Times of Oman - December 14, 2016 by Muscat Media Group

WEDNESDAY

December 14, 2016 14 Rabi Al Awal 1438 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the Conference on Oman’s Economy - Vision 2020, 1995

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We have to develop our economic and natural resources and human capabilities in order to have a diversiﬁed, solid and active economy within the world economy.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 243 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

D U T C H TA C T I C I A N

Pim Verbeek new Oman football coach

CALL FOR CAMPAIGN ON CHILD RIGHTS

Veteran coach Pim Verbeek

GAUTAM VISWANATHAN SYED HAITHAM HASAN

gautam@timesofoman.com haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Veteran coach Pim Verbeek has been appointed manager of the Oman National Football Team. The 60-year-old will take charge of the national team on January 1, 2017, having signed a two-year-deal with the Oman Football Association. The official announcement about the Dutch tactician’s appointment came at a press conference at the Seeb Football Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. “The goal is to once again ensure that Oman is on the forefront. This will be achieved by leading the team to compete in the Asian Football Cup 2019 and in the world cups in future. This is concurrent with the goals of the OFA, the team, and my own,” Verbeek told the media. Verbeek expressed his admiration for Oman’s national team, and praised the current setup for the resilience it showed in the face of superior opposition. ”During the time when I coached, Oman has been a tough opponent, something rare in Asian football,” he said. Though Verbeek only has until end of March for the first AFC Cup qualification game, he was confident of putting together the best selection of players in that short span. “I had six weeks with Australia before their first match, and we won against Qatar in that World Cup qualifier. My target is to have training camps and identify players’ strengths to ensure we make the best selection for the team,” Verbeek said. His achievements include managing South Korea’s and Australia’s national teams. >A6

HM sends greetings to Malaysia MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to Sultan Muhammad V, King of Malaysia on the occasion of his accession to the throne. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his congratulations and best wishes of success to Sultan Muhammad V in leading the Malaysian people towards further progress and prosperity and further progress to the relations between the two countries. -ONA

MORNING MINUTE

See also >C1

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

Machines to speed up counting of votes in municipal elections HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: A new state-of-theart machine will be used for the first time in Oman’s municipal council elections to count votes. “The new technology will help save time once the voting is over. We typically finish counting of the votes by 3 am but with this new technology, we will be able to finish before midnight as the machine will automatically count the votes,” a source at the Ministry of Interior said. This machine will be available at all the election locations and a voter will have to insert the paper with a tick marked next to his candidate’s name. The results will be announced

CABLE

on the election day itself. The number of registered voters this year stood at 623,224, recording a whopping increase of around 100,000 from last elections. The official announced that Omanis living in the GCC will be able to vote through their embassies on December 18, while the ofﬁcial election day is December 25 for the rest of the voters.

Exotic cars on display at Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre

Voters will get a day off on Sunday, December 25. Around 731 candidates will contest for 202 seats all across Oman, of whom 708 are males and only 22 females. The ﬁnal results will be revealed and calculated live via the election website and the mobile app. The ministry has allocated 107 election centres across the Sultanate. The municipal councils’ term is four years. The electoral process strengthens the national development efforts being made by the government and plays a vital role in the efforts made by the Council of Oman. The Interior Ministry has also issued leaﬂets with detailed stepby-step instructions regarding the electronic voting system.

Mohammed Al Marzouqi, official spokesperson for the public prosecution and head of its awareness committee, said it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Al Marzouqi said 118 children have been victims of sexual harassment in Oman this year, and experts suggest the real number may be higher than what has been reported. Al Marzouqi said such ﬁgures were released for the

ﬁrst time in Oman, making it difficult to detect any increase or dip from last year. However, he said that some cases are not being reported to the public prosecution as they can take place at homes, schools or in neighbourhoods. “Experts do not see it as a phenomenon in Oman, but they agree that it is indeed an issue that needs to be highlighted,” he said. >A6

WORLD

Trump picks Tillerson

Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil CEO, was tapped by Donald Trump as his Secretary of State. >A11

MARKET

Bad loans of firms rise

Leasing ﬁrms in Oman have witnessed a growth in gross non-performing loans (NPLs). >B1

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

THE BRIEFING OMAN

Oman parliamentarians discuss women’s issues

REGION

WORLD

Iran scientists to work on nuclear-powered vessels

Merkel, Hollande back extending sanctions

Iran ordered its scientists on Tuesday to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels in response to what it calls a US violation of its landmark 2015 atomic deal with world powers. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described the technology as a “nuclear propeller to be used in marine transportation,” but did not say whether that meant just ships or possibly also submarines. Iran said in 2012 that it was working on its ﬁrst nuclear-powered sub. >A7 Dr. Su’aad bint Mohammed Al Lawatiyah, Deputy Chairman of the State Council headed the Omani delegation that took part in the International Summit of Female Parliamentary Leaders in Abu Dhabi. The summit was hosted by the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) under the theme “United for Shaping the Future”. >A6

When students of the British School Muscat assembled for the inauguration of their new swimming pool complex, little did they know they would be met by a very special guest. Elizabeth Simmonds, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, had been invited by the school for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which officially signalled the opening of the new pool. >A4

SPORTS The leaders of France and Germany, speaking two days before an EU summit which will discuss the conﬂict in eastern Ukraine, said they want to extend sanctions against Russia due to a lack of progress in implementing a ceaseﬁre deal. >A12

18 people killed due to cyclone Vardah related incidents in Tamil Nadu

LIFESTYLE

A Viennese Dream

OMAN

PIA chairman resigns days after plane crash

Eighteen people were killed in six districts of the south eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Vardah that crossed the coast, as Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam held a meeting of top officials on Tuesday to speed up work to ensure return of normalcy in storm-hit regions. The government said it is taking all steps to ensure that the jammed mobile phone networks are restored and a meeting of telecom operators and officials was held.. >A8

WORLD

Navalny plans to run for president in 2018

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chairman Azam Saigol has resigned from his post citing personal reasons, the company’s spokesman said on Tuesday, less than a week after a PIA plane crashed and all 47 people on board were killed. >A9

WORLD

Thai king to pardon up to 150,000 inmates Thailand’s new king will pardon or commute the sentences of up to 150,000 prison inmates, including some jailed under one of the world’s toughest laws against royal insult, officials said on Tuesday. >A10

Bank Muscat in line with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in promoting Oman as a sporting nation, joined hands in honouring the three champion Omani winners, Haitham Al Hadidi, Ali Al Balushi and Tariq Al Shinani, for winning the ﬁrst three places at the Red Bull Car Park Drift Final 2016, hosted in Oman. >C3

Italian team Adelasia di Torres to race SATT 2017

It was a proud moment for Oman when Ahmed Al Lawati was awarded two Bachelor Degrees by the University of Minnesota in May. After he strongly felt that he must pursue both, engineering as well as the liberal arts with economics as a major, Al Lawati decided to capitalise on the opportunity to achieve this twin dream. He pursued the double majors. He simultaneously achieved a degree of Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and one as a Bachelor of Science in Economics. >A5

PAKISTAN

Bank Muscat honours drift champions

SPORTS

Omani youth awarded two bachelor degrees

Olympian inspires next generation of swimmers

Oman to host India-Arab partnership forum The presence of the high level ministerial and business delegations from India at the partnership conference reﬂects the importance that India attaches to its trade and investment relations with 22 Arab countries, which have emerged as India’s important trade partners. >B3

INDIA

OMAN

BUSINESS

If you are in need of deep relaxation, then the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa in Austria’s stunning capital city Vienna has one of the most exclusive spas in Vienna. Its 18-metre pool is the longest in the city and features underwater music. >A14

Team Adelasia di Torres from Sardinia in Italy has been announced as a new entry in the 2017 edition of EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour (SATT), which starts from Muscat on February 14 and conclude on March 1. The team has been put together by Costa based Renato Azara, a keen sailor who after many years as managing director of Sardinia Yacht Services, the worldrenowned yacht management agency on the Emerald Coast, has decided to go racing. >C4

BUSINESS

Opec deal to create oil-supply deﬁcit Russian opposition ﬁgure and anti-graft campaigner Alexei Navalny announced on Tuesday he plans to run for president in 2018, causing a potential headache for the Kremlin. Navalny is very unlikely to pose a serious threat to President Vladimir Putin. >A12

Global oil markets will swing from surplus to deﬁcit in the ﬁrst half of 2017 as Opec and other producers follow through on an agreement to cut supply, according to the IEA. Oil stockpiles will decline by about 600,000 barrels a day in the next six months, said the agency. >B1

Keep a first-aid kit handy: PACDA preventing workplace accidents and ill health, not just health and safety specialists.

In a notice uploaded on its official twitter handle, the authority has stressed the need of having a well-stocked ﬁrst aid kit to meet emergency situations

Times News Servi ce MUSCAT: Every workplace, vehicle and home in Oman should have a well-stocked ﬁrst aid kit to meet emergency situations, the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA) has said. In a notice uploaded on its of-

ﬁcial twitter handle, the authority has stressed the need of having a well-stocked ﬁrst aid kit to meet emergency situations. First aid kits “should have medicines with proper expiration dates and also a manual to know how to use it,” PACDA tweeted. A recent survey revealed that

nine in 10 senior managers operating within the Gulf Corporation Council believe the investment decisions they make in the health and safety sector are critical to business, with 85 per cent making them a top priority at board level. A total of 88 per cent believe that all employees have a role to play in

Survey The survey, conducted on behalf of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), asked 250 decision-makers in the GCC the how much value they place on health and safety in the workplace. The survey questioned senior managers in nine industries: construction, oil and gas, education, sports, healthcare, ﬁnance, transport, technology and hospitality. The managers were based in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Ninety-one per cent agreed that investing in the health and safety of the workforce is essential to ensur-

ing that business has a good reputation, is resilient and productive, with 36 per cent strongly agreeing. Thirty-six per cent strongly agreed that their employees’ health and safety is a top priority at board level, while 50 per cent strongly agreed that all employees have a responsibility for health and safety. Meanwhile, a health and safety expert said the recent notice from PACDA to keep first aid kit at every workplace, vehicle and home is a good move. “In case of any incident or injury, the first response is very important. It is vital to provide immediate care to a person who has been injured, or has become ill before qualified medical assistance arrives. The immediate availability of fully equipped first aid kit along

with trained first aid administrator help in saving the life and preventing the condition from worsening and it promotes recovery,” Neelesh Sogani, the safety expert, said. Requirement “The general industry requirement for the first aid administrators is 1:20 and minimum one First Aid kit at each location. The increase in domestic and road traffic incident rates warrants the need of keeping First Aid kit handy all the time. In ensuring better medical recovery, the first response is very crucial and initial few hours/minutes are very crucial in some cases. If you miss the first response, the medical condition may turn irreversible,especially in cardiac cases,” he added. IBRI

Five rescued by police Times News Service MUSCAT: Police rescued five men from a mountain top after a call for help. An ROP official confirmed the rescue operation of five Omani citizens from Al Mazem mountain in Ibri. The report came in around noon on Tuesday. According to the ROP, they were looking for their livestock. Search helicopters immediately responded to the call and reached the location before dark. After rescue from the mountain top they were transported to Ibri hospital for check ups. They are in good condition. Accident death In another incident an Indian mechanic died in a road accident in Salalah yesterday, a social worker said. The deceased, Anoop R, 36, from the south Indian state of Kerala, is survived by wife Chandrika A, 11-year-old daughter Aswana and 9-year-old son Akshay. Social workers are coordianting efforts to repatriate the body to India.

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Oman Air announces Manchester, Nairobi direct service start dates RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com

The Nairobi ﬂight will leave Muscat at 2.50pm to reach at 6.55pm and the Manchester ﬂight will leave at 2pm and reach at 7.05pm

MUSCAT: Oman Air, the Sultanate’s national carrier will start direct flights to Nairobi, Kenya from March 27 and to Manchester, United Kingdom from May 1, an official of the airline said on Tuesday. The flight to Nairobi will leave Muscat at 2.50pm and arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at 6.55pm whereas the flight to Manchester will leave Muscat at 2pm and reach Manchester’s T3 terminal at 7.05pm.

Oman Air is undertaking an ambitious growth programme to expand its network and ensure international connectivity. The airline’s network expansion programme has been running parallel to a major fleet expansion programme that has seen the addition of Airbus A330, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the airline’s fleet, and will witness Oman Air operate 70 aircraft by 2020. A new Boeing 737-800 had joined its fleet on the occasion of the Sultanate’s 46th National Day

ARAB SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS SUMMIT

ROP’s social media push for safety, security wins award Staff Reporter DUBAI: Oman police’s safety and security efforts through social media have won it recognition at the regional level. Royal Oman Police (ROP), represented by the Directorate General of Traffic, won the Arab Social Media Inﬂuencers Summit Award under the ‘safety and security’ category in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The December 13-14 summit was held under the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who conferred the award upon Brigadier Mohammad Al Rawas, Director General of Traffic. According to the Arab Social Media Inﬂuencers Summit website, the Safety and Security Award “honours organisations and individuals involved in raising awareness on social media platforms about security and community safety, and addressing critical issues related to safety and security in the Arab region.” The award was given to the ROP, based on the consistent role it has been playing, along with individuals and the community, in promoting awareness and traffic safety through its twitter account @roptraffic as well as tweeting about laws and regulations in an

HONOUR: Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister

of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai conferred the award upon Brigadier Mohammad Al Rawas, Director General of Traffic.

organised fashion. The ROP has merged its religious, scientiﬁc and literary values to create an effective awareness campaign through its social media accounts, including notifying the community about certain traffic detours,

closure of roads and any congestion people could potentially face. Brig. Al Rawas said, “Social media activity is important to inﬂuence a culture of traffic safety. It should be used as an additional medium, side by side with police patrols, to bring down the rate of injuries and deaths as we saw in the last few years.” According to the ROP, 675 deaths were recorded due to trafﬁc accidents in 2015, down from 816 in 2014, 913 in 2013 and 1,139 in 2012. Instances of injuries also came down in 2015 to 3,624, compared to 3,835 in 2014, 4,178 in 2013 and 4,514 injuries in 2012.

on November 18. “This was the sixth brand new Boeing 737-800 to join the Oman Air fleet this year as part of the airline’s expansion plan. Oman Air has operated B737s for many years and these aircraft are the backbone of the airline’s long and medium haul fleet,” it said. With the addition of the new Boeing 737-800, Oman Air’s fleet strength stands at 46 and it currently flies to 54 destinations worldwide. Currently, Oman Air’s fleet consists of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing

737-900s, 22 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and four Embraer 175s. Three more Boeing 737-800s are scheduled to join the fleet next year. Travel agents said Africa and the United Kingdom have always been one of the key markets for Oman Air. “London Heathrow has been a flagship route for Oman Air and the fact that the carrier added a second daily frequency is a clear indication of the strong demand for flights between these two great cities,” Oman Air said. The Chief Commercial Officer

of Oman Air, Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, had recently announced: “A major highlight of our summer schedule will be our daily ﬂight to Manchester, complementing the double daily service we currently offer to London. The new service will provide easy access for international visitors in the north of the United Kingdom and many more British travellers will enjoy the convenience of connecting with Oman Air’s global network.” In April 2016, Oman Air launched a second daily MuscatLondon Heathrow ﬂight.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016 The sooner you enter the pool, the better it is for kids because sometimes, they become more afraid of entering the water when they are older Elizabeth Simmonds, UK Olympian

OMAN A L M A Z A A R E D U TA I N M E N T C E N T R E

New go-to place in city for exotic car lovers DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A car exhibition has become part of the newly revamped Al Mazaar Edutainment Centre and is free for public viewing for a whole year. With some exotic cars on display, and each with a story of its own, the exhibition is already catching the imagination of the visitors to Al Mazaar who come to see the Trampoline hall or the Adventure zone. Besides the car exhibition, Trampoline hall and the Adventure Zone, Al Mazaar also has designated art walls and edutainment boxes which are special attractions at the venue. A special gallery space will also showcase a series of art installations, promoting Omani art and culture. The one-of-a-kind edutainment centre marks the transformation of the Barr Al Jissah heritage village into Oman’s must visit destination. There is no entrance fee and it is open from 9am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Olympian inspires next generation of swimmers Elizabeth Simmonds, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, had been invited by British School Muscat for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which officially signalled the opening of the school’s new pool

GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

gautam@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: When students of the British School Muscat assembled for the inauguration of their new swimming pool complex, little did they know they would be met by a very special guest. Elizabeth Simmonds, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, had been invited by the school for the ribboncutting ceremony, which officially signalled the opening of the new pool. The 25-year-old Simmonds, who was at the BSM on December 8 and 9, inspired the students to take to the water, narrating how swimming played a huge role in her character development. “I started swimming at a really young age, and learned a lot of things about myself when I was in the water,” she said, speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman. “You learn some pretty big life skills, like determination and re-

OPENING NEW POOL: The 25-year-old Simmonds, who was at the

BSM on December 8 and 9, inspired the students to take to the water, narrating how swimming played a huge role in her character development. – Supplied photo

silience and a desire to never give up, and all these things are really important, especially when you are growing up. “The sooner you enter the pool, the better it is for kids because sometimes, they become more afraid of entering the water when they are older,” added Simmonds. “It is important to show kids that there is nothing wrong with entering the water because when you overcome your fears here, it gives you a lot of conﬁdence to face other challenges in life as well.” Although Simmonds was hop-

ing to win a medal at the London Olympics, she ended up ﬁnishing fourth. Defeat, she said, is part of any sportsperson’s career, and what’s important is how one bounces back. “My objective was to win a medal at the Olympics in London, but I narrowly missed out on it and ﬁnished fourth,” she recalled. “But that is a part of any sport and when you are in the water,you learn a lot about your achievements and how to respond to these setbacks. “If you can turn your love for swimming into a career like I have,

it is a great thing, but otherwise, learning to swim is a very important life skill to have,” said Simmonds. “My parents were always very supportive of my passion for swimming and they never put any pressure on me to succeed. They always told me to take this as far as I wanted to, as long as I had an interest in the sport.” The 2012 Olympics aside, Simmonds was also a part of Team GB at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She also won medals at the 2008 World Championships, the 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2014 World Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In addition, she also held the national record for the fastest timing in 50 metre backstroke (26.88 seconds), 100 metre backstroke (56.69 seconds), and the Commonwealth Record for the 200 metre backstroke, timed at a fraction above two minutes (2:00.91) BSM Principal Kai Vacher was delighted to have a sportswoman of Simmonds’ calibre pay a visit to the children. “We’re very happy to have someone of Elizabeth’s calibre here with us at the British School in Oman,” he said. “It is very interesting to have her here with us because while speaking to the students, she not only touched on her achievements but also emphasisedthe importance of setting goals, and the pluses and minuses of being a successful swimmer. “She did talk about the success that comes with winning medals, but she also told us about its downside, such as training schedules and discipline, and that was really interesting,” he added. “At the end of the day, she asks herself, ‘did I do my best?’ and if one did one’s best, no matter what the outcome, one can be happy with what one has achieved.” Simmonds also spent time swimming with the BSM Marlins, the school’s swimming team, and conducted a workshop for them over the weekend.

TOURISM

Sultanate hosts Arab Ministerial Council meeting KHADIJA ALZADJALI

khadija@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is hosting the Arab Ministerial Council meeting for the first time in history. Sixteen countries participating in the meeting were represented by their ministers and heads of tourism as they discuss the most vital areas of cooperation and development in the region. Oman’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Nasser Al Mahrizi, gave the opening speech, followed by Egypt’s Tourism Minister Mohamed Yahya Rashid’s address. The Egyptian minister asked the distinguished guests and reporters alike to rise for a moment of silence in memory of those killed in the recent terror attacks. At the end of the first session, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministers of Tourism of Oman and Egypt, strengthening bilateral cooperation and the two countries’ relationship. The main objective of the MoU is to invest in the tourism and hospitality sector, participate in travel fairs and exhibitions in each other’s country and encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, including hotels and tour operators. Additionally, they will exchange expertise in areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management. “The exchange of ideas and expertise in this meeting will enrich the tourism sector in the Arab countries as a whole. Tourism plays a significant role in the Arab world. We aim to develop and build this sector to attract tourists from around the world so that they discover the Arab countries better,” Mohammed Yahya Rashid, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, said. The Council also discussed ways to maintain

At the end of the first session, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministers of Tourism of Oman and Egypt, strengthening bilateral cooperation and the two countries’ relationship the architectural heritage as well as the standards of tour operators and media vendors. The participants also identiﬁed institutions that will help develop tourism as well as organisations that focus on marine-based competitions. The meeting will conclude by summarising the latest tourism statistics and presenting the “Businesswomen Incubators for tourism” project, which aims to provide investment and employment opportunities for women in the Arab world.

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US YouTube star to perform live in Muscat on January 30 Super excited In a statement, Adam Saleh said: “Oman showed me so much love when I visited in 2014. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet you all in person, so I’m super excited to be performing live for the ﬁrst time in Muscat and really looking forward to meeting all my Oman Adoomies!”

Since starting his YouTube channel in 2012, Adam Saleh has gained a staggering 700 plus million views on his videos

Times News Service MUSCAT: With more than 5.5 million followers across his social media channels, Adam Saleh has become a household name with fans from all around the world. The famous American YouTube star, vlogger, actor and rapper, born to Yemeni parents, who is best known for his YouTube videos, will perform live in Muscat on January 30, 2017.

He will be performing live for the ﬁrst time in Oman as part of his Middle East Tour in 2017. “Adam’s shows are so much fun! Apart from him performing his famous songs, look out for new skits and pranks and audience participation,” the organisers said. Since starting his YouTube channel in 2012, Adam Saleh has gained a staggering 700 plus million views on his videos and the number continues to increase daily.

LIVE CONCERT: Adam Saleh will be performing live for the ﬁrst time in Oman as part of his Middle East Tour in 2017.

Due to his rapid growth and popularity on YouTube, Adam has taken part in many events throughout his career, often going on worldwide tours, appearing on

shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and on the BBC and other channels. He has made successful singles and has also starred in a movie.

Swarmed by fans During a previous trip to Muscat for a meet and greet, Adam was swarmed by his fans at a shopping centre. “Oman has shown Adam so much love and we wanted to surprise his fans with a live show which will take place on Monday, 30th January, at the Sheraton Oman Hotel,” the organisers said. The show will be in English and the tickets will start from OMR24.

CHURCH COLLAPSE

HM sends condolences to Nigeria MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for victims of the church collapse in Uyo city, southeastern Nigeria. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Buhari, families of the victims and the Nigerian people, wishing those injured a speedy recovery. -ONA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PROUD MOMENT

Omani youth awarded two bachelor degrees HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: It was a proud moment for Oman when Ahmed Al Lawati was awarded two Bachelor Degrees by the University of Minnesota in May 2016. After he strongly felt that he must pursue both, engineering as well as the liberal arts with economics as a major, Al Lawati decided to capitalise on the opportunity to achieve this twin dream. He went on to pursue the double majors, or the two separate bachelor degrees. The 24-year-old graduate simultaneously achieved a degree of Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and one as a Bachelor of Science in Economics. The university’s Chemical Engineering and Materials Science major is currently ranked fourth in the US for Bachelors, according to US News Ranking. Asked about the secret behind his success, Al Lawati said, “It was a blend of faith, sacriﬁces, strategic planning, time management, stress management, resource utilization and, most importantly, T W O - D AY M E E T I N G

Conference to boost, trade investment MUSCAT: To expand the volume of trade and investment between the Sultanate and Arab countries and India and increase areas of cooperation between the Arab and Indian sides, a conference will begin at Barr Al Jissah Resort today. The 5th Arab-Indian Partnership Conference is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd Al Said. The two-day conference comes under the theme “Partnership towards Innovation and Cooperation in Information Technology”. Exchange views It also aims to urge the Arab countries and concerned organisations to participate in ArabIndian Partnership Conference to exchange views on issues of common interest and to encourage the signing of commercial contracts and cooperation in the ﬁeld of information technology, scientiﬁc research and biotechnology and to strengthen trade and economic relations by encouraging investment in infrastructure, basic manufacturing, food industries and medical tourism services. 500 participants More than 500 government and academic officials, businessmen, businesswomen and investors from the Arab countries and India will participate in the conference. -ONA

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It was a blend of faith, sacrifices, strategic planning, time and stress management, resource utilisation and having a great family and friends Ahmed Al Lawati

University of Minnesota graduate

having a great support system – family and friends.” He explained that there are numerous jobs that require such a blend of knowledge and interdisciplinary skills, especially in engineering, management, con-

sultancy, law and so on. He also elaborated on his choice of majors by noting that economics is a social science that can be applied to every aspect of life, explaining its complimentary means to any career endeavour. In order to double ma-

jor, Al Lawati underwent the rigorous process of fulﬁlling two different degree requirements, with few overlapping classes. He joined the university in the spring of 2011, and completed the two degrees ﬁve years later in May 2016. The key

to double-majoring, Al Lawati emphasized, was time management, discipline and perseverance. Of course, he did have to sacriﬁce his rest time in order to make up for the strict scheduling of classes, homework, studying, as well as pursuing a part time job. In addition to thanking the Ministry of Higher Education for providing him this study opportunity, Al Lawati expressed his gratitude to his family and close friends, who supported him throughout his double-undergraduate journey. Al Lawati is currently interning in Schlumberger, Fahud, and looks forward to joining the local workforce and giving back to the Omani community after his diverse learning experience abroad.

Future visions of Riyada discussed MUSCAT: Board of Directors of the Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada) Board reviewed the implemented decisions of the previous meeting. It also discussed several items listed on the agenda that included Riyada work plan for 2017, priorities of initiatives, future visions of Riyada for SMEs contribution in the economy. The Board held its 4th meeting for 2016 under the chair of Dr. Ali bin Mas’oud Al Sunaidi, Chairman of the Riyada Board. The Board also viewed outcomes of the study on incubators and business centres in four governorates (Muscat, North Al Batinah, Dhofar and Al Buraimi), which will provide consultancy, mentoring and support to SMEs owners. The Board stressed the necessity to have timeframe, executive plan to achieve goals of the study. -ONA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

OMAN Oman, Iran hold talks to boost ties Oman and Iran exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern

MUSCAT: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs received in his office yesterday Dr. Sadiq Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who is currently on an official visit to the Sultanate. The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern. The meeting was attended by Dr.

BILATERAL TALKS: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs with Dr. Sadiq Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs in Iran. – ONA

Mohammed bin Awadh Al Hassan, Acting Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs, the delegation accompanying the guest and officials at the Foreign Ministry. The 5th official session of talks for strategic consultation between the Sultanate and Iran was held at the General Diwan of the Foreign Ministry yesterday. The Omani side was chaired by

Dr. Mohammed bin Awadh Al Hassan, Acting Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs while it was headed from the Iranian side by Dr. Sadiq Hossein Jaberi Ansari. The two sides discussed cooperation between the two countries that contributes in enhancing ties. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues of common concern. -ONA

ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

Shura reviews Orpic work MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura’s Economic Committee hosted a number of officials from Orpic in order to learn about their opinions and proposals that would raise the efficiency of the performance of state-owned companies and stand on the major challenges it faces. Shura yesterday held its 4th regular meeting of the 2nd annual sitting (2016-2017) of the 8th term (2015-2019), headed by Saleh bin Said Messan, Head of the committee. The committee inquired about the company’s ﬁnancial performance, its history, the added value of the company in the GDP, domestic and foreign investments, and the company’s contribution in the ﬁeld of community support. The committee also hosted officials from the Secretariat General for Taxation to discuss the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income with the Government of Sri Lanka, transferred from the Council of Ministers. -ONA

F E M A L E D E L E G AT I O N

Oman parliamentarians discuss women’s issues ABU DHABI: Dr. Su’aad bint Mohammed Al Lawatiyah, Deputy Chairman of the State Council headed the Omani delegation that took part in the International Summit of Female Parliamentary Leaders in Abu Dhabi. The summit was hosted by the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) under the theme “United for Shaping the Future”. The Omani female parliamentary delegation met with Saber Hossain Chowdhury, IPU President. The two sides discussed several issues that included status of woman in international parliaments, legislations and systems of elections in the world that support woman to reach parliament seats. The meeting highlighted role of Omani woman in development, as well as the support accorded by His Majesty the Sultan for the Omani woman to enable her in all ﬁelds to push march of comprehensive development forward. The Omani female

The Omani female parliamentary delegation met with Saber Hossain Chowdhury, IPU President.

parliamentary delegation included Eng. Nashi’ah bint Saud Al-Kharousiyah, member at the State Council, Eng. Rahma bint Hamad Al Mesharﬁyah, member at the State Council and Ni’amah bint Jameel Al Busaidiyah, member at Majlis Al Shura. -ONA

R A I S I N G AWA R E N E S S

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Children need counselling to come out of trauma: Expert

Sexual harassment includes different forms of offences against the person, all of which come under the title, according to Al Marzouqi. Addressing the issue of bullying in Oman schools, the public prosecutor attributed it to lack of awareness over children’s rights. Calling for a national campaign to educate teachers, medics, social workers, prosecutors and various members of society about child rights, he said: “People must be well informed about their kids’ rights. If parents do not vaccinate their children or provide them the necessary medical help, they are committing a crime by law.” He explained that some tradi-

tions can also be harmful to children. “Oman has banned using children as jockeys for camel races years ago but some other ancient practices are still being followed. Such practices have nothing to do with the Islamic faith,” he said. Talking to the Times of Oman, Al Marzouqi replied to some voices which encouraged disciplinary beating in schools, saying: “Studies all across the world have shown many negative outcomes of beating children. “If some turned out ﬁne after such treatment, it does not mean that beating works for all.” “The Prophet (PBUH) never hit an animal, kid or a woman in his

life. I wonder how people associate such behaviour with Islam,” he argued. “We need people to stand up and talk against issues like bullying, beating and sexual harassment,” Al Marzouqi urged, adding that effects of such offences could affect a victim for the rest of their life. Roma Fernandes, clinical psychologist at the Whispers of Serenity Clinic, said: “It is easier to say that we do not know it is happening then to admit there is a problem and to deal with it. This issue brings a lot of problems with it - the biggest one being shame. We are scared to face and address this shame.

Then there is the legal issue if the case is reported and then the issue of how to help the child through it. Fear “Once we can keep shame out of this and focus on what is most important – the child going through this - I feel things will be simpler. This child is facing his/her battles every day, what they should feel and what they should do and many times because of fear they suffer in silence,” she said. She added: “All children in general need to be given the conﬁdence that if any such thing happens to them it is not their fault

and that they can be given the courage to report it no matter who the abuser is. We need a strong web, a well functioning system, all the way from the home or school to the public prosecution to help and protect that child. “The child’s mental health after going through such abuse is also a crucial subject and the child should be given the necessary counselling to come out of such a traumatic situation. “We have a campaign ‘I am Child Oman’ which is working on creating awareness about child abuse and also educate parents and children on what to do in such situations,” she said.

SINGAPORE VISIT

WHO

Omani delegation studies ways to solve labour issues SINGAPORE: A delegation representing tripartite production stakeholders (government, employers and workers) yesterday met with the officials of Singapore National Employers Federation and Ministry of Manpower, within the framework of the current several-day visit of the delegation to Singapore. The delegation familiarised itself with social dialogue between the tripartite production stakeholders at the national and sectoral levels, as well as acquainting with work mechanisms followed in solving disputes. The delegation also familiarised itself with major legislations and laws governing areas of training.

Citing statistics, Adnan Al Farsi, assistant director, family consultancy directorate, Ministry of Social Development, said a high percentage of children globally suffer from some form of psychological abuse. “The children who are exposed to maximum number of domestic violence are orphans, followed by cases in which the parents are separated,” he told a Shura Council session recently. The law ensures that every child in Oman, whether they are a resident or tourist, has the right to live and be safe, be educated and be protected from neglect and all forms of abuse.

The delegation of the tripartite production stakeholders is led by Said bin Saleh Al Kiyoumi, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) with participation of Nabhan Al Battashi, Chairman of the General Federation of Oman Trade Union, Khalid Al Rawahi, Director General of Manpower in the Governorate of Dhofar, managers of human resources at companies and establishments of the private sector, heads and members of trade unions representing workers of the Sultanate in Orpic, Sohar Aluminium, Voltamp, Occidental and Oman Cement among other companies.

The visit, organised by the OCCI, aims at viewing legislations and laws governing the relation between employers and workers, labour laws and regularising labour market in Singapore, in addition to familiarising with initiatives of employers to enhance dialogue with workers and mechanism of coordination between employers and trade unions in social dialogue.

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DUTCH COACH

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A1 Wealth of knowledge During his early international career, Verbeek was assistant manager to South Korea during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and was later offered the role of the head coach. He also coached Australia, taking it to the World Cup in 2010. This, however, is not his ﬁrst spell as coach of an Arab nation. He was the assistant manager of the United Arab Emirates in 2005, and also oversaw the development of Morocco’s Under-23 side between 2010 and 2014. Known for the wealth of knowledge he brings to the national team, Verbeek expressed his support for the national team players who went abroad to play their domestic football to gain crucial experience. “I am currently trying to ﬁnd the best squad I can play with,” he said.“The time is short and I will be selecting players who can perform the best so that we can make it to the bigger competitions. It is always good to have players with international experience that they gained from other clubs and countries, but it

is up to the players themselves.” The meeting was also attended by several top OFA officials, including Jassim Al Shukaili, the second vice chairman of the OFA. “The board has voted unanimously to appoint Verbeek,” he said, adding, “We are confident he will meet the high expectations we have of him.” Al Shukaili also revealed that the OFA was searching for a capable assistant to aid him. “The position will go to an Omani, and the individual must be highly knowledgeable regarding the sport, as well as world football,” he said, adding that the post would be filled in the coming weeks. “The board has reached out to different football officials, staff and even former players regarding this position, and has had positive responses regarding the hiring of Verbeek and an assistant coach, whose identity will be revealed in the next few weeks.” added Al Shukaili, emphasising the positive influence that a good coach can have on the team.

Meeting held to eliminate tuberculosis MUSCAT: The Sultanate hosted yesterday the consultative meeting of the GCC countries to eradicate tuberculosis, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. The meeting was held under the auspices of Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Hosni, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs as part of the Sultanate’s initiatives to prepare a comprehensive Gulf strategy to get rid of tuberculosis. Dr. Al Hosni said in a speech that over the past years there have been great successes to reduce the disease of tuberculosis and to reduce the proportion of deaths due to the disease to 50 per cent compared to 1990, “stressing the importance of doing more to reach the desired goal on the eradication of TB once and for all through the concerted efforts and increase of communication and focus on the ﬁtness of expatriate labour examination. The 2-day meeting aims to develop a common Gulf policy to eliminate TB by 2020, as well as discuss and reconsider the policies of the GCC states regarding TB infection, such as checking and deportation of expatriate labour, put many of the recommendations that would change the policies that are an impediment towards the eradication of tuberculosis. -ONA S E C R E TA RY G E N E R A L

Koman arrives in Oman MUSCAT: Dr. Mohammed Ali Koman, Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council arrived yesterday on an official two-day visit Oman. The guest will meet Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior. The visit comes within the framework of his consultative tour to several Arab countries in preparation to hold the 34th meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers Council. -ONA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

REGION Iran scientists to work on nuclear-powered vessels IranAir hopes to ﬁnalise Airbus deal in two weeks

President Hassan Rouhani ordered

BEIRUT: European planemaker Airbus and IranAir will finalise a deal to buy aircraft in two weeks, the head of Iran’s flag carrier said on Tuesday, adding Airbus has agreed to arrange financing for the first 17 planes. Uncertainty over financing of the deal and political opposition in the United States against Iran have slowed down Tehran’s efforts to import aircraft following the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions this year. Iran signed a $16.6 billion deal for 80 Boeing passenger jets on Sunday and was said to be close to a deal with Airbus, in the biggest package of firm contracts with Western companies since Iran’s 1979 revolution. IranAir Chief Executive Farhad Parvaresh said he hoped to finalise the deal with Airbus in two weeks. “There are only a few small remaining issues like financ-

planning for production of fuel for nuclear-powered marine vessels after US extended sanctions on Tehran

BEIRUT/VIENNA: Iran ordered its scientists on Tuesday to start developing systems for nuclearpowered marine vessels in response to what it calls a US violation of its landmark 2015 atomic deal with world powers. Nuclear experts however said that President Hassan Rouhani’s move, if carried out, would probably require Iran to enrich uranium to a fissile purity above the maximum level set by the nuclear deal to allay fears of Tehran building an atomic bomb. Rouhani’s announcement marked Tehran’s first concrete reaction to a decision by the US Congress last month to extend some sanctions on Tehran that would also make it easier to reimpose others lifted under the nuclear pact. Rouhani described the technology as a “nuclear propeller to be used in marine transportation,” but did not say whether that meant just ships or possibly also submarines. Iran said in 2012 that it was working on its first nuclearpowered sub. Rouhani’s words will stoke tensions with Washington, already heightened by US President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to scrap the deal, under which Iran curbed its

nuclear fuel production activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Rouhani also ordered planning for production of fuel for nuclearpowered marine vessels “in line with the development of a peaceful nuclear programme of Iran”. But under the nuclear settlement Iran reached with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, it is not allowed to enrich uranium above a 3.67 per cent purity for 15 years, a level unlikely to be enough to run such vessels. “On the basis of international

ing. Airbus has agreed to provide financing for 17 planes,” he was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. The first contract is expected to involve some 50-60 jets out of 118 provisionally ordered during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in January. An Iranian official told Reuters in November that IranAir had reached a deal with a foreign leasing company to finance the first 17 jets from Airbus, boosting the prospects of finalising a deal to buy European aircraft. Dubai’s DAE Capital has been closely involved in the talks in coordination with Airbus, according to industry sources, but the leasing company has declined to comment. Parvaresh said IranAir was trying to get first five Airbus planes before March 2017, the end of the financial year. Such a timetable would mean the first

experience, were Iran to go ahead with such a (nuclear propulsion) project, it would have to increase its enrichment level,” said Mark Hibbs, nuclear expert and senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “That’s the point, because Iran would be looking for a non-weapons rationale to provocatively increase its enrichment level in the case that the deal with the powers comes unstuck.” He pointed out that countries with more advanced navies and nuclear programmes have been working on propulsion reactors

new passenger jets reaching Iran ahead of presidential elections in May, widely considered a key objective for pragmatist president Rouhani who has faced hardline opposition to the aircraft deals. Further details meanwhile emerged of Iran’s deal with Boeing, which depends partly on further financing agreements. Parvaresh was quoted by Fars news agency as saying Boeing had agreed to finance the first six planes it sells to Iran. He also said Iran would pay for 15 per cent of the value of the jets from its development fund, with the rest to be financed externally. Industry sources expect Boeing, which faces Republican criticism over trade with Iran, to deal with Iran via foreign lessors or other financiers in order to avoid infringing core US sanctions restricting use of the US financial system. — Reuters

for decades. Such technology might need uranium enriched to around 20 per cent purity. A Russian Foreign Ministry source told RIA news agency that a careful reading of Rouhani’s order showed he was talking only about developing power-supply units for nuclear-powered marine vessels, but not higher-enriched uranium itself, so “strictly speaking” this would not contravene the nuclear deal. But the source acknowledged that such vessels typically ran on higher-enriched uranium prohibited by the accord. Edwin Lyman, a nuclear expert

EGYPT

Church bomber linked to Muslim Brotherhood CAIRO: A suicide bomber who killed at least 25 people in Cairo’s main cathedral on Sunday was a Muslim Brotherhood supporter who joined a militant cell while on the run from police, the Interior Ministry said In an interview with Reuters, the mother of the alleged bomber said he had been abused in police custody in 2014, but she had seen no sign he had been radicalised. At least 49 people were wounded when the bomb went off in a chapel adjoining St Mark’s Cathedral, Cairo’s largest church and seat of the Coptic Christian papacy. The interior ministry named the attacker on Monday as Mahmoud Shaﬁk Mohammed Mostafa, a 22-year-old student. President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said four people had been de-

PAIN AND GRIEF: Egyptians react during the funeral of victims in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday. – Reuters

tained and two were on the run. Sisi took power in 2013, deposing Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, and has since outlawed the movement as part of a crackdown in which hundreds of its supporters have been killed and thousands jailed. The Interior Ministry said

Mahmoud was arrested in March 2014 for carrying arms during a protest, and was freed on bail after two months. It said he had joined a cell led by Mohab Mostafa Sayyed Qassem, a militant with links to IS militants in Northern Sinai and exiled Brotherhood officials in Qatar, and was wanted in two other cases. Sitting in a two-storey house with her four daughters, his mother, Umm Bilal, said Mahmoud ﬂed to Sudan shortly after being released. “Mahmoud would not do this... he would not kill anyone,” she shouted as she listened to a news report on the bombing. Mahmoud’s father died two years ago, said Umm Bilal, who wore a robe and face covering, or niqab. The young man called his mother regularly from abroad. “He said he would not return

D E F U N C T T R E AT M E N T FA C I L I T Y

Toxic trash mountain adds to war woes of Yemenis DUBAI: Many disasters loom over one of the poorest countries in the Middle East as it suffers through nearly two years of war, among them a colossal pile of waste outside Yemen’s capital leeching toxic waste into its diminishing water supply. Hardly a paragon of waste management before the war, Sanaa was at least able to separate out the most dangerous materials from the 10-million-ton hill thanks to a nearby treatment plant. No longer. The facility was bombed by a Saudi-led military coalition battling the armed Houthi movement which controls the capital in June of last year and again last December. Now vast stinking pools created in part by untreated medical waste accumulate at the pile’s base, threatening to contaminate the water supply for the parched city which experts have long predicted will be the ﬁrst capital to use up all its water. “The main problem we’re now facing is in the management of waste in Yemen that is posing a

DANGEROUS PILE UP: Children collect recyclable items at a rub-

bish dump site on the outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen. – Reuters File

real danger to the general health of residents,” said Professor Mohammed Al Qahali, head of the science and technology department at Sanaa University. Al Qahali warned that the pools of contaminated waste contained “hazardous chemicals that could cause a variety of diseases including cancers, birth defects, im-

munological disorders and many other diseases.” The United Nations estimates that over four-ﬁfths of Yemen’s 28 million people need some form of humanitarian aid as a near-blockade on Yemen’s ports and ﬁghting have devastated the fragile economy, spreading hunger and disease — Reuters

because security forces would detain him again,” Umm Bilal said, adding that the last call came about a week ago. “He was asking after me and his sisters... I didn’t notice any change in his voice or anything to suggest he would blow himself up.” Umm Bilal said her son was not radicalised, but had returned broken from police custody. Mahmoud had conﬁded in his brother, she said, that he was assaulted. “He kept crying all night... He wasn’t crying because he was beaten or tortured, though the scars were still visible on his face and body,” she said. “I believe they broke him at the station, they violated his honour.” She said his two brothers had also been arrested, one of them after the bombing. — Reuters

at the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said developing a reactor suited for highergrade nuclear vessel fuel would take at least a decade. “(But) these are unfortunate developments. We are very concerned about the future of the (nuclear deal) under the Trump administration and any signs of erosion... must be taken very seriously and immediately addressed by the international community,” Lyman told Reuters. Rouhani accused the United States in a letter published by state news agency IRNA of not fully meeting its commitments under the nuclear deal. “With regard to recent (US congressional) legislation to extend the Iran Sanctions Act... I order the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to... plan the design and construction of a nuclear propeller to be used in marine transportation.” Members of the US Congress have said the extension of the bill does not violate the nuclear deal that was struck last year to assuage Western fears that Iran was working to develop a nuclear bomb. The act, Congress added, only gave Washington the power to reimpose sanctions on Iran if it violated the pact. Washington says it has lifted all the sanctions it needs to under the July 2015 deal between major powers and Iran. Rouhani’s move followed recent remarks by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his hardline allies harshly criticising the deal’s failure to yield any swift economic improvements in Iran. Khamenei said last month the US Congress’s prolongation of some sanctions was a clear breach and the Islamic Republic would “deﬁnitely react to it”. There was no immediate comment from the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors Iran’s nuclear programme. — Reuters

IRAQ

Paramilitary forces aim to clear border strip with Syria BAGHDAD: Iraqi paramilitary forces fighting IS west of Mosul aim to clear a large strip of land on the border with Syria to prevent the militants melting into the remote desert region and using it as a base for counter attacks, a spokesman said on Tuesday. The Popular Mobilisation fighters - Iranian-backed paramilitary groups who form part of a wider Iraqi force waging the eight-week Mosul campaign - have deployed west of the city to cut the route to IS-held territory in Syria. They have taken an air base south of the town of Tal Afar, about 60km (40 miles) west of Mosul, and linked up with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to seal off the town’s western flank. Jafaar Hussaini said the Kata’ib Hezbollah, one of the armed groups, would advance further west to clear the border region where he said the militants had hidden many weapons stores for future use. “The key objective is to... make sure that the terrorists lose the ability to regroup and launch counter attacks against advancing forces,” said Hussaini, speaking by telephone from a desert area near Tal Afar. Kata’ib Hezbollah is one of the two main groups fighting west of Mosul. A spokesman for the Badr militia, the other group, said it was targeting villages around Tal Afar to “surround Daesh (IS) and tighten the noose around them”. While the army advance in east Mosul, where soldiers have been constrained by street-by-street fighting and a built-up urban battlefield, Hussaini said progress in the western region was slow because the Popular Mobilisation forces had to clear dozens of villages scattered over a wide area. The forces are still 60km from the frontier with Syria, he said. “We are targeting full control of the desert areas along the Syrian border”. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

INDIA

Cyclone Vardah has weakened into a well marked low pressure, a day after it wreaked havoc in the city and neighbouring districts, weather officials said on Tuesday.

B I L AT E R A L T I E S

India, Indonesia must work together in maritime security: Pranab NEW DELHI: Underlining strong historical ties between the two countries, President Pranab Mukherjee has said India and Indonesia must work together in maritime security area to achieve strategic stability and security in the Indo-Paciﬁc and safety and security of sea lanes. Welcoming Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is on his ﬁrst State visit here, Mukherjee said India and Indonesia have ageold bilateral ties and they share a common experience of struggle for freedom from the colonial rule. Mukherjee said he sees India and Indonesia as two countries providing a bulwark against radicalism and intolerance. “India values its cooperation with Indonesia to address these common security concerns and transnational threats. Our proximity as close maritime neighbours indicates that this is a key area where we must work together as

partners to achieve strategic stability and security in the Indo-Paciﬁc and safety and security of sea lanes,” he said. In his banquet speech on Monday, Mukherjee said India would be happy to contribute to Indonesia’s ‘maritime fulcrum vision’ of Indonesia Nusantara and, thereby, also to the security of the Indo-Paciﬁc region. “In the multilateral and global context of facing the common challenges of the 21st Century, India and Indonesia, together, are factors of stability for the world,” he said. He said India attaches high importance to Indonesia’s success as a pluralistic democracy with an open society based on the shared values of syncretism, tolerance and respect for diversity. The president sought Indonesia’s “active support” for strengthening India-ASEAN relations during 2017 when the regional group will meet for 15 years of

PARLEYS: President Pranab Mukherjee with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI

Summit level interaction. Mukherjee also underlined age-old relations between the two countries which spanned from Suﬁsm and Islam which travelled from Gujarat shores to Indonesia to modern-day cooperation of Jawaharlal Nehru and Biju Pattnaik with Indonesian found-

ing Fathers — Soekarno, Mohamad Hatta, Sutan Syahrir. “In the 13th Century, Suﬁ traders and Islamic missionaries from Gujarat carried Islam to Indonesia — which has evolved into your unique brand of ‘Pribumisasi’ Islam — that is at the foundations of the social and religious harmony

that are seen in Indonesia today,” he said. Mukherjee said epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Hindu and Buddhist images, Sanskrit words and names, the timeless art of ikat and batik are simultaneously a part of common heritage and everyday life in India and Indonesia. He said during respective national movements for freedom from colonial rule, Indonesian founding Fathers — Soekarno, Mohamad Hatta, Sutan Syahrir worked in close collaboration with Indian national leaders -- Jawaharlal Nehru and Biju Patnaik among others. “They shared ideas and strategies, and drew inspiration from each other’s struggle - in a way that the course of events in one movement often impacted profoundly the other,” he said. Highlighting historical cooperation between two countries at global platform in the form of

Note ban a thoughtless move, attack on poor: Chidambaram Terming the exercise as ‘absurd’ and ‘thoughtless’, former ﬁnance minister P. Chidambaram sought to know how many economies in the world are cashless

NAGPUR: In a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, former ﬁnance minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday dubbed demonetisation a “thoughtless move” and “the worst assault on the poor” in the country. “This is the worst assault on the poor in the country. Demonetisation has broken the back of 450 million people. It is punishing the poor. I see no rich man affected by the ban,” the Congress leader told a press meet here. “Daily wagers are out of work. Village markets and mandis have been shut for the last 30 days” Chidambaram said. Terming the exercise as “absurd” and “thoughtless”, he sought to know how many economies in the world are cashless. “World over small transactions

SPELLING OUT: Congress leader and former union ﬁnance minister P. Chidambaram addressing the press conference on the issue of demonetisation in Nagpur on Tuesday. - PTI

are done in cash not by cards. To assume that India will go from 3 per cent to 100 per cent cashless in a matter of a few months, is an outlandish expectation,” he said. It was an illusion that demonetisation was created to hurt the rich and help the poor, he said. Highlighting the woes of the people in remote areas, he said, “The pain in rural areas is indescribable. Imagine the plight of people in the seven state in northeast. There are only 5,000 ATMs in the region of which 3,500 are in Assam but most of them are shut. How are they go-

ing to access cash?” He said 65 per cent of the ATMs across the country have no cash. The Congress leader also said that recent cash seizures in Rs2,000 notes across the country point to the “biggest scam” arising out of the note ban. He sought to know that when the government scrapped old currency notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 and brought in new tenders of Rs2,000, how are hoarders getting it and how came recent seizures in Delhi, Bangalore and Jaipur and other places yielded new notes.

“On November 8, the PM suddenly announced demonetisation with three objectives —to curb black money, corruption and terror funding. How can a terrorist killed in a recent encounter carry two pieces of Rs2,000 notes and crores of rupees in form of new currency bills. Are they reaching directly in the hands of those found with the notes,” he asked seeking a SIT probe into the entire episode. “Notes are sent from printing press to currency chests and then to respective banks,” he said. Chidambaram said around

30 billion currency notes can be printed in a month and “if you go by the requirement in the country, it will take full seven months to complete the exercise”. He demanded that the Reserve Bank of India publish minutes of the Board meeting held on November 8 before the prime minister announced the decision to scrap high-value notes. “Let the country know who were the directors, who attended the meeting and endorsed the decision or anyone in the Board has given a dissent note,” the senior Congress leader said. He asked the government if the move has achieved its objectives. “How has demonetisation stopped corruption? Now bribes are being taken in Rs2,000 notes,” he said. The former finance minister said Modi probably did not consult enough people before making the move or those who were asked gave him wrong advice. “He could have spoken to their own former finance minister Yashwant Sinha or for that matter former prime minister Manmohan Singh, wherein secrecy would not have been compromised,” Chidambaram said. The government could have “gradually” withdrawn high-value notes. The Prime Minister should go out and see for himself the real picture at ATMs, he said, adding “the objective has not been served. People won’t forgive the government”. He said the confidence in Indian economy has been severely dented. Credit growth is the lowest in last 20 years. - PTI

1955 Bandung conference and Asian Relations Conference held here, Mukherjee said together Indonesia and India helped to write the closing chapters of colonialism and started the Non-Aligned Movement. “Today, each of our two countries represents a remarkable pluralism -- of culture, ethnicity, religion and language. Your motto ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’ mirrors our own slogan, ‘Unity in Diversity’.” We are two of the world’s largest democracies enjoying a successful strategic partnership; we are maritime neighbours committed to the security of sea lanes of communication and we are both committed to overcome radicalism and intolerance,” he said. Mukherjee said Indonesia is already India’s number one trade partner in ASEAN - with a total bilateral trade of close to $16 billion; and cumulative Indian investment in Indonesia close to $15 billion. - PTI A S S E M B LY P O L L S

SP-Congress tie-up talks gain momentum LUCKNOW: Prospects of a poll alliance between the ruling Samajwadi Party and Congress appeared to be brightening on Tuesday with both showing inclination towards a tie-up, feeling that it will be beneficial for the two parties and would halt BJP’s march. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said a tie-up between SP and Congress would fetch over 300 of the 403 Assembly seats in the upcoming elections while Congress said it is not averse to a “respectable” seat-sharing formula. “Though samajwadis are going to form majority government in the state, if an alliance takes place, it will win over 300 seats. The final decision in this regard will be taken by SP national president (Mulayam Singh Yadav),” Akhilesh said. Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh, while sniffing a chance because of demonetisation, are showed inclination towards an alliance, saying the party is open to a “respectable” seat-sharing formula with SP. Accepting that there are some back channel efforts to firm up an alliance, a Congress leader said his party will not agree to less than 100 seats which it has already identified. “Besides the 29 seats it won in the last Assembly polls and 31 others on which it had finished second, there are some 50 other constituencies where the party has good chance,” he said. The party, which has been out of power in the politically important state for 27 years, is trying its best to revive its electoral fortunes by pushing its vice president Rahul Gandhi to hold a ‘kisan yatra’ across the state. - PTI

LIMPING TO NORMALCY

18 people killed due to cyclone related incidents in Tamil Nadu CHENNAI: Eighteen people were killed in six districts of the south eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Vardah that crossed the coast, as Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam held a meeting of top officials on Tuesday to speed up work to ensure return of normalcy in storm-hit regions. The government said it is taking all steps to ensure that the jammed mobile phone networks are restored and a meeting of telecom operators and officials was held. “A total of 18 persons were killed in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Vardah,” a top Tamil Nadu government official monitoring the situation said. He said ﬁve each were killed in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. Four persons died in Kancheepuram district, one each in Villupuram and Nagapattinam districts and two in Tiruvannamali district, the officials added. All these deaths were in the revenue districts. He said as expected districts like Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and the Western belt of Dharmapuri too witnessed heavy rains that began with the commencement of the cyclone Vardah’s landfall. “Chief Minister Panneerselvam held a meeting of top officials today. Our priority is to restore power supply which has been hit due to fallen trees, clear clogged roads which have fallen trees,” the official said on Tuesday. He said traf-

TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION: A shipping container lies in a street after falling from the walls around a harbour in Chennai on Monday. At least 18 people were killed when Cyclone Vardah slammed into the southern Indian tech hub of Chennai, bringing down houses and cutting off the electricity supply, authorities said on Tuesday. - AFP

ﬁc has already been cleared in all arterial roads in all of the affected districts and efforts were now on to clear the roads and restore power in other neighbourhoods. “TANGEDO (State-run power undertaking) itself has deployed about 4,000 personnel to ensure quick restoration of power supply,” he said. Personnel from multiple government departments including Revenue, Police, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and other state agen-

cies from Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Salem and Thanjavur districts were being deployed to handle the situation in the cyclone-hit regions, he said. On the number of people now housed in relief centres, he said more than 13,000 people are being sheltered in over 100 centres. All vulnerable areas were identiﬁed in advance and teams of ofﬁcials are on the job, he said. To a question on clogged mobile phone networks, he said a meet-

ing of telecom officials and operators was being held to address the situation and ensure expeditious return of normalcy. Express and passenger rail services continued to suffer with 18 incoming and outgoing services from and to different destinations cancelled. However, the authorities provided food to stranded passengers in many locations and even buses were arranged for the passengers to ferry them to nearby destinations, including Chennai.

Nearly 100 buses were arranged at different stations to facilitate stranded passengers from destinations such as Sholingur and others on the Chennai EgmoreChengelpet routes to reach Chennai, Southern Railway said. Trains on suburban MMCGummidipoondy and EgmoreTambaram sections started running, but only ‘skeletal’ services were being operated, they added. Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) said power supply was being restored based on transmission and distribution network clearance in the affected districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallore. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Eastern region said it has taken up extensive search and rescue operations following cyclone ‘Vardah’ having made landfall near Chennai on Monday. In an official release, the Coast Guard said it launched extensive search and rescue operation to assist stranded ﬁshing boats on the Bay of Bengal. “Coast Guard is maintaining close liaison with the state Fisheries Department at Chennai and Andhra Pradesh and also at various ports and harbours,” it said. Coast Guard’s Chetak helicopters and Dornier aircrafts were pressed into search and rescue operations along the coast of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and South Andhra Pradesh.

A Coast Guard team is closely associated with the disaster management group to provide all required assistance for providing rescue and relief, it added. Cyclone Vardah has weakened into a well marked low pressure, a day after it wreaked havoc in the city and neighbouring districts, weather officials said on Tuesday. “As of 8.30am today, the cyclone which made landfall yesterday has weakened into a well marked low pressure and it is nearly 40km away from Dharmapuri,” Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, S. Balachandran told reporters on Tuesday. An India Meteorological Department(IMD) bulletin said the depression over north interior Tamil Nadu moved westwards and weakened into a “well marked low pressure” area over area and adjoining south interior Karnataka at 8.30am. In its forecast for the next 24 hours, the Met office said rainfall may occur over north interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of south interior Karnataka and North Kerala. For Chennai and its neighbourhood, the sky was likely to be cloudy and light rains may occur in some areas in the next 24-48 hours, it said. The maximum rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30am on Tuesday was recorded at nearby Sholinganallur at 38cm, while Salem, Dharmapuri and Mettur recorded one cm each. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

Culture of amnesty scheme continues in realty sector The chanting slogan of the amnesty scheme is to whiten the black money with just 3 per cent tax to be imposed on the difference between the DC rate and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)

TAXABLE REVENUE: Residential buildings are seen inside Pakistan’s Bahria Town private develop-

valuation rate

ment in Rawalpindi. According to conservative estimates of the FBR, Rs4 trillion is parked in the realty sector in Pakistan, implying that the tax machinery would lose billions in potential taxable revenue in the years to come. - AFP ﬁle photo

LAHORE: The ﬂedgling realty tax faced stiff resistance from lobbyists who pressed the government hard for an amnesty scheme. The chanting slogan of the amnesty scheme is to whiten the black money with just 3 per cent tax to be imposed on the difference between the DC rate and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) valuation rate. Icing on the cake is that the FBR won’t ask about the sources of income. According to conservative estimates of the FBR, Rs4 trillion is parked in the realty sector in Pakistan, implying that the tax machinery would lose billions in potential taxable revenue in the

years to come. Despite all trappings, the outcome of this amnesty scheme would not be different from the previous ones. The growing culture of amnesty scheme doesn’t bode well for a well-functioning economy which puts inequitable burden on honest taxpayers. In an economy where 0.7 million people have ﬁled their tax returns to date the tax burden will fall disproportionately on them. The honest taxpayers are being scrutinised through random audits and balloting. Even detailed audits of existing tax paying businesses are done frequently since the pool of tax payers hasn’t increased over the years. This increases the trans-

action cost of productive enterprises since they spend their time grappling with taxation matters. There is a lack of trust among the government and members of society since the government introduces taxes without proper planning and or consultation with stakeholders. Wait-and-see strategy In Pakistan, the imposition of these taxes is done in haste and without taking into account the unintended consequences. If you talk to real estate agents about a real estate transaction after the imposition of realty tax, they advised the clients to adopt a wait-and-see strategy and were

ACHIEVEMENT

confident that this tax would either be withdrawn or tamed. They became confident after looking at the outcome of the turnover tax imposed on the traders and the way traders bypassed that tax. Unfortunately, there is an inherent fear among the people of being caught by voluntary tax payment in Pakistan. Interestingly, even existing taxpayers started advising the non-tax payers to stay away from the tax hassle. Owing to this, the informal economy is growing at a rapid pace in Pakistan since the number of income tax filers has reduced since 2000. The decrease in income tax fil-

ers also shows that there is a reduction of voluntary compliance by members of society. In developed economies, such taxes are deliberated for a considerable length of time and a proper timeframe is given for their imposition in advance. Owing to deliberations, people are mentally prepared through a mass media campaign and tax proposal is modiﬁed before implementation. Once implemented, people know that they cannot circumvent such taxes and these taxes would remain intact anyway. Hence, there is no expectation of amnesty schemes. The recurrence of amnesty schemes convinces the masses that they can survive and even evade taxes at will. The unconscious fear of the government dies down, which weakens the writ of the authorities, and gives a signal to the people that there is no need to be prepared for tax payment. This also weakens the power of the government to extract taxes from the masses and the eventuality is a low tax-to-GDP ratio. In short, the amnesty scheme for the realty sector reﬂects a short-term political gain at the expense of long-term economic loss. The government may appease the masses in the short run through this populist measure. However, this populist measure is not a right step to promote a healthy tax culture. Last but not the least, this manifests that the government lacks the political will to do so. - Express Tribune

CITING PERSONAL REASONS

Azam Saigol

PIA chairman resigns days after plane crash ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) chairman Azam Saigol has resigned from his post citing personal reasons, the company’s spokesman said on Tuesday, less than a week after a PIA plane crashed and all 47 people on board were killed. Officials say the aircraft suffered engine problems soon after take off from the mountainous region of Chitral last Wednesday, but it is not clear what caused the crash about 50 km (31 miles) from the capital, Islamabad, its destination. “Yes, the chairman of PIA has resigned due to personal reasons,” Danyal Gilani, spokesman for PIA, told Reuters. Citing sources, Pakistani English-language newspaper The News, said Saigol had come under pressure to resign in the wake of the crash. The media focus in Pakistan following the crash has fallen on PIA’s safety record, but the loss-making state carrier has vehemently denied media reports that there was a fault with the aircraft before the takeoff. - Reuters

A S C E R TA I N C AU S E O F C R A S H

The chartered accountant who is changing the rules of the game NICOLA SMITH

In any other country, Hina Usmani would just be doing her day job but in Pakistan — as a woman accountant in a man-dominated field — she is at the forefront of changing an entire work culture. Now 50, Usmani was only the tenth woman in the whole of the 188 million-strong nation to qualify as a chartered accountant, and the first to do so in her extended family. In 2010, after a successful two-decade career, she decided to dedicate her experience to founding an all-woman accountancy firm which not only offers accountants flexible hours that work well for their domestic life but also focuses on helping women entrepreneurs. The country has a conflicting reputation on women’s rights. In 1988, it was the first majority Muslim nation to elect a woman as its head of state — Benazir Bhutto. Yet in 2016, girls in rural areas can still be discouraged from attending school. Only four years ago, the world was shocked when 15 years old education activist Malala Yousafzai was shot by extremists on her way to school in Swat. She survived to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Regardless of class or status, most women face the social pressure of family responsibilities that keep them at home and often hinder their careers. Usmani was the youngest of seven children growing up in Karachi, a vibrant port city of more than 22 million that serves as the country’s economic hub, but which has also been afflicted by terrorism and crime. She was always “ambitious to work” even though her sisters and mother were housewives, and when she stumbled into accountancy after failing to get into medical school, she found that she had a natural aptitude. “It happens in life that sometimes you don’t know your potential unless you experience it,” she said. “My father was a little upset with this male-dominated profession and very reluctant for me to pursue this career,” she said. “But when I started clearing all my papers very quickly, he was very happy, and the first person to let everybody know about it.” She studied at Premier College, which is affiliated to the University of Karachi, and after her initial four year training period joined the First Leasing Corporation Ltd

Hina Usmani

in 1992, where she stayed for 12 years. Although her managers and colleagues were supportive and she managed to rise to executive director level, the working environment in general was difficult for women. Working environment “The culture here in Pakistan and the environment, it’s not very supportive of working women,” she said.“I am talking about 20 years back when the woman-toman ratio in this profession was about 2 per cent.” Working in such a male-orientated field was also difficult at times, she added. “But you know, it entirely depends on how you take it. I was very committed to my work and education. Eventually, it’s the hard work and commitment that pay off.” But even with commitment, it was increasingly difficult to balance her work and home life when she got married and had three children, in a country where family traditions are sacred, and women are expected to bear the burden of responsibility for childrearing and running the home. “After my third child, I was finding it very difficult to work because the working hours are very long,” she said. “When you are at work you feel guilty about home and when you are at home you feel bad about wasting your professional education and capabilities. So you are nowhere.” She decided to quit her job and start her own freelance practice. By the time her children had reached senior school in 2010, it has evolved into her own firm, Usmani and Co, in partnership with a former colleague. They decided to keep the firm women-only. “The main purpose was two-fold; to give qualified women who are going through the same work-life balance issues an opportunity to work at home or with flexible hours, and secondly

to provide all types of financial services to women entrepreneurs.” Usmani’s firm also helps support small and medium-sized enterprises, a goal similar to a recent partnership forged between AAT — UK’s leading qualification and membership body for vocational accountants – and the SKANS School of Accountancy based in Lahore. The launch of AAT’s short courses on business skills aim to train accountants to shape businesses in Pakistan’s developing markets, and to ultimately help boost the economy. Usmani believes women can play a fundamental role in Pakistan’s growth. She said one of her main goals was to use her accountancy skills to help professional women achieve their potential.“There are so many women who want to work but they don’t have enough financial know-how,” she said.“They don’t have vision or a business plan.” Culturally, many women feel more comfortable talking to another woman about their financial affairs than to a man they do not know well. Usmani turned this into an opportunity.“We sit with them, convert their vision into a proper business plan, assist them in raising funds for their business and keep strict control over their financial affairs,” she said. Usmani’s firm has also set a ground-breaking nationwide precedent in the accounting field in the way that it has offered female accountants flexibility.“At present there are a lot of qualified women chartered accountants who are sitting at home just because of their domestic issues. They don’t have anybody to take care of their kids because the concept of day-care centres is not very common here,” she said. As one solution, her firm started to offer work from home options on accountancy projects. More than 50 women based in Pakistan and around the globe have registered on their system.“They are so happy that at least they are utilising their professional skills,” Usmani said. Meanwhile her offices in Karachi and Quetta offer women the option to work flexi-hours. “They have mobilised themselves after seven or eight years, because they were sitting at home doing nothing and then they got this opportunity and it was fantastic to work again.” - Express Tribune

Probe team visits PK-661 crash site ISLAMABAD: A six-member investigation team on Tuesday visited the crash site of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ﬂight PK-661 in Havelian. The team comprises of three French and three Canadian officials from the France-based ATR aircraft manufacturer. The team will work jointly with Pakistan’s Safety Investigation Board (SIB) to ascertain the cause of the December 7 crash. The black box and voice recorder of the aircraft will also be sent to France to begin probe. The French embassy has issued directives to facilitate travel and other arrangements of the experts in connection with the investigation. Earlier sources said inquiry of the incident could take up to three

ILL-FATED: Wreckage of the crashed PIA passenger plane Flight PK-661 near Saddha Batolni village in Abbottabad on December 8, 2016. - AFP

weeks after data from the black box and the recorder is received. The PIA plane carrying 47 people, which was en route to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral crashed near Abbottabad last week. Flight PK-661 crashed into

a hillside after one of its two turboprop engines failed shortly after take-off, and burst into flames. The media focus following the crash has fallen on PIA’s safety record, but the loss-making state carrier has vehemently denied media reports that there was a fault with the aircraft before the takeoff. On Monday, PIA grounded its fleet of 10 European-made ATR planes after Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority decided to conduct “shakedown tests” of the carrier’s entire ATR fleet. Officials say the crashed ATR42 aircraft, built in 2007, had racked up 18,739 flight hours since joining PIA’s fleet that year and the plane’s captain, Saleh Janjua, had logged more than 12,000 flight hours over his career. - Express Tribune

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

WORLD

The televised event at the Nanjing Massacre memorial recalls an incident in which China says Japanese soldiers killed 300,000 people in the city that was then its capital.

POLITICAL CRISIS

Friend of South Korean President Park to appear for hearing SEOUL: A friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the centre of a scandal that led to Park’s impeachment in parliament will attend the preliminary hearing in her corruption trial next week, even though she is not required to, her lawyer said. Choi Soon-sil has not appeared in public since arriving at a prosecutors’ office on October 31, losing a shoe as she pushed through a scrum of journalists, and protesters demanding she be brought to justice. Influence-peddling scandal South Koreans will be keen to get a look at the woman at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal that could result in the first-ever ousting from office of a democratically

elected president of their country. “She is coming. She wants to come and get a fair trial by the court,” Choi’s lawyer, Lee Kyungjae, told Reuters by telephone on Tuesday. Prosecutors have charged Choi, 60, with colluding with Park into pressuring big businesses to pay funds to foundations that backed Park’s policy initiatives. Lee said the prosecutors’ accusations against his client were “ﬁction”. He declined to elaborate. Choi is not required to attend preliminary court hearings and she deﬁed a parliamentary order to appear at a hearing last week, saying she was prone to panic attacks, lawmakers said. Parliament impeached Park on Friday and she remains in the

presidential Blue House, stripped of her powers while she waits for the Constitutional Court to deliberate on the parliamentary vote, and rule whether to uphold it or not. That could take the up to 180 days. Park has described Choi as a friend she had turned to at difficult times and apologised for carelessness in her ties with her. Denied any wrongdoing Park has denied any legal wrongdoing. Prosecutors have portrayed Choi as the mastermind in several schemes to gain ﬁnancial beneﬁt from companies Choi controlled. The Seoul Central District Court has scheduled a preliminary hearing in Choi’s trial for Monday. It will hold a lottery to allocate about 80 of the 150 seats in the

courtroom for members of the public. Lee said he had visited Choi in detention often, and he had advised her to prepare for the worst. He also questioned whether she could get a fully fair trial. Weekly protests “I only hope the court will act according to the law and principle, not be affected by candle-lit vigils and taegeuk-gi (Korean ﬂag) protests outside the court,” he said, referring to weekly protests calling for Park to go. “I told her to be prepared for the worst because prosecutors can seek the maximum punishment for her and if there’s anything to defend, we need to defend and anything to admit wrongdoing about, then let’s admit it.” - Reuters

IN THE EYE OF STORM: Choi Soon-Sil, centre, is surrounded by the

media as she arrives at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Ofﬁce in Seoul on October 31, 2016. - AFP/Yonhap ﬁle

Lawmakers file criminal case against Duterte critic Philippines’ president says he suffers from migraine

The legal complaint against Senator Leila de Lima, who was justice minister in a previous administration, is the latest government action against her since she led an inquiry into the extrajudicial killings

IN TROUBLE: Philippine Senator Leila de Lima in Pasay city, Metro

Manila, Philippines on September 20, 2016. Senator de Lima has shown disrespect to the House of Representatives, said Congressman Reynaldo Umali, head of the lower house’s justice panel. - Reuters ﬁle photo

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies in Congress on Tuesday ﬁled a criminal complaint against a senator who has been an outspoken critic of a surge of extrajudicial killings unleashed by the president’s campaign against drugs. The legal complaint against Senator Leila de Lima, who was justice minister in a previous administration, is the latest government action against her since she led an inquiry into the killings. Denounced She has denounced the government attacks on her as “madness” and “harassment” and she has appealed to Duterte to stop the string of bizarre accusations and insults.

Senators loyal to Duterte ousted her from the leadership of the investigation in September. Congressmen then accused her of disrespect in connection with criticism she made of her treatment and the fate of the inquiry. That led to a criminal complaint. “Senator de Lima has shown disrespect to the House of Representatives,” said Congressman Reynaldo Umali, head of the lower house’s justice panel. “We cannot allow this incident to pass, how can we earn the respect of the people when a senator insults us by calling the inquiry a sham and a kangaroo court.” De Lima is on an official trip to the United States and Europe and

I N S U LT I N G R E L I G I O N

War on drugs Duterte’s war on drugs, the key plank of his campaign for a May election, has claimed about 5,000 lives since July 1. The high toll and mysterious circumstances of some of the killings have alarmed rights groups, the United States and United Nations, whose concerns have drawn angry rebukes from Duterte. Umali said de Lima faced imprisonment of up six months if found guilty. A small group of opposition politicians in Congress said the case against de Lima would have a chilling effect on critics of Duterte’s war on drugs. -Reuters

Rodrigo Duterte

acquired thing that you get from smoking, because of nicotine.” Doctors had advised surgery on his spine, he said, but his wife, a nurse who used to work in the United States, did not agree because “a lot of operations for the spine went wrong”. He added, “If you guys see me always in a sad mood, I am actually pushing a nerve here to relieve the pain,” and touched the right side of his face. The health issues have not affected Dueterte’s work, however, said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella. “Nothing serious,” he told reporters, when asked to comment on Duterte’s remarks. - Reuters

China holds memorial ceremony for Nanjing Massacre BEIJING: Chinese soldiers laid wreaths on Tuesday at a ceremony to mark the 1937 massacre of civilians in the Chinese city of Nanjing by Japanese troops. The televised event at the Nanjing Massacre memorial recalls an incident in which China says Japanese soldiers killed 300,000 people in the city that was then its capital. A postwar Allied tribunal put the toll at 142,000, but some conservative Japanese politicians and scholars deny a massacre took place at all. The massacre could never be denied, however, said Zhao Leji, a member of China’s Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, in a speech transmitted live by state broadcaster CCTV. “All hideous activities that attempt to change history, deny the violent activities and reverse the verdict of starting the aggression war will be criticised and spurned by Chinese people and anyone who loves peace and justice in the world,” he said. Television images showed government officials, war veterans and school children singing the Chinese national anthem. Doves were released and ﬂew overhead as a giant bell tolled to end the ceremony. Ties between China and Japan have been roiled by a territorial dispute over a group of tiny East China Sea islets and the legacy of Japan’s wartime aggression. In October, Japan withheld its 2016 funding for UNESCO, following the UN heritage body’s decision last year to include documents about the Nanjing massacre in its “Memory of the World” programme. - Reuters

ANNOUNCEMENT

Jakarta governor denies allegations in blasphemy trial JAKARTA: A tearful governor of Jakarta denied on Tuesday he had intended to insult the holy book at the start of his blasphemy trial in the Indonesian capital. Around 100 protesters calling for the jailing of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama chanted slogans outside the court, while supporters of the governor sang the national anthem. A cordon of police stood guard outside the court after protesters, led by hardliners, took to the streets in December and November, to call for Purnama’s arrest and to urge voters not to re-elect him in February. The rallies, with over 150,000 participants each, were the biggest Jakarta has seen in nearly two decades. Purnama told the court he had not intended any insult during a trip to islands off Jakarta when he commented on opponents in political campaigning. “It is clear what I said in the Thousand Islands was not intended to interpret the (holy book), let alone to insult religion or the cleric,” said Purnama, who was responding after the prosecutor read out the charges. The governor said that his comments were targeted at rival

was not available for comment.

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suffers from back pains and migraine headaches, he has said in comments about his health, but a spokesman was quick to dismiss the ailments as not being serious. Duterte also said he suffered from Buerger’s disease, a cause of blockages in the blood vessels, associated with smoking during his youth. He no longer smokes and drinks. The 71 year-old leader, the oldest to be elected president in the Philippines since the post-war period, said he did not fear being removed from power, or assassinated, because of opposition to the rising death toll in his antidrugs campaign. Since July 1, about 5,000 people have died in Duterte’s war on drugs, a key plank of his May election campaign. Police say 2,004 have been killed by officers in selfdefence, with another 3,060 killings “under investigation”. “Oust me, good, assassinate me, better, I have this migraine everyday,” he told a meeting of business leaders late on Monday. “I have a lot of issues with my spine. What I have is really Buerger’s disease. It’s an

S TA R K R E M I N D E R

politicians trying to get an unfair advantage in the election by saying that voters should not support him. Purnama, who is running for re-election against two candidates, described a loving relationship with his adoptive parents on the remote Bangka island. “I am very saddened that I have been accused of insulting religion because this accusation is the same as saying that I am insulting my adoptive parents and siblings.” During the hearing, Purnama sounded typically deﬁant at times. Quoting from his book, he said many in the country’s political elite were “cowards” who sought to divide Indonesians to gain power. Purnama, if found guilty, faces up to ﬁve years in prison. Almost all blasphemy cases in recent years have ended in conviction Supporters of the governor, whose nickname is Ahok, were also outside the trial, which was aired live on television. “He is absolutely suited to be governor,” said Charles Simanjuntak, 46, who praised the development of the city under Purnama and said he did not believe the governor had committed blasphemy. - Reuters

Thailand king to pardon up to 150,000 inmates, including royal insult convicts BANGKOK: Thailand’s new King Maha Vajiralongkorn will pardon or commute the sentences of up to 150,000 prison inmates, including some jailed under one of the world’s toughest laws against royal insult, officials said on Tuesday. King Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne on December 1 after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on October 13. “This is the first opportunity since his majesty’s ascension to show his mercy,” the Royal Gazette said in a statement, announcing that 150,000 inmates could be eligible for release or to have sentences cut, under the pardon. Officials do not have a figure for the number of inmates who will benefit from the pardon, with decisions to be made by different prisons depending on factors including the inmate’s age, how much of the sentence has been served and behaviour. Prisoners jailed for insulting the monarchy and drug offences will be eligible, said Kobkiat Kasivivat, director general of the Department of Corrections. Royal insult law “Prisoners convicted of 112 and prisoners convicted of drug offences will be included for consideration for release or commuting of sentence,” Kobkiat told

GOOD GESTURE: This ﬁle photo taken on May 13, 2015 shows Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajira-

longkorn attending the annual royal ploughing ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Thailand’s new King Maha Vajiralongkorn has issued a mass prisoner pardon, a ﬁrst act of “mercy” as monarch as he reaches out to his subjects following the death of his beloved father. - AFP

Reuters, referring to the royal insult law by its article number in the criminal code. The government has not released a ﬁgure for the number of people who are in jail for royal insult but there have been more than 80 prosecutions under the law since mid-2014, according to ﬁgures from the legal

monitoring group iLaw. “The inmates will be looked at on a case by case basis at each individual corrections facility,” Chanchao Chaiyanukit, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, told Reuters. Those convicted of murder and rape will not be eligible for release

or to have sentences cut, officials said. Thailand’s prison population has soared in recent years, largely because of tough drug laws. Corrections Department ﬁgures for July showed a prison population of 321,347 in Thailand, with about 70 per cent jailed for drugs offences. - Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

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WORLD

Trump chooses Exxon CEO as US secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s experience in diplomacy stems from making deals with foreign countries for Exxon, the world’s largest energy company

WASHINGTON: US Presidentelect Donald Trump announced Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson as his choice for secretary of state on Tuesday, praising him as a successful international deal-maker who leads a global operation. Tillerson’s experience in diplomacy stems from making deals with foreign countries for Exxon, the world’s largest energy company, although questions have been raised about the oil executive’s relations with Russia. Forceful “He will be a forceful and cleareyed advocate for America’s vital national interests, and help reverse years of misguided foreign policies and actions that have weakened America’s security and standing in the world,” Trump said in a statement. Tillerson, who like Trump has never held public office, said he shared the president-elect’s “vision for restoring the credibility of the United States’ foreign relations and advancing our country’s national security.” Trump picked Tillerson, 64, after the Texan was backed by several Republican establishment

CHOICE FOR TOP DIPLOMAT POST: This ﬁle photo taken on June 2, 2015 shows Exxon Mobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson addressing the World Gas Conference in Paris. – AFP

ﬁgures, including former secretary of state James Baker, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and former defence secretary Robert Gates, a senior transition official said. Rice and Gates both issued statements of support on Tuesday. Their support is seen as crucial to helping Tillerson get past a possibly contentious Senate conﬁrmation battle likely to focus on his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who was also under consideration for the post, said in a statement that he would hold a nomination hearing in early January. He called Tillerson “a very impressive individual” with “an extraordinary working knowledge of the world.”

In 2013, Putin bestowed a Russian state honour, the Order of Friendship, on Tillerson, citing his work “strengthening cooperation in the energy sector.” Conﬁdent Trump is conﬁdent that Tillerson can get past questions about his ties to Russia, the transition official said. “His relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none,” Trump’s statement said. Lawmakers from both major parties have raised questions about Tillerson and former UN ambassador John Bolton, who has been mentioned as a possible No. 2 State Department official and who has voiced hawkish views on Iraq and Iran. Republicans and Democrats said they would ask

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Tillerson, who has met Putin several times, about his contacts with Russia. He won fresh praise from Moscow on Monday. Senator John McCain, a leading foreign policy voice and the 2008 Republican candidate for president, told Reuters: “I have concerns. It’s very well-known that he has a very close relationship with Vladimir Putin.” There has been controversy over the role alleged Russian cyber hacking may have had on the outcome of the November 8 presidential election, in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. The business community welcomed Trump’s choice of Tillerson. “We are pleased that Rex will bring a business perspective to the State Department,” the Na-

tional Association of Manufacturers said. While busily filling out his Cabinet, Trump is seeking to answer questions about how he will separate himself from his far-flung business empire before taking office on January 20. He had planned a news conference on Thursday to lay out the details but delayed it until Tuesday due to what aides said was the crush of picking people to serve in his administration. In a series of late-night tweets on Monday, Trump said he would be leaving his business before January 20 so he can focus fulltime on the presidency and that he would leave his two sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, to manage it. He did not mention his daughter Ivanka, who has been a central player in his business affairs and who is said to be considering a move to Washington to help her father. “No new deals will be done during my term(s) in office,” Trump said. He said he would hold a news conference “in the near future to discuss the business, Cabinet picks and all other topics of interest. Busy times!” Meanwhile, Trump has continued to build his administration. A source close to the transition said Trump had chosen former Texas Governor Rick Perry as his nominee for energy secretary, with an announcement expected soon. Perry met Trump on Monday at Trump Tower in New York. In choosing Tillerson, Trump passed over 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who had famously criticised the president-elect during the campaign this year. “It was an honour to have been considered for secretary of state of our great country,” Romney said in a Facebook posting on Monday night. — Reuters

ACCESSION TO BLOC

EU ministers shy away from halting Turkey talks BRUSSELS: European Union (EU) foreign ministers said on Tuesday the bloc would not push ahead with membership talks with Turkey but rejected calls by Austria and European lawmakers to freeze the process because of Ankara’s security crackdown. The bloc has criticised Ankara’s sweeping dismissals and arrests over a failed July putsch but is wary of upsetting Turkey too much as it needs its cooperation on curbing immigration to the bloc and dealing with the conflict in Syria. Turkey has jailed some 36,000 people pending trial and sacked or suspended more than 100,000 over their alleged support of the coup plotters. Several foreign ministers arriving for a meeting in Brussels argued against calls from Austria for a tough stand against Ankara. The European Parliament has also passed a resolution calling for a freeze in talks. “It is needed to go further on some collaboration with Turkey, it is true for fight against terrorism, capacity to exchange information on fighters, also to manage together the migration issue,” Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said. “About the accession process, it is true that it’s impossible now to go further with such a very difficult situation in Turkey... we will say certainly that it is impossible to open new chapters for the accession process.” France’s Europe Minister Harlem Desir agreed, adding he wanted “a demanding, clear and firm dialogue on the principles and values which are those of Europe”. Arguing for a tougher line, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said: “Accession talks with Turkey have to be put on hold... Turkey has drifted away from Europe more and more and, over the past months, this development has increased in terms of drama and speed.” — Reuters

PLEDGE TO SUPPORT

New Italian prime minister Gentiloni forms government ROME: New prime minister Paolo Gentiloni said in his maiden speech to parliament on Tuesday he was ready to support Italy’s ailing banks and wanted more help from the European Union in coping with migrants. “I want to say very clearly that the government... is ready to intervene in order to guarantee the stability of banks and the savings of our citizens,” he told the Chamber of Deputies, a day after being sworn in by President Sergio Mattarella. Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Italy’s third-biggest lender, is pressing on with a last-ditch attempt to tap the market for 5 billion euros of fresh cash it needs to stay aﬂoat. Its chances of success appear slim and the state is likely to have to step

in to make up the shortfall, bankers say. A failure of the world’s oldest bank would threaten the savings of thousands of Italians and could have repercussions for Italy’s wider banking sector, which is saddled with 360 billion euros of bad loans a third of the euro zone’s total. The softly spoken Gentiloni took over from Matteo Renzi, who resigned last week after Italians rejected his proposed reform of the constitution in a referendum. The 62-year-old former foreign minister is unlikely to have an easy task. He was attacked by the opposition and criticised even by media close to the government after he re-conﬁrmed almost all of Renzi’s ministers in his new cabinet. “Gentiloni’s photocopy govern-

ment,” was the front page headline of centre-left daily la Repubblica. Renzi wants early elections next year and the main opposition parties, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the rightwing Northern League, said they would take no part in confidence votes in the new government as a sign of protest. “They are digging their grave with their own hands,” said Luigi Di Maio, a 5-Star deputy widely expected to be the party’s candidate for prime minister at the next election. Gentiloni needs to win confidence votes in both houses of parliament to become fully empowered. The first vote later on Tuesday should be straightforward in the lower house, where the

POST ELECTIONS

West African leaders to press Gambia’s Jammeh to quit BANJUL: West African heads of state began arriving in Gambia on Tuesday to try to convince the long-ruling President Yahya Jammeh to relinquish power after losing an election this month. Jammeh, who seized power in a coup in 1994 and earned the reputation as a repressive leader, had conceded defeat to opponent Adama Barrow, prompting wild celebrations in the country of 1.8 million after the December 1 election. However, he changed his mind a week later, citing irregularities in the official results, which were corrected to show a victory margin of fewer than 20,000 votes for Barrow. Jammeh’s U-turn has prompted sharp criticism from the United States, the United Nations, regional body ECOWAS and even the African Union, which typically takes a softer line. Diplomats in the region say that if Jammeh seeks to cling to power after negotiations fail, neighbours might consider options for removing him by force. Marcel de Souza, president of the ECOWAS

DEFIANT: President Yahya

Jammeh of Gambia. – AFP

commission, told Radio France International on Monday that sending troops was “a conceivable solution”. Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Noble peace laureate and chair of ECOWAS, was leading the delegation, a statement from her office said. Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari and UN Special Representative for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas set off early on Tuesday, witnesses and diplomats said. Ghana’s John Mahama, who lost elections last week and conceded

defeat, arrived in Gambia, and Sierra Leone’s Ernest Bai Koroma was due to join the group. Absent from Tuesday’s delegation is neighbouring Senegal which entirely engulfs the riverside nation and has a history of poor relations with Gambia. Senegal sent troops there during a coup in 1981 and some ofﬁcials suspect Jammeh of sponsoring a rebellion in its southern Casamance region. Senegal’s Foreign Ministry called Tuesday’s trip a “last chance mission” for Gambia’s President. However, the AU said in a statement late on Monday that it also planned to send a high-level delegation led by Chad’s long-ruling President Idriss Deby to facilitate a “peaceful and speedy” transfer of power. The streets of the capital Banjul were calm on Tuesday, with a high-security presence, witnesses said. Armed guards surrounded a hotel where the delegation was due to meet Barrow, who has said he would annul Jammeh’s declaration of Gambia as an Islamic republic, later on Tuesday. — Reuters

centre left has a comfortable majority. But he may face problems in the more fragmented Senate on Wednesday, after a small centreright party that had supported Renzi said it would not back him. In speech Gentiloni said he would continue Renzi’s battles with the EU, pushing for ﬂexible ﬁscal rules and more cooperation in sharing out the thousands of migrants who land on Italy’s shores from Africa and the Middle East. Pledging “a very clear position” at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, he said it was “not acceptable” that the EU is “too severe on some aspects of austerity and too tolerant with countries that don’t show common responsibility on immigration”. — Reuters

CLEAR POSITION: Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni delivers a

speech as Foreign Affairs Minister Angelino Alfano, left, looks on at the Chamber of Deputies before a conﬁdence vote to the new government, on in Rome on Tuesday. – AFP

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

WORLD PEOPLE SMUGGLING

WORLD’S BIGGEST PUZZLE

This picture shows a 7x2 metre puzzle, the biggest one in the world, made with 40,320 pieces and shown at the Jose Luis Cano Documentary Center in Algeciras, southern Spain on Tuesday. — AFP

Italy convicts Tunisian over sinking that killed almost 700 migrants CATANIA (SICILY): A Tunisian man accused of being the captain of a migrant boat that sank killing almost 700 people was found guilty of multiple manslaughter and people-smuggling on Tuesday and sentenced to 18 years in jail. Only 28 people survived the disaster in April last year, when the small fishing boat capsized off the coast of Libya, with hundreds trapped in the hold. Like everyone else Mohammed Ali Malek, 28, was one of those rescued and denied being the captain, saying he had paid for passage like everyone else, but a court in the city of Catania dismissed his defence. The court also sentenced 26-year-old Syrian Mahmud Bikhit to five years in prison on charges of people-smuggling. Survivors said Bikhit had been Malek’s cabin boy. He had denied any wrongdoing. Both men were also handed fines of nine million euros ($9.5 million). Their lawyers said they would appeal the convictions. “We think we have some strong arguments and we will try and work on some of the weaker points of our defence,” said Massimo Ferrante, representing Malek. — Reuters

UKRAINE CRISIS

Merkel, Hollande back extension of sanctions on Russia BERLIN: The leaders of France and Germany, speaking two days before an EU summit which will discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine, said they want to extend sanctions against Russia due to a lack of progress in implementing a ceasefire deal. The conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists has claimed nearly 10,000 lives since it erupted in 2014. Germany and France have tried to convince both sides to implement a peace deal agreed in Minsk last year but with little success so far. EU leaders will on Thursday discuss extending sanctions, which include restricting access to international financing and curbs on defence and energy cooperation with Russia. Franco-German conference Merkel, speaking with Hollande who was visiting a Franco-German conference on the digital economy in Berlin, said implementation of the ceasefire deal was “very sluggish”. “It will be necessary to extend the sanctions against Russia again - although we would have wished for better progress in the implementation of this process,” she said. Hollande agreed. “We must continue to apply the terms of the Minsk agreement and when they are not carried out, we must continue with sanctions,” he said. The sanctions were extended several times and are due to expire at the end of January. Kiev and the West accuse Russia of stoking the separatist movement and aiding the rebels. The Kremlin denies these charges and accuses Ukraine of perpetuating the violence and violating the Minsk deal. — Reuters

Aleppo could fall ‘at any moment’ as rebels cornered The Syrian army has denied carrying out killings or torture among those captured, and its main ally Russia said on Tuesday rebels had ‘kept over 100,000 people as

TOWARDS SAFETY: A man pushes a woman on a cart as they ﬂee deeper with others into the remaining rebel-held areas of Aleppo, Syria on Tuesday. — Reuters

human shields’

ALEPPO, SYRIA/GENEVA: The United Nations said on Tuesday it had reports that Syrian soldiers and allied Iraqi fighters had summarily shot dead 82 children, women and men in recaptured east Aleppo and a military source said the last rebel pocket could fall “at any moment”. The Syrian army has denied carrying out killings or torture among those captured, and its main ally Russia said on Tuesday rebels had “kept over 100,000 people as human shields”. The rout of rebels from their ever-shrinking territory in Aleppo has sparked a mass flight of civilians and insurgents in bitter weather, a crisis the United Nations said was a “complete meltdown of humanity”. Hopes for a last-ditch deal to end the fighting by withdrawing fighters also seemed in doubt, with Moscow rejecting calls for an immediate ceasefire as concern grew over the fate of civilians. “The reports we had are of peo-

ple being shot in the street trying to flee and shot in their homes,” said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN office. “There could be many more.” France said it had called for an immediate UN Security Council meeting over the alleged atrocities to focus on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Behind those fleeing was a wasteland of flattened buildings, concrete rubble and bullet-pocked walls, where tens of thousands had lived until recent days under intense bombardment even after medical and rescue services had collapsed. Colville said the rebelheld area was “a hellish corner” of less than a square kilometre, adding its capture was imminent. The Syrian army and its allies could declare victory at any moment, a Syrian military source said, predicting the final fall of the rebel enclave on Tuesday or Wednesday, after insurgent defences collapsed on Monday. Turkish and Russian officials will meet on Wednesday to examine a possible ceasefire and opening a corridor, a senior Turkish

official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. But Moscow, the Syrian government’s most powerful ally, rejected any immediate call for a ceasefire. “The Russian side wants to do that only when the corridors are established,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. The spokesman for the civil defence force in the former rebel area of Aleppo reckoned rebels controlled an area of less than three sq km. “The situation is very, very bad. The civil defence has stopped operating in the city,” he told Reuters. A surrender or withdrawal of the rebels from Aleppo would mean the end of the rebellion in the city, Syria’s largest until the outbreak of war after mass protests in 2011, but it is unclear if such a deal can be struck by world powers. By finally dousing the last embers of resistance burning in Aleppo, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s military coalition of the army, Russian air power and Iran-backed militias will have de-

livered him his biggest battlefield victory of the war. However, while the rebels, including groups backed by the United States, Turkey and Gulf states, as well as extremist groups that the West does not support, will suffer a crushing defeat in Aleppo, the war will be far from over. “The crushing of Aleppo, the immeasurably terrifying toll on its people, the bloodshed, the wanton slaughter of men, women and children, the destruction - and we are nowhere near the end of this cruel conflict,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement. Aleppo’s loss will leave the rebels without a significant presence in any of Syria’s main cities, but they still hold much of the countryside west of Aleppo and the province of Idlib, also in northwest Syria. Big IS presence IS also has a big presence in Syria and has advanced in recent days, taking the desert city of Palmyra. The army and its allies were advancing towards the Sukkari, Tel Al Zarazir and parts of Seif Al Dawla and Al Amariya districts, the Syrian military source said. “When the army regains control of these areas, its operation in the eastern areas of the city... will have finished”. After days of intense bombardment of rebel-held areas, the rate of shelling and air strikes dropped considerably late on Monday and through the night as the weather deteriorated, a Reuters reporter in the city said. However, rocket fire pounded rebel-held areas, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, reported. Rebels and government forces still fought at points around

the reduced enclave, the Observatory said. The UN children’s agency UNICEF cited an unnamed doctor in Aleppo as saying that many unaccompanied children were trapped in a building that was under attack, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had no knowledge of the incident. “Artillery shelling is continuing but because of the weather the aerial bombing has stopped. Many of the families and children have not left for areas under the control of the regime because their fathers are from the rebels,” said Abu Ibrahim, a resident of Aleppo in a text message. Colville said he feared retribution. “In all, as of yesterday evening we have received reports of pro-government forces killing at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children,” Colville told a news briefing, naming the Iraqi armed group Harakat Al Nujaba as reportedly involved in the killings. New frontline The military official said the rebels were ﬂeeing “in a state of panic”, but a Turkish-based official with the Jabha Shamiya insurgent group in Aleppo said on Monday night that they had established a new frontline along the river. “The bombardment is not on the frontlines, the greater burden of the bombardment is on the civilians, and this is what is causing a burden on us,” the official said. Terrible conditions were described by city residents. Abu Malek Al Shamali, a resident in the rebel area, said dead bodies lay in the streets. “There are many corpses in Fardous and Bustan al-Qasr with no one to bury them,” he said. “Last night people slept in the streets and in buildings where every ﬂat has several families crowded in,” he added. — Reuters

BID TO CHALLENGE PUTIN

Navalny plans to run for Russian presidency in 2018 MOSCOW: Russian opposition ﬁgure and anti-graft campaigner Alexei Navalny announced on Tuesday he plans to run for president in 2018, causing a potential headache for the Kremlin. Navalny is very unlikely to pose a serious threat to President Vladimir Putin, who will be overwhelming favourite to win re-election if, as expected, he decides to seek another term.

But his candidacy would force the Kremlin to either exclude him from the race, leaving it open to allegations that the election is unfair, or risk the embarassment of Navalny picking up a large protest vote, said political analyst Yekaterina Schulmann. “There have not been competitive elections in Russia for 20 years,” Navalny, 40, the founder of Russia’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said in his state-

ment. “I’m sick and tired of watching ‘elections’ with the candidates just making up the numbers, not daring to criticise the pre-determined winner. I understand very well that for me even to become a candidate would not be easy.” Navalny has accused top government officials from Putin’s inner circle of taking bribes and kick-backs and of stealing government funds.

Since 2011, he has faced several criminal cases against him with one leading to a suspended fiveyear sentence. A court in Russia’s Kirov region found Navalny and an associate guilty of embezzling funds from a timber firm and in 2013 sentenced him to five years in jail, a sentence that was later suspended on appeal. Navalny has long said all charg-

es against him were politically motivated. Last month, Russia’s Supreme Court struck down the suspended year sentence.. “(After that decision) Navalny is free to take part in elections”, his lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, told Reuters. Russian law bans anyone convicted of a serious crime of running in elections. Someone can apply to be a can-

didate in a presidential vote if they collect 300,000 signatures. Navalny enjoys some popularity among the urban middle classes, especially in Moscow and St Petersburg. He ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013, and though he lost to a Kremlin-backed candidate, he took second place with 27.24 per cent of votes cast. But Navalny has struggled to widen his appeal. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

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READERS’ FORUM Everybody goes through the same stress This refers to the report Is it difficult to get driving licence for expats in Oman? (December 13). This is undeniably one of the most stressful exams i took in my life, next to my surgical specialty board exams, although i passed on my third attempt. I do not think there is bias if you are an expat or an Omani. Everybody goes through the same stress. — Chona del Mundo, via Facebook

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Just follow rules and drive well This refers to the report Is it difficult to get driving licence for expats in Oman? (December 13). It‘s not difficult - my daughter got her licence on the ﬁrst attempt - you drive well, learn the rules and follow them right, you will get your licence. — Kamal Sampat, via Facebook

MATSHIDISO MOETI

Countries across Africa are already taking steps to advance universal health care. For example, Ghana has instituted a National Health Insurance Scheme that covers treatment for most diseases, as well as a system that trains nurses to provide doorto-door primary-care services for hard-to-reach populations

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Why China can’t lure tech talent D

onald Trump’s campaign promise to crack down on visas for skilled foreign technology workers has a cheerleader in China. Robin Li, the head of Baidu, recently told a conference that he hopes talented workers who are no longer welcome in the US will “migrate to China and help China play a more important role on the stage of global innovation.” He shouldn’t get his hopes up. Whatever Trump’s immigration policy turns out to be China won’t be luring foreign tech talent any time soon. And its struggles hold a lesson for every other country hoping to become the Silicon Valley of the future: The competition for global talent will be won by countries that foster the culture of openness -- to new ideas and new people -- that deﬁned the American tech business for decades before Trump. At ﬁrst glance, China does seem like a logical destination for talented tech workers. For years, its government has offered them lucrative incentives to come to Chinese universities and companies. Its online population is the world’s largest, and the local e-commerce market is booming. Private and public research budgets are increasing quickly. Recently, there’s been steady growth in Chinese returning home after earning degrees overseas. So what’s not to like? The biggest problem is government control of the internet. For a software developer, the inconvenience goes well beyond not being able to access YouTube during coffee breaks. It means that key software libraries and tools are often inaccessible. In 2013, China blocked Github, a globally important open-source depository and collaboration tool, thereby forcing developers to seek workarounds. Using a virtual private network to “tunnel” through the blockades is one popular option. But VPNs slow uploads, downloads and collaboration. That slowness, in turn, can pose security risks: In 2015, hundreds of developers opted to use infected iOS software tools rather than spend days downloading legit versions from Apple Inc. And it isn’t just developers who suffer. Among the restricted sites in China is Google Scholar, a tool that indexes online peer-reviewed studies, conference proceedings, books and other research material into an easily accessible format. It’s become a crucial database for academics around

the world, and Chinese researchers -- even those with VPNs -- struggle to use it. The situation grew so dire this summer that several state-run news outlets published complaints from Chinese scientists, with one practically begging the nationalist Global Times newspaper: “We hope the government can relax supervision for academic purposes.” The cumulative impact of these restrictions is signiﬁcant. Scientists unable to keep up with what researchers in other countries are publishing are destined to be left behind, which is one reason China is having difficulty luring foreign scholars to its universities. Programmers who can’t take advantage of the sites and tools that make development a global effort are destined to write software customised solely for the Chinese market. And that’s precisely what’s happening. China’s most successful innovations -services like WeChat, its top social network -- have consistently failed to gain traction overseas, where competing services thrive. That leaves one internet for China and one for the rest of the world, with predictable results. WeChat, which dominates China, has 846 million monthly users; Facebook, which is blocked in China, has 1.79 billion. The latter is the more promising market, as any tech worker will quickly calculate. Worse, China has made clear that foreign tech companies hoping to do business there will need to make concessions -- which those companies say would threaten security, brand value and intellectual property. A recent survey of American Chamber of Commerce members in China found that “three-quarters of respondents feel that foreign businesses are less welcome than before in China.” Robin Li’s warm words aside, foreign workers might wonder if the same goes for them, especially given China’s longstanding aversion to immigration. Perhaps most crucially, tech workers contemplating a new home after Palo Alto have plenty of other places to go. India is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic startup scenes. Southeast Asia, with 280 million internet users, a largely unhindered online culture, and generous government support for startups, also beckons. - Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES DECEMBER 2001 Eid markets in Nakhl, Sumail NAKHL: Habatul Eid organised at Nakhl souq attracted a lot of people from the wilayat of Nakhl. Omani goats, priced at RO50 to RO180, were available on sale. This year witnessed intensive competitions, said Salem bin Mohammed Al Hadhrami, a local trader. There was heavy demand for Omani sweet products. Habatul Eid was also held in the wilayat of Sumail.

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LIFESTYLE LEISURE

A VIENNESE DREAM

hen was the last time you experienced something effortless, or ‘requiring no mental or physical exertion’ as the dictionary puts it? Surely this effect must be the holy grail all fine hotels are after, or indeed any of those businesses in the high-end service industry for whom selling guests on the Zen-like states they will enjoy while in their care is a hallmark. Of course there are degrees of ‘exertion’, but at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa in Austria’s stunning capital city Vienna, the most stressful choice I faced was which steak knife to choose when tucking in to a meal. I didn’t even know this was a thing. I’ve been to those formal dinners when you need to know which fork accompanies which dish, but being offered a choice of knives with which to attack my perfect medium-rare beef fillet from Simmental, almost qualified as ‘mental exertion’ for the briefest of moments. I need not have worried though, the smiling chef clutching the formidable selection of weapons talked me though the pros and cons of each, the heft, the weight, and so on. I’ll admit I was tempted by the Japanese steel, but went with one from the chef’s home region in Germany. It seemed the polite thing to do, and I am always polite to men in possession of a vast array

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of sharp objects. All in all, I feel I made the right choice; the knife did indeed cut the succulent steak with ease, in fact you could almost say it was effortless. Certainly the consumption was, being delicious as it was and accompanied by hand-cut fries dressed in Parmesan and truffle oil. This quirky episode in the Ritz-Carlton’s fabulously-relaxed signature restaurant, Dstrikt Steakhouse, was a perfect example of the tone this hotel tries to set. Reﬁned relaxation, casually cool, presence without pretention. Put an easy-going, well-mannered hipster in a Savile Row tailored suit and you are getting close. It was totally refreshing and took me by surprise for I was expecting much more formality, both from a hotel in such a historic city and from the staff who worked there. Four grand 19th century buildings situated in the beautiful Schubertring district make up the hotel. The historic structures, which feature intricate frescos and ancient carvings in stone and wood, are complemented by contemporary interior design and warmed by the humour and energy of the team working within the walls. The Viennese are an open and engaging and energetic people with genuine warmth, and good-nature who love their city deeply. Not surprising, this was the home of the Waltz King Johann Strauss II, and listening to the locals it’s difficult not to get swept up in the enthusiasm, a little like listening to the most famous of the

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY ESCAPE The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna Schubertring 5, 1010 Wien, Austria +43 131188 ritzcarlton.com

Getting There Travel time to Vienna from Muscat is 8.5 hours with a layover in Doha, Dubai, or Tehran.

Don’t Miss The festive winter wonderland of Vienna during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

musician’s works, The Blue Danube. The Viennese spirit is typified by Stefanie Möllner, who gave me a guided tour of the hotel and its facilities. What could have been a somewhat dull history lesson was in fact a fascinating chat about the property’s rich heritage, delivered by someone with real passion for her city and her hotel. And once again, Ritz-Carlton’s people proved to be the key ingredient in the company’s recipe for success, something I’ve found to be true at all their properties (well, at least the ones I’ve visited so far). Another dictionary definition describes ‘effortless’ as being something ‘achieved with admirable ease’. This one doesn’t seem quite so fitting to me, as it is apparent that to achieve this hallowed state for guests, the Ritz team works tirelessly, though they genuinely convey the sense that nothing is too much trouble. This was especially apparent in the intimate RitzCarlton Lounge on the seventh floor (access to which is a benefit of having a junior suite). Here you are put at ease by the ‘always on service’ in what feels like your own exclusive ‘snug’. If you are in need of deep relaxation (apparently I was), then this Ritz-Carlton has one of the most exclusive spas in Vienna. Its 18-metre pool is the longest in the city and features underwater music, something I’ve yet to experience in all of the bling on offer in the Gulf. It’s also where

the massage magic happens. My rule of thumb is that if I am so relaxed that I begin to doze off on the table, then the therapist is probably doing a good job. She was (my apologies for any snoring). For anyone needing a dose of festive spirit, now is the perfect time to visit both Vienna and the Ritz-Carlton. Its Atmosphere Rooftop Bar not only transforms into the city’s highest Christmas Market, but also provides one of the best spots to ring-in the New Year. Situated eight floors up, it offers views across the city, including the fireworks display above St Stephen’s Cathedral that’s planned for New Year’s Eve this year. I guess this being a hotel review I should give a passing mention to the rooms. Usually a brief ‘yes it had a huge comfortable bed and a lovely bathroom’ suffice, one expects nothing less from a five-star hotel, but the rooms at the Ritz-Carlton in Vienna do come with added drama. The cavernous bathroom awash with marble is cunningly hidden away behind wooden panelling while the décor of the bedroom is not your standard muted tones, but more expressive with deep, intricately patterned carpets and lush drapes. They are fitting for this impressive property, which combines the classical with the contemporary in a way that’s dizzyingly good fun – much, in fact, like a Strauss waltz. — scottarmstrong@timesofoman.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

WEATHER

TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY

28 - 16 74-30% 0

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.07pm 3.07pm 5.27pm 6.43pm 5.20am

LIFESTYLE

The Omani Songbook W

Pictures Supplied

Story Patricia Groves

hen Stal Gallery puts on an exhibition, you just know that it is not going to be ordinary. So I wondered what Verena Kyselka, Stal’s new international Artist-in-Residence whose research is supported by the Goethe Institute in the Gulf Region, would have to say in her exhibition titled The Omani Songbook. After all, she is an avant-garde artist with roots in the 1980s underground art scene in East Germany, who studied Free Art and Video design at Germany’s famous Bauhaus University, and at Geneva’s prestigious Ècole Supérieur des Beaux Arts, and whose recent projects span Albania, Armenia, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Australia. I had not imagined that this artist would make a video just with songs, sand, water, fire, frankincense, and a simple oud soundtrack, which would be so moving that it would re-ignite my love for Oman and take me back to the core of its culture. A young man cries, “My heart is overfull of love…it fills an empty wadi and flows with it”. Two girls slowly walking by the sea sing, “O Beauty, O Beauty” in an ode to the virtues of Oman. Their voices are as beautiful as the land of which they sing. By a crackling campfire, a lady sings a ballad. An Enchanter falls in love with a Jinn, meets Destiny in the Desert, and “in the smoke

My heart is overfull of love… it fills an empty wadi and flows with it”. Two girls slowly walking by the sea sing, “O Beauty, O Beauty” in an ode to the virtues of Oman. Their voices as beautiful as the land of which they sing. R E G I O N A L T R AV E L

#BeMyGuest with Shah Rukh Khan DUBAI’S DEPARTMENT of Tourism and Commerce Marketing revealed the #BeMyGuest film starring Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan. After a few days from the release of the popular campaign teasers which kept Bollywood fans from all over the world in anticipation, the film firmly establishes why Dubai is the Bollywood superstar’s home away from home. Shah Rukh shows the soul, sights and sounds

of the metropolis through experiencing different dimensions of Dubai amongst its people. Featuring a kaleidoscope of culinary, shopping, cultural and adventurous settings, the ﬁlm’s high energy and fast paced tempo perfectly captures the vibe of the city, and Shah Rukh Khan’s dynamic relationship with it. It also brings alive the hospitable soul of the city through the megastar’s candid interactions, as he plays host

to Dubai’s tourists and residents. Shah Rukh Khan said, “Dubai offers endless experiences that stay with you forever. Whatever you want to do – an adrenalinefuelled adventure like skydiving or a desert safari or a delicious culinary experience of tantalising ﬂavours – and whether you’re travelling with family, friends or as a couple, this city truly offers a complete holiday experience.” —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

A1 5

of incense and pride, the Jinn becomes a Bedouin…the longing of her soul heals her wounds. But the love of the Enchanter is shrouded.” With live sequences and the superimposition of cultural icons – geometric patterns, the crenellated walls of a fort, stars at night, a coffee jug pouring water into the sea, Verena evokes the essence of Oman in an unpretentious way that is surprisingly powerful. On the internet I saw what Verona did with the plain old mediaeval towers in her hometown of Erfurt in Germany. Each night she bathed the ancient towers in a wash of projected colours and images, making them into magical twentyﬁrst century artworks to delight and invigorate the town. A visit to Taiwan inspired Verena to create a modern Atlantis-like animated tale of “Formosa”, an island that suddenly sinks beneath the sea, while the women of Formosa become legendary, and other islands rise from the depths. It’s art and it is also an unspoken commentary on the Geopolitical situation in the South China Sea. Verena Kyselka, who has been praised as “extremely active, multi-faceted and successful”, talked about her adventures in Oman in global perspective. She is “putting together a picture of the world today… and musing on what people are longing for”. She is seeking the inner meanings of life today in the human commonalities across cultures. Verena ﬁnds elements almost evocative of the Thousand-andOne Nights Arabia in a family Bedouin camp, in their hand weavings and in the treasury of traditional songs that she feels will disappear. One of the Bedouin songs happens to illustrate Verena’s theme of universal longing. The longing is for simple things in the ordinary course of life. As she opens her wedding mandoos, the Bedouin bride is longing for a child; the child wants milk; the cow wants grass; the grass wants rain; the rain is in the hands of Allah. Verena comments on her exhibition at Stal, a collage of photos, cutouts, drawings and animation, as “an invitation to read a virtual book”. If you missed this decidedly worthwhile exhibition, google Verena Kyselka onvimeo.com/187023236. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

LIFESTYLE

Bahla Souq Bahla Souq is a short distance from Bahla Fort. It has many traditional industries like making daggers and copper artefacts, in addition to Omani sweets (halwa), homemade ropes and fadl (large metal platters used for feeding the whole family). This souq is famous for its active commercial activity.

Al Hafah Souq This souq lies 3km fom Salalah and is known for a variety of traditional products that it has in store including traditional textiles and clothing, gold and silver jewellery as well as many other traditional artefacts.

T O

T R Y

Ibri Souq The Ibri Souq is an important tourist landmark and also an active economic centre of the Sultanate. The souq is built in an ancient Islamic style and features specialised sections such as gold and silver shops, Arab supplies shops and a dedicated area for the sale of animals.

Nizwa Souq This souq lies within the vicinity of the monumental Nizwa fort. Daggers, copper, spinning, livestock sale, ﬁsh, vegetables and handicrafts are available in abundance here.

Muttrah Souq It is one of the oldest souqs in Oman whose gate opens at the Muttrah Corniche and ends with another gate in the city’s old quarters. It is known for its handicrafts like silverware, daggers, traditional cloth, new apparel and shoes, in addition to the famous Omani sweets (halwa), spices and frankincense products. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

REPORTING FROM ROHM

A Stunning First for the ROHM With impressive regal ﬂare, the Royal Opera House Muscat presented the inaugural Middle East Solo Exhibition, Wan Ziang - Harmony & Nature, by Lou Zhenggang, one of China’s most preeminent artists. Reported by Patricia Groves

Pictures Supplied

S O U Q S

s His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, cut the ribbon at the great glass doors that lead to the Grand Hall of the Royal Opera House, the delicate sound of a gently played oud could be heard. Then, a procession of dignitaries followed the Prince and the Artist into the Grand Hall where they did not find artwork on walls or easels, but on a magnificent series of seven folding screens arranged like giant angular fans. The imagery of waves opening like flowers or bursting clouds erupted from and flowed across the screens like the awakening of Spring, or like primordial beginnings of mysterious unknowns. No-one could say exactly what they were sensing and seeing, except that light was emerging from darkness, perhaps a long time ago. This is the essence of Lou Zhenggang’s art and the secret of her phenomenal success – that she depicts simultaneously the ancient and contemporary spirit of China. Her declared aim is not to create beauty; it is to make powerful artwork. Nevertheless, the current exhibition is, in equal measure, powerful and beautiful. It is hard to imagine art that could stand on its own

merits amid the architectural and decorative splendour of the ROHM’s Grand Hall – but Wan Ziang - Harmony & Nature does exactly that. Rigorous training in the formal Chinese art of calligraphy from the age of three underlies the exacting approach that Lou Zhenggang takes to rendering abstract portrayals that have the ring of realism. Her renown is international, with more than thirty solo exhibitions, and a number of tours outside China – in Australia, the USA and France. His Highness Sayyid Kamil Fahad Al Said, Member of the Board of the Royal Opera House noted that the Exhibition is deemed an historic occasion because it “marks the ﬁrst such event to be held at the Royal Opera House Muscat… and opens a new era in which the Royal Opera House as the Sultanate’s premier cultural institution hosts the visual as well as the performing arts with the aim of stimulating further development of the nation’s vital creative sector.” And so we can look forward to more exhibitions of some of the world’s ﬁnest art at the ROHM. The exhibition, Wan Ziang Harmony & Nature, continues at the ROHM until the 17th of December. —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

B OMAN CRUDE DECLINES

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

Oman Crude (February delivery) declined by $1.36 per barrel to $53.44 a barrel on Tuesday, according to Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman oil (December delivery) stabilised at $49.18 per barrel -$5.78 higher than November delivery 2016. – ONA

MARKE

Bad loans of leasing, hire purchase firms increase The combined gross non-performing loans rose 14.38% to OMR68.17m. Loan loss provisions and reserve interest grew 2.1% to OMR63.82m by the end of September, 2016.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Leasing ﬁrms in Oman have witnessed a growth in gross non-performing loans (NPLs), mainly on account of a delay in the collection of receivables. This has also resulted in a slightly higher loan loss provision and reserve interest. The combined gross nonperforming loans (NPLs) has increased by 14.38 per cent to OMR68.17 million, while loan loss provisions and reserve interest edged up by 2.1 per cent to OMR63.82 million by the end of September 2016, over the same period of last year. The slowdown in the economy has resulted in delays in collec-

tion of receivables. When the borrowers get payments late, there will be a delay in their payments as well, according to a source in leasing and hire purchase companies, who does not want to be named. In fact, the gross loans and advances of leasing firms in Oman grew by 8 per cent (or OMR81.62 million incremental growth) to OMR1,102.02 million by endSeptember 2016, according to the latest quarterly report released by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). However, the combined net profit of these institutions marginally declined to OMR6.88 million for the nine-month period, from OMR7.6 million for the same period of 2015. “The lending of finance companies is more or less on fixed in-

terest rates for three to five years. Rates remain the same for the entire tenure of the loan. However, banks charge floating rates for their lending to finance and leasing companies. So, when interest rates go up, the funding costs of finance companies go up quickly,” Robert Pancras, chief executive officer of National Finance told the Times of Oman. Pancras added that although leasing companies charge higher interest rates for new loans, they usually do not revise interest of existing loans, which remain the same for the loan period. Therefore, when interest rates go up, the interest margin for leasing companies fall initially and corrects over time as new higher interest rate loans gradually replace lower interest rate loans done earlier. However, the flip side is that when market interest rates decline, margins initially expand and then gradually correct to normal levels. With the slowdown in economic activities, demand for funds from both retail customers and corporate sector has also declined. The leasing finance firms target the medium to small-scale business enterprises and individuals

for lending. Oman’s leasing companies mainly operate in three market segments - retail financing, equipment leasing and factoring and working capital financing. In the retail segment, financing is provided to individual customers mainly for purchase of automobiles and other goods whereas in equipment leasing finance is extended to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for expansion, modernisation and replacement requirements. In the third segment, factoring and working capital financing is provided to SMEs for cross border or domestic trade, or for the execution of projects, usually against the assignment of receivables. There are currently six finance and leasing companies with a wide branch network spread across Oman and all the six companies are also listed on the MSM. The six licensed players - Al Omaniya Financial Services, Muscat Finance, National Finance, Oman Orix Leasing, Taageer Finance and United Finance - have a combined asset of OMR1,098.25 million by the end of September 2016, against OMR991.50 million for the same period of last year.

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CRUDE SUPPLIES

Opec deal to create oil-supply deficit in first half of 2017: IEA LONDON: Global oil markets will swing from surplus to deficit in the first half of 2017 as Opec and other producers follow through on an agreement to cut supply, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Oil stockpiles will decline by about 600,000 barrels a day in the next six months as curbs by Opec and its partners take effect, said the agency, which had previously assumed inventories wouldn’t drop until the end of 2017. Russia, the biggest producer outside Opec to join the deal, will gradually implement the full reduction it promised, according to the IEA.

of 2017,” the Paris-based agency said in its monthly market report. “If Opec promptly and fully sticks to its production target” and other producers cut as agreed, “the market is likely to move into deﬁcit in the ﬁrst half of 2017.” The stockpile declines will only occur if Opec reduces supply enough to meet and maintain a target of about 32.7 million barrels a day, the agency said. The organisation pumped a record 34.2 million a day in November, making the cut required to reach its target even bigger, according to the IEA, which advises 29 nations on energy policy.

Output cut Oil has gained about 17 per cent since the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) agreed on November 30 to trim output for the ﬁrst time in eight years, an accord expanded on Dec. 10 with the participation of 11 non-members including Russia and Kazakhstan. “Before the agreement among producers, our demand and supply numbers suggested that the market would re-balance by the end

Oil holds on to gains Oil held gains near the highest level since July 2015 as the market focus shifted to US stockpile and production data after Opec and other nations agreed to coordinated output cuts. Futures added 0.5 per cent in New York after climbing 2.6 per cent on Monday as Saudi Arabia signaled it’s prepared to cut more than initially agreed and 11 nonOpec producers also committed to a reduction. — Bloomberg News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,732.72 ...............5,698.16 ................... 5,732.37 ...................5,696.32................. 36.05 ................... 0.63 Financial Index .....................................7,602.85 ............... 7,551.34 .................... 7,589.61 ................... 7,539.20..................50.41 ................... 0.67 Industrial Index ....................................7,414.87 ...............7,394.95 ....................7,401.84 ................... 7,394.95....................6.89 ...................0.09 Services Index ....................................... 3,067.81 ............... 3,057.72 ....................3,067.79 ...................3,058.22.................... 9.57 ................... 0.31 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................863.43 ..................860.46 ...................... 863.00 ...................... 860.45....................2.55 ...................0.30 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 17,347,500 .................. 5,091,362 ................. 1,027 ............... 17,344,406,772 ................ 16 ........................7 .................... 19 .........................42

The top gainer was Oman Ceramics, up by 5 per cent, while top loser was Oman Orix

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13

Leasing, down by 3.10 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: Driven by greater foreign participation in banking and telecom stocks, the MSM30 Index gained 0.63 per cent to close at 5,732.37 points. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 863.00 points, a gain of 0.30 per cent. Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Tuesday’s top gainer was Oman Ceramics, up by 5 per cent, while top loser was Oman Orix Leasing, down by 3.10 per cent. As many as 1,027 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating turnover of OMR5.09 million with 17.4 million shares changing hands. Out of 42 traded securities, 16 advanced, 7 declined and 19 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors switched to net buyers for OMR223,000 followed by Foreign Investors for OMR185,000 while Omani Investors were net sellers for OMR408,000 worth of shares. Financial Index advanced 0.67 per cent to ﬁnish at 7,589.61 points. HSBC Bank, Bank Dhofar, Bank Sohar, Al Anwar Holding and Bank Muscat gained 1.75 per cent, 1.31 per cent, 1.23 per cent, 1.06 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively. Oman Orix Leasing, Al Madina Takaful, Al Batinah Development and Gulf Investment Services declined 3.10 per cent, 1.39 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.85 per cent respectively. Industrial Index was stable at 7,401.84 points, up 0.09 per cent. Oman Ceramic, Oman Cables and Al Anwar Ceramics increased 5.00 per cent, 0.67 per cent and 0.58 per cent respectively. Services Index gained 0.31 per cent to close at 3,067.79 points. Ooredoo, Al Jazeera Services, Renaissance Services, OIFC and Omantel increased 2.50 per cent, 1.52 per cent, 0.82 per cent, 0.48 per cent and 0.33 per cent respectively. Sohar Power, Port Services and Phoenix Power declined 0.83

per cent, 0.80 per cent and 0.67 per cent respectively. Sensex gains 183 points Market recouped overnight losses, as late afternoon buying lifted the benchmark Sensex by 182.58 to close at 26,697.82 following buying in key heavyweights of Auto and IT sectors even investors awaited US Federal Reserve policy statement on Wednesday. Earlier, the key indices traded positive in the midst of volatility and range-bound momentum despite subdued Asian opening on caution prevailing over much awaited two-day US Federal Reserve meet starting today as well as government release of key consumer inﬂation data (CPI) to be released today after market hours. Index heavyweight Tata Motors rallied nearly 7 per cent in morning trade before settling at 3.48 per cent following stake sale of 50 million shares changed hands in block deal by foreign brokerage on behalf of an unknown buyer. Boughts of value buying lifted the Energy, FMCG, Health and IT stocks. The Sensex opened gap at 26,607.65 and hovered in a range of 26,724.97 and 26,494.23 before concluding at 26,697.82, showing a gain of 182.58 points, or 0.69 per cent, The index had lost 232 points on Monday. The 50-share NSE Nifty reclaimed to end above the key 8,200-level at 8,221.80 after shuttling between 8,228.85 and 8,155.80, up 51.00 points or 0.62 per cent. Elsewhere, Most Asian market ended higher ahead of much awaited US Federal Reserve Monetary policy statement due on Wednesday. China, Hong Kong, Nikkei, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan gaining by 0.07 per cent to 0.50 per cent. — United Securities/ PTI

REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 1,226,527 ...... 803,716...................129 ........... 0.640 ...........0.660 ...........0.640........... 0.656 .............0.640 ............0.016 .............2.500 ................0.660..............0.660...................0.664.................. 427,019,415 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ........................................... 20,000 ...............4,010........................2 ............0.201 ........... 0.201 ...........0.200 .......... 0.200 ............. 0.197............ 0.003............. 1.523 ................0.200 ............. 0.197...................0.203 ..................12,240,855 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 2,275,886......374,897......................91 ............0.163 ........... 0.165 ...........0.163 ............0.165 ............. 0.163............ 0.002............. 1.227 ................0.165 ..............0.162...................0.165 ..................264,742,391........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 787,536.......... 150,254..................... 77 ............0.194 ........... 0.194 ...........0.189 ............0.191 ............. 0.189............ 0.002............. 1.058 ................0.189 ..............0.189................... 0.191 ...................33,425,469 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 4,755,561 ...2,115,830...................214 ........... 0.442 ...........0.448 ...........0.442........... 0.444 .............0.440 ........... 0.004.............0.909 ................0.446..............0.444...................0.446 ................1,108,335,115.......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 833,719 .......... 198,325..................... 35 ........... 0.238 ...........0.240 ...........0.237........... 0.238 .............0.236 ........... 0.002............. 0.847 ................0.237..............0.236...................0.238..................350,997,943........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................... 5,511 ...............1,350........................4 ........... 0.244...........0.246 ...........0.244 .......... 0.245 .............0.243 ........... 0.002............. 0.823 ................0.246..............0.246...................0.249 ..................73,200,530.........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY..................................... 44,400 ............ 67,044........................4 ............1.510 ........... 1.510............1.510 ............1.510 .............1.500 ............0.010 ............. 0.667 ................1.510 .............. 1.510................... 1.515 ..................135,447,000 ........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 578,160 .........100,002..................... 34 ............0.175 ........... 0.175............0.172 ............0.173 ............. 0.172.............0.001 ............. 0.581 ................0.172 .............. 0.172...................0.173 ...................51,244,967 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 377,420 ........... 78,425......................17 ........... 0.208...........0.208 ...........0.207........... 0.208 .............0.207 ............0.001 ............. 0.483 ................0.207..............0.205...................0.207 ..................41,600,000.........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 290,728 .........443,860..................... 45 ............1.520 ........... 1.535............1.520............1.525 .............1.520............ 0.005............. 0.329 ................1.525 ..............1.520...................1.525 ................ 1,143,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ...................................4,500 ............... 1,485........................1 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.330........... 0.328 .............0.328 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.330..............0.322...................0.340 ..................32,800,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ...............................................................5,000 .............. 2,920........................1 ........... 0.584 ...........0.584 ...........0.584........... 0.588 .............0.588 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.584..............0.580...................0.584...................32,340,000 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .........................................................17,465 .............26,196........................5 ............1.500 ........... 1.500 ...........1.495 ........... 1.500 .............1.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.500..............1.490...................1.500................. 300,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ......................................................................26,972 .............13,224........................3 ........... 0.494 ...........0.494 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.498.................. 311,537,535 ........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................29,546 .............13,874........................7 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.468........... 0.470 .............0.470 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.468..............0.466...................0.468.................. 155,510,174 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ....................................... 1,000 .....................54........................1 ........... 0.054 ...........0.054 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.054 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.054..............0.054...................0.055....................11,186,175..........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 113,356 ............28,049..................... 10 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.247........... 0.247 .............0.247 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.249..............0.249...................0.250 ..................30,849,796 .........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ......................................................47,741 ............ 23,393......................17 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.498...................29,645,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ........................................................49,843 ............... 7,393.....................20 ............0.151 ........... 0.151............0.148 ........... 0.148 .............0.149............-0.001 ............-0.671................0.148 .............. 0.147...................0.148..................216,465,016 ........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER..............................................................12,946 ............... 3,101......................13 ........... 0.240...........0.240 ...........0.238........... 0.240 .............0.242 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.826 ...............0.238..............0.235...................0.238...................53,042,400.........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 617,730 .............71,806..................... 35 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............0.116 ............0.116 ............. 0.117 ............-0.001 ........... -0.855 ...............0.117 .............. 0.116................... 0.117 .................... 6,825,813 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 105,449 .............. 7,523........................7 ........... 0.073 ........... 0.073 ...........0.071 ............0.071 .............0.072 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.389................0.072.............. 0.071...................0.073...................12,425,000.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 12,226,996 4,536,730...................772 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......23........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 566,000 ........... 65,566......................12 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............ 0.115 ............0.116 ............. 0.114............ 0.002............. 1.754.................0.116 ...............0.115................... 0.116 ................. 232,036,284 .......0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 184,846 ...........42,884........................8 ........... 0.232 ...........0.232 ...........0.232........... 0.232 .............0.229 ........... 0.003............. 1.310.................0.232..............0.232...................0.235..................440,614,725........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ................................................. 193,778 ............23,020......................15 ............0.118 ........... 0.122 ...........0.118 ............0.119 ............. 0.118 .............0.001 ............. 0.847 ................0.122.............. 0.119...................0.120................... 30,177,210 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 503,827 ............67,943..................... 43 ............0.136 ........... 0.136 ...........0.134............0.135 .............0.134.............0.001 ............. 0.746 ................0.134 ..............0.134...................0.135 ................... 16,453,125 .........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS .............. 40,000 ...............7,600........................5 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190.............. 0.185...................0.190.................... 6,378,576 ..........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 141,063 ............... 8,769........................9 ........... 0.063 ...........0.063 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.062 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.062..............0.061...................0.062 ................... 7,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE.........................................................5,513 .................. 662........................1 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.120........... 0.120 .............0.120 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.120..............0.120...................0.124...................32,005,869.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............63,565 ............. 17,037........................8 ........... 0.270 ...........0.270 ...........0.268........... 0.268 .............0.268 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.268..............0.268...................0.270 ...................5,628,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ...................................................................... 36,166 ...............6,977........................3 ............0.192 ........... 0.193 ...........0.192 ............0.193 ............. 0.193............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.193 ..............0.182...................0.193..................275,031,976 ........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 130,941............. 18,651..................... 10 ............0.142 ........... 0.143 ...........0.142........... 0.142 .............0.142 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.142..............0.140...................0.142...................12,780,000 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 553,754............ 56,967..................... 56 ............0.104 ........... 0.105 ...........0.101 ........... 0.103 .............0.103............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102.............. 0.101...................0.102...................29,868,006.........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 2,223,444 .....182,442..................... 47 ........... 0.083 ...........0.083 ...........0.082........... 0.082 .............0.082 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.082..............0.082...................0.083..................123,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 269,648 ............ 19,172......................14 ............0.071 ...........0.072 ...........0.071 ............0.071 ............. 0.071............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.072.............. 0.071...................0.072...................71,000,000.........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ..........................................................661 .................. 126........................2 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190..............0.186...................0.190.................. 135,737,205 ........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................12,390 ............... 1,201........................4 ........... 0.095 ...........0.097 ...........0.095........... 0.097 .............0.098 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.020 ...............0.097..............0.095...................0.099....................2,910,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001723 ............OMAN ORIX LEASING ................................................. 6,010 ...................751........................1 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 .............0.129............-0.004 ............-3.101................0.125 .............. 0.125...................0.130...................31,379,925 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,931,606 .......519,768...................238 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......16........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AV I AT I O N

Qatar Airways plans to switch to bigger Airbus planes DUBAI: Qatar Airways said it is seeking to renegotiate a $7.8 billion order for Airbus Group narrow-body jets and could switch to bigger planes powered by alternative engines as part of a revised agreement. The Gulf carrier wants to keep the deal for 80 A320neos after refusing to take the ﬁrst four aircraft because of glitches with their Pratt & Whitney turbines, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in an interview. It aims to upgrade to the stretched A321neo variant as part of those deliberations, the CEO further added. Qatar Airways is holding parallel discussions about moving to power plants supplied by the CFM International alliance of General Electric (GE) and Safran in response to the engine performance issue, Al Baker said on Monday in Doha. Deliveries would start from 2018 if an agreement is concluded. “We are in negotiation with Airbus about how we can continue our relationship and keep our order on track,” the CEO said. “We are also talking to them in order

Akbar Al Baker. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

to have a substitute for the aircraft that we have canceled. And we are also talking to CFM to provide us the engine option for that aircraft.” Al Baker didn’t outline the extent of Qatar Air’s plan to move to the CFM Leap engine. A wholesale switch from Pratt’s geared turbofan model would come as a blow to the United Technologies Corp. unit as it seeks to reassure customers that the program is back on schedule. While a cooling problem with the powerplant caused the Mid-

east carrier to refuse its deliveries, further issues have since contributed to delays, with other operators scaling back fleet plans and seeking compensation. Pratt & Whitney said in an emailed statement that it “has been supporting Qatar Airways since the airline’s early days,” while noting that the geared turbofan is meeting or exceeding performance specifications on fuel burn, emissions and noise reduction. Airbus said it doesn’t comment on confidential customer matters. Al Baker said that Italy’s Meridiana Fly SpA, in which Qatar Airways is buying a 49 per cent stake, will build up a fleet of almost 50 new aircraft over the next five years, including Boeing 737 Max narrow-bodies. That mainly suggests that a significant proportion of the 60 Max 8s ordered by Qatar are destined for Meridiana, and that only a limited number will go to the Gulf airline itself. The Boeing deal, announced in October, was initially viewed as potentially fatal to the Airbus order. — Bloomberg News

Boeing slows 777 wide-body jet production CHICAGO: Boeing gave investors bad news and good news as it unveiled deeper cuts to one of its biggest moneymakers, the 777 jetliner — and then announced a 30 per cent dividend hike. Production of the 777 will slow to ﬁve aircraft a month starting in August 2017 and some jobs will have to be cut, Boeing told employees on Monday. The latest cut comes as Boeing’s suppliers were already girding for a previously announced slowdown to a monthly pace of seven jets at the start of next year. The Chicago-based company currently makes the wide-body planes at an 8.3-jet monthly pace. The slower factory tempo will mean lower revenue from

the 777, Boeing’s secondlargest source of profit behind its narrow-body 737. The rate adjustment will have a modest impact on Boeing’s overall results this year, but won’t be significant enough to affect 2016 financial guidance, said Paul Bergman, a spokesman for the company. Cash margin programmes Boeing’s decision to reward shareholders, despite a “weakening end market outlook on one of its highest cash margin programmes,” could squeeze the company as it juggles a roster of new aircraft, Ron Epstein, an analyst at Bank of American Corp., said in a note to clients Monday. The manufacturer is already

readying the 737 Max programme for market debut next year, an update of its best-selling narrow-body plane. It’s also developing the ﬁrst new 777X aircraft. Epstein said he also expects Boeing “in the near future” to begin marketing the 737 Max 10X, a stretched version of the plane, and possibly a new “7M7,” a nickname for its proposed mid-sized jet family. Weak demand Boeing had notched 17 orders for the 777 this year, according to its website, well short of the 50 to 60 annual sales it needed to keep its assembly line in Everett, Washington, operating at full speed until a revamped version of the jet debuts in 2020. — Bloomberg News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

MARKET BANKING SECURITY

SWIFT now confirms new cyber thefts, hacking tactics LONDON/BOSTON: Cyber attacks targeting the global bank transfer system have succeeded in stealing funds since February’s heist of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank as hackers have become more sophisticated in their tactics, according to a SWIFT official and a previously undisclosed letter the organisation sent to banks worldwide. The messaging network in a Nov. 2 letter seen by Reuters warned banks of the escalating threat to their systems, according to the SWIFT letter. The attacks and new hacking tactics underscore the continuing vulnerability of the SWIFT messaging network, which handles trillions of dollars in fund transfers daily. “The threat is very persistent, adaptive and sophisticated — and it is here to stay,” SWIFT said in the November letter to client banks, seen by Reuters. The disclosures provide fresh evidence that SWIFT remains at risk of attacks nearly a year after funds were stolen from a Bangladesh Bank account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The unprecedented cyber theft prompted regulators around the globe to tighten bank security requirements, amidst a global investigation by the FBI, Bangladesh authorities and Interpol. Banks using the SWIFT network, which include both central banks and commercial banks, have been hit with a “meaningful” number of attacks — about a fifth of them resulting in stolen funds, since the Bangladesh heist, Stephen Gilderdale, head of SWIFT’s Customer Security Programme, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday. SWIFT had previously disclosed hacks of three SWIFT users since February but said those did not lead to the loss of funds. SWIFT’s letter to customers warned that hackers have refined their methods for compromising local bank systems. One new tactic, the letter said, involved using software that allows technicians to access computers to provide technical support. “We unfortunately continue to see cases in which some of our customers’ environments are being compromised” by thieves who then send fraudulent payment instructions through the SWIFT network — the same kind of messages used to steal Bangladesh Bank funds, the letter said without elaborating further. On Monday, a top police investigator in Dhaka told Reuters that some Bangladesh central bank officials deliberately exposed its computer systems and enabled the theft. He declined to identify those officials by name or say how many there were. The comments by Mohammad Shah Alam, head of the Forensic Training Institute of the Bangladesh police’s criminal investigation department, are the first sign that investigators have got a firm lead in one of the world’s biggest cyber heists. - Reuters

India-Arab forum seeks to woo regional investments Presence of the high level ministerial and business delegations from India at the partnership conference reﬂects the importance that India attaches to its trade and investment relations with 22 Arab nations

Times News Service MUSCAT: India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar, is visiting Oman between December 13 and 15, 2016. This is his ﬁrst visit to Oman since his appointment to the office in July 2016. He is leading the Indian delegation to the ﬁfth India-Arab

Partnership Conference, according to an embassy release. The conference is being organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in collaboration with Arab League Secretariat, the Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the General Union of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the Arab Countries (GUCCIAC) and the Federation of the Arab Business (FAB). FICCI has put together a large delegation of Indian businessmen to participate in the conference. Rajendra Shukla, Minister for Commerce, Industries and Employment of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is also leading a delegation of senior officials from his state to participate in the conference. The theme of the ﬁfth IndiaArab Partnership Conference is “Partnership towards Innovation and Information Technology Cooperation.” After the inaugural and ministerial sessions, the conference will hold panel discussions on the topics identiﬁed for the conference, namely, technology and innovation, renewable energy and clean technology, health and drug industry, higher education and skill development, food security

After the inaugural and ministerial sessions, the conference will hold panel discussions on various topics, including technology and innovation, renewable energy and clean technology, health and drug industry, higher education and skill development, food security and safety and tourism.

and safety and tourism. The presence of the high level ministerial and business delegations from India at the partnership conference reﬂects the importance that India attaches to its trade and investment relations with 22 Arab countries, which have emerged as India’s important trade partners. Apart from participation in the conference, Akbar will also hold bilateral meetings with the Government of Oman with a view to review the existing bilateral coop-

M J Akbar, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs. — Times File picture

eration between India and Oman in all its dimensions and to explore the opportunities for expanding further the strategic partnership between the countries. India and Oman are maritime neighbours joined together by Indian Ocean. The historical relations between India and Oman have evolved into a strategic partnership, which has continued to expand in all aspects. India has regarded Oman as a key and trusted

A C C O U N T I N G S TA N D A R D S

C O R P O R AT E S E C T O R

Adoption of new accounting standards to pose challenges for local companies Times News Service MUSCAT: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 15 and its impact on revenue recognition was an area where business leaders from across Oman had gathered together at an Association of Chartered Certiﬁed Accountants (ACCA) event this week. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) published their new converged standard on revenue recognition in May 2014. The standard will be effective from January 1, 2018 and therefore poses a number of early adoption challenges both locally in Oman and globally. IFRS 15 is a control-based model, where the revenue is recognised when control of an asset (goods or services) passes. The series of criteria for determining whether control is transferred over time are new, and may well result in different patterns of revenue recognition than those previously seen under International Accounting Standard (IAS) 18 and IAS 11 for services and construction contracts. Padmanabha Acharya, Audit Partner at Deloitte Middle East

partner in the Gulf region. IndiaOman relationship is based on shared values, common interests and respect for each other’s concerns and priorities. It is hoped that the visit of M J Akbar will provide further boost to IndiaOman strategic partnership. The Government of India has always accorded a high priority to promoting the welfare of Indian diaspora and has enhanced interaction with the Indian communities living abroad.

MAKING A POINT: Associated changes resulting from adoption, and the impact of IFRS 15 will have on the future of businesses and ﬁnance professionals across the region. - Supplied picture

was one of several business leaders in attendance who shared key insights into the adoption of IFRS 15 and its impact on revenue recognition. During the event he discussed the associated changes resulting from adoption, and the impact it will have on the future of busi-

nesses and finance professionals across the region. Padmanabha Acharya, Audit Partner at Deloitte Middle East stated: “IFRS 15 may have significant impact on entities in the region affecting recognition and measurement as well as the level of disclosures in the financial

statements. Entities in the Telecommunication and Real Estate Industries in the region may have the most impact due to the adoption of this standard. The standard will also require new judgements, estimates, and changes to systems, processes and controls.” Lindsay Degouve de Nuncques, head of ACCA Middle East, also thinks that ACCA professionals, including the large number of Omani members, are essential to managing such change. She stated: “The latest changes are a reminder that the business world is continually evolving: ACCA’s own report Professional accountants — the future, in fact noted that regulatory shifts will be as potentially disruptive as technological innovation to a globalised world. As such it is vital to have professional accountants who are equipped with the vision and skills to adjust and anticipate such changes before they occur, to help businesses adapt to a changing world.”

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Tata Group to raise stake in Tata Motors MUMBAI: Tata Group increased its holdings in Tata Motors, the owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), before a crucial shareholder meeting next week called to remove the automaker’s chairman Cyrus Mistry from its board, people with knowledge of the matter said. The Group holding company Tata Sons boosted its stake by about 1.7 per cent and is open to purchasing more equity before the December 22 extraordinary general meeting, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. The group held 33 per cent in Tata Motors, of which Tata Sons owned 27 per cent as of September 30, according to stock exchange filings. Investors in Tata Motors and five other listed group companies are being asked at meetings this month to pick between Ratan Tata and Mistry, the man he replaced as chairman at India’s largest conglomerate. The October boardroom coup triggered a series of bitter public accusations and recriminations, with each side blaming the other for missteps at the salt-to-software empire. Tata is now asking shareholders to remove Mistry as a director from group units, beginning with Tata Consultancy Services on Tuesday. — Bloomberg News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

FEATURE

IN ANOTHER month of strong US employment growth, one key sector shrank in November — again. For the seventh month out of the past 10, employment in manufacturing was down from the previous month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that, adjusting for seasonal factors, there were about 4,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in November than in October — and 78,000 fewer than there were in January, when the sector hit its peak (at just over 12.3 million jobs) for the current expansion. The declines this year can be attributed in part to potentially temporary factors such as a strong dollar (which makes US manufactured goods more expensive abroad) and low oil and gas prices (which cuts demand for drilling equipment), so it’s possible that the losses of the past year will be retraced and a new business-cycle peak reached. But that peak will still be way below the all-time record of 19.6 million manufacturing jobs set in June 1979. And manufacturing’s share of total non-farm payroll employment, which hit an all-time low of 8.4 per cent in November, is likely to keep on declining. Recent political discourse has featured two main responses to this phenomenon: This is what progress looks like. Get used to it. The economy is evolving, and manufacturing’s share of gross domestic product has actually stayed about the same. The US still makes lots of stuff, but it takes far fewer people to do it thanks to automation, and what we really ought to be doing is upgrading pay and beneﬁts for other jobs so more people can share in the American Dream once proffered by employers such as US Steel and General Motors. OMG, the factory jobs are going to China

and Mexico! We have to stop them! I think it’s fair to say at this point that the second argument has more resonance among voters in Rust Belt states with large manufacturing sectors. Also, while the ﬁrst argument is largely correct, it does gloss over the reality that most US manufacturing industries have been struggling in the face of foreign competition — as I have written before (and will surely write again) overall manufacturing output has held up only because of big gains in the computer and electronics sector, and those huge gains are in part a statistical artifact. US factory jobs really have been going to China and Mexico. My own take on manufacturing is that we should be doing more to encourage it in the US, but should not expect it to be a huge job creator. The better job prospects will still be in work that can’t be done by robots or people thousands of miles away. Consider the industry that has been all over the news this week because of President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention at the Carrier furnace plant in Indianapolis: ventilation, heating, air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturing. It actually has not been decimated by foreign competition: Total receipts for US manufacturers of the stuff were up about 4 per cent in 2014 from the pre-recession peak in 2008. But the sector, generally known by the acronym HVAC (for heating, ventilation and air conditioning) has shed lots of jobs — about 25,000 since 2008, and 1,000 just in October, according to the latest jobs report (data for narrower industry sectors is reported with a one-month delay).

After writing a column last month on blue-collar fields that are not hemorrhaging jobs (auto repair, electrical work, plumbing), I was curious how things looked for HVAC repairers versus HVAC manufacturers. Here’s the answer: The data on mechanics and installers is only collected once a year in May. The BLS expects employment in the field to keep rising at healthy clip, though, with a projected 331,600 people working as HVAC repairers and installers in 2024. Fixing HVAC equipment also pays better than making it: Getting a job as an HVAC mechanic or installer does not require a four-year college degree, but it does usually require postsecondary training and often a certificate — not to mention a fair amount of skill. This is a common characteristic of what Georgetown University economist Anthony P. Carnevale, in an essay for the Atlantic’s CityLab recently, called the new “good jobs.” It’s the case even in manufacturing, he wrote, as “factories have substituted workers with a high-school education or less for new post secondary-trained technicians working with powerful information technology.” So that’s one thing I think we can be sure of. The Trump administration may be able to browbeat a few more companies into revising their plans to move jobs out of the country. More promisingly, a shift in multinational corporations’ approach to globalisation may bring a modest “reshoring” wave of new factories in the US But those millions of old-line factory jobs really aren’t coming back. JUSTIN FOX/Bloomberg News

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ORSA continues distributing child car seats to raise awareness on road safety

ROUND-UP

Bahwan IT wins ‘Partner of the Year 2016’ award The award comes in recognition of Bahwan IT’s continuous performance excellence in providing IT solutions

MUSCAT: Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA) in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Al Khonji Group, and volunteering Groups from the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman Women's Association in Al Seeb and the Scouts has distributed around 30 child restraints to the new borns and raised awareness of more than 100 visitors to the hospital in the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital as part of #save_your_ child campaign. Shaima Al Hammadi was present at the occasion and helped in distributing the seats and talking to the mothers of the new borns. ORSA has launched the pilot phase of a nationwide programme to distribute car seats for young children and infants, and to raise awareness on important road safety issues including correctly using seat belts and child restraints in all vehicles to safeguard passengers, says a press release. The nationwide rollout of the #save_your_child campaign was launch in October this year. More than 600 child restraints to be distributed during the awareness campaign and will be completed in phases through government hospitals in Muscat and Batinah, Dakhiliyah, Sharqiyah, Dhofar, Musandam and other locations in 2016 and 2017. Commenting on the importance of safeguarding vehicle passengers, Amor bin Nasser Al Matani, chairman of the Oman

Road Safety Association, noted, “The idea is to ensure that every family that gets the child safety seat benefits from it and actually uses it. The ORSA is working in close partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Al Khonji Group, ‘Volunteering Pioneers’ Group, Airforce Army Academy, Oman Oilfields Supply Centre (OOSC), Special Technical Service (STS) Oman, Shell Oman Marketing, and the Ministry of Health. We thank and value our all partners support and contribution” Ali Al Barwani, CEO of Oman Road Safety Association commented saying: “Our trained ORSA volunteers visit hospitals and instal the child safety seat in the parents’ car, giving instructions on how to use it and handing out leaflets and information on the importance to keep using child restraints up to 11 years old, depending on the age, weight and height of their growing child. ORSA previously found that if the family is not educated about the importance of correctly using child car seats they are unlikely to use them. Three main messages are promoted in our campaign, through talks, educational videos and demonstrations of correct practices in road safety. The messages include; ‘every person in every seat buckles up on every trip, children below 12 years must be seated at back seat with proper child restraints, there are 4 types of child restraints depending on child’s weight, height and age.”

to Oman’s diversiﬁed customer base including oil & gas, banking, telecoms, government and SME customers

MUSCAT: Bahwan IT, one of the ﬂagship companies of Suhail Bahwan Group and a leading IT company in Oman received ‘Partner of the Year 2016’ award from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), its long standing business partner. Bahwan IT has been chosen for this prestigious award among HPE’s partners in the entire Gulf region. The award comes in recognition of Bahwan IT’s continuous performance excellence in provid-

ing IT solutions to Oman’s diversiﬁed customer base including oil & gas, banking, telecoms, government and SME customers, says a press release. Event in Dubai Ali Al Matani, assistant general manager, Sales and Robert Amalraj, business manager Infrastructure, received the award on behalf of Bahwan IT from Ammar Labaidy, MEMA Channel Territory

director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise in an event held in Dubai recently. Ayman Dwidar, Gulf and Levant managing director and general manager, HPE was also present during the award function. Bahwan IT offers cutting-edge ICT solutions to a variety of industries and business sectors across the country that includes government, oil and gas, banking, telecom sectors, SMEs and trading companies.

D R I L L D I S P L AY

IS Rustaq celebrates annual sports day MUSCAT: Indian School Rustaq held its 23rd annual sports meet and drill display with great pomp and show. Dr Mohammed Abdullah Nasser Al Yafai, director of Rustaq Hospital, attended the occasion as the chief guest while S. I. Shareef, principal, Indian School Muladha was the guest of honour. Biju Varghese, the principal, extended a warm welcome to the gathering, says a press release. A spectacular and well synchronised march past by the students led by the school head boy, head girl and house captains of the three houses – red, blue and green, set the beautiful Jaroof Ground alive. The chief guest and other dignitaries received guard of honour from the students. After the solemn oath taking ceremony by the students, Tomy T. John, presi-

dent of the School Management Committee, addressed the gathering, stressing on the importance of sports activities in shaping the

personality of a child. The chief guest addressed the gathering and declared the meet open. A colourful mass drill and aerobic display,

and various athletic competitions were spectacular. Abdulla P, SMC convener, Dr Ashok Manavazhi, treasurer, Mohammed Riyaz Khan, Raﬁque Rehman, SMC members and Dr Mathew Varghese, former president of SMC were present during this occasion. The chief guest and other dignitaries gave away the medals to all the winners in various athletic events. The Red House won the overall Championship trophy. The programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by P. Abdulla, convener of the SMC.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Ooredoo streamlines management effectiveness by introducing Qadaa MUSCAT: Under the auspices of Sheikh Salim Mustahail Al Mashani, adviser to the Diwan of Royal Court and Sayyid Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, undersecretary at Ministry of Civil Services for Administrative Development, the Ooredoo Human Resources Department launched the Manager’s Toolkit programme, the result of extensive research into effective resourcing. The programme is designed to support the Ooredoo management team through the introduction of a uniﬁed approach to leadership across all departments. Consolidating management guidelines, information and templates in one

place, this comprehensive guide helps supervisors, senior executives, and department heads as they recruit and hire new family members, and train, mentor, and coach staff to maximise their potential. The approach will allow managers to strengthen capabilities on the journey to realising their personal ambitions and achieving company goals, says a press release. Essential handbook Highlighting the importance of the Qadaa leadership development programme, Kumail Al Moosawi, Chief People and Corporate Affairs

officer at Ooredoo, said: “With a shared approach to talent management that is aligned with organisational and international best practice, this programme is a primary

point of reference and essential handbook for all our managers. Supporting them in all aspects of their role, the Toolkit equips our executives with consistent and

proven techniques to streamline processes, direct decision-making, and facilitate administration. We look forward to the positive impact this will have throughout Ooredoo on job performance, efficiency and employee engagement.” Straightforward and unambiguous, the Qadaa leadership development programme is organised in seven sections, including: leadership development, goal setting & effective performance management, career & succession planning, coaching & mentoring, change management experience, developing the right culture based on Ooredoo values

and employee engagement. It is a key part of Ooredoo’s commitment to both leadership development, and also to the enhancement of the work environment. It is also an essential component of Ooredoo’s preparations for the future and its robust long-term approach to generating value and success. Ooredoo aims to be not only Oman’s communications provider of choice but also its preferred employer, expressing its core company values of caring, connecting and challenging as much in its human resource operations as in its valuepacked products and services.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

ROUND-UP Nissan recognised at Auto Excellence Awards ‘The Most Popular Car Brand’ award recognises key parameters such as design & function, on-road performance, value for money, safety and most importantly, the overall market acceptance for the car brand

MUSCAT: Nissan has been awarded the ‘Most Popular Car Brand in Oman’ at the Oman Auto Excellence Awards 2016 ceremony held recently. Organised by Oman Expo, the award ceremony was held at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre amidst the presence of distinguished international and local partners, media guests, automotive enthusiasts and select customers. The unique Popular Car Brand award was computed through public online voting from November 17 to December 7. Nissan emerged victorious in the hotly contested award category which witnessed more than 10,000 online votes polled. More than 30 brands were in the fray for this coveted category. The entire process was au-

dited by an external agency BDO for transparency and authenticity, says a press release. ‘The Most Popular Car Brand’ award recognises key parameters such as design & function, onroad performance, value for money, safety and most importantly, the overall market acceptance for the car brand. This achievement comes shortly after Nissan was awarded the ‘Most Trusted Brand’ status in the Automotive category. With this achievement, Nissan has emerged as the unique automotive brand with two coveted popular award in the same calendar year. A senior official from Nissan Oman said, “This achievement gives us tremendous satisfaction as this is a recognition based on

brand reputation, customer loyalty and market acceptance. It recognises our continued focus on delivering a strong customer value proposition that is unique and customer centric.” He further added, “Nissan has built up its reputation through innovative technology and a broad product line up. In Oman, people have increasingly opted for Nissan models because they come with world-class features, great performance, ideally suited to the local conditions and offer great value for money besides being among the safest cars on the road.” It’s worth mentioning here that Nissan’s range of vehicles consists of passenger cars like Micra, Sunny, Sentra, Tiida, Altima and

Maxima. Its crossover range includes Juke, XTrail, Pathﬁnder. Its SUV range includes Patrol V6 and V8. Its LCV range includes the all new Navara Pick-up, Patrol Pickup, Urvan 15-seater Bus, Urvan Panel Van and Civilian 26-seater & 30-seater variants. With attractive and exclusive offers under the ‘Get the Nissan Excitement’ scheme, Nissan Oman offers a wide array of unique beneﬁts including assured cash gift, special EMI rate, extended warranty, extended service package, free registration, to mention a few. Most importantly,for every customer purchasing a Nissan vehicle in Oman is a gratifying experience. Nissan’s world-class after-sales services ensure that customers get the advantage of factory-trained expertise and genuine Nissan replacement parts always, which help retain Nissan’s performance and resale value for years to come. Not to mention, ‘Get the Nissan Excitement’ Scheme has been a runaway success since its launch. The scheme is open for a limited time period till December 15. With a national network of more than 20 showrooms, 24 service centres and 36 spare parts outlets, Nissan Oman has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service.

1 9 T H C L U B D AY

Celebrations at ISC Salalah SALALAH: Indian Social Club Salalah, celebrated its 19th Club Day recently with funfair and active participation of its members in a festive mood. The Club Day was held on the club premises with marvellous decoration and seating arrangements. The entrance of the venue, made in the style of the famous Taj Mahal, was appreciated for its artistic style by all the members who attended, says a press release. Over 1,500 members of the club including children attended the fun ﬁlled evening. Inaugurating the function Manpreet Singh, the chairman, highlighted the recent modiﬁcation in the club and facilities made available to its members and requested the members to support actively to enhance its further. Sanathanan and Mandana, the former presidents of the club, appreciated the efforts put in by the present chairman and his team in changing the face of the club. All the management committee members were

present on the occasion. Hridhya S. Menon proposed the vote of thanks. The programme included many events like quizzes for spot prizes, games for males, females, couples and children. The fabulous prizes ranged from night stay at reputed ﬁve star hotels besides dinner vouchers at these and other standard restaurants in Salalah. Oscar, the disc jockey played the music with his magic composition to which young and old alike danced and showed their dancing talents. Seby, Francis and Archana anchored the events quite diligently. Mega sponsors for the club day were Al Dhaman Group, Fashion Apperals, Lulu Hypermarket, Creative Engineers, Dunes Oman, Technical Global, Oman Pharma, and the main sponsors were Bank Of Baroda, Marriott, Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Juweira Beach Hotels, Hamdan Plaza Hotel, Smile Hypermarket were a few to name besides the local restaurants and few individuals.

SMES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Zubair SEC partners with Embassy of the Netherlands MUSCAT: With an objective to provide international exposure and expertise to SMEs in the Sultanate, the Embassy of Netherlands and Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) recently announced collaboration towards further development and support of Omani small business owners and to bring in global best practices. A meeting was held at The Zubair Corporation to introduce and discuss the various areas for collaboration that would capitalise on the wide accumulated knowledge and expertise in The Netherlands when it comes to entrepreneurship development, as well as the local insight and reach through Zubair SEC in the Sultanate, says a press release. Initial collaboration will be in the form of an empirical research project to be conducted through a number of leading research and business development organisations in The Netherlands; the research aims at providing strategic direction for future business development strategies for SMEs and looks at the possible means of extending more support to meet the identiﬁed market needs and gaps. Other collaboration areas would link to the recently launched initiative by Zubair SEC called ‘Tajseer’ which is a business development initiative that could help execute the part of the collaboration relating to bridging

between Dutch companies and SMEs in Oman. The recent meeting was attended by Ambassador Barbara Joziasse; Khalid Muhammad Al Zubair, managing director of The Zubair Corporation; Bart Beltman, counsellor, deputy head of Mission and head of the Economic Department; Janet Breeze, Policy Officer at the embassy, and a number of executives and advisors from The Zubair Corporation and Zubair SEC. Long-standing friendship Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Muscat said: “Oman and the Netherlands share a long-standing friendship and this means that if we can support each other, we will not hesitate to do so. Private sector

development is one of those areas. SMEs are the backbone of our economy, of employment and of innovation. They generate around 190 billion Euros in exports for my country per year. It speaks for itself that we will use that vast expertise to stand by the side of Oman.” She added: “It is a pleasure to cooperate with Zubair SEC. It is a professional organisation. We have observed that they leverage their network for the benefit of SMEs and start-ups in Oman. That is quite extraordinary: SMEs are not seen as competitors, but as co-builders of the economy. And indeed, a strong economy is beneficial for all and creates space for all. The Netherlands, like other European countries, just went through a couple of fi-

nancial crises. Companies, society and government together took responsibility and it seems that we have pulled ourselves out of the crises now. There was no time for quarrelling while we were getting ourselves back on track. Shoulder to shoulder. I am convinced that Oman can do the same and better. You are remarkable and outstanding people. The private sector and especially SMEs provide many opportunities, so I will be thrilled when Omani SMEs ﬁnd the right niche market and build viable businesses.” Khalid Muhammed Al Zubair, managing director of The Zubair Corporation said: “We have been very privileged to be given this opportunity by the Embassy of The Netherlands in Muscat to explore

areas for collaboration towards the development of Omani SMEs. Such an opportunity comes with tremendous value and a trust that we are most grateful for.” He added: “Throughout discussions between our teams, many areas of collaboration came to light, considering the long history of business development in The Netherlands and the tremendous experience accumulated amongst various organisations there, especially with regards to research and business development. As such, Zubair SEC is very happy to extend its resources, local insight, and reach to help unfold this collaboration into tangible and impactful results that would bring much needed value to SMEs and companies in both countries.”

It is a pleasure to cooperate with Zubair SEC. It is a professional organisation. We have observed that they leverage their network for the benefit of SMEs and startups in Oman. That is quite extraordinary: SMEs are not seen as competitors, but as cobuilders of the economy Barbara Joziasse

Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Muscat

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Renault Talisman now comes with benefits Renault’s new scheme which has already begun will go on till December 31

MUSCAT: With a distinctive blend of comfort and driving enjoyment, the large sleek saloon car Renault Talisman offers a pleasurable experience for both drivers and passengers alike. Renault Talisman, which packs style and real driving enjoyment, is now available at a wide range of attractive value schemes. Renault Oman from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA) recently announced an attractive scheme for the beneﬁt of customers on Renault’s top selling and new models under a special campaign. Renault’s new scheme which has already begun will go on till December 31, says a press release. Customers who purchase Renault Talisman will be entitled to receive an assured cash gift of OMR1,800. All customers purchasing Renault Talisman during the scheme period will be eligible for free ﬁrst year vehicle registration. All Renault Talisman purchased during the scheme period will have an extended six years/ unlimited mileage warranty. Customers purchasing Renault Talisman in the scheme period will get free periodic vehicle main-

tenance of two years/20,000km (whichever is earlier). This offer excludes battery. Offers are not applicable for rent a car/ taxi/driver trainer segments. Some offers are not available on commercial vehicles too. Free AAA/Road Assistance card will be given on the purchase of Renault Talisman for

the ﬁrst year only and as supported by AAA Oman. The Renault Talisman features a distinctive combination of assertive styling; a warm, spacious cabin; comfort-enhancing innovations and technology for intense enjoyment. The Talisman is built to the very highest quality stand-

ards and meticulous attention has been paid to every detail. A spokesperson for Renault Oman said, “Talisman customers have appreciated it for being strong on styling, comfort, customisable driving sensations, safety, and technology. The scheme offers a plethora of rewards for customers.” The Talisman is built to the very highest quality standards and thorough attention has been paid to every detail. Talisman customers have appreciated it for being strong on styling, comfort, customisable driving sensations, safety, and technology. Independent professionals, company owners, sales executives and senior management looking for a statusenhancing, spacious and comfortable vehicle for their family have shown a lot of interest to buy the vehicle. The Renault Talisman comes with 3 years/100,000km standard manufacturer’s warranty. Spacious cabin, comfort-enhancing innovations, low running costs and low fuel consumption ﬁgure prominently amongst the Talisman’s core strengths. SBA is largely committed to supporting Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 80 outlets – showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

AWA R D F R O M ‘ T H E B A N K E R ’

AUB recognised as ‘Bank of the Year Middle East 2016’ MUSCAT: Ahli United Bank (AUB) has been recognised as ‘Bank of the Year - Middle East 2016’ by The Banker, the world’s longest running international banking magazine and member of the Financial Times Group. This represents the second time that AUB has received this prestigious award. The announcement was made at the official ‘Bank of the Year Awards 2016’ gala event, held recently in London and attended by senior bankers from around the world, says a press release. Aimed at rewarding and promoting industry wide excellence in the global banking community, the award’s judging panel noted that AUB has ‘made the most progress over the past 12 months; not only in terms of the bank’s strong ﬁnancials, but also in the wide range of initiatives which the bank undertook during this period’. The Banker listed the launch of a new wholly owned AUB subsidiary bank in Dubai International Financial Centre, increasing ownership of its insurance joint venture to 100%, increasing the paid-up capital in AUB’s Egyptian subsidiary and the full conversion of its Libyan affiliate to a Sharia-compliant bank despite a very challenging and operating environment as the key factors in winning the regional award. The Banker went on to say that this regional title ‘is testament to the strong management, sound business model and strategy of AUB’. Accepting the award on behalf

of AUB, Adel El-Labban, Group CEO & managing director said: “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award from a leading authority such as The Banker for the second time. This repeat award is a ﬁtting tribute to the continued loyalty and support of our shareholders and customers, to the dedication and professionalism of our team across the AUB Group and to our commitment to excellence in all our efforts to achieve our well defined business strategy and vision.” El Labban added:“AUB is very proud to be selected by the industry as a leader in regionalisation initiatives and for the recognition given to its various ongoing organic and inorganic business development initiatives across its home markets in the GCC and Mena countries.”

E X PA N S I O N

New India Assurance opens new branch in Salalah MUSCAT: The New India Assurance Company has inagurated its Salalah branch at Athal House, Building No. 252, 23rd July Street, opposite to Bank Muscat, Salalah recently to serve the general public and also to reach the customers closely. The new branch office was inaugurated by Majid Abdul Rahim Jaafer Al Bahrani, the chairman of Abdul Aziz & Brothers and Majid Group of Companies in the prsence of Dr K. P. Sebastian, chief operating officer, the New India Assurance Company, Oman Operations, I. M. Jacob, general man-

ager, Wilson Raj, chief ﬁnancial officer, Abdul Aziz & Brothers and Majid Group of Companies, says a press release. The inaugural ceremony was also witnessed by specially invited guests and the valued customers. In the inaugural address, Majid Abdul Rahim Jaafer Al Bahrani as the chairman of the Chief Agency for the New India Assurance Co. Ltd in Oman expressed his gratitute to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and to the people of Oman for the support and conveyed best wishes for the new branch office operation.

RECRUIT

He also expressed his conﬁdence that with the customer friendly attitude, The New India will go further heights in the Oman general insurance market, in the days to come and ensured all support and co-operation. Sebastian in his address expressed his gratitude to His Majesty and the people of Oman for accepting NIA as the preferred insurer of Oman and allowing to be the best in top foreign insurance companies operating in the country. He reiterated the company’s commitment to provide customer service beyond the industry stand-

ards to cater all insurance needs of Omani citizen. He also declared that the New India Assurance Company is in the process of spreading its wings far and wide to reach out of customers of interior areas along with the developing cities. According to him, a customer service portal will be started soon to enable the nationals and the expats can avail and renew their policies online. Iype Jacob, the general manager rendered the vote of thanks to the invitees and thanked His Majesty the Sultan and general public for their support.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

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Omantel, Oman Air sign partnership agreement

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PROMINENT MODELS

It will enable them to jointly maximise their promotional services and products; resulting

Mitsubishi exhibits key models at Oman Motor Show 2016

in a signiﬁcant improvement in the overall experience of their respective customers

MUSCAT: Omantel, the Sultanate’s leading telecom provider, and Oman Air, the national carrier, have signed a partnership agreement that will result in the enhancement of the value of services provided by both Omantel and Oman Air. It will also enable them to jointly maximise their promotional services and products; resulting in a significant improvement in the overall experience of their respective customers. In addition, as part of the agreement, the functionality and features of each of their respective customer loyalty programmes, Makasib for Omantel and Sindbad for Oman Air, will mutually benefit from the other going forward, says a press release. This agreement allows both Omantel and Oman Air customers to benefit from a broader range of alternative outlets through which they can gain access to the various services and promotions provided by both companies. The agreement also aims to maximise the value of prizes provided by the Makasib and Sindbad loyalty programmes.

This agreement also enables Oman Air to provide self-service features for its customers at any Omantel outlet, where customers may inquire about ﬂights, book tickets and avail other services provided by the national carrier. On the other hand, Omantel can place e-paying machines at any Oman Air office across the country. As a result, this agreement allows both companies to mutually expand their marketing and customer service activities across the country. Commenting on the agreement, Haitham Abdullah Al Kharusi, Omantel’s vice president of Consumer Business Unit, noted, “At Omantel, we are proud to have such a prominent position within the eye of both, public and private sector organisations in Oman. We consider it our responsibility to reciprocate this trust by offering our customers in both sectors, be it individuals or companies, with the very best in products and services possible.” He also stated that through this agreement both companies have

found the perfect alternative avenue through which they can expand the reach of their services to the beneﬁt of both, Omantel and Oman Air customers. In fact, customers from either company may even utilise Omantel outlets and call centres as an additional means through which to avail of Oman Air’s products and services and vice versa. Dr Abdulrazaq Juma Al-Raisi, executive vice president-Corporate Services & Business Development at Oman Air noted after signing the agreement, “At Oman Air we aim to provide the best possible services to our clients, readily adopting innovative new procedures that will enhance our commercial position and expand the reach of our services to our clients wherever they may be. This agreement melds perfectly into our strategy, enabling us to easily implement it in the best possible way.” “Omantel has numerous sales outlets in all governorates of Oman, in addition to several call centres. We signed this partner-

ship in order to enhance the experiences of our valued customers and to indirectly widen the scale and reach of the services and products we provide. It also enables us to maximise the value of the rewards and exclusive promotions provided through the Oman Air passenger loyalty programme ‘Sindbad’ and the Omantel customer loyalty programme ‘Makasib’,” he added. Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s ﬁrst and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to ﬂourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment. Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.

MUSCAT: Mitsubishi, represented in Oman by the General Automotive Company (GAC), put on display some of its most prominent models at the 2016 edition of the Motor Show Oman, which was held at the recently opened Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre from December 7 to 10. With three different cars on display and decorated in its trademark colours of Red and White, with giant Tri-diamond logos adorning the edges, the Mitsubishi exhibition stand drew in over 4,000 visitors over the four day show, says a press release. Commenting on the brands participation at the motor show, Manoj Ranade, the GM of General Automotive Company said, “Given the popularity of the motor show, together with the new location at the recently opened Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, presented us with a unique opportunity to showcase three of our most popular models – the Lancer EX, ASX and Montero Sport. These models showcase the Brand’s unique automotive strengths and overall diversity and were a treat for all

Mitsubishi owners and fans visiting the show.” Each of these three Mitsubishi models presents customers a unique experience – the Lancer EX has a range of styles and engines to suit anyone looking for a spacious high-quality Japanese family saloon; the ASX offers drivers all the beneﬁts of a traditional SUV, such as a spacious interior, practicality and extra height for better visibility, combined with the ease of driving and fuel efficiency of a smaller car; while the Montero Sport is a new state-of-the-art SUV that brings with it a host of new technologically advanced features that have never before been seen in any model in its segment. “Mitsubishi has always has a strong fan following in the country with many admiring the strong performance and personality offered by each of our cars at a value price point. The motor show provided us with the perfect platform to showcase these models and their strengths; allowing us to welcome even more people to Mitsubishi’s ever growing family of fans and owners,” added Manoj.

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SECTION

ICC ASIA LEVEL 2 COACHING COURSE CONCLUDES TODAY >C4

BRIEFS

Al Nasr win, Bousher hold Ahli-Sidab MUSCAT: Al Nasr notched a 3-0 win over Dhofar but Ahli-Sidab split spoils with Bausher in a 2-2 draw in the His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship on Tuesday. Mohd Amin, Bhutta and Bilal did the scoring for Al Nasr. In the second match, Ahli-Sidab’s scorers were Rupinder Pal Singh and Pradhan Somanna, while Mohammed Taufeeq and Ali Hassan struck for Bausher.

Sufyan for cricket gala in Doha

SPOR YOUR GAME

TAXING QUESTIONS SPOIL RONALDO’S AWARD Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo feels unable to celebrate his fourth Ballon d’Or award as much as his previous triumphs due to recent allegations of tax evasion. >C2

Asian Cup is first target for new football coach Verbeek After a missed chance in the World Cup qualiﬁers, Oman now have two tasks to deal with next year — the Asian Cup qualiﬁers in March and the Gulf Cup

MUSCAT: Oman’s Sufyan Mahmood will be representing the World Stars in Doha. The World Stars will take on Qatar Stars in a T20 match on December 16 and one-day match on December 18. World Stars: Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Graham Onions, Yusuf Pathan, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Nawroz Mangal, Sufyan Mahmood, L. Balaji, Mohammed Sharif, Elias Sunny, Mohammed Ashraful. Aamir Sohail (manager), Paul Nixon (coach)

Early exit for Fatma MUSCAT : Oman’s Fatma Al Nabhani failed to ﬂourish in the $100,000 Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in Dubai. Fatma Al Nabhani made an early exit losing to Netherlands’ Quirine Lemoine 0-6, 0-6 in the ﬁrst round.

GAUTAM VISWANATHAN SYED HAITHAM HASAN

gautam@timesofoman.com haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Bringing back Oman football to the forefront will be the prime agenda of the newlyappointed Dutch coach Peter Tim Dirk Verbeek, who was unveiled on Tuesday at the Oman Football Association (OFA) headquarters in Seeb. After a missed chance in the World Cup qualiﬁers, Oman now have two tasks to deal with next year — the Asian Cup qualiﬁers in March and the Gulf Cup. “Reviving the fortunes of Oman will be my prime goal,” revealed the Dutchman, who is popularly referred to as Pim Verbeek. Pim Verbeek, who succeeded Juan Lopez Cara, has vast experience in coaching Asian and Arab teams. He had also experienced the might of Oman, when he last

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Dutchman Pim Verbeek, second from left, being introduced to the media by Oman Football Association ofﬁcials after he signed a two-year contract to coach the national team. – ISMAIL AL FARSI / Times of Oman

coached Australia. He was also the coach of South Korea prior to his job with the Socceroos. After signing a two-year contract, Verbeek announced that he will begin his association with the national team from January next year. “The goal is to bring back Oman to the forefront by leading the team to the Asian Cup finals in 2019 and also prepare the team for the future World Cup qualifiers. This is concurrent with goals of the OFA, the team, and my own,” said Verbeek, speaking to the media. Though Verbeek only has until end of March for the first AFC Cup qualification game, he is confident in his ability to bring together the best selection of players by then. “I had six weeks with Australia

before their first match, and we won against Qatar in that World Cup qualifier. My target is to have training camps and find players’ strengths to have the best selection for the team,” Verbeek explained. In addition to his aforementioned stints, Verbeek also has a storied career at club level, having managed football clubs such as Feyenoord Rotterdam, FC Groningen, De Graafschap and the PSV Eindhoven reserves in his native Netherlands, in addition to coaching the reserves for German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach. This, however, is not his first spell as coach of an Arab nation. He was the assistant manager of the United Arab Emirates in 2005, and also oversaw the development of Morocco’s Under-23 side be-

tween 2010 and 2014. Given the wealth of knowledge he brings to the national team, Verbeek expressed his support for national team players who went abroad to play their domestic football, because of the experience it would provide them. “I am currently trying to ﬁnd the best squad,” he said. “The time is short and I will be selecting players who will perform the best so we can go through into bigger competitions. It is always good to have players taking international experience from other clubs and countries but it is up to the players themselves.” Meanwhile, the OFA did not reveal much on the technical team and assistant coach who will support Verbeek.

OFA’s vice-chairman Jassim Al Shukaili revealed that the search is on for a capable team to complement Verbeek. “The position will go to an Omani,” he said, adding that the role would be filled in the coming weeks. “The board has voted unanimously to appoint Verbeek,” he said. “We are confident he will meet the high expectations we have of him.” Oman are currently out of the running for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, having finished second behind heavyweights Iran in Group D, and are ranked 122nd in the world. Oman are through to the final round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, the draw for which is expected to take place on January 18, 2017.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

SPORTS

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Pakistan aim to end Australia drought

TENNIS

That the threeTHE FINALISTS: Amaan Kazi, left, and Yash Tanna.

Amaan to face Yash in Under-16 ﬁnal

match series commences with the ﬁrst day-night Test at Brisbane’s Gabba on Thursday

MUSCAT: Top seed Amaan Kazi will take on second seed Yash Tanna in the final of the boys under-16 singles at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club. Two finals will be the feature of the grand final of the tournament this evening. Besides the boys under-16 singles, the men’s doubles final will also be played starting at 6.30pm. Tennis enthusiasts are invited to the finals and be part of a festival-like atmosphere with raffles and prizes for all. Amaan Kazi advanced to the final after downing Sanskar Dubey 6-1, 6-4 while Yash Tanna faced anxious moments before edging to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ayaan Malhotra in the semifinals. After a convincing first set, Amaan faced resistance before overcoming the gritty

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fight back by Sanskar. Yash was kept on his toes by Ayaan Malhotra who one thought could turn the tables on Yash. Yash held his ground and powered to that solitary break in the second set to earn his place in the final. The men’s doubles final will be a test of wits and a contest between the experienced duo of Mohan Kannan and KK Girish and the teenagers team of Subash Pillai and Yash Tanna. While Subash and Yash earned their place in the final with aan emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory over Amaan Kazi and Ayaan Malhotra, the seasoned campaigners’ team of Mohan Kannan and KK Girish earned their place in the final after fighting back from a set down to upset the second seeded team of Suhail Khan and R. Murali in a thrilling 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 verdict in the second semifinal.

adds an element of unpredictability to the start of the contest

SYDNEY: Pakistan have never won a series in Australia and last claimed a Test Down Under more than two decades ago but Mickey Arthur’s squad are conﬁdent they can end at least one of those droughts over the next four weeks. That the three-match series commences with the ﬁrst day-night Test at Brisbane’s Gabba on Thursday adds an element of unpredictability to the start of the contest that the tourists will

hope to exploit against an Australian side in transition. For their part, the hosts will be hoping to maintain Brisbane as the fortress it has been since they last lost a test there in 1988 and for the extra pace and bounce of the home wickets to confound touring batsmen and bowlers alike. Pakistan coach Arthur knows plenty about Australian conditions having coached the men in the baggy green from 2011 to his sacking in 2013, and is convinced he has the weapons at his disposal to hurt the hosts. “If we can adapt to conditions quick enough we’ll be fine,” said Arthur, who also led South Africa to their first tour triumph in Australia in 2008. “I constantly remind the players if we can be getting 270, 280, 300, we’re in the game because we’ve got the ability to take 20 wickets. If we can use the new ball particularly well against Australia, we’ll be good. And seven left-handers in their 11 makes our left-armers even more potent.” Frontline left-arm quicks Wahab Riaz and Mohammed Amir, the latter now rehabilitated after a spot-fixing ban, will be hoping leg spinner Yasir Shah is fit enough to offer his support. Yasir missed the warm-up match in Cairns because of a back

injury but took a ﬁve-wicket haul with the pink ball in Dubai when Pakistan played their maiden day-night match against West Indies in October. Batting touch Pakistan’s batting showed some fragility in the recent 2-0 reverse in New Zealand but their line-up is at least far more settled than that of the hosts. Australia overhauled their side after losing the ﬁrst two tests of their recent series against South Africa and having returned to winning ways in the third Test at Adelaide Oval, have retained the same squad for Brisbane. For all the inexperience, though, they have plenty of proven performers on home tracks, not least the world class pace attack of Josh Hazlewood and leftarmer Mitchell Starc. Opener David Warner and skipper Steve Smith were in sparkling batting form in Adelaide as well as in the one-day series against New Zealand squeezed in between the two test series and lefthander Usman Khawaja has also been in good touch. Islamabad-born Khawaja scored a brilliant 145 in the third Test against South Africa and is determined to cement his place in the Australia side against the land of his birth on his adopted home ground. - Reuters

TEST SERIES

First day-night Ashes Test confirmed SYDNEY: Australia and England will play the first day-night Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval in December next year, adding a bold new ingredient to one of cricket’s oldest and fiercest rivalries. The pink ball Test from December 2-6 will be the second match of the 2017-18 series with Brisbane’s Gabba hosting the opener from November 23-27, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday. Australia has already staged two day-night Tests at the Adelaide Oval, while the Gabba will host a third against Pakistan starting on Thursday. “I want to acknowledge the ECB for their support and indeed our players for supporting the day-night Test match,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland told reporters in Brisbane. “I know there are some people who don’t necessarily view the day-night test match that is something that is needed for Ashes cricket. “But we think that there is going to be more and more daynight test cricket coming up and the success of Adelaide at the last two matches is for all to see.” — Reuters

FOOTBALL

Taxing questions spoil Ballon d’Or win for Ronaldo MADRID: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo feels unable to celebrate his fourth Ballon d’Or award as much as his previous triumphs due to recent allegations of tax evasion. The European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) media consortium reported in early December that Ronaldo, and several other clients of soccer agency Gestifute, had used tax havens to handle tens of millions of euros in earnings. Gestifute denied the accusations last week. Ronaldo, who led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title in July after helping Real Madrid clinch the Champions League, expressed his disappointment at the timing of the charges against him.

Cristiano Ronaldo with his fourth Ballon d’Or award. – AFP

“Of course it (allegations) has spoiled it a little bit. I would be lying if I said it hadn’t. I’m not a hypocrite,” he told soccer magazine France Football. “I wasn’t

pleased. The whole process in itself is hard and not only for me, but also for the people alongside me: my family, my son, all those who work with me. All that irritates me because I try to do things correctly, be transparent.” In their denial, Gestifute stated that Ronaldo, who moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009, is compliant with his tax obligations in Spain. The 31-year-old Ronaldo, who beat Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann to world football’s top individual prize for 2016 at a glitzy ceremony on Monday, insists he has nothing to hide. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

SPORTS Bank Muscat honours drift winners Winners Haitham Al Hadidi, Ali Al Balushi and Tariq Al Shinani were honoured by Bank Muscat on Tuesday

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the ﬂagship ﬁnancial services provider in the Sultanate, in line with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in promoting Oman as a sporting nation, joined hands

in honouring the three champion Omani winners, Haitham Al Hadidi, Ali Al Balushi and Tariq Al Shinani, for winning the ﬁrst three places at the Red Bull Car Park Drift Final 2016, hosted in Oman. The honoring ceremony took place on Tuesday at the bank’s head office in the presence of AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, Management Team members and Sulaiman Al Rawahi, Oman Automobile Association Manager. On this occasion, AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, expressed his joy and pride in this great achievement and efforts of these young Omanis, congratulating them on winning this competition, facing strong competition of participants from different coun-

FELICITATED: Drift champions with Bank Muscat Chief Executive

AbdulRazak Ali Issa after the felicitation ceremony. – Supplied photo

tries in the Middle East. This was the ﬁrst time Oman hosted the ﬁnal, where winners of the region’s greatest drifting series competed. Adventure mo-

B I G S TA G E

ISM U-11, U-14 girls to take part in CBSE Chess Nationals in India

INDIA-BOUND: ISM U-11 and U-14 girls teams pose for a group photo ahead of their departure to India.

MUSCAT: The Under-11 and Under-14 girls teams of Indian School Muscat (ISM) will leave for India on Wednesday night to take part in the CBSE Chess National Championships. The CBSE Chess Nationals will take place in the northern Indian city of Varanasi from December 15 to 20. Both the ISM girls teams qualiﬁed for the nationals after topping CBSE Oman Clusters Chess Championships organized by the Indian School Al Wadi Al

Kabir in October. The ISM U-11 girls team comprises Ankitha Pradeep, Amolika Subhash, Shubanghee Das and Shyabi Binoj A while U-14 girls team consists of Prathyusha Annapragada, Krishi Thiruppathi, Theertha M and Ishani Kalra. The teams will be accompanied by their coach I. Ezekiel. While congratulating the two teams for winning the Oman Cluster titles, School Principal Srinivas K. Naidu wished the

TEAM MASTERS EXCEL

It was fun, frolic and merry at the Al Hail School of Cricket ground in Mabellah, where cricket became a family affair. The cricket match saw that Team Masters captained by J. Kamil beating Team Blasters skippered by Shine Babu providing an exciting climax to the event. Al Hail School of Cricket official Moula Baksh Al Balushi presided over the event and distributed the trophies. — Supplied photos

teams all success in the CBSE Chess Nationals. The principal also congratulated the Under-19 boys and girls teams who ﬁnished runners-up in their respective categories in the Oman Cluster tournament. The U-19 boys team included V.M. Aditya, Paritosh Hitesh Bhatt, Vedant Mukul Anand and Akshat Anand Jha while the U-19 girls team comprised Amoolya Subhash, Bhavana Thandaka, Ananya Singh and Harshita G. Shukla.

toring enthusiasts turned out in large numbers for the event held on the specially designed track at Port Sultan Qaboos. Management Team members of the bank at-

tended the event which was a day of pride for Oman drifting champions who shared honours in the grueling event. Aimed at promoting sporting activities in general and motor sports in particular in Oman, Bank Muscat supported as local partner of the Car Park Drift Final 2016. As the nation’s leading banking partner, Bank Muscat attaches great importance to initiatives contributing to the country’s progress and development in all arenas, including sports, and encouraging youth activities. Hosting the event symbolised a major stride redeﬁning adventure sports in Oman and inspiring a new generation of Omani youth to take up adventure sports for leisure and as competitive sport. The

event served as a shining example of how Oman is equipped to take up adventure sports and promote Oman as a sporting destination. The event was well received by motor sports enthusiasts in Oman. The event put the competitors’ skills to test as they deployed a high level of expertise and courage to push their engines and car bodies to the limits, while maintaining exceptional car handling skills, all at high speeds. Adventure sports manifest a striking parallel to the bank’s ethos characterised by its determination to take on challenges and prove its capabilities. The bank’s association with the event was aimed at encouraging sporting talents and creating a sustainable future for the country as a sporting destination.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

SPORTS

SATT 2017: Italian sailing team Adelasia di Torres to participate The team has been put together by Costa based Renato Azara, a keen sailor who after many years as managing director of Sardinia Yacht Services, the worldrenowned yacht management agency on the Emerald Coast, has decided to go racing

MUSCAT: Team Adelasia di Torres from Sardinia in Italy has been announced as a new entry in the 2017 edition of EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour (SATT), which starts from Muscat on February 14 and conclude on March 1. The team has been put together by Costa based Renato Azara, a keen sailor who after many years as managing director of Sardinia Yacht Services, the worldrenowned yacht management agency on the Emerald Coast, has decided to go racing. In his ﬁrst season with ‘Adelasia di Torres’, he won the Formenton Trophy Regatta in the racing division, took a class win in the Rolex Middle Sea Race and a third place overall in the ORC group. But now he says he is stepping up the game to be on the start line of the seventh edition of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. “EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour will be an exciting adventure,” he said. “My work in the international sphere has led me to develop a lot of contacts and friends in the Middle

A CLOSE CONTEST: Classic action during the EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2016. – Supplied picture

East and this high-level competition, which takes us from the Sultanate of Oman to Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, will allow us to discover the area from a different perspective.” Azara will be joined by Duccio Colombi, founder and owner of Phi!Number and winner of 11 Italian Championships in different sailing categories, two European Championships and four World Championships, all with non-professional crews. Caterina Nitto will also be on hand bringing 20 years of experience as a longdistance sailor, sailing instructor and captain of ships, sailboats and motorboats to bear on the exciting Team Adelasia di Torres campaign. “Along with Caterina Nitto and Duccio Colombi, we hope to do well at our ﬁrst EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour, although we know that there are some very strong teams racing and we have yet to learn the

boat - we are looking forward to it!” EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is the only annual race of its type, with a mix of long offshore legs and intense in port racing, in the world and since it was ﬁrst established in 2011, has become the most prestigious race in the Middle East with a reach and appeal that extends with each edition, among both recreational and professional sailors. The teams race in identical Farr 30 boats and are in competition for around two weeks, completing more than 700 racing miles and

DEVELOPMENT

stopping off at five different ports, which showcase the Gulf region to new sailors and to fans who follow the action online or via television images around the world. In 2017, competition starts in Muscat, Oman with the first inport races before the fleet heads north to Sohar and round the tip of the Musandam Peninsula to Khasab. Competitors must tackle the challenges posed by the congested Straits of Hormuz as they race to Abu Dhabi and then on to Doha for the second round of in-port races

before setting off on the longest leg to Dubai and a final opportunity to notch up points in the last in-port races before the winner emerges. The line-up for 2017 is to be announced in a series of press releases over the next few weeks but the field has never been more open and despite being debutants, the experienced Team Adelasia di Torres are sure to make an impression. “It gives us great pleasure to welcome Adelasia di Torres to EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour,” said Oman Sail’s Chief Marketing Officer, Salma Al Hashmi. “Each year, our fleet represents a diverse mix of amateur and professional crews, repeat competitors and brand new teams looking for fresh challenges and we are confident that all of them will enjoy the opportunities presented to them by our new route this edition, both on and off the water.”

My work in the international sphere has led me to develop a lot of contacts and friends in the Middle East and this high-level competition, which takes us from the Sultanate of Oman to Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, will allow us to discover the area from a different perspective Renato Azara

Team Adelasia di Torres

OMAN CRICKET

ICC Asia Development Level 2 Amanpreet, Yash, Saami shine with coaching course concludes today bat in Junior Division Cricket League MUSCAT: Oman Cricket successfully hosted the 2016 ICC Asia Development Level 2 Coaching Courseat the Al Falaj Hotel from December 10 and will conclude on Wednesday. The course was conducted by experienced ICC regional development officers Aminul Islam, Iqbal Sikander and Venkatapathi Raju. Participants from Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE attended this course. Chairman of Oman Cricket Kanak Khimji and general secretary Madhu Jesrani were present during second day of the course to welcome and address the participants and ICC officials. Kanak Khimji stated the importance of coaches in the game and highlighted the never ending learning attitude that is a must for a good coach. All participants and officials were very vocal about the hospitality and were greatly impressed the grounds and facilities developed by Oman Cricket thus far. Abbas Al Nadwi, the Saudi Arabia representative, was especially appreciative of the structured hands on learning approach of the educators and found them to be very professional. Fariba Heidari

SUCCESS STORY: Participants of the Level 2 Coaching Course with

ICC Development Officers and Oman Cricket officials. – Supplied photo

and Nasime Rahshetai, the two female representatives from Iran were also in full praise for the instructors and hoped for more participants in coming years. ICC’s Aminul Islam was impressed with the level of development and growth of the infrastructure and standing on the national team in Oman. He gave credit to the board, especially the chairman, Kanak Khimji, for the years of solid leadership and support that have been instrumental to the

achievements so far. Of the 11 participants, four were from Oman, which included Abdul Ghani Rahim Al Balushi of Al Hail School of Cricket. The other participants were Osman Malik of Qatar, Mukunda Warrior of Bahrain, Nasimeh Rahshetei of Iran, Faiba Heidari of Iran, Abbas Saud Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Clarke Keagan of UAE, Mahi de Silva of Oman, Haider Ali of Oman and Mahesh Ramamoorthy of Oman.

MUSCAT: Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) edged Indian School Wadi Kabir (ISWK) by 3 runs in Oman Cricket’s Under-19 Junior League at the Ministry of Sports Affairs ground. Batting ﬁrst, PSM were all out for 161 in 42.1 overs. Nauman Nawaz top scored with 39. Raj Damani and Mohit Badiyani claimed 3 wickets each for ISWK. In response, ISWK were bowled out for 158 in 31.5 overs. Neev Jayaprakash top scored with unbeaten 64. Ubaid Ullah and Abdul Rehman claimed four wickets each to enable the win for PSM. Brief scores: PSM 161 all out in 42.1 overs (Nauman Nawaz 39, Raj Damani 3 for 10) beat ISWK 158 all out in 31.5 overs (Neev Jayapraksh 64 not out, Ubaid Ullah 4 for 42, Abdul Rahman 4 for 42). Points: PSM 4 ; ISWK 0.

Big win for ISWK ISWK trounced NCA by a whopping 265 runs in the Under-13 A match at the Municipality ground. Batting ﬁrst, ISWK put on 301 for 1 in 20 overs. Amanpreet Singh (123 not out) and Yash Mehta (92 not out) top scored for ISWK. In response, NCA were bowled out for just 36 runs in 10.4 overs. Sid-

STARS IN THE MAKING: Amanpreet Singh and Yash Mehta of ISWK and on right is Saami Khabir Khan of MCCC A.

dh Mehta claimed three wickets for ISWK to enable the bonus point win. Brief scores: ISWK 301 for 1 in 20 overs (Amanpreet Singh 123 not out, Yash Mehta 92 not out) beat NCA 36 all out in 10.4 overs (Siddh Mehta 3 for 4). Points: NCA 0; ISWK 3(BP) Saami shines In an Under-13 B match it was a solo show by Saami Kabir Khan helped MCCC A ease past ISWK B by 50 runs at the Municipality

ground. Batting ﬁrst, MCCC A put on 196 for 3 in 20 overs. Saami Kabir Khan carried his bat throughout the whole innings and top scored with an unbeaten 83. In response, ISWK B scored 146 for 6 in 20 overs to concede the bonus point. Rahul Nayak claimed 2 wickets as Saami Kabir inﬂicted a brilliant run out. Brief scores: MCCC A 196 for 3 in 20 overs (Saami Kabir Khan 83 not out) beat ISWK B 146 for 6 in 20 overs. (Rahul Nayak 2 for 9). Points: ISWK B 0; MCCC A – 3 (BP).

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

VACANCY

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AN EXISTING FARM FOR RENT in the Wilayat of Barka, with an area of 45 acres, out of which large area is planted with fodder and 7 acres are planted with vegetables. It has also 14 greenhouses as well as 3 artesian wells and a plowing tractor ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĐƵƫ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŶĚůŝŶŐ ƚŽŽůƐ ĂŶĚ plowing equipments with their accessories. dŚĞ ĨĂƌŵ ŚĂƐ Ă ŐŽŽĚ Į ŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŝŶĐŽŵĞ͘

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OFFICE PROPERTY FOR SALE/RENT DAYS AWAY FROM DELIVERY - PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE AT PRIME LOCATION AT BAUSHER ON 2ND FLOOR BUILD UP AREA – 163 SQ. MTRS. SALE PRICE RO.1,050/- PER SQ. MTR -RENT PER MONTH RO.10/- PER SQ. MTR. OPTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT FURNITURE.

PREMIUM VILLA FOR SALE

Building consists of 3 floors with 12 flats in Sohar, Falaj Al aohe. Contact: 95411354 Villa for rent at Al Khuwair 33. near alshifa clinic, ground floor, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen + dining, family hall, sitting room and dining, private compound and 2 shaded parkings. newly renovated. rent 600/- per month. one year advance. Contact 99205287 Flat in Mumtaz, 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets, big hall, kitchen & store. Contact: 92502241 / 95588678 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 For Rent. Studio TYPE Flats for rent R.O 160/- monthly near Oman house. Contact: 98075028 / 95501858 1,2 BHK Wadi Kabir. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 2 BHK Azaiba R.O 300/-. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 A well recognized steel workshop in Sohar is looking for long lease contract for its existing welders. Interested party can select welder skills as per their needs. If interested call GSM : 95852097 / 94805758

Family flats in Wadi Kabir MBD Hamriya Ruwi Al Khuwair, Ghubrah, Bowshar, Azaiba, Al Hail & Amerat. Contact: 95250300 / 92125648 2BHK flat in Wadi Kabir near the Indian Primary School with split A/Cs. Contact: 99367627 Room Al Khuwair R.O 110/-. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 New 3 story 4 bedroom villa in Al Hail near to radio station. The spacious master bedroom has a sea view. It has a maids room. All bedrooms have bathrooms and one extra bathroom between dining and sitting room. It has split A/c’s. 6 months advance payment required. Price is OMR 750 monthly. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. No Brokers Please. Flats & shops for rent at Ruwi Honda road Mumtaz area. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 1,2 BHK Darsait. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 Room for rent in Qurum attached bathroom. Contact: 97128083 1,2,3 BHK flats & villas. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175

Flats family new to the Amerat behind Oman oil. Contact: 95250300 / 92125648/ 99119699 2 B/R & 3B/R furnished, unfurnished with split ACs a free internet available at Al Khuwair near KM hypermarket. Contact: 99460330 1 BHK near Medical Darsait Muttrah house R.O 180/-. Contact: 95070201 Office for rent in Shatti Al Qurum in Al Masa mall. Contact: 91153933 Two apartments for rent in the ﬁrst Ansab consisting of 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, 2 Balcony and the second consisting of 5 rooms and 5 bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and balcony with Split Air Conditioners. Contact 99319620 / 97771121 Brand new shoe room at heart of Azaiba city for rent. Contact : 98294753

One / Two, B/R ﬂats in new building near Dolphin near dolphin complex, Bausher directly from owner. Contact: 92158031 Flat for rent in Al Ghobra, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 family sitting room, 1 kitchen. RO 400/Contact - 95919059 2 BHK with split / AC in Muttrah, Dar Al Maha. Contact: 96708000 Store for rent in W.K. Contact: 96708000 1 BHK Flat for rent in Darsait. Contact: 99357586 / 97500021 Villa complex for lease renovated deluxe villa complex with separate three ﬂats, location Al Ghobra North (near tourist hotels) is available for lease. Contact: Ali: 99411607, Luoy : 92466266

SANTINI A3 TYPE 2 STOREY VILLA WITH 4 BEDROOMS PLUS MAID ROOM AT AL MOUJ PHASE 4. GREAT LOCATION WITH CUL DE SAC FOR PARKING. PURCHASE OPEN TO NON-OMANIS AS WELL.

CONTACT NO. 91257475 One room furnished Al Khuwair near Technology College. Contact: 99389989 Call after 5 o’clock pm. One BSK two bath room with split unit AC at Honda road. Contact: 91118706 / 99342733 Villa complex for lease renovated deluxe villa complex with separate three ﬂats , location AL Ghobra north ( near tourist hotels) is available for lease. Contact: Ali : 99411607 , Luoy : 92466266 Flat in Wadi Al Kabir, 3 rooms with AC. Contact: 99333639 House in Darsait, 3 rooms, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen with A/C. Contact: 95522405

1 BHK New bldg with A/C curtains near Khimji mart MBD. Contact: 99061408 / 99024039

2 BHK near Oman house behind Khimiji, H.O. Contact: 95865686

Villa for rent four spacious bath attached bed room, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) with electrical equipment and free maintenance secured compound at Madinat Al Illam. #98027975

New apartment ﬂat for rent, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms & kitchen, behind Indian School, short way to Lulu Darsait & Muttrah traditional Soqu. Contact or Whatsapp: 91013331

4BHK Flat with split A/c including 3 toilets, in Qurum commercial area near Mercedes-Benz showroom. Contact: 99214738, 92715778 2 BR apartments available for rent, close to Muscat Grand Mall, next to Diwan’s Office, South Ghubra. Contact: 2456256 / 99833747 Flat for rent, 1 BHK in Bowshar. Contact: 91153933 Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM Spacious shop available for perfumes cosmetics, near Oman house. Contact: 92150455 Two bed room flat available near Honda Show room. Contact: 99022675 New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes 1 living room , 2 bedrooms, kitchen, 3 toilets, every room with split A/C & high quality finishing. Rent per flat is RO 320/-. Interested candidates please Contact: 00968 – 92225523

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) ϲ͘ ^ĐĂī ŽůĚŝŶŐƐ 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Contact 93990154

JEWELLERY SHOP For Sale: Running jewellery shop with furniture & settings in Ruwi High Street. Contact on 9945 9440 (Raza)

FOR SALE Shop for sale at Al Khoudh. Contact: 92820541 Twin Villa for sale in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Each side has three ﬂoors, ﬁve bedroom plus maid room. Each room has it’s own bathroom and one extra toilet between dining and sitting room. The villas are now about 5 years old and very clean and well maintained. It has split A/C’s. OMR 215,000 each villa. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. No Brokers Please. 400 square meters residential land in Al Ghubra south near Millenium Hypermarket. OMR 134 thousand. Telephone: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. No Brokers Please. New building in Bowshar for sale. Contact: 91155779 Villa in MQ for sale. Contact: 91155779 603 sq mtrs residential land in Al Hail North Block 45 NE near Radio station. OMR 96 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 - or 97509955. No Brokers Please Ducab – FRLS cables of various sizes for sale. Contact: 98048952, 99815190 Farm in Barka for sale. Contact: 91155779

FOR RENT New ﬂats for rent at Al Ghubra near to Atlas Hospital, opposite to Panorama mall. Interested candidates Contact: 00968 – 97093283 1Bedroom sharing K& T, family / ladies in Al Khuwair R.O 90. Contact 95154331 6 Bedroom villas available for rent at North Al Hail, near Wave, complex with swimming pool and Gym. Contact: 99833747 Room for rent in Bowshar. Contact: 91153933 Fully furnished room for executive bachelor in CBD area, WiFi internet free, advance deposit. Contact: 90631572 Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable Room for rent behind Oman house Contact: 99025809 New villa for rent in Azaiba 18 November Street. 6 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens & 7 toilets. To view the villa contact - 95919059

Ice cream Shop, Prime location, Ruwi for sale. Contact: 92150455 Used & refurbished porta cabins, toilets unit available for sales. Contact: 99215560 Email: omegaunitedoman@gmail.com Shop for sale heart of Ruwi near happy center. Contact 96728595 / 99335013 Shop for sale at Honda road and Rex Road. Contact: 96093266 / 91398730 Villa for sale in Al Amerat 8/1 upscale ﬁnishes. Contact: 91153933 Containers for sale Total 40 feet & quantity 70 Nos for more details, please Contact: +968 95068854 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only. Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909 Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm. Contact 99323957 / 95490842. Land for sale in the village of Bimmah on the coastal road Qurayat/ Sur with a space of 604 square meters for an attractive price. Contact 92905222

3 bedroom ground ﬂoor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket.Contact: 95047657

Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi. Contact: 92430239

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RESTAURANT for sale in Ruwi. Contact: 99378964

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

FOR SALE

- New Brand Building in Bowsher for sale - Twin villa in Azaiba & Ghubra for sale - Commercial/ Residential khuwair for sale.

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FOR SALE 2014 MODEL VOLVO PENTA 650 KVA GENSETS (02NOS) 2000 KVA (01 NO) VOLTAMP TRANSFORMER CONCEALED PANEL SYSTEM FOR ABOVE. ALL ITEMS HARDLY USED IN A COMPLETED PROJECT OF 2YRS AND CAN BE REUSED. ONLY SERIOUS BUYERS CONTACT GSM :

92886778/99455690

AVAILABLE Bobcat available for rent. Contact 97623299 Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chaﬁng Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

MV SALE Used vehicles – 3 Ton Double cabin Trucks- 12 Nos. Contact: 99417302. 2009 audi a4 1.8t for sale, expat doctor owned, 89000 km, accident free, excellent condition, for RO 4300. Contact 97890860 2009 last, BMW X5, Expat owned grey colour Jenaibi Service history 97,000 K.M immaculate condition with brand new tyres R.O 8,650/-. Contact: 93597597 Prado 2014. Contact 99336093 FJ Cruiser 2009 GCC, yellow, 210000 KM, RO 6300/Contact: 92857111 Mercedes C155, 2008, white, 130000 KM, 10100/- R.O. Contact: 92857111 Honda Accord 2008 model, 4 cylinder, number 1 full options with navigation/ camera, full insurance. No accident history, 1640000 km, well maintained. OMR 3300/-. Contact –95919059 Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017. Contact No: 92812144

ACC. AVAILABLE Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for Executive bachelor Opp. O.C. Centre Ruwi. Call : 90611670 Sharing accommodation in W/K. Contact: 94986587 Furnished single room with toilet at Al Khuwair, Kabab factory Ronald. Contact: 99568122 Furnished room sep / entrance Wadi Kabir Executives. Contact: 99336206 Room for rent available at Al Khuwair. Contact: 91512037 Furnished room in ruwi and azaiba for rent for executive bachelors. Gsm 99058344 Sharing accommodation available at honda road Ruwi. #99040590 Sharing accommodation available with W/E at Al Khuwair 33. For a small family or non-cooking bachelors. Contact - 92834145

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551

MANPOWER

Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi. Contact 91107383 / 93120054

ACC.WANTED Wanted a family shared accommodation for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi-Wuttayah area. Please contact: 93708595 Wanted a single room for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi area. Contact: 93708595

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 /93203778

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SITUATION WANTED GOOD NEWS ENJOY YOUR VACATION!!! ŶũŽǇ ǇŽƵƌ ǀĂĐĂƟ ŽŶ ƉĞĂĐĞĨƵůůǇ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ǁŽƌƌǇŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ǇŽƵƌ ĐĂƌ͘ ,ĞƌĞ ŝƐ Ă ƐŽůƵƟ ŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƐĂĨĞ parking and cleaning your car when you are ĂǁĂǇ ŽŶ ǀĂĐĂƟ ŽŶ͘ &Žƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚƌĂǀĞůůŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝƐƚĂŶƚ ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ǇŽƵ ĐĂŶ ũƵƐƚ ĚƌŽƉ Žī ǇŽƵƌ ŬĞǇƐ to the car care team and peacefully check into ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌƉŽƌƚ͘ zŽƵƌ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ǁĂŝƟ ŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ airport on your return.

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NRI

Contact: 96964767 Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair. Contact 97263637 / 93309131 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, 18th November Street Al Ghubra (North). Contact 99639695 / 97397320

Malayalam movie partner invited for a Malayalam comedy ﬁlm ready to shoot talented artists also welcome. Contact: dffa.dffa@gmail. com or 0091- 95679 - 60329 or (92817797) Studio ﬂat for sale in IMA house Cochin behind the International Stadium, Kallor, now used as rental apartment by IMA. Interested parties Contact : 99322776 / 99325880

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SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

Sales Staff

PROJECT MANAGER

HR MANAGER

with perfumes experience, required for a perfume company. Preferable Arabs & Indians speaking Arabic. Age below 35, joining immediately with NOC or visit visa.

Project Manager required to develop a high end resort with good knowledge of local hospitality market and proven experience in developing similar projects from early stages, including pre opening

A Prominent Trading & ŽŶƚƌĂĐƟ ŶŐ ŽŵƉĂŶǇ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞƐ

Email CV to:

Email your CVs: ndevoman@gmail.com

oman@alharamainperfumes.com

ACCOUNTS Accountant 2-3 years experience. Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must. Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com. Fax: 24509312

Reputed mineral water company required the following HEAVY/LIGHT DUTY DRIVERS VAN SALESMAN with Omani driving license

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES KͳKZ /E dKZ with Omani driving license , >W Z^ ͳ Experience 3 to5 years

Contact - 90372638 CATERING Excellent male cook w/ experience 200 Riyals salary + accommodation & food. Must be in Oman have own visa. Contact: Whatsapp: 95887572

DOMESTIC HELPER Full time Filipino lady Nurse or a lady helper to take care of a male patient visa, labour clearance available. Contact: 96103792

ENGINEER SURVEYOR /DRAFTSMAN ITI Surveyor with 2 years experience in Oman in OHL transmission lines with valid D/L and knowledge in drafting preferred Contact:93339586 Email: hromancv@gmail.com Required Urgently Engineer with Driving License & Foreman for construction company in Suwaiq, Al Batinah Contact: 96322202 / 93677795, mail your cv’s to: unionnationalhouse@gmail.com

MEDICAL Urgently required licensed Pharmacist temporary or permanent for a reputed polyclinic. Contact 96721709 or send CV to : manageribnalhaitham@yahoo. com Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other beneﬁts. Contact 92989109, Email: medicoport@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Urgent required : Store labors. Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must. Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com, Fax: 24509312

SKILLED LABOUR Construction company looking for foreman with Gulf experience. Contact : 95758004

IT An IT Company urgently requires an Executive Secretary to MD with 4 year’s experience. Candidates with NOC can apply. Email CV to: hr@cityvago.com

MISCELLANEOUS Required Regional Coordinator we are looking for a business development cum Projects Coordinator for an engineering and project management organization. Qualiﬁcation – B.E (Civil) / MEP experience 10+ years work experience in Oman is essential. Send your CV to hr@syconepmc.com Candidates with the following should apply: Previous experience in a similar, working for a security company Proven experience of designing and estimating large integrated CCTV, Access Control, and Perimeter detection systems. Detailed technical knowledge of database and operating security systems associated with CCTV, access Control, with Oman license. Send CV by mail info@sahabit.com

MANAGER Urgently required Cold store experienced Manager & Staff. Email : almahadint@gmail.com, almahadint@yahoo.com

MEDICAL Urgently required GP doctor with NOC for well known running clinic ready to work in Bidbid. Contact 96746460 A MOH license Staff Nurse needed to work in a clinic in Medha 400 Rial salary with accommodation. Contact: 94220240 Arabic speaking doctor preferably with MOH License, internal medicine specialty would be a plus. E-mail gccmedicalrecruitment@ gmail.com Required Optometrist for a leading Optical group in Oman. Email : albasilopticals@gmail.com Contact 93822557 Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman.com

Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact: 91114884 Required Experienced Auto Electrician and Automobile Mechanic for a reputed service station. Contact : 91232638 hashim@ramainvestment.com

SECRETARIAL / OFFICE Required female Graduate having knowledge in Tally & MS Office with good skills in English. Candidate may send CV to knsibi@electrotechoman.com Contact: 97984134

SALES / MARKETING A leading trading Group is looking for outdoor Sales Executive with driving license & release / NOC. Fax: 24701683 or Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net.om A digital & offset printing press ready to cooperate with sales freelancers. Contact: Whatsapp: 94756618 Required Sales Executive – 3nos. for rental car, with Omani license. Contact: 90955777 Sales man & designer for Offset printing press. Contact: whatsapp 94756618 Required sales and marketing executive for a 4-star hotel in muscat. candidate with excellent communication skills and having 3+ years experience need apply. driving license will be an advantage. email: hoteljobsmuscat@gmail.com English/Arabic speaking Marketing Major with experience in sales. Please e-mail gccmedicalrecruitment@gmail.com Required well experienced dynamic candidate in Real Estate Evaluation Field beside Building Management Techniques. Contact 91246444, Email: rescooman@gmail.com

TOURS Required female for travel agency preferable with license, Omani. Contact 90955777

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures. Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech engg. Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917350860889

/ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ŵĂǇ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗

Mail: cv4gcc@gmail.com Fax: 24614202

SITUATION VACANT FOR CIVIL & MEP DIVISION 1) Project Engineer (D/L) 2) Structural Engineer (D/L) 3) Planning Engineer (D/L) 4) HSE Inspector (D/L) ϱͿ ƌĂŌ ƐŵĂŶ

6) Inventory controller 7) Accounts Assistant ϴͿ Kĸ ĐĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ ϵͿ ZĞĐĞƉƟ ŽŶŝƐƚ (Male/Female)

ϱ ǇĞĂƌƐ ' ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽŽĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ

Send Your CV to surcivilmep@surunited.com

SITUATION WANTED A Filipino female searching for a job, with 3month visit visa.exp January 2017.hospitality and sales job will be a Good offer to me. Contact : 98271658 Indian male 22 B.com looking for job in ACCOUNTING OR DATA OPERATION special interest in Account’s will be happy to hear from you. Contact : +968 90758030, Email : uttiawesome@gmail.com Indian male 45 looking for a job in Car driving. Oman License from last 20-22 years. Contact : 9961 3513, Email : Miqbal.kaa@gmail.com Indian male Mechanical Engineer, 1 year Omani Experience + 2 Years of local experience, NOC available, looking for suitable position. Contact No: +96896089598 Email: fasinizami@gmail.com

DESIGNER Urgently required a Graphic Designer with 3 years experience in graphic designing, Photoshop, Illustrator. Send CV to email: hr@cityvago.com

HR Manager. KŶůǇ ĨŽƌ KŵĂŶŝ EĂƟ ŽŶĂůƐ͘ Min. 5 Years’ Experience Required. ĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ 'ƌĂĚƵĂƟ ŽŶ preferred.

Sri Lankan Male Mechanical Engineer, 1+ year of Omani experience, NOC available, Omani driving license, looking for suitable position. Contact No: +96893903463 Email: zaf1096@gmail.com Indian female B.E (I.T) : Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills, seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India. Contact - 97301058, 97136975. MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER 3 years experience in production industry, B. Tech in Mech Engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified. Contact arn9895@gmail.com, Mob 00919895233155 HSE Engineer, 4 yrs of experience in construction, Bachelor of Engineering (EEE), Nebosh, IOSH, DHSE, First Aid. Contact +97474018995, Email:midhunmich@gmail.mom Indian male, 24 years, B.com, MBA(Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/finance field. Interested in sales field also. On Visit Visa. Contact:90115058/ safwanmeadows@gmail.com Indian male, B.com graduate well versed in English, Hindi, Malayalam holding a valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96799287 Indian/ male (26)/ MBA/2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management, with valid oman license available for immediate joining. Contact: 92536194 email: suhailbs@gmail.com Senior Sales Executive, experience in trading industries with thorough knowledge of Oman market and wide customer contacts. Driving license and NOC available. Seeks senior position. Contact: 98487311 Mechanical Engineer/HVAC / Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. Contact: 90957740, email: nishadphoenix@gmail.com Indian male, 23 yrs, looking for suitable job my qualification is diploma in electronics an i am having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field an i am having gulf driving license. Contact me on : - +96897017866. Indian Male with 23 Yrs. experience in Secretarial Job and Administration is looking for opening in Oman. NoC available. Contact 97227062

Electronics And Communication Engineer: 23 Indian BE-ECE graduate 2016, looking suitable placement networking, hardware and electronics field, on family visa Contact:95148894,99726963,Email: sadathali0003@gmail.com Indian/male(26)/CA finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining. Contact: 98078321, EMAIL: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Indian Male , M.Com , 6 years experience in the field of accountance Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement. Contact 92859733 Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : +968 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com Indian male Accountant 3 years good working experience doing accounts with tally and excel searching for suitable job. E-Mail : contactanand31@gmail.com, GSM : 95694990 Indian male with Shorthand & Computer Skills also having 23 Years Gulf Experience is looking for suitable placement. NOC available. GSM No. 97227062 Indian/male (26)/CA - inter and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining. Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com An expatriate Indian female, graduate with 4 years experience in e-learning and ITes and 3 years experience in financial consulting and analysis seeks suitable placement. Email : write2nishanair@gmail.com, Contact - 00968-93994505 Finance & Audit Manager Available CPA, MBA-USA ACCA ,Oman Experienced , Expert in Profit Maximizations , Business Developments, All Banking Facilities , ERP- Accounting Software , Internal / External Audits & Controls , with Best Solutions of Business Problems ,NOC available & Driving License Call 94886226 Mechanical engineer/hvac/indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visitvisa. Contact: 90957740, email:nishadphoenix@gmail.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550 HSE Engineer, 4 years of experience in construction certifications, bachelor of engineering(EEE), Nebosh, Iosh, Dhse, First Aid. Contact :+97474018995, email:midhunmich@gmail.com MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified. Contact arn9895@gmail.com Mob 00919895233155 Indian male, M.Com, 6 years experience in the field of accountancy and Stores. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement. Contact 92859733

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNTS Indian (M), Qualified CPA, CMA, CIA (USA), MBA (Finance) & M.Com, 15 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting & Audit, (3 years in Oman) looking for suitable Senior/Middle level position in Finance/Accounting/Audit. NOC available. E-mail soji_ansu@yahoo.com, mob – 91595436 Indian, MBA Finance & Marketing with 4 years of experience in Finance & Accounts. With valid Oman D/L. Contact: +968 96321890 Senior Accountant 16 years experience handle accounts up to finalization MIS cash flow, NOC &, D/L available. Contact: 94117616 Email: praveen780oman@gmail.com Indian female 22 years, B.Com, 1 year experience in India as Accountant / Clerk, looking for suitable opening. Now on visiting visa. Contact: 97754830 Male Accountant, MBA (finance) 5 yrs experience including UAE & India up to finalization available immediately (on visit) Contact: 91704866 Email: anees0989@gmail.com Indian Accountant having 13 years experience in accounts in Oman & 6 years in India, Oman driving license excellent knowledge in Tally & MS Office, Seeking suitable placement Contact: 79039690 Email: thomas.mahesh@gmail.com General Accountant, MBA (Financial Management) Having 8+ Year Experience in Accounts of UAE. Qualified Accounting Software TALLY, QUICK BOOK ETC. On Visit. Contact 9526 8360, Email. Sheikhs786.qh@gmail.com Senior Accountant, Indian, B.Com. HDC (M.Com) more than 30 years experience in accounts, administration, operation, finalization of accounts, knowledge of tally with Oman license. Contact.93064975. Indian female, 12 years experience in Oman work an Asst. Finance Manager, looking for suitable position, NOC available. Contact: 92824146 Accountant male qualified /quick books package CA part qualified AAT, 6 years experience in Sri Lanka & 2 years experience in Maldives. Contact: 98187164 / 99107591 email: uwmprabhath@gmail.com Indian male 26 years Graduated having over all 5 years experience in Accounts ware house fields sales & marketing, NOC available. Contact 95307619 / 92237173 Part time qualified experienced Accountant available. Contact: 91126314 Part time Accountant up to finalization auditing. Contact: 93598736 Part time Accountant, 7 yrs Gulf experience available 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM FRI &SAT. Contact: 97895741 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact 99284193

10+ Years Experience in Accounts & Finance upto Finalisation, NOC & License available. Contact – 96239126 Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact : 90157073 Indian male MBA (finance) Accounts, Customer service, 2 yearsExperience.(Dubai Airport) Iran Airlines. GCC driving licensevalid till 2025. On Visit Visa (Till 20 Dec 2016).Looking for suitable job. Contact – 71093532. Emailmirzahassanbaig89@gmail.com Experienced Indian female 23 B.Com with computer application on visit looking for suitable position. Contact: 94964860 / 92436404 MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com Indian male MBA finance 31 years working as Admin Manager in Muscat since 2012, total 8 years experience in administration and accounts valid Omani driving license. NOC is available. Contact : 94030054 Accountant male holder of diploma Chartered Accountancy and student of CA institute inter CA, with 3 years experience in finance, available at Muscat ready to join immediately. Contact: 79049355 / 99220572 Email: ahamedfiham777@gmail.com Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis, finalization works. Contact: 96247295 Chief accountant Senior 16 yrs exp can handle accounts up to finalization, MIS, C. flow budgeting, ERP costing & leasing with auditing, NOC available, seeking job. Contact: 94885686 Email: zahid123368@gmail.com Accountant & Admin 18 years exp (7 yrs in UAE) good knowledge of accounting software’s & English. Contact: 92170065 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Accountant B.Com/ M.Com, Indian male 10 years exp seeks suitable job NOC available valid ROP driving license. Contact: 97375608 Email: vincentdsouza1979@gmail. com Indian (m) MBA ( f) more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiently in various A/C software SAP ( F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 95920740 Email Id : abdulhameed1527@gmail.com MBA Finance having 6 years experience (4 years) in Oman as an Accountant, local release. NOC available can join immediately. Contact: 96742474

W E D N E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED B.COM GRADUATE With 30 years Oman experience ŝŶ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ Į ĞůĚƐ ůŝŬĞ ĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ͕ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ KƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ Credit control etc. worked in reputed companies as Manager with Oman driving license and knowledge of basic Arabic language.

Contact - 98185350

Sr. Accountant with SAP/ERP. 11yrs experience in Accounts & Finance in Gulf. 5years in reputed Oil & Gas company; &ŝŶĂůŝǌĂƟ ŽŶ Θ ŽŶƐŽůŝĚĂƟ ŽŶ &^͕ D/^͕ Audit, Budget, AP & AR, Tax, etc., /ŶĚŝĂŶ DĂůĞ͕ WŽƐƚͲŐƌĂĚƵĂƟ ŽŶ͕ Oman D/L and NOC available.

Please contact: 931 42923 Experienced IT Professional with over 20 years in Oman. Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices. NOC available.

ACCOUNTS Indian male 30 yrs, B.Com 4 years experience in GCC, Sales / Accounts looking for suitable vacancy, currently on visit. Contact: 99727595 Email: samie61@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, MBA in Finance, 4 yrs in Larsen & Tourbo, 26 yrs in Oman, English/ Arabic speaking with driving license. NOC available. Contact 95588565 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available. Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com

Contact # 96654216 ACCOUNTS Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian (M), 31 yrs, M Com 9 yrs experience in Oman, looking for Manager or Executive position in Fin & Accounts, NOC Available. Contact 968 96166178/ +919768537435: mohammednajeem@yahoo.com Finance Manager, 17 + years Gulf exp. in Accounts, MIS, budgets, strategic planning, cost control, cash ﬂow management, seeks job. Contact 99489784, E mail :- vijay.564@hotmail.com

ADMIN

Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415

Young B.Com Graduate with computer literate holding Oman D/L seeks placement in Administration or Accounts Assistant. Contact: 95041489

Indian, Kerala, CMA-USA, ICWA, Mcom10+Years Experience Budgeting Planning MIS Accounts&ﬁnance.Cont.94064931shijupnarayanan@gmail.com

Indian male, B.C.A Graduate, having 4+ years experience in system administration & technical support available on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact: 92813630

Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing. #96976240 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman. Ready to join immediately. Contact 98263394 Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin. Contact :94743790 Certified Public Accountant (Filipino, Male, 27-yrs-old) with four years experience, seeking suitable placement in accounting/audit, currently on visit. Contact 94959606, email: czesar.42@gmail.com 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients. On visit visa in Muscat. Contact 90191628 / 96175780 Indian female, 26 years,brought up in oman,M.COM(FINANCE) CA Foundation(CPT),CA , INTER (DOING) presently on family visa seeking for immediate and suitable placement. Contact -97174201/99663957 Email-anishasasi@gmail.com 8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement. Contact 97243806 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Accountant B.com Indian male 12 yrs exp seeks suitable job.NOC available . Contact : 91212471 Email: rennyj6@gmail.com Omani female Accountant, 32 years, having 10 years exp in admin/accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93295953

Administrator B.Com with D/L on release, 30 years India & Gulf experience in office. project documentation & logistics. Contact: 92324789 / 97281023 IND 10 yrs experience in outdoor Admin & HR activities, valid GCC driving license looking suitable vacancy. Contact: 71233079 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 male M.SW (HR) 2 years exp in India, 27 years age. Contact: 93353912 Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 8 years experience in administration and guest relations department in Oman With valid omani driving licence. Seeking suitable jobs. Ph: 98145825 email: getcb@rediffmail.com Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288 Omani, male, 26 yrs experience looking for job in reputed Companies as PR, having experience at airport / Emigration, Ministries/ Manpower with Oman D/L. Contact 95445779 Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC. Indian female Architect NIT Calicut pass out seeking for suitable job, 1 yr experience in design & coordination of residential & commercial buildings. Contact: 95293638 / Email: arayilakathsafa@gmail.com Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience. GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

CATERING

DRIVER

Restaurant / Banquet Manager Indian male having 3 yrs Diploma in Hotel management & Catering technology, above 16 yrs work experience sin F& B service, Managerial position in reputed Star hotels at Gulf countries & India. Contact: 91164043 Email: mohanpriya1975@yahoo.com

Looking for driving job 10 yrs exp, D/L UAE & Oman. Contact: 95918834 / 97098081

Bangladeshi male commis Chef looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95494310

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168 Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com 9 years experienced Interior designer seeking for suitable placement, Oman driving license holder. Contact: 98678225 Interior designer seeking job in Muscat with 6 years of related experience as an interior designer with a strong background in work place interiors. Contact: 91291502 Email: ahmad.jassem025@gmail.com Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

DRIVER Driver looking for job with visa. Contact: 95154610 Search job for light driver, 5 yrs, language Hindi, Arabic & English. Contact: 97941771 Driver with Car. Contact: 99716938 / 96048707 Pakistani, 10 years experience in Saudi, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, license 3 years in Oman. Contact: 94350734 / 97665807 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Driver looking for job. Contact: 95892363 Looking for light driver job. Contact: 93782166 / 94356465 Looking for job light driver 17 years exp Oman. Contact: 95541940 Light Driver with 7 years experience looking for job. Contact: 92617293 Looking for driving job. Contact: 94802988 / 94435912 Looking for driver job. Contact: 99578649 Want light driver job, 4 years experience. Contact: 91740910 Looking for job light duty driver 5 years exp. Contact: 92602182 Light duty driver 5 yrs Dubai, 1 yr Oman experience seeks placement knowing English, Arabic & Hindi. Contact: 90271794 Bangladeshi male light driver exp 16 years looking for job. Contact: 99165961 Looking for driving job. Contact: 95396905 Experienced driver available with 4WD willing to work fulltime / part-time, familiar with all tourist destinations in Oman. Contact: 24814231 / 91941545

Light driver looking for job 3 years experience. Contact: 97468646 Indian male 42 yrs UAE , QTR 24 years road work experience looking for good post, with driving license, on visit visa. Contact: 91177203 Light driver looking for job. Contact: 94397006 Looking for driving job. Contact: 99775728 Driver with car have good experience in Oman. Contact: 94039796 Looking for light driver job experience 8 years Eng, Urdu & Arabic. Contact: 95658675 Looking for driving job. Contact: 98219182 Looking for driving job. Contact: 98994832 / 94537614 Light driver with 5 yrs exp need job. Contact: 92024487 Light duty driver with valid Oman license available. Contact: 92686876 L-driver with valid Oman D/L, looking for suitable job. Contact: 95489480 Looking for job light driving. Contact: 93779819 Driver with license looking for suitable job. Contact: 93502627 Have 6 years experience in Oman as driving license private light. Contact: 96550836 / 92854178 Driver available for job. Contact: 96381406

DOMESTIC HELP Indian Cook 25 yrs, 6 yrs experience 1 yr in Oman, NOC available, ready to join immediately. Contact: 93136713

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer with 6 years GCC experience in Petro chemical & Steel plant construction currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 93926488, Email: sanjuns89@gmail.com HSE Supervisor Indian male 2 yrs experience relevant field with MSC ENV science industrial safety NEBOSH, IOSH first aid IT MS work excel PPT looking for suitable opportunity. Contact: 97047859 Need for job industrial Electrical technician with Oman driving license, earlier experience in the oil field. Contact: 91285302 / 96348016 MSc. Oil and Gas Engineer, 5 years experience in OMAN as Mechanical/Piping Engineer holding certificate in Piping and Primavera. In Oman on Visit, Contact: 92156892, arakkalskaran@gmail.com Indian male 24 years B.Tech Electronics Telecommunications Engineering 1.5 years experienced Supervisory Engineer with appreciable ELV expertise seeking suitable position. Contact: 92519146 Email: afsalafoos95@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer 2 years experience. Contact: 94028027 Civil Engineer (Indian male) 12 years of experience in construction field having Omani D/L and NOC looking for suitable job. Contact: 94194399 Email: saashibly@gmail.com Graduate female with 7 years experience in retail, looking for a suitable position. Contact : 96234434

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. B.Sc Civil Engineer 5+ years experience in Building construction & Steel structural building with having valid D/L. Contact: 93850440/ shahadat033@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer/ Indian Male with 1 Year experience looking for an opportunity in Electro Mechanical field of IMS/BMS/HVAC systems. on Visit visa. Contact: 99288700 E Mail: karthias1995@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.E) with 5+ years experience in Gulf and India (oil & gas projects). Contact: 91987143 Email: jebilk212@gmail.com Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman. Looking for suitable placement. Contact - 91328079 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. #92451323. Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available. Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available. Contact 96789711 Electronics & Communication Engineer, 23-year-old Indian on family visa, BE-ECE graduate looking for suitable placement in networking, hardware and electronics field. Contact no: 95148894, 99726963. Email: sadathali0003@gmail.com BOQ available, site visiting inspection. Contact: 93850875 / 95031239 Electrical Engineer with DCRP Electrician license & Oman driving license, 10 years experience in Oman, seeks suitable placement. NOC / Release available. Contact: 97316979, Email: rajaneeshktr@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer having 8 years experience Quantity Surveyor Civil in Oman looking for a job around 21 years experience in civil works. Contact: 97829710 Indian female, 22 yrs, BE (Electronics & Communication) searching for suitable placement. Contact 96008324 Structure Engineer/civil BSC, worked in mega projects with 2 years experience, soft ware skills (Cad, staad, Revit, Robot, Sap, Hilti), Fluent Arabic, English. Contact :99814536 HSE Engineer having 10+ years experience in both Construction and Oil & Gas (PDO). Looking for suitable position, NOC & valid driving license available. Contact: 97717468 SriLankan Quantity Surveyor Male, 25 Years. Over 5 year Exp. (3 Yrs. in Oman), NOC available, looking for Suitable position. Contact: 98436414, Email:Hassaan.mt@live.com Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Experienced auto mobile Engineer seeking job. Contact: 91487747 Indian Mechanical Engineer with one year experience in oil & gas refinery as piping QC Engineer seeks suitable placements. Contact: 95900813 Email: jinu8888@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, 3 years experience, 1 year in Oman, with driving license & NOC. Contact: 94887665 Email: mechatron_mt@yahoo.com BE MECH Engr, Indian male, 23 yrs having 2 yrs experience in Mechanical Engg on visit visa seeks suitable position. Contact: 98827544 Email: sibi.a.b.varghese@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, Indian 25 years male, seeking for suitable job. Contact: +968 90417679 / +968 92193763, Email : sintocj88@gmail.com Indian male 25 B.Tech Electrical, 3 years experience in industrial automation & supervision. Contact: 97207570 / 90481773

B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com B. Tech Mechanical HVAC site Engineer 4 years experience, currently on visit. Contact 92837696 / mdabdulather@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects. Contact – 90164912 Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma Electrical Engineer 15 yrs experience in electrical, commercial & industrial field 3.5 yrs Gulf experience presently on visit visa. Contact: 97937868 Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Electrical Engineer (B.Tech) male 12 years experience in MEP looking for job NOC available. Contact: 94743659 B.S.c Civil Engineer with 7 years experience in managing & supervising of construction & oil & gas fields (NOC) Available. Contact: 96086214 Email: engmohamedosaman@outlook.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891 29 years male Civil Engineer (B.Tech) roads / highways and buildings 08 years experience in Oman only having valid GCC driving license Oman available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 95994968 Email: engr.aamir04@gmail.com Indian male 25 years Civil Engineer (B.Tech) 04 years experience in bridges / structures and buildings working in a reputable company in Oman since 1.6 years available to join with NOC. Contact: 95495797 Email: sarfarazahmad30@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity. Contact: 93101283 Electrical Engineer, 24 yrs, Indian Male, Fresher, Training Undertaken in Electrical Draughtsman, Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting and Industrial Automation. #94989767, Email: Junaiz987@gmail.com 32 years male senior land surveyor roads/ building / pipelines, PDO , 11 years experience in Oman / Dubai. Working in reputable company and available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 97640625 Email: qasiryasir@gmail.com Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit. #93837973 Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Ph number: 97964862, Email: jossyabraham20@gmail.com

W E D N E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mechanical/ Piping Engineer (B.Tech.) on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 94703350 Email: nadeembcoolboy@gmail.com

IT Engineer male 28 yrs over 6 yrs experience with NOC available seeking placement in IT net work Administration, software development. Contact: 94744858 Email: athulmundayad@gmail.com

BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants). Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022 Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Contact : 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment. Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@gmail.com Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact: 94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat. Contact - 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Indian female 24. Masters in Computer science engineering, seeking job in colleges, schools and institutes. Having in good skill in teaching and advanced technologies. Contact : 93356858 Email id : annielino11@gmail.com Female Arabic Teacher well experienced looking for a suitable job for non native speakers. Contact: 96094116 Indian Female, Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement. Contact – 99675828, Email anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact 99739415 / 92091528

HOSPITALITY Indian male having Diploma in Hotel Management with 16 years of experience in F x B Service at India, K.S.A & Oman, having valid Oman D/L, seeking for available placement. #92100141 / 92221956 Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree,03 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler. Has oman driving license. Contact 99859150. Indian male, 24 yrs , Diploma in Hotel management, 2 years experience front office management in 4 star hotel Dubai, currently on visit visa. Contact: 97937504 Email: febinpalathingal01@gmail.com

IT IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India. Contact 94672759 CFA level 1 cleared (pursuing level 2) MBA operations research, female, 5 yrs experience as Analyst, have a valid Oman driving license, looking for related openings.Contact 95818892 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Female, master in mass communication, B.Ed, experience in media channel and teaching PH : 99362024

Senior Network Engineer ( IT) 8 years experience , (USA citizen) network design & implementation enterprise network management, CCNA , RS , CCNP , RS , CCIERS (WR) BS degree MS degree. Contact: 90350262 HSC officer male 29 years, 6 years experience seeking good opportunity. Contact: + 968 90595885 / + 968 71140487 Email: bipin.tkurian@yahoo.com IT Engineer male, 28 yrs, over 7 yrs experience with NOC, D/L available seeking placement in IT / Network / Telecom field. Contact 93563297 Email: monuzv24@gmail.com Indian male on visit visa, Network Administrator with 5 years experience in IT field seeking suitable placement immediately. Contact: 93926541 / 92703007 Email: 16.prasanth@gmail.com Indian male Keralite Post Graduate Diploma and Graduate CCNA & MCSA certified have 5 years experience in software & hardware technical support. Contact : 93988511 Contact: vimalkanthkv@gmail.com Technician Network Electrical CCTV, Indian male 27 yrs, 6 yrs of experience in Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. #93098436 B. Tech IT Graduate 5 years experience in web dev, networking have valid Oman license looking for suitable placement. contact 98825722 Email: ajaybin.joy@gmail.com Indian male seeking suitable vacancies, having 8 years experience in computer hardware maintenance and 2 years in CCTV, Presently on visit visa. Contact: 99641209, Email: adersh.kr@gmail.com Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available. Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 98660672 Indian male, 26 yrs, 4 yrs work experience in M.N.C , IBM , ITIL foundation certified looking for suitable jobs in Training / learning / Development / HR/ MIS. Contact: 92306613 Email: michael.rinku@gmail.com 27, Indian male: Software Developer having 5years+ experience in oracle forms & reports 10 g, BI publisher. Contact:91156571

LOGISTICS Procurement, Warehouse & Logistics, Pakistani Male, Graduate, Over 10 years experience, Looking for Suitable Placement, Currently on Visit Visa. Contact: 91257663

MISCELLANEOUS Omani male, 21 years graduate, (bachelor in management studies) seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97904200 21, Indian female B.com graduate on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Holds valid Omani Driver’s license. Contact: 97208869 Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available. Contact: 92066 523 B.Com,IICL Certiﬁed Container Inspector(No.150850),Visit Visa, Six months experience, need placement. Contact: 90880935, 99023279, Email solexyesudas@gmail.com Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation. Contact 92956848 9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence. NOC available. Seeks suitable placement. Contact ZakeerHussain 96681934.

MEDICAL Homeopathy Doctor Indian female with MOH license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 94541830 Email: homeo64319@gmail.com Female Dentist Indian with MOH license & NOC looking for a job in Muscat. Contact-96035981 Staff Nurse female Indian 26 yrs, 5 yrs experience in haemodialysis, has BLS and ACLS, MOH viva and prometric cleared staying here on visit visa, looking for suitable job. Contact: 92518629 Indian male Nurse with 7 years seeking for a suitable job in Muscat. Data flow, prometric completed. Contact: 93519957 / 98275068 Email: mammenv24@gmail.com Indian female, B.SC Staff Nurse Prometric exam passed (63%) having 5+ years experience, seeking better opportunity. Contact: 94082308 Email: dhanya4sarath@gmail.com Female Staff Nurse, with 6 yrs experience MOH license and NOC available date flow completed looking for a suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 97440718 Filipino male Medical / Sales representative with 3 yrs experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: 92610394 Indian male Nurse, with well experience in profession and working in Oman. Seeking for a suitable placement. (Preferring opportunity in as Rig Medic). Has BLS and ACLS. Contact : 97236545 Indian male, Nurse with more 7 years experience MOH license, P.D.O license, dataflow, NOC available looking for job in Oman. Contact: 93604827 Email: subinraj37@gmail.com Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com Dr.Ayman Abduljalil Ali, E.N.T Specialist (Otolaryngologist), Yemeni-male, looking for job. Mobile: 00201096542706, Email: aymanjalilorl@gmail.com

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR Indian male MBA with 8 years of exp as Assistant Manager in investment banking sector. Looking for suitable position, currently on visit visa. Contact – 98685704, WhatsApp – 919000676512 Email – suhelpashaa@gmail.com General Manager Indian National With 20 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company. Contact-97464650. CEO, CEO Assistant, Managing Director, Senior Level Manager, A senior level business developments executive with 18 Yrs of experiences in USA, Africa, GCC, with MBA from Texas A&M ,USA). Contact 92010247 Indian male (40 yrs), looking for warehousing /logistics supervisor position, having 12 yrs Oman Exp with D/L, currently with a leading distribution company in Oman, NOC available - PH: 94337320 ; Email: truefails@rediffmail.com Joinery / Woodworking Production Supervisor, Indian, with knowledge in estimation, 18 years experience (5 years in Oman). Contact: 92975314, praveen777prabhakar@gmail.com. Joinery / Woodworking Purchase Manager, Indian, with 12+ years experience in UAE, Qatar & Oman. Experience in Trading & Manufacturing divisions, having valid Omani D/L. Knowledge in Materials Management, Finance, Office Administration and Operations. Contact: 98040421, vinodthattayil@gmail.com.

SKILLED LABOUR Male 42 electricians & plumber, looking for job NOC available. Contact: 98081227 Watch repair and service looking for job, 24 yrs experience. Contact: 99530405

SALES / MARKETING Engineering Graduate having 5+ years of exp as Marketing Coordinator in advertisement company and as security system service engineer. Contact :79059197 20 years exp, driver / sales man with own van. Contact: 99062400 Indian male Bachelor of Science food technology 1.5 year experience. Now in Oman seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 95727594 Email: subahanas@gmail.com Indian male 23, MBA (marketing) with 1year experience in India as Sales Executive searching for suitable job in marketing, sales, management, currently on visit visa. Contact: 95957278, Email: zeeshanhamdule.75@gmail.com B.com graduate from India with 6 months of experience in billing and sales in one of the largest retail chain company in India is looking for a suitable position. Currently in visit visa 99610602 or hashim.hashi@yahoo.in Purchase Manager / Officer Indian male having 16 years GCC experience in construction (Civil& MEP) looking for suitable placement, having Oman driving license (NOC available). contact 99109533 Experience Sales / Business development professional, with 5 years Oman experience, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 90133601 Email: gbkoshy@gmail.com Egyptian male experienced Sales Executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies. Holds Omani driving license. Contact : 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com Sudanese Geologist looking for job, colleague geology & mining master in geo technology sediment logical aspect include subsurface data, petrographical analysis include thin section, scanning electron heavy mineral & XRD technique. Contact: 00968 96107050 Email: karam.farouq@yahoo.com 9 years experience in Lube sales with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement in sales / driver. NOC available. Contact: 99263912 Indian male masters in Petroleum Engineering with 1 yr Oman exp in sales & marketing holding D/L, currently on visit visa looking for oil / gas industry field related or sales related job. Contact : 93789123 Indian male, Keralite Post Graduate Diploma and Graduate have 6 years experience in Sales and Marketing have experience in Ecommerce, IT, Security and FMCG Sales & Marketing. Contact: 93988511 Omani national, fluent in English looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97173753 BBA Bachelor of business administration exp in custom clearance procedure, also done international logistics management & Nimb National Institute business management (US) certification all documentation work related logistics. contact – 91949050 / akram.chaush001@gmail.com

Graduate Indian male 26 yrs, 3 yrs experience logistics & management seeking suitable opportunity in reputed organization. #98847095 MCA Graduate with 1.6 years experience Indian female looking for any suitable job currently on visit visa. Contact 97993250 / 91447261 Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95337665 Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments. Looking for good replacement. Contact – 92015894 /95774854 Indian male age 24, B.Com. having 2 year experience and currently in visit visa. Looking for suitable placement in Sales, Marketing & ﬁnance. Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian male MBA and Diploma in management from Australia. On visit visa, looking for a suitable job in sales & marketing. #71189884 Indian male with 6 years experience in sales in oman. NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95364128 Key Accounts Manager of sales.. with an experience of 13 yrs, across the country. Bsc, MBA seeks suitable placement. Contact- 92100116 Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in ﬁeld of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820 Indian male around 7.5yrs technical product sales, new agency development experience in Oman B.E mechanical PGP.MKT , IB , Oman D/L urgent placement (m). # 91536968

MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132 India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse ﬁeld handling office independently administration, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in challenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. Contact 99120500

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Secretarial & Office: Indian(F), MBA in Finance, 2 years experience as Associate in Branch Operations (Record Keeping, Desk job)on family visa. Ph: 93186865 ; email: ddthoppil@gmail.com India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse ﬁeld handling office administration independently, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in hallenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. Contact 99120500 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Contact: 95244761 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

SITUATION WANTSERVICES Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůǇͬ YĞĂƌůǇ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽǇƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ General cleaning etc. ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> Contact : 94277020

Omani female 6 years experience in management, ﬂuent in English & French searching for new opportunity. Contact: 90998255

Marketing Executive with 10 years experience in Gulf on visit visa. Contact: 90116693 INDIAN male, BBA with 4 years experience in SALES & MARKETING, holding omani driving license. seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95607037 Email: raaz0jannat@gmail.com.

Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Tel: 90157073

Sales man looking for a suitable placement with 2 years experience, NOC available. Contact: 71293044

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity. Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com

Freight forwarding Graduate with 8 years experience in freight forwarding (Govt. of India) seek suitable placement. Contact: Shaji 99102497 / 98637889

Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available. Contact# 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com

Resident in Oman 18 years, 10 years experience in setup marketing plans and strategies, sales, import & logistics, procurement, Omani government tenders, organizing projects & events, import ﬁreworks for festivals, NOC available, have car. Contact 94123939. Email: 002015r@gmail.com

Egyptian male experienced sales executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies. Holds Omani driving license. Tel: 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com

B.Com, Sales building material, accounts, marketing, 10 years experience in India. #92870992 Email: aboosheikh@yahoo.com

Client Relations and Sales Professional with 8 years in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, looking for suitable opportunity in Muscat. Contact +96879050752

Indian male 25, MBA (marketing, ﬁnance) seeking for a suitable job having 1 year experience, currently on visit visa. Contact: 95469149 Email: surajar.inbox@gmail.com

Indian male MBA (Marketing) with Oman D/L 10 years of experience in sales & marketing in Oman, seeks job, NOC available. Contact: 91939227

Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India. +918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com

Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. contact 96143430 / 99875919

Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity. NOC available. Conatct 96001877

General cleaning new villas cleaning Barka , Mabela, Hail area. Contact: 99557080 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance Barka, Mabela, Ruwi area. Contact: 96236476 Window unit & split unit A.C servicing & repairing Barka, Mabela , Ruwi area. Contact: 99557080 Maintenance Electrical, plumbing, painting A/C services installations gypsum. Contact: 96319522 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works. Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact 94147874 / 24504281, Email : globalaccessunited@gmail.com

CONTD ON PG 7

W E D N E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

4 WD Pagero with driver. Contact: 98031620 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP speciďŹ cation for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

DRIVING

Transportation. Contact: 97128083 Transportation. Contact: 99099714 From Ruwi to Ghala. Contact: 99562527 Transportation. Contact 94510847

Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Al Khuwair, Qurum, Ghubra & Azaiba. Contact 95937789 / 94501264

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250

SITUATION WANTED MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for a Hindu Ezhava girl 26 years, fair, slim, B.Tech, MBA (Star Makayerium), currently working with a MNC at Kerala now in Muscat on vacation, reputed family of Thrissur dt currently settled in Muscat, from parents of well educated & employed Ezhava boys preferably from Thrissur, Ekn, Palakkad. Contact: 99329606

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 94297820

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Transportation. Contact:94087276

W E D N E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898 Enjoy Camping in Wahiba desert & all over Oman & tour. Contact: 92226866

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WE SERVE OMAN

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Water prooﬁng ABUQABAS- Contact 99320217/24788722

House shifting packing. Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

House shifting with carpenter and transport. Contact: 96737158