired secretary general Jerome Valcke amid alleged corruption involving World Cup ticket sales.

Valcke was once one of the most powerful men in the organisation and responsible for ensuring preparations for the last two World Cups, in South Africa and Brazil, were completed in time. - Reuters

QUENCHING THIRST: Russia’s Maria Sharapova has a drink during a practice session. – Reuters

Press on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who missed the U.S Open last year because of a leg injury, was among a quartet of top players who were a doubt for Melbourne because of nagging ailments.

World number one Serena Williams (knee), Simona Halep (Achilles) and Garbine Muguruza (foot) all pulled out of matches last week but Sharapova said it was understandable for players to be wary ahead of a major.

“I think everyone sees the bigger picture and that’s one of the things that I thought about -- you want to do what you can to be healthy and be a part of the grand slam so sometimes that’s a decision you have to make.” - Reuters

Kyrgios quits Kooyong with foot injury MELBOURNE: Nick Kyrgios’ participation at next week’s Australian Open is under a cloud after he suffered a foot injury and was forced to quit his match against Belgium’s David Goffin at the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday.

The outspoken Australian had called for a medical time out at 3-2 in the first set before winning it 7-6(5) against the Belgian and called for the trainer again at 1-1 in the second.

The world number 30 carried on before deciding to quit at the next changeover when trailing 3-2.

Kyrgios, 20, is in good form having helped Australia win the mixed-team Hopman Cup event in Perth last week where he beat British world number two Andy Murray. — Reuters

CRICKET

Ian Chappell slams skipper Smith for proposing deal for match outcome SYDNEY: Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has taken a swipe at current skipper Steve Smith for seeking a deal with the West Indies to trigger a result during the rain ravaged third and final Test match which petered out in a tame draw last week.

West Indies skipper Jason Holder rejected Smith’s proposal of an Australian run-chase of 370 from 70 overs on the final day of the Test in which two full days were lost to rain, reports CMC. Chappell has criticised the tactic saying he did not agree with it although the Australia captain had checked with his coach Darren Lehmann and match officials before approaching Holder.

“I don’t like it when captains get together and start to make deals,” Chappell said on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure cricket in general, not just Cricket Australia, would be all that thrilled to hear that the captain is going to another captain and trying to make a deal because in this age of fixing.”

“I would have thought that leaves things open to a lot of prob-

lems. I’ve never agreed with it, even before fixing became a pretty important subject, but even more I think it’s important not to do those things now,” said Chappell.

With rain allowing just 68 deliveries on Day Two and forcing the abandonment of the third and fourth days, the Test was predictably headed for a draw when play finally resumed on final day.

The proposal would have seen the West Indies declaring at their overnight 248 for seven, Australia then forfeiting their first innings, allowing the visitors to rattle up 121 off seven overs and then attempting to chase down 370 off 70 overs for victory.

“If you want something to happen a bit out of the ordinary, if you’ve lost time and you want things to happen, I think your actions should show you want to do it,” Chappell said. “The people who paid their money, even though they didn’t on Thursday, they’re entitled to look out and say: ‘well, I’ve paid my money to watch something serious, not hit and giggle’.”. - IANS

I don’t like it when captains get together and start to make deals Ian Chappell

Former Australia captain

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

Culture WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

1 9 47-2 0 1 6

L

egendary British rock star David Bowie, who died on January 10 at the age of 69 after a secret battle with cancer, straddled the worlds of hedonistic rock, fashion, and drama for five decades, pushing the boundaries of music and his own sanity to produce some of the most innovative songs of his generation. A chameleon and a visionary, he framed hits daringly.

His latest album, released last week to coincide with his 69th birthday, has been described as his “parting gift” as collaborators and friends paid tribute to the iconic star.

Born David Jones in south London two years after the end of World War II, he took up the saxophone at 13 before changing his name to David Bowie to avoid con-

fusion with the Monkees’ Davy Jones, according to Rolling Stone. He shot to fame in Britain in 1969 with Space Oddity, whose lyrics he said were inspired by watching Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Bowie’s hollow lyrics summed up the loneliness of the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union and coincided with the Apollo landing on the moon.

“Ground Control to Major Tom. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on ... For here am I sitting in my tin can. Far above the world. Planet Earth is blue. And there’s nothing I can do.”

Space Oddity Ziggy But it was Bowie’s 1972 portrayal of a doomed rock envoy from space, Ziggy Stardust, that propelled him to global stardom. Bowie and Ziggy, wearing outrageous costumes, makeup and bright

orange hair, took the rock world by storm. “Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilly,” according to the lyrics which Bowie sang with a red lightning bolt across his face and flamboyant jumpsuits. Bowie also sported an array of fantastic costumes, some reportedly based on the chilling Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange.

Now one of the top transatlantic rock stars, Bowie continued to innovate, helping to produce Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, delving into America’s R&B and working with John Lennon.

“He always did what he wanted to do.

And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way,” said Tony Visconti, the US producer who helped lift Bowie to stardom.

“He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us.

For now, it is appropriate to cry,” he said.

Let’s Dance Bowie reinvented himself again in the mid-seventies, adopting a soul and funk sound, and abandoning stack heels for designer suits and flat shoes. He scored his first US number one with Fame and created a new persona, the Thin White Duke, for his Station to Station album.

But the excesses of a hedonistic life were taking their toll. Bowie moved from the United States to Switzerland and then to Cold War-era Berlin to recuperate, working with Brian Eno from Roxy Music to produce some of his least commercial and most ambitious music, including Low and Heroes in 1977. In 1983 Bowie changed tack again, signing a multi-million-dollar five-album deal with EMI. The first, Let’s Dance, returned him to chart success and almost paid off his advance. “If you say run, I’ll run with you. If you say hide, we’ll hide. Because my

love for you. Would break my heart in two,” he sang in Let’s Dance.

He starred on Broadway in The Elephant Man at the start of the decade and appeared in an array of films including Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, The Snowman, Absolute Beginners and Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ.

His love-life fascinated gossip columnists and his marriage to stunning Somali supermodel Iman in 1992 guaranteed headlines. Bowie kept a low profile after undergoing emergency heart surgery in 2004. It was not widely known that he was fighting cancer.

“Look up here, I’m in heaven,” he sings from a hospital bed in the video accompanying his last album. “I’ve got scars that can’t be seen. I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen. Everybody knows me now. Look up here, man, I’m in danger. I’ve got nothing left to lose.” -Reuters

C6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

@SHATTI

@RUWI

Wazir (Action / Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Amitabh Bacchan, Farhan Akhtar 6.30PM Ho Mann Jahan –Urdu– TBC Cast: Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar.

8.30PM Bajirao Mastani (Romance/Drama) – PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone 11.45PM

@SOHAR

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI The 5th Wave (2D) (Sci-F) (PG12) CP# Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:45, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30PM The Revenant (2D) ( Drama) (12+) CP# Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 3:00, 8:45PM Ride Along 2 (2D) (Action) (15+) CP# Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 5:00, 9:45, 11:45PM The Hateful Eight (2D) (Comedy) (12+) CP# Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 2:30, 5:45, 11:45PM Suffragette (2D) (History) (12+) CP# Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff 7:45PM Norm of the North (2D) (PG12) CP# Voice over: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 6:00PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Ride Along 2 (Action | Comedy) 15+ Cast : Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 12:00, 7:15 & 11:45PM Gold Class - 6:00PM The Fifth Wave (Adventure | Sci-Fi) PG12 Cast : Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:00, 9:15 & 11:30PM Gold Class - 3:30 & 11:00PM Norm of the North (Animation) PG12 Voice over: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 11:30AM & 7:00PM The Revenant (Adventure | Thriller) 12+ Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 4:15 & 8:45PM Gold Class - 08:00PM The Peanuts Movie - (Animation) PG Voice over:(Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez 3:15PM The Good Dinosaur-3D (Animation) U 1:15 & 5:00PM

Ride Along 2 (2D) (15+) (Action| Comedy) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 5:00, 9:45, 11:45PM

Chalk N Duster (Drama / Social) – PG Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla 5.30, 8.30 PM

PANORAMA MALL Ride Along 2 (Action, Comedy)(2D)(15+) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 2:45, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45PM Ride Along 2 (Action) (2D)-VIP LOUNGE 6:00PM The Fifth Wave ( Sci-fi) (2D) (PG12) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:30, 9:30, 11:45PM The Fifth Wave (Sci-fi)(2D)-VIP LOUNGE 3:30, 11:00PM Norm Of The North (Animation)(2D)(PG12) Voice Overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 2:15, 4:45PM The Hatful of Eight (Drama) (2D)(12+) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 4:45, 8:30PM The Revenant (Adventure, Drama) (2D) (12+) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 6:30, 11:30PM The Revenant (Adventure, Drama) (2D) (12+)-VIP LOUNGE; 8:00PM Bajirao Mastani (Drama)(2D)(PG12) 5:30PM Daddy’s Home (Comedy)(2D)(12+) Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg 3:45 PM

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

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) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

Marmul

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

08:40 11:00

07:00

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

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

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

BURAIMI Ride Along 2– 2D (Action, Comedy) (15+) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 5:15, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30PM The Revenant– 2D (Adventure, Drama) (12+) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 3:45, 11:00PM The Fifth Wave– 2D (Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 3:30, 5:30, 9:45, 11:45PM Thaarai Thappattai– 2D (Action) (TBC) Cast: S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi 7:15PM Wazir – 2D (Action, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Amitabh Bacchan & Farhan Akhtar 3:30, 6:30PM Charlie– 2D (Comedy, Romance) (PG12) 8:30PM

STAR CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

SALALAH The Revenant (2D) (12+) (Action|Drama) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 11:00AM & 2:25PM Ride Along 2 (2D) (15+) (Action|Comedy) 10:45AM, 2:00, 4:55, 9:55,11:30PM Suffragette (2D) (12+) (History Biography) 7:00PM The Fifth Wave (2D) (PG12) (Adventure) Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:45, 9:30, 11:55PM The Hateful Eight (2D) (12+) (Comedy) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 11:30AM, 6:50 & 11:45PM Dilwale (2D) (PG12) (Action |Comedy) 3:55PM Charlie (2D) (12+) (Malayalam) (Comedy) 9:00PM Norm of the North (2D) (PG12) (Animation ) 12:45, 5:20PM Nanakku Prematho (Telugu) (2D) (TBC) Cast: Ntr Jnr, Rakul Preet Singh 6:55PM

Charlie ( Mal) ( Drama\Comedy) Cast : Dulquer Salmaan & Parvathy 6:30, 10:00PM Cinema Main; 3:30PM Cinema -2 Nannaku Prematho (Telugu) (Act | Rom) Cast: J.r NTR & Rakul Preet Singh 3:00PM Cinema Main; 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema - 2 Soggade Chinninayana (Telugu | Comedy) Cast: Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45PM Cinema -3 Thaarai Thappayyai (Tamil) (Drama ) ( From Friday ) Cast : Sasi Kumar & Varalaksmi 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema-4 Su Su Sudhi Vatmeekam ( Mal) ( Drama\ Com) Cast : Jayasurya & Shivada 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema-4 Next Change : 2 Countries ( Mal) Airlift (Hindi) Programmes are subject to change

0

JAGAN SREEKANTH January 14, 2007

Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

50-80%

BADRINATH S. January 15, 2013

PRAJWAAL MANJUNATH January 15, 2001

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 Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Ride Along 2: (Action / Comedy) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 112 (15+) Suffragette (Drama / History) Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter 2.00, 4.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 113 (12+) Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn (Animation / Adventure / Family) Voice Overs: Jiao Xu, Guanlin Ji, Ying Huang 2.00 , & 6.00 PM CP No : 114 (PG12) Echo Effect (Action / Thriller) Cast: Michael Jai White, Max Ryan, Steve Austin 8.00 PM CP No: 103 (12+) Daddy’s Home (Comedy) Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini 6.00PM CP No: 3061 (12+)

WITH LOVE

Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

Nizwa Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 06:00

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

24 19

BAHJA CINEMA

5:45 PM Norm of the North - 2D (PG12) Animation Voice Overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 2:45, 4:30 PM Thaarai Thappattai - 2D (T) (TBC) Action Cast: S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi 8:45 PM Chalk and the Duster - 2D (PG) Drama Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla, Arya Babbar 6:15 PM

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

07:00

SOHAR Dilwale - 2D (PG12) Action | Comedy Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan 7:00PM The Revenant - 2D (12+) Adventure | Thriller Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 2:45, 11:30PM Wazir - 2D (PG12) Action| Thriller Cast: Amitabh Bacchan, Farhan Akhtar 9:55PM The Fifth Wave - 2D (PG12) Adventure 2:30, 9:30, 11:45 PM The Hateful Eight - 2D (12+) Comedy Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russel 4:35, 11:00 PM Ride Along 2 - 2D (15+) Action | Comedy 3:00, 7:35, 11:55 PM Suffragette- 2D (12+) Biography | History Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff 5:00, PM Nanakku Prematho -2D (Telugu) (TBC) Action Cast: Ntr Jnr, Rakul Preet Singh 8:15PM Charlie - 2D (M) (PG12) Comedy| Romance Cast: Dulquer Salman, Parvathi Menon

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

RUWI Screen 1 Wazir (Action / Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar 2.30, 11.30PM Chalk N Duster (Drama / Social) – PG Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla 5.30, 8.30PM Screen 2 Chalk N Duster (Drama / Social) – PG Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla 3.15, 11.45PM Dilwale (Action/Romance) – PG12 Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol.

5.45PM Bajirao Mastani (Romance/Drama) – PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone.

8.45PM Screen 3 Dilwale (Action/Romance) – PG12 Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol.

3.30 PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

2:45, 4:45PM Chalk n’ Duster - 2D (PG) Drama/ Social Cast – Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi 6:15, 8:55PM

WEATHER

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36) Quriyat Sur Jaalan

SUR The Fifth Wave (Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chole Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 5:15, 9:45, 11:45 PM Wazir - (Hindi) (Action | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan & Farhan Akhtar.

4:45 PM Charlie (Malayalam) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Dulquer Salman & Parvathi Menon 7:15 PM The Revenant (Adventure) ( 12+) Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio & Tom Hardy 2:30, 8:40 PM Ride Along 2 (Adventure) ( 15+) Cast : Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumter 2:45, 6:45, 11:30 PM

Norm of the North - 2D (PG12) Animation Voice Overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 2:45, 4:30 PM

AZAIBA Wazir – 2D (PG12) Hindi | Action| Thriller Cast – Amitabh Bacchan, Farhan Akhtar.

2:00, 9:30, 11:15 PM Dilwale – 2D (PG12) Action, Romantic.

Cast – Shahrukh Khan, Kajol.

4:00, 11:20 PM Bajirao Mastani – 2D (PG12) Drama Cast – Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone 3:15, 11:30 PM The Revenant – 2D (12+) Adventure | Drama Cast – Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy.

2:30, 11:45 PM Charlie – 2D (PG12) Comedy/ Romance Cast – Dulquer Salman, Parvathi Menon 6:30 PM Thaarai Thappattai (Tamil) – 2D (TBC) Action/ Drama Cast – S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi 8:45 PM Nanakku Prematho (Telugu) – 2D (TBC) 6:55PM Ho Mann Jahan (Urdu) – 2D (PG) Drama Cast – Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar 5:30, 8:40PM Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn - 2D (PG12) Cast – Jiao Xu, Guanlin Ji, Ying Huang

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Destination

12.21pm 3.24pm 5.45pm 7.00pm 5.32am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

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, JANUARY 14, 2016

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RE-UNION

Singer-turned-designer Victoria Beckham, who was earlier part of Spice Girls, has reportedly agreed to perform with the group in London. The 41-year-old had initially refused to be a part of the 20th anniversary reunion tour with former bandmates Geri Horner, Emma Bunton, Mel B, and Mel C, but has now come up with a compromise that will see her take part in a handful of shows.

“There are still lots of details to sort out but Victoria said she’ll perform with the girls,” Closer magazine quoted a source as saying. “However, she stressed she needed to focus on her husband David and their four children this year after a stressful 2015 of trying to juggle work and family life, so committing to all the dates would be too much. She already has a lot on her plate with her design empire,” the source added.

The insider adds that David was actually a driving force behind her decision, urging his wife to take part. As well, Mel B apparently played a factor after she refused to take part without Victoria.

Photo: Reuters

Victoria Beckham Agrees to Perform with Spice Girls

Last month it was first reported that Scary Spice had put her foot down unless all the original members were part of the line-up.

The insider told Closer: “The girls had been trying to persuade Victoria to join the tour and Mel B was furious at her for refusing to get involved.” “Victoria did a lot of think-

ing over the festive period and realised that while she couldn’t commit to the entire tour, she at least owed it to the girls and their fans to show her support and do a couple of London gigs,” the source added.

Victoria’s representatives have since denied that the plans are going ahead. — IANS

A

bu Ali murmured to himself as he weighed up coins in his right hand and sand on the other. When his friends asked about it, Abu Ali answered, “Both my hands are full of something but it appears that only one holds wealth.”

His friends agreed but asked him what was in his mind. Abu Ali replied, “If I need to drop the contents of one of my hands, which one should it be?”

The one that holds the sand, he was told. Abu Ali just shook his head and left.

His friends were perplexed by his strange behaviour. For Abu Ali was not a man to be usually lost for words. He was seen walking in a trance for quite a while after that incident, his hands still holding the sand and coins.

It was days later that his friends learnt the real story. One of his two sons had disappeared, and with him went half of his father’s fortune. It was the second son who comforted his father and promised to recover the money through the business. “I have a useless son,” Abu Ali explained to his friends, “who stole half of my wealth. He is like a handful of sand which has no value of its own.”

His friends completed the riddle: the coins in the other hand were the other son who proved his loyalty to the father.

“But why,” his friends wanted to know, “did you go around the town for days holding both the sand and coins?”

“The hands that held both the coins and sand are mine just like my two sons. I have realised that no two similar things are equal and I should not have compared two sons just as my two hands are not comparable. These two hands of mine could have easily exchanged their contents and the situation would have been the opposite. I could not just drop the sand in fa-

vour of the coins that would have been like abandoning my other son,” said Abu Ali. “Does it mean you have forgiven him?” asked his friends, greatly surprised. “Yes, I have forgiven him in this world and the next,” Abu Ali answered. “But why?” The friends did not understand his logic of forgiveness.

Abu Ali looked at them and asked very calmly, “Would you cut off one of your hands just because it has slapped you?”

His friends said no, but after a short pause they asked him again, “We can understand your sentiment, Abu Ali, but what is the reward for your honest son?”

“Nothing I could give him would be a suitable reward except the knowledge that he has done an honourable deed.”

Two years passed and the guilty son returned in rags. He had lost all his father’s money in a faraway country. He did not come back alone, though, but with a wife and son.

Abu Ali asked his son if he had learned his lesson. “Yes, father, I have and I have also come back to repay you.”

Abu Ali looked at his son’s rags and asked, “With what, son? You don’t seem to have much.”

“I have a son now who is also a grandson to you.”

Abu Ali later told his friends that his grandson was an acceptable repayment and would carry on the family name.

SALEH AL-SHAIBANY

Photography: MMG

WATCH

A Handful of Wealth

C8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

LIFESTYLE

TIME FOR FUN AND FROLIC Muscat Festival 2016 begins at Al Amerat Park, Naseem Public Park, Kalbuh Beach in Muttrah, and Oman Automobile Association Ground today (January 14). The festival, which will conclude on February 13, offers plenty of cultural, educational, and sporting events. Here are some of the interesting exhibitions and shows that you should not miss during the month-long event.

AL AMERAT PARK Cultural Village: Open air museum will feature model of a traditional Omani village. You will get a chance to visit the traditional market (souq) and watch traditional art inside the village.

1001 Inventions The exhibition throws light on science, technology and civilisation.

Folk Dance Performances by folk dance troupes from India, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Philippines.

Theatre Events This is an opportunity to watch exhilarating balancing act and fireball dance. The arena will also have plenty of comic and cartoon characters to entertain you.

Dinosaur Village Children can have a lot of fun in the village that features life-size dinosaurs.

Amusement Park With plenty of shows and activities, the park will be one of the highlights of the festival.

NASEEM PUBLIC PARK Family Village and Children’s Theatre: A diverse number of arts and cultural events for children. The theatre will also host programmes from popular children’s channels.

Jungle Village It will showcase anthropomorphic models of animals with sound and light effects.

Theatre Events Watch entertaining balancing and fireball dance by experienced artistes. The arena will also have plenty of comic and cartoon characters to entertain you.

Omani Wildlife Show It will exhibit the rich biodiversity of Oman with specimens of plants, animals and fish.

Amusement Park The park will brim with activities and shows.

SPORTS EVENTS ĊŗŗŗMotorbike show at Oman Automobile Association ĊŗŗŗWatersports and sailing at Royal Navy of Oman and Shabab Oman ship ĊŗŗŗTattoo shows at Royal Guard of Oman ĊŗŗŗParachute shows ĊŗŗŗTry Sailing at Oman Sail ĊŗŗŗMarathon Run ĊŗŗŗTriathlon ĊŗŗŗBasketball ĊŗŗŗTour of Oman (from February 16 to 21)

LECTURES ĊŗŗŗHow Youtube impacts public opinion. ĊŗŗŗUnity and tolerance of Omani society. ĊŗŗŗImpact of oil price decline on national economy. ĊŗŗŗMuscat Festival in the eyes of photographers. ĊŗŗŗFamily disintegration and its impact on children’s behaviour. ĊŗŗŗHow can I protect myself — an awareness course for children.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Photography: MMG

Fireworks Colourful fireworks will brighten up the skies during weekends.

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CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

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T H U R S D AY, JA N UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

E t &ůĂƚƐ Θ ^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵƐ ĨŽƌ ZĞŶƚ 1/2/3 BHK Flats & Showrooms at DƵƩ ƌĂŚ͕ ŶĞĂƌ KŵĂŶ Ň ŽƵƌ ŵŝůůƐ͕ ϭϬ ŵŝŶ͘ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŽƌŶŝĐŚĞ͘ ĞƋƵŝƉƉĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƉůŝƚͬ ĐĂƐƐĞƩ Ğ ƵŶŝƚ Ɛ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ĨƌĞĞͲ ƚŽͲĂŝƌ ĚŝƐŚ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟ ŽŶ͕ ds ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌĞĚ͕ ďĂƐĞŵĞŶƚ ƉĂƌŬŝŶŐ͘ ZĞŶƚ ZK͘ϮϱϬͬϯϱϬͬϰϱϬ ;EĞŐŽƟ ĂďůĞͿ ƉĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚ͘

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϵϮϮϵϮϲϯ͖ ϵϯϮϮϭϬϱϰ͖ ϵϱϮϭϱϮϴϵ

&KZ Z Ed AL KHUWAIR : 5 BED ROOM VILLA SPLIT A/C - MAID ROOM

RUWI : Ware House - 630 M2 SPACIOUS -2 B H K FLATS 3 Bedroom flat for rent near ONTC Ruwi. Contact: 9965336

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗

Ϯϰ ϳϬ ϯϬ ϲϬ

3 bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact 95755953 / 95555162 2BHK new bldg for families Al Khuwair 17/2. Contact: 91403136 3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra.

Contac: 99328070 To let rooms in Qurum.

Contact: 99664703

500 square meters workshop space, ready to use, for vehicle repairs, welding and other small industrial units , Misfah Industrial area block 2 near Baladiyah camp.

Contact: 94030814

Store / warehouse for rent 52 sqm at Maabela Sinaiya.

Contact: 92454170

Villa for rent 4 spacious bath attached bedroom private swimming pool Gymnasium (common) with electrical equipment with free maintenance secured compound at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: 98027975

02 BHK Commercial / Residential (with split AC) flat at Honda road.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nadha hospital.

Contact : 99342733 /99795241

We have 1 BHK, 2BHK flats in Mabela 7 new building. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

We have 1BHK / 2BHK flat for rent in Ghubra, Ghala, Azaibah, Bousher & Darsait. #93782735 / 99208033

We have Staff accommodation in Bowshar # 93782735 / 99208033

We 1000 SQM Ware house in Misfa & 2000 SQM open land for rent in Misfa near cement factory.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

We have 150 SQM offices in Ghubra main road prime location. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 Shop available Wadi Kabir at 100/-. Contact: 99441798 Flats available Ruwi at 150/- & 140/- singe bedroom, 3 BR flat @ RO 300/- all including electricity & water. Contact: 99441798

1 & 2 BHK C.B.D & Ruwi.

Contact: 99024730 2BHK modern & spacious flats with split AC for rent in Qurum near PDO Gate No.2. # 94057023 2BHK flats with split AC available for rent at Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 94057023

Warehouse for rent in Ghala Industrial use 1000 sqm , 8m height with office & A/C with open area 200 sqm near Al Suqri workshop only R.O 3.5/- sqm. #99360453 Brand new Twin Villas in Mawaleh South 4BR; 2Halls; External Kitchen and Maids room.

Contact: 99414106 Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi, MBD area & Honda road.

Contact: 92589235/ 94579531 1 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 170/- . Contact: 95076261

Flat for rent in Darsait 3 BR, 2 toilets, sitting room R.O 250/-.

Contact: 92328142

8 BR Villa Shatti Qurum.

Contact: 99024730

2flats single bedroom available Wadi Kabir RO 100/- including electricity & water. Contact: 99441798

House for rent Mabela.

Contact: 99204400

2BHK and 3 Washrooms (Pent House at Al Ghubrah. #99452227

Commercial / residential flats in a new building for rent near Muttrah Police Station residential 1BHK / 2BHK more details.

Contact: 99364735 / 95729711

5 flats single bedroom available including electricity & water RO 80/- in Wadi Kabir. #99441798

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi MBD Honda road. Contact: 92433127 / 97293708

2 BR flat with 1 sitting room, 1 family hall with 3 attach bathroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99277787

2BHK flat for rent Darsait near ISM. Contact: 95158570 / 99102255

1000 sqm industrial land with compound well & two rooms at Misfah. #99342733/ 99795241 2BHK flat opp. star cinema & 3BHK office. Contact 92926199 Independent room with Kitchen & Bathroom attach near Mabellah BP Petrol Pump R.O 100/- , without Elect & water. Contact: 91516775 Only for serious people a Restaurant for rent or sale at excellent site in Al Ghubra area with all its equipment & approval to bring workers. Contact: Numan 95094062 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454 Flats for rent in Muscat.

Contact: 99262605.

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

T H U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

BUILDING

FOR RENT House in old Muscat town near Bab Al Mathaib, 5 bedrooms, living room & kitchen. # 99319829 1 BHK new bldg with A/c curtains, near Khimji Mart, MBD. Contact 99061408 / 99024039 Profs/ Jack. Contact 93219378 2 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 2 Room + hall & kitchen ,3 toilets in Bareeq Al Shatti 750 RO. # 99314314 Duplex villa in QURUM 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices in Ghala. Contact 94051789-97201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-.

Contact: 97799175 / 92144045 3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288 7 Bedrooms villa in Ghobrah North.

Contact - 96420432 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. # 94051789-97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact 9405178997201688 600 SQT commercial flat for rent opposite Oman flourmill Darsait more details. #91214849/ 99364735 Flats in Darsait.

Contact 94051789-97201688

FOR SALE

One flats for rent 2 bedroom all with bath al Ghobrah north near Indian school (hot burger restaurant) Tel. 9976610 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 1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789-97201688 Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789-97201688 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact: 9405178997201688 1,2 BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-, 325/& 350/-. Contact: 97799175 Single BHK flat available in Honda road Ruwi. #24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448

FOR HIRE Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Low bed Trailer (PDO – SPC) available monthly / daily for Rent.

Contact: 96633970

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area. Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

MUMTAZ AREA (NEAR RUWI HOTEL)

ACC. AVAILABLE

CONTACT - 99353931 Used home furniture and household appliances in good condition for sale. (Else 3bhk can be taken for rent along with furnitures.)

Contact: 99738104

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

Big CoffeeShop for sale at Maebeela South to invest at fast meals and restaurants. Fully equipped with all items. Contact us @ GSM:99377622

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact -9505680897201688

Items for sale : expat leaving all household items for sale a to z, bulk buyers will benefit call raj 97373186 or 91456907.

Luxury villa for sale at Al Hail South building area 375m land area 323, 6 rooms, 3 halls, 7 toilets.

Contact 99839898

MV SALE Volks Wagen Tiguan model 2014 For Sale 13,700 KM only (Low Mileage) Excellent Condition.

For enquiry call 95438037 Toyota Hiace for sale good condition 2010 model. # 94203204

Restaurant for sale in Dibba.

Contact: 96446640

Mitsubishi Lancer 1.3 L, 2006 model, manual transmission, Expat driven. Contact: 99741828

Villas in Al Khoud. Contact 95056808-97201688

Ford Mondeo 2008, excellent condition. Contact #97094752

Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 9505680897201688

Hummer H2 model 2006, 178000 km, Full options Number 1 Army edition.OMR 7200. Contact -99466773

3 BHK flat in Greater Muttrah Dar Al Maha for immediate sale.

Contact: 95061994 / 96435858 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 Exercise cycle for sale.

Contact – 92847957

Chaverlet Epica 2004 model RO -700, for sale. Contact 92194205 BMW 318/ 2003 for sale.

Contact 96364990

ACC. AVAILABLE Single bedroom flat behind German Embassy, near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact 99203954

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

ACC. AVAILABLE Room available now kitchen bath sharing with lift, dish Wi-Fi near Mars Al Khuwair rent 120/-.

Contact: 95262516 Family sharing accommodation Honda road 2 rooms, bathroom Kitchen sharing RO 130/-.

Contact: 99519161 Semi furnished separate room for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell filling station, Ghoubra round about.

Contact: 94263390 Furnished room & bath Darsait R.O 140/-. Contact: 93289652 Fully furnished bedrooms in a luxury villa at Ansab for Executives / couples.

Contact: 98458542 Furnished room with a/bathroom in Al Khuwair33 for Indian Executive. Call: 95234062

Furnished sharing accommodation in ruwi near O.K. Center for non-cooking indian bachelor.

Contact - 98805474 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for executive bachelor opposite OC centre Ruwi. Call: 92273779 Semi furnished spacious room with attached washroom separate entrance near Indian school Al Ghobrah for non cooking Executive Indian bachelor.

Contact: 95146361/92657598 Independent rooms in Qurum RO 140/- & 160/-.

Contact 95529970 Single room for expat Indian bachelors near Al Aktham restaurant Al khuwair for RO 120.

Water and electricity included.

Contact 98803261 Veg Couple or bachelor room in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99014325 / 91165580 Furnished room in new building for working Muslim lady/ Muslim couple only. Location AINT, Darsait. Contact - 99008069 Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan villeage.

Contact 93687466

LOST Asim Usman Hajwani has lost Indian Passport No. M 5640480.

Finder please handover to ROP

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT dŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƚĂī ŝƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ďLJ Ă ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂů ĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŝŶ DƵƐĐĂƚ͘

/ŶƚĞƌŶĂů ĞƐŝŐŶĞƌ ͗ ,ĂǀŝŶŐ ǁĞůů ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƐĞůĨ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ ƵƚŽĐĂĚ͕ϯ D y͕ WŚŽƚŽƐŚŽƉ ĞƚĐ

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/ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ĐĂŶ ƐĞŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ CV at

Śƌ͘ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂůŝƟ ĞƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 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

ADMIN Required Admin / Accounts Assistant. Contact: 95892831 Email: info@rcsoman.com Required Female Office Assistant with good computer knowledge.

Send CV to Fax: 24799442 nationalhvac.mep@gmail.com A well reputed trading company requires Customs Clearance Incharge (Omani National) for its logistics division with minimum 3 years experience in the same field.

Please Send Your C.V. to: jobsnow2015@yahoo.com

BEAUTY Required experience Beautician.

Contact 99619409

CATERING Required Waiter / Waitress (preferable fluency in Arabic/ English).

Contact: 95892831 Email: info@rcsoman.com Asian Oriental / BBQ cook.

Contact: 95529970 Indian Chinese Tandoor cooks required for hiring.

Contact: 95061994 / 96435858

DOMESTIC HELP Looking for housemaid urgently clearance available good salary yearly ticket. TEL 24446920 / 99238121, mail: ravi.ztc@omzest.com

DRIVER Required driver.

Contact: 95892831 Email: info@rcsoman.com Driver available with release.

Contact: 93885404 Personal Driver for reputed family in Muscat. Requirements is fluent in English, valid GCC driving license, age must be 28 to 35.

Contact: 99466062 Wanted HEAVY DUTY DRIVER for an Electro-Mechanical Company.

Pl mail resume to heavydutydrivermuscat@gmail. com or call 92343611. Local candidates need to have an NOC. Wanted Driver. Contact: 91025698 Reputed Construction Company require experienced light Vehicle Driver. Contact 95526871

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH Urgently Required: Window Aluminum Manager, Window Aluminum Engineer and Window Aluminum Foreman with an experience in Italian Aluminum Doors and Windows, MUST have NOC and immediately join.

Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

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DĂƚĞƌƐͬ ͘^Đ ĞŐƌĞĞ ŝŶ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐĂů ;WŽǁĞƌͿ ǁŝƚŚ ϭϱ LJƌƐ͘ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ϱ LJƌƐ͘ ŝŶ ' ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ ŽĨ ϰϬϬͬϮϮϬͬϭϯϮŬs 'ƌŝĚ ^ƚĂƟ ŽŶƐ͕ K,d> ĂŶĚ h' ͘ ^ ͬWZKd d/KEͬ ƵƚŽ ĞƐŝŐŶ ŽĨ ůĞĐƚƌŝĐĂů ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟ ŽŶ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ĐŽŵƉůLJŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ůĂƚĞƐƚ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ͘ ^ŽŌ ǁĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ĚĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐ Θ WDW ĞƌƟ Į ĐĂƟ ŽŶ ŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ ƐŬŝůůƐ ;DŝĐƌŽƐŽŌ Kĸ ĐĞͿ Θ D^ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ <ŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŝŶ Ăůů Į ŶĂŶĐŝĂů ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ Θ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ,^ ^ŬŝůůƐ ĨŽƌ Ěŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟ ŽŶ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͘ >ŝŐŚƚ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ůŝĐĞŶƐĞ ŝƐ ŵĂŶĚĂƚŽƌLJ

ŵĂŝů͗ ŽŵĂŶĞŶŐŝŶĞĐŽΛLJĂŚŽŽ͘ĐŽŵ Well reputed Marble Company looking for

WANTED

3 SALESMEN

Excellent Grade Construction Company Requires the following.

Requires minimum 3 years experience and valid Omani driving license.

Interested candidates please Fax your CV to 24601724 or Email on saab2803@gmail.com

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH

Interested Candidates send CV to below email.

hr.vecancy.muscat@gmail.com Urgently Required: Senior Quantity Surveyor with an experience in building construction MUST have NOC and immediately join.

Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc. com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

IT Required male Omani / Filipino, 24 – 35 yrs as IT Coordinator.

Fluent in English, to handle all Web Designing aspects, Mail Campaigns management, Technical Support / Troubleshooting. Contact: 91371231

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 Store keeper (any nationality) for multi divisions (house ware, Toys, sports & foodstuff) must have at 4 years of experience in Oman.

Attractive package will be offer to selected candidate. Contact: 00968 92802204 Email us your CVs onto: info@alliusie.com One of the leading Business groups in Oman is looking for light duty drivers, labourer, Secretary male. Interested candidates may apply to muscat.supply@gmail.com

MEDICAL A reputed medical complex in Salalah requires to fill the following positions, Staff Nurse & Dental doctor with MOH license, dataflow and NOC. Contact: 92728472 High class Medical Center in Salalah requires good looking Staff Nurses and medical orderlies, excellent English. Interested candidates please send your CV to mdcsalalah@gmail.com Wanted female Staff Nurse with prometric pass/MOH license for a clinic at Musannah.

Contact 99645150 Urgently required PHARMACIST with MOH license or Prometric passed. Attractive Salary with Accommodation. Contact: 97091664.

Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com Urgently required Lab Technician with MOH license. Attractive Salary with Accommodation.

Contact: 97091664.

Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com

Urgently required Electrical foreman with driving license. electrician with electrical license for an electrical company in Muscat. Contact 93284291

Wanted urgently lady Doctor GP or DGO for immediate appointment.

Contact : 99310590 Email: tjmaluke@gmail.com

Crankshaft Grinding Technician, Engine block boring Technician, turner required urgently for immediate appointment. call or whatsapp 98898273

Urgently required Lab Tech & Radiologist for medical Center in ruwi interested candidate kindly send short CV bmdcsg@yahoo.com or cont: 95220350

Civil Site Supervisor for telecom tower projects across Oman. Send CV to fyjo@spec-link.com or call +968 9946 7227

1. Purchase Executive (Purchase Officer).

2. Camp Boss.

Required General Practitioners male & female with MOH license to work in a polyclinic in the Capital area. Contact 99372860

MEDICAL Required female Nurse with MOH license dental clinic in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99010755 Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com

SALES / MARKETING An excellent grade company requires Sales Executive for their Aluminium division. Min 3 to 5 years GCC experience in the same field with D/L may kindly send CV to info@sunubunited.com or sunubunited@gmail.com An excellent Grade company requires experience Salesman for indoor and outdoor with Oman driving license. Mail your CV to salesppeoman@gmail.com Looking for a foreign staff has experience in Oman in real estate field. Contact Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com Tyres company seeking for Sales man, minimum 2-3 years experience. Send CV to saeed@liwainvestments.com Air Conditioning company required experienced Sales Executive with license. Send CV to nationalhvac.mep@gmail.com Fax: 24799442 Experienced Salesman required for A/C spare parts shop. Send CV to nationalhvac.mep@gmail.com Fax: 24799442

SKILLED LABOR

Urgently required General Practitioners (male), lab technician, Staff Nurse & Receptionist (female, Arabic & English speaking) for a reputed Medical Centre, Salalah.

Email : hrmdimc2010@gmail.com

We are looking for a person who is expert in cold room, cold store, duct AC, chiller and other cooling systems. Contact: 96406340 / 99807720

Female marketing for medical centre in Al Khuwair with driving license. Contact: 99010755 Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com

Immediate Requirements for experienced Tailors (Designer wears, casual clothing). Please call for interview 99471085

Required experienced Dentist with MOH license to manage dental clinic in Muscat.

Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com Wanted Nurse for a Dental centre in capital area. Interested may contact 93431024 or send CV to – drasyanaseem@gmail.com Wanted GP Doctor with MOH license, job location in Muscat with good salary and benefits.

Drop your cv at 0careerhr1972@gmail.com.

SALES / MARKETING

TOURS/TRAVEL Travel agency in Ruwi urgently requires experienced ticketing staff preferably with IATA qualification. Contact 95595830

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male 28 MBA & M.Com finance 5 yrs exp in Accounts & finance. NOC available seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93939421 Email: baleeq.ams@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male, 28, Post Graduate, 6 years exp. in Oman in Sales and Credit Control , with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements.

NOC available. Ph: 9206 6523

Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687

Senior Accountant, well experience & Qualified looking for part time accounting after 4 pm.Contact:91126314

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact – 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com

Indian male 31 years, 11+ years experience in Accounts & Payroll looking for a suitable position. Presently working as a Senior Accountant - Payroll in a Oil & Gas company.

NOC available. Contact.95818703 Chartered Accountant - Indian, 9 yrs + Exp (7 yrs in Oman & UAE) in Finance, Accounts & Auditing, seeking suitable position in Muscat/ Dubai, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available , Contact : 98707434 / Email: casmart007@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob:94122464, cammk13@gmail.com Indian male 30 B.Com (Accounts) exp 6 yrs in East Africa & 1 yr exp in Oman .NOC available looking for suitable placement. #: 94613626 Email: sharis.shaheer@gmail.com 15 years served Oman LLC SAOG, SAOC Contracting, trading manufacturing company as Finance Commercial Manager looks after finance logistics, procurement, ERP, oracle, tally focus internal control implementation B.Com PGDBM, ICWA (Inter). Contact: 91721545 / 95788723, Email: manojpanda111@hotmail.com Accounting B.Com, 2 years experience in Indian tally ERP9, Peachtree, accounting, QuickBooks accounting SMACC , busy advanced excel PowerPoint E filing of statutory return visit date 24/12/2015 visit exp 23/1/2015 Indian male 37yrs, (M.Com Finance) with 12 yrs experience (9 yrs in Oman) in accounts up to finalization can join immediately having NOC & Oman driving license looking for suitable placement. Contact: 90194907 Email: ke.jinson@gmail.com Male 15yrs experience as Senior Accountant with D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact: 91176085 Email: sahil_70@hotmail.com

Required male Omani, Age: 24 – 35 as Operations Coordinator.

Fluent in English, should closely communicate and follow up Onsite requirement coordination.

Contact 99358667

Indian male well experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally9 & Admin in India and Oman currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94834687

Looking for Sales Executive for a fiberglass Company in Oman.

Should have 5 yrs experience in fiber glass / construction field.

Should have valid driving license.

Email : mfbarka1@omantel.net.om, fax: 26881211

A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact: Kamran : hkamran112@gmail.com, +44 7480 1196 74, +968 93595050

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

Urgently requires Assistant Marketing Manager & Marketing Executive with experience (preference will be given to Educational / Training exp) and Omani driving License. Mail your CV to: jobs@aifas.net or call 93677795

Indian with more than 30 years experience in construction accounts (Financial and Cost) and administration seek suitable placement (part/full time) in Oman or UAE. Contact.98598099

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Contact 90187483

Indian male, 27 B.Com, +3 years experience in Qatar GCC driving license, interested in Marketing now on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 92993512

Part time accountant, up to finalization of accounts, looking for job after 5PM (Location prefers –n MSQ to AL Hail) Contact: 95694737

An excellent Grade company requires Foreman / Supervisor for their false ceiling division. Min 5 to 8 years experience in handling the projects & execution, kindly send CV to hrjobs1679@gmail.com Salesman require for building material with driving license & 10 years working experience.

Fax your C.V 24833043.

(Mustafa Hardware Store)

Senior Accountant presently working as Senior Accountant having 16 years experience in Oman with Oman with Oman D/L looking for new placement, NOC available. Contact: 95060390

A Chemical trading Company is looking for Salesmen with diploma certificate, 3 years experience, with valid driving license and a car. Send CVs to greatstar@omantel.net.om

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah. More than 20 years experience in accounting job (up to the finalization of accounts) 8 years working experience in Middle east in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah.

Contact: 91325029

Urgently requires Assistant Marketing Manager & Marketing Executive with experience (Preference will be given to Educational / Training exp) and Omani driving License. Mail your CV to: jobs@aifas.net or call 93677795 The Arabian Institute, Al Suwaiq.

Indian male, Oman 8yrs exp looking for any suitable vacancy for Accountant / Asst . Accountant / Office Admin, local release available. Contact: 98492752 Email: atiquehazique@rediffmail.com

Wanted Marketing Personnel for acquiring Premium customers for MNC. Should have communication/sales skills and must possess Oman DL. Contact 9654 5020.

A leading Trading Group is looking for Sales Executive having experience in construction equipment / building materials with driving license & release / NOC. Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net. om or fax : 24701683

8+ yrs exp in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman) MBA, Indian female, seeks placement. #97243806 Pakistani male B.Com with accounts experience and Oman driving license seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 94756263 Accounts & finance: 32 yrs Indian male (B.Com) having 7 years Oman experience Oman D/L & NOC available, looking for suitable placement.# 98093515 / 97494322

Accounts & finance Indian male 35 years B.Com M.B.A (F) 7 years experience valid Oman D/L family visa N.O.C available.

Contact: 93257426 / 95230114 Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, cammk13@gmail.com Part time Accountant with 15 yrs exp. in Accounts Finance, Tax Audit Management.

Contact: 95857199 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization, consulting & audit works. Contact: 96247295 Young 24, ACCA affiliate, advanced diploma in Accounting and business, seeking suitable placement in accounts, finance or audit with valid driving license.

Contact: 92430152 Email: rau_dey@yahoo.com 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 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 Part-time accounting, tax report, auditing & bank loan assistance.

Contact 91720465

ADMIN Indian Female MBA, 3 Year experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com MBA (HR) Graduate with 6 years of HR/ Admin Gulf experience looking for good career growth having valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 95521535 Email: kbino110@gmail.com Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK, Helper supervisor Admin supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288 Indian female 33 years M.Com B.ED 2 years Asst Acct in Oman 1 year teaching experience in India, looking for job. Contact: 96283103 / 99719124, Email: thekkutt@gmail.com Indian male Graduate 1 year experience in office Admin, assistance invoicing planning safety etc looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94112207 Email: zidhique@gmail.com Indian Gulf experienced (more than 7 years) as document controller, site administrator, project secretary and site store keeper in construction on visit visa seek suitable placement. Contact 92196001 14 years of Gulf experience in HR/ Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position, NOC available.

Contact: 95824598 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 Pakistani female Graduate plus Post Graduate diploma in logistics 6 years experience in shipping, office administration and customer service. Fluent English and very presentable on visit visa.

Contact: 91528567 Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc Oman & India, 3 years exp in Admin & HR seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95619537 Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder.

Currently looking for job in Oman.

Interested employer pls call 97728418.

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 Indian female 27 yrs with 5 yrs HR /Admin experience seeking suitable placement with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 98236033 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 Male Graduate , worked 19 years experience in U.A.E , Oman , Qatar , Saudi, Kuwait in the field of documentation as a document controller , planning Asst & some part of admin seeking suitable placement & ready to join immediately.

Contact: 93220534 Email: aniyer789@gmail.com

T H U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ARCHITECT Architect, Indian Female with 04 years of work experience in Qatar, Oman & India seeking suitable position. Email: shaazneen.s@gmail. com, Contact No: 96635846

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Diploma Architect 3Ds Max (interior, exterior) AutoCAD seeking suitable position.

Contact: 98907341 Email: susuhu009@gmail.com Architect looking for freelance work in (design plans and 3dmax).

Contact: 96041201

CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Interior designer Indian male with 4 years experience / 3Ds Max, AutoCAD .Now on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 94886507 Email: vizhue07@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

DOMESTIC HELP Male 26 in looking for Office boy / Receptionist job.

Contact: 94640906

DRIVER Experienced Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic Well knowledge of Oman Areas Seeking Suitable placement Contact 97950869 Light driver need job exp 4 years English & Arabic speaking.

Contact: 94208089 Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 95219183 Light duty. Contact: 96995762 Driver for suitable job K.S.A 12 years & 4 years in Oman, with release. Contact: 93885404 Light duty driver with 3 yrs exp Pakistani seeks placement.

Contact: 98004139 Bangladeshi male light driver exp 14 years need job and visa transfer, release paper available.

Contact: 99165961 Driver looking for a job. NOC available 95154610 Looking for heavy duty driving job 5 years experiences in G.C.C, with heavy duty license.

Contact: 97474978 Light driver Pakistani male 32 years with valid driving license seeking placement required visa.

Contact: 97106232 Driver with new car looking for job.contact: 95873286 Bangladeshi male 48 yrs, light driver 14 yrs of exp, need job & visa. Contact - 98326656 Driver (light & heavy duty) valid gulf /Indian) looking job.

Contact: 95175192

EDUCATION Indian female M.Sc B.Ed Mathematics having 2 years experience in teaching currently on family visa. Contact: 96007081 Email: surocs@gmail.com Indian female B.ED, BCA & IELTS certified with 6 months Oman exp in teaching primary students looking for teacher job.

Contact: 97384206 Email: rani_sweet786@live.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113 Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com

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5 years of experience in Business Analyst & Product Management with Engineering in ECE on visit visa Contact: 91374247 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Electrical designer Indian male 25 yrs experience of oil & gas field in Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99605127 Email: gerard.baptist@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (UK) 28 years, male having 5 years experience in technical sales and service Engineer, looking for suitable placement and having valid Oman driving license. NOC available immediate avail slit.

Contact: 968 97612297 Email: ymirza11@caledonian.ac.uk BE Mech specialization welding technology 11 yrs quality cont Engineer by Steel Cons EPL Installation desalination plant (Gulf). Contact: 96603299 BE Civil Engr - 5-10 yrs Exp Diploma Civil Engr - 5-7 yrs Exp Civil Foreman - 10-15 yrs Exp All must have valid DL send CV to jnstpmco@gmail.com Mechanic Diesel Engines & Hydraulic, 25 years Experience in Multinational Companies.

M Arshad 91685048 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer fresh Graduate, on visit visa looking for job. Contact:94743373 email: akasharavind1@gmail.com 34 years experience in Oil / Gas automobile Mechanical Engineer, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 99063574 Omani national, female fresh Graduated in Civil Engineer seeking a position. Contact : 97760811 ELV Sr. Presales Engineer +7 years experience in UAE, Qatar & Oman having valid Oman D/L & NOC. Contact : 93384285 Indian male, Diploma Civil Engineer having 2years experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97376450, Email:shanavasshaj@gmail.com Structural steel supervisor / foreman 12 and half yrs Gulf exp fabrication & erection NOC available.

Contact +91 9061761881 / +91 9446149459 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience as HVAC design Engineer, Revit MEP, AutoCAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: rahmanmechengg@yahoo.in Civil Diploma Engineer cum Quantity survey male 6 years experience in Oman valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93747759 Email: jaleelvanimalkp@gmail.com HSE Engineer (BE Mech + Dip in Safety+ NEBOSH + OSHA), 10 yrs exp, NOC Available, seeking suitable placement: Mob: 97061817 email: jayanammu1977@gmail.com Instrument Technician (diploma), Indian male, 24 yrs, 3 yrs experience in reputed oil & gas companies, currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact: 92007218 Email: ahmed0515@gmail.com Indian, male, MBA with over 10 year Oman experience in MEP / HVAC Procurement and Stores looking for suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact 94048474.

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Project Civil Engineer, BSc, 6 years experience in Oman, building construction Fluent Arabic, English and good Hindi Release and NOC Available). Tel: 97858589

Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 91 9605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com

Indian male, 25 yrs, Diploma in Hardware & Network Engineering having 4 yrs experience now in Oman, on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact 98779754 / 92720311

Indian male 24, B.Tech Electrical & Electronics Engineering & P.G diploma in automation & Scada with 2 years experience in power transformer & generator testing and maintenance, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95340253 Email: seanjohnson176@gmail.com

Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Mechanical Engineer 6 years Oman experience in projects , maintenance, materials Indian male with Omani D/L seeking suitable job. Contact: 94252769 / 95505471 Email: rami.mech@gmail.com Diploma in Automobile Engg male 26 yrs, working as Service Advisor for 2.5 yrs seeking suitable position. Contact: 94744933 Email: shuhaibmost007@gmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 8 years experience HVAC, MEP, MPM in management.

Contact: 97986890 Civil Engineer B.E 12 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 93843448 Mechanical Engineer with 3 years experience and possess valid Omani driving license seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97411523 Email: malvindevachan@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 11 years experience in building construction, looking for a suitable placement , having Oman driving license. Noc available.

Contact: 95075365 Email: azharraaz@gmail.com Automation Engineer, Graduate Electronics and Communication Engineer with 2 years of experience in programming testing and commissioning, troubleshooting of automation control systems (PLC, SCADA, HMI) . Installation, calibration, operation and maintenance of electrical and equipments. Contact: 94469841 Email: sreeharita.181@gmail.com Civil Diploma 5years exp in Oman solid building construction + AutoCAD, holding Omani driving license.

Noc available looking for suitable job. Contact: 99012590 Email: yousaf.engi2010@gmail.com Electrician, have driving license.

Contact: 95600418 B.Tech Civil Eng with 3 years experience in the field of quantity survey skilled in the areas of Primavera, AutoCAD, MX excel.

Contact: 94853061 Email: arunmohan.13990@gmail.com Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com Diploma in Electronics, 2 years exp in telecommunication.

Contact: 94519571 Email: telecommunicationvishnumadhull @gmail.com Senior Telecom Engineer 4 years experience in Oman valid driving license MBA project management.

Contact: 95688953 Email: johan.joy@gmail.com Male (23) BE Electrical Engineer looking for job as Electrical Engineering job experience 6 months in MEP designing & electrical designing job. Contact 98209070 Email: punivinlal@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

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 B.Tech (IT) Indian Male 2 years Oman experience in I.T & Networking, holding Oman Driving License, presently on employment visa, seeks for a suitable placement.

Ready to join immediately. NOC available. Contact: 92462578 Electrical Engineer (B. Tech) 6 years experience in Oman, expertise in medc/mzec projects, valid oman D/L. Contact : 99281715 Civil Engineer (BE) male 3 years experience (2 yrs in India) seeks placement, NOC available.

Contact 98639039

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer 11 years experience in construction having driving license & NOC. Contact: 94194399 Email: shiblyrock@gmail.com Male 29 years (BE) MEP Engineer 8.5 years of experience in building construction. Seeking a suitable job. Contact -95119765/ Email id jayachandranmep@gmail.com NOC available Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Diploma in Electrical Engineering with 6 years’ experience in Electrical Automation, Programming, Project, Power, Energy and Supervision in Civil Work.

Currently in Oman and looking for suitable position, Please contact 94873560/92406652.

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518

Sudanese Architectural Engineer 2 years experience in Oman, Revit, AutoCAD 3Ds max Archicad looking for suitable job.

Contact: 94722356 Email: maya40999@hotmail.com

Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975528

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

Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Electrical Engineer: Indian male, 30 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF tyres), holding valid Oman D/L. Contact 92789995, email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer with 5 years experienced AutoCAD primavera & GIS Arabic & English language looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 91340584 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, 36 years, Male, Indian, having 16 years of experience in machine maintenance & machine breakdown, worked with reputed companies in India, currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact- 99011507 E-mail: rsdengroman@gmail.com 29 yrs Indian male B.E (ECE) with more than 5 yrs experience in Oman with valid D/L. Contact: 96652145 Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com

IT

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ENGG. / TECH./MECH. B. Sc Civil Engineer 27 yrs Oman in Ministry private sector as Project Manager, Senior Structure Engineer in consulting office looking for suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com

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HOSPITALITY

IT Indian male IT professional, 3 years experience, CCNA, MCITP, RHCE have GCC driving license on visit visa (last date 25th Jan).

Contact: 93311963 Email: sajal035@gmail.com B.C.A IT, System Support Engineer 2 years exp visit visa, Microsoft certification. Contact: 95492886 Email: samips49@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 Dynamics AX 2009 / 2012 R2/ R3 Microsoft certified professional MCA & BCA Having 15 yrs of total exp & 6 yrs of relevant exp seeking for suitable position. NOC is available. Contact: 93469493 Email: axcertprof@gmail.com GCC experience projects & business Management professional for IT & ELV systems seeking suitable job. Contact: 93522472 IT Coordinator 6 years experience in hardware & networking diploma (2 yrs) in Hardware & net working on visit visa. Contact: 99610415 B.E (CSE) Indian male 2 years of experience in System and Network Admin, presently on visit visa, seeks for immediate placement. Contact: 93832694 Email: bailfupp006@gmail.com Omani seeking placement 6 years excellent exp in networking, hardware and software and software.

Contact: 95356166 Indian male 26 years BSC IT with 4 years experience currently on visit visa looking for IT support job knowledge of networking, programming languages, windows / Linux environment. Contact: +968 95369856 / 24781651 Email: mark.tony.alphonso@hotmail.com

10 years Oman experience ICT Sector, capable of handling large accounts, looking for suitable Senior Executive position.

Contact: 98987654 Indian male 23 years , 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator at Wipro Technologies looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com INDIAN MALE - 29 years - (certified Computer hardware & network engineer) with six (6) years experience on VISIT VISA looking for suitable employment in system network administration Contact : Mr. SAJEEV KP, GSM : 94256964 mail ID : saji217@gmail.com B.Tech (IT) Indian Male 2 years Oman experience in I.T & Networking, holding Oman Driving License, presently on employment visa, seeks for a suitable placement.

Ready to join immediately.

NOC available. Contact: 92462578

LOGISTICS More than 8 years of gulf experience & qualified executive in Air freight & Sea freight, proven work experience in logistics coordination, shipment, export and import Coordination, cross shipments and client relation etc. Contact: 95149624 / 0097150-3462492

MEDICAL Nurse (male) Indian available with 3 years of experience & cleared prometric 64% & data flow.

Contact: 94035637 Male nurse MOH licensed having NOC completed BLS, ACLS total 6 yrs exp seeking suitable job, join at anytime . Contact : 91322744 15 years Oman experienced male GP Doctor with Oman MOH looking for placement near Muscat or Sohar, also willing to buy a running clinic. Contact: 92130681 / 99351612 (MCT) / 00971 506966416 (UAE) Sudanese male, General Practitioner Dentist (BDS), pass OMSLE in December 2015.

Mob : 97429559 / 94144187, email Nazarfakhri@gmail.com An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact: 96436517 /97396088

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Female 31, MBA 4 Years of cross culture experience in Insurance Sector seeking a suitable job opportunity Contact Shubha: 97217626/94377477 Shubhanair17@gmail.com Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Indian female with experience in Physiology & logistics, currently as Logistic Coordinator seeks suitable placement. Contact 96400107, Email : amiablesheru@gmail.com Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 98805474

MANAGER 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 25 years Gulf experienced Manager in operations, projects, properties, holding valid Oman driving license, with NOC, looking for suitable opening.

Contact: 91283701

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/TRAINING/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED Indian male 8 yrs exp in Oman working as housekeeping supervisor in star hotel, seeking for a job NOC available. Contact – 91753210

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

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

earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

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

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

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 Purchase MGR / Transport in charge 9 yrs exp in Oman having D/L & NOC join immediately.

Contact: 90187891 Email: mohammedshariff35@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Graduate, GCC with valid D/L, currently working as branch Manager in Muscat, 4 yrs Oman experience in Admin & HR Executive trainer, customer service, sale supervising accounting, fluent in Arabic, English, Hindi looking for suitable placement.

Release & NOC available.

Contact 97644108, email : basheervision21st@gmail.com 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 Indian Operations Manager 18 years in Oman accounts, Admin, purchase sales, general operations experience. Contact: 99889396 / 99044724 Email: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com Indian, 40 yrs, 16 yrs in Gulf, Supervisor in steel fabrication company, seeks suitable placement98667442 / 98119694

PROJECTS Indian male 28, MBA, Six Sigma Green Belt with 6 months experience in Operations in Oman. Looking for Suitable Placement With Valid D/L & NOC. Contact 92013737.

SALES / MARKETING Indian male with more than 14 yrs of experience in Business development / marketing Oman D/L looking for managerial position in Business development / marketing. Contact: 93400177 MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement. Cont : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian male 29 yrs having 6 years Oman experience in hotel industry & sales looking for a suitable placement. NOC available having Oman driving license.

Contact: 91059015 Email: nidhin.lal86@gmail.com MBA (logistics and supply chain) 3.5 years freight forwarding experience operations & sales, back office operation Oman, Yemen & UAE. Contact: 92549913 Email: jansunil1989@gmail.com Professional with 12 years experience in Export industry. Dealt with markets across US, EU, Latin America & Asian countries for business development, sourcing & supply chain in the made-to-order business inclusive of product development & marketing. Currently employed in Oman with driving license. NOC available.

Contact 96931557.

Marketing Communication Coordinator: Indian, M.Com with 20 years Gulf experience in Marketing Communications, ATL& BTL branding exp. with Oman D/L. Contact- 93031168 Purchaser having experience in heavy light vehicle parts for 15 yrs looking for job, Oman with valid D/L, NOC available. Contact 91452832, Mr. Gurunath Executive Post, Omani Driving License, MBA 14 years Experience in Multinational Groups in Sales & Marketing. M.Z. 96220975 Indian male, MBA 25 Yrs, 1 year experience in Auditing and 10 Month in sales, currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92054304

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED SALES / MARKETING 25 years experienced Supervisor in plumbing and firefighting available, NOC and driving license.

Contact: 95912720 Sales & Marketing Executive MBA with 3 years experience in sales looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91345727.

Indian female (M.Tech in Power system) having Gulf experience seeking suitable placement in Oman, now in family visa.

Contact: 94306164 / 91001194 B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com 30 yr old experienced available with NOC & Oman driving license 6+years experience in chemicals Industry. Contact: 96675065 15 years experienced Indian seeking suitable job in area purchase, logistics & supply chair.

Contact- 96388496 Email: ranju.uma@gmail.com B.Tech MBA 13 years in sales & service on power tools pumps (Oman license) & NOC available.

Contact: 95321814 Email: manoraj81@gmail.com Looking for immediate sales & marketing job with 7 yrs Gulf experience and driving license till 12 Feb 16. Contact: 99642611 Email: kashif_lam@yahoo.com

NRI 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 Plot, propeties for sale in prime location in pune Contact 95272138, (+918390982975)

Indian Male, pursuing ACCA with knowledge in C++, Java looking for accounting job. Contact 94743462.

Email: zabinbashu@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office.

Contact: 90182494, Manojmallya999@gmail.com Well-qualified Indian Female with 8 years of experience in Procurement Supply Chain from reputed Companies in Oman seeks placement. Contact 91374217 Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3 yrs exp. in IT/ networking/ server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532

Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com

Indian female, Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality management (IATA), Having 4 years experience, Seeking for a suitable Job, Contact 99104529.

Indian male Senior Safety Officer (NEBOSH) 9 years experience, valid GCC license looking for suitable job .

Contact: 96586672 Email: mrudul.v2008@gmail.com 37 years, Indian male, X- Ray welder 7 years experience, looking for job on visit visa now. Contact: 91360190 / 98223683

TECHNICIAN /MECH. 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

MISCELLANEOUS B.TEC ( IT) . 24 years, 2 Years of experience in technical support, software development, networking, troubleshooting and managing seek suitable placement.

Contact GSM- 98184170

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

5 years experience in Sales currently looking for a placement.

Contact: 93458869

Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Kollam byepass 5-10 cent for sale. Contact: 96157394

Indian male Autocad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact : 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Indian female accountant, now in Oman on visit visa, looking for suitable placement, Contact 94250871.

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MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.Contact 24793614/ 99314807

Indian female 10 years exp as cook in Oman . South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job. Contact 96710189 Indian female, 27, food technologist (MSc Food Technology), 2years experience in Research and Development -Instant foods, Snack, Noodles, Oats seasonings, Soups, Curry powders. Raw Material Quality Assurance and Analysis, HACCP. Contact -93987174 , email :mayacnair@outlook.com Indian male 32 years dip in hardware net working with 10 years hands on experience currently on visit visa seeking immediate placement in IT Support or relevant jobs. Good knowledge of hardware & Networking. #94169341 Email: haripulikal@gmail.com B.Tech (CSIT) 25 years Indian male 3 years experience having excellent communication skills paired with technical skills, VM ware networking, hardware on visit visa looking for suitable positions. Contact: 97641141 Email: wasimakram619@gmail.com

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

MATRIMONIAL Christian Orthodox girl 24 yrs, BSC MLT working in Government Hospital Thiruvalla, seeking suitable alliance from Orthodox family.

Contact: 99734325 / 99898130 Kerala RC girl 27 yrs MOH working in Ministry Hospital seeking suitable alliance from Keralite RC boys (preference from Tellicherry Diocese).

Contact: 92115860 Indian female, 25 yrs, belongs to Christian Orthodox family, B.Sc Nurse presently working in Bangalore – India, looking for appropriate spouse.

Contact 99423483

We provide loading unloading helper for contracting.

Contact: 94777137 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 Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing, Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 House shifting. Contact: 99657644/98518013

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact: 93769089 / 95323517 We are providing services like Accounts, Auditing, Tax Reports, Feasibility Study, Bank Loan Assistance & L L C Registration ASAS AUDIT & CONSULTANCY Contact at 91720465/94319719 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 QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

SITUATION WANT- SITUATION WANTTOURS BUSINESS ED ED

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

DRIVING

TRANSPORTATION Transportation Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92711421 Pick and drop. Contact: 96692774 Transportation. Contact99542393 Transportation. Contact: 91310107

GOOD NEWS

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact 99508282

Al Sharouq rent a car. Contact: 99222617

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. Contact:99664703

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. # 99839898

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Canadian Consultancy company (recruitment & immigration) is looking for a partner company in Oman.

For contact 00973 39990830 eurogulf.ca@gmail.com,

Transportation. Contact 96173326 Transportation. Contact 94510847 Transportation Contact:99077395

Silver car, car rental at good rate.

Contact: 96166155/93530540

Looking for investor in steel fabrication plant. Contact 98667442 / 98119694

Pick & drop anytime in Al Khuwair. Contact 99764307 Transportation taxi mini bus.

Contact: 93091106

Low firm office in Shatti Al Qurum looking for an Indian legal advisor has got 5 years experience in Oman and good contacts with the big companies and banks in Oman.

Email: rahbi.lawyers@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiямБeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624