Times of Oman - December 15, 2016

THURSDAY

December 15, 2016 15 Rabi Al Awal 1438 AH

HM RECEIVES THANKS

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from King Norodom Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia in reply to His Majesty’s congratulatory cable on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, King Sihamoni has expressed his gratitude for His Majesty’s congratulations and best wishes, wishing His Majesty good health and the Sultanate further progress and prosperity. —ONA See also >A5

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

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ If the government bodies are determined to play their part in this context, the forthcoming phase requires that the private sector undertakes the greatest role in it by developing its capabilities in utilising its experiences and diversifying its skills, in order to enhance its contribution to both economic and social development.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 244 | 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

TOWERING CHRISTMAS TREE AT SHANGRI-LA

A 45-feet tall Christmas tree was lit at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa’s Al Bandar Hotel yesterday. Twelve employees of the hotel took five days to make the tree. — Picture— Shabin E

More workers airing online grievances Workers are finding it easier dragging their employers to court through online complaints

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Trade union bosses say an Omani who was paid OMR27,000 after a labour dispute is one of an increasing number in the Sultanate taking employers to court, thanks to a new online complaints system.

The Omani national complained to the Ministry of Manpower after his contract was terminated and received a OMR27,598 payout less than two months after he was told he no longer had a job.

The design manager signed his contract with his employer on September 26 but was told he was no longer required shortly afterwards.

By November 28, the Ministry of Manpower had ordered his employer to pay him a total of OMR27,598.

Trade union leaders in the Sultanate say online portals for complaints are making it easier to complain about employers.

In recent months the minisMINISTRY OF MANPOWER

M WA S A L AT

Air-con bus stops coming to Oman

467 illegals arrested Times News Service

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Three air-conditioned bus stops catering to Mwasalat passengers will be ready before the end of winter, a senior official of Mwasalat has said.

Confirming this, Ahmed bin Ali Al Balushi, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mwasalat, said: “We are planning to open three air-conditioned bus shelters in Oman, of which two will be in Al Khuwair.”

Mwasalat, the rebranded version of the Oman National Transport Company, transported nearly 3.6mn passengers ever since it began its operations under its new identity on November 22, 2015.

“These three bus stations will be prototypes and we need to see how it works as these are being tried for the first time in Oman.

We don’t want it to become a resting area for people, so right now we can’t say that these airconditioned bus stations will come up all over Oman,” Al Balushi told the Times of Oman on Wednesday.

Passengers using the Mwasalat buses are, however, very happy with the decision. “During summer, the temperature crosses 45 degrees in Oman. So it would be nice to wait for the air-conditioned buses at air conditioned shelters,” commented an Indian

expatriate, Satish Saha, who commutes daily from Ruwi to Seeb.

Passengers also said that right now, there was no respite for hapless waiting passengers from the intolerable heat and humidity in summer.

“During peak summer, standing in the sun even for a minute can be unbearable. So, right now, in the absence of air-conditioned bus shelters, passengers are left without any choice but to look for shaded areas such as trees or nearby buildings where there is no shaded bus stop,” they said.

Mwasalat plans to introduce 118 new public transport buses in 2017. “We have a come a long way since we started our operations.

Now, the people of Oman know that they will be able to board a bus if they wait for 15 minutes, right from 6:00 in the morning to 9:30 at night. And therein lies our success. A lot of things still need to be done to improve public transportation system as we want to link all the cities in Oman,” the CEO had said earlier.

MUSCAT: More than 400 expats were arrested between December 4 and 10 for violating the Omani labour law, the Ministry of Manpower reported.

Of the 467 arrested workers, 344 were commercial, 53 farm and 70 domestic workers. The ministry said that 281 of the arrested were absconding workers, 135 terminated and 18 undocumented.

Muscat governorate recorded the highest number of violations with 134 workers while North Al Batinah came second with 122. Meanwhile, the ministry deported 417 illegal labourers during the same period.

MORNING MINUTE

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Rain expected

1

Some places in Oman are likely to experience rainfall next week. >A3

WORLD

China deploys arms

2

China appears to have deployed arms on seven artificial islands. >A11

MARKET Omani techie builds device to save children locked in vehicles

Oman-India trade

A4 3

The trade between Oman and India is expected to remain at $3.8b. >B1

27,598 Omani rials were paid to a citizen by his employer within two months of his termination after filing a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower

try and union leaders negotiated payments of OMR30,000 for one other individual and for the whole of 2015, OMR238,000 was paid out in all disputes throughout the year.

That figure will rise, union offi-

cials say, as more and more people find it easier to raise grievances against employers.

An online complaints portal launched in July this year records, on average, 12 complaints a day, and went online to non-Arabic speaking workers in September.

That month the ministry awarded OMR38,000 in total.

“We are coming across labour disputes frequently,” Mohammad Al Faraji, board member of the General federation of Oman Trade Unions (GFOTU) and head of the Committee on Rights and Obligations, said.

“Getting a huge compensation after getting terminated still means the terminated person will have to look for a job again,” the trade union leader pointed out, adding that the online portal system had made it easier for workers to air their grievances.

“The worker had joined the company in September 2016. He was terminated citing economic conditions without following the Labour Law. “He approached the ministry and we reached a settlement with the company to pay him OMR27,598 for the illegal termination,” Salim bin Said Al Badi, director general of labour welfare at the Ministry of Manpower, said.

The settlement was reached in the last week of November. >A6

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

THE BRIEFING World

Italian PM wins Senate confidence vote Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni won the backing of the fragmented Senate on Wednesday, allowing his government to formally take office as a new threat emerged to the legacy of predecessor Matteo Renzi.

Renzi resigned last week when he lost a referendum on his proposed reform of the constitution >A12

INDIA

Rahul says he has information on Modi’s ‘personal corruption’ After claiming that there will be an “earthquake” if he speaks, Rahul Gandhi on

SPORTS

Australia ponder pace quartet for Pakistan opener Australia may unleash an all-pace attack against Pakistan for the series-opening day-night Test in Brisbane, home captain Steve Smith said. Smith expects fast bowler Jackson Bird, recalled for the last Test against South Africa, to hold his place in the 11, meaning debutant paceman Chadd Sayers could edge out spinner Nathan Lyon for the match starting at the Gabba on Thursday.

“We want to have another look at the wicket today... to determine how much grass is on the wicket and things like that,” Smith told reporters in Brisbane at the pre-match media conference on Wednesday. >C1

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

OMAN

Study shows poor quality of vegetables Some fresh fruits and vegetables in Oman do not seem fit for consumption and the situation needs to be addressed, a study by the Sultan Qaboos (SQU) University has suggested. >A3

OMAN

Fahd praises good ties with India

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

His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers received M J Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs in India, yesterday. >A6

Wednesday alleged that he has detailed information about “personal corruption”

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he wants to present in Lok Sabha but is not being allowed to do so by the prime minister. >A8

PAKISTAN

Pakistan successfully test-fires indigenous Babur Cruise Missile Pakistan conducted on Wednesday successful test of the indigenously designed Babur Cruise Missile.

“Babur Weapon System version – 2 incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy, at a range of 700km,” military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement. >A9

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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OMAN

W E AT H E R

Rain expected in some areas next week Times News Service MUSCAT: Some places in Oman are likely to experience rainfall next week as a depression is moving towards the coast of Oman, an official of the Oman Meteorology Department said.

“Next week, there are chances that some parts of Oman will see rain. But there are no chances of any “historic depression” as some people have been talking about in the social media,” the official told the Times of Oman on Wednesday.

According to the officials of the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre, the rains are likely to affect Musandam and the adjoining areas. “But these would be not heavy, as is being discussed in the social media,” the official said.

In its 24-hour outlook, it said the skies would be mainly clear over most of Oman with chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches over Al Buraimi, Al Dhahira, South Al Sharqiya and Al Wusta. “Also, there are chances of cloud advection over the coastal areas of the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea with chances of isolated rain,” it added.

CRIME

Khat seized Times News Service MUSCAT: Royal Oman Police Coast Guards, in coordination with local police in Dhofar, seized seven boxes of khat, a psychotropic herb. In coordination with the Narcotics control team, officers seized the boat which was carrying the drug in Omani waters in the Wilayat of Mirbat. A senior official said, “Three Arabs were arrested on the boat and we found seven large boxes filled with khat.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

DON’T LITTER A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break down

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

OMAN I N N O VAT I O N

Omani creates device to save children left locked in cars HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

“If a child were to be left inside a bus after the engine is switched off, the sensor will activate an alarm and will automatically roll down the windows,” inventor Muadh Al Amri said LIFE SAVER: The device features a sensor that detects any movement inside a closed vehicle. – Supplied photo

Study highlights poor quality of fruits, vegetables The Sultan Qaboos University study identified some microbes after analysing samples of local and imported fresh fruits and vegetables in Oman, thus indicating that some were not hygienic

HASSAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Some fresh fruits and vegetables in Oman do not seem fit for consumption and the situation needs to be addressed, a study by the Sultan Qaboos (SQU) University has suggested.

This study was carried out

by PhD candidate Zahra S. AlKharousi of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences at the SQU. It identified some microbes after analysing samples of local and imported fresh fruits and vegetables in Oman, thus indicating that some were not satisfactorily hygienic. Oman imports large quantities of fruits and vegetables from almost all over the world to ensure year-round supply for its needs.

Prof. Nejib Guizani, Dr Abdullah Al Sadi, Dr. Ismail Al Bulushi, and Dr Baby Shaharoona, all researchers of the College of Agricultural

EATEN RAW: Fruits and vegetables that are mostly eaten raw were selected for this study. -Supplied photo

and Marine Sciences, participated in this project.

Findings of this research were reported in the International Journal of Microbiology, Volume 2016.

The study also investigated genetic relationships between bacteria isolated from fruits and vegetables that originated from different countries. Fruits and vegetables that are mostly eaten raw were selected for this study.

These contained 13 types of fresh, imported or locally produced, fruits and vegetables, including banana, dates, mango, papaya, pomegranate, tomato, watermelon, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cucumber, lettuce and radish.

The samples were purchased from local markets in Muscat or Nizwa, between April and September, 2014.

The imported fruits and vegetables, originating from different countries, were selected depending on their availability in the market during that period.

The study identified the presence of high aerobic plate count and Enterobacteriaceae as well as fecal bacteria in the samples that were analysed.

The aerobic plate count (APC) is an indicator of bacterial populations in a sample and is used to

monitor the hygienic quality of a product throughout processing and distribution but not its safety.

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in some local and imported samples and their levels were unsatisfactory. Different bacterial opportunistic pathogens were identified in fresh fruits and vegetables.

These pathogens can establish infections in immune-compromised individuals, i.e., those whose immune systems have been weakened,such as people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, old people and babies and even pregnant women.

Thus, as fresh fruits and vegetables are mostly eaten raw, it would be important to ensure that these individuals are not fed with this type of pathogens from this important food group of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly as there is scientific acknowledgment that the daily intake of these should be increased. This is so due to its linkage with reduced risk of many diseases and ability to promote the health of people.

Opportunistic pathogens can also emerge as important primary pathogens in future as these can gain the capacity to induce infections in healthy individuals.

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A life-saving invention by an Omani engineer can protect children from succumbing to heatstroke while left alone in a vehicle. The hand-size device features a sensor that detects any movement inside a closed vehicle.

“If a child were to be left inside a bus after the engine is switched off, the sensor will activate an alarm and will automatically roll down the windows,” inventor Muadh Al Amri said.

Such incidents have been claiming the lives of hundreds of children who die annually all across KNOWLEDGE OASIS

the world as parents and bus drivers keep forgetting them inside the vehicles. But Muadh’s graduation project does not stop here.

His prototype can also detect the amount of carbon monoxide inside a car, also known as the ‘silent killer’.

The 29-year-old former Caledonian College student said this gas is produced by air conditioners in the cars and is odourless.

“It kills people during their sleep. This device can detect it and immediately roll down the windows and activate an alarm,” Muadh explained. Last October, a toddler died after he was trapped inside a bus in Muscat.

The boy, believed to be four years old, was taken to hospital when he was found unconscious in the bus after it had dropped his fellow classmates at a school in Seeb.

“The driver forgot to drop the boy at the school. He found the boy only later,” police said.

NEW RULES

Workshop on smart cities organised MUSCAT: Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), the technical arm of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), in cooperation with The Research Council (TRC) organised at Crowne Plaza Muscat Hotel “Smart Cities Workshop”.

The workshop came as part of the Digital Nation series of workshops that aim at serving the ICT sector through highlighting a variety of topics.

The workshop aimed at highlighting the concept of smart cities, its verticals and international examples; different smart city activities happening in Oman and the lessons learned from them; the need for vision and strategy for smart cities in Oman; and the challenges faced by cities in Oman and how smart city solutions can help overcoming the challenges. -ONA

PREFERRED DESTINATION: In the Gulf Cooperation Council,

Oman stands second after Saudi Arabia in the number of Bangladeshi female workers. – File photo

Housemaids from Bangladesh now costlier to hire REJIMON K CHIEF REPORTER

reji@timesofoman.com PAC P

Car buyer reimbursed Times News Service MUSCAT: A consumer who filed a complaint with the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) after his new vehicle developed a fault was reimbursed OMR18,000.

The consumer found a problem with the ignition mechanism just two days after he had bought the vehicle, and filed a complaint against the car dealership from where he had bought it.

Complaint discussed After summoning the executive staff at the dealership and discussing the complaint, the consumer decided to seek reimbursement for the amount he had paid for the vehicle.

Both parties came to an agreement and the consumer was reimbursed OMR17,700.

MUSCAT: From January 1, only employers in Oman with a monthly salary of OMR1,000 and above will be allowed to hire a female domestic worker from Bangladesh, according to new regulations from the Bangladesh government.

The new rules mean that the minimum salary requirement has been doubled.

According to the new guidelines, uploaded on the official website of the Bangladesh embassy in Oman, the minimum monthly salary of any female domestic worker should be at least OMR90, her travel costs must be paid by the employer as well as insurance coverage.

The guidelines also state that women aged between 25 and 45 years and the contract between the employer and female worker has to be attested by the Bangladesh embassy in Oman.

“These new guidelines will ensure safe migration of female domestic workers to Oman,” Marina Sultana, a migrants rights activist in Dhaka, said.

“We were aware that such a policy was discussed in 2015. We

were hopeful of its implementation,” Marina added.

Statistics from Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) reveals that this year up to November, there were 11, 875 female workers in Oman.

In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Oman stands second after Saudi Arabia in the number of Bangladeshi female workers.

Saudi Arabia hosts 62,916 Bangladeshi female workers.

Times of Oman first reported in May this year that Bangladesh is forming a new policy for hiring female domestic workers in Oman. The guidelines also state that female domestic worker must obtain a certificate on basic training organised by the BMET before migrating.

“Before obtaining final departure clearance form BMET, the legal guardian should also have to furnish a no-objection certificate about the worker flying to work in Oman,” the guidelines say.

It also adds that in case of nonadherence to the agreement the employer will repatriate the female domestic worker at their own cost and also pay necessary dues and compensation including food, accommodation charges and air ticket.

TECHNOLOGY

Oman to host Facebook Global Digital Initiative in January GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

gautam@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman will host a Facebook Global Digital Initiative on January 18, 2017.

Three universities from the Near East South Asia region will be taking part in this competition, which looks at innovations created by college students to combat prejudice and extremism at local level.

Run in collaboration with the US Government’s Department of Defence, Department of Homeland Security and State Department, the programme is the brainchild of Tony Sgro, the CEO of EdVenture Partners, a California-based company that seeks to spread awareness and education about cultures across the world in an attempt to foster better understanding among people.

“I began this company 27 years ago, and we used to do a lot of work with companies like Shell, AT&T and Honda, as well as collect useful information about assimilating different cultures for the US Military and Intelligence forces and

the National Security Council,” recalled Sgro, speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman.

“In 2014, I received a call from the White House and they told me ‘this is great, we want to be part of this because we love the fact that young people are part of the solution.’

“After picking myself up off the floor, I began a pilot programme with 23 universities in Spring 2015,” he said.“We find professors of digital media, or social media or journalism or advertising, who teach classes of students numbering between 10 and 30. They then become their very own social media agency and we provide them with $2,000 and Facebook ad credits worth $400 to create their own programme to fight extremism at a local level.

“We leave it all to them, from the target audience, which could be the silent majority, to civic minded people, to how they want to send their message across,” he added.

“The government isn’t always the most credible source of information and the feedback we’ve had

FOCUS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS: Three universities from the Near

East South Asia region will be taking part in this competition, which looks at innovations created by college students to combat prejudice and extremism at local level.

has been great because these are some pretty interesting campaigns and we love it because these have picked up off the ground.

“We love the fact that young people are now becoming part

of the solution,” said Sgro. “The programme could be anything to combat extremism, from a middle school syllabus, to an app that detects hate in local news, to a play, to a video game. These students

know what is best for the community around them, so we leave the ideas and design to them.”

“What we’ve seen is that 25 per cent of the students who enter this challenge go on to develop these ideas further,” he added. “We have about 250 universities spread across 60 nations and, by next Spring, we’re expecting to grow to about 300.

“I would love if an Omani university joins us in 2017. Every year, we also hold regional competitions to find out which group of students made the best programme and then we fund that further. We award prizes of $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000, so that the top three teams can turn this into a business. All the money outside the US is provided by Facebook, while inside the US, it’s the Department of Homeland Security.”

Sgro is hoping that success stories will help propagate the idea further at ground level.

“One of the biggest success stories was a group of university students from Finland, who made an app, which was used to help

integrate refugees with Finnish culture and help people in Finland learn more about the refugees, because so many disadvantaged people from Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria make their way through Europe and ultimately end up in Scandinavia,” he explained.

“They found out that Belgium and France had done a very poor job of integrating immigrants into their societies and they wanted to change that.

“They realised that the only thing these refugees had were the clothes on their back and a mobile phone,” he went on to say. “They initiated so many events to get people to know each other.They organised football friendlies, and organised a fete where the refugees made 1,000 meals specific to their own cultures and gave them to people. They organised a clothes collection drive for the refugees because so many of them were so ill equipped for the cold weather.

“And now, they have their first clients for that app: the city of Turku in Finland was the first to officially sign up for it.”

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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OMAN

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U Z B E K I S TA N

AMERAT PIPELINE BURST CREATES JAM

A water pipeline burst near Amerat roundabout sent a jet of water high into the air, prompting officials to caution motorists about the danger. The gushing water caused major congestion on both sides of the street. Asking motorists to remain vigilant while crossing the stretch, the Public Authority of Electricity and Water (PAEW) said its team were on the site to repair the pipe.

36TH SESSION

Oman to take part in Cairo meeting MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Social Development, will take part in the 36th session of the Arab Social Affairs Ministers Council in Cairo today.

The Sultanate’s delegation will be led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Sa’ayid Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development.

Poverty and development The various problems related to poverty and development in the Arab countries will be discussed, in addition to the fiveyearly draft plan of the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers 2017-2021.

The session will follow-up implementing of the 2030 objectives of sustainable development in its social dimensions and the preparations for the 28th session of the Arab League Council scheduled for March 2017. -ONA

A5

HM receives thanks MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan in reply to His Majesty’s congratulatory cable on being elected as president of the country.

In his cable, President Mirziyoyev thanked His Majesty for his sincere congratulations and best wishes. He stressed the importance of promoting ties between Oman and Uzbekistan to serve interests of their people, commending Oman’s prestigious status in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

He wished His Majesty good health, happiness and a long life, and Omani people peace and prosperity. -ONA

ECONOMY CLASS

Oman Air wins world travel award Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman Air has been awarded the “World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class” at the World Travel Awards in the Maldives.

Oman Air beat competition from 17 other carriers including some of the best-known names in aviation.

The carrier has now won three World Travel Awards in 2016 alone, with the “‘Middle East’s Leading Airline, Business Class’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline, Economy Class’ already being awarded in October at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2016.

CEO of Oman Air Paul Gregorowitsch said: “This is an incredible result for Oman Air to

finish 2016 with three World Travel Awards. These awards set the standards for the travel industry and we have consistently been voted the best. Oman Air is a successful, sustainable company of the highest quality and it is immensely gratifying to be rewarded for our unique product and on board experience, in all classes.”The awards were presented in Maldives.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

OMAN Fahd praises good ties with India

STRONGER RELATIONS: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers with M J Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs in the Republic of India and,

right, Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office with the Indian minster. – ONA

M J Akbar conveyed the greetings of President Pranab Mukherjee along with his wishes of good health and happiness to HM

MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers received M J Akbar, Minister of State for External

Affairs in the Republic of India, yesterday.

M J Akbar is taking part in the 5th Arab Indian Partnership Conference currently being held in

Muscat with the participation of a number of ministers, businessmen and investors from the Arab countries and India.

During the meeting, the Indian minister conveyed the greetings of President Pranab Mukherjee and the Government of India along with his wishes of good health and happiness to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani people further progress and prosperity.

Sayyid Fahd praised the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

MINISTER MEETS SECRETARY GENERAL OF ARAB MINISTERS COUNCIL

Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior received yesterday Dr. Mohammed Ali Koman, Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, who is currently visiting the Sultanate. The leaders reviewed several security issues related to the Arab world. The meeting was attended by Eng. Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and a number of officials at the ministry. The visit of Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council to the Sultanate 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

Pact signed with Omantel for poll needs MUSCAT: A pact was signed by the Ministry of Interior with Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) on modernisation of basic infrastructure for meeting the needs of municipal councils elections.

The pact was signed at the Ministry’s premises in Al Khuwair.

Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry while from the side of Omantel it was signed by Talal bin Said Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel.

According to the contract, Omantel will provide all IT solutions and services to the Ministry. Omantel will also provide advance solutions and innovative communication services and cloud computing storage unit of high capacity for saving files and archiving purposes and which meet the requirements of the Ministry during the coming stage. The signing of the agreement would contribute to modernizing the Ministry’s systems and services in a way that is supportive to the e. government efforts, said Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry. -ONA

Sayyid Fahd also stressed the significance of Arab–Indian partnership in the economic, commerce and scientific spheres, information technology and exchange of expertise. M J Akbar and his accompanying delegation expressed their delight over the development witnessed in the Sultanate in the various spheres, under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Al Fadhel bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Harthi, Secretary General of the Council of Min-

isters, Said bin Saleh Al Kiyomi Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of the Republic of Indian accredited to the Sultanate.

Minister of the Royal Office Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office received in his office M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs in the Republic of India and his accompanying delegation, within the framework of his current visit to the Sultanate yester-

day. Gen. Al Nu’amani welcomed the guest, who expressed his delight to visit the Sultanate.

The meeting exchanged cordial conversations and discussed several topics of concern to the two countries.

The two sides reviewed march of the good bilateral relations binding the Sultanate and India to serve the joint interests, besides touching on a number of issues of common concern.

The meeting was attended by the Indian ambassador to the Sultanate. —ONA

FOREIGN MINISTRY

Oman, Tunisia sign pact on visa MUSCAT: Oman and Tunisia signed an agreement on exemption from visa by both the countries for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports.

The meeting of the Third Session of the Political Consultations Committee between the Sultanate’s Foreign Ministry and Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry was held, yesterday, at the premises of the foreign ministry.

The Omani side was chaired by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs while the Tunisian side was chaired by Tunisian Foreign Minister Khamis Al Jehinawi.

The two sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and expanding the scope of common interests between the two countries to cover the various economic and cul-

tural spheres. The two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of common concern and reaffirmed the necessity for dialogue and negotiations as an ideal way to solve political conflicts.

The meeting was attended from the Omani side by Dr. Mohammed bin Awadh Al Hassan,

assigned with the duties of the Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for diplomatic affairs.

From the Tunisian side it was attended by the Tunisian ambassador accredited to the Sultanate, the delegation accompanying the guest and a number of officials from the Tunisian foreign ministry. —ONA

ARAB MINISTERIAL TOURISM COUNCIL

Meeting organised to promote tourism in the Arab world Times News Service MUSCAT: A meeting was organised by the Arab Ministerial Tourism Council yesterday at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel to develop the tourism industry in the Arab world.

The Ministers from the Arab countries, members of World Tourism Organisation as well as representatives from the Arab Centre for Tourist Media took part in the meeting.

The council met to discuss ways to This meeting was preceded by the executive office meeting for the Arab Ministerial Tourism Council yesterday, which is entrusted to follow up and study the recommendations made by the Council.

In his opening statement,

Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi said, “This meeting will foster the cooperation between the countries of the Arab world, and help boost the growth of the tourism sector. We are proud that the Sultanate of Oman is hosting such an important and impactful meeting.”

He also added that the meeting coincides with the 46th National Day celebrations of the Sultanate, marking the achievements that the people of this country and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said continue to make.

Dr Dina Hussain Dhaher, Director of the department of transport and tourism at the General Secretariat of the Arab League of States thanked the Sultanate for its efforts in ensuring the success of the 19th edition of the Arab Ministerial Tourism Council.

Among the many issues the Council addressed include the development and implementation of the Arab Tourism Strategy as well as the tourism activities that drive the youth, as this is one of the most important tourism segments in the region.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

< FROM

A1 ‘Online complaints rising’ According to the official, in September, OMR38,000 was paid to workers - both Omanis and expatriates - as compensation on different labour dispute claims.

“For illegal termination claims, OMR16,800 was paid. In end of service benefits claims, OMR8,400 was paid and in other labour dispute cases OMR12,800 was paid,” the official added.

The official also said that OMR238,000 was paid as compensation in different kinds of

labour disputes in 2015.

“The largest compensation amount paid to a worker in 2015 was OMR22,000,” the official added.

According to a trade union leader, due to economic conditions, labour disputes are increasing. From September this year, the Ministry of Manpower has provided a platform to national and expatriate workers in Oman to file labour complaints online through the Ministry of Man-

power’s (MoM’s) portalwww. manpower.gov.om. Oman is also considering setting up a dedicated labour court for workers. In 60 days, 1,815 complaints were filed online at the Ministry of Manpower, a senior official said.

On average, this comes to around 30 complaints per day.

Many of the complaints were reviewed and immediate action was taken by the departments concerned to address the issues,” the senior official added.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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REGION L AW L E S S N E S S

11 headless bodies found in Yemen’s port city Aden DUBAI: Eleven headless bodies have been dumped in a nature reserve in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden, a local news website reported on Wednesday.

The Aden Al Ghad news website quoted a security source in the city as saying that the male bodies were found on Tuesday evening in the Al Hiswa reserve, west of Aden.

It was not immediately clear who killed the men and why, but Aden Al Ghad said the condition of the bodies suggested they had been dumped there more than a month ago. Yemen’s second largest city has been suffering from lawlessness, as armed groups including IS and Al Qaeda continue to maintain influence nearly a year and-a-half after supporters of President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by Arab coalition troops, drove the Houthis out.

Hadi’s government is struggling to restore security to the city of one million. The southern port city is under the control of the internationally recognised government in exile in Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, four suspected members of Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch, including a local commander, were killed by a drone strike on their vehicle east of the capital Sanaa. Last Saturday, a suicide bomber killed 50 soldiers when he blew himself up at a military base in the city in the latest of a series of attacks claimed by IS. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the 20-month conflict, which has unleashed a humanitarian crisis on the impoverished country. — Reuters

Air strikes and shelling hit Aleppo as evacuation stalls A ceasefire brokered on Tuesday by Russia and Turkey was intended to end years of fighting in the Syrian city

ALEPPO (SYRIA)/BEIRUT: Plans to evacuate rebel districts of Aleppo stalled on Wednesday as more fighting rocked the city and insurgents appeared to have rejected new conditions imposed on the deal by Iran.

Iran, one of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s main backers in the battle that has all but ended four years of rebel resistance in the city, wanted the simultaneous evacuation of wounded from two villages, Foua and Kefraya, that are besieged by rebel fighters, according to rebel and UN sources.

There was no sign of that happening. Insurgents fired shells at the two villages in Idlib province west of Aleppo, causing some casualties, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was no immediate indication when the evacuation might take place but a pro-opposition TV station said it could now be delayed until Thursday.

A ceasefire brokered on Tuesday

by Russia, Assad’s most power-

DEADLY STRIKES: Smoke is seen billowing in the background on Wednesday in a rebel-held neigh-

bourhood in the northern city of Aleppo. – AFP

ful ally, and Turkey was intended to end years of fighting in the city, giving the Syrian leader his biggest victory in more than five years of war. But air strikes, shelling and gunfire erupted on Wednesday and Turkey accused government forces of breaking the truce. Syrian state television said rebel shelling had killed six people.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said however that rebel resistance was likely to end in the next two or three days.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan will discuss Aleppo later on Wednesday, the

DROP IN OIL PRICES

INAUGURAL SESSION: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, right, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, centre, and deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrive for the opening session of the Shura Council in Riyadh. – AFP/Saudi Royal Palace

King Salman acknowledges economic pain of Saudis RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud told Saudis on Wednesday he recognised that economic restructuring measures adopted in response to a sharp drop in oil prices were painful, but said they were necessary to avoid long-term damage to the country.

“The state has sought to deal with these changes... through a variety of measures to restructure the economy, some of which may be painful in the short run but ultimately aim to protect the economy of your country from worse problems,” he told the consultative Shura Council.

“Similar circumstances have happened before over the past three decades, forcing the state to cut its expenses, but it emerged from them, thanks be to God, with a strong economy and continuous and increasing growth,” Salman said.

In a drastic step to save money, the king in September ordered salaries of ministers and Shura Council members to be cut by 20 and 15 per cent, and scaled back financial perks for public sector employees. Saudi Arabia racked up a record budget deficit of nearly $100 billion last year, forcing it to find new savings and ways to raise money. King Salman also

said that Saudi Arabia sees the security of neighbouring Yemen as part of the kingdom’s own security. “We will not accept any interference in its internal affairs or anything that affects its legitimacy (government), or will make it a hub or a passage for any state or party to target the security of the kingdom and the region as a whole,” he said.

Saudi Arabia is leading an alliance of Arab states fighting to restore Yemeni President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi to power.

King Salman also said that Saudi Arabia would continue to work with world powers to achieve world peace. — Reuters

Kremlin was quoted as saying.

Officials in the military alliance backing Assad could not be reached immediately for comment on why the evacuation, expected to start in the early hours of Wednesday, had stalled.

Nobody had left by dawn under the plan, according to a Reuters witness waiting at the departure point, where 20 buses stood with engines running but showed no sign of moving into rebel districts.

People in eastern Aleppo packed their bags and burned personal belongings, fearing looting by the Syrian army and its Iranian-backed militia allies.

In what appeared to be a separate development from the planned evacuation, the Russian defence ministry said 6,000 civilians and 366 fighters had left rebel-held districts over the past 24 hours.

A total of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebel fighters, wanted to leave Aleppo, according to a media unit run by the Syrian government’s ally Hezbollah.

The evacuation plan was the culmination of two weeks of rapid advances by the Syrian army and its allies that drove insurgents back into an ever-smaller pocket of the city under intense air

strikes and artillery fire.

By taking full control of Aleppo, Assad has proved the power of his military coalition, aided by Russia’s air force and an array of militias from across the region.

Russia’s decision to deploy its air force to Syria 18 months ago turned the war in Assad’s favour after rebel advances across western Syria. In addition to Aleppo, he has won back insurgent strongholds near Damascus this year.

The government and its allies have focused the bulk of their firepower on fighting rebels in western Syria rather than IS, which this week managed to take back the ancient city of Palmyra, once again illustrating the challenge Assad faces reestablishing control over all Syria.

Russia regards the fall of Aleppo as a major victory against terrorists, as it and Assad characterise all the rebel groups, both hardliners and nationalist, fighting to oust him. But at the United Nations, the United States said the violence in the city, besieged and bombarded for months, represented “modern evil”.

The once-flourishing economic centre with its renowned ancient sites has been pulverised during the war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and allowed the rise of IS. As the battle for Aleppo unfolded, global concern has risen over the plight of the 250,000 civilians who were thought to remain in its rebel-held eastern sector before the sudden army advance began at the end of November. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016 Our young workforce will be an asset if they have jobs. But, if the country is unable to provide jobs, there will be unrest and frustration Pranab Mukherjee, President

INDIA A S I A N B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S C O N C L AV E

Cleaning system from black money very high on my agenda: Modi NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of his demonetisation decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said cleaning the system from black money and corruption is “very high” on his agenda amid a push towards employment generation and selfemployment opportunities.

“India is currently witnessing an economic transformation... We are now moving towards a digital and cashless economy,” he said while addressing via video conferencing the ‘Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave 2016’ in Kuala Lumpur along with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.

“Presently, cleaning the system from black money and corruption is very high on my agenda,” Modi said, against the backdrop of his November 8 decision to scrap notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 denomination.

He said the economic process in India is being geared towards activities which are vital for gener-

ating employment or self-employment opportunities.

The prime minister told the gathering that a number of steps have been taken to attract greater Foreign Direct Investment and listed the various steps taken in this direction. He also mentioned that amendment to the Constitution to pave the way for Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will overhaul the indirect tax system in India, has been cleared by Parliament and “this is expected to be implemented in 2017”.

“We welcome those who are not in India so far... India is not only a good destination. It’s always a good decision to be in India,” Modi said.

“We have opened up new sectors for FDI and enhanced caps for existing sectors,” he said, adding the government’s concerted efforts on major FDI policy reforms continue and conditions for investments have been simplified.

Total FDI inflows in the last two

and a half years have touched $130 billion, Modi said. “The positive change in policy, regulatory and investment environment in India is recognised by both domestic and foreign investors,” he said.

Referring to “Make in India” which celebrated 2nd anniversary this year, the prime minister said the initiative is aimed at making the country a global hub of manufacturing, design and innovation.

“India is currently buzzing with entrepreneurial activity like never before... We have now become the 6th largest manufacturing country in the world,” he said.

“Our efforts to ensure ease of doing business in India have been comprehensive and wide ranging, including legislative and structural,” Modi said. He said the government has also “rationalised greatly” the licensing regime and launched “single window interfaces” for registering a business, export-import clearances and la-

bour compliance. “The outcomes of our efforts are visible from India’s global rankings on various indicators,” he said.

“We have adopted a comprehensive National Intellectual Property Rights policy to lay the future roadmap for intellectual property,” he said about an issue which has been a major concern among the foreign investors. Modi said startups are the next big economic force in India and are “no less than a revolution”.

“Building futuristic infrastructure is the biggest task at our hand.

We are developing a pentagon of industrial corridors across India,” the prime minister said. He said there is immense focus on removing the logistics constraints and roads, railways, ports are being upgraded across the country.

“This is a time for integration... at the level of economy also, we are among the most open and integrated economies,” he said. -PTI

SPELLING OUT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said cleaning the system from black money and corruption is “very high” on his agenda amid a push towards employment generation and self-employment opportunities. - PTI file photo

Rahul says he has information on Modi’s ‘personal corruption’ Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegation as ‘false and baseless’ and ‘very unfortunate’

NEW DELHI: After claiming that there will be an “earthquake” if he speaks, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that he has detailed information about “personal corruption” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he wants to present in Lok Sabha but is not being allowed to do so by the prime minister.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar rejected Gandhi’s allegation as “false and baseless” and “very unfortunate”.

“The allegation was made out of desperation and he (Gandhi) should apologise to the nation,” he told reporters.

As the Parliament remained deadlocked over the issue of demonetisation, Gandhi said the prime minister is personally terrified of him being allowed to speak inside Lok Sabha.

“The prime minister is personally terrified of me being allowed to open my mouth inside Lok Sabha because I have information about the prime minister that is going to explode his balloon. And I am not being allowed to speak in the House,” he told reporters in Parliament premises.

Asked what kind of information he has, the Congress Vice President said, “That information is

MAKING A POINT: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi with TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and other opposition leaders addressing a press conference at Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. -PTI

personal information about Narendra Modiji which I want to state in Lok Sabha. It is personal corruption of the Prime Minister that we have detailed information about.

We want to present it, which the Prime Minister is not allowing us to speak.”

Rahul said the entire opposition wants a debate in Parliament and have discussed with the Speaker to allow it while dispensing all rules.

“Pretty much unconditionally we are ready to have a discussion, but the government is not interested in having a discussion. I have already said it before, the prime minister is personally terrified of me being allowed to open my mouth inside the Lok Sabha,” he said.

He claimed Modi has taken a decision against the poor people of this country and has “destroyed”

millions of lives and thus is answerable.

He said he has personally taken this decision and he cannot keep running away from the House.

Rahul said the prime minister cannot keep “running away” to pop concerts to public meetings.

This is a democracy, he owes this country an explanation and he owes the entire opposition a space in the discussion in the Lok Sabha, he said.

“The prime minister is worried.

He goes to pop concerts and public meetings. Why does he not come to the House. For the first time in history, the treasury benches and the government is stalling Parliament.

Normally the opposition stalls the House.

“The prime minister should stop taking alibis and he should

come to the House and give all of us an opportunity to speak. Then the country should take a decision on whether the opposition or the prime minister is speaking the truth,” he said.

Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who was accompanied by Rahul, said the entire Parliamentary system is facing a “threat” as government is not allowing the House to function smoothly and allow the opposition to speak.

“We cannot understand why so much arrogance on the part of the government. The voice of the opposition is going to be gagged.

Parliamentary democratic system is now under threat only to resist that Rahul Gandhi will not be allowed to speak,” he said.

He said the government is

spreading rumours that after Rahul Gandhi speaks, the opposition will not allow the House to function. “It is totally incorrect,” he said.

Bandyopadhyay charged the government is not allowing the opposition to speak in Lok Sabha and this was “unfortunate and disgraceful”.

P. Karunakaran (CPI-M) said all 16 parties came together on the issue of demonetisation and wanted a discussion on the issue, but the government is now allowing this.

“Government is not willing to answer questions. The prime minister is accountable to Parliament but has not come to the Lok Sabha. It is very clear that they are not ready to answer the questions raised. The prime minister is running away from Parliament which means he is running away from people,” he said.

NCP leader Tariq Anwer said this is the first time that such an atmosphere has been created where the opposition is not allowed to speak.

“It is a conspiracy by the government. The entire opposition is united. What is the government fearing from. We are all united. Let us be allowed to speak,” he said.

Rahul was accompanied by a few other party leaders besides his own leaders in Lok Sabha, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Earlier leaders of 16 opposition parties on Wednesday met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad’s and decided to launch a united offensive against the government on demonetisation.

They also decided to launch a united offensive against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is under opposition fire over his alleged role in the “Arunachal power scam”. - PTI

A N N UA L D AY F U N C T I O N

‘India may face unrest, frustration if youths are jobless’ CHHINDWARA: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said there may be “unrest and frustration” in the country if youth remains unemployed, while stressing on the need to equip them with skills. Mukherjee said with jobs the young workforce can be an asset.

Most graduates produced by colleges and universities are “unemployable”, he said.

“India, with the second largest population in the world, will face a major challenge in the coming years. Half of its population will be below 25 years of age,” he said.

“Our young workforce will be an asset if they have jobs. But, if the country is unable to provide jobs, there will be unrest and frustration,” Mukherjee said while addressing the annual day function of CII Skill Training Centre here. He said to get jobs, paper qualifications alone will not suffice, skills are essential.

“Our universities and colleges produce a large number of graduates every year but most of them are unemployable. Our youth need jobs,” he stressed.

Referring to the shortage of skilled hands, he said, “Our industry has problems finding adequate skilled manpower.

The economic growth in the advanced countries of the world, most of whom have ageing populations, is low.

“Emerging economies like India and China are, however, witnessing rapid economic growth. We must, therefore, seize this opportunity by encouraging skill development in every way possible,” the president said. - PTI

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

North reels under cold; dense fog claims 5 lives NEW DELHI: Dense fog shrouded parts of the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday where five persons died in separate mishaps due to poor visibility, even as Kashmir division reeled under sub-zero temperatures.

Shallow foggy conditions were witnessed in the national capital in the morning leading to cancellation of 22 trains.

The city recorded a minimum of 10.5 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal, while the maximum temperature stood at 24.2 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average.

Poor visibility A senior railway official said rail traffic was hit because of foggy weather conditions.

However, flight operations were reported normal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Five persons, including three college students, were killed in separate road mishaps in Punjab and Haryana due to poor visibility as dense fog shrouded parts of the two states affecting normal life.

The weatherman said fog re-

RAIL TRAFFIC HIT: People walk on the railway tracks during a foggy morning in Jammu on Wednesday. - PTI

duced visibility at many places in the states including Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Karnal, Panipat, Gurugram and Faridabad and affected rail, road and air traffic in the region.

Chandigarh recorded a low of 9.9 degrees Celsius, Ambala 11.6 degrees, Karnal 10.2 degrees and Hisar 10.3 degrees Celsius, the

MeT department said.

Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala in Punjab registered respective minimum temperatures of 6.8, 10.4 and 11.4 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Kashmir division reeled under sub-zero minimum temperatures as Leh in Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place at minus 10.9 degrees Celsius.

“Leh recorded a low of minus 10.9 degrees Celsius last night.

Kargil town, also in Ladakh region, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius,” an official of the MeT department told PTI. He said Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius - down from previous night’s minus 0.5 degree Celsius.

The official said Pahalgam which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra shivered at a low minus 5.3 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night’s minus 4.9 degrees Celsius.

Mount Abu in Rajasthan was the coldest in the state at 6 degrees Celsius.

The capital city of Jaipur recorded a maximum of 26.7 degrees and the minimum at 14.7 degrees Celsius.

Cold wave conditions continued in Bihar with the capital city of Patna recording a minimum temperature of 9.6 degrees and a maximum of 17.9 degrees Celsius.

Services of many trains under East Central Railway (ECR) zone remained affected due to fog. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

Key part of CPEC’s western route in Turbat inaugurated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was witnessing growth and uplift in every nook and corner, and China Pakistan Economic Corridor will prove to be a game-changer for the region

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the development of Balochistan means a new Pakistan is in the making.

“Building up of a new Balochistan means that a new Pakistan is being built,” the premier said while addressing a gathering

SPELLING OUT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing a gathering in Turbat in connection with the inauguration of Sorab-Hoshab Highway N-85 on Wednesday. – AFP file photo

in Turbat in connection with the inauguration of Sorab-Hoshab Highway N-85 on Wednesday.

The highway will be a part of the western route and connect northern and southern communication routes. Nawaz further said that the development of the province is not a favour but an obligation on the federal government, adding that terrorism was witnessing its

last days in the country.

Pakistan, the premier added, was witnessing growth and uplift in every nook and corner, saying China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will prove to be a game-changer for the region.

The premier went on to add that Pakistan’s foes weren’t happy with CPEC project while its friends had felicitated its initiation.

A9

Nawaz also said that he will ask Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to start Boeing flights from Karachi to Turbat. The project was completed by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) at a cost of approximately Rs22 billion.

It comprises of a total of 16 bridges and 1,502 culverts.

It will link Gwadar Port with the National Highway network

near Surab, Quetta and other parts of the country. The road will also provide shortest link to Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries with Gwadar Port and also resulted in the completion of the vital North-South road.

The project completed is termed an important part of the western corridor of CPEC. Meanwhile, in an apparent reference to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Nawaz said some people think they can assume power by creating an uncertainty in the country.

The nation is able to determine the ones working for the development of the country as well as those playing with their emotions, he remarked.

Development, the premier reiterated, is the only way to take this country forward and the incumbent government has made it clear that the only way to rule is through service to the masses.

“Pakistan has to develop both in terms of material and spirit as this country has a history of ethical traditions and respect for each other,” the prime minister said before adding, “Masses will decide Pakistan’s fate in 2018 which is going to be a better year for the country.” - Express Tribune

FIRST-EVER

Pakistan, Russia hold consultations on regional issues ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday said it has held firstever consultations with Russia over important global and regional issues amid warming ties between the former Cold War rivals.

“The first Pakistan-Russia Consultations on Regional Issues were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Islamabad) on December 13,” the Foreign Office here said in a statement on Tuesday’s discussions.

During the consultations, the whole range of regional issues as well as key areas of mutual interest including economic cooperation and connectivity were discussed.

“The two sides also exchanged views on important global and regional developments,” said the statement. It was decided that the next round of consultations will be convened in Moscow in 2017.

The consultations were held amid growing ties between Pakistan and Russia after decades of mistrust and animosity during the Cold War. In September, Russia held its first-ever military exercises with Pakistan and has also started selling weapons to Islamabad. -PTI

FIRST VISIT

Karachi operation to continue till sustainable peace is attained: Bajwa

General Qamar Javed Bajwa

KARACHI: Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that gains of Karachi operation will not be allowed to reverse, and it will continue till attainment of sustainable peace.

Gen Bajwa, on his first visit to the metropolis since assuming command as the Chief of Army Staff(COAS), visited Corps and Rangers headquarters in Karachi where he was briefed about the ac-

complishments in the operation and the way forward, said Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.

The army chief said all efforts will be made to consolidate gains made so far during the operations ops, saying remnants of terrorists and their sleeper cells will be eliminated indiscriminately.

Gen Bajwa observed that security in the metropolitan had direct

I N D I G E N O U S LY D E S I G N E D

Pakistan successfully test fires Babur Cruise Missile ISLAMABAD: Pakistan conducted on Wednesday successful test of the indigenously designed Babur Cruise Missile.

“Babur Weapon System version – 2 incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy, at a range of 700km,” military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.

“It is a low flying, terrain hugging missile, which carries certain stealth features and is capable of carrying various types of warheads.” Babur Weapon System, according to the ISPR, will be an important force multiplier for Pakistan’s strategic defence as it is equipped with navigational

technology, enabling it target with accuracy even in the absence of GPS system.

The launch was witnessed

by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and other senior officers from Strategic Plans Division and Strategic Forces.

Expressing his complete confidence over the Strategic Command and Control System and the Strategic Forces’ operational preparedness, Gen Zubair said the test had further strengthened country’s deterrence capability.

Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated the scientists and engineers on successful missile test. - Express Tribune

BLAST OFF: The indigenously designed Babur Cruise Missile missile has certain stealth features and is capable of carrying warheads. -AFP/ISPR file

I N C R E D I B L E TA L E N T

Meet Iqra, the girl with the golden voice LAHORE: A few months ago, a video showing a girl belting out a tune while in what seemed to be a sculpting class, went viral owing to her exquisite singing.

The incredible talent is Iqra Arif, a student of Fine Art at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore and a very passionate vocalist in her very own band Sawal.

Iqra’s incredible talent has landed her into Pakistan’s music industry as she recently recorded an OST for a Pakistani drama Main Hoon Mehru.

After her video went viral, Iqra is considering a career in music.

“I was very shocked when three hours after the video was uploaded it had attracted so many viewers. Soon after my seniors and juniors at NCA approached me telling me I was an internet sensation. It was a lot of fun, but more importantly it gave me encouragement to continue and not stop,” she said. Her newfound fame, however, came at a price.

Apart from gender discrimination, she also has to face criticism for wearing a scarf.

She, however, continues to be

PASSIONATE VOCALIST: Iqra Arif, a student of Fine Art at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore and a very passionate vocalist in her very own band Sawal. - Facebook

an example of empowerment.

“There were a lot of mean comments on my video. But you have to remember to satisfy yourself first and if you are satisfied, you are good to go.”

Iqra developed an interest for music at an early age, and without any professional training, she exercised her vocals as a recreational activity. In ninth grade, she won the first prize in a Kalam contest, which led her to recognise her true potential. It was not until last year that she became the main

vocalist in her own band, “It was a funny story. I was a first year student at NCA and as you know freshmen students are always ragged (bullied). Faraz bhai, my senior, had come to bully me and asked me to sing in front of everyone. I sang Chap Te Lak and my voice impressed him to the extent that he asked me to become a part of his band.”

“I had an idea and Faraz Siddiqui had a platform,” she adds.

Taking inspiration from legendary Sufi singers, such as Abida Parveen, the band bases their performances along those lines.

The name Sawaal was thus coined.

Iqra further elaborated, “Kiyu ke log Sufi zaat se sawal karte hain.” Sawaal has so far successfully performed across Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi. In a message to all young artists and musicians out there Iqra says, “Utilize your talent and do not let it go to waste. Believe in God and give everything your best. Also, if what you’re doing is different – it’s great, it’s never too late to give anything a shot in life.”- Express Tribune

bearing on overall business climate and economic activity of the entire country.

He commended Army, Rangers, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies for noticeable improvement in the law and order situation of the metropolis.

Gen Bajwa also appreciated the sacrifices of people of Karachi in this regard. He directed focused and synergised efforts of all mili-

tary and civil intelligence agencies for optimum effects to preempt potential threats to Karachi’s peace.

Gen Bajwa vowed that Pakistan Army will render all assistance to government four capacity building and training of law enforcement agencies for long-term effectiveness against organised crime and enduring peace.

Earlier during the day, the army chief visited Quaid’s mausoleum,

where he laid a floral wreath and offered prayers.

On Monday Bajwa has vowed to break the nexus between terrorists and their facilitators at all costs.

“Nexus between terrorists in remote areas and their facilitators in urban centres will be severed whatever the amount of effort and time,” the ISPR quoted the Army chief as saying on Monday.

-Express Tribune

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

WORLD

A panel of five judges ruled unanimously that Anwar Ibrahim’s application for a review of his 2014 conviction, his final legal option for an acquittal, was without merit.

AT TA C K S O N B O R D E R P O S T

Myanmar government is ‘following the law’ in Rakhine: Probe panel YANGON/BEIJING: A commission set up by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to investigate attacks on border posts and the army’s brutal response on Wednesday said security forces had abided by the law in a Muslimmajority area of northwestern Rakhine State.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate established the body amid growing international pressure to investigate allegations that Myanmar soldiers had killed and raped civilians and burned down their homes, as well as to allow aid agencies to reach the area.

In a statement, the 13-member panel said, “Government authorities have followed the law and acted legally in their response to the attackers.”

The preliminary conclusion raises questions over whether the commission —headed by Vice President Myint Swe, a general and an acolyte of former junta leader Than Shwe - will deliver an independent verdict in its full re-

port, expected by January 31.

On Tuesday, the body wrapped up a three-day visit to Maungdaw, where at least 86 people have been killed since the October 9 attacks and where the military sweep has prompted about 27,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

Rohingya, who form the majority of residents in Maungdaw, are denied citizenship in Myanmar, face restrictions on their movements and have limited access to healthcare and education.

Najib Razak, the prime minister of neighbouring Muslim-majority Malaysia, has accused Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya.

Suu Kyi has called a special meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the issue in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyitaw on Monday.

The panel visited the sites of numerous attacks believed to have been launched by a previously un-

LISTENING TO GRIEVANCES: Rakhine State Investigation Commission officials meeting residents of Gwazon, a Muslim majority village in Maungdaw located in Rakhine State near the Bangladesh border, where a military officer was killed by a group of attackers on November 12. - AFP/State Counsellor Office

known Rohingya armed group. Up to 17 police and security forces were killed in the initial attacks and subsequent clashes.

The panel also visited Muslim villages, but its members did not hear allegations of rape by soldiers,

the statement said. Such claims cannot be verified as authorities have blocked travel to the area by independent journalists and observers.

“The military replied they didn’t rape the women as described in

the fabricated news stories, that they followed the rules,” the statement added.

Villagers told the panel they had “received aid, and asked to get more,” the commission said, without naming the villages visited.

That contrasted with a statement on Tuesday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) that deliveries had only reached 20,000 of the 150,000 people who got food, cash and nutrition aid before the attacks.

“There are escalating concerns about the health implications of the suspension of services and movement restrictions,” said OCHA, adding that about 7,600 pregnant women were cut off from medical care and 3,400 malnourished children were at risk.

Meanwhile, China hopes Myanmar will ensure peace and stability along their border and keep stray bullets out of its neighbour’s territory, the defence ministry said, after a senior Chinese military com-

Damage to ‘one China’ policy would seriously impact peace The issue is highly sensitive for China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, and Beijing expressed ‘serious concern’ about Trump’s remarks

WARNED: A Chinese magazine featuring US President-elect Donald Trump on the cover is seen at a

news stand in Shanghai on Wednesday. China warned Taiwan that declaring independence would be a “dead end”, state media said December 14, after the island’s democratically elected president phoned Donald Trump in a precedent-breaking move. - AFP

BEIJING/TAIPEI: China warned on Wednesday that any interference with or damage to the “one China” principle would have a serious impact on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as Taiwan said maintaining peace was in everyone’s interest.

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States did not necessarily have to stick to its long-standing position that Taiwan is part of “one China”, further upsetting China which was already angered by Trump’s earlier telephone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

The issue is highly sensitive for

China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, and Beijing expressed “serious concern” about Trump’s remarks. An Fengshan, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular news conference the Taiwan issue was about China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Upholding the ‘one China’ principle is the political basis of developing China-US relations, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

“If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy, sta-

ble development of China-US relations is out of the question, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be seriously impacted,” An said. Taiwan’s policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said peaceful relations were a mutual responsibility across both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

“Taiwan has repeatedly stressed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region is in the best interests of all parties,” said council spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng.

“Taiwan places equal weight on

the development of Taiwan-US relations and cross-strait relations.”

China is deeply suspicious of Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party, believing they want to push for the island’s formal independence, a red line for Beijing. China has repeatedly warned that hard-won peace and stability across the narrow strait that separates them could be affected by any moves towards independence.

“I think the facts tell these people that Taiwan independence is a dead end,” An said.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and some state media have suggested after Trump’s remarks that a military solution may now be needed.

A senior US defence official said on Tuesday Taiwan’s defence spending had not kept pace with the threat posed by China and should be increased. Taiwan’s annual defence spending has not hit 3 per cent of its gross domestic product in recent years, which some military and political experts in Taiwan have said should be a minimum level.

“Taiwan’s defence spending factors in external threats and the nation’s annual budget,” Taiwan defence ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said.

“Our premier has said previously that the cabinet can look to use a special budget to meet defence needs in an emergency situation.”

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the United States needed to handle the Taiwan issue cautiously to avoid ties with China receiving unnecessary interference.

“As for the so-called issue of Taiwan being threatened, I think we’ve said many times that we oppose the US and Taiwan having any form of official contacts or military relations,” Geng told a daily news briefing. - Reuters

mander visited the former Burma this week.

A series of attacks by ethnic armed groups on Myanmar security forces last month sent thousands of people crossing into China to escape the violence, with minor damage reported from stray shells and bullets.

During the four-day visit that began on Sunday, Zhao Zongqi, commander of China’s western military district, met senior Myanmar military officials, China’s Defence Ministry said in a short statement.

“China is concerned at the armed clashes in northern Myanmar injuring Chinese border residents, and hopes Myanmar can strengthen border management, prevent stray bullets entering into China and maintain the peace and tranquility of the border,” it said.

In response, Myanmar said it would “appropriately handle” the border issue and ensure stability to prevent injuries for Chinese residents, it added. - Reuters M A L AY S I A

Opposition leader Anwar loses final bid for freedom KUALA LUMPUR: Jailed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday lost his final bid for freedom when a federal court rejected his appeal to set aside his conviction and five-year jail term.

Once a rising star in the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, Anwar is the greatest threat to Prime Minister Najib Razak and his coalition, after leading a three-party opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013.

A panel of five judges ruled unanimously that Anwar’s application for a review of his 2014 conviction, his final legal option for an acquittal, was without merit.

“This is not a fit or proper case for this court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to initiate a review,” Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, the Chief Judge of Malaya, said as he read excerpts from a 60-page ruling. Anwar was convicted and jailed and he and his supporters describe the charges as a politically motivated attempt to end his career. “This is not the end of the road... I have pleaded and reiterated my innocence, but the judiciary has ignored my pleas,” Anwar told reporters in the court after the verdict.

“This is a long walk to freedom,” he said. - Reuters

ACCIDENT

US military grounds Osprey aircraft in Japan after Okinawa crash TOKYO: The United States military on Wednesday grounded its tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft in Japan after Tokyo called for a halt to flights following a crash southwest of Okinawa island, the first accident involving the aircraft in the Asian nation.

The aircraft has become a lightning rod for opposition to the US military presence in Okinawa, with local groups seeking the clo-

sure of American bases saying it is prone to crash and poses a danger to residents. A US-operated Osprey ditched into the sea on Tuesday, injuring its crew of five after a hose connected to the aircraft broke during a refuelling exercise.

Images of the scene aired by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK showed the aircraft broke into several pieces in waters close to the coast. “No flights in Japan are

planned today,” said a US Marine Corps spokesman in Okinawa. The US military was still investigating the cause of the crash, which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described as “regrettable” on Wednesday.

The Osprey, built by Boeing Co and Textron Inc’s Bell Helicopter and designed to take off like a helicopter and rotate its propellers to fly like a plane, has suffered a series of incidents in other

parts of the world prior to the crash in Okinawa.

The United States says it has two Osprey squadrons in Japan, although it does not disclose the precise number of aircraft. A squadron typically comprises between 12 to 24 aircraft.

“We regret the accident, but we do not regret the work of our young pilots,” Lieutenant General Lawrence D. Nicholson, the USMC

commander on Okinawa, told a news briefing on the island broadcast by NHK. The first Osprey crash in Japan could further delay plans to relocate some US forces on the island and comes amid a surge in resentment over US bases after an American civilian working for the military was arrested this year over the murder of a 20-year-old Japanese woman. - Reuters

WRECKAGE: A wrecked US

Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft that crash-landed in the sea off Nago is seen in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan on Wednesday. - Kyodo/via Reuters

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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RISING TENSIONS

Netherlands ‘wary of long arm’ of Turkish after failed coup AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands said on Wednesday it would challenge every instance of the “long arm” of Ankara extending to its territory, after a report the Turkish embassy had sent home a list of Dutch Turks who might have sympathised with July’s failed coup.

Envoy summoned The Dutch foreign minister summoned Turkey’s ambassador in The Hague after a report in De Telegraaf newspaper citing Yusuf Acar, who is both a diplomat and the chairman of the Dutch arm of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, as acknowledging he had

Satellite images showed anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to protect against cruise

MILITARISATION: A satellite image shows anti-aircraft guns and

missile strikes

what are likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) on the artificial island Hughes Reef in the South China Sea on Tuesday. – CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe/Handout via Reuters

WASHINGTON: China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a US think tank reported on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarise the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries.

AMTI said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands since June and July. China has already built military length airstrips on these islands.

“It now seems that these structures are an evolution of pointdefence fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs,” it said citing images taken in November

WORLD

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Beijing deploys weapons on artificial islands

and made available to Reuters.

“This model has gone through another evolution at (the) muchlarger bases on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs.”

Satellite images of Hughes and Gaven reefs showed what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and what were likely to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to protect against cruise missile strikes, it said. Images from Fiery Cross Reef showed towers that likely contained targeting radar, it said.

Covers AMTI said covers had been installed on the towers at Fiery Cross, but the size of platforms on these and the covers suggested they concealed defence systems similar to those at the smaller reefs.

“These gun and probable CIWS emplacements show that Beijing is serious about defence of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea,” it said.

“Among other things, they

would be the last line of defence against cruise missiles launched by the United States or others against these soon-to-be-operational air bases.”

AMTI director Greg Poling said AMTI had spent months trying to figure out what the purposes of the structures was.

“This is the first time that we’re confident in saying they are anti-aircraft and CIWS emplacements. We did not know that they had systems this big and this advanced there,” he told Reuters.

“This is militarisation. The Chinese can argue that it’s only for defensive purposes, but if you are building giant anti-aircraft gun and CIWS emplacements, it means that you are prepping for a future conflict.

“They keep saying they are not militarising, but they could deploy fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles tomorrow if they wanted to,” he said. “Now they have all the infrastructure in place for these interlocking rings of defence and power projection.” — Reuters

A1 1

compiled the list of “Gulenists”.

Ankara accuses supporters of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen of backing the short-lived coup in which over 240 people were killed.

In Turkey, over 100,000 people have been detained, suspended or sacked from judiciary, media and civil service and tensions have spread within the 500,000 DutchTurkish community, with some suspected Gulenist sympathisers facing death threats.

In a statement, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said the Telegraaf report was “worrying.”

“We’re going to ask for clarification about this,” Koenders said.

“In addition, we are going to engage with the Turkish authorities and the Diyanet organisation in Ankara. That’s part of our policy of challenging every incident that concerns the “long arm” with our Turkish counterparts.”

Acar told De Telegraaf that he had assembled the list from publicly available sources in his capacity as an employee of the Turkish Embassy, and not as leader of the religious affairs directorate, the Diyanet. Koenders said that “if true, that means the combination of a diplomatic status with the chairmanship of Diyanet is problematic.” — Reuters

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

WORLD S E NAT E

Italy premier wins vote of confidence ROME: Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni won the backing of the fragmented Senate on Wednesday, allowing his government to formally take office as a new threat emerged to the legacy of predecessor Matteo Renzi.

Renzi resigned last week when he lost a referendum on his proposed reform of the constitution.

Looking to stave off political turmoil, the head of state asked Gentiloni, the outgoing foreign minister, to form a new cabinet. A fter winning an initial vote of confidence in the lower chamber of parliament on Tuesday, Gentiloni secured victory in the upper house Senate and promised to push ahead with Renzi’s reform agenda. But the reform drive, once heralded by investors as a sign that Italy was finally facing up to myriad problems such as chronic economic underperformance and rampant graft, looks increasingly ragged.

With the constitutional reform already shot down by a referendum, another of Renzi’s flagship projects, a shake-up of the labour market, risks suffering the same fate with Italy’s main union de-

CAKE FOR POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis receives a cake realised by students of a cooking school during his Wednesday general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. — Osservatore Romano/Handout via REUTERS

manding a plebiscite on the law.

Italy’s Constitutional Court said on Wednesday it would review the request on January 11.

If it gives the green light to the CGIL union, a referendum on the Jobs Act could be held before next summer.

Business leaders denounced the move to overturn the reform, which made it easier to hire and fire workers, and the labour minister told reporters the initiative on unions made it more likely that national elections would be brought forward.

Following the referendum defeat, Renzi supporters fear the anti-establishment drive will push Italians to reject the Jobs Act. By bringing forward the national vote, the referendum would be automatically delayed by up to 12 months.

“It seems to me that the prevailing attitude is to go to elections soon, before any referendum on the Jobs Act,” said Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti.

A new electoral law must be drawn up before national elections can be held. — Reuters

May condemns UK’s worst rail strike in two decades Passengers trying

Court orders Crimean gold treasures to be returned to Ukraine AMSTERDAM: A priceless collection of gold artifacts from Crimea that was on loan to a Dutch museum when Russia seized the peninsula must be returned to Ukraine and not Crimea, a Dutch court ruled on Wednesday in a judgement likely to anger Moscow.

Kiev and the four museums have been wrangling over the fate of the archeological treasures, including gems, helmets and scabbards, which were on loan to Amsterdam’s Allard Pierson Museum when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March, 2014.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, alluding to Ukraine’s ambition to restore Kiev’s rule over the peninsula, tweeted: “The Scythian Gold is coming back home - to Ukraine. I’m sure, it will also return to Ukrainian Crimea.”

to get to London from the southeast struggled to get to work as drivers on Southern Rail continued a 48-hour stoppage over a dispute about whose job it should be to open and close the train doors

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned as “appalling” a rail strike that left hundreds of thousands of London commuters facing a second day of travel chaos on Wednesday.

Speaking in parliament, she urged the two sides to find a solution to avoid prolonging Britain’s worst rail disruption for two decades.

Passengers trying to get to London from the southeast struggled to get to work as drivers on Southern Rail - part of the country’s biggest rail franchise - continued a 48-hour stoppage over a dispute about whose job it should be to open and close the train doors.

May called for an end to the action as Southern and the drivers’

RULING

CHAOS: People walk across Westminster Bridge on the second day of a train strike in London, Britain on Wednesday. — Reuters

union Aslef met for talks at the conciliation service Acas before more stoppages planned for Friday and in January. “This is an appalling strike,” she said.

“We’ve seen driver-only operated trains on rail networks in the UK for decades. I hope that the talks at Acas are going to lead to an end to this strike.” “There is only one body responsible for the current strike, that is Aslef,” she added. Wednesday’s talks have not

yet involved the other main rail union, the RMT, which represents conductors, and is also involved in the dispute. It is planning strikes on the Southern network next week.

Southern, run by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), a joint venture owned by Londonlisted Go-Ahead and France’s Keolis, told passengers not to try to travel during the strike.

Commentators said this week’s

strikes would have the biggest impact since action by signal workers in the mid-1990s. They follow a series of stoppages on Southern this year which have caused misery for commuters.

Some of them say they have even lost their jobs because they could not get to work on time.

Southern said in a statement it hoped the talks with Aslef would be productive, and added that it had asked to speak to the RMT at

Acas later on Wednesday, to try to end the dispute. Parent company Go-Ahead, which has apologised for the troubles on Southern, is due to provide investors with a trading update on Thursday.

The strike action on Southern is not a major concern for Go-Ahead investors due to the terms of the contract between the rail operator and the government which mean the latter must take the hit for revenues lost to strike action.- Reuters

Return to Crimea In an initial reaction, the Russian Culture Ministry was quoted by RIA news agency as saying “the museum objects should return to Crimea, where they were discovered and where, for decades, they were kept and studied by archaeologists.”

The annexation, following the toppling of a pro-Russian president in Kiev, triggered the biggest confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the end of the Cold War in 1991.

Some Crimeans greeted the decision with dismay. “I don’t think it was a good idea to bring this before court,” said Valentina Mordvinsteva, a historian and the exhibition’s Crimea-based original curator, choking back tears. — Reuters

CABINET POSITION

Trump picks climate skeptic Perry for top US energy job WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday named former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the US Department of Energy, handing the job to a climate change skeptic with close ties to the oil industry who once proposed abolishing the department.

The choice adds to a list of drilling proponents who have been tapped for top jobs in Trump’s administration, pleasing an industry eager for expansion but worrying environmental groups concerned by the US role in global climate change. Trump, who takes office on January 20, has made energy policy a central issue in his agenda.

He has promised to revive oil and gas drilling and coal mining by cutting back on federal regulations. He also has said he would pull the United States out of a global deal to curb emissions of

carbon dioxide, which an overwhelming number of scientists say contribute to changes to the climate that are leading to sea level rise, droughts and more frequent violent storms.

In a statement from Trump’s transition team, the presidentelect cited Perry’s tenure leading Texas, the nation’s second most populous state and a major producer of oil, gas and wind power, from 2000 until 2015.

New jobs Trump said in the statement that Perry created “a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as secretary of energy.”

Perry, a one-time presidential rival and critic of Trump who unsuccessfully sought the Republi-

can nomination in 2016 and 2012, welcomed the planned nomination, which requires Senate confirmation.

Perry would replace Steven Chu, a Nobel prize winning physicist who has promoted research into renewable energy and nuclear power as energy secretary.

The department is responsible for US energy policy and oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons programme.

On Tuesday, Trump named Rex Tillerson, chief executive of oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp, as secretary of state.

His pick for the Environmental Protection Agency is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, an ardent opponent of Democratic President Barack Obama’s measures to curb climate change.

Joseph Hall, a partner at the international law firm Dorsey &

Whitney, which represents energy clients, said the Perry pick was a good sign for industry.

“I suspect Perry will be well received by the energy sector,” Hall said. “He understands carbon policy, the oil and gas business and generation and transmission development.”

“If confirmed, in the short term, I would look for additional thought leadership from the Department of Energy on carbon capture and sequestration development and technologies as a mechanism to facilitate the use of domestic fossil fuels,” Hall added. After his tenure as Texas governor, Perry joined the board of directors of Energy Transfer Partners, a Texas-based company building the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota that has been stalled by protests by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and supporters. — Reuters

CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE: This file photo taken on July 17, 2016 shows former Texas Governor Rick Perry on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. — AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/JOHN MOORE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

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veryone except the next president seems to understand that Russia interfered in the U.S. election.

It’s not just the latest CIA assessments, or the earlier public statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security. Nor is it the fact that cybersecurity experts in July had pinned the hacks of Democrats on bad actors in Moscow.

As the Daily Beast reported Monday, even Russian officials are pretty much copping to the cybercrime of this young century.

All of this raises a very Russian question for Obama: What is to be done?

It’s tricky. The current president certainly shouldn’t respond in kind. Given Putin’s own war against his opposition, future Russian elections will be as good as fixed before anyone votes. What’s more, Putin these days is popular. So hacking and leaking the e-mails of Putin’s allies doesn’t have the same effect as hacking and leaking the e-mails of Hillary Clinton’s allies.

Obama’s options are limited. Sanctions or covert action? Trump could begin to reverse them in less than six weeks. Based on his response to the reports about the Russian hacking assessments over the weekend, it’s safe to assume Trump is not inclined to punish Putin for hacking and leaking the e-mails of his political opponents.

The one thing Obama can do -- something that Trump cannot undo -- is disclosure. Obama should disclose as much of the intelligence community’s assessment of the Russian hacks as he can without compromising sources and methods. This way the public discourse can be based upon facts instead of whispers. Democrats in Congress, with the support of a growing number of Republicans, are already talking about a multi-year independent study. Far better for us all to immediately see a detailed report laying out what the Russians did in the last year.

That would be a start, but Russia still should pay for its interference. To do that, Obama should shine a spotlight on the Russian president’s money.

Since the 2014 stealth invasion of Ukraine, the CIA and the Treasury Department have devoted more resources to learning the details of Putin’s personal wealth. Obama should declassify dossiers of Putin’s and his inner circle’s fortune: their front com-

panies, their homes, their yachts, their secret bank accounts. If he’s feeling puckish, Obama could tell his administration to anonymously post all that information on random public websites. He could say the CIA was hacked. Oops. Sorry, Vladimir. Our cyber security is a mess right now.

US officials have hinted before that they know more than they are saying about Putin’s money.

Adam Szubin, the acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, told the BBC in January that Putin “supposedly draws a state salary of something like $110,000 a year. That is not an accurate statement of the man’s wealth, and he has long time training and practices in terms of how to mask his actual wealth.”

In October, retired Admiral James Stavridis told NBC News: “It’s well known that there’s a great deal of offshore money moved outside of Russia from oligarchs. ... It would be very embarrassing if that was revealed, and that would be a proportional response to what we’ve seen.”

For normal countries, this kind of information on a national leader would be political poison.

But for Putin it won’t be. When the Panama Papers were released this year, implicating Russian oligarchs in shielding their wealth in offshore accounts, there was little interest inside Russia. Most Russians expect their leaders to be corrupt.

The effect of a disclosure by the Obama administration though would be apparent in the West.

Putin may not care whether his citizens know how corrupt he is. But I bet his Western bankers and business partners do. Fiona Hill, a senior fellow and Russia expert at the Brookings Institution, told me Monday: “The one thing about revealing this information is that it would stigmatise his wealth.

This is shining a spotlight on him and his allies.”

Hill added, however, that she did not know how much concrete information the US government had in this regard. Putin is very good at hiding his money.

It’s doubtful that Trump would begin his presidency by imposing sanctions on the Russians for the electoral hacks. - Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES DECEMBER 2001 Oman LNG to supply LNG to Shell NAKHL: Oman LNG (OLNG) will supply 0.7mtpa (million tonnes per annum) of LNG to Shell for a period of five years, starting from 2002 subject to necessary approvals. OLNG and Shell have confirmed that they have reached an agreement, in principle, to the sale and purchase of 0.7mtpa of LNG, to be supplied to Shell’s downstream markets in Spain.

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PICTOGRAPH

NUMBER OF BIRTHS IN THE SULTANATE EXPATRIATES Total end of June 2015

2016

3,145

3,054

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1903: The British parliament places a 15-year ban on whale hunting in Norway.

1924: The Soviet Union warns the United States against repeated entry of ships into Soviet territorial waters.

1981: In what is often called the first modern suicide bombing, a suicide car bomb kills 61 people at the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

0

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A 14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

54

LIFESTYLE FAMILY The holidays are a special time of year for everyone, but through the eyes of a child, it can feel like pure magic.

Parents and caregivers looking to make this holiday extra special should spend less time worrying about trinkets under the tree, and instead, focus on spending quality time with their families. To make this holiday the best yet, consider these five festive ideas for bonding and creating unforgettable memories together.

BAKE WITH A CULTURAL TWIST Baking holiday cookies is a fantastic tradition for kids and adults alike. This year, in addition to your favourite recipes, add a new one inspired by your cultural heritage. Try Lebkuchen from Germany, Melomakarona from Greece or Alfajores from Argentina. A few minutes online and you’ll find the perfect recipe to expand your holiday cookie platter and help kids delve into their family history.

WATCH A FAVOURITE HOLIDAY MOVIE TOGETHER From Frosty the Snowman to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer everyone has a favourite holiday movie they remember from their childhood. This year, relive those fond memories with your child as you snuggle up on the couch together. Don’t forget to gather the movie night essentials such as popcorn, holiday cookies or a mug of hot chocolate topped with hot cocoa and cream Peeps. Snap a picture of everyone together and share the joy.

Fun Ways to Make Holiday Memories with Your Child

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MAKE AN ORNAMENT KEEPSAKE Let children’s imaginations take flight and embrace the spirit of the holiday season by creating a special ornament together. With a few simple supplies, you can create a cute and customisable ornament that will remind you of this special project each year as you pull out the decorations. Make a few extra and let your child give them to grandparents, teachers and friends.

EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON The holidays are a wonderful time full of wish lists and present exchanges. This year, help kids understand the joy of giving back by volunteering together. Whether you buy presents for a family in need, write holiday letters to the troops or help at a homeless shelter, you’re showing kids that it feels just as good to give as it does to receive. Plus, the experience will leave a positive impact long after the holidays are over.

ORGANISE A HOLIDAY SCAVENGER HUNT Santa’s elves escaped the North Pole to have a little mischief in the yard or in the house.

It’s up to you and your child to find all the things on Santa’s scavenger hunt list. Before kids wake, hide fun holiday items around for the ultimate holiday scavenger hunt. A pine cone, candy cane, star and red bulb are just a few examples of what you can put on the list. —BPT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

WEATHER

TEMPERATURE

PRAYER TIMINGS

HUMIDITY

28 - 16 72-33% 0

0

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.07pm 3.08pm 5.28pm 6.43pm 5.21am

A1 5

LIFESTYLE

F U N FA C T S

DOLPHINS Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are closely related and belong to a group of

mammals called cetaceans. There are about 40 different species of dolphins.

BIRTHDAYS OF THE WEEK

AAVANTIKA KIRAN NAIR 12-12-2010

DAN MATHEW PHILIP 10-12-2002

D

Blowhole A dolphin breathes through a nostril on top of its head, called a blowhole. When underwater, the dolphin closes the blowhole. Dolphins surface once or twice a minute to breathe air.

ish or freshwater rivers, lakes and estuaries of Asia and South America. Populations are very vulnerable to dam-building, entanglement in fishing nets, boat traffic and pollution. Dolphins can be found in oceans around the world, from colder northern and far southern waters to warm tropical regions.

Most dolphins have a dorsal fin, but northern right whale dolphins and southern right whale dolphins do not. The dorsal fin acts like a boat keel and helps the dolphin balance when swimming.

River dolphins These dolphins are found in brack-

The Amazon River dolphin It is the largest species of fresh-

ins and have no teeth. Dolphins have torpedo-shaped bodies with smooth, rubbery skin, perfect for moving through water quickly and easily. A layer of blubber beneath the skin helps keep the dolphin warm and stores energy reserves.

olphins have been revered by many cultures throughout history.

Dolphins were often described in ancient Greek mythology and were said to be messengers for Poseidon, the deity of the sea.

Vive la différence! Dolphins, whales and porpoises have many similarities, and people often confuse the groups. Dolphins have a beaklike snout and coneshaped teeth. Porpoises have a more rounded snout and flat or spade-shaped teeth. Baleen whales tend to be larger than their dolphin and porpoise cous-

ART FOR THE AGES Children up to the age of 16 who would like to have their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Aakash Gopa Kumar, Grade 10, Indian School Wadi Kabir

Pragya Gautam, Grade 7, ISM

Zainab Ansari, Grade 7, Indian School Wadi Kabir

Keerthana Libin, Grade 4, ISM

Faizan Shaikh, Grade 7, Indian School Wadi Kabir

P. Hitesh, Grade 2, ISG

water dolphin. This pinkish-gray dolphin feeds on crabs, shrimp, and catfish.

Mammals, not fish Dolphins, whales, and porpoises are mammals, not fish. They feed their young with mother’s milk.

Like all mammals, dolphins have lungs and are warm-blooded, which means that their core body temperature always stays about the same, no matter what the temperature of their surroundings.

Echolocation Dolphins use echolocation, a series of clicking sounds, to help them

navigate and locate underwater objects. The clicks are sent through the melon, a special organ on top of the head. When the sound hits an object, it produces an echo that reflects off the object.

By listening to the echoes, the dolphin can identify the location of an object.

Bottlenose dolphins Bottlenose dolphins are often seen in aquariums and zoos and are appreciated for their playful, friendly dispositions. Although known as killer whales, orcas are dolphins, not whales.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

MYTHILI RAMESH 15-12-2005

SIDHARTH KRISHNA 14-12-2004

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THUR SDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

OMAN CRUDE DROPS

Oman Crude (February delivery) declined by 26 cents to $53.18 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (December delivery) stabilised at $49.18 per barrel, $5.78 higher than September delivery. – ONA

Muscat 5,737.48 + 5.11 + 0.09%

MARKE Dubai 3,583.62 - 41.61 - 1.15%

Abu Dhabi 4,497.39 - 42.52 - 0.92%

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

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

Saudi Arabia

7,064.86 - 43.58 - 0.61%

Kuwait 5,671.98 + 0.36 + 0.01%

Bahrain 1,188.70 + 0.58 + 0.05%

Qatar 10,358.99 - 38.59 - 0.37%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................. 2.41 Pound ..........................................2.02 Indian Rs ............................. 174.98 Pakistan Rs ........................ 267.74 Bangla Taka......................203.33

Indian Rs ...................................175.00 Pakistan Rs ............................. 271.90 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka........................... 204.50 Phil Peso ................................... 129.05

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.90

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$53.00 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$52.35 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ..........$54.11 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$53.13 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$54.96 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$52.21

* Rates are as of December 14 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of December 14 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.35 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............140.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............ 132.00 * Rates as of December 14 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Oman-India bilateral trade to remain stable at $3.8b this year Oman, Arab chambers plan India trade offices

Bilateral trade between the

A E JAMES

two countries is

businesseditor@timesofoman.com

expected to grow next financial M J Akbar.

year in view of a

— Picture byTalib al Wohaibi/Times of Oman

recent recovery in commodity prices.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The bilateral trade between Oman and India is expected to remain stable at $3.8 billion for 2016-2017 financial year, mainly due to a fall in commodity prices.

Unlike Oman and other Gulf countries, India follows April-March as the country’s financial year.

“The bilateral trade between Oman and India was $3.8 billion last year ending March 2016 and

it may remain at the same level this year as well,” said Indra Mani Pandey, India’s Ambassador to the Sultanate.

Fall in commodity prices He was talking to the media on the sidelines of the fifth Arab-India Partnership Conference here on Wednesday.

The conference was organised under the auspices of His Highness SayyidKamil bin Fahd Al Said, Assistant Secretary General for the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman.

The ambassador said that the two-way trade between the two

MUSCAT: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), the apex trade body that represents private sector in the Sultanate, plans to open a representative office in India, according to Saeed Saleh Al Kiyumi, chairman of OCCI.

countries has declined in the last two years, mainly on account of a fall in commodity prices. Fertiliser constitutes a sizable share of India’s imports from the Sultanate.

For the financial year ending March 2014, the bilateral trade between both countries was $5.7 billion, which declined to $4.2 billion in the following year and further fell to $3.8 billion for the financial year ending March 2016, noted Pandey.

However, he said that the bilat-

AV I AT I O N S E C T O R

GCC states implementing $100b airport expansions Times News Service MUSCAT: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are investing $100 billion in airport expansion projects with a view to cater to the rapid growth in the number of travelers.

The number of passengers is projected to double by 2035, and expanding fleets of airlines, particularly their national carriers.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will lead the Middle East growth in number of air travelers with over 6.3 per cent annual growth, as per latest estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The region is projected to witness a robust 5 per cent annual growth, according to IATA, which expects 7.2 billion passengers to travel in 2035, a near doubling of the 3.8 billion air travelers in 2016.

The strong growth is expected to fuel further investments toward airport expansion projects.

Representatives from airports across the region will talk about their expansion plans and explore the latest technologies at the 17th edition of the Airport Show, the world’s leading B2B airport industry event, from May 15 to 17, 2017.

With the number of air passengers estimated to double, airports worldwide have been looking at ways to effectively handle the rising numbers and improve and upgrade their facilities.

Dubai World Central Dubai is executing a $34 billion Dubai World Central (DWC) project, which involves construction of five runways and the capacity to handle 160 million passengers a year.

Dubai International Airport, which overtook London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport by international traffic, expects passenger traffic crossing 83 million this year from 78 million last year, and 90 million people using the facility next year. To support the growth, the airport has announced it has commissioned

ROBUST DEMAND: Dubai International Airport expects passenger traffic crossing 83 million this year from 78 million last year, and 90 million people using the facility next year. - Bloomberg file picture

work on a project that will expand the number of A380 contact stands at Dubai International’s (DXB) Concourse C to enable the facility to accommodate Emirates’ growing fleet of superjumbos. The upgrade project which commenced in the third quarter this year and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, is part of Dubai’s Airports’ DXB Plus programme under which the operator aims to increase DXB’s capacity to 118 million passengers per year by 2023 without building any additional major infrastructure.

Decline in oil prices has not impacted the expansion plans due to the UAE’s diversification policy, which has reduced the economy’s dependence on oil.

Abu Dhabi International Airport is set to reach 40 million passengers by 2017 with the new $6.8 billion Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) project.

The 700,000 square metre terminal building is one of the key strategic infrastructure projects to be undertaken in the UAE capital, and will initially handle 27 million passengers per year and will be 70 per cent complete by the end of this year.

The new terminal is a part of Abu Dhabi’s broader plans to increase tourist traffic as part of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy.

Sharjah International Airport

plans to handle 25 million passengers per annum by the year 2025, in line with the expansion of the aviation sector.

Ajman is undertaking a AED2.1 billion ($571 million) new Ajman International Airport project, expected to handle around one million passengers a year when it is eventually completed.

King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) started its three-stage development with a budget of over US$1.5 billion, with the goal of catering to over 30 million passengers. The first phase, includes a 400,000 square metres terminal complex tower, control tower, access roads and utilities, is scheduled for delivery in 2017.

Phase 2 and 3 will take the airport through to 2035 when it will cater to 85 million people.

The airport expansion will help the Kingdom increase its passengers from 28 million to 45 million by 2020, a goal that has been set by the GACA’s operational plan.

Kuwait awarded a contract worth $4.8 billion to a local company for the expansion of the country’s only international airport. The involves a new terminal and a runway in addition to around 30 gates to boost the facility’s capacity from the current seven million passengers to 13 million in 2016. The airport’s capacity is slated to increase to 25 million passengers by 2025.

Al Kimuyi also said that the union of Arab countries is also planning to open a trade office in India, similar to Arab-UK and Arab-Germany trade bodies. Arab League has strength of 23 countries and a trade office in India will help to share information on trade and investment between the two parties.

eral trade between the two countries is expected to grow next financial year in view of a recent recovery in commodity prices.

India-Arab trade at $180b “The bilateral trade between India and the Arab world is about $180 billion now. The idea is to take it to one trillion dollars in the foreseeable future. We can do it by finding the right mix, particularly in the knowledge, technology and cyber space sectors,” said M J Ak-

Saeed Saleh Al Kiyumi.

— Picture byTalib al Wohaibi/Times of Oman

bar, India’s minister of state for external affairs. Arab League, the umbrella body of Arab countries, has 23 members.

Addressing the partnership conference, M J Akbar said that his country has a long history of friendship with Oman.

“Today, there are around 3,000 joint ventures between Indian and Omani partners in Oman with a total investment of around $7.5 billion. Apart from extensive defence and security co-operation

and people-to-people exchanges, bilateral trade and investments are key pillars of the India-Oman bilateral partnership,” added the Indian minister. India also depends on the Gulf countries for its energy security as it imports 45 per cent of crude oil from GCC states.

India’s technology industry Elaborating the advancement in technology in India, Akbar said that Indian start-up industry has over 20,000 companies, creating over $80 billion of value, employing nearly 325,000 people. Large numbers of young, educated, aspiring Indians are employed in the Indian IT industry, which itself is generating revenues of over $170 billion and exports of over $110 billion per annum.”

Also, India is preparing itself for transformationthrough sweeping changes in regulatory and administrative reforms.

The Goods and Services Act provides a single tax framework across the country for all goods and services by April, 2017. More sectors are now opened for 100 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route. The new bankruptcy law will be operational soon.

B2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................ 5,737.48 ...............5,729.98 ....................5,737.48 ................... 5,732.37.....................5.11 ...................0.09 Financial Index .....................................7,590.79 ................7,577.71 ................... 7,589.24 ....................7,589.61.................. -0.37 ...................0.00 Industrial Index .................................... 7,407.47 ............... 7,389.31 .................... 7,391.16 ................... 7,401.84................ -10.68 .................. -0.14 Services Index ...................................... 3,074.56 .............. 3,065.09 ................... 3,074.56 ................... 3,067.79.................... 6.77 ...................0.22 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................864.37 ................. 862.94 .......................864.10 ...................... 863.00.................... 1.10 ................... 0.13 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 9,805,417 .................... 2,318,338 .....................528 ................17,350,972,461 .................. 9 ......................12 ....................20 .........................41

The top gainer was Majan College, up by 10 per cent, while Al Jazeera Steel, down by 5.96

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14

per cent, was the top loser.

ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: Share prices on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) remained stable on Wednesday. The MSM30 Index remained stable at 5,737.48 points, marginally up by 0.09 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 864.10 points, a gain of 0.13 per cent. Gulf Investment Services was the most active in terms of volume while Ooredoo led in turnover. The top gainer was Al Madina Investment, up by 1.85 per cent, while the top loser was National Securities, down by 42.01 per cent.

As many as 528 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating a turnover of OMR2.32 million with 9.8 million shares changing hands. Out of 41 traded securities, 9 advanced, 12 declined and 20 remained unchanged. Oman investors were net buyers of OMR1.07 million while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers of OMR765,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR305,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index remained unchanged at 7,589.24 points. Al Madina Investment, Oman United Insurance, Al Madina Takaful and Al Izz Bank gained 1.85 per cent, 1.83 per cent, 1.41 per cent and 1.41 per cent, respectively.

National Securities, Al Sharqia Investments, Al Anwar Holding, Oman & Emirates Holding and Takaful Oman declined by 42.01 per cent, 1.41 per cent, 1.05 per cent, 0.74 per cent and 0.55 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index retreated 0.14 per cent to close at 7,391.16

points. Al Maha Ceramics and Al Jazeera Steel increased by 0.85 per cent and 0.81 per cent, respectively. Galfar Engineering, Oman Fisheries, Al Anwar Ceramics and Oman Cement declined by 1.94 per cent, 1.61 per cent, 0.58 per cent and 0.43 per cent, respectively.

Services Index closed at 3,074.56 points, up by 0.22 per cent. Sembcorp Salalah, Ooredoo and Phoenix Power gained 1.71 per cent, 1.22 per cent and 0.68 per cent, respectively. National Gas and Port Services lost 2.38 per cent and 1.20 per cent, respectively.

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

OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 126,725 ............... 6,951........................9 ........... 0.054 ........... 0.055 ...........0.054........... 0.055 .............0.054 ............0.001 ............. 1.852 ................0.055..............0.054...................0.055................... 11,393,326 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE .................................12,500 ............... 4,175........................1 ........... 0.334 ...........0.334 ...........0.334........... 0.334 .............0.328 ........... 0.006............. 1.829 ................0.334..............0.330...................0.334 ..................33,400,000.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL.................................................8,000 .................. 576........................1 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.072........... 0.072 ............. 0.071.............0.001 ............. 1.408 ................0.072.............. 0.071...................0.072...................12,600,000.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 754,496 ..........501,191..................... 93 ........... 0.660 ........... 0.668 ...........0.660........... 0.664 .............0.656 ........... 0.008............. 1.220 ................0.664..............0.664...................0.668................. 432,226,969 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .....................................................7,381 ............... 3,513........................3 ............0.476 ........... 0.476 ...........0.476........... 0.476 .............0.472 ........... 0.004............. 0.847 ................0.476..............0.476...................0.480 ..................24,990,000 ........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 336,684 ........... 83,844........................4 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.249........... 0.249 .............0.247 ........... 0.002............. 0.810 ................0.249..............0.246...................0.249 ..................31,099,592 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 1,129,119 ....... 167,844..................... 26 ............0.148 ........... 0.150 ...........0.148........... 0.149 .............0.148.............0.001 ............. 0.676 ................0.150 ..............0.149...................0.150.................. 217,927,618 ........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE......................250 .....................52........................1 ........... 0.209...........0.209 ...........0.209 .......... 0.208 .............0.208 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.209............. 0.204...................0.207 ..................41,600,000.........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ..................................................................... 22,000 .............10,780........................1 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.500 ................. 311,537,535 ........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................ 1,000 ............... 1,505........................1 ............1.505 ........... 1.505 ...........1.505 ............1.510 ............. 1.510............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.505 .............. 1.505................... 1.510 ..................135,447,000 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ..............................................5,000 .................. 985........................1 ............0.197 ........... 0.197 ...........0.197 ........... 0.200 .............0.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.197 .............. 0.197...................0.202 ..................12,240,855 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 662,426 ......... 294,117.....................80 ........... 0.444 ...........0.444 ...........0.444 .......... 0.444 .............0.444 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.444..............0.442...................0.444 ................1,108,335,115.......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,820,000....... 211,115......................18 ............0.116 ........... 0.116............ 0.115 ............0.116 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.116 ...............0.115................... 0.116 .................... 6,825,813 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 194,873 ..........297,174..................... 39 ............1.520 ........... 1.535............1.520............1.525 ............. 1.525............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.525 ..............1.520...................1.530................ 1,143,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 320,000........... 78,400........................8 ........... 0.245 ...........0.245 ...........0.245........... 0.245 .............0.245 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.245............. 0.240...................0.244 ..................73,200,530.........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 343,940 ........... 56,825..................... 36 ............0.165 ........... 0.166 ...........0.165 ............0.165 ............. 0.165............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.165 .............. 0.163...................0.164..................264,742,391........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 124,650 ............61,079........................9 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.494 ..................29,645,000.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER....................................................................266 .....................61........................1 ........... 0.228 ...........0.228 ...........0.228........... 0.240 .............0.240 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.228..............0.228...................0.235...................53,042,400.........0.100

India’s Sensex falls Equities traded sluggish to close lower by 94.98 points to close at 26,602.84 on profit-booking in key frontline shares of Metal and Telecom sectors, while the broader Nifty ended below the key 8,200-level ahead of much awaited US Federal Reserve verdict later on Wednesday.

The key indices despite initial brief spell of gain shifted to choppy narrow momentum most of the session, while investors opted for a wait and watch policy even though the markets across the globe certain about US Federal Reserve verdict and factored in 25 basis points hike for the second time. Concern over sustained FII outflows amid rate hike event was evident in today’s trade as traders took to sidelines. While dissappointing quarterly results key heavy weights also faltered the market. – United Securities/PTI

OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 296,349 ........... 70,235......................12 ........... 0.237 ........... 0.237 ...........0.237........... 0.237 .............0.238 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.420 ...............0.237..............0.237...................0.238..................349,523,162........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................ 12,724 ...............5,953........................6 ........... 0.468 ...........0.468 ...........0.466........... 0.468 .............0.470 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.426 ...............0.466..............0.450...................0.466..................154,848,428........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................14,050 ............... 2,417........................6 ............0.173 ........... 0.173 ........... 0.171 ............0.172 ............. 0.173............-0.001 ........... -0.578 ...............0.173 ...............0.171...................0.173 ...................50,948,753 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 113,470 .............21,412......................17 ............0.192 ........... 0.192 ...........0.188 ........... 0.189 ............. 0.191 ............-0.002 ........... -1.047 ...............0.188 ..............0.188...................0.190...................33,075,464 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................31,320 .............17,984........................8 ........... 0.580 ...........0.580 ...........0.570........... 0.574 .............0.588 ...........-0.014 ........... -2.381 ...............0.570..............0.570...................0.574...................31,570,000 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 6,337,223 ... 1,898,189................... 381 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......23........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH............................................... 50,000 .............11,900........................3 ........... 0.238 ...........0.238 ...........0.238........... 0.238 .............0.234 ........... 0.004............. 1.709 ................0.238..............0.234...................0.238..................227,188,124 ........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 420,652 ........... 30,287.....................20 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.072........... 0.072 ............. 0.071.............0.001 ............. 1.408 ................0.072..............0.072...................0.073...................72,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 764,660 ........... 88,700..................... 23 ............0.116 ........... 0.117............ 0.115 ............0.116 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.116 ...............0.115................... 0.116 ................. 232,036,284 .......0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ...................................................................20 .....................65........................1 ........... 3.250 ...........3.250 ...........3.250........... 3.250 .............3.250 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................3.250..............3.250...................3.265....................2,600,000..........1.000 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ............................................................................104 .................... 20........................1 ............0.192 ........... 0.192 ...........0.192 ............0.193 ............. 0.193............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.192 ..............0.182...................0.192..................275,031,976 ........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ........................................ 700 ............... 1,372........................2 ............1.960 ........... 1.960 ...........1.960........... 1.960 .............1.960 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.960.............. 1.910...................1.960................. 186,200,000 .......0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA .............................................. 80,000 ............ 56,000........................5 ........... 0.700 ........... 0.700 ...........0.700........... 0.700 .............0.700 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.700..............0.700................... 0.716 ..................112,000,000........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 668,200............54,742......................12 ............0.081 ...........0.082 ...........0.081 ........... 0.082 .............0.082 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.082..............0.081...................0.082 .................123,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................10,000 ...............1,800........................3 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 ............. 0.181 ............-0.001 ........... -0.552 ...............0.180.............. 0.178...................0.180...................18,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 312,983 ............41,976..................... 23 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.134........... 0.134 ............. 0.135............-0.001 ............-0.741................0.134 ..............0.134...................0.135 ................... 16,331,250 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 147,594 ............ 20,663........................6 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.142 ...........-0.002 ........... -1.408 ...............0.140..............0.140................... 0.141 ...................12,600,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ...................................................... 25,000 ...............1,530........................5 ........... 0.062 ...........0.062 ...........0.061 ........... 0.061 .............0.062 ...........-0.001 ............-1.613 ................0.061 ..............0.061...................0.062 ................... 7,625,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 802,512 ............81,061..................... 28 ............0.101 ........... 0.102 ...........0.101 ............0.101 .............0.103............-0.002 ........... -1.942 ...............0.101 ..............0.100...................0.101 ...................29,288,044.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,282,425.......390,117................... 132 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......13........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

N O V E M B E R S TAT I S T I C S

Wholesale inflation in India falls to 3.15% in November NEW DELHI: India’s wholesale inflation eased for the third straight month as it fell to 3.15 per cent in November after subdued demand due to demonetisation led to softening of prices of vegetables and other kitchen staples.

The wholesale price indexbased (WPI) inflation, reflecting the annual rate of price rise, in October stood at 3.39 per cent. In November 2015, the print was (-)2.04 per cent.

WPI inflation WPI inflation in vegetables, at -24.10 per cent in November, saw deflationary pressure for the third consecutive month. This was helped by a substantial price fall in onions, which showed a fall of

51.51 per cent. Pulse inflation continued to rule high at 21.73 per cent in November, according to commerce ministry data.

Potato recorded maximum inflationary pressure at 36.97 per cent. Inflation in fruits rose to 2.45 per cent during the month.

Overall, the food inflation basket showed moderation with inflation at 1.54 per cent in November as against 4.34 per cent in October.

The reading for manufactured articles was 3.20 per cent compared with 2.67 per cent in the previous month. The corresponding figure for sugar came in at 31.76 per cent and that of petrol 5.54 per cent.

The WPI inflation for September has been revised upwards at

3.8 per cent against the provisional estimate of 3.57 per cent.

The decline in wholesale inflation coincides with a fall in retail inflation, which hit a two-year low of 3.63 per cent in November.

Monetary policy committee The monetary policy committee headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel had earlier this month held interest rates steady and said demonetisation of high value currency notes could lower prices of perishables and reduce CPI inflation by 10-15 basis points by December.

Even as RBI maintained 5 per cent inflation target for March 2017, it trimmed GDP growth forecast to 7.1 per cent, from 7.6 per cent, for the current fiscal. — PTI

SLIGHT DECLINE: The food inflation basket showed moderation with inflation at 1.54 per cent in

November as against 4.34 per cent in October. — Bloomberg file picture

C O R P O R AT E

IBM plans to hire 25,000 in US NEW YORK: IBM Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty said she plans to hire about 25,000 people in the US and invest $1 billion over the next four years, laying out her vision for filling technology jobs in America on the eve of a meeting of industry leaders with President-elect Donald Trump.

Rometty, who is on Trump’s advisory panel of business lead-

ers, will join Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos and Alphabet’s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt at a summit with Trump on Wednesday.

IBM said in March it had more than 25,000 positions open globally and that it had started to cut some jobs in the US as part of a “workforce rebalancing” in an effort to add staff with cloud and other specific skills. Over the past

few years, IBM — like many large US-based companies — has been criticised for eliminating thousands of jobs in the country and moving resources to places such as India.

The company reported fewer employees at the end of 2013 than the beginning of the year for the first time in a decade, and reduced its total workforce by 12 per cent the next year. — Bloomberg News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

B3

MARKET C O M M E N TA RY

Time limit for withholding tax assessment – whether an open ended window?

NIMAI VIJAY*

C

arrying the torch on important tax developments and controversies through fortnightly series of articles contributed by KPMG’s in Times of Oman, this week, we provide our insights on the framework of bringing payments to non-residents under the purview of withholding tax in Oman, and related complexities EXECUTIVE CHANGE

Raysut Cement CEO resigns Times News Service MUSCAT: Eng. Salem bin Alawi Mohammed Baabood has submitted his resignation from his position as Group Chief Executive Officer of Raysut Cement Company on December 8, 2016 due to personal reasons.

The board of directors has resolved to accept his resignation in its meeting held on December 13, 2016.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Aideed has been assigned to assume the functions and duties of the Group Chief Executive Officer of Raysut Cement Company till a new Group Chief Executive Officer is to be appointed.

OIL SUPPLIES

Global crude prices retreat LONDON: Oil retreated from the highest close since July 2015 as focus shifted to expanding US crude stockpiles after Opec and other producing nations agreed to cut output to stabilise the market.

Futures slid as much as 1.7 per cent in New York after climbing 6.5 per cent over the previous four sessions. US inventories rose by 4.68 million barrels last week, the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute was said to report.

Government data on Wednesday is forecast to show supplies fell.

Oil markets will swing into deficit in the first half of 2017 as producers curb supply, according to the International Energy Agency, earlier than its previous forecast.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery lost as much as 88 cents to $52.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and was at $52.37 at 2:20pm Hong Kong time. The contract gained 15 cents to close at $52.98 on Tuesday. Total volume traded was about 9 per cent below the 100-day average.

Brent for February settlement fell as much as 83 cents, or 1.5 per cent, to $54.89 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract rose 3 cents to $55.72 a barrel on Tuesday, the highest settlement since July 2015. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $1.80 to WTI. — Bloomberg News

in relation to time barring provisions prescribed for the same in the tax law.

In today’s global world, many companies have expanded their sources of revenue outside their country’s jurisdiction. Tax authorities of almost all countries have, besides the residence based taxation framework which taxes assesses based on their residential status, also institutionalised a source based taxation framework which seeks to also tax income at source i.e. in the jurisdiction in which it originates. In Oman’s context, this framework seeks to tax specific incomes earned by foreign persons from a domestically situated source in Oman. However, considering the fact that tax authorities have many times very little information on the operations of such foreign companies, the responsibilities of collection and payment of taxes on the domestically earned income by such foreign persons have been cast by law on the Omani tax payer, which pays such amounts to the

foreign recipients.

Presently, the specified payments include royalties; consideration for carrying out research and development; consideration for the use or right to use computer software; and management fees, on which withholding tax at 10 per cent is applicable. Further, the Omani taxpayers on whom the compliance obligation is cast include an Omani Establishment, Omani Company or Permanent Establishment (PE) of a foreign company in Oman.

As an exception, this requirement of withholding tax at 10 per cent does not apply to specified payments made to a foreign person which has a PE in Oman and such payments are attributable to such PE. The taxpayer is also required to file a statement of taxes deducted and deposited in the month following the month of deduction. Details of taxes deducted during the tax year are also to be furnished by the taxpayer while filing the return of income or the relevant tax year.

Further, the Omani Tax

authorities have the right to conduct an assessment on the “payer” in case of failure to deduct and/or deposit tax to the Government. For completion of assessments of tax returns filed by the tax payer, the Omani tax law stipulates a time limit of five years from the end of the tax year in which the “final return of income” for the relevant tax year was filed. However, in case the return is not filed by the tax payer, the time limit is ten years from the end of the tax year to which the return pertains to.

Further, the tax authorities have the right to re-assess the income in case of error or omission or insufficiency of the previous assessment, within a period of five years from the date of original assessment. These provisions are not specifically addressing the time limits for assessment of withholding tax returns.

Under the tax laws, the provisions relating to withholding tax assessment have been enumerated under the same chapter (chapter two of part five

of the Omani Tax Laws) under which the framework of normal corporate tax assessment has been enumerated. However, since no separate time limit has been stipulated under the Omani Tax Laws specifically in relation to the withholding tax assessment, the tax authorities, in practice, adopt a view that no time limit applies to withholding tax assessment. This is based on the analogy that the time limit stipulated under the Omani Tax Laws is based on the filing of the “final return of income”instead of the withholding tax return.

However, a close reading of the fine print indicates that the aforesaid time limitation of 5 years could equally apply to withholding tax assessment as well, since both normal assessment and withholding assessment are part of the same chapter under the law, implying that all administrative provisions of the chapter should equally apply to both the assessments. This view also gets support from the fact that the payer is statutorily

required to furnish the details of taxes withheld during any tax year in the “final return of income,” based on which the 5 year time limit of assessment is determined.

Going by this analogy, the time limit restriction stipulated in relation to normal assessment i.e. 5 years (extendable to maximum of 10 years in case of failure to file return or re- assessment) should be equally applicable on withholding tax assessment as well.

Needless to say, it is important for Omani taxpayers to deduct and deposit the withholding taxes on specified payments made to foreign persons on a timely basis, to avoid the ensuing litigation and potential penalties on non-compliance of such obligation cast under Oman tax laws. * The writer, Tax Director with KPMG in Oman, contributed the article with inputs from Prakhar Garg, senior associate, tax, KPMG in Oman.

Octal’s packaging production reaches new monthly record Set in the month of October, the landmark accomplishment was realised within just two months of the introduction of a progressive high performance shift team system, developed as part of the company’s – supplied picture

commitment to continuous innovation in all aspects of its operations.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Meeting fast-growing international demand for its fully-recyclable and economically-efficient polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet product, Oman’s export powerhouse Octal has achieved a remarkable new monthly record with the production running at 93.9 per cent of

its capacity. Set in the month of October, the landmark accomplishment was realised within just two months of the introduction of a progressive high performance shift team system, developed as part of the company’s commitment to continuous innovation in all aspects of its operations and activities.

This increase in capacity utili-

sation has freed up production to initiate accelerated growth in Asia and Latin America.

“By focusing on working patterns, this results-driven system optimized teamwork and maximised staff focus on improvement and efficiency, delivering high volumes, better staffing and overall delivering better quality with a reduction of its waste. And of course, as with all Octal processes and procedures, the system was based on international best practice and incorporated

the latest performance management methods and techniques,” explained Sean Brown, GM Operations at Octal.

“This production milestone is a great credit to the professional skills of Octal’s highly motivated Sheet Department Staff, to their exemplary implementation of the new system, and to their on-going dedication to the success of the company,” he added.

“Their efforts, along with Octal’s strategic investment in innovation, capacity building and cut-

ting edge technology, enables the company to continue to achieve substantial and sustainable growth as it leads the world in the manufacture of environmentallyfriendly PET packaging solutions and contributing to the diversification of Oman’s economy,” he further said.

Proudly Oman’s leading non-oil exporter, Octal is the world’s largest producer of PET sheet and resin on a single site and the world’s leading clear rigid packing material supplier, producing nearly one million metric tonnes of bottle grade PET per year.

Demand for Octal products continues to increase, and the company is expanding in the markets of the United States, the Middle East, South America, and Asia, where in association with converting partners, it is advancing its global presence.

Octal envisions that in 2017 and 2018, its growth will mostly come from high volume, high profit applications in the Middle East and Latin America.

C R O W E H O RWAT H

GCC VAT set to adopt best practices from EU model Times News Service MUSCAT: Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) proposed value added tax (VAT) regime is to adopt the best practices from the European model, tax expert said.

“As of date, about 114 countries plus the European Union (EU) have adopted the VAT regime with tax rates varying from 25 per cent in Denmark to 10 per cent in Lebanon and Egypt,” said Davis Kallukaran, managing partner of Crowe Horwath.

He was welcoming the guests at the tax workshop conducted by the firm on Wednesday. The business community is concerned on how the VAT will impact their businesses, systems and processes, he added.

Earlier, Mohamed Jawad Hassan Al Suleiman, advisor at the Ministry of Finance, inaugurated the event. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the VAT is proposed to be in place from January 2018 onwards. VAT is a new fiscal

– Supplied picture

instrument for revenue stability during periods of fluctuating oil prices and can offset revenue losses from depleting oil reserves.

There are challenges in introduction of VAT. The biggest challenge for implementation of VAT is the eCom-

merce, said Hicham Al Moukammel, managing partner at Crowe Horwath Lebanon.

The inventory getting blocked with the increase in VAT is also one of the challenges in the management of working capital, he further added.

Leading the presentation on VAT from a European perspective, Robert van Brederode from the Atlanta office of Crowe Horwath said that 2018 January is very short time for getting prepared for VAT. Getting the right people, setting the system

modification,training the people are key challenges in the implementation, he added.

Narasimhadas, head of compliance from Crowe Horwath UAE, engaged the delegates on Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca) of the US. Fatca ensures that the income generated from the assets and accounts held by US citizens outside the US are taxed by the state. Narasimhadas said that the obligations on financial institutions to meet with the reporting requirement of US federal agency is also laid out.

Later in the afternoon sessions on Withholding Tax Provisions, Taxation of Permanent Establishments and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements were also held by M K Sreedhar (formerly of Oman Taxation). Crowe Horwath is among top 10 accounting network headquartered in the US and operating out of 750 offices located in over 130 countries with 33,000 partners and staff across the world.

B4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

FEATURE

Why Amazon loves the sound of your voice Voice recognition has come a long way in the past few years. Despite advances in speech recognition, most people continue to swipe, tap and click.

AMAZON’s Echo has made tangible the promise of an artificially intelligent personal assistant in every home. Those who own the voice-activated gadget (known colloquially as Alexa, after its female interlocutor) are prone to proselytising “her” charms, applauding Alexa’s ability to call an Uber, order pizza or check a 10thgrader’s math homework. The company says more than 5,000 people a day profess their love for Alexa.

On the other hand, Alexa devotees also know that unless you speak to her very clearly . . . and . . . slowly, she is likely to say: Sorry, I do not have the answer to that question. “I love her. I hate her, I love her,” one customer wrote on Amazon’s website, while still awarding Alexa five stars. “You will very quickly learn how to talk to her in a way that she will understand and it is not unlike speaking to a small frustrating toddler.”

Voice recognition has come a long way in the past few years.

But it is still not good enough to popularise the technology for everyday use and usher in a new era of human-machine interaction, allowing us to talk with all our gadgets—cars, washing machines, televisions. Despite advances in speech recognition, most people continue to swipe, tap and click.

And probably will for the foreseeable future.

What’s holding back progress?

Partly the artificial intelligence that powers the technology has room to improve. There is also a serious deficit of data—specifically audio of human voices, speaking in multiple languages, accents and dialects in often noisy circumstances that can defeat the code.

So Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and China’s Baidu have embarked on a world-wide hunt for terabytes of human speech. Microsoft has set up mock apartments in cities around the globe to record volunteers speaking in a home setting.

Every hour, Amazon uploads Alexa queries to a vast digital warehouse. Baidu is busily collecting every dialect in China. Then they take all that data and use it to teach their computers how to parse, understand and respond to commands and queries.

The challenge is finding a way to capture natural, real-world conversations. Even 95 per cent ac-

curacy is not enough, says Adam Coates, who runs Baidu’s artificial intelligence lab in Sunnyvale, California. “Our goal is to push the error rate down to one per cent,” he says. “That is where you can really trust the device to understand what you are saying, and that will be transformative.”

Not so long ago, voice recognition was comically rudimentary.

An early version of Microsoft’s technology running in Windows transcribed “mom” as “aunt” during a 2006 demo before an auditorium of analysts and investors.

When Apple debuted Siri five

The more data we shove in our systems, the better it performs. This is why speech is such a capitalintensive exercise; not a lot of organisations have this much data.

Andrew Ng Baidu's chief scientist

years back, the personal assistant’s gaffes were widely mocked because it, too, routinely spat out incorrect results or did not hear the question correctly. When asked if Gillian Anderson is British, Siri provided a list of English restaurants. Now Microsoft says its speech engine makes the same number or fewer errors than professional transcribers, Siri is winning grudging respect, and Alexa has given us a tantalizing glimpse of the future.

Much of that progress owes a debt to the magic of neural networks, a form of artificial intelligence based loosely on the architecture of the human brain.

Neural networks learn without being explicitly programmed but generally require an enormous breadth and diversity of data. The more a speech recognition engine consumes, the better it gets at understanding different voices and the closer it gets to the eventual goal of having a natural conversation in many languages and situations.

Hence the global scramble to capture a multitude of voices.

“The more data we shove in our systems the better it performs,” says Andrew Ng, Baidu’s chief scientist. “This is why speech is such a capital-intensive exercise; not a lot of organisations have this much data.”

When the industry began working seriously on voice recognition in the 1990s, companies like Microsoft relied on publicly available data from research institutes such as the Linguistics Data Consortium, a storehouse of voice and text data founded in 1992 with backing from the US government and located at the University of Pennsylvania. Then tech companies started collecting their own voice data, some of it garnered from volunteers who came in to read and be recorded. Now, with the popularity of speech-controlled software gaining ground, they harvest much of the data from their own products and services.

When you tell your phone to search for something, play a song or guide you to a destination, chances are a company is recording it. (Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon emphasize that they anonymise user data to protect customer privacy.) When you ask Alexa what the weather is or the latest football score, the gadget uses the queries to improve its understanding of natural language (although “she” is not listening to your conversations unless you say her name). “By design, Alexa gets smarter as you use her,” says Nikko Strom, senior principal scientist for the program.

One of the kewy challenges is getting the technology conversant with multiple languages, accents and dialects. Nowhere, perhaps, is this more crucial than in China. Seeking to harvest dialects from all over the country, Baidu launched a marketing campaign during Chinese New Year earlier this year. — Bloomberg News

Amazon's Echo Those who own the vooice activated gadget Alexa are prone to proselytising 'her' charms, applauding Alexa's ability to call an Uber, order pizza or check a 10th-grader's math homework.

The company says more than 5,000 people a day profess their love for Alexa.

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ROUND-UP

Roadshow by Godrej Properties until Dec.18 Godrej Properties brings the Godrej Group philosophy of innovation, sustainability and excellence to the real estate industry

MUSCAT: Godrej Properties is conducting an exclusive roadshow at Hotel Haffa House, Ruwi from December 13 to 18.

Godrej Properties brings the Godrej Group philosophy of innovation, sustainability and excellence to the real estate industry.

Each Godrej Properties development combines a 119-year legacy of excellence and trust with a commitment to cutting edge design and technology.

Godrej Properties is currently developing residential, commercial and township projects spread across approximately 11.98 million square metres (129 million square feet) in 12 cities. In the last 3 years, Godrej Properties has received over 150 awards and recognitions, including the 'Real Estate Company of the Year' at the Construction Week India Awards 2015, ‘Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability’ for the year 2015

by Institute Of Directors (IOD), 'Most Reliable Builder for 2014' at the CNBC Awaaz Real Estate Awards 2014, 'Innovation Leader in Real Estate' award at the NDTV Property Awards 2014 and 'Popular Choice - Developer of the Year' award by ET NOW in 2013.

Godrej Greens, Pune Godrej Properties is focusing on a prelaunch offer of Godrej Greens at Pune in the roadshow. As a special prelaunch offer, rates are fixed for 38 lakhs only.

Godrej Golf Links Godrej Golf Links, a golf and recreational residential township spread across 100 acres, will house a community of residential villas, a 9-hole golf course, and a wide range of recreational features. Godrej Golf Links comes with 12,000 sq. metres (125,000 sq. ft.) of active living areas which houses a mega clubhouse, sports arena and a golf academy. The golf academy at the township will be the first of its kind night-lit short game practice academy, designed with undulated mounds and operated by renowned golf operators.

Besides the central golf feature, continuous rows of trees along the streets and dense landscaping will define the green character of the township. The first project in the township, crest, contains villas of various sizes and configurations that are designed to offer spectacular views of the sprawling golf course, green landscapes, and recreational zones.

Godrej Properties has collaborated with several of the world’s

most renowned architects and engineering consultants to design this visionary project. BDP Architects, who are based in the UK, are the master planners and landscape consultants for Godrej Golf Links.

They have previously designed several iconic projects including the Liverpool One, Liverpool.

ARCOP, famous for its wide range of architectural services, are the principal design consultants for the villas at Godrej Golf Links.

Godrej is leading the discourse in many areas that will shape the future of India through its cutting edge design thinking and deep and nuanced understanding of customer needs.

Godrej Golf Links is an example of the future potential of thoughtful urban planning in India.

It goes far beyond delivering just a home by combining a complete living experience and imaginative spaces to deliver brighter living for all its residents.

Continuing with the Godrej Group’s legacy of environmental leadership, this development aspires to be among the most sustainable in the country. Cuttingedge engineering features appear throughout the master plan and building design to ensure that energy requirements are minimised and water is conserved.

F I V E AWA R D S

B5

Godrej Emerald Godrej Emerald is a premium residential project at Ghodbunder Road, Thane. Spread across 6.25 acres, the project offers a total saleable area of approximately 125,000 sq. m. (1.35 million sq. ft.). The first phase of the project will consist of three high rise residential towers where customers will have the option to choose from 1.5 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK apartments ranging from 46 sq. m. to 92 sq. m. (500 sq. ft. to 1,000 sq. ft.).

Godrej Emerald is strategically located with incredible views of the Yeoor Hills, while also offering residents seamless connectivity to all parts of Mumbai through the Eastern and Western Express Highways, the Mumbai Suburban Railway, and the upcoming Metro and Monorail projects. Godrej Emerald has been thoughtfully planned to offer a vast 5 acres of open spaces, expansive greenery, world-class amenities, and pedestrian-friendly areas along with a clubhouse spread over 1,200 sq. m. (13,000 sq. ft.). The landscape and the central greens shall be developed to represent a natural extension of the greens of the Yeoor Hills and the entire development's design will provide ample natural sunlight and ventilation at all levels of the towers.

This state-of-the-art development will offer a holistic lifestyle to its residents with modern and user friendly amenities like a fully equipped clubhouse, amphitheatre, meditation pavilion, swimming pool, fitness centre, kids play area, senior citizen corner, jogging track, multi-purpose court and beautifully landscaped central greens. In addition, initiatives like rainwater harvesting, solar panels and energy efficient lighting have been incorporated into the design to make the project environmentally sustainable.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST

Bank Sohar contest offers a chance to win cash prizes worth OMR1,000 MUSCAT: In a bid to encourage and spread awareness on road safety and engage the local community, Bank Sohar has launched a ‘Road Safety’ Competition for followers on its Instagram page.

The contest, which will run from December 11 to December 24, will see four winners share in a prize pool of OMR1,000.

In order to participate, Instagram account holders need to log into their accounts and post a video of themselves or a family member or a friend talking about a message related to road safety.

In order for the participation to be eligible to enter the draw, the participant must tag Bank Sohar(@banksoharexcel)as well as use “#Rakiz_Wa_Sooq”. There is no limit to the number of entries per person with each entry being automatically entered into a computerised draw. The draw will be conducted after the end of the competition period and will see four lucky winners randomly selected to receive OMR250 each, says a press release.

Commenting on the launch of the contest, Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, senior AGM and head of Marketing and Customer Experience at Bank Sohar said, “Promoting road safety has always been given great importance within the bank. The growing popularity of our social media platforms, especially Insatgram, makes it yet another perfect avenue through which we can achieve this goal. Furthermore, the popularity of social media coupled with the personalised nature of videos required to enter this contest, fosters active participation from not just the user alone, but also their families and

Promoting road safety has always been given great importance within the bank. The growing popularity of our social media platforms, especially Insatgram, makes it yet another perfect avenue through which we can achieve this goal Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi Senior AGM and head of Marketing and Customer Experience

friends; bringing them closer to collectively spread awareness on such an important topic.”

Bank Sohar has come a long way in getting closer to its customers and interacting with them on the popular social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Each of the social media identities, since inception, have witnessed tremendous growth and a high level of engagement from fans through questions, comments and responses.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Mercedes-Benz recognised at Oman Auto Excellence Awards MUSCAT: Closing yet another successful year, Mercedes-Benz won five awards at the first annual Oman Auto Excellence Awards 2016.

Held at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, the awards celebrated the best of Oman’s automobile industry with 17 awards given out in the sedan, SUV, hatchback and coupe/convertible vehicle segments.

Mercedes-Benz was nominated in eight categories and took home five awards for Best MidSize Sedan, Best Premium Hatchback, Best Sports Coupe, Best Premium Sports Coupe and Best Crossover in the SUV category, says a press release.

Accepting the awards on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Oman, Lawrence Good, CEO said: “It’s a true honour to receive these accolades in these extraordinarily competitive categories. We’re really proud of our accomplishments – with five models receiving such prestigious recognition and eight models nominated, this is a remarkable achievement for us. These awards are the culmination of Mercedes-Benz’s enduring quality, uncompromising standards and delivery on our promise of ‘the Best or Nothing’.”

The CEO concluded by thanking the award organisers and added: “Reinforcing our commanding position in the luxury automotive sector, Mercedes-Benz Oman has had an outstanding year with

Graduation ceremony held at Majan College

an incredible line-up of new car launches and industry leading technological advancements. We look forward to continuing to set standards and captivating the market in 2017.”

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the big winner on the night winning in two different categories. Competing against seven prestigious cars from all over the world, the judges chose the Mercedes-Benz C-Class as the Best Mid-Size Sedan winner.

The luxury sedan boasts precise lines that embody a sophisticated sportiness, combining cuttingedge technology with outstanding performance. Embodying modern luxury, the C-Class Coupe took home the Best Sports Coupe award with its stylish and bold design taking athletic and youthful charm to a sporty new level.

Competing against nine other car makers, the GLA won for Best Crossover in the SUV category.

Fusing function and passion, this agile crossover delivers true offroad capability with industry leading innovations. While the wider, sportier and feistier A-Class won the Best Premium Hatchback surging ahead of its competition delivering a four door hatch with a sporty coupe design.

With its sporty-classic proportions and self-assured style, the S-Class Coupé dominated the Best Premium Sports Coupe category. Complemented by its breath-taking design, the S-Class Coupe leads the pack with innovations such as Magic Body Control suspension with the new curve tilting function for an exceptionally dynamic drive and seemingly endless power.

MUSCAT: The parents and relatives of 815 students celebrated with their wards, spouses and children the realisation of dreams come true during the 21st graduation ceremony of Majan University College held recently at Al Noor Hall, Muscat.

The ceremony held under the auspices of Talal bin Sulaiman Al Rahbi, deputy secretary general, Supreme Council for Planning was also attended by Sheikh Rashad bin Ahmed Al Hinai, chairman of Majan College’s Board of Trustees, Shaikh Nasr bin Amer Al Hosni, vice chairman of the Board of Directors, representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and a host of distinguished guests from the private and public sectors, says a press release.

Dr Maha Kobeil, dean of the college in her speech thanked the chief guest Talal Al Rahbi for his presence along with other dignitaries. She expressed her delight and pride in presenting the nation with 815 graduates, 212 of whom were conferred with Masters in Business Administration (MBA), 18 with Masters of Science in Computer Sciences (MSc) and 19 with Masters in International Human Resource Management, in addition to 566 Bachelor degrees

and Diploma in Higher Education.

She addressed the families of the graduands, highlighting the great role played in providing the necessary support. She also noted that within the 21st batch of graduates, there were sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, a mother and her daughter.

Speaking on the coincidence of the graduation with the nation’s recent 46th National Day celebrations, she sent wishes and appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the nation and residents of Oman. Congratulating the graduands, she encouraged them to arm themselves with ethics and lend a hand to the less fortunate. She wished them success in their working lives and urged them to actively contribute to the renaissance of the nation and the development of its economy.

Nasr Hosni highlighted the college achievements during the year in expansion of facilities and services including a new six floor building which is currently being constructed. He reiterated the college’s commitment to staff development and the granting of ample opportunities to qualified Omani candidates.

Bill Ramell, vice chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, UK expressed pride over the excel-

lent achievements of the college.

“We are proud to be the partners of Majan University College, acknowledged for its commitment to the provision of top-quality higher education by Business Today and the Oman Observer, and the most trusted private higher education brand in Oman. Just this August Majan was voted as Best Performing Company for the third year in a row in the annual AIWA awards – a very impressive achievement.”

Asila Abdullah Al Saqlawiya, gave the graduate speech in Arabic while Sulaiman Said Al Sharji gave the speech in English on behalf of graduates, both graduands reminisced their experiences as students of Majan College: the knowledge gained, friendships made, virtue of patience and growth, and development in their personalities. They thanked the lecturers, college management and their families.

The event culminated in the conferment of awards on all graduands. Rashad Al Hinai presented mementos to the chief guest and vice chancellor followed by photo sessions of various cohorts and programme groups, leaving the rest of the day to the celebrations of elated parents and accomplished graduates.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

ROUND-UP Kia announces free check-up campaign Kia’s free check-up campaign offers many benefits to customers such as a free general check-up and report on the car

MUSCAT: Reliable International Automotive, the distributors for Kia in Oman have established an enviable reputation for after-sales service. Besides possessing assets like state-of-the-art equipment, skilled technicians with thorough knowledge of any Kia vehicles, the Kia Service teams have also carved a niche for themselves by adding passion to whatever they do.

Now Kia has announced a special service campaign for the benefit of its customers, says a press release.

According to the group spokesperson, “Kia’s free check-up campaign (applicable at select locations namely Wattayah, Al Mawelah, Barka, Ibri, Nizwa,

Sohar and Salalah) offers many benefits to customers such as a free general check-up and report on the car. If repairs are needed, we are offering with a 30% discount on labour. There also are special rates for engine flushing, AC blower service and polishing.

For Rio and Sportage customers, there is a free wash coupon (only for AC related jobs).”

“Customers who wish to purchase our 40,000km / 2 year pack-

age additionally enjoy 1 service free. There also is raffle using electronic coupons and every customer who spends OMR25 stands a chance to win an iPAD and OMR800 worth of gift vouchers,” he added.

Reliable International Automotive endeavours to offer ‘Familylike Care’ to its patrons. This fact is strongly underscored by the spokesperson, “Our technicians are experts who regularly participate

in Kia skill competitions. These competitions impart latest technical skills and knowledge to our technicians. This enhanced training for qualified technicians results in greater customer satisfaction, which is at the very heart of the ‘Family-like Care’ programme.”

Apart from trained professionals, Reliable International Automotive prides itself in providing preferential, personalised service through a network of world-class service outlets located within a short distance of any customer in Oman. These facilities are manned by courteous staff members who willingly welcome every Kia owner. It is simple but meaningful measures like these that have contributed in making Brand Kia one of the finest performing automotive brands in Oman.

The spokesperson said, “We warmly welcome Kia owners are strongly urged to visit the Kia service locations and make maximum use of the service opportunity.”

Reliable International Automotive, the distributor for Kia in Oman provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers.

Excellent product attributes and unmatched 18 facilities easily ensure their absolute satisfaction, every mile of the way.

L AT E S T T E C H N O L O G Y

Ayaan Health Center introduces UCP EYEOP1 treatment for glaucoma MUSCAT: Ayaan Health Center, a specialised medical centre in the fields of eye, ENT and dermatology, offers premium health care services of highest quality to patients in the Sultanate of Oman. It is the very first medical centre in Oman to introduce the latest technology of ‘Ultra-Sound Ciliary Plasty (UCP EYEOP1)’ for the treatment of glaucoma.

Recently, Ayaan Health Center held a symposium at Crowne Plaza Hotel, which was inaugurated by chief guest Dr Mazin Jawad Al Khabouri, director general of Private Health Establishment (Ministry of Health) for the launch of ‘UCP EYEYOP1’ machine, inviting a number of prominent ophthalmologists and endocrinologists from various hospitals, both, government and private from all over

the Sultanate, says a press release.

The symposium was focused on introducing the machine to the doctors and demonstrating how it works led by Dr Mansoor Farooqui, chairman at Ayaan Health

Center, Dr Badr Al Barwani, senior consultant at Ayaan Health Center, Dr Mariyam Al Wahaibi, senior consultant for Glaucoma at Ayaan Health Center & head of Glaucoma at Al Nahdha Hospital)

and Mark.

The UCP EYEOP1 is an advanced, safe and highly accurate procedure which uses the ultrasound technology to reduce the eye pressure for the glaucoma patients without any incisions made into the eye in-order to prevent them from completely losing their sight of vision.

This treatment comes as a relief for glaucoma patients with progressive and other types of glaucoma, as this is a non-surgical, non-invasive, no radiation therapeutic procedure which utilises just a ‘cup ling cone’ and a ‘suction cup’ connected to a digital computerised control unit, that then focuses ‘High Intensity Focused Ultrasound’ (HIFU) in an orderly way in order to reduce the eye’s ‘Intraocular pressure’ (IOP).

COMPETITION

ISD organises interschool photography exhibition MUSCAT: Keeping ‘observation, perfection and aesthetics’ as motto, Indian School Darsait (ISD) organised 4th Interschool ISD Nikon photography exhibition and competition at the school auditorium recently.

The chief guest, Anil Khimji, director, Khimji Ramdas inaugurated the event. Dr Sridevi P. Thashnath, principal, extended a cordial welcome to everyone.

She recalled the glowing success stories of the photography exhibitions conducted over the years under the aegis of the photography club headed by Dr V. C. Govindarajan, coordinated by Radhakrishna Kurup under the department of Co-Scholastic headed by Lal A. Pillai.

This year out of 530 entries that were received from most of the Indian schools in Oman, 45 were shortlisted by an eminent panel of judges. The finalists were taken to Muttrah-Corniche for ‘On the Spot Photography Competition’. In recognition of the initiative and motivation that ISD provides in the field of photography, Nikon presented a latest version of DSLR camera to the school, says a press release.

Kai Takanashi, resource person, Nikon - Middle East conducted a workshop on photography for members of photography club and the finalists in the afternoon. Welcoming the chief guest, luminaries, distinguished personalities and all others to the valedictory function that followed in the evening, Dr Thashnath said that the tie up with Khimji Ramdas & Nikon has given ISD photography club members a bigger platform to hone the photography skills and exhibit their talents in exhibitions and competitions since 2011.

Addressing the gathering, Ajayan Poyyara, president, School Management Committee

gave a detailed picture of what ISD is and how the school is different from other Indian schools in the Sultanate.

He also acknowledged the great support and sponsorship of Khimji Ramdas & Nikon for the smooth conduct of this exhibition and expressed his sincere thanks to Anil Khimji for his patronage and good works in the field of education.

The Chief Guest, Ahmed Al Shukaili, member of the International Federation for Photographic Art (FIAP) in his keynote address appreciated the school for organising the exhibition par excellence. He said, “The small moments we click will become bigger moments in our life.” He urged all to share whatever moments they photographed for best enjoyment.

The guests of honour, Mohammad Sabir Raza Faizi, finance director, BoD, Indian Schools in Oman and Rajive Ahuja, head Corporate Communications, Khimji Ramdas and Kai Takanashi, Nikon Middle East commended the school for conducting the ‘one of its kind inter school event’ in a grand style and congratulated all on their strenuous efforts to make the programme very pleasant and appealing.

The chief guest and the guests of honour declared the results of On the Spot Photography competition and gave away the prizes to the winners. Arjun of Class XII, Aysha Lina Rihas of VI and Jeeven Justin of Class XII secured the first three prizes and they were awarded with DSLR cameras with advanced specifications sponsored by Nikon Middle East. Ten other participants were given away with fabulous prizes sponsored by Khimji Ramdas and certificates as consolation and the rest with A grade certificates.

HIGHLIGHTS FOOD SAFETY

REASONABLE PRICE

TAC offers Geely cars at great values MUSCAT: Towell Auto Centre (TAC), one of the leading automotive distributors in Oman and the region, is offering the best of Geely cars at a very reasonable price till December 27.

Under a promotion aimed at automobilists looking for cars that give exhilarating performance along with comfort and safety, TAC is offering cash gifts on various Geely models, says a press release.

The all new Emgrand X7 Sport - a world class model with a 5 star rating in the China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) test - is now available at a starting price of OMR4,999.

The Emgrand GT, Geely’s first flagship super saloon powered by Geely’s first 3.5L V6 engine, is the most innovative and advanced vehicle Geely has ever produced.

Equipped with exciting new features, luxuries and technological advances, the Emgrand GT represents the Chinese automaker’s

commitment towards making refined cars that are affordable. It is also available in a 2.4L version at a very practical starting price of OMR5,499.

The Emgrand 7, an ideal and accomplished family sedan and the first Geely car designed compliant to European standards, is now available at TAC showrooms at a reasonable price of OMR3,499.

Available in sedan and hatchback

models, the suave Emgrand 7 sedan is China’s first proprietary model that achieved great success in the European safety collision test.

Over the years, Geely has become a leading Chinese automotive manufacturer in many global markets in US, Europe and the Middle East.

By bringing the Geely range to the Sultanate, TAC has reinforced its commitment to provide

high-quality products and services to its customers in Oman.

Moreover, TAC is offering 1st 3 years 24hour AAA roadside assistance for added assurance and 3 years/100,000km warranty on purchase of Geely cars.

With a network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is one of the leading automobile distributors in the region.

Sweets of Oman conducts ‘Quality & Food Safety Day’ MUSCAT: Sweets of Oman organised a ‘Quality & Food Safety Day’ recently in its factory at Rusayl Industrial Estate.

The meeting was presided over

by Balakrishna, general manager, Sweets of Oman, where the head of Municipality Laboratories Sohrab Ali Akbar Al Farsi, was the chief guest, says a press release.

The programme highlighted the developments and commitment of Sweets of Oman in the field of quality and food safety.

As part of the programme, various quality and food safety contests were conducted among the employees and the winners were provided with prizes and certificates by the chief guest.

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ROUND-UP

Ooredoo introduces direct carrier billing With the introduction of direct carrier billing with Google, customers can now perform any online purchase transaction through the Google Play Store by paying for their purchases via their mobile phone balance without the need of using their credit cards

MUSCAT: Ooredoo announced the launch of direct carrier billing service with Google, to make it easier for Android users to purchase apps, games, and digital content on their devices.

With the introduction of direct carrier billing with Google, customers can now perform any online purchase transaction through the Google Play Store by paying for

their purchases via their mobile phone balance without the need of using their credit cards.

Direct carrier billing allows users of select mobile operators to pay for digital content on Google Play by billing purchases to their mobile accounts; postpaid or prepaid. Once the payment option is set up, customers will be able to charge app and content purchases

from the Play Store directly to their mobile accounts.

Sharing further details of the exciting new service, Prince Thomas, director of Digital Marketing & New Business - Ooredoo explained: “Removing the need to share personal details online, direct carrier billing, or ‘Pay by Ooredoo’ is a safe and secure method for making digital transactions on mobile devices. What’s more, thanks to this new facility, cus-

tomers who do not have a credit card will soon be able to shop the fantastic selection available in the Google Play Store, allowing them to keep up with the latest online trends in entertainment, education, lifestyle and business.”

Thomas added: “We are delighted to be the first to bring direct carrier billing to Google Play for customers in Oman, giving them access to a wide variety of services.

With ‘Pay by Ooredoo’, customers can make in-app purchases and as well buy paid apps by simply using their mobile phone credit.”

The Google Play store is the official application store for Android smartphones and tablets. Google makes software applications, music, movies and books available for purchase and download through the store. The Google Play store, which comes pre-installed on Android devices, allows users to purchase, download and install applications from Google and thirdparty developers.

UNIQUE DEALS

Al Jarwani offers exclusive discounts and promotions this festive season MUSCAT: This year, you can celebrate the festive season in style, thanks to exclusive promotions, discounts and exciting offers from the Al Jarwani Hospitality’s Festive Season Promotion for 2016/2017.

Indeed, boasting of uniquely conceptualised deals for the discerning gourmand and the party buffs alike, Al Jarwani Hospitality’s Festive Season Promotion spans the division’s dining and catering extravaganzas, including LaMer, The Catering Partner, MJ Foods, Mirch Masala, The Indian’s Delight, and Le Praline from Christmas till February 17, 2017, says a press release.

Get-togethers and family gatherings can avail of a flat 20% discount (minimum 15 pax) with The Catering Partner’s events and party offerings and can also enjoy a sophisticated complimentary Yule log cake to truly crown the festive

spirit of the season. Meanwhile, as a much needed gift to families preparing Christmas feasts, we can save the hustle of a traditional turkey dinner with MJ Food, as anysize of roast turkey can be ordered

and also customised as per need.

There are range of Christmas cakes, Ginger biscuits and seasonal goodies are in offer with MJ Foods. Al Jarwani Hospitality is introducing unique gift hampers this season, now for you can gift a complete dinner for your friends and loved ones. The gift hampers contain complete dinner including the setting for select number of guest.

For the ones seeking a unique dine-in experience on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, LaMer has an exquisitely crafted, set-menu European dishes boasting a modern Italian flair to delight the dinners palate in a refined, merry atmosphere with family and loved ones. Certainly LaMer’s menu for the occasions is one to behold, with delicacies ranging from herb crusted roast beef tenderloin with mash pumpkin and winter vegetables to deep

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fried oysters with a ricotta ravioli and a bitter dark chocolate tart served with an espresso sorbet and crème cheese.

For all those craving a spicier kick to their taste buds on the other hand, Al Jarwani’s Mirch Masala is offering a celebratory discount of 20% on all catering orders for intimate functions (minimum order 15 pax), while The Indian’s Delight is looking to play host to Christmas and New Year celebration buffets at its Ghubra branch!

That’s not all, as Al Jarwani’s chocolate and confectionery partner, Le Praline also outspreads its sweet delights at exciting prices to make for the perfect gift this festive season.

Indeed, with a promotion repertoire boasting of everything festive and celebratory, the Al Jarwani Hospitality Division extends the season’s greetings in true style and flavour for all those celebrating.

C U LT U R A L E X T R AVA G A N Z A

IS Sohar celebrates 32nd Annual Day SOHAR: Indian School Sohar celebrated its 32nd Annual Day on December 6 for KG to Grade II and December 8 for Grades III to V. Kanaksi Gokaldas Khimji, president, Banyan Merchant Community and Ali Said Al Abdul Salam, director general assistant for Finance, Administration & Project, Ministry of Education, North Al Batinah Governorate respectively were the chief guests and Kiran Asher, director, BOD of Indian schools in Oman and Abdul Rahman Al Shizawi, acting regional manager, Bank Muscat were the guests of honour.

Ram Subramani, head boy and Surabhi Singh, head girl respectively delivered the welcome note. Abraham George, the president of the SMC, appreciated the relentless efforts of the ISS team. Sanchita Verma, principal stressed on the concentrated endeavours to achieve higher goals in terms of infrastructure and academic, co-curricular and co- scholastic accomplishments making the school a contemporary centre of learning to equip its students for life, says a press release.

The evening witnessed a rainbow of cultural wonders of music and dance on both the days.

The cultural extravaganza commenced with an array of fascinating programmes like welcome dances, Spanish dance and Shiksha ke deep which showcased the aspirations of young minds.

Let’s Start Jump and the Tribal Dance gave a taste of Africa to the onlookers. The thematic dance, Ye hosla revealed that evil cannot last forever and motivated all to discover the genius within.

The legend of Pied Piper recreated as a dance drama held the audience captive. The beats of Garba, Bhangra, NSEW Med-

ley, acrobatics, bountiful crops celebrating the joy of farmers in Kerala, Thank You Teachers to salute the teachers as messengers of knowledge, dandiya, IndoOmani fusion and the rhythmic beats of western dance made the audience sink into the depth of music, dance and joy. The patriotic dance, Desh Mera Rangeela, instilled values of love, sacrifice and humility along with a patriotic feeling for our multidimensional motherland.

‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’, a costume parade depicting the concept of ‘One World One Family’, left the audience spellbound.

The school choir enthralled everyone with their melodious notes and a train journey in the Railgadi dance took them all along into the lap of nature.

Sanchita Verma, in her annual report traced the long strides and significant progress made during the last year. Kiran Asher enlightened the gathering with his views on futuristic vision.

Awards for academic proficiency for the meritorious students of Grades X and XII were presented. They were presented with gold coins and commendation certificates and those from Classes VI to IX were also awarded with certificates.

The staff and non-teaching staff who completed a decade of service were felicitated. The head girl and the head boy delivered the vote of thanks.

The programme rose to a final crescendo with the finale of the show, the foot tapping enthusiastic Rang lo and Indo Arabic fusion dance.

The gaiety and enthusiasm in the whole show was almost infectious and attracted loud rounds of applause for the perfection that had been achieved through long rounds of training.

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ROUND-UP

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Worldwide airport lounge access for Al Jawhar Platinum credit cardholders Bank Muscat’s Al Jawhar Platinum credit cardholders can enjoy airport lounge access worldwide, including the GCC countries, Asia and Europe in addition to Oman’s Muscat and Salalah airports

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has launched airport lounge access across the world for Al Jawhar Visa Platinum credit cardholders.

Al Jawhar Platinum credit cardholders can enjoy airport lounge access worldwide, including the GCC countries, Asia and Europe in addition to Oman’s Muscat and Salalah airports. The global travel convenience for Al Jawhar customers is in step with strategies aimed at providing a distinct banking experience targeted at the bank’s core customer segment, says a press release.

Airports offering lounge access to Al Jawhar Platinum credit cardholders include Muscat, Salalah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cairo, Beirut,

Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Rome, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, Barcelona, Zurich, Istanbul, London, Mumbai, and Karachi. Al Jawhar customers are entitled to avail airport lounge access six times a year.

Bank Muscat plans to add more lounges in the near future, adding value to Al Jawhar Privilege bank-

ing experience.

Al Jawhar is the first-of-its-kind privilege banking service in Oman with its value proposition based on three pillars of commitment to customers - Recognition, Convenience and Experience - that form the imprint of premium products and services. Al Jawhar benefits

and facilities enhance banking service excellence. Notably, Al Jawhar Platinum credit card is the key to a world of exclusive benefits and services across the world.

Customers with a monthly salary of OMR1,000 and above or savings deposit of OMR10,000 and above can avail Al Jawhar services. Al Jawhar credit card targets different segments of society to achieve their banking aspirations in line with the bank’s ’Let’s Do More’ vision.

Al Jawhar benefits include Platinum debit card and credit card, increased withdrawal limit and discounts at local and international select merchant outlets.

Al Jawhar Platinum debit card has daily cash withdrawal limit of OMR800 in Oman and OMR250 for foreign transactions outside

RECOGNITION

MUSIC PRODUCTION

Asia Express awarded ISO 9001:2015 certification MUSCAT: Asia Express Exchange, the leading worldwide remittance and foreign exchange services provider, was awarded the ISO 9001:2015 Management System certificate by TÜV NORD. The certification was awarded to Asia Express Exchange for the quality management system associated with executing remittance operations and dealing in sale and purchase of foreign currencies, says a press release.

The certificate was presented to Surendran Amittathody, GM, Asia Express Exchange by Shibu Davies, GM - Certification & Auditing, TÜV Middle East in the presence of the senior management of Asia Express Exchange.

“We are extremely proud of our team for attaining the ISO 9001:2015 certification. This ISO certification brings with itself greater commitment to higher

GCC. The Platinum debit card features Chip and PIN technology, ensuring added security for all transactions.

Al Jawhar Platinum credit card offers one per cent cash back on all transactions, airport lounge access, free travel insurance and access to Entertainer App. Al Jawhar customers who avail Platinum credit card are entitled to Entertainer App which has 500 ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ offers covering restaurants, coffee shops, health & beauty centres, entertainment and hotels in Oman and the UAE. Designed to elevate privilege banking to unparalleled heights, Al Jawhar opens a new world of opportunities as preferential treatment and fast track service in branches make the experience truly rewarding.

standards, quality service and customer focus,” said Adeeb Ahamed, managing director, Asia Express.

ISO certification for management system is based on principles

such as customer focus, risk-based approach, process approach, commitment from top management and continual improvement. The focus of this endeavor is to provide

convenient financial transactions, that fulfill the core customer need for a secure, quality, speedy and value-laden service.

“It was our great pleasure to

award ISO 9001:2015 certificate to Asia Express Exchange. The organisation has demonstrated great commitment towards this quality management system through management commitment, detailed process definition, compliance and team work. This is the first Financial Exchange, which is certified by TÜV NORD in the region for the 9001:2015 standard.

We congratulate Asia Express Exchange on this achievement,” said Shibu Davies.

“A lot of planning, implementation and execution effort has gone into the ISO 9001: 2015 certification. Our march towards excellence and continuous improvement has just begun. This recognition reflects that we are on the right path and we have to constantly reinvent ourselves to meet and exceed expectations,” added Ahamed.

Muscat Music and Steinberg to organise open day on December 17 MUSCAT: Muscat Music and Steinberg are organising an open day on December 17 for professional and project audio recording, mixing and mastering enthusiasts and industry practitioners at their state-of-the-art musical instruments and audio showroom in Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos from 10am – 6pm.

It would be a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in music recording and production but does not know where and how to begin to visit the open day and seek advice from Steinberg expert.

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PROTEAS NAME DEEBRUYN BRUYN FOR SRI LANKA TESTS STS South Africa have named uncapped ncapped batsman Theunis de Bruyn in their e-match injury-hit squad for the three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on December 26. >C3

Aussies ponder pace quartet for Pakistan opener at Gabba Australia series no revenge mission for Pakistan coach

Smith expects fast bowler Jackson Bird, recalled for the last Test against South Africa, to hold his place in the 11, meaning debutant Chadd Sayers could edge out spinner Lyon for the match

MELBOURNE: Australia may unleash an all-pace attack against Pakistan for the series-opening day-night Test in Brisbane, home captain Steve Smith said.

Smith expects fast bowler Jackson Bird, recalled for the last test against South Africa, to hold his place in the 11, meaning debutant paceman Chadd Sayers could edge out spinner Nathan Lyon for the match starting at the Gabba on Thursday.

“We want to have another look at the wicket today... to determine how much grass is on the wicket and things like that,” Smith told reporters in Brisbane at the pre-match media conference on Wednesday. “Jackson will probably play, he played the last game and played pretty well so I dare say he will play.”

The Gabba wicket, which traditionally offers pace and bounce, had a layer of grass on the eve of the venue’s first day-night Test.

Cloudy conditions are also forecast at the end of the week which could make the pink ball swing as both sides hope to eke out an early advantage in the three-test series.

READY FOR THE BATTLE: Australia’s cricket team captain Steven Smith, right, and his Pakistani counterpart Misbah-ul Haq hold a trophy during a media call at Gabba in Brisbane. – AFP

Curator Kevin Mitchell suggested the match might not last the full five days if the weather was humid.

“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility,” he told reporters.

Lyon took four wickets to help a re-jigged Australia side beat the Proteas in the day-night match in Adelaide, a return to form for the off-spinner after he strug-

gled in defeats at Perth and Hobart as South Africa claimed a 2-1 series win.

Pakistan’s batsmen took Lyon apart in a 2-0 series loss for Australia in the United Arab Emirates two years ago but the spinner has an excellent record in Brisbane and has not missed a test there since his debut in 2011.

“So I’ll leave you guys to write that, that there’s going to be four quicks and stuff,” Lyon said earlier in the week.

“I’m confident of playing, I’ll put it that way.”

Australia have not lost a test at the Gabba since 1988 when they were beaten by Viv Richards’ West Indies. - Reuters

MELBOURNE: Mickey Arthur felt his reputation took a big hit when he was sacked as head coach of Australia three years ago but the Pakistan mentor says he is not on a “revenge mission” as he prepares to take on his former charges.

Pakistan are bidding to become the first South Asian side to win a series Down Under and Arthur brings an insider’s perspective of the Australian set-up after his ill-fated 19-month stint at the helm from 2011-13.

Arthur’s dismissal three weeks before the 2013 Ashes stung the South African’s pride and was the trigger for an acrimonious severance claim against former his employers. After a threeyear exile from international coaching roles, Arthur took the Pakistan job in May and his return to Australia leading the tourists has added spice to the three-match series.

“The toughest part was around three years ago, getting my head around exactly how all that happened because your reputation, your integrity takes a massive knock,” Arthur told Fox Sports.

“But I worked my way through that and coming back I always knew it was going to be tough. I’ve learnt to smile and just take it on the chin.

“It’s not about me against Australia. It’s about two very good young cricket teams going head-to-head, that’s where the focus should be.

“The focus is certainly not

on any revenge mission or anything like that. I hold no anger, I made peace with it a long time ago.”

Arthur, who was replaced

by Australia’s current mentor Darren Lehmann, wasted little time in recruiting Steve Rixon as Pakistan’s fielding coach. Rixon, who held a number of assistant roles with Australia from 2011, was axed from Lehmann’s team in 2014 and also departed with bad blood, telling local radio that he had “very little respect” for Cricket Australia.

The coaches’ loss to Australia has been Pakistan’s gain, according to captain Misbah-ul Haq. “That (knowledge) gives us also a chance we can win here and we can play better cricket here and improve our record here in Australia,” Misbah told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday, the eve of the day-night first Test. “(Arthur) knows their strengths and weaknesses, that’s always useful when you have that sort of inside information on the opposition.”

Arthur, who led South Africa to a series triumph in Australia in 2008-9, said it was a “surreal feeling” coming back to the Gabba.

“And coaching against guys I’m particularly fond of,” he added. “But that’s the world of international coaching.

It’s a pretty ruthless world and that’s what happens. You come up against old charges all the time.” - Reuters

C2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

SPORTS

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

Uganda ease past Oman in International T20 opener Inexperienced Oman were up against tough Uganda in the tournament opener and the result proved to be one-sided with the African nation winning by a whopping 87 runs

MUSCAT: Uganda proved too good for Oman in the UAE International Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Inexperienced Oman were up against tough Uganda in the tournament opener and the result proved to be one-sided with the African nation winning by a whopping 87 runs.

Calling the coin correctly, Ugan-

da were off to a shaky start losing two quick wickets with just six runs on board, but opener Barabara (23) shored up the innings to take the total to 23.

However, there was another tremor which saw them go down to 61 for 7. From there Franklyn (35 not out) and Carol Namugenyi (23 not out) boosted the total to 126 for 7 by the end of 20 overs.

Oman’s chase was far from convincing as the wickets fell like

TEAM OMAN: Oman women’s team pose for a group photo ahead of their participation in the UAE International Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament.

nine pins to fold up for a paltry 39.

Oman’s top scorer was their skipper Vaishali Jesrani (10).

Carol, who also claimed four wickets, was adjudged the woman of the match. Oman will now face

Kuwait on Thursday.

Brief scores: Uganda 126 for 7 in 20 overs (Barbara Mokankosi 23, Carol Namugenyi 23 not out, Franklyn Najjumba 35 not out, Saya Channa 2 for 20,

Shajina Rajesh 2 for 38, Akshada Gunasekar 2 for 21) beat Oman 39 all out in 19.5 overs (Aweko Consy 2 for 2, Lelia Namaganda 2 for 7, Carol Namugenyi 4 for 3) by 87 runs.

FOOTBALL

Everton show pleases Koeman LONDON: Ronald Koeman believes Everton’s switch to a more aggressive approach following a lacklustre start to Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal.

Everton defender Ashley Williams scored the winner in the 86th minute for the Dutchman’s side after right back Seamus Coleman had equalised shortly before halftime to cancel out Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez’s deflected opener.

“Sorry. The key was how we played after 20 minutes. That was the team we like to see, what the fans like. Face to face, aggression, pressing and playing footballg,” the Everton manager told British media. “We played every ball back instead of forward and made it difficult. Then there is no chance (normally) against Arsenal — they are too good. The weakness is if you go face to face and be aggressive and you win the battle.” - Reuters

TOP DIAR HONOUR FOR ROYAL CAVALRY

Royal Cavalry won the first His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for its outstanding contribution to Arabian horse racing and especially Dubai International Arabian Racing (DIAR) series and its festivities in Newbury racecourse last August. This award was constituted for the first time and was given under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron of DIAR and British Arabian Racing Association. The award recognises each year a prominent character or organisation which plays a crucial role in supporting Arabian horse racing activities and events around the world. The Award was received by Captain Salim Humood Al Hakmani, racing section officer at Royal Cavalry, a party held at Jumaira Carlton Tower Hotel’s garden in London. “The Royal Cavalry is enlightened by wise thinking and direction from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said (may God protect him) and the winning of this coveted prize is an evidence of the efforts exerted by the Royal Cavalry and its outstanding contribution to the Arabian horse racing around the world. And we are pressing ahead to show up Oman’s devotion and care of Arabian horse racing. We thank those who support us especially His Excellency Nasser Humood Al kindi, secretary-general of Royal Court Affairs,” said Biragdier-general Abdulrazak Alshahwarzi. — Supplied photo

CRICKET

Smriti lone Indian in ICC Women’s Team of the Year DUBAI: India batswoman Smriti Mandhana has been named in the Women’s Team of the Year 2016, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced here on Wednesday. The women’s team of the year, which will be captained by West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor, has been added to the list of awards to acknowledge and appreciate outstanding performances of women’s cricketers over a 12-month period.

Based on their performance between September 14, 2015 and September 20, 2016, which included the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 and the ICC Women’s Championship, the players have been selected.

“This is the first time that the

ICC has named a women’s team of the year. Congratulations to Stafanie Taylor and the rest of her team on their selection.

“The quality and depth of the women’s game continues to grow year by year, the selectors must have had an exceptionally difficult task in settling on the final 12 players,” ICC chief executive David Richardson.

Besides Mandhana, the team features three New Zealanders in Suzie Bates, Rachel Priest and Leigh Kasperek, two Australians Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry, England’s Heather Knight and Anya Shrubshole, West India’s Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin and Sune Luus of South Africa. — PTI

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

C3

SPORTS Rusty India look to play ‘simple’ in Junior World Cup quarters Although India are expected to win the game hands down against Spain in quarterfinals, coach Harendra warned his players against complacency

LUCKNOW: Having received a much-needed wake-up call in their final pool match, favourites India would look to iron out chinks in the armour and play “simple hockey” when they face Spain in the quarterfinals of the men’s Junior Hockey World Cup here on Thursday.

Even though India maintained an all-win record in the pool stage, it was their performance in their last pool game against South Africa which has raised some eyebrows. The Indians were clinical in their first two wins over Canada (4-0) and England (5-3) but against South Africa they had to slog hard to register a fighting 2-1 victory.

But it should come as a big lesson for the Indian colts ahead of the knockout stages as any slip from here on will dash their hopes of reclaiming the title after a hiatus of 15 years.

“I was surprised with our performance because we didn’t play to our potential after the first 15 minutes (against South Africa). I always say that I don’t think about opponents, I am always concerned about our own methods,” India’s head coach Harendra Singh had said after the South Africa game.

CAPTAIN’S HURRAH: Indian captain Harjeet Singh celebrates a goal during the Junior World Cup Hockey match against South Africa in Lucknow on Monday. – PTI

South Africa, New Zealand face-off in play-offs LUCKNOW: South Africa defeated Austria 4-2, while New Zealand prevailed over Malaysia 3-1 to set up a clash against each other for the 9th10th place at the ongoing men’s Junior Hockey World Cup, here on Wednesday.

In the first 9th to 12th place classification game, it was Austria who took the lead through Franz Lindengrun (13th minute) before South Africa scored two goals through

“We play simple one-touch hockey and that is what we should play. We just didn’t play simple hockey (against South Africa) but the good thing is that it has hap-

CRICKET

De Bruyn in SA team for Sri Lanka Tests JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have named uncapped batsman Theunis de Bruyn in their injury-hit squad for the threematch home Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on December 26. The 24-year-old explosive right-hander has been included after Rilee Rossouw was ruled out with a foot injury, adding to the absences of former captain AB de Villiers (elbow), and fast bowlers Dale Steyn (shoulder) and Morne Morkel (back).

“De Bruyn is the latest player to be rewarded for consistently good form at franchise and South Africa A level,” Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement on Wednesday. “He has an outstanding firstclass career average of 48.73 and has made 423 runs at 60.42 in this season’s four-day competition.”

De Bruyn also offers an option as a part-time seam bowler.

On Monday, it was announced that Faf du Plessis, who recently led the side to series victories at home to New Zealand and away in Australia, would take over the Test captaincy on a permanent basis as De Villiers battled to regain full fitness.

“Credit to AB de Villiers for the smooth way the leadership transition has taken place. Faf has done an outstanding job in the last two Test series and our

Theunis de Bruyn

leadership is in very good hands,” Zondi added.

Next Monday, Du Plessis will appeal his conviction for ball tampering during the series in Australia that resulted in him losing his entire match fee for the second Test in Hobart.

The appeal represents an element of risk as he is flirting with the higher sentence of a onematch ban, which would rule him out of the first Test in Port Elizabeth, should he fail.

Replacement wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi have been dropped from the squad that toured Australia last month.

The second Test will be played in Cape Town from January 2 and will be concluded in Johannesburg from January 12.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen Cook, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada. - Reuters

Matthew De Sousa (21st) and Courtney Halle (32nd) to go into the breather with an onegoal advantage.

After the change of ends, South Africa extended their lead when Ryan Crowe (56th) scored from a field effort before Austria pulled one back through a penalty corner conversion by Leon Thornblom (60th).

Just two minutes from the final hooter, Nqobile Ntuli scored a field goal to make it 4-2

pened before the knockout stages,” he said. Going by present form, India start as overwhelming favourites against Spain. The Indians have defeated the Spaniards twice

in favour of South Africa.

In the second 9th to 12th place play-off match later in the day, New Zealand took the lead through a penalty corner conversion by Oliver Logan in the sixth minute before Malaysia drew parity when Firdaus Omar (28th) struck from a set piece.

But thereafter it was New Zealand all over as they pumped in two more goals in the second half through Robbie Capizzi

in the recent past in a four-nation tournament in Valencia.

The Valencia outing, where India went on to win the title by beating six-time champions and

(56th) and Same Lane (60th) to emerge winners.

While New Zealand and South Africa will face off each other for the 9th-10th place finish on Saturday, Austria will take on Malaysia for 11th-12th place. Japan and Korea will face each other in a battle of Asian teams for the 13th-14th spot, while Egypt and Canada will fight it out to avoid the wooden-spoon in the 16-nation tournament. - PTI

current world junior champions Germany, should give the home team confidence going into tomorrow’s all-important encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand Astroturf

stadium here. Although India are expected to win the game hands down, Harendra warned his players against complacency. “In a World Cup we can’t afford to take any team lightly. We have defeated Spain twice in Valencia but here it is altogether different. Every participating team wants to win the World Cup,” Harendra said.

In their last two pool games, India let their momentum slip in phases. Against England they were sloppy in the last 10 minutes and conceded two goals, while against South Africa the Indians faded away after the initial 15 minutes burst. Excited and pumped up in front of home crowd, the Indians tried too many things and this is something which Harendra would like his wards to avoid tomorrow.

India’s senior team’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans, who is here as the manager of the junior side, has called on the colts to use their brains a bit more and stick to their game plan instead of trying too many things. “The most important thing is to stick to our game plan.

If we would have used a little bit more brain, we could have scored more goals (against South Africa) and that is what we have to learn. If you can close the game we should close it. We shouldn’t give our rivals opportunity to come back into the game,” Oltmans said.

The Indians created plenty of scoring chances but the striking force lacked the finishing touch before Mandeep Singh came to his side’s rescue with a brilliant matchwinner against South Africa.

India skipper Harjeet Singh has been phenomenal in the tournament so far having led the side from the front. Against South Africa he not only scored a goal but also created numerous chances for his teammates. Meanwhile in the other quarterfinals of the day, Belgium will play Argentina, defending champions Germany will face England and Australia will take on the Netherlands. - PTI

C4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

SPORTS

Real’s Zidane predicts tough semis against America in Club World Cup Zidane denied that Real were favourites

Antlers beat Atletico Nacional to reach Club World Cup final

to win the game, saying his players would have to work hard to reach Sunday’s final against Kashima Antlers

YOKOHAMA: Mexican team America will be fired up by the thought of marking their centenary year by beating Real Madrid and becoming the first team from the CONCACAF region to reach the Club World Cup final, Real manager Zinedine Zidane has said.

America, the CONCACAF Champions League holders, beat South Korean side Jeonbuk Motors 2-1 to set up a semifinal clash with Real in Yokohama on Thursday and Zidane said the prospect of facing the Spanish giants would motivate the Mexicans.

“I think Club America are very motivated because they want to celebrate their centenary,” Zidane was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

“Some clubs only have a once in a lifetime chance to play against Real Madrid and I think it is a very good opportunity for them.”

Zidane denied that Real were favourites to win the game, saying his players would have to

work hard to reach Sunday’s final against Kashima Antlers.

“I never think that we have a better opportunity to win than our opponents. We have to play football and many people expect Real Madrid to win the game very easily but that is not what I think,” he added. “We will be playing against great opponents and I am sure we will have a tough time during that match and that is what I will be telling my players.”

The Real manager is unlikely to risk captain Sergio Ramos for Thursday’s game, with the defender not having trained for the past two days, and would not be drawn on whether talisman Cristiano Ronaldo would feature. “Of course, he (Ronaldo) is as motivated as always. He is always motivated regardless of who the opponents are or whether it is a friendly or even training.”

Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d’Or award and Zidane paid tribute to the forward’s achievement. - Reuters

MY BALL: Atletico Nacional’s Alejandro Guerra in action with Kashima Antlers’ Mu Kanazaki in the Club World Cup semifinal. – Reuters

OSAKA: Kashima Antlers became the first Japanese side to reach the Club World Cup final when they beat Colombia’s South American champions Atletico Nacional 3-0 on Wednesday.

Kashima’s first goal came after 33 minutes when Shoma Doi converted a penalty given for an off-the-ball trip after video evidence was used for the first time to award a spot kick.

Yasushi Endo scored the Antlers’ second after 83 minutes when he took advantage of an error by goalkeeper Franco Armani to backheel a loose ball into the empty net.

Atletico’s heads went down and two minutes later substitute Yuma Suzuki, who had just come on, sidefooted home a third from close range after Mu Kazanaki’s ball across the face of goal. The result means the Japanese champions will face the winners of Thursday’s semifinal between Real Madrid and Mexico’s Club America.

The final is scheduled for Sunday. - Reuters

CRICKET

NDTC, FT, Raysut and Samra notch wins TENNIS

Subash retains men’s title at ISC

THE FINALISTS: Subash Pillai, left, and Yash Tanna.

MUSCAT: Talented teenager Subash Pillai retained the men’s singles title at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the defending champion dominated the final and outplayed second seed Yash Tanna to emerge winner with a 6-4, 4-2 (retired) result when Yash retired with a sore shoulder.

Subash and Yash played positive attacking tennis with Subash maintaining a higher degree of

consistency. Scores went neckand-neck until Subash earned the crucial break to win the first set. Subash scored the early break in the second set and pressure told on Yash whose unforced errors piled on the agony.

With Subash leading 4-2, Yash conceded the match with a sore shoulder.

One hopes that Yash will be fit to contest the boys’ under-16 singles final and then join Subash in the men’s doubles final which were scheduled to be played last night.

MUSCAT: Nabras Dhofar Trading Company, First Technology, Raysut Oasis and Samra United won their respective matches in the Salalah Cricket League being organised by Oman Cricket Club, Salalah.

Nabras Dhofar Trading Company (NDTC) defeated Gulf Foundation by four wickets in a Group B match, while First Technology (FT) beat Lantux by 16 runs in a Group A match.

In the other two matches, the Group E action saw Raysut Oasis beat Al Dhaman Trading by three wickets and in a Group F match, Samra United trounced Ahbar Trading by 65 runs. Nandakumar, Biji, Sajan, Nazeer, Toufiq, Fayaz,, Jamshed and Parwinder were the officiating umpires.

Brief scores: Group B: Gulf Foundation 114 all out in 19.4 overs (Rayees 46, Shan 12, Jamshed 12, Sujith 3 for 17, Deepu 2 for 17) lost to Nabras Dhofar Trading Company 115 for 6 in 13.3 overs (Sujith 30, Najeem 30, Ramshad 2 for 7, Nikhil 2 for 13). Man of the match: Sujith of NDTC Group A: First technology 152 for 9 in 20 overs (Bipin 42, Abhi 23, Mohammed Swafvath 2 for 19, Umer 1 for 12) beat Lantux 136 for 9 in 20 overs (Pinto 28, Yousuf 19, Riju 3 for 18, Renjit 1 for 22. Sreekanth 1 for 22). Man of the match: Riju of First Technology Group E: Al Dhaman Trading 146 for 7 in 20 overs (Moorthy 33, Sreejith 22, Ratheesh Raghavan 29, Arun 2 for 20, Munafir 2 for 31) lost to Raysut Oasis 147 for 3 in 14.3 overs (Arman 80, A. Gafoor 43, Praveen 2 for 16, Ratheesh 1 for 7). Man of the match: Arman of Raysut Oasis.

Group F: Samra United 163 for 8 in 20 overs (Iftikhar 43, Khizerhayat 32, Abhishek 3 for 11, Babu 3 for 23) beat Ahbar Trading 98 all out in 17.2 overs (Imran 26, Babu 12, Iftikhar 3 for 12).

Man of the match: Iftikhar of Samra United.

TOP PERFORMER: Sujith of NDTC receiving his man of the match award.

GOOD SHOW: Arman of Raysut Oasis receiving his man of the match award.

ALL-ROUND SHOW: Ifthikar of Samra United receiving his man of the match award. – Supplied photos

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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

FOR RENT 1Bedroom sharing K& T, family / ladies in Al Khuwair R.O 90.

Contact 95154331 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 3 bedroom ground floor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket.Contact: 95047657 Room in Azaiba. Contact: 99555843

FOR SALE Dental clinic for sale in Seeb.

Contact: 92882209 / 96373097 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

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 FOR SALE Farm in Barka for sale.

Contact: 91155779 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 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

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 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 Prado 2014. Contact 99336093

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

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing accommodation for Executive bachelor, working lady (South Indians) spacious room / separate entrance, attached bathroom, near Al Nahdha Hospital, Ruwi. Contact: 93462307 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 with W/E at Al Khuwair 33.

For a small family or non-cooking bachelors. Contact - 92834145 Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi.

Contact 91107383 / 93120054

ACC.WANTED Wanted a single room for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi area.

Contact: 93708595

MV SALE FJ Cruiser 2009 GCC, yellow, 210000 KM, RO 6300/Contact: 92857111 Mercedes C155, 2008, white, 130000 KM, 10100/- R.O. Contact: 92857111 Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017.

Contact No: 92812144

BUYING Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

BUSINESS New Year gifts dairy pens t -shirt with print. Contact: 98604960

LOST Mohammad Jainal Uddin has lost Bangladesh passport No AF 9407977. Finder please handover to ROP .

Rokmah Bt Sykenda has lost Indonesia Passport No. AS 810879.

Finder please handover to ROP Rajaul has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AE 6270023. Finder please handover to ROP Kamruzzaman MD Abdul Samad has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AB 7433918. Finder please handover to ROP

CHANGE OF NAME We, Faizal Ebrahim Kutty (name of father as per the passport, holder of Indian passport No. G 6282508 and Nubina Faizal (name of mother, holder of Indian passport No. H 9595931) having permanent address in Darussalam, Vannikappally, Cheppad P.O, Alappuzha Kerala – 690507 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Al Ghubrah, P.B No. 2792 PC No. 111, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Aymen Faizal (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. K - 6165437 date of issue 22/11/2012 issued at Cochin. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Ayra Faizal (new name) for all purpose. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

D4

T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 5, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

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

HR Manager.

KŶůLJ ĨŽƌ KŵĂŶŝ EĂƟ ŽŶĂůƐ͘ Min. 5 Years’ Experience Required. ĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ 'ƌĂĚƵĂƟ ŽŶ preferred. /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ŵĂLJ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗

Mail: cv4gcc@gmail.com Fax: 24614202

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

MANAGER Urgently required Cold store experienced Manager & Staff.

Email : almahadint@gmail.com, almahadint@yahoo.com

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 B.E. / Diploma having good experience in Automobile & Engineering workshop.

Contact: 99439701 Email: nnoe11977@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

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

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 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

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 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

MISCELLANEOUS

SITUATION WANTED

Urgent required : Store labors.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com, Fax: 24509312

ACCOUNTS

SKILLED LABOUR Construction company looking for foreman with Gulf experience.

Contact : 95758004 Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact: 91114884 Required Experienced Auto Electrician and Automobile Mechanic for a reputed service station.

Contact : 91232638 hashim@ramainvestment.com

SALES / MARKETING Wanted experienced Sales & Marketing Manager (with Oman driving license) for fine dine restaurant in capital area. Fax 24565544 GSM / 99103777 & 97100892 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 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 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 Mechanical Engineer, 1 year Omani Experience + 2 Years of local experience, NOC available, looking for suitable position.

Contact No: +96896089598 Email: fasinizami@gmail.com

Male Accountant, MBA (finance) 5 yrs experience including UAE & India up to finalization available immediately (on visit) Contact: 91704866 Email: anees0989@gmail.com

Indian (M), Qualified CPA, CMA, CIA (USA), MBA (Finance) & M.Com, 15 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting & Audit, (3 years in Oman) looking for suitable Senior/Middle level position in Finance/Accounting/Audit. NOC available.

E-mail soji_ansu@yahoo.com, mob – 91595436

10+ Years Experience in Accounts & Finance upto Finalisation, NOC & License available. Contact – 96239126

Indian, MBA Finance & Marketing with 4 years of experience in Finance & Accounts. With valid Oman D/L. Contact: +968 96321890

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

Accounts Manager looking for job in accounts or finance, 4 years Oman exp with accountancy degree & Omani D/L with NOC available.

Contact: 95661169 Email: moshin_zaman4u@hotmail.com

SITUATION WANTED ADMIN Young B.Com Graduate with computer literate holding Oman D/L seeks placement in Administration or Accounts Assistant.

Contact: 95041489 Omani experience on reception, admin PRO seeks job.

Contact: 96495545 / 96184616 8 Years Experienced Graduate Omani Female presently working as Administration Manager in a reputed group Company, supervising HR and other administration activities, liaisoning with Ministries and other Government departments looking for suitable opening in a progressive professional organization. Contact: 91727742 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 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 Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126

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 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

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

ACCOUNTS 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 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

Senior Accountant 16 years experience handle accounts up to finalization MIS cash flow, NOC &, D/L available. Contact: 94117616 Email: praveen78oman@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 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 MBA with 3 years experience.

Contact: 98381784 Email: nustruggle@gmail.com Looking for a job Assistant Accountant. Contact: 90119212 Senior Accountant Jordanian Nationality looking for suitable position – accounts up to finalising.

NOC available. Contact : 91702073 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. #: 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

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 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 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: 91729724 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 8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement.

Contact 97243806

T H U R S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 6

D5

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 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 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 Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 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 Indian, Kerala, CMA-USA, ICWA, Mcom10+Years Experience Budgeting Planning MIS Accounts&finance.Cont.94064931shijupnarayanan@gmail.com 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 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 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 Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Contact # 96654216 CATERING 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

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 Piping designer Indian male 8 years experience in oil & gas currently in Muscat. Contact: 97212921 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 Looking for job light driving.

Contact: 93779819 Have 6 years experience in Oman as driving license private light.

Contact: 96550836 / 92854178 Driver available for job.

Contact: 96381406 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

DRIVER Driver job wanted.

Contact: 96393082

Master in Civil Engineering with 5 years Gulf exp. Contact: 96658456

Driver seeks job, with driving license & salesman.

Contact: 94235254

B.Sc Civil Engineer 5+ years experience in Building construction & Steel structural building with having valid D/L. Contact: 93850440/ shahadat033@gmail.com

Looking for driving job 10 yrs exp, D/L UAE & Oman.

Contact: 95918834 / 97098081 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

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. HSC officer male 29 years, 6 years experience seeking good opportunity. Contact: + 968 90595885 / + 968 71140487 Email: bipin.tkurian@yahoo.com Civil Engineer experience 10 yrs, 8 years in Oman. Contact: 97201504 / 98047527 Mechanical Engineer 22 years experience in manufacturing industries in Oman Efficient in all plant operations seeking managerial position. Contact: 98871548 / 98758606 Mechanical Engineer with 3 years experience in RO plant maintenance of boilers, breakdown maintenance, pumps, control valves and air compressor etc currently in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95632276 Email: jassinsudhakaran797@gmail.com Civil Engineer 10 years experience working in International company, Infrastructure & building construction having Omani driving license. Contact: 96616396.

Purchasing professional having 7 years experience in power, water construction projects seeking job.

NOC available. Contact: 96518316 Email: vineethsubashpillai@gmail. com Professional land surveyor available with total station vehicle NOC 9 years experience in building construction bridges topography survey roads available to join or higher. Contact: 96287425 Email: ihtisham.tkm@gmail.com

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 95396905

Looking for suitable placement.

Indian Male 36 yrs Machineshop sales and service, repair and maintenance mechanical equipments & jobs. Noc available, Oman D/L Available Working in Oman for 5+ years. 98481039, anand27kumar@gmail.com

Experienced driver available with 4WD willing to work fulltime / part-time, familiar with all tourist destinations in Oman.

Contact: 24814231 / 91941545

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

Bangladeshi male light driver exp 16 years looking for job. Contact: 99165961

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

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 Looking for job in construction industries, office coordinator, document controller, Administration B.A with good computer skills 10 years experience. Contact: 95399753 / 93892877 Email: dhananjayam0@gmail.com 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 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 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 Indian female, 22 yrs, BE (Electronics & Communication) searching for suitable placement.

Contact 96008324 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 Mechanical Engineer, 3 years experience, 1 year in Oman, with driving license & NOC. Contact: 94887665 Email: mechatron_mt@yahoo.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. 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 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 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 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 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 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 Mechanical Engineer with one year experience in oil & gas refinery as piping QC Engineer seeks suitable placements.

Contact: 95900813 Email: jinu8888@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. Ph number: 97964862, Email: jossyabraham20@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 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 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

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

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

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, 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

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.

D6

T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 5 , 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 HOSPITALITY

MISCELLANEOUS

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR

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

Omani male, 21 years graduate, (bachelor in management studies) seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97904200

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

IT IT Support Engineer, 6 yrs experience with NOC available seeking placement in IT system & server Administration. Contact: 93200454 Email: pandiyanraj85@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 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

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

General Manager Indian National With 20 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company.

Contact-97464650.

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

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

9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence.

NOC available. Seeks suitable placement. Contact ZakeerHussain 96681934.

Watch repair and service looking for job, 24 yrs experience.

Contact: 99530405

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

BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

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

Indian male Keralite Post Graduate Diploma and Graduate CCNA & MCSA certified have 5 years experience in software & hardware technical support. Contact : 93988511 Email: 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 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

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

MEDICAL Homeopathy Doctor Indian female with MOH license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 94541830 Email: homeo64319@gmail.com Iraqi Dentist looking for job in Muscat with MOH license & NOC 6 years experience and half.

Contact: 96907572 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 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

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

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

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 35 years, BBM, 5 years experience as Sales Executive & key Accountant in Oman with NOC, D/L seeking immediate placement in Muscat area.

Contact: 92683606 Email: abhi.abraham09@gmail.com Indian male, 27 years 2+ completed, 2 years Muscat experience looking for suitable placement (supermarket shop etc).

Contact: 95128634 Email: sabuthoams@gmail.com 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

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

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

Joinery / Woodworking Production Supervisor, Indian, with knowledge in estimation, 18 years experience (5 years in Oman).

Contact: 92975314, praveen777prabhakar@gmail.com.

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

MANPOWER SALES / MARKETING 9 years experience in Lube sales with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement in sales / driver. NOC available. Contact: 99263912

Key Accounts Manager of sales.. with an experience of 13 yrs, across the country. Bsc, MBA seeks suitable placement. Contact- 92100116

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

MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132

Experience Sales / Business development professional, with 5 years Oman experience, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 90133601 Email: gbkoshy@gmail.com 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 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.

Sales man looking for a suitable placement with 2 years experience, NOC available. Contact: 71293044 B.Com, Sales building material, accounts, marketing, 10 years experience in India. #92870992 Email: aboosheikh@yahoo.com Freight forwarding Graduate with 8 years experience in freight forwarding (Govt. of India) seek suitable placement. Contact: Shaji 99102497 / 98637889 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 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 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 Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. contact 96143430 / 99875919 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 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 male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 /95774854 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

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 Omani female 6 years experience in management, fluent in English & French searching for new opportunity. Contact: 90998255 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 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 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, 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 Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity. NOC available.

Conatct 96001877

SITUATION WANTGOOD 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.

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 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www. siddhayur.com

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

Client Relations and Sales Professional with 8 years in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, looking for suitable opportunity in Muscat. Contact +96879050752 Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact# 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS 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

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

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

WANTED Warehouse minimum 600 SQ. MTR for dry foodstuff storage between Muscat and Ghala.

Contact: 99108171 Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 /93203778

NRI 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

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

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

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

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED 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