Times of Oman - January 18, 2016

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6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the inauguration of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, 2001

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Mosques are houses of God, in which He has declared that His Name should be raised to honour and proclaimed. It is in them that the Prayer is performed, which is the pillar of the Faith. The verses of the Holy Book are recited there, as are the sayings of the Messenger. Useful knowledge is imparted in them, containing lessons which guide people to the truth and the straight path.

MONDAY, January 18, 2016 / 8 Rabi Al Thani 1437 AH

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Oman to take part in Davos meeting MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr Salim bin Nasser Al Isma’eeli, Chairman of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa), will take part in the 46th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF), due to commence in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

The four-day event will discuss the progress witnessed in information technologies, digital technology, innovation and the contribution of this progress in upgrading the lives of communities and human development, in addition to meeting the global challenges, such as healthcare and food security.

FALL IN MSM 30 INDEX

(in per cent) 2015

Sunday

Between January 1 and 17

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

DECLINE IN MARKET CAPITALISATION Excluding closely-held companies. (in million Omani rials) 2015

2016

Sunday

120 -675 -250 Between January 1 and 17

The market capitalisation increased in 2015 due to additional bond / sukuk issues Sources: Muscat Securities Market Gulf Baader Capital Markets

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European tourist rescued after fall

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A European tourist fell off Jebel Shams mountain in Al Khatim area on Sunday morning, said the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).

The woman was rushed to the nearest hospital. >A2

OMAN Yesterday saw Muscat Securities Market shares lose OMR250m in value; so far in 2016 values have declined by OMR675m

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s stock market has suffered its worst start in years with investors seeing an estimated OMR675m wiped off their shares in just 11 days of trading.

Yesterday (Sunday) was the most painful of 2016 as share prices on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) hit a sevenyear low, knocking off around OMR250 million in share values in a single day.

The MSM 30 Index – barom-

eter of the market trend – shed 164.08 points or 3.21 per cent to slump below a psychological level of 5,000-mark to close at 4,948.44 points amid global crude prices touching a 12-year low, which triggered fears of further economic slowdown.

This is the biggest loss on the local bourse on a single day in the past year, after a 4.2 per cent plunge on December 11, 2014.

“It is a kind of weakness which is seen in all regional markets due to a steep fall in crude oil prices,” said Kanaga Sundar,

head of research at Gulf Baader Capital Markets.

“It was more of a panic selling across all regional markets with negative sentiments dominating,” added Sundar.

The local and foreign investors have lost OMR250 million in terms of market capitalisation, which is the total value of all shares traded on the bourse (excluding closely-held firms), with the market capitalisation touching OMR9.7 billion.

Investors are not able to take decisions on the basis of fundamentals of the company, said Tariq Abdul Razeq, deputy general manager at the United Securities. “They do not know where the market is bottoming out. Investors are not able to anticipate what will happen with the current oil price and austerity measures in the budget,” added Abdul Razeq.

Stocks across the Middle East

AMENDMENTS

also tumbled as the easing of sanctions against Iran raised the prospects of a surge in oil supplies to a market already reeling from the lowest prices in more than a decade.

Other regional bourses lost substantially, with Saudi Arabia leading the plunge with over 7 per cent fall, followed by Qatar (5.79 per cent), Dubai (4.92 per cent), Abu Dhabi (3.98 per cent), Kuwait (3.18 per cent) and Bahrain (0.37 per cent).

Iran, home to almost 10 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves, is starting preparations to boost exports after the United Nation’s nuclear agency on Saturday said the country has complied with the terms of an international agreement to curb its nuclear programme. That threatens to put further pressure on prices, hurting the oil-dependent economies of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. >A6

Hiring firms hit by housemaid racket

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Manpower recruitment offices now fiercely compete with a thriving racket run by people looking to make quick money from families by offering to bring housemaids in Oman. >A3

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Alawi: Iran decision will boost security

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Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, said the lifting of sanctions on Tehran by the major countries and the UN was done to ensure stability and security of the region. >A6

SANCTIONS LIFTED

HM’s wisdom, role led to Iran nuclear deal: Tehran envoy

Investment law to boost Oman growth Al Balushi, chairman of Anvwar Asian Investment Group, said.

Further, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced amendments to the draft foreign investment law, including revocation of the mandatory registration licence, the requirements for general local ownership, and a requirement for a minimum investment of OMR150,000.

The ministry said that the bill clarifies organisational responsibilities regarding foreign investments and provides further openness for investment. >A5

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

Served Oman with great pride: Ex-pilot

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B E WA R E O F O N L I N E S TA L K E R S

Monitor children on social media, parents told Times News Service MUSCAT: A warning has been sent to the public by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), urging parents to monitor their children’s activities on social media.

Last year, the ROP received “many complaints” of exploitation of Omani youths using social media, an ROP official told the Times of Oman.

On its official Twitter account, the ROP tweeted: “Dear parents: Pay attention to your children! Be aware of their exploitation through any social media channels.”

“We have a major problem.

Some girls like to approach young men, send them pictures, and engage in illegal activities. This is a crime which threatens the morale and integrity of society”, the official said. Rumaitha Al Busaidi, an Omani blogger and radio presenter,earlier told the Times of Oman that online stalking is

2016

-14.77 -8.50 -3.21

Vital meeting In a statement, Dr. Al Isma’eeli said: “In light of the rapid growth witnessed by the world at various levels, this annual gathering is very important to contribute in upgrading the lives of individuals and communities as it gathers dominant figures who will discuss the political, economic, social and technological issues.”

He wished that the discussions would contribute in promoting ideas to face the future challenges. >A5

MUSCAT: Amendments put forward in the foreign investment law will boost investment opportunities and act as a catalyst for the Sultanate’s economy, according to businessmen and officials.

“If the government is going to ease the foreign investment law, it would be a boon for investors.

Now, we face many hurdles, especially in finalising investment procedures. If the ministry of commerce and industry is going to have the final say, then half of our work will be done,” Anvwar

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Stock market blues hit Oman traders

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Staff Reporter

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“quite a big issue” and “not only targeted against women”.

Commenting on parental supervision of children, Al Busaidi said that parents should not ‘police’ children, but educate them about values.

Further, Hashar Al Mandhari, chief executive officer of Alamah Marketing, said parents should educate their children about us-

ing social media platforms.

“Parents should not close the doors. If you close a door, they will break it. You should open the door and show them the right path”, Al Mandhari remarked. Also, by imposing guidelines, groups on social media platforms can block stalkers. Nicholla Henderson-Hall, founder of a Facebook group and a social media coach, said she re-

sponds to complaints from female users who are receiving friend requests from strange men, or rude and inappropriate messages.

“Any person who is found harassing or bullying others, or posting inappropriate messages, will be removed from a group”, she said.

Meanwhile, the ROP official said that during 2014 and 2015 many complaints were received by the ROP, but in recent months complaints were “rarely reported”.

He added that despite increasing awareness by youths about social media among the public, the ROP sends out such messages to remind parents and the public.

“We fight against anyone who infiltrates your family life, takes your money or forces you into illegal activities through the Internet”, he said.

He noted that victims are sometimes afraid to report this crime, though the police are there to help.

MUSCAT: Oman’s peace-loving nature and the wisdom of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said are manifested in the Iran nuclear deal, the Iranian ambassador to the Sultanate has said.

Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, has always played a constructive and peacemaking role in the region, said Ali Akbar Sibeveih, following the announcement of the ‘implementation day’ of the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and global powers.

“Oman’s stance manifested itself in Iran’s nuclear issue,” the ambassador told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

He said the agreement was a great achievement for Iran as it managed to get the sanctions lifted and at the same time enabled the country to continue its peaceful nuclear activities, despite the efforts of certain countries such as Israel to thwart this deal.

However, the main credit should go to Oman, and His Majesty the Sultan in particular, as they brought Iran and the P5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany) to the negotiating table and continued playing a constructive role throughout the process, Sibeveih noted.

‘Blessing’ for the region According to the ambassador, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is not only a ‘blessing’ for Oman but also for the whole region as he helped prevent many crises in this part of the world and has also been trying to bring peace to

His Majesty brought Iran and the P5+1 group to the negotiating table and continued playing a constructive role Ali Akbar Sibeveih Iranian ambassador

crisis-hit countries in this region.

Iran holds Oman in great respect and hopes that other regional countries would adopt the same approach as the Sultanate as it would contribute to the peaceful resolution of all the issues in this area, he said.

Sibeveih noted that Iran’s nuclear activities are meant for peaceful purposes such as progress in various areas such as medicine and industry. >A6

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

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Why don’t the companies follow the government’s example and start reducing their expenses Ahmed Al Hooti, Member, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry

‘Thanks to strong rial, no need to hike prices’ Public Authority for Consumer Protection has stressed that any attempt to increase prices of any market

MONEY MATTERS: Some companies decided to raise prices of

products, without

essential commodities, though the government did not increase diesel prices significantly. – File photo

obtaining an approval from the concerned authorities, would invite legal action

FAHAD AL GHADANI/ ERIK PRINS

fahadnews@timesofoman.com/ erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: There is no reason for companies to raise the prices of their products in the current scenario, a senior member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said on Sunday.

“The Omani rial is quite strong presently, making it cheaper for

companies to buy products from the global market. The 14 baiza rise in the diesel price can be compensated since the Omani rial has been going up in the recent months,” said Ahmed Al Hooti, a member of the OCCI. His reaction came after certain companies decided to raise the prices of essential commodities, even though the government did not increase the diesel prices significantly.

“Why don’t the companies follow the government’s example and start reducing their expenses,” said Al Hooti. As the government has taken a number of measures to cope with the current financial situation, many feel that it’s time the private sector followed in the government’s footsteps.

He added that the government has always stood by the private sector companies and it is their time to reciprocate now.

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) confirmed that it was keeping the market under a stringent control with various field inspections being carried out in different governorates of the Sultanate.

The PACP also stressed that any attempt to increase prices of any market products, without obtaining an approval from the concerned authorities, will face legal action.

An official from Lulu said even though they will not pass on the burden to the customers, they may be forced to do so if the suppliers

increased the price. “We can expect a slight price hike in the coming days if the suppliers increase the price,” Raison Francis, marketing and promotions in Lulu Hyper market Oman, said.

Moosapeta Sridhar, CEO of Khimji Ramdas Consumer Products Group, which is managing SPAR supermarkets in Oman, said they have no choice but to increase their prices if suppliers charge more from SPAR. “No matter how much the fuel prices rise, people will still consume food. We are here to serve the people by providing essentials, food included. If the suppliers increase their price, we have no option but to do likewise. But we do not intend to do so without the permission of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection,” he said.

Shahnawaz Khan, marketing manager at the Dubai-based Fine Fare Food Market LLC, which manages Al-Fair supermarkets in Oman, told the Times of Oman that “Al-Fair does not foresee any changes in local prices due to the increased fuel prices in Oman.”

Khan added that as far as AlFair’s local distribution was concerned, fuel cost was a very small part of its warehousing and logistics expenses, which account for around three percent of sales value.

PAC D A H E L P

European tourist rescued after mountain fall Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A European tourist fell off Jebel Shams mountain in Al Khatim area on Sunday morning, said the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).

Following a distress call, the PACDA personnel rushed to the site of incident to carry out the rescue operation. The woman was

rushed to the nearest hospital. She has sustained only minor injuries.

“The tourist was walking along the mountain side when she slipped and fell down,” said a PACDA official. Officials have reiterated the importance of maintaining safety and advised people to travel in groups in isolated areas and follow the guidelines and advisories to stay safe and avoid injuries.

Following a distress call, PACDA personnel rushed to the site of incident to carry out the operation to rescue the female European tourist who had fallen off Jebel Shams mountain in Al Khatim area

CRIME CONTROL

Forgery crimes in Sultanate fall by 25% in 2015 Times News Service MUSCAT: A fall of 24.8 per cent was seen in forgery crimes in Oman, as 290 cases of forgeries were recorded by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations in the Sultanate in 2015, down from 386 in 2014.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) considers forgery one of the crimes that need to be combated on a priority basis, especially the forging of official documents, which results in negative impacts financially, morally and socially.

Offence It is also considered an offence that harms the well-being of communities, as it endangers those countries’ financial benefits, as well as individuals’.

Commenting on combating forgeries, Brigadier Rashid Salem Al Badi remarked, “Most of these crimes are serious and the perpetrators will be caught eventually due to technological advances and the equipment that the ROP possesses.”

Great efforts He added that the Royal Oman Police officials and personnel exerts great efforts in combating these crimes, which includes coordinating with other agencies and using scientific technology to quickly apprehend and arrest criminals.

Three elements Al Badi stated that there are three elements to forgery: the first being financial, as the perpetrator provides false information.

The second is the moral element within the crime, and cannot be accomplished unless the criminal willingly commits the crime while fully knowing he is forging facts.

The third element is the financial impact.

Most of these crimes are serious and the perpetrators will be caught eventually due to technological advances and the equipment that the Royal Oman Police possesses Brig Rashid Salem Al Badi Royal Oman Police Specialists from the ROP’s forensic laboratory use technical and scientific means to determine whether a document is forged.“Most of the time forgers do not know the law and the consequences of forgery, so they believe that forgery is somewhat acceptable,” said Al Badi.

Advice He advised victims to immediately report any loss of personal information,such as IDs, passports, checkbooks or other documents, and refrain from signing blank documents, such as blank checks. The public is also urged to monitor their bank accounts regularly via emails, SMS and visiting their bank on a monthly basis, along with storing all bank transaction information in safe places and never leaving documents in their vehicles.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

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Hiring firms hit by housemaid racket Recruitment managers say the loss of business because of such competition was costing them dearly and urged the government to check the illegal practice

SALEH AL SHAIBANY

saleh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Manpower recruitment offices now fiercely compete with a thriving racket run by people looking to make quick money from families by offering to bring housemaids in Oman at half of what is charged by the agencies.

‘Discount’ Recruitment offices charge up to OMR1,000 for a housemaid, but often, relatives of housemaids already living in Oman act as brokers and offer a rather generous ‘discount,’ charging about OMR500, which is half the market price for hiring house help.

Recruiting managers say the loss of business because of such competition was costing them dearly and urged the government to check the illegal practice.

Impact on business “Most of the time, housemaids themselves strike these deals.

They have documents of their friends in their native countries and charge much less than what we normally do. This impacts our businesses. The government needs to stop this because the practice is now rampant across the country,” Ashraf Al Hakmani, general manager of Al Hakmani Manpower Recruitments, told the Times of Oman.

Other recruiting agencies, who feel they are suffering on account of rising numbers of illegal recruiters, blame local families who fall for cheaper solutions.

“Omani families who want to save money must be punished as well, besides people who supply housemaids through illegal means. They are the ones who are encouraging this illegitimate business. They should know that there are no guarantees when

they choose to recruit through people who are not licensed to supply housemaids,” said Faisal Al Battashi, manager of Al Maheet Sharqiya Manpower Co. But some families, who prefer not to go through licensed manpower offices, strongly defend their decision.

“Manpower companies are greedy. They charge a lot and do very little. If they reduce their prices and stop taking advantage of families looking to employ a maid, then there will be no need for us to risk breaking the law.

They have only themselves to blame,” a man who did not want to be identified, told the Times of Oman. However, housemaids have their own take on the story.

They say some sponsors charge money if a housemaid wants to change employers.

“My former boss asked me to pay him back his recruitment costs when I wanted to work for another household. I did not have the entire amount.

“So, I paid half the amount and my new employer paid the rest. This is unlawful but such sponsors get away with it,” a Sri Lankan housemaid, Smita, who did not want to reveal any other information, said.

When contacted by the Times of Oman, the Ministry of Manpower refused to make any comment on the issue.

E-IDENTITY SERVICE

Manpower ministry launches awareness drive MUSCAT: An awareness campaign on the e-authentication services was launched yesterday by the Ministry of Manpower for its employees, as part of an effort to benefit from the e-services that were activated in 2015.

The new service is related to e-nomination of job seekers, elicencing and e-authentication of

OMAN

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Omanis’ job contracts. The service ensures high quality of security, accuracy and credibility.

The ceremony was held under the auspices of Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower who pointed out that this facility is considered one of the measures to shift towards egovernment and ensure linkage

with many organisations, especially the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Royal Oman Police, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Muscat Municipality. Work is also under way to be linked with other organisations, such as the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources. -ONA

C U S T O M S D I R E C T O R AT E

e-facilities system launched MUSCAT: Computerisation system of customs procedures and operations and the e-one station system (Bayan), was launched by the Directorate General of Customs at Muscat International Airport yesterday, under the auspices of Brig Ali bin Abdullah Al Marhoon, Director General, Airport Security.

The inauguration coincides with the gradual implementation of ‘Bayan’ system in all land, air and sea customs ports, to achieve a significant step in the process of trade exchange through the e-facilities and privileges offered by ‘Bayan’ system and its sub-systems, including integrated customs management system and risk management system, as well as the eone station system which helps fast completion of permits and licences as soon as possible.

Operation Lt Col Mansour bin Nasser Al Rahbi, Director of Tariff and Statistics Department, Member of the Computing Team and Director of the e-one station system said government agencies using the system are divided into two groups, and the licences, permits and exemptions system will start operating early next month. -ONA

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

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DINOSAUR VILLAGE OFFERS A BLEND OF EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

The dinosaur village in Amerat Park has been labelled ‘the first and the biggest dinosaur village in the Middle East,’ where visitors have a chance to see dinosaurs in various shapes and sizes, walking dinosaur models, replicas of dinosaur eggs and dinosaur fossils as well as many other things

MUSCAT: Those looking for a blend of education and entertainment can now have a unique experience at a dinosaur village in Amerat Park as an ‘Edutainment’ event is being held for the first time there as part of the Muscat Festival.

At ‘Edutainment,’ models of 15 different species of dinosaurs are on display, said Christom Thomas, managing director of the Omanbased Al Ghazel Int’l company, the organiser of the village.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Thomas said a decision was made to showcase dinosaur models in Amerat Park after the dinosaur village in Naseem Park received ‘fantastic’ feedback from visitors last year.

According to him, new dinosaur models manufactured in China have been brought to Amerat Park while an animal park featuring various animals’ models was set up in Naseem Park this year.

The dinosaur village in Amerat Park has been labelled ‘the first and the biggest dinosaur village in the Middle East,’ where visitors

have a chance to see dinosaurs in various shapes and sizes, walking dinosaur models, replicas of dinosaur eggs and dinosaur fossils as well as many other things.

Children can also take a dinosaur ride inside the village, said Thomas. He believes that the village offers a great experience for visitors, especially children, as they can better understand what they studied at school and read about in books.

Children have seen dinosaurs featured in Hollywood movies, mostly through special effects, but the models displayed here are ani-

matronic and equipped with censors, Thomas explained.

So if a person is within a 5-10 metre radius of the model, it will start moving its different parts such as head and tail, making various sounds, blinking its eyes or doing other actions, he added.

Thomas noted that in order to reinforce the educational aspect of the experience, a board is displayed alongside each dinosaur or animal in both Amerat and Naseem parks, and displays information about that particular animal.

It is both fun and an educational experience for visitors, he said.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

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WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Boeing 737 flight on A1 Global forum Muscat-Duqm route < FROM

Times News Service DUQM: Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD) and Oman Air yesterday began operating Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the Muscat-Duqm route.

This aircraft will fly the route every Sunday and Thursday while the route will be served by an Embraer 175 every Monday and Wednesday. Officials from SEZAD, Oman Air, Oman Airports Management and Royal Oman Police graced the inauguration. SEZAD is the supervising entity for the Muscat-Duqm route.

Flight number (WY3921), which landed at 9:30 am on Sunday morning at the Duqm Airport, made it possible to carry an additional 93 passengers coming from Muscat to Duqm, and 53 passengers on the return flight.

Mumtaz Al Balushi, Director of the Department of Administration and Services at SEZAD,

expressed thanks to, and appreciation for, Oman Air, Oman Airports Management and the Royal Oman Police for their success in making the Boeing aircraft flight on the Muscat-Duqm route possible.

“This step will reflect positively on the investment in SEZAD and on the citizens who regularly travel between Muscat and Duqm. SEZAD’s support for this route is part of the government’s plan to attract investment to SEZAD while also facilitating the movement of Duqm people and those from the rest of the Wilayats of Al-Wusta Province and other people working in SEZAD,” he added.

“The fact that Boeing planes would service the Muscat-Duqm route is in keeping with the pace of growth in the number of passenger to Duqm, including those working in SEZAD, residents, investors and tourists,” he added.

WEF is an annual event that gathers elite international economic decision-makers, as well as a number of politicians and representatives of the non-government organisations in a bid to exchange views on various issues. The prominent world figures who will take part in this year’s meeting include David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States, Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister of Turkey, President Joachim Gauck of Germany, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Haider Al-Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq, Habib Essid, Prime Minister Tunisia, Tammam Salam, Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hiroaki Nakanishi, CEO of Microsoft and Mary Barra, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.

More over 2,500 figures representing about 100 countries will take part in the forum.

CHANGE

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Bringing in investment

It added that the ministry will be the entity responsible for carrying out the new investment law, which is designed to improve the investment climate, in line with international norms.

Welcoming the move, a top official from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said that Oman needs large global investors, and easing the law will assist the economy.

“At present, small and medium investors are coming to Oman.

They are welcome. However, real change will happen only when big investors arrive in Oman,” said Mohammed Hassan Al Ansi from the OCCI. “Openness will help the economy. But at the same time, local investors also have to be protected,” Al Ansi added.

OMAN

Meanwhile, Abu Anwar Al Raisi, a government employee, said that since the law is still a draft, it is not known whether this is a good move.

“It has to go through a trial phase at first to determine what the outcome will be. Only then will we know if the law is feasible,” Al Raisi added.

The draft law is aimed at achieving certain goals by replacing the existing foreign investment capital law with clear regulations that reflect international standards,as well as the Sultanate’s international obligations to the International Trade Organization, bilateral agreements and GCC agreements.

The ministry has said that the licensing general requirements will be in place and the government

will hold the prerogatives for enlisting the investment areas that are allowed for foreign investors, as well as ensuring the fundamental rights of investors, in line with international regulations.

The ministry has also said that the draft investment law will contribute to the transferring of incentives to the private tax and customs law, after a comprehensive review removes provisions relating to the incentives of the investment law, while continuing to be regulated by the system.

“When the government aligns the foreign investment law according to global standards, it will ease the situation and help investors to grow and also to contribute their part to the country’s economy,” remarked Mohammed Bhuiyan, an investor.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 I first underwent basic training in the UK and then came the role conversion to be an operational pilot in Oman Said Al Ismaily, Retired RAFO pilot

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Al Zayani inaugurates GCC Supreme Council building

Lifting of Iran curbs to boost security: Alawi

MUSCAT: GCC Supreme Council Consultative Authority building, which was funded by the Omani government to act as key player in enhancing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) joint work, was opened under the auspices of Dr. Abdulatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General on Sunday.

The building, which stretches over more than 15,000 square metres, includes main auditorium that have unique structural design, two sub-auditoriums for meeting, four minor meeting halls for the committee meetings and two training auditoriums, in addition to the facilities annexed to the building.

MUSCAT: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, said the lifting of sanctions on Iran was aimed at ensuring stability and security in the region. He said the decision taken by the major countries and the UN to lift curbs imposed on Iran had enhanced security.

He said that it is enough to mention that the ghosts of wars have disappeared and hopefully they would disappear forever. He said the lifting of the ban would have positive impact on the region.

As for the international and regional differences with Iran, he expected that such differences will vanish eventually. He called upon all international and regional parties to join hands to overcome challenges and ensure public interest. He affirmed that opening the building of the GCC Consultative Authority in Muscat shows that the GCC has bases and pillars in all GCC capitals to help in achieving its future goals. -ONA

Diplomatic mission It also includes offices for officials, advisors, employees at the Authority which is deemed as one of the diplomatic missions in Oman. The guest of honour expressed thanks and appreciation

BOOSTING COOPERATION: The building, which stretches over more than 15,000 square metres, includes main auditorium that have unique structural design. –ONA

to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Omani government and people for the steady efforts done to enhance cooperation and integration among the GCC coun-

tries. He hailed the remarkable renaissance and the comprehensive development witnessed by Oman under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan. -ONA

‘Flying for RAFO was an honour not a job’ Ex-pilot Al Ismaily says his most memorable moment was whenever he completed his sortie and saw that he had contributed usefully to the service of Oman GREAT HONOUR: Pilots joining the RAFO have to go through a rigorous selection process. – Supplied photo

TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is what soldiers do, that is, defending their own country on the ground. But even riskier is to do that in the air.

Today’s Oman Pride features a former operational pilot of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).

For Said Al Ismaily, flying for the RAFO was an honour and not a job. He was among the first batch of five Omani pilots to fly with the RAFO in 1975.

“Flying is more about aptitude than anything else,” he says.

“I joined the RAFO pilot stream to defend my country. I never looked at it as a job but rather as an honour to serve the Sultanate,” said Al Ismaily, now a managing partner at the Centre of International Learning.

Pilots joining the RAFO have to go through a painstaking selection process which includes, but is not limited to, “distinguishing yourself and your ability in leadership and

professional studies,” Al Ismaily pointed out.

“I first underwent basic training in the UK and then came the role conversion to be an operational pilot in Oman,” said the retired Wing Commander.

As the Times of Oman asked Al Ismaily if he was involved in any missions abroad such as in the First Gulf War, he simply offered regrets for his inability to share that information, saying it was confidential. All that he said was

that “we carried out a lot of missions offering close air support to the ground forces.”

“My most memorable moment was whenever I completed my sortie and saw that I had contributed usefully to the service of Oman,” Al Ismaily added.

Some youth often admire fighter pilots and the idea of flying military aircraft as well as the notion of going in for dogfights and risking their lives for the safety of the country. “I want to encourage such young Omanis who have the right aptitude and attitude for flying to join the RAFO and contribute their services for Oman,” said Al Ismaily.

He further added, “This is a field where they will have an opportunity to not only be trained to fly the sophisticated aircraft at the RAFO, but also have a chance to evolve as people with a wholesome personality and become a good citizen.”

ALAWI WELCOMES ENVOYS Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, received in his office on Sunday a copy of the credentials of Marc J. Sievers, US-appointed ambassador to the Sultanate and Abdulmalik Al Mekhlafi, Foreign Minister of Yemen. Bin Alawi welcomed the ambassadors and wished them success in their tour of duty and further progress to the bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields to achieve the joint interests. -ONA

LIFTING OF CURBS

A1 ‘A new chapter < FROM

in Iranian ties’

He expressed hope that a new chapter would be opened in Iran’s ties with other countries, especially regional countries, in the post-sanctions era.

In addition, the ambassador said the implementation of the nuclear deal, particularly the lifting of the sanctions on Iran, would give a boost to cooperation between the two countries in various areas, such as economy and tourism.

Oman is Iran’s priority in trade as it stood by Iran during the time of hardship as a ‘loyal’ and ‘brotherly’ country, Sibeveih said.

The issue of financial transactions will be resolved with the implementation of the deal and there will be many opportunities for investment and cooperation between the two countries.

In the recent past, many Omani companies have entered Iran’s market and, along with their foreign and Iranian partners, have been involved in or have expressed interest in various projects in roads, bridges and highway construction, airport expansion and mining as well as the petrochemical industry.

Sibeveih said he also believed that the deal will help enhance tourism cooperation between Iran and Oman, both of which have great tourism potential.

Oman Air has added a second

daily flight to Tehran and there are plans to launch flights between Oman and the Iranian cities of Mashhad and Shiraz, he said.

The official added that the number of Iranians transiting to Southeast Asian countries via Oman has increased a lot in the recent past.

According to him, the flow of tourists from Iran to Oman increased by around 10 per cent in the previous year and the number of Iranian visas issued to Omanis showed an increase of around 37 per cent. There are plans to increase cooperation between the Iranian and Omani tourism agencies to increase the number of visits and promote both countries’ tourism, Sibeveih said.

Iran is also keen to cooperate with Oman in restoring its historical sites such as forts, the ambassador stated.

In addition, Sibeveih commented on the Persian Language Centre in Muscat, saying that it has received a very good response from Omanis and other nationalities interested in learning Persian.

He noted that the centre provides a great platform for learning Persian, which will hopefully be used by more Omanis, especially businessmen, as the bilateral cultural and economic ties are expected to expand following the implementation of the nuclear deal.

I N T E R NAT I O NA L P R O P E R T Y AWA R D S S U M M I T

Saraya Bandar Jissah bags three awards Times News Service MUSCAT: Establishing itself as one of the top ITC developments, not just in the Sultanate, but globally – Saraya Bandar Jissah was recognised with three major awards at the International Property Awards Summit 2015 held in London.

Organised at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, United Kingdom, this summit recognised the world’s leading property developers, architects, agents and interior designers.

The overall regional winners and world’s best property companies were also announced at this event.

Saraya Bandar Jissah was named Best Marketing Development (Arabia), Best New Hotel

First-ever project in Oman to receive such honours.

Construction and Design (Arabia) and Best New Hotel Construction and Design (International) – becoming the first-ever project in Oman to receive such honours.

Sheikh Hamood bin Sultan Al Hosni, CEO of Saraya Bandar Jis-

sah, remarked, “It is, indeed, our great pleasure to be recognised on an international platform, such as the International Property Awards Summit. While we are seeing much interest and demand in our niche offerings at Saraya Bandar Jissah, these awards cement our abilities and pledge to deliver a one-of-a-kind luxury development with two five-star beachfront hotels to be operated by world-class operators - Jumeirah Group, along with five residential zones, and state of the art facilities. It is at the crux of our vision to create not just the best mixed-use development in Oman, but also the newest luxury address in the Sultanate.”

As the leading developer of Oman’s newest premier lifestyle

destination, Saraya Bandar Jissah also emerged as one of the most prominent winners from the Sultanate at the Dubai chapter of the Awards.

Poised to be one of the most spectacular development sites under construction in Oman, Saraya Bandar Jissah won four major awards in the following categories - Residential Development, Mixed – Use Development, Development Marketing and New Hotel Construction and Design.

The Summit in London saw a large number of senior delegates representing the very best in property development, design and architecture from across the world, who came together to network, forge new business relationships and collect their awards.

DECLINE OF BOURSE

A1 ‘Market likely to remain weak’ < FROM

Suresh Kumar, head of research at Al Maha Financial Services, said that it was the first time that the local bourse has declined to its April 2009 levels. “Most of the blue chip stocks are trading at April 2009 levels,” added Suresh Kumar. Foreign investors remained as net sellers on the Muscat bourse, like any other GCC market.

Suresh Kumar added that the market is likely to remain weak in the first half of this year since foreign investors started selling

their stocks. “Foreign investors were net sellers for several days since the beginning of January.” The market turnover was at OMR6.3 million when 21.7 million shares changed hand on Sunday. However, the traded volumes on the Muscat bourse substantially fell since the beginning of the year — from an average daily turnover of OMR5.6 million last year to little higher than two million daily turnover this year.

Market sources said that it

is an attractive opportunity for long- term investors to purchase blue chip stocks at this level.

More than half of MSM 30 index shares are now trading below their latest book value.

Also, several shares, including Renaissance Services, Al Jazeera Steel, Gulf Investment Services, Al Hassan Engineering and Construction Materials Industries, have plunged anywhere between 9 per cent and 10 per cent or almost limit down.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

A7

REGION 400 civilians held by IS militants in Syria ing the slaughter of 200 soldiers captured from the Tabqa airbase in Raqqa province, and hundreds of members of the Al Sheitat tribe in Deir Al Zor in 2014.

The group, in control of most of Deir Al Zor province, has laid siege since March on remaining government-held areas in the city of Deir Al Zor.

Death toll from air strikes in Syrian city of Raqqa reaches 40

BEIRUT: IS militants kidnapped at least 400 civilians when they attacked government-held areas in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Al Zor on Saturday, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday families of pro-government fighters were among those abducted.

“There is genuine fear for their lives, there is a fear that the group might execute them as it has done before in other areas,” said the Observatory’s head Rami Abdulrahamn.

Deir Al Zor is the main town in a province of the same name. The province links IS’s de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa with territory controlled by the militant group in neighbouring Iraq.

Syria’s state news agency SANA said earlier that at least 300 people, including women and

BADLY DAMAGED: A man rests at a site damaged by what activists said was an airstrike by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad in Al Sukkari neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday. – Rueters

children, had been killed during the attacks in Deir Al Zor, but it made no mention of people getting kidnapped. Syria’s government condemned the killings which it described as a “horrific massacre against the residents of Begayliya in Deir Al Zor”.

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM Visitors walk in front of cars owned by the Jordanian Royal family on display at the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman, Jordan, on January 17, 2016. — Reuters

M E D I AT E D D E A L

Naming of Libyan unity government delayed TUNIS: The body tasked with naming a unity government for Libya under a UN-backed agreement to resolve the country’s armed conflict has delayed announcing the government’s members by 48 hours.

The Presidential Council said in a statement released late on Saturday that it had made “great progress” since beginning discussions on January 1 but needed two more days to complete its work without giving any details.

The delay as well as continuing opposition to the United Nations-mediated deal within Libya signal the challenges in trying to unite factions and militias that have competed for power following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

UN Libya envoy Martin Kobler said in a tweet that he “regretted” the delay. “Libya can no longer wait,” he said.

The deal struck in Morocco on December 17 gave the Tunisbased Presidential Council one month to name a Government of National Accord, which Western powers hope will be able to deliver stability to Libya and tackle a growing threat from IS militants. But the presidents of Libya’s competing parliaments and many deputies did not back the agreement. — Reuters

A source close to the Syrian government side said on Saturday that some of those killed had been beheaded. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.

IS has previously carried out mass killings following military assaults in Iraq and Syria, includ-

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Severe food shortages Residents are facing severe food shortages and sharply deteriorating conditions. Of those under siege in the city, 70 per cent are women and children, and many have been displaced from their homes elsewhere and are living in temporary shelters.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Saturday’s air strikes on the Syrian city of Raqqa, de facto capital of the IS group, has risen to 40 civilians, including eight children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday.

The group said it remained unclear whether the warplanes which carried out the strikes were Russian or from the US-led coalition. The Observatory, which on Saturday had put the death toll from the strikes at 16 people, said they had hit shops and small restaurants in Raqqa. — Reuters

P E AC E N E G O T I AT I N G D E PA R T M E N T

Palestinian held for ‘spying’ OCCUPIED RAMALLAH: Palestinian officials said on Sunday they had arrested a member of their peace negotiating department for spying for Israel, a development likely to deepen distrust between the sides at a time of deadlocked diplomacy and simmering street violence.

The man, whose name was not released, is part of the manage-

ment staff in the umbrella Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s (PLO) negotiations department and is accused of “collaborating with Israel”, a security official told Reuters.

Another official said the suspect was arrested two weeks ago.

Al Ayyam newspaper, published in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. — Reuters

A8

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

INDIA

The government’s delaying tactics has put a question mark on its intent and credibility. The activists who are neutral to party politics will participate in the peaceful demonstration to which I have extended my moral support Anna Hazare, Social activist

SOFT-PEDALLING

NO RESPITE FROM COLD IN NORTH INDIA Assam Regiment contingent takes part in a rehearsal for the Republic Day parade at Rajpath on a foggy morning in New Delhi on Sunday. There was no respite from cold weather conditions in most parts of north India on Sunday where at least 25 trains were cancelled and rail services delayed due to fog. Temperatures in most states rose slightly compared to Saturday. In Delhi, which woke up to a chilly morning, the maximum temperature was 19.2 degrees Celsius as against 17.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday, though still a notch below the season’s average. In the Indian-administered-Kashmir, the Valley and the Ladakh region remained in the grip of cold wave as the mercury stayed below the freezing point owing to continuous dry weather. - PTI

Anna slams Centre over Lokpal issue RALEGAN SIDDHI (Maharashtra): Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday accused the Modi government of “soft-pedalling” the Lokpal issue, saying the delay in constitution of the anticorruption ombudsman has put a question mark on its “intention and credibility” to tackle graft.

He also underscored the need for launching an agitation on the issue and lent “moral support” to the planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar in India’s national capital on January 30.

“There is a need to launch an agitation on the Lokpal bill issue.

I recently met activists from seven states who had participated in the earlier stir and a demonstration will be organised at Jantar Mantar on January 30 to press the issue being soft-pedalled by the Centre.

“The government’s delaying tactics has put a question mark on its intent and credibility. The activists who are neutral to party politics will participate in the peaceful demonstration to which I have extended my moral support,” Hazare said.

A Parliamentary panel examining the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill had on December 7 submitted its recommendations.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, which examined Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law

Omar rules out tie up with BJP in Jammu & Kashmir The ex-CM said PDP is an ally of BJP, and

NC is not power hungry and is not interested in political power that comes through an ideological compromise

NC is not obliged to rescue either PDP or BJP from the ensuing stalemate in their standing political alliance

Omar Abdullah SRINAGAR/JAMMU: National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday ruled out any tie up with BJP in government formation in Jammu and Kashmir even as his father Farooq Abdullah retracted from his statement on Saturday suggesting such a possibility.

Omar, the NC working President, said his party was not power hungry and would not make an ideological compromise.

“NC is not power hungry and is not interested in political power that comes through an ideological compromise. We shunned prospects of an alliance with the BJP a year ago and the reasons for having done that remain unchanged,” Omar wrote on his official Facebook page.

Omar said the senior Abdullah was responding to a hypothetical

Former J&K chief minister

question based on a hypothetical situation and he never said that the party would support the BJP. He only said that if any such request or proposal is received from the BJP, it will be taken up by the party’s working committee.

Statement retracted Farooq retracted from his Saturday’s statement and called for dissolving the assembly and holding fresh elections, if the coalition partners Peoples Democratic Party and BJP fail to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“If they (PDP and BJP) cannot solve the problems of the people they must dissolve the assembly and hold new elections”, Farooq

told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Asked to comment on his statement in which he had said that his party’s “doors were open” if BJP leadership approaches him to form the government in the state, he said that he had never said that his party was going with BJP. “I had never said that we are going with BJP, it has to be made clear. I only said that PDP should form the government with the BJP as they have the mandate.I only said that our party can discuss on anything in our working committee,” he said.

He said that his party has only 15 MLAs and with only 15 MLAs it cannot form the government.

“We cannot take a decision as we don’t have the mandate we are only 14-15 people and 14-15 people cannot form the government.

“I am not the one to take the decision, it is the party high command to take the decision,” he said and advised the coalition partners BJP and PDP to iron out their difference and form the government without any delay as the delay was not good for this border state.

Omar said PDP is an ally of BJP, and NC is not obliged to rescue either PDP or BJP from the ensuing stalemate in their standing political alliance. It must also be remembered that the working committee of the party, in its recent meeting in Srinagar, had en-

dorsed the decision taken by NC a year ago to stay away from BJP and “we expect no change in that decision”, Omar said.

In the 87-member Assembly, BJP has 25 MLAs while its ally Peoples Conference headed by Sajad Gani Lone has two members.

The NC has 15 legislators.

Any alliance between the BJP and the NC will still require at least support of two other independent MLAs to cross the 44seat mark for forming the government. Abdullah said PDP and BJP must sit down and solve the problems of the people.

“Delay is a bad thing, for this state, delay is a bad thing it is a border state (that is) going through a difficulty stage, they (PDP and BJP) have the mandate and they must sit down and solve the problems of the people that is why they were elected and if they cannot solve the problems of the people they must dissolve the assembly and hold new elections,” he said.

The first signs of efforts to end the nine-day impasse on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir emerged after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti called a meeting of her party’s “extended core group” here on Sunday, expectedly to discuss the future course of action and ties with ally BJP. - PTI

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(Amendment) Bill, 2014, has cited overlapping of functions of anti-graft bodies and suggested integrating Central Vigilance Commission and anti-corruption wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to work directly under the command and control of Lokpal to deal with corruption cases.

It also suggested inclusion of leader of the single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha, in case there is no recognised Leader of Opposition, as member of selection panel to choose chairperson and members of Lokpal.

If this recommendation is accepted by Parliament, it will pave the way for Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge to be part of Lokpal selection committee headed by prime minister.

Hazare said the Lokpal bill initially proposed by the AAP government in Delhi assembly was weak but the legislation was made stronger following his intervention.

“Initially the bill was weak. I had then proposed 3-4 clauses that were incorporated subsequently. We should welcome that a beginning has been made. The bill will need necessary modifications with the passage of time,” Hazare said.

The Delhi Assembly had in December passed the Janlokpal Bill, incorporating Hazare’s suggestions. - PTI WILDLIFE INTRUSION

Flight aborts take-off as dog enters runway MUMBAI: One domestic flight had to abort take-off while four others were made to hover in the skies for more than 15 minutes after a dog strayed into the runway at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in India’s financial capital of Mumbai on Sunday.

The flight which aborted takeoff was of Jet Airways.

Of the four other flights affected, two were of IndiGo and one each of GoAir and SpiceJet. “Jet Airways flight which was ready to fly had to abort its take-off, while four other flights at Mumbai airport had to be suspended for a brief period today after a dog strayed into the runway. Due to this, four flights were asked to do a go-around,” the sources said.

The flights had to wait in the skies for almost 15-20 minutes, they said, adding that operations were resumed after the authorities cleared the runway of the dog.

Safety of aircraft Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had in December last year said that the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) had taken several steps to ensure safety of aircraft from birds and wildlife.

The DGCA had in November ordered surveillance of 20 airports in the country after they were found prone to wildlife intrusion and bird strikes. The surveillance was ordered to check the problem of wildlife intrusion and bird strikes as part of the aviation regulator’s safety programme. - PTI

S T U C K I N R A J YA S A B H A

Not fair on part of Congress to put riders on GST passage: Naidu NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday criticised Congress saying it is “not fair” on its part to set conditions for the passage of the GST bill and if the said clauses were so crucial, the United Progressive Alliance could have brought these in the original bill when it was in power.

One condition (cap on taxes) put forth by political party Congress and reiterated by its Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday during an event in Mumbai was “not liked” by anybody, he said.

“Rahul Gandhi said (Saturday) the government (should) agree (with Congress’s conditions for the passage of the bill). The government has agreed. The issue is about this cap which Congress has not proposed and it had not proposed it

when it brought the bill and is suddenly now making it a condition.

That is not fair on its (Congress’) part,” he told reporters here.

Naidu said the party had first raised the issue during a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

“The Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) has explained the position.

Subsequently, he has communicated to the Congress interlocutors...that is their leaders in Rajya Sabha about the government’s thinking and response to the proposals given by the Congress party except the one that is putting a cap which is not liked by anybody.

“If it is so important, Congress could have brought it in the original Goods and Service Taxes

(GST) bill which it had introduced.

Pranab Mukherjee saab was the finance minister at that time.

(When) he brought the bill this cap was not there. Susbsequently, Chidambaramji (ex-financeminister P. Chidambaram) was steering the GST bill...he did not think it necessary,” Naidu said.

Now, he said, suddenly the party has said there should be a cap.

“When you want to change any proposal, you have to call a Parliament session, then you have to get it approved by two-third majority. Then you have to go to states and all...This is a very complicated thing you are creating for yourself.

“Keeping that in mind many people, learned people have said there is no need to have any cap as far as taxation percentage is concerned. Other than that, there is a

broad agreement. Whatever Congress has suggested, the FM has responded to positively,” he said.

During an interaction with management students in Mumbai on Saturday, Rahul had accused the Modi dispensation of not taking on board the concerns of the opposition on GST. A “compromise with the government is possible on GST and it is by sitting across the table, but the government is not willing to do so,” he had said. The day the conditions are accepted, we will pass the GST (bill in Parliament). It will take just 15 minutes. We don’t want a GST where there’s no cap on taxes.

We want a limitation on the maximum tax that can be charged.

Rahul had said while explaining the conditions put by Congress to back GST bill. - PTI

HOPEFUL: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the party had first raised the issue during a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

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INDIA

India’s involvement sought in West Asia peace process Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki said India’s wisdom and political insight can be very useful in defusing tensions in the region BILATERAL TALKS: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, meets with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday. - Reuters

RAMALLAH: Palestine on Sunday sought India’s participation in the West Asia peace process, saying its “wisdom” and “political insight” can help defuse crisis in the region as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with the top leadership here.

Swaraj, who is on her first visit to West Asia as the external affairs minister, reaffirmed India’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause, emphasising that there has been “absolutely no change in its policy in this regard”.

Swaraj was welcomed by Palestine’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia Ambassador Mazen Shamiyeh at the Bituniya Checkpoint as she crossed over from Israel to the Palestinian territory after arriving in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening.

Soon after her arrival here, Swaraj held talks with her counterpart Riyad Al Maliki.

Swaraj also called on President Mahmoud Abbas.

39 Indians missing in Iraq are safe: Palestinian officials RAMALLAH: Thirty-nine Indians missing in Iraq for several months are safe, Palestinian officials said on Sunday.

The Palestinian side assured the visiting Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that they have intelligence

“India’s wisdom and political insight can be very useful in defusing tensions in the region,” Al Maliki told Swaraj during their meeting here.

The Palestinian foreign minister also called India a “good friend on whom the Palestinians can rely for support in many areas”.

information that 39 Indians missing in Mosul are safe.

The Palestinian side, however, did not offer any concrete evidence in this regard but said that they have information from third parties proving that all the Indians are still safe. Palestinian President

Describing India as “not just a friend but a brother”, Abbas applauded New Delhi’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause.

The two sides held substantive discussions on bilateral and regional issues with the Palestinian side briefing Swaraj on the developments in the peace process.

A9

Mahmoud Abbas had also assured President Pranab Mukherjee during his October visit that the missing Indians were safe.

There has been speculation that the Indians are being held in captivity by IS in the Mosul region of Iraq. - PTI

The Palestinian side also offered to step up cooperation with India in counter-terrorism.

Swaraj and Al Maliki discussed initiating a joint commission at the ministerial level to take forward bilateral cooperation.

Al Maliki also briefed Swaraj on the situation in Syria, Yemen and

Iraq, officials said. Palestinians have expressed surprise at India’s vote at a UN forum last year but said that they “understood” India’s “principled position”.

India, for the first time, last year abstained from voting on a resolution on Palestine adopted at the UN rights body that calls for accountability by parties involved in 2014’s conflict in Gaza.

“No such issue was however raised in the meeting of the foreign ministers,” Dr Wael Al Battrekhi, Palestinian foreign ministry’s head of media department, said.

Swaraj later also inaugurated the India-Palestine Digital learning and Innovation centre here as the two sides discussed multiple other projects New Delhi is planning to help boost capacity building in Palestinian areas.

“This is yet another example of India’s commitment to help Palestinian people”, Swaraj said at the inauguration ceremony.

“Happy to note Al Quds University will soon host an Indian Studies Chair and have linkages with Jamia Millia Islamia in India,” Swaraj said. Speaking at ceremony, she said India’s strengths in IT services could benefit Palestinian economy and society.

“We are ready to assist Palestine in IT and other sectors.”

“We will build another Centre for Excellence in ICT and Innovation in Gaza City and a Techno Park in Ramallah,” she said.

“This is my first visit abroad in 2016 and Palestine is my first destination.

“India’s solidarity with Palestinians and principled support to the Palestinian cause is rooted in our own freedom struggle,” Swaraj asserted. - PTI

HITTING OUT

Rahul Gandhi has cheated people of Amethi: Irani AMETHI: Sharpening her attack on Rahul Gandhi, Union Human Resource Development Minister of India Smriti Irani on Sunday accused the Vice-President of political party Congress of cheating the people of his Lok Sabha constituency, whom he had described as his extended family.

“Rahul has not fulfilled his responsibility towards his extended family. What can a country expect of a person who does not fulfil his responsibility towards his family,” Irani told reporters, wrapping up her two-day visit to Amethi, in Uttar Pradesh.

Irani, who had lost to Rahul in the Lok Sabha elections, alleged that the Congress MP has cheated his constituency in the name of development. The minister also questioned the development work carried out by Rahul in his constituency.

“I observed billboards talking about laying foundations but no work was seen on the ground during my regular visits to Amethi in the past one-and-a-half year,” she said. Irani assured the people that the land grabbed by Samrat Bicycles Limited will be either given back to farmers concerned or a factory will be set up there, and one member of each family will be employed.

The land concerned was registered by Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in its account a few months back and later a court ordered that the land be returned to Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC).Irani said she has talked to the district magistrate in this regard and if needed, she would also speak to the chief minister. - PTI

T H A N K S G I V I N G R A L LY

Ink attack on Kejriwal; AAP calls it ‘BJP conspiracy’ NEW DELHI: Ink was thrown at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a young woman when he was addressing a ‘thanksgiving’ rally following the “success” of his government’s odd-even experiment, prompting angry reaction from Aam Aadmi Party government which termed the incident as a part of “BJP conspiracy”.

The woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, came close to the lectern when Kejriwal was delivering his speech, waved some papers towards him, and then threw ink at the chief minister.

Some ink also fell on the chief minister and those standing close

to him. The woman, who claimed to be a member of the Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Sena, a splinter group AAP, was later whisked away by police and questioned at the Model Town police station.

Reacting sharply to the incident, an agitated Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia slammed Delhi Police, calling the incident a major security lapse and wondered whether it was “sitting in readiness to stage an attack on Kejriwal.”

“I can see a BJP conspiracy.

They want to take advantage of such a situation and attack Kejriwal and the entire Cabinet. They may also kill people because they

cannot stand the success of the odd-even scheme and AAP’s popularity among the masses. Police is a part of the conspiracy,” he said.

The incident happened around 4.50pm when Kejriwal was five minutes into his address at the rally organised by the city government to thank people of Delhi for making the pilot road-rationing scheme a “grand success”. There was a commotion following the ink attack, forcing Kejriwal to halt his speech for around seven minutes.

He later said, “Leave her. She is referring to some scam...CNG scam. Take the papers from her.

“Whenever something good

L AW A N D O R D E R S I T UAT I O N

Rival parties playing politics over every crime, says Nitish PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday hit out at rivals for “playing politics over every crime” in Bihar and said that the rule of law prevails in the state even as his government is under attack from BJP, which has raised the ‘jungle raj’ charge against the ruling dispensation.

The killing of two engineers in Darbhanga recently and a jeweller in Patna on Saturday has led the opposition BJP to step up its attack on the coalition government led by Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) leader Kumar.

“Incidents of crime are happening in the country and also outside. Therefore, making an assessment of the government’s functioning after every instance of crime is not justified,” the chief minister told reporters here.

Launching a blistering attack on BJP and its allies for levelling allegations against his government, he said that the rival parties should stop “playing politics over every crime”.

“A few people talk about crime by clubbing small and separate incidents together so that people feel anxious over the crime situation... After the severe drubbing in (Assembly) elections, they (rival parties) have no other work than to spread lies about the state government,” charged Kumar.

Seeking to instil confidence in the people and allay their anxieties, he said, “There is no reason

CONCERNED: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during Makar Sankranti festival in Patna on Friday. - PTI

for fear. There is no problem of law and order in the state.”

The government, Kumar said, is taking steps to stamp out organised crime and if someone gets a threat, he or she should report it to the police in time.

Policemen who do not act promptly in such cases would be subjected to stringent action, he added. The chief minister said he would direct the state police chief to regularly interact with the media so as to provide a “correct” picture of the law and order situation in Bihar.

“The police headquarters should more particularly give all the details to reporters after any incident that hogs the limelight,” Kumar said on the sidelines of a

function here. BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had in the wake of the killing of a jeweller on Saturday charged that “jungle raj” had returned in Bihar and sought the intervention of Governor Ramnath Kovind in the matter.

Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad was elected as president of his party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for the ninth consecutive term on Sunday and used the occasion to launch a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not matching his “high voltage assertions on Pakistan before elections with deeds”.

“You (Modi) used to brag about 56 inch chest and asserting that your future government will answer any misadventure from across the border eyeball to eyeball... So how did Pakistani terrorists enter our home in Pathankot and kill our brave soldiers?” he asked. The country is not safe in the hands of BJP, he asserted, and urged secular forces to unite against it.

Prasad said after the “stupendous” victory in eastern Indian state of Bihar, he, along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, would work to unite secular forces across the country to oust BJP from “Hastinapur” (Delhi).

He attacked BJP for allegedly trying to create a rift between him and Nitish and said there is no “difference” between them. -PTI

is attempted in the country or in Delhi some forces create all sorts of hurdles. As Gopal Rai said, many forces had tried to ensure the oddeven scheme failed,” he said.

When asked about the incident, police said the woman was being interrogated but refused to divulge her name. The woman, on her part, claimed that she has “proof in the form of a CD” that “these people have committed CNG scam”.

The alleged CNG scam had happened under the previous Congress dispensation and the Kejriwal government had recently set up a Commission of Inquiry to probe it. - PTI

PROTEST: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pauses after a woman tried to splatter Kejriwal with ink while protesting against alleged CNG scam at a ‘thanksgiving’ rally following the success, of his government’s odd-even scheme, in New Delhi. - PTI

A 10

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

PAKISTAN NO NEED TO BLOCK

PAKISTANI MUSCLEMANIA CHAMPION IN A CATCH 22

Telecom body petitions top court against YouTube ban

In this photograph taken on January 9, 2016, Pakistani body builder Salman Ahmed poses for a photograph at his gym in Lahore. Salman Ahmed was alone in the crowd when he became the first Pakistani to win the Musclemania world bodybuilding title in Las Vegas last year, unable to afford an entourage of managers, coaches, promoters like his fellow competitors. Now the 25-year-old is back in Pakistan and facing a choice: with no financial support from the government of his cricket-obsessed country and potential sponsors made skittish by its security issues, he must decide between giving up his glittering career — or leaving home. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecom-munication Authority (PTA) has requested the Supreme Court to revoke a ban on YouTube after the popular video-sharing portal launched its localised version for Pakistan.

In its petition, the PTA informed the court on Saturday that the Pakistani version of the website did not contain any sacrilegious material and there was no need to block YouTube now. The PTA will, however, keep monitoring the online content on the video portal.

YouTube has been blocked in Pakistan since September 2012, after the website refused to take down blasphemous content.

The Supreme Court had then ordered the PTA chairman to immediately block all religiously offensive material on YouTube or any other website.

The PTA stated that the authority had complied with the court order and blocked hundreds of URLs. — Express Tribune

Pakistani-origin Briton to set up WWI troops memorial The 47-year-old researcher, Dr Irfan Malik, has formed the World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust, which aims to raise $35,630 to build a Muslimthemed tribute to the men whose ‘loyalty and sacrifice’ helped the Allied forces win the war

Dr Irfan Malik, a resident of Sherwood in Nottingham, told The Independent that he got his inspiration to build a memorial after he began researching his ancestral village of Dulmial in Punjab and found both his great-grandfathers fought for Britain NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN: A photo of soldiers from pre-partition India who fought alongside British

LONDON: A British general practitioner of Pakistani origin has drawn a plan to build a memorial in honour of nearly half a million “forgotten” Muslim soldiers who fought for the Great Britain in the First World War. “From our village, 460 of the 860 men helped out. You don’t read it in the textbooks or see it in the films,” Dr Irfan Malik, a resident of Sherwood in Nottingham, told The Independent.

Dr Malik got his inspiration to build a memorial after he be-

troops in the first world war. — The Independent

gan researching his ancestral village of Dulmial in Punjab and found both his great-grandfathers fought for Britain.

“It was generally voluntarily —a lot of them felt pride in going out.

For many years there were no men in the village,” he said.

More than 400,000 Muslim soldiers from pre-Partition India fought alongside British troops during the conflict, but their vital

contribution to the war effort has, many argue, gone largely unacknowledged.

The memorial, which has been named as the Great War Muslim Memorial, is said to be in its early planning stages but it has already won the backing of Tazi Husain, a retired surgeon who was the driving force behind a memorial in Tempsford, Bedfordshire, to honour 75 Second World

War women agents who helped resistance movements in occupied Europe, unveiled by Prince Charles in 2013.

“We want it to look Islamic in theme… Muslims were loyal to Britain in the First – and Second – World Wars. We were there and we were part of it,” Dr Malik said, hoping the tribute will show young, disaffected Muslims their ancestors contributed to the war

effort and will encourage “community cohesion”.

Further, the plans have been welcomed by Jahan Mahmood, a military historian and former UK Home Office terrorism adviser. “The Muslim community by and large don’t know about this story. It’s a failing on behalf of the Government (of the UK),” he said.

Mahmood believes the Great War Muslim Memorial has the potential to “garner a sense of belonging” among Muslims and “make them feel more British”. — Express Tribune

TOP ARTIST

Kalki Koechlin

Bollywood actor Kalki spotted in Karachi KARACHI: Renowned Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin has been spotted in Karachi, days after Om Puri visited the city to announce his Pakistani film debut.

While it is not yet known why the Bollywood actor is visiting the metropolis, the Margarita with a Straw actor was seen with Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism Sharmila Faruqi.

Sign a project Speculations are rife that Kalki has crossed the border to sign a project. Kalki has given stellar performances in Bollywood blockbusters such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. She has also been quite vocal about child abuse. — Express Tribune

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MOVING TO UAE

IT companies relocating as Pakistan alters tax regime LAHORE: Nearly 40 per cent of Pakistan’s companies that provided IT services have moved their business to the United Arab Emirates, largely due to the 8 per cent additional tax on revenues levied by the government in 201516, said Sajjad Syed, chief executive officer of Excellence Delivered (ExD) Private Limited .

ExD outsources non-core operations and is currently working with consultants. Their primary job revolves around helping businesses in structuring IT systems and solutions.

But the levy of 8 per cent in additional tax has not just hindered the growth of such companies, but forced them to move elsewhere.

“The decision of imposing tax on IT services to generate additional revenues is actually proving to be fatal as several small companies have moved their offices to Dubai, a tax haven and only one-and-a-half hours away from Pakistan,” Syed said.

“This will not bode well for the

We are moving our capital to Dubai and employment to India, said Sajjad Syed, chief executive officer of Excellence Delivered Private Limited IT sector as the growth of this booming industry has already been stunted and companies are seriously re-evaluating their expansion plans in Pakistan.”

Syed, who has previously worked as managing director of German company Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) for Pakistan and Afghanistan, added that examples of such draconian tax measures are hard to find.

“There is no other country in the world which has levied tax on revenues of IT services companies.

Hurting growth prospects “As a matter of fact, they are subsidising the IT sector. We are not demanding a subsidy but such high rates of tax are hurting growth prospects.”

Syed said companies now prefer working on a cash-based system, which is hurting whatever tax revenue projections the government had made.

“It is Dubai that is seeing an increase in employment and business – not Pakistan.”

While most officials have appreciated the growth of the IT industry in recent years, there remains a need to keep progressing in the area. Syed stressed on the need to conduct a formal study that would capture the size of the industry.

“Its contribution could be in danger as companies that have moved to Dubai have little compulsion to hire a Pakistani, they can hire an Indian or Sri Lankan for the same job,” Syed said. — Express Tribune

A12

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READERS’ FORUM Some candidates defied rules in Indian schools poll I refer to the story, Five members elected to Indian Schools board of directors (January 17 ) and congratulate all those who got elected.

It is nice to note that the number of parents using their franchise is increasing with every election and it is indeed an encouraging sign. However, the voting trend has also revealed that no one can take the voters for granted. The parents deserve a big round of applause for their active participation in the poll process. However, it is unfortunate that some of the candidates and their supporters did not follow the moral code of conduct Scan this QR code guidelines laid down by the election comto send letters to the mission and openly defied it until the last Readers’ Forum, day. The election commission must take containing not more than 200 words with action or else the candidates must bring full name, address this matter to the knowledge of the Minisand telephone try of Education. number, may be sent — Mohammad Osama Rawat, Ruwi by e-mail (akhtar@

DOMINIC BARTON

Technological innovation enables – indeed, requires – companies to boost their agility and thus their competitiveness. That’s why CEOs’ top priorities in 2016 should be to digitise the core components of their business and rethink organisational design and governance processes bit.ly/officedigitization

timesofoman.com).

Need to teach children ill effects of food causing tooth decay This refers to the story, Oral hygiene key to strong teeth and gums (January 16). This is indeed true. However, it is said to see products that cause tooth decay are globally projected as the in thing. Sugary food products and chewable tobacco products are needlessly seen in society as an acceptable habit. Schools should teach children their ill effects. — Amr Badr, Al Hail

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

DOROTHY PARKER

S

ince its introduction by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the “one belt, one road” initiative – an ambitious plan to revitalise the ancient Silk Road overland and maritime trade routes linking East and West – has attracted considerable attention. And for good reason: The project, which involves more than 60 countries and quite a few international organisations, implies unprecedented opportunities – and challenges.

The original Silk Road, established more than 2,000 years ago, was a critical network of trade routes that promoted economic, political, and cultural exchange among Asia, Africa, and Europe. China’s new “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road” will do the same, with newly built or upgraded infrastructure facilitating the flow of trade, investment, culture, and ideas – and thus supporting shared economic growth.

From China’s perspective, the logic behind the strategy is clear. With its sources of GDP growth coming under increasing strain, China must continue to make progress in opening up the economy. That means building mutually beneficial relationships with neighbouring countries, which can benefit by taking over some of China’s lower-value-added activities. That promises to boost their own growth while creating space for the Chinese economy to move up the value chain, where productivity and wages – important determinants of consumption – are higher.

China has already laid the groundwork for these relationships, strengthening economic cooperation and trade with countries along the “belt and road.” It has also spearheaded the creation of multilateral institutions – notably, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – to support the investment projects.

China’s comparative advantages, including a global financial centre in Hong Kong and a regional financial centre in Shanghai, reinforce its leadership role. Add to that the recent surge in fast-growing, innovative companies – such as Huawei, Alibaba, and Wanda – and China is well placed to implement Xi’s ambitious vision.

But it will not be smooth sailing. Like any

cross-border initiative, the “one belt, one road” initiative will require wise diplomacy to manage relationships with diverse countries and careful planning to scale up effectively.

Each country along the “belt and road” faces a unique combination of risks and challenges.

Many face macroeconomic risks, owing to exchange-rate volatility, large debt burdens, and non-diversified, unsustainable economic structures. On the microeconomic level, risks include, for example, weak banking sectors.

Governance failures, ranging from corruption to inefficient implementation of reforms, also pose a serious challenge, as do social and political tensions (and, in some areas, the threat of terrorism). And one must not forget the everpresent risk of natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change.

Then there are the complex and varied laws, rules, and regulations shaping the business environment in each country. Of course, it is virtually impossible for Chinese enterprises to understand fully each environment before entering it. But any violation could put a company’s entire operation and investment at risk.

China, as the leading promoter of the “one belt, one road” initiative, must take steps to ensure that businesses act responsibly.

The central government will have to regulate and coordinate sub-national governments effectively, while working to ensure that competition is fair and constructive.

At the same time, China should implement a well-designed training programme that provides officials at all levels of government and entrepreneurs with basic information about operating abroad. And it should do more to spur the involvement of Hong Kong – which possesses major advantages in finance and logistics, information accessibility, talent recruitment, and implementation of the rule of law – in the initiative.

Last but not the least, the central government needs to strengthen the guidance of crisis management and exit strategies.

Realising the “one belt, one road” initiative will not be easy. But China has all of the tools it needs to succeed. As long as it uses them in a way that is clean, green, and transparent, China and its neighbours will reap vast rewards. - Project Syndicate.

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JANUARY 2001 UNICEF: Renaissance brought in much progress to health sector MUSCAT: The Omani Renaissance has brought about a remarkable improvement in people’s lives, Naheed Aziz, UNICEF representative in Oman, said in a speech to mark the annual gathering of volunteers.

Dr Fauzia bint Nassir Al Farsi, undersecretary for general education, was the chief guest at the function organised by the Ministry of Health to honour 120 voluntary workers who participated in community health projects. “Omani citizens are fortunate in having received from the government gifts of good health, wide access to education, basic social services, peaceful and secure living conditions, and an increasingly greener environment,” Naheed said.

PICTOGRAPH

NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER TEACHER 2010

2011

2012

10

10

2013

2014

12 9

10

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

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

1802: The Isthmus Canal Commission in Washington shifts its support from Nicaragua to Panama as a favored canal site..

1912: General MacArthur repels the Japanese in Bataan. The US takes the lead in the Far East war criminal trials.

1978: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isolate the cause of Legionnaire’s disease.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics and Information

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

A13

WORLD

Nuclear deal a ‘golden page’ in Iranian history, says Rouhani

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gestures as he arrives for a news conference in Tehran, Iran on Sunday. - Reuters/President.ir/Handout

In The Hague, the

THUMBS UP: US President Barack Obama speaks about US-Iranian relations in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Sunday. - AFP

Iranians welcome deal with caution as lawmakers celebrate in parliament

US and Iran settled a long-standing claim, releasing to Tehran $400 million in funds frozen since 1981 plus $1.3 billion in interest, the US State Department said

WA S H I N GT O N/A N K A R A : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hailed the nuclear deal as a “golden page” in Iran’s history and said the agreement could be used as a model to resolve other regional issues.

Also three Iranian-Americans left Tehran on Sunday under a prisoner swap following the lifting of most international sanctions on Iran under the deal President Barack Obama said had cut off every path for Tehran to obtain a nuclear bomb.

In a sign of sustained readiness to track Iranian compliance with remaining United Nations curbs, the United States imposed fresh sanctions on 11 companies and individuals for supplying Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

The Obama administration imposed the new curbs after delaying the action for more than two weeks during tense negotiations to free five American prisoners, according to people familiar with the matter.

Iran conducted a precisionguided ballistic missile test last October, violating a UN ban.

“This is a good day because once again we are seeing what’s possible through strong American diplomacy,” Obama said at the White House.

“These things are a reminder of what we can achieve when we lead with strength and with wisdom.”

The lifting of sanctions and the prisoner deal considerably reduce the hostility between Tehran and Washington that has shaped the Middle East since 1979.

A US official said a Swiss plane had left carrying Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief, Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Idaho and Amir Hekmati, a former Marine from Flint, Michigan, as well as some family members.

Release confirmed One more Iranian-American released under the same swap, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, was not aboard the aircraft. A fifth prisoner, American student Matthew Trevithick, was released separately on Saturday, a US official said.

“We can confirm that our detained US citizens have been released and that those who wished to depart Iran have left,” a senior US administration official said.

Several Iranian-Americans held in US prisons after being charged or convicted for sanctions violations have also been released, their lawyers told Reuters on Sunday.

The prisoner deal was the culmination of months of contacts,

DUBAI/AMKARA: The lifting of sanctions set off scenes of jubilation in Iran’s parliament: Supporters planted kisses on the forehead of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and jostled to take selfies.

There was also optimism among ordinary Iranians.

“I cannot wait...We deserve to be part of the international community again,” said elementary school teacher Ziba Ghafouri, 35, in the northern city of Babolsar.

But many others reacted cautiously, in contrast to widespread elation six months earlier, when Iranians poured into the streets to celebrate the signing of the nuclear deal that made possible the lifting of most economic curbs.

Many have lived under sanctions or wartime austerity for so long that they have no concrete expectations about what the future might hold.

And they have been told by their government not to expect quick miracles, an idea people seem to have taken to heart.

“I don’t think it will have much impact on our lives,” said retired government employee Mohammad-Reza Hosseini, 63, in the central city of Shiraz.

“This country has so many problems that it will take years to solve them.”

Iranians interviewed by telephone by Reuters described themselves as exhausted by the years of hardship and hopeful rather that better times might be ahead. “At least 10 small factories were closed in our area.

Just a few big factories could survive,” said tile shop owner Reza Sadrsefat in the central city of Isfahan.

“Even as owner of a small shop, I had difficulties to buy material in the past few years.

And even when I did, the prices were so high that I could not sell them.

“I am very happy that our leaders could resolve this issue.”

In Dubai, Iranian sailors were

RED CARPET WELCOME: Members of the Iranian parliament greet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, after his return from Vienna ahead of presenting the proposed annual budget to Parliament in the capital Tehran, on Sunday, after sanctions were lifted under Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. — AFP

packing small trading boats with foreign goods, preparing to cross the Gulf to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

Even this creaking bridge to the world has suffered under sanctions, they said.

“We had a problem with sanctions. We traded less, our imports and exports were down.

With the lifting of sanctions our trade will gradually increase,” sailor Hossein Jaafari said.

For many young Iranians it’s not all about the money.

Ali Araghchi, the nephew of Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, believes the lifting of sanctions will start a new era of diplomatic harmony and improve Iran’s global image.

I cannot wait...We deserve to be part of the international community again Ziba Ghafouri, Elementary school teacher

— Reuters

Araghchi is the founder of “Must See Iran”, a social media campaign that invites Iranians to post pictures of Persian culture and nature to counteract

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

PHOTO GALLERY W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

talks and legal manoeuvring which came close to falling apart on at least one occasion.

Speaking to parliament on Sunday, Rouhani, a pragmatist elected in 2013 on promises to end Iran’s years of sanctions and isolation, said he looked forward to an economic future less dependent on oil exports.

These are nevertheless likely to jump now that the United States, European Union and UN have scrapped the sanctions in return for Tehran complying with the deal to curb its nuclear ambitions - ambitions that Tehran says were peaceful.

But Rouhani noted bitter opposition to the lifting of economic curbs from Israel, some members of the US Congress and what he

GOING HOME: A bus and a van are parked in front of a plane carrying three Iranian-Americans, who left Tehran under a prisoner swap, after it landed at Cointrin airport in Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday. — Reuters

called “warmongers” in the region.

Presenting the draft budget for the next Iranian fiscal year, which begins in March, Rouhani told parliament the deal was a

us,” he told Reuters.”Iranians are much more hopeful and optimistic compared to the time we were under cruel sanctions.

Peace of mind will be a significant part of our future.”

Araghchi believes the lifting of sanctions will open Iran’s gates to thousands of “nature lovers and art enthusiasts” who will be able to see another side to Iran, an ecologically diverse country with a glorious history.

“turning point” for the economy of Iran.

He later said he expected 5 per cent economic growth in the next Iranian fiscal year beginning in

negative stereotypes about their country.

Tens of thousands have signed up.

“It an exciting day for all of

March and assured foreign investors of political and economic stability.

“The nuclear negotiations which succeeded by the guidance of the Supreme Leader and support of our nation, were truly a golden page in Iran’s history,” he said.

Tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian assets will now be unfrozen and global companies that have been barred from doing business there will be able to exploit a market hungry for everything from automobiles to airplane parts.

In The Hague, the United States and Iran settled a longstanding claim, releasing to Tehran $400 million in funds frozen since 1981 plus $1.3 billion in interest, the State Department said.

The funds were part of a trust fund once used by Iran to purchase military equipment from the United States but which was tied up for decades in litigation at the Iran-US Claims Tribunal. The set-

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

tlement announcement was made after Tehran released the American detainees.

Rouhani said that Iran and the US would not fully restore economic ties.

The International Atomic Energy Agency ruled on Saturday that Iran had abided by last year’s agreement with six world powers to curtail its nuclear programme, triggering the end of sanctions.

US lifts sanctions IAEA chief Yukiya Amano will travel to Tehran to meet Rouhani and the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, the IAEA said on Saturday.

Minutes after the IAEA’s ruling, the United States formally lifted banking, steel, shipping and other sanctions on Iran.

The EU likewise ended all nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions against the country.

Most UN sanctions also automatically ended. — Reuters

A 14

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

GLOBAL EYE

UNITED STATES: Zach Johnson plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii. — Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP

GERMANY: People walk during snowfall in the grounds of the

Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday. — Reuters

SERBIA: A child cries from the cold at a registration camp for migrants in Presevo, Serbia, on Sunday. — Reuters

LATVIA: People enjoy themselves during World Snow Day event in Sigulda, Latvia, on Sunday. — Reuters

FRANCE: Mushers and sledding dogs arrive at the polar base of Val-Cenis where they will bed down in the open air during the 12th edition of ‘La Grande Odyssee’ sledding race across the Alps on January 16, 2016 in Val Cenis Lanslevillard, France. — AFP

JAPAN: A police drone interceptor (top) snags another drone with a net during an anti-terrorism drill for the upcoming Tokyo marathon MEXICO: An aircraft flies during sunset on a cold day in Mexico

City, Mexico, on Sunday. — Reuters

at the planned finish area for the event in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday. Some 400 people including organizing staff, police and coast guard officers participated in the drill. — AFP

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

A15

WORLD China tells Taiwan to give up ‘independence hallucination’ Tsai pledged to maintain peace with its giant neighbour China, while China’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned it would oppose any move towards independence

TA I P E I / B E I J I N G : Ta i wa n should abandon its “hallucinations” about pushing for independence, as any moves towards it would be a “poison”, Chinese state-run media said after a landslide victory for the island’s independence-leaning opposition.

Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a convincing victory in both presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday, in what

ELATED: Tsai Ing-wen, centre, the president-elect of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), waving after her victory in the presidential election in Taipei on Saturday. - AFP

could usher in a new round of instability with China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own.

Pledged Tsai pledged to maintain peace with its giant neighbour China, while China’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned it would oppose any move towards independence and that Beijing was determined to defend the country’s sovereignty.

Reacting to Tsai’s victory, Chi-

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

Snowstorm wreaks havoc in Romania, Bulgaria; ports closed

BLIZZARD: Policemen walk on Gara de Nord main railroad station in Bucharest, on Sunday. A total of 39 trains were cancelled due to snow and blizzards, according to the statements transmitted

by Romanian National Railway Company. - AFP

BUCHAREST: Heavy snowfall and strong winds closed Romania’s Black Sea ports including the main port of Constanta, and shut dozens of roads while snowstorms and torrential rains cut electricity to hundreds of towns in Bulgaria, authorities said on Sunday.

Blizzards dumped up to half a metre of snow in 12 hours in Romania, disrupting trains and forcing authorities to shut down all schools in Bucharest and nearby counties.

There were no reports of victims but emergency services said they were prepared to intervene, with about 6,000 policemen, gendarmes and firefighters currently involved in various missions across the country, the interior ministry said.

Snowfalls are not expected to ease until Monday in Romania

and forecasters predict temperatures will fall to below minus 18 degrees Celsius next week.

Dozens of villages in southern Romania were left without electricity after trees and strong winds brought down power lines.

Torrential rains Heavy snowfall in northern and central Bulgaria and torrential rains in the southern part of the Balkan country have left tens of thousands of people in over 1,000 villages and towns without power, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said.

An avalanche blocked a road linking the Bulgarian capital Sofia with the northwestern town of Montana. The heavy rainfall in southern Bulgaria closed the border checkpoint with Turkey, triggered mudslides and caused flooding in several villages. - Reuters

M I L I TA N T AT TA C K

Death toll in Indonesia attack climbs to eight JAKARTA: Another person has died from injuries sustained in last week’s militant attack in Indonesia’s capital, police officials said on Sunday, bringing the death toll to eight.

“The victim was an employee of a branch of Bangkok Bank nearby,” Jakarta police spokeswoman Yulia Hutasuhut said.

IS claimed responsibility The person was Indonesian. The gun and bomb attack on Thursday, for which IS has claimed responsibility, injured around 30 in Jakarta’s commercial district. Four attackers were among the dead, revised down from an earlier five.

Security forces have been

largely successful in stamping out homegrown militancy, but last week’s attack confirms concerns about a resurgence inspired by IS. Police arrested 12 people linked to the Jakarta attack in raids across the country at the weekend, and found evidence the group had planned further attacks targeting security officials and foreigners in other cities like Bandung.

National police chief Badrodin Haiti told reporters on Saturday the alleged mastermind of the attack, an Indonesian man living in Syria called Bahrun Naim, had transferred thousands of dollars to local accounts in the lead up to the attack. - Reuters

na’s government-controlled media used noticeably less shrill language than that levelled at Chen Shui-bian, the DPP’s last president, and noted her pledges for peace and to maintain the “status quo” with China.

But the official Xinhua news agency also warned any moves towards independence were like a “poison” that would cause Taiwan to perish.

“If there is no peace and stabil-

ity in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s new authority will find the sufferings of the people it wishes to resolve on the economy, livelihood and its youth will be as useless as looking for fish in a tree,” it said.

China called Chen, who led Taiwan from 2000-2008, a troublemaker and a saboteur of cross-strait ties, even as he tried to maintain stable relations with Beijing. The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily newspaper, said in an editorial that if Tsai’s administration sought to “cross the red line” like Chen, Taiwan would “meet a dead end”.

“We hope Tsai can lead the DPP out of the hallucinations of Taiwan independence, and contribute to the peaceful and common development between Taiwan and the mainland,” it added.

In Taiwan, the China-friendly China Times called on Tsai to be a “dove for cross strait peace”.

“Peace across the Taiwan Strait is the most important external factor for Taiwan’s stable development,” it said in an editorial.

Tsai won 56 per cent of the vote to sweep aside rival Eric Chu of the China-friendly Nationalist

T E R R O R AT TA C K

Suicide bomber kills 13 people in Jalalabad

Party that had ruled Taiwan under incumbent president Ma Yingjeou since 2008.

Absolute majority Tsai’s DPP also made huge gains in the parliamentary polls to gain an absolute majority with 68 seats in the 113-seat legislature, giving her administration a far stronger policy-making lever over the next four years, and potentially more leverage over Beijing on crossstrait deals and affairs.

China’s Foreign Ministry, in its reaction to her victory, said Taiwan was an internal matter for China, there is only one China in the world and the island’s election neither changes this reality nor international acceptance of it.

“There is only one China in the world, the mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will not brook being broken up,” the ministry added.

“The results of the Taiwan region election does not change this basic fact and the consensus of the international community.”

The White House said on Saturday it congratulated Tsai and said the United States maintained a “profound interest” in peace between Taiwan and China. - Reuters

KEEPING VIGIL: Afghan security personnel keep watch at the site of a suicide bombing at the home of a prominent politician in Jalalabad on Sunday. Reuters

JALALABAD (Afghanistan): A suicide bomber killed 13 people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Sunday at the home of a tribal elder when people had gathered to celebrate his son’s release from Taliban captivity, local officials said.

The son was killed and at least 14 people, including his father, were wounded in the attack, according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on his Twitter page denied responsibility for the attack.

There have been several bomb blasts in Afghanistan over recent weeks at a time when efforts are underway to restart a peace process with the Taliban. - Reuters

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Burkina Faso, Mali to work together to fight militants The exact details of the cooperation between Burkina Faso and Mali were not immediately clear, but the patrols and intelligence sharing mark an intent by the two countries to prevent the spread of militancy

OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso and Mali have agreed to work together to counter the growing threat of extremist militants in West Africa by sharing intelligence and conducting joint security patrols following two deadly and well-coordinated attacks in the region.

Their prime ministers met on Sunday, two days after Al Qaeda militants seized the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, opened fire on a restaurant and attacked another hotel nearby, killing at least 28 people from at least seven countries, and wounding 50 other people.

The assault, claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), follows a similar raid in November on a luxury hotel in Mali’s capital Bamako which killed 20 people, including citizens of Russia, China and the United States.

The exact details of the coop-

ALERT: A soldier stands guard in front of Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Sunday, a day after security forces retook

the hotel from Al Qaeda fighters who seized it in an assault that killed two dozen people. — Reuters

eration between Burkina Faso and Mali were not immediately clear, but the patrols and intelligence sharing mark an intent by the two countries to prevent the spread of militancy as AQIM and others expand operations in the region beyond their usual reach.

Base in north Mali For years, militants have used northern Mali as a base, but over the past year they have staged a number of attacks in other parts of the country.

Burkina Faso’s authorities are

now concerned that its long desert border with Mali could become a transit point for militants.

“There is a very strong political will on the part of the two states to combine our efforts to fight terrorism,” said Burkina Faso’s prime minister, Paul Kaba Thieba.

Thieba and his Malian counterpart Modibo Keita visited the outside of the Splendid Hotel on Sunday, where bullet holes and a charred exterior offered reminders of Friday evening’s attack.

Tight security was in place around the hotel.

Inside, Burkinabe and French security officials were conducting an investigation.

Security forces in Burkina Faso retook the 146-room hotel on Saturday after firefights with militants, at least three of whom were killed.

Survivors said the militants targeted white victims at the hotel and at the restaurant, both of which were popular among westerners.

According to provisional figures from the Burkinabe government, among the dead were eight

Burkinabes, four Canadians, three Ukrainians, two Portuguese, two French, two Swiss and one Dutch citizen.

Seven bodies are yet to be identified, and the list is subject to change.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said six Canadians had been killed.

A nine-year-old Italian boy and his mother were killed in the assault on Cappuccino, the restaurant attacked opposite the Splendid Hotel, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Sunday. — Reuters

C O N F I R M AT I O N

Baby born in Hawaii infected by Zika virus HONOLULU: A baby born with brain damage at a hospital in Oahu, Hawaii, was infected by the Zika virus, U.S.health officials confirmed on Saturday, apparently the first case of the mosquito-borne virus in a birth on US soil.

The mother became ill with the Zika virus while living in Brazil in May 2015 and the baby was likely infected in the womb, Hawaiian state health officials and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

“There’s no indication at this point that there’s any Zika virus circulating in Hawaii,” CDC spokesman Tom Skinner told Reuters.

“But I think its important for us to understand that there are going to be imported cases of Zika to the United States and we won’t be surprised if we start to see some local transmission of the virus,” Skinner said Zika can be transmitted by a mosquito that has bitten an infected person.

On Friday US health officials issued a travel warning for 14 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America where infection with Zika is a risk.

The CDC in particular cautioned pregnant women not to travel to those areas as Zika has been linked to serious birth defects.

The travel alert applies to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

It also advises women who are trying to become pregnant to consult a doctor before travelling to those areas.

In the Hawaii case, a doctor recognised the possibility of a Zika infection in the newborn baby with microcephaly and alerted state officials, the Hawaii State Department of Health department said in a written statement. — Reuters

C O N T R OV E R S I A L A N T I - T E R R O R I S M L E G I S L AT I O N

Egypt parliament endorses law allowing special courts CAIRO: Egypt’s parliament on Sunday overwhelmingly endorsed a controversial anti-terrorism law that sets up special courts and shields its enforcers from legal ramifications.

The law is one of roughly 400 that were issued by executive decree during the more than three years in which Egypt was governed without a parliament after its democratically elected chamber was dissolved in mid-2012.

The law fines journalists for contradicting the authorities’ version of any militant attack.

The original draft was amended last year following a domestic and international outcry after it initially stipulated imprisonment for such an offence.

The newly elected legislature is constitutionally obliged to review the executive decrees within 15 days of its first session, which was on January 10, and either approve or reject them.

No amendments The anti-terrorism law passed by an overwhelming 457 votes to 24 without a single amendment to the original decree issued by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi last year, parliamentary sources said.

Egypt’s new parliament, which has 568 elected members plus another 28 appointed directly by the president, is dominated by the

The law etails sentences for various terrorism-related crimes ranging from five years to the death penalty, and shields the military and police from legal penalties for what it calls proportionate use of force

“Support Egypt” coalition, an alliance of over 400 lawmakers loyal to Sisi.

Human rights groups accuse Sisi, who as military chief deposed a freely elected president in 2013, of rolling back freedoms won in the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

Opposition legislator Mohamed Salah Khalifa, a leader of the extremist Nour Party, which

holds just 12 seats after controlling about a quarter of the previous parliament, said the law employed ambiguous wording.

“I fear that it will be used broadly when it is applied,” he said.

“The (anti-terrorism) law was imposed during exceptional circumstances when the country was exposed to danger but, after these dangers subside, there should be a balance between protecting the state and its institutions and preserving human rights.”

Decree approved Parliament also approved a 2014 decree on the protection of critical government facilities.

The law increases the jurisdiction of military courts, allowing them to try civilians accused of attacking buildings and cutting off roads.

Egypt is confronted by an increasingly violent insurgency in North Sinai, where the most active militant group has pledged allegiance to IS. Cairo and other cities have also suffered extremist attacks.

Sisi has presided over a noholds-barred crackdown on extremists.

Thousands of alleged extremist supporters have been jailed and scores have been sentenced to death. — Reuters

KURDISH SOUTHEAST

Four killed in Turkey violence DIYARBAKIR (TURKEY): A Turkish police officer and a soldier were killed by sniper fire and two Kurdish militants were shot dead in separate incidents in the mainly Kurdish southeast’s biggest city, security sources said on Sunday.

Two police officers were also wounded by shrapnel from a homemade explosive during operations in the district of Sur in Diyarbakir.

The soldier was shot and killed on Sunday, while the police officer was hit on Saturday before succumbing to his wounds a day later, they said.

Sur has been under a roundthe-clock curfew since Dec. 2 as security forces try to eject militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) from urban centres.

The cities of Silopi and Cizre, further east near the Syrian and

Iraqi borders, have also been under curfew since mid-December.

The military General Staff said 135 PKK militants in Silopi, 308 in Cizre and 101 in Sur have been killed since December 15. according to media reports.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which has Kurdish roots, said the number of civilians killed in the three areas has reached 97, according to an emailed statement. — Reuters

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MARKET ‘Invest Easy’ portal gains popularity plications in May, 2038 applications in June and 1387 applications in July, last year.

The ministry said these registrations have been submitted through ‘Invest Easy’ portal from April 2015 to January 2016

Times News Service MUSCAT: As many as 3,239 applications for registration have been submitted electronically through ‘Invest Easy’ portal from April 2015 to January 2016, said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The ministry said that 9 applications were submitted in

April, while 26 applications were submitted in May. The statistics showed that 92 applications were submitted in June, 116 applications in July, 300 applications in August, 393 applications in September and 562 applications in August.

As many as 646 applications were submitted in November,

while 718 applications were submitted in December. Finally, 377 registration applications were submitted in January this year.

Applications submitted through

the service provider offices reached 20,789 from April 2015 till January 2016. The statistics showed that 1,596 applications were submitted in April, 2175 ap-

Self service Altogether, 2,664 applications were submitted in August, while 2,247 applications were submitted in September.

The applications recorded in October reached 2,270 transactions; while 2,488 applications were submitted in November 2,894 applications were submitted in December; while 1,030 applications were submitted in January 2016.

It is worth mentioning that the entrepreneurs’ demand on the self service through ‘Invest Easy’ portal reached 5 per cent during the first months of launching this

service in April 2015. This demand increased gradually till the end of December 2015.

The self-service transactions recorded 25 per cent at 2,862 transactions in total. In the first two weeks at the beginning of 2016, this rate increased by 36 per cent because the entrepreneur community recognised the importance of self-service. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has urged all investors, businessmen and owners of small and medium enterprises to use the electronic services by visiting the website of ‘Invest Easy’ portal www.investeasy.gov.om.

It explained that approaching such services will help in the fast completion of such transactions easily.

SEMINAR

Oman will emerge from global, regional economic challenges Times News Service MUSCAT: Around 100 top chief executive officers and chief financial officers were provided with an analysis and insight into Oman’s 2016 budget and the ninth fiveyear plan covering the years 2016 to 2020, at a recent seminar hosted by KPMG. Ashok Hariharan, partner and head of tax for Lower Gulf, mentioned that the ninth five-year plan reflects the challenging oil market and is prudently based on a price of $45 to $60 per barrel for the next five years. Non-essential expenditure has been curtailed with greater focus on investment spending and support to the nonoil based sectors.

He further said that the significant fall in commodity prices should also help in reducing expenditure. If the government succeeds in improving the investment climate and in enhancing the role of the private sector, as outlined in the plan and as successfully achieved in the past particularly in the power, water and port sectors, there is every reason to hope that Oman will yet again emerge successfully from the challenging global and regional economic environment.

Ashok highlighted that 2015 was the first year in several years when there was a significant actual deficit which amounted to

OMR4.5 billion. This deficit was financed out of reserves (53 per cent) and borrowings 47 per cent.

Oman’s policy of prudently building up reserves is helping it in difficult times. Further, Oman’s debt as a percentage of GDP remained low at around 4 per cent.

Oman should, therefore, be able to weather a difficult 2016 even if the oil prices remain below the budgeted oil price of $45 per barrel.

The seminar highlighted that the 2016 budget focuses on rationalising costs, curtailing non-essential expenditure and reducing subsidies to ensure that critical developmental projects aimed at diversifying the economy and stimulating economic growth continue.

Cuts in important sectors supporting the welfare of nationals, such as health, education, housing and social security, have been limited.

Also, government subsidies are budgeted at OMR400 million, significantly lower than the OMR1.11 billion budgeted for 2015.

This reflects both the fall in the oil price and the government’s decision to deregulate the prices of petrol and diesel with effect from January 15, 2016. Higher electricity and water tariffs for industrial and commercial consumers will be phased in.

The measures indicated by Ministry of Finance to enhance

non-oil revenues include raising corporate taxes, limiting tax exemptions, regulating customs duty exemptions and enhancing tax collection procedures, including strengthening their audit and control mechanisms.

The income tax law is to be amended shortly to raise corporate tax rates from 12 per cent to 15 per cent (which will be affect tax collections only in 2017) and may include specific measures like widening the scope of withholding taxes (which could take effect from the date of the amendment). Raising corporate taxes would only help maintain the tax revenues at the level of 2015 as corporate profits for 2015 are expected to decline.

The seminar attracted top business executives in Oman from a wide range of industry sectors and the feedback received from participants was very positive. The participants appreciated KPMG’s professional analysis of the budget and the five year plan.

The analysis was prepared by KPMG’s Tax Management group.

KPMG has been providing tax services in Oman for over 40 years.

Their tax practice is led by Ashok Hariharan, who has experience of dealing with taxes in Oman and in the region for close to 30 years.

KPMG in Oman has over 20 tax professionals including two tax directors and five managers.

OIL MARKET

Crude prices will rise, says Saudi oil minister RIYADH: Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi said crude prices will rise and foresees that market forces and cooperation among producing nations will lead in time to renewed stability.

“I am optimistic about the future, the return of stability to the global oil markets, the improvement of prices and the cooperation among the major producing countries,” Al Naimi said. “Market forces as well as the cooperation among producing nations always lead to the restoration of stability. This, however, takes some time.”

Al Naimi declined to comment when asked how the removal of economic sanctions against Iran might affect crude prices. Iran, freed of curbs on its oil exports, plans to boost shipments by 1 million barrels a day this year.

Led by Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), which supplies about 40 per cent of the world’s oil, abandoned limits on

output on December 4 amid efforts to squeeze higher-cost producers such as Russia and United States shale drillers out of the market. The decision contributed to a global glut and led to a further drop in prices. Saudi Arabia produced 10.25 million barrels a day in December, up 750,000 barrels a day from the end of last year, according to data.

World’s biggest Brent crude dropped $1.94, or 6.3 per cent, to $28.94 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange on Friday. The benchmark grade has dropped 22 per cent this year after tumbling 35 per cent in 2015.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, together with non-Opec producer Mexico have “an especially important role to play,” Al Naimi said.

When oil prices plummeted in 1998, Mexico cooperated with the Saudis and other suppliers to restore stability. - Bloomberg News

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

B3

MARKET STOCK MARKET

Iran stocks gain again

Iran sets massive oil export target as sanctions removed The nation has

TEHRAN: Iranian stocks headed for the highest level in more than five months after sanctions imposed to punish the country for its nuclear programme were lifted.

Equities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi tumbled.

The TEDPIX Index climbed 1.5 per cent to 65,829.7 in Tehran to the strongest level since August on a closing basis, according to data on the bourse’s website. The gauge rose 2.1 per cent on Saturday.

Dubai’s DFM General Index sank 6 per cent, the biggest loss in five months. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index reached the threshold for entering a so-called bear market.

Iran has complied with the terms of an international agreement to curb its nuclear development programme, allowing it to move out from under the yoke of crippling economic sanctions, the United Nations’ nuclear agency announced on Saturday.

The country is seeking to attract at least $30 billion in foreign direct investment over the next five years, President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech.

“Investors shouldn’t look at Iran to make a quick buck but rather invest with a long term view to benefit from the best performing market of the next five years,” Ramin Rabii, the chief executive officer of Tehran-based Turquoise Partners, said on Saturday. “We expect the Iranian economy to grow at a rate of 6 to 8 per cent for several years.”

Revenue from oil will act as a “supplementary income” for the country, Rouhani said. Brent crude sank more than 6 per cent on Friday to a new 12-year low as Iran moved closer to restoring exports.

“Oil breaking below $29 oil price has urged more investors to sell,” Talal Touqan, the head of research at Abu Dhabi-based Al Ramz Securities. - Bloomberg News

unveiled a plan for immediate increase in exports of 500,000 barrels a day and add another halfa-million barrels within months

TEHRAN: Iran is beginning efforts to boost oil production and exports amid a global supply glut after the removal of sanctions that shackled its economy and capped crude sales.

The country is targeting an immediate increase in shipments of 500,000 barrels a day, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, deputy oil minister for commerce and international affairs, said on Sunday in an interview in Tehran. Iran plans to add another half million barrels within months.

The additional sales will push crude prices lower as markets are already oversupplied, said Robin Mills of Dubai-based oil consultant Qamar Energy.

“The Oil Ministry, by ordering companies to boost production and oil terminals to be ready, kicked off today the plan to increase Iran’s crude exports by 500,000 barrels,” the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Zamaninia said the plan is “still valid” and will be done in a “managed way to minimise the negative impact” on prices.

Buyers of Iranian crude are free to import as much of the country’s oil as they want after the International Atomic Energy Agency

GEARING UP: Iran’s oil exports fell to an average of 1.4 million barrels a day in 2014 from 2.6 million barrels daily in 2011, the year before the United States and European Union intensified sanctions. – File picture

determined that the country had curbed its ability to develop an atomic weapon.

As holder of the world’s fourthlargest reserves of crude and biggest deposits of natural gas, Iran gains immediate access to about $50 billion in frozen accounts overseas, funds the government says it will use to rebuild industries. It also opens the door to foreign investors such as Total and Eni. Uncertain volumes Once the second-biggest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), Iran is now the fifth-biggest in the 13-member group.

The country’s oil exports fell to an average of 1.4 million barrels a day in 2014 from 2.6 million barrels daily in 2011, the year before

the United States and European Union intensified sanctions, the US Energy Information Administration said in June.

“There’s still the cloud of uncertainty around how much Iranian crude will come to market and when,” said Mills, Qamar Energy’s chief executive officer. The global price impact of more Iranian barrels will depend on how aggressive the country is in offering discounts and how quickly it ramps up sales, he said.

Mills expects Iran can raise output by 600,000 a barrels a day over the next six months and add as much as 800,000 barrels of daily output this year.

President Hassan Rouhani said Iran’s financial resources will ‘increase significantly’ after its compliance with the terms of an ac-

cord to curb its nuclear program paved the way for the removal of crippling economic sanctions.

Shackles of sanctions The IEA concluded that the Islamic Republic had curbed its ability to develop an atomic weapon as required under the July accord with world powers. The US and five other nations agreed to lift economic sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme “simultaneously with the IAEA-verified implementation” of the deal.

“The shackles of sanctions have been removed and it’s time to thrive,”’ Rouhani said Sunday on Twitter. Addressing parliament later in a televised speech, he said it’s up to Iran to “seize the opportunity for an economic leap.”

Most US companies will be on

the sidelines because the deal lifts only those sanctions imposed on Iran to punish it for its nuclear programme. It doesn’t touch the sweeping ban on United States trade and investment with Iran put in place by the Clinton administration in 1995.

Rouhani, in his speech, said Iran aims to attract at least $30 billion a year in foreign direct investment over the next five years. Iranian stocks headed for the highest level in more than five months, climbing 1.5 per cent to 65,829.7 as of 10:34am in Tehran. - Bloomberg News

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N E W C AT E G O R I S AT I O N

New SME classification to improve coordination ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

Redha Juma Mohammed Ali Al Saleh, vice-chairman at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. - Supplied photo

MUSCAT: A new classification introduced for micro, small and medium enterprises will help enhance coordination between various bodies dealing with these businesses, says a senior official.

Revising the definition of these units was deemed necessary and the new categorisation was introduced based on the input received from various parties, said Redha Juma Mohammed Ali Al Saleh, vicechairman at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

Recently, a decision was issued

by Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, minister of commerce and industry and chairman of riyada board of direc-

DUBAI

HSBC planning to build new Middle East headquarters DUBAI: HSBC will start building a new Middle East headquarters near the world’s tallest tower in Dubai as the lender aims to combine staff from three other locations in the city.

Abu Dhabi developer Gulf Resources Development & Investment will construct the tower and sell it to HSBC Bank Middle East for Dh920 million ($250 million) upon completion in

2017, according to Jim Osborne, an official at the building company. GRDI recently sold a building it constructed for Standard Chartered to Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund. HSBC confirmed the plans in a statement on Sunday.

Corporates in Dubai are building their own offices as most commercial towers built during the real estate boom were sold to multiple owners. - Bloomberg News

tors, amending the classification of SMEs based on the number of workers and annual sales, according to Oman News Agency (ONA).

It states that a micro enterprise has 1-5 workers and annual sales of less than OMR100,000; a small enterprise has 6-25 workers and annual sales of OMR100,000500,000; and a medium enterprise has 26-99 workers and annual sales of OMR500,000-less than 3,000,000.

Positive move Speaking to Times of Oman, Al Saleh, the OCCI vice-chairman for administration and finance affairs, described the introduction of the new classification as a ‘positive’ development. Previously, every

authority was defining SMEs differently so this new move will help enhance coordination between various bodies dealing with these units, the official noted.

The OCCI will definitely follow the new terminology, he added. Al Saleh also believes that the new categorisation will help facilitate the implementation of any decision related to taxation of SMEs. International definition The new definitions will help identify which businesses are SME and which are not, the official explained. Commenting on the argument that the previous classification was not in line with international definitions, Al Saleh said that he thinks the new terminol-

ogy is closer to the international classification as it has been introduced after receiving input from various bodies. “I think the new figures are more realistic,” said the OCCI vice-chairman.

Royal Decree According to ONA, the decision to revise the classification of SMEs is based on the Royal Decree No 36/2013 on the establishment of the Public Authority for Development of SMEs (riyada) and riyada board of directors and on the decision ofriyada board of directors at its third meeting held on October 6, 2015.

The decision comes after taking into account the views and proposals of all parties concerned, including government agencies and

private sector companies, commercial banks and entrepreneurs through a seminar organised by riyada in March 2015, as well as the recommendations of the consultant in charge of the preparation of riyada strategy.

The decision introduces the new classification of micro, small and medium enterprises to pave the way for further support of these institutions.

The previous classification was as follows: Micro enterprise with 1-4 workers and up to OMR25,000 annual sales; small enterprise with 5-9 workers and OMR25,000250,000 annual sales, and medium enterprise with 10-99 workers and OMR250,000-1,500,000 annual sales of a company.

B4

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

MARKET Middle East stocks drop

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,104.20 .............. 4,948.35 ...................4,948.48 ....................5,112.52............. -164.04 .................. -3.21 Financial Index ..................................... 6,051.61 .............. 5,808.22 ....................5,808.71 ....................6,061.61.............-252.90 .................. -4.17 Industrial Index ....................................6,638.70 ...............6,518.85 ....................6,518.85 ................... 6,632.21.............. -113.36 ...................-1.71 Services Index ......................................2,942.09 ...............2,861.63 ................... 2,861.63 .................. 2,942.09................-80.46 .................. -2.73 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 831.53 .................. 817.40 ....................... 817.40 ...................... 831.34................-13.94 .................. -1.68 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 21,667,860 .................6,263,343 .....................981 ...............15,262,662,330 ...................1 ..................... 28 .................... 12 .........................41

Saudi shares dropped 7.2% to its lowest level since March 2011. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 17

Index fell into a so-called bear market 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

DUBAI: Stocks across the Middle East tumbled as the easing of sanctions against Iran raised the prospect of a surge in oil supplies to a market already reeling from the lowest prices in more than a decade. Shares in Tehran gained.

Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dropped 7.2 per cent in Riyadh to its lowest level since March 2011. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index fell into a so-called bear market. The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks 200 of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) biggest companies, traded at 9.4 times estimated 12-month earnings, the lowest in almost seven years.

Iran’s TEDPIX Index climbed 0.9 per cent, according to data on the bourse’s website, extending Saturday’s 2.1 percent advance.

Qatar’s QE Index tumbled 7.2 per cent, the most since December 2009, and Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index slumped 4.2 per cent to the lowest level since November 2013. It has declined 23 per cent since a peak in July.

Dubai’s DFM General Index lost 4.6 perc ent in the highest trading volume this year.

Kuwait and Bahrain Oman’s MSM 30 Index fell 3.2 per cent, the most since December 2014, and Kuwaiti stocks also lost 3.2 per cent to the lowest level since May 2004. Bahraini equities slipped 0.4 per cent.

Iran, home to almost 10 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves, is starting preparations to boost exports after the United Nation’s nuclear agency on Saturday said the country has complied with the terms of an international agreement to curb its nuclear program. That threatens to put further pressure on prices, hurting the oil-dependent economies of the GCC. “Iranian oil supply will come to the market as early as today

or tomorrow,” said Nayal Khan, the Riyadh-based head of institutional equities sales trading at Saudi Fransi Capital.

“The market’s recovery will depend on whether we can get oil back above $30.”

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

OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 3,189,799....1,414,496..................... 49 ........... 0.442 ...........0.444 ...........0.442........... 0.444 .............0.442 ........... 0.002............. 0.452 ................0.444..............0.444...................0.448 .................245,470,569........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ...................................................................360 .................. 109........................1 ........... 0.302 ...........0.302 ...........0.302........... 0.294 .............0.294 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.302............. 0.280...................0.302 ..................14,700,000 .........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ..........................................................3,500 ...............3,332........................1 ........... 0.952 ...........0.952 ...........0.952........... 0.972 .............0.972 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.952..............0.952...................1.000................. 194,400,000 .......0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ........................................................... 424 .....................39........................2 ........... 0.092 ...........0.092 ...........0.092........... 0.097 .............0.097 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.092..............0.092...................0.097..................194,030,341........0.100 OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS............................................................. 3,600 ...............5,040........................2 ............1.400 ........... 1.400 ...........1.400........... 1.490 .............1.490............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.400..............1.350...................1.450................... 71,762,965 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .........................................................3,000 ..................342........................1 ............0.114 ........... 0.114............0.114 ............0.117 ............. 0.117 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.114 ..............0.106................... 0.113 ...................36,359,498 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ................................................................5,000 ............... 1,035........................3 ........... 0.207 ...........0.207 ...........0.207........... 0.216 .............0.216............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.207..............0.207...................0.216..................333,661,366........0.100

Oil pressure Iran is targeting an immediate increase in shipments of 500,000 barrels a day, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, deputy oil minister for commerce and international affairs, said on Sunday. It plans to add another half million barrels within months.

Concern that Iran may exacerbate the global supply glut sent Brent crude, a benchmark grade for more than half the world’s oil, to a new 12-year low on Friday, helping to spur a global stock rout. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell to the weakest level since August 25 in the worst start to a year for United States equities on record. Emerging-market stocks posted a third straight weekly decline, dropping to the lowest level since 2009. The countries of the GCC account for about 30 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Bank and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, one of the world’s largest chemicals manufacturers, were the biggest contributors to the drop on the Tadawul, losing 5.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent, respectively.

The gauge has tumbled 36 per cent over the past year as the slump in oil has hurt company profits linked to government spending. Oil revenue accounts for more than 70 per cent of the kingdom’s income.

Saudi Arabian Fertiliser retreated 6.4 per cent to the lowest level since November 2009 on a closing basis after its fourthquarter net income halved to 379 million riyals. - Bloomberg News

OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ...............................................35,500 ............ 23,430........................3 ........... 0.660 ...........0.660 ...........0.660........... 0.660 .............0.660 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.660............. 0.000...................0.000 .................105,600,000 .......0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ........................................................1,142 ..................482........................4 ........... 0.422 ...........0.422 ...........0.422........... 0.426 .............0.426 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.422..............0.412...................0.422 ..................25,773,000 .........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER....................................................................100 .....................35........................1 ........... 0.350 ...........0.350 ...........0.350........... 0.352 .............0.352 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.350............. 0.000...................0.346 .................. 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING .............................................. 9,700 ................7,178........................2 ............0.740 ........... 0.740 ...........0.740........... 0.740 .............0.740 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.740..............0.740...................0.000 .................147,730,344 ........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 103,136 ............ 26,506......................12 ........... 0.270 ...........0.270 ...........0.255........... 0.257 .............0.258 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.388 ...............0.255..............0.255...................0.256.................... 5,397,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................15,000 .................. 735........................2 ........... 0.049 ...........0.049 ...........0.049........... 0.049 .............0.050 ...........-0.001 ........... -2.000 ...............0.049..............0.045...................0.049 .................. 10,150,418 .........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 503,334 .........736,325..................... 57 ............1.490 ........... 1.500 ...........1.435 ............1.465 .............1.500 ...........-0.035 ........... -2.333 ...............1.450 ..............1.450...................1.470................1,098,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 6,693 .............15,729........................2 ........... 2.350 ...........2.350 ...........2.350........... 2.350 .............2.425 ...........-0.075 ........... -3.093 ...............2.350..............2.350...................2.400 ................ 224,324,408 .......1.000 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 280,836 ........... 52,268..................... 29 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.184........... 0.186 .............0.192............-0.006 ............-3.125................0.184..............0.184...................0.186..................125,529,062........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 306,542 ............ 57,138..................... 32 ............0.189 ........... 0.189 ...........0.184........... 0.186 .............0.192............-0.006 ............-3.125................0.184..............0.184...................0.188..................132,879,579 ........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 612,041...........110,567......................14 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.175 ............0.181 .............0.190 ...........-0.009 ........... -4.737 ...............0.180...............0.171...................0.180..................257,931,542 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 1,590,341 ..... 202,909......................14 ............0.131 ........... 0.131............0.124........... 0.128 ............. 0.135............-0.007 ............-5.185................0.124.............. 0.125...................0.128................. 184,504,320 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 4,876,198 ...1,899,634................... 176 ........... 0.404...........0.404 ...........0.382........... 0.390 .............0.412............-0.022 ........... -5.340 ...............0.392..............0.392...................0.396..................893,810,813 ........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 1,007,453 ......630,248......................31 ........... 0.640 ...........0.640 ...........0.608........... 0.624 .............0.660 ...........-0.036 ........... -5.455 ...............0.608..............0.608...................0.628..................406,189,200 .......0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 102,352 ............27,636........................4 ........... 0.272 ...........0.272 ...........0.270........... 0.270 .............0.289 ...........-0.019 ........... -6.574 ...............0.270............. 0.000...................0.270 .................. 16,525,154 .........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 802,100 ..........176,412......................31 ........... 0.220...........0.220 ...........0.215 ........... 0.220 .............0.238 ...........-0.018 ............-7.563................0.220 .............0.217...................0.220 .................294,956,255 .......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................ 26,000 ...............3,120........................5 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.120........... 0.120 .............0.130............-0.010 ............-7.692................0.120............. 0.000...................0.124...................11,404,800 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 725,972 ..........118,528......................19 ............0.165 ........... 0.165 ...........0.162 ............0.163 ............. 0.177............-0.014 ............-7.910................0.162 ..............0.162...................0.165 ...................32,600,000 ........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 182,460 ............31,677........................7 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ........... 0.171 ............0.174 .............0.190 ...........-0.016 ........... -8.421................0.171 ............. 0.000................... 0.171 ...................17,400,000 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. ...................111,737 ...............6,044......................15 ........... 0.058 ...........0.058 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.059 ...........-0.005 ........... -8.475 ...............0.054............. 0.000...................0.054 ..................15,658,954 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................16,298 ...............5,563......................13 ........... 0.352 ...........0.352 ...........0.340 .......... 0.342 .............0.376 ...........-0.034 ........... -9.043 ...............0.340............. 0.000...................0.340 .................. 17,955,000 .........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 109,450 .............. 7,572......................16 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.069........... 0.069 .............0.076 ...........-0.007 ............-9.211................0.069............. 0.000...................0.069...................12,075,000 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 2,004,531.......274,511...................120 ............0.142 ........... 0.146 ...........0.136 ............0.137 ............. 0.151 ............-0.014 ........... -9.272 ...............0.140.............. 0.139...................0.140...................20,560,275.........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 113,809 ...............8,925......................17 ........... 0.080 ...........0.082 ...........0.078........... 0.078 .............0.086 ...........-0.008 ........... -9.302 ...............0.078..............0.078...................0.080 ...................7,020,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 131,000................9,711........................9 ............0.081 ........... 0.081 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.082 ...........-0.008 ............-9.756................0.074..............0.074...................0.081....................4,354,398 ..........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ......................... 90,000 ............ 12,360........................6 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.137 ............0.137 ............. 0.152............-0.015 ........... -9.868 ...............0.137 ............. 0.000...................0.137 ....................17,111,021 ..........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS .................8,000 ............... 1,675........................3 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.209 .......... 0.209 .............0.232 ...........-0.023 ............-9.914................0.209............. 0.000...................0.209 ................... 7,016,433 ..........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 205,640 ........... 26,001........................9 ............0.126 ........... 0.130 ...........0.126........... 0.126 .............0.140 ...........-0.014 .......... -10.000 ..............0.130 .............. 0.127...................0.134...................36,622,029.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 17,183,048........5,897,312 ............. 712 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......35........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK..................................................... 500 .....................30........................1 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.063 .............0.063 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.057...................0.061...................63,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 1,335,706 .......172,416................... 195 ............0.136 ........... 0.137 ...........0.126........... 0.129 ............. 0.139............-0.010 ............-7.194................0.128 ..............0.126...................0.128..................188,675,588 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 2,896,323.......183,041..................... 47 ........... 0.065 ...........0.065 ...........0.062........... 0.063 .............0.068 ...........-0.005 ............-7.353................0.062..............0.062...................0.063...................94,500,000 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 174,133 ...............4,950......................17 ........... 0.030 ...........0.030 ...........0.028........... 0.028 ............. 0.031............-0.003 ........... -9.677 ...............0.030..............0.028...................0.029 ...................2,380,000..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................61,000 ...............3,965........................6 ........... 0.065 ...........0.065 ...........0.065........... 0.065 .............0.072 ...........-0.007 ........... -9.722 ...............0.065............. 0.000...................0.067....................4,888,520 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,467,662 ......364,402...................266 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 5........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ......................17,150 ............... 1,629........................3 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.095........... 0.095 .............0.095 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.099...................30,795,353 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .....................................................................................17,150 ............... 1,629........................3 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ECONOMY

AV I AT I O N

China’s full-year growth figure to worry countries across the globe FRANKFURT: China is set to report its weakest full-year growth figure in 25 years on Tuesday on the back of slowing output and sagging investments, troubling news that will likely dominate discussion at the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Canada policy meetings.

Economists said the expansion of the Chinese economy was held back by sluggish domestic and external demand, weak investments, factory overcapacity and high property inventories, which exacerbated deflationary pressures in the economy.

The poor figures bolster arguments for more Chinese monetary policy easing on top of the six interest rates cuts seen since November 2014 and suggest that more currency depreciation is coming to prop up corporate profitability, bad news for advanced economies.

An even weaker yuan will export China’s deflationary pressures to advanced economies that are already struggling with anaemic price growth, amplified by a fall in oil prices to 12-year lows.

Fourth-quarter GDP China’s annual fourth-quarter GDP likely slowed to 6.8 per cent from 6.9 per cent in the third quarter, the weakest reading since the global financial crisis, while fullyear growth is seen at a 25-year low of 6.9 percent.

“The Chinese yuan has been caught up in a vicious circle than can but lead to further depreciation of the currency,” Nordine Naam, an analyst at brokerage Natixis, said.

“Concerns over the extent of the slowdown in Chinese growth

UNDER PRESSURE: An even weaker yuan will export China's deflationary pressures to advanced economies that are already struggling with anaemic price growth, amplified by a fall in oil prices to 12-year lows. – Bloomberg News

risk fuelling capital outflows and in turn a further depreciation of yuan, to which the People’s Bank of China seems resigned,” Naam said.

The Chinese government is expected to target economic growth of at least 6.5 per cent in 2016, but that could require more rate cuts, increased government spending on infrastructure and easing curbs on the cooling property sector.

ING expects Chinese authorities to restrict international capital flows and tighten systemic regulation so the central bank can cut rates further without exerting further downward pressure on the currency, also known as renminbi.

But Albert Edwards, a strategist at Societe Generale known for his bearish stance, has bigger fears:

“Investors are coming to terms with what a Chinese renminbi devaluation means for Western markets. It means global deflation and recession,” he said.

“The western manufacturing sector will choke under this imported deflationary tourniquet.

Indeed U.S. manufacturing seems to be suffering particularly badly already,” Edwards added.

Central banks Although China was a fading concern for central banks in recent months, market turbulence at the start of the year will likely propel it back on top of the agenda, particularly after another plunge in oil prices, a factor of weak emerging market demand.

Meeting for the first time since it cut interest rates and extended quantitative easing in December, the ECB is expected to remain on hold on Thursday but will likely express serious concern about emerging market prospects as the euro area inflation and growth outlooks fade.

At the previous policy-setting meeting the ECB was already worried that its inflation forecasts may be too optimistic and said it needed to maintain firepower if risks materialise. Still, economic activity is holding up well in the euro zone for now, with domestic consumption and factory activity supporting growth, offsetting weakening export prospects.

And the ECB has barely had

any time to gauge the impact of its most recent set of measures, suggesting the central bank could wait until mid-year before acting again. “We expect the ECB to ease policy further in 2016 as deflationary pressures worsen,” Barclays said. “However, we think new measures are unlikely to be deployed before June, unless we see another bout of euro appreciation or a further significant drop in inflation expectations.”

Canada’s central bank will have a tougher time deciding. Although most analysts expect rates to remain on hold at 0.5 per cent, markets see a bigger chance of a cut to 0.25 percent on lower growth prospects, falling oil prices and a poor Bank of Canada survey. - Reuters

Iran to buy Airbus jets for state airline DUBAI: Iran has agreed to buy 114 Airbus aircraft for state carrier Iran Air, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said on Saturday before international sanctions were lifted on the Islamic republic.

The deal includes a mix of new and used jets from the A320 family and the out-of-production A340s, an Iranian official said, asking not be identified because the details are private. The first deliveries are due as early as July, he said.

Iran has complied with the terms of an international agreement to curb its nuclear programme, clearing the way for sanctions to end, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday. That will pave the way for Iran to purchase sorely needed aircraft to renew an aging fleet, feed domestic demand at its 50 airports in a nation of 80 million people and expand international flying.

“When the Iran sanctions are lifted, Airbus Group is ready to support Iranian civil and parapublic transportation sector development in strict compliance with all international laws (US, EU and UN sanctions and embargoes),” a spokeswoman for Toulouse, France-based Airbus said in an e-mailed statement.

Para-public transportation refers to helicopters used by police and border-control agencies.

Iran also is interested in Airbus wide-body planes including A350s and the A380 double-decker as it seeks to add destinations in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe to directly serve the Iranian population scattered there rather than connecting through Dubai or Istanbul hubs, the Iranian official said. - Bloomberg News

B

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

YAHOO TO HELP GROWTH OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Yahoo! wants to help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence — a field touching everything from data-crunching to art — by giving university researchers access to its massive data sets to promote research in the technology. The Web portal is providing academics a look at information on how 20 million users — completely anonymous — read and consume news, said Suju Rajan, director of research for personalisation science at Yahoo Labs. — Bloomberg News

T E C H U P D AT E S

Smartphone not the only reason why PC is dying

Intel shares decline after reports of slow growth Intel shares tumbled the most in seven years after the company said 2016 is off to a “soft” start amid tepid economic growth, particularly in China, which is hurting demand for personal computers and the servers that have fueled growth. The world’s biggest semiconductor maker predicted revenue for the first quarter that fell short of analysts’ estimates. Intel, which gets more than 80 per cent of its sales outside the US, is “cautious on the level of economic growth” in China and the rest of Asia, Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith told investors on Thursday. Intel has weathered a four-year slide in PC sales by depending on demand for server processors, the main component in powerful machines that run data centers. Concern about the economy has consumers and companies in some parts of the world holding off on computer purchases, Intel said. As the first major US technology to report earnings this quarter, Intel’s forecasts are a blow to hopes that corporate results would bolster investor confidence in the robustness of the global economy, said Daniel Morgan, a fund manager for Synovus Securities. — Bloomberg News

Xiaomi misses smartphone sales target by 10% on China slowdown

No one can hold back these tides but it’s not just the smartphone that is killing PCs — it’s also diverging business interests among the biggest players in the personal computer world

Lenovo, HP and Dell — have broader ambitions to sell business software or corporate technology services, but the mission also leans on personal computers as a hook to sell the additional technology

SHIRA OVIDE

S

ALES of personal computers (PCs) dropped for the fourth consecutive year in 2015. By one firm’s measure, the decline was the worst in the history of the PC business.

In our smartphone- and app-obsessed lives, it’s hardly surprising that personal computers are not a growth industry anymore. In many parts of the globe, the mobile phone is the sole computing device. In the developed world, people are happy to stick with old PCs and splurge instead on the latest smartphone or streaming video doodad. Costconscious companies don’t feel the need to buy new computers often.

No one can hold back these tides.

But it’s not just the smartphone that is killing PCs. It’s also diverging business interests among the biggest players in the PC world.

In the decades after Microsoft released Windows in 1985, the company and partners such as Intel, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell worked in tandem to refine the modern PC and to sell people on the need for a computer on every desk and in every home. The PC partners didn’t

always agree, of course, but each wanted to do everything possible to sell more and more computers to increase their revenue.

Those interests are less aligned then ever before. Microsoft is trying to change its business model so it can in theory make money even if no one ever buys a new PC again.

Meanwhile, Intel and the PC makers still generate sales from each new PC sold and therefore want personal computers to fly off the shelves. And all of the PC companies are trying everything they can to get out of the PC business — or at least become less dependent on selling computers.

For its part, Microsoft is turning the company inside out to move from making money once when a PC is sold with Windows and Office software to becoming a computing toll collector. Microsoft wants more companies to pay annual fees for the right to keep employees stocked with computers and document software, to handle back-end computing chores like accounting and data storage and to provide technical assistance.

For consumers, Microsoft wants to make money selling Office soft-

ware subscriptions, Skype videocalling minutes, video games, app downloads and digital ads everywhere there are Windows PCs, Xbox video game systems or Windows smartphones. The company is happy to sell an Office subscription that can be used on iPhones and Android phones, too.

‘Post sale monetisation’ In a pinnacle of corporate speak, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has called this approach “post sale monetisation.” In theory, with this business model Microsoft makes money no matter whether people or businesses buy a Windows PC every year, every five years or never.

This ambition is far from reality, but that’s the vision he has sold to Wall Street. Microsoft’s business shift may actually be hurting PC sales, at least for now. In a bid to expand the pool of people ripe for post-sale monetisation, Microsoft last year made its latest version of Windows free for many people with older computers. Surely some people have been happy to update a home laptop with fresh software that made their computers seem like new rather than pony up for a new PC.

Research firm IDC said free Windows 10 software offers were among reasons to “delay new system purchases in 2015.” That may be fine for Nadella but less so for his allies.

Executives at Intel and many PC makers have said their interests are aligned with Microsoft’s. They, too, are trying to move beyond PCs. But don’t be fooled. Their fortunes, as well as Microsoft’s, remain closely tied to PC sales.

Microsoft disclosed last year that it generated roughly $15 billion in annual revenue directly from Windows software, or about 15 per cent of the company’s total. That figure undercounts Microsoft’s reliance on the PC because sales of the company’s lucrative Office software are tied closely to PC sales, too. By some estimates, about 80 per cent of Microsoft profit comes from Windows, either directly or indirectly.

Intel has diversified into making chips for computer data centres, smart watches, Internet-connected cars and other computing brains that aren’t PCs, but more than half of its net revenue and operating profit still comes from its “client computing group,” which consists mainly of chips for PCs. The biggest PC hardware makers — Lenovo, HP and Dell — have broader ambitions to sell business software or corporate technology services, but the mission also leans on PCs as a hook to sell the additional technology.

There are lessons here for companies like Apple, Samsung and Google that have made hay from the smartphone boom. PCs were a great business until the world changed and once-successful companies had to scramble for new money-making ideas. Already some people are urging Apple to shift its business model to sell a collection of software, hardware and services, rather than trying to sell more and more iPhones every year. That is exactly what Microsoft is trying to do now with its Windows franchise. Let the present struggles in PCs be a guide to today’s tech winners: No empire is invincible forever, and new business models are inevitable. — Bloomberg News

Xiaomi sold more than 70 million smartphones last year, falling well short of its target and prompting founder Lei Jun to tell employees he was refocusing research efforts into “cool stuff ” like robotics and virtual reality.

The Chinese star-tup had a stated goal of selling 80 million devices.

Xiaomi originally predicted selling 100 million units, but then changed that after China set its lowest growth target in 15 years and copycat vendors started taking away market share. The miss was a blow to company morale, Lei said in an e- mail to employees.

“We set a target of 80 million and, before we knew it, it became an obligation,” Lei said. “We changed under this pressure, and everyone’s faces gradually lost all traces of humor.” The smartphone maker was one of China’s most exciting start-up stories of past years, with a valuation of $45 billion that trailed only that of Uber Technologies Inc. Xiaomi thrived through online sales of budgetpriced devices with advanced components, overtaking domestic competitors and challenging Apple and Samsung Electronics for supremacy in the world’s biggest market. Its meteoric ascent helped it secure $1.1 billion in 2014 from investors including GIC, All-Stars Investment and Russia’s DST. — Bloomberg News

Qualcomm seeks joint venture shortcut to server sales in China Qualcomm, trying to break Intel’s dominance of chip sales for server computers, is forming a joint venture in China, the fastest growing consumer of data-center hardware. The San Diegobased chipmaker will take a 45 per cent stake in a new company being formed with the government of Guizhou Province. The new venture will develop server chips for the Chinese market using Qualcomm designs and technology. “We felt the fastest way to participate in China was through a joint venture,” said Anand Chandrasekher, who heads Qualcomm’s fledgling server unit. “We view the China market as the second-largest server market in the world by 2020 and it’s the fastest-growing market already.” Qualcomm has a long way to go. The biggest maker of mobile-phone chips is one of many challengers seeking to dislodge Intel in the lucrative market for powerful processors that run data centre machines. Intel, the biggest overall semiconductor maker, has squashed all opposition and enjoys more than 99 per cent market share. It’s able to charge more than $7,000 for some models, more than seven times the price of even its most expensive desktop offering. While the Qualcomm-Guizhou joint venture’s initial products will essentially be the same as the US chipmaker’s forthcoming offerings, over time it will seek to customize chips for local customer needs, according to Chandrasekher. Qualcomm is seeking to expand outside of its core smartphone chip market, where it’s facing increasing competition and declining sales. — Bloomberg News

B6

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

ROUND-UP S TA G E P L AY

NPA Events brings Khalil Gibran to Muscat with ‘Rest Upon The Wind’ MUSCAT: Theatre and art lovers of Oman are in for a splendid treat with a timeless English classic Khalil Gibran ‘Rest Upon The Wind’ to be presented in all its glory, meticulously recreating the life and times of Gibran Khalil Gibran, critically acclaimed and prolific poet, writer, painter, and philosopher of Middle East origin.

Written and directed by celebrated actor and playwright Nadim Sawalha and produced by Ali Matar, the magnum opus Khalil Gibran ‘Rest Upon the Wind’ is presented by NPA Events, known for their ‘Wow’ presentations. It will be an artistic and spiritual voyage that delivers Gibran’s most powerful and dominant message of love, peace, brotherhood and unity, says a press release.

All set to be unveiled on March

16 and 17 at the Oman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace – A Ritz Carlton Hotel, the specially designed sets will transport the theatre aficionados to the very heart of Boston, Massachusetts of the 19th and 20th centuries, where the action unfolds. The play is an inspirational rendition of Gibran’s 1923 best-selling narrative ‘The Prophet’, which was translated to over 40 languages and selling over 140 million copies worldwide.

An enthralling mélange of drama, introspection and soul-searching discovery, ‘Rest Upon The Wind’ chronicles Gibran’s life from the time he migrated from Lebanon, to Boston in America as an impressionable 12-year-old with his family. The play revolves around his struggle to survive, of those who helped him along the way, and his

warm family relationships.

The brilliant cast First staged in the West End of London at the Tristan Bates Theatre, the play will see 11 original members of the cast flying down

from London especially for the act. Among them, the acclaimed six-member cast with rich theatre experience will add a spark of brilliance to the proceedings. Fanos Xenofós, will essay the role of Gibran Khalil Gibran while Lara

Home Centre starts new Room Makeover contest Teaming up with brand ambassador Nancy Ajram, Home Centre will give away room makeovers worth OMR1,500 (or its equivalent) to 15 winners selected from six countries in the region — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Lebanon

MUSCAT: Home Centre, the largest home retailer in the Middle East, has announced the fourth edition of its much-anticipated ‘Room Makeover’ contest.

Teaming up with brand ambassador Nancy Ajram, Home Centre will give away room makeovers worth OMR1,500 (or its equivalent) to 15 winners selected from six countries in the region — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Lebanon, says a press release.

Regarded the ‘most awaited room makeover with Nancy Ajram’, this season features a unique twist. Commencing yesterday, this season is asking participants to share their thoughts with Nancy on why they deserve to win.

Commenting on the initiative Nancy said: “People love the idea

of winning a room makeover — especially at the beginning of a new year — as it represents a fresh start.

Despite this being my first year of association with Home Centre, I’ve seen some beautiful creations as part of the brand’s room makeovers in the previous cycles. Personally, for me it is the human aspect of the winners’ stories that stands out — each of them is a truly deserving candidate. I am excited to see the entries that come in this year.”

Médéric Payne, CEO, Home Centre, said: “Home Centre’s Room Makeover is truly amongst the most eagerly awaited consumer-engagement platforms by a brand across the region. The campaign has enjoyed huge success

over the past three cycles and we have had numerous requests to relaunch it year after year.

For Home Centre, this is purely an opportunity to showcase our core strengths as a market leader in this niche segment and connect with our customers. We have the breadth across our collection to match any preference, and comprehensively deliver a room that meets every need. We don’t link the Room Makeover with a minimum purchase or a sales promotion as we want it to be truly allinclusive. We hope that the fourth cycle inspires people and gives them unique ideas for their own home, because that is the spirit that Home Centre embodies.”

to make this spectacular presentation an unforgettable one for a long, long time to come.

“After staging Naseeruddin Shah in Jerome Kiltey’s ‘Dear Liar’, based on the relationship between George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, we were waiting for another unique event. ‘Rest Upon The Wind’ will be a veritable treat for theatre lovers and fans of the great personality Gibran Khalil Gibran,” says Ashok Suvarna, executive director of NPA Events. “Seeing the popularity of Gibran Khalil Gibran in the Middle East, we are looking at staging two back-to-back shows to meet the demand,” he added.

The magnum opus Khalil Gibran ‘Rest Upon The Wind’ is a play not to be missed by the theatre enthusiasts of Oman.

HOME SOLUTIONS

Danube Home opens its first store in Dubai DUBAI: Danube Home, one-stop retail destination for complete home solutions, opened its first bespoke store in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road yesterday.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development of the UAE, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, Rizwan Sajan, Anis Sajan and Adel Sajan together with high profile representatives from the UAE and India, says a press release.

The global home improvement and home furnishing retail industry is expected to reach an estimated value of $2,291.6 billion by 2019. The major drivers of this industry are increasing new and existing home sales, increasing disposable income, rising consumer spending, remodelling and renovation of homes, urbanisation, and increasing middle class population.

Innovation in products, cost control, supply chain and logistics management will further drive this industry.

According to some reports, GCC’s home improvement and home furnishing industry will grow significantly during next five years. A case in point — the population of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai is expected to double soon and the property development which is underway in the country is colossal.

Danube Home provides customised solutions across its iconic categories — Living: Sofas, bedrooms, chandeliers, home decorations, dinner ware, glassware, bedding, fragrances; Bath: Shattafs, mixers, bathroom accessories, massage bathtubs, saunas, bathroom tiles and Garden & outdoor — Balcony sets, Rattan furniture, Gazebos, Swings, Kids play range. Furthermore the customised kitchens, electrical and hardware products complete the range at Danube Home.

Commenting at the store opening ceremony, Adel Sajan, director, Danube Group said: “We are extremely pleased to open the flagship store of the region in Dubai and the presence of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Bollywood celebrity Shilpa Shetty made it all the more special. We believe in range, convenience and value hence we provide the best in class customised solutions along with our products. Danube Home provides thousands of wallpapers and exclusive curtain designs along with different types of wooden flooring, which one can mix and match to have a truly unique home. All in all, it means that one can actually match the pillows and comforters to curtains and wallpapers.”

“The icing on the cake is free of cost Design Visualisation & 3D Renderings, which can be done for all the customers in record time, by a team of qualified interior designers across showrooms. Customers can just walk in with their floor plans and get their interiors designed based on their individual taste and preferences selecting products from the widest range that we offer,” asserted Adel Sajan.

“Talking about the value, all our products are very reasonably priced and we have observed that 95 per cent of customers who come to our stores for design creation, actually buy from us. We source products from all over the world- USA, Germany, Turkey, Spain, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Italy to maintain an enticing range,” he added.

Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman, Danube Group stated: “I congratulate Danube Home Team on the opening of their new store in the region. With this new store, Danube has extended their commitment to offer its customers in the Middle East the best of luxury retail experience.”

PPR ROOM MOOT TIIOON N

I N F O R M AT I V E S E S S I O N

Leminar holds HVAC seminar in Muscat MUSCAT: UAE-based Leminar Air Conditioning Industries, the leader in quality ductwork manufacturing in the Gulf region, in partnership with Galloway Group UK, conducted an informative HVAC seminar recently in Muscat, Oman on ‘Building Fire-Safe and Noise-Free Environment’.

The seminar aimed to generate awareness among key stakeholders and decision-makers, about the important criteria to be considered when selecting the right HVAC ducts and particular fire rated ducts and sound attenuators.

The seminar was attended by 125 clients, government officials, MEP / HVAC consultants and contractors, says a press release.

Illustrious personalities from Leminar and its partners Galloway Group and Fenland Fire Rated Ducts both from the UK, as well Multitech (Bahwan Engineering Company Group) – Leminar Industries’ partner in Oman, offered their unrivalled HVAC industry knowledge and in-depth technical expertise to those present.

Sandeep Malhotra, deputy general manager of the Mechanical Product Division at Multitech, gave the welcome speech at the seminar. Malhotra emphasised the

Participants can apply for the contest at any Home Centre store, or by logging on to the brand’s website (www.homecentrestores.com/ roommakeover), Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Homecentrestores), Twitter handle (www. twitter.com/askhomecentre) or Instagram account (www.instagram. com/homecentrestores).

Entries will remain open until February 13 and all applicants will be rewarded with an e-voucher offering a 20 per cent discount for purchases at Home Centre stores in their respective country.

Home Centre will reach out to the top 500 shortlisted participants and request them to share pictures of their room. These will be further narrowed down to the top 30 entries. After having reviewed these rooms, Home Centre’s team of experts will select the top 15 winners, one of which will be selected through a vote on Home Centre’s Facebook page.

Voters will also be entitled to receiving a 20 per cent discount voucher which can be redeemed against purchases at Home Centre stores in their respective countries.

Room Makeovers for the 15 winners will be executed in March 2016 by a special team of visual merchandisers and designers from Home Centre, concluding the fourth cycle of the brand’s most successful consumer activation.

The team will pay special consideration to the individual preferences and personalities of the winners, to create a room which is best suited to their lifestyles.

Each makeover will be preplanned and implemented in a single day, to minimise the inconvenience to the winners.

The third cycle of Home Centre’s Room Makeover attracted over 37,000 entries and the winners’ journeys received over 200,000 views across the brand’s social media platforms.

Sawalha will enact the character of Michelline. Dina Mousawi plays Gibran’s sister Miryanna. Stephanie Ellyne portrays the role of Mary Elizabeth Haskell, a respected headmistress 10 years Gibran’s senior – after meeting at his first art exhibition of his drawings in 1904 in Boston at Day’s studio, the two became lifelong friends. Nabil Elouahabi, a versatile British Moroccan actor, dons the role of the Ottoman Ambassador and Zak Sawalha plays Salim, an Armenian steward in Boston.

The original music score by award winning composer Jules Deering, the breathtaking visuals, the outstanding performances of the cast, the brilliant onstage projection by Eva Auster, the stage and production management by Nicola Doningthorn, are all sure

importance of Multitech’s partnership with Leminar Industries.

In 2011, Leminar Industries signed an agency agreement with Multitech in Oman for Galloway products, including the complete range of Galloway Acoustic Products and Fenland Fire Rated Duct system. Leminar Industries has a robust sales presence in Oman and provides hands-on support to the Multitech team and its clients.

Leminar Industries is committed to innovation. Dipak Bhadra, general manager of Leminar Air Conditioning Industries said, “We focus on ethical business practices and constantly strive to offer unique solutions. The technical data we provide is authentic.

Leminar and its overseas partners comply with international test

standards, certifications and third party listings.”

In Oman, Leminar Industries has provided acoustic solutions to the New Muscat International Airport (Passenger terminal, utility buildings for generator rooms), New Oman Convention Centre and Royal Opera House. All products supplied to Oman projects are manufactured at Leminar’s Dubai factory.

Navin Valrani, CEO of Leminar Air Conditioning Industries explained, “We are now the largest duct manufacturing company in the region, with state-of-theart technology and fully-automated coil line with CGF-1 Integrated Flange system. We are proud to lead the revolution in the ducting industry.”

Al Hashar Electronics offers coolest deals on Voltas ACs MUSCAT: Bringing further cheer to the festive spirit of winter in Oman, Al Hashar Electronics is offering the season’s coolest deals on Voltas air-conditioners across its showrooms.

Customers can bring home the trusted Voltas brand of cooling systems at amazingly discounted rates during the promotional period. The offer is valid for window as well as split ACs (1.5T), says a press release.

Launching the deal of the season, Rajeev Sharma, general manager of Al Hashar Electronics, said: “As the foremost electronics distributor in the Sultanate, it’s our mission to bring the joys of enhanced lifestyle to all our esteemed customers. It’s in line with this policy that we have been serving the Sultanate with worldclass electronics products at unparalleled prices.

“Voltas is a super brand appreciated across the markets as a leading brand in India. We have designed the best winter deal on a collection of Voltas air-conditioners with a view to make this winter truly memorable. The offer is

available at all our showrooms, and I urge our valued customers to make the most of it.”

Voltas is a world leader in cooling and refrigeration solutions, and is trusted by more than a million customers. Voltas has executed many land mark projects in the Middle East, South East Asia, Central Asia, Europe and Africa. The project at the 162-storied Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is worth mentioning.

Other prominent projects include the Mall of Emirates Dubai, the largest shopping mall outside North America; Ferrari experience and the F1 race track at the

$40 billion Yas Island in Abu Dhabi; Bahrain International Airport; and Al Ain International Airport.

Voltas manufactures a range of window, split, ductable, slimline and cassette air conditioners for the institutional and retail segments. Al Hashar Electronics, the most trusted and one of the oldest electronics dealers in the Sultanate, has had a long-standing fruitful business association with Voltas.

The partnership has over the years introduced a range of worldquality products from the Voltas stable to the discerning customers of Oman.

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QUOTES Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right. — Aldous Huxley Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit.

— Helena Rubinstein

To reach a port, we must sail — Sail, not tie at anchor — Sail, not drift.

— Franklin Roosevelt

B8

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ROUND-UP

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Toyota’s exciting cash gift offer to end soon

H E A LT H C A R E

The scheme makes the Toyota passenger

Apollo Muscat Hospital offers unique privilege card to its patients

car range models simply irresistible

MUSCAT: “All good things come to an end” goes the poignant Nelly Furtado classic... Certainly, it seems to be the case with many good things that end too fast…such as the offer from Toyota known across Oman as ‘Cash Gift like Never Before’, says a press release.

The main attraction of the offer is “Customers pay only OMR499 and own a brand new Toyota passenger car”. This amount is payable by customers in addition to cash gift offered in the scheme which can be used as down payment for 2016 YM/2015 Production model of Yaris sedan 1.5 E. The amount payable varies for other Toyota passenger car models/ grades as applicable.

“There is also an assured cash gift of up to OMR1,100. This assured cash gift is applicable on Yaris Hatchback and all Toyota sedans only and the amount varies between model, model variants and model year. It can also be used as part of the Down Payment,” said a spokesperson.

“The scheme makes the Toyota passenger car range models simply irresistible,” exclaims an enthusiast.

Customers who are going for any of the models in Toyota’s SUV range can avail of a service package for up to 3 years or 30,000km

whichever is earlier (covering 3 services at 10,000km service interval for select petrol models based on normal operating conditions and 6 services at 5,000km service interval for select diesel models as applicable) or a service package for upto 2 years or 20,000km whichever is earlier (covering 2 services at 10,000km service interval for select petrol models based on normal operating conditions and 4 services at 5,000km service interval for select diesel models as applicable).

There is also a comprehensive one year insurance (Oman only) on select 2015 YM & 2016 YM models of 2015 production. (Insurance benefit would be given up to the extent applicable for private vehicles only) Also available is first year registration on select 2015 YM & 2016 YM Models of 2015 production.

The offer benefits are applicable for all purchases except those made by government organisations and ministries. All the above benefits are model specific and may vary accordingly. Terms and conditions apply on various benefits. For full details, please visit the nearest Toyota showroom.

At the showroom, customers can take a closer, first-hand look at the

exciting new 2016 range models: A worthy choice, the Toyota Yaris is an exciting sedan. Responsive power and a surefooted stance make driving this nimble sedan a delight.

The 1.5 Litre Yaris Hatchback is as “unique as you”, with all the features you want. Its sleek styling has all the right curves, and new projector-beam headlights and stylised grille add tonnes of attitude.

Global favourite The Toyota Corolla is a global favourite with an enviable lineage.

Not only is the Toyota Corolla the most sold car worldwide, it is also a proven performer that offers many advantages and benefits to its owners. Powerful 2.0 Litre & 1.6 Litre engine choices are available.

The Camry has been a favourite among Omani customers in the midsize segment since its debut in Oman in 1991. The 2016 Camry is athletic in its stance, luxurious in its build and intelligent in its response.

The Toyota Avanza stands out with newly designed chrome radiator grille, halogen headlamps, 2-DIN music system, alloy wheels, fog lamps, steering wheel with audio controls, 7-seat configuration,

M E M O R A N D U M O F U N D E R S TA N D I N G

and a lot more.

The luxurious Aurion is a vehicle that elevates your class and helps you carve an image that is just right. Available with 6-speed multi-mode automatic transmission, with a 3.5L Engine and a maximum output of 268 HP, delivering top-class level fuel economy and a powerful driving experience.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a big and bold SUV that has some of the most impressive off-road capabilities in the Toyota line-up. It features a rugged exterior and a comfortable and durable interior complete with tonnes of cargo space.

The eighth generation 2016 Hilux is not only a tough vehicle, but an advanced pick-up with stylish cues hitherto found only on SUVs. The new Hilux sports a thick, chunky front steel bumper, front fog lamps, newly designed alloy wheels and wheel caps. New style rear lamps with chrome garnish and side stripes adorn the vehicle.

The 2016 Prado, born with the Toyota Land Cruiser DNA in its bloodline, takes Toyota’s enviable 4WD legacy way further. The Prado’s throbbing power and thrilling performance gives a taste of real 4WD freedom.

MUSCAT: In a first of its kind initiative, Apollo Muscat launched Apollo Privilege Card to enhance the healthcare experience for its patients. The privilege card was launched in the presence of leading dignitaries receiving their respective cards.

The privilege card is yet another step for Apollo Muscat in facilitating healthcare access to the residents of Oman. It entails the beneficiary a host of benefits which include — discounts on services viz. consultation, investigation, in-patient room tariffs and a complimentary second opinion from panel of over 7,000 super specialists from Apollo Hospitals Group, India, says a press release.

V. T. Saileshwaran, managing director, said at the event: “Our effort at Apollo Muscat has always been to ensure that our patients’ experience with healthcare is seamless. The Privilege Card we launched today will further help us in our mission to make access to healthcare of highest standards convenient to our patients,” he added.

Speaking at the launch ex-

plaining the benefits, Dr Dilip Singhvi, Medical Director at Apollo Muscat said: “One of the benefits is the facility to avail medical services on priority that would enable a person to save time especially on a working day.

“This will bring in a stronger bond between the card holder and the hospital.”

Thanking the dignitaries and the well-wishers for attending the occasion Abhilash Pillai, chief operating officer, said that the year 2016 is a special year for Apollo Muscat as it’s the 10th anniversary year.

“The year also has geared us up to celebrate the achievement of attaining the hospital status for Apollo Muscat from the Ministry of Health, which has resulted in us expanding into a complete health care system that includes areas such as spine services, orthopaedics, reproductive medicine, advanced minimally invasive surgeries etc.

The privilege card can be attained at the Apollo Centre in Al Hamriya, Muscat and would be available at a price point of OMR10 only.

C O R P O R AT E C U LT U R E M A N A G E M E N T

Zubair holds training session to promote group’s shared values

Bank Muscat to provide baituna home finance for Al Samaa project MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, and Arabian Properties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide attractive baituna home finance for Al Samaa project in Madinat Al Qaboos.

Abdullah Tamman Al Mashani, deputy general manager – Institutional Sales & Products Development, and Ahmed Al Lawati, managing director of Arabian Properties, signed the MoU at the bank’s head office, says a press release.

Al Mashani said: “Bank Muscat is proud to be associated with Al Samaa project and facilitate attractive baituna finance for prospective home buyers. The real estate sector is a major component of the national economy and Bank Muscat is committed to extending all possible support to achieve the objective of a ‘home for every fam-

ily’, especially youth. baituna home finance is aimed at offering citizens and residents easy access to mortgage finance, thereby enhancing the role of the real estate sector in the national economy.”

Al Lawati said: “We are happy to join hands with Bank Muscat to provide attractive home deals for citizens. The association between the two institutions will give a boost to the real estate sector and benefit citizens across Oman to fulfil their dream homes. Al Samaa project comprises 92 modern apartments, including some with maid rooms, and is expected to be handed over in 30 months.”

The attractive features of baituna home finance include low interest rates with maximum loan tenure up to 25 years for Omani customers. With extended loan tenure and low interest rate of 4.25 per cent pa during Muscat Festi-

val, Bank Muscat facilitates the best home finance deals in the Sultanate. Citizens and residents can avail easy and convenient credit approval across the bank’s 137 branches in the Sultanate. baituna home finance is designed to help families fulfil their dream homes, offering convenient mortgage plans to suit everyone’s needs with simplified documentation, flexible repayment options, insurance coverage and processing across the bank’s extensive network of branches. All leading property developers are associated with the bank, hence baituna facilitates access to prime residential projects in Oman. baituna facilitates purchase and construction of new homes as well as land for residential use.

Mortgage finance is offered to Omani nationals, GCC nationals and expatriates.

MUSCAT: To integrate and instil corporate shared values among its employees, the Zubair Corporation, Oman’s leading business conglomerate, organised ‘Corporate Culture Management, a training session at Jebel Akhdar recently.

Apart from raising awareness about the shared values of the company, the objective of the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ was to strengthen the relation between employees working for Zubair Corporation’s group of companies, says a press release.

The highlight of the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ event was that the responsibility of organising and conceptualising the training session was given to an SME company, Uniboat, which was one of the winners of Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC)’s Direct Support Programme for the year 2015.

Hamood Khamis Al Sulaimi, Organisation Development and Talent Management manager, Zubair Corporation, said: “The ‘Corporate Culture Management’ session was different from traditional training programmes. We wanted to raise awareness about our shared values among the employees of the group companies.

Many activities were conducted to reflect these shared values among the participants. The intention was that the participants would share these values with fellow employees.”

The activities focused and provided a platform to review values such as passion, innovation, trust, collaboration, care and respect.

Al Sulaimi said the aim was to raise awareness among the employees. He also said that Jebel Akhdar, the highest summit in Oman was intentionally chosen as the location for the session.

Emphasising that shared values are unique to each company, Al Sulaimi added: “That is why to effectively empower our employees we decided to undertake a programme of initiating them to the company’s shared values.”

Al Sulaimi explained that the corporate shared value was drafted and extracted from the vision and mission of Zubair Corporation.

Acknowledging that he benefited immensely from participating in the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ sessions, Moosa Juma Al Hasani, senior manager (investments) Al Hilal Inves-

ments Company (a Zubair Group Company) said: “Although we knew about the shared values of the group after attending the sessions we felt the importance of practising it. The activities organised revolved around developing compelling shared values that every employee wants to associate with. The activities rekindled core values within employees who participated.”

Al Hasani also explained that it was a great opportunity to interact and network with employees of Zubair working in different sectors. “Interacting and networking with colleagues from group companies is important because we can use each other’s skills for benefit of the company.

“I work for the financial sector, I can consult a colleague who works in manufacturing or service sector while evaluating a project. I met so many people who are experts in their respective field who I didn’t even know worked for our group,” Al Hasani added.

Saying that he got to literally live the shared values of the company during the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ programme, Salim Al Harthi, a marketing manager in Zubair Automotive Group, said: “We had team building sessions of a completely different nature.

We had to coordinate with people we hardly knew. During the 24 hours of the programme, we lived the talk and practised the group’s values such as trust, collaboration, care and respect.”

Stressing that there was a lot of take away from the session, Al Harthi said, “The programmes were designed to promote personal and institutional growth.

“I have started looking at the company with new perspective and feel proud to be part of the Zubair group.”

Al Harthi added, the programme would contribute to building a culture in the Zubair group where employees are completely committed to the shared values of the organisation.

Al Harthi appreciated that the group tasked the responsibility of putting together the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ event to a local SME. Adel Al Abri, CEO of the company Uniboats Oman, which put together the activities of the programme expressed his gratitude to the Zubair group.

“We thank them for instilling and showing confidence in an upcoming SME. “A company of Zubair’s calibre trusted a start-up to conduct the training programme is a great feeling. The message they sent out was ‘we trust you so don’t be afraid’. The programme gave us great exposure.”

Al Abri said the Uniboat team sat with the Zubair’s Human Resources department to work out activities that would raise awareness of shared values among Zubair Corporation’s employees.

“That is why we came out with a customised programmed called the Jebel Akhdar Survival Skill plan where we implemented the core values into the activities.

At the end of the programme the culture had changed from one corporate company to ‘corporate family’,” explained Adil.

Al Sulaimi said: “We gave the responsibility of organising the ‘Corporate Culture Management’ to Uniboat because we believed in their capability. We discussed our needs and asked them to execute the activities as per our needs.”

He also credited human resources department’s teamwork for the success of the culture change event.

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Maxwell dazzles as Aussies clinch series

T20 SERIES

Maxwell revived SETTING RECORDS: Skipper Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill after setting the highest T20 partnership. – AFP

Australia’s chase

Williamson-Guptill record stand helps Kiwis level series

victory target with

HAMILTON: Skipper Kane Williamson and fellow opener Martin Guptill forged the highest partnership in Twenty20 Internationals to secure New Zealand a serieslevelling 10-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second match in Hamilton on Sunday. The 171run stand between the pair, who shared the man-of-the-match award, bettered the previous record of 170 between South African openers Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman against England in a 2009 match at Centurion.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 168 for seven in 20 overs with Umar Akmal (56 not out) and Shoaib Malik (39) scoring the bulk of the runs in the second

scores were tied

match of the three-game series.

Akmal needed 22 balls for his fifty and hit four sixes as Pakistan settled for a score their bowlers eventually could not defend.

The tourists struggled to come to terms with the contrasting batting styles of New Zealand’s opening pair who milked the Pakistan attack with consummate ease.

Williamson hit 11 boundaries to remain unbeaten on 72 as his team sealed victory with 14 balls to spare. Guptill faced 10 more balls for his 87 not out, hitting four sixes and nine boundaries, the last of which sealed victory and created a new partnership record. Wellington hosts the decider on Friday. - Reuters

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN M. Hafeez c TD Astle b Santner 19 A. Shehzad c Williamson b Anderson 9 S. Maqsood c Santner b Elliott 18 S. Malik b McClenaghan 39 Umar Akmal (not out) 56 Shahid Afridi c Williamson b Milne 7 Imad Wasim c Milne b McClenaghan 8 Sarfraz Ahmed run out 1 Wahab Riaz (not out) 0 Extras (b-1, lb-3, w-7) 11 Total (7 wkts; 20 overs) 168 Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-34, 3-67, 4-130, 5-137, 6-161, 7-163.

Bowling: M.J. Santner 3-0-29-1 (w-2); C. Anderson 4-0-26-1 (w-3); AF Milne 4-037-1 (w-1); M. McClenaghan 4-0-23-2 (w1); TD Astle 1-0-13-0; G. Elliott 4-0-36-1.

NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill (not out) 87 K. Williamson (not out) 72 Extras (lb-6, w-6) 12 Total (no loss, 17.4 overs) 171 Bowling: Umar Gul 2-0-18-0 (w-1); Mohammed Amir 3-0-34-0; Imad Wasim 4-032-0; Shahid Afridi 4-0-38-0; Wahab Riaz 3-0-30-0 (w-1); Shoaib Malik 1.4-0-13-0.

for a 296-run a spectacular knock and by the time he was dismissed after an 83-ball blitz, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

MELBOURNE: Glenn Maxwell struck a scintillating 96 in a tricky chase to help Australia beat India by three wickets in the third one-dayer on Sunday and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series.

Maxwell revived Australia’s chase for a 296-run victory target with a spectacular knock and by the time he was dismissed after an 83-ball blitz, scores were tied at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“It was nice to get a few out of the middle,” the 27-year-old said at the presentation ceremony.

“I broke my number one bat which was a bit annoying. I have to call Kookaburra and try and get another one from them.”

Virat Kohli had earlier struck a run-a-ball 117 to power India to a competitive 295 for six but the total was not enough in the end.

Put into bat, India suffered an early setback as the law of average caught up with opener Rohit Sharma who, after centuries in the last two matches, fell for six in the fifth over.

MATCH WINNER: Glenn Maxwell acknowledges the crowd after being dismissed for 96. – Reuters

TON IN VAIN: India’s Virat Kohli celebrates his 24th ODI century. – Reuters

SCOREBOARD

INDIA R. Sharma c Wade b Richardson 6 S. Dhawan b Hastings 68 V. Kohli c Bailey b Hastings 117 A. Rahane c Maxwell b Hastings 50 M. Dhoni c Maxwell b Hastings 23 G. Mann b Faulkner 8 R. Jadeja not out 6 R. Dhawan not out 3 Extras (lb-5, w-9) 14 Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 295 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-134, 3-243, 4-265, 5-274, 6-288 Did not bat: I. Sharma, U. Yadav, B. Sran Bowling: K. Richardson 10-0-48-1 (w-2), J. Hastings 10-0-58-4 (w-1), J. Faulkner 10-0-63-1 (w-3), S. Boland 9-0-63-0 (w-1), G. Maxwell 9-0-46-0, M. Marsh 2-0-12-0 AUSTRALIA S. Marsh c Dhoni b I. Sharma A. Finch c Dhoni b U. Yadav

62 21

However, Shikhar Dhawan (68), now a Melbourne resident, batted himself back into form, raising 119 runs with Kohli before exposing his leg-stump which was pegged back by a John Hastings delivery.

At the other end, Kohli became the fastest to score 7,000-runs in one-dayers, taking five less than the 166 innings South African

S. Smith c Rahane b Jadeja 41 G. Bailey st Dhoni b Jadeja 23 G. Maxwell c S. Dhawan b U. Yadav 96 M. Marsh run out (U. Yadav, Dhoni) 17 M. Wade c S. Dhawan b I. Sharma 6 J. Faulkner not out 21 J. Hastings not out 0 Extras (lb-3, nb-1, w-5) 9 Total (for 7 wickets, 48.5 overs) 296 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-112, 3-150, 4-167, 5-204, 6-215, 7-295 Did not bat: K. Richardson, S. Boland Bowling: U. Yadav 9.5-0-68-2 (nb-1, w-1); B. Sran 8-0-63-0 (w-2); I. Sharma 10-0-53-2 (w-1); R. Dhawan 6-0-33-0; G. Mann 5-0-270; R. Jadeja 10-0-49-2 (w-1) Man of the match: G. Maxwell Umpires: Simon Fry and Richard Kettleborough TV umpire: Mick Martell Match referee: Jeff Crowe Result: Australia won by 3 wickets

AB de Villiers needed to reach the mark. The Indian Test skipper found an able ally in Ajinkya Rahane (50), who notched up his second successive fifty, as the duo added 109 runs.

Hastings, who finished with a career-best 4-58, ended Kohli’s sparkling knock of 117 that included two sixes and seven boundaries.

Dropped on 20, Aaron Finch (21) could not make the most of the reprieve but Shaun Marsh (62) and skipper Steven Smith (41) added 64 runs to steady the Australia reply.

At 215-6, the hosts looked in trouble before Maxwell bailed them out with some uninhibited strokemaking. Needing 65 runs off the last 10 overs, Maxwell hit Umesh Yadav for a six and a four in the 43rd over that produced 15 runs and proved the turning point in the thrilling contest.

Maxwell missed his second ODI ton but belted three sixes and eight boundaries in his stellar knock to claim the man-of-the-match award as the hosts romped home with seven balls to spare.

“I thought 295 was a very good score,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, not hiding his disappointment with his team’s fielding.

“We did not field well, we conceded three boundaries that we should have easily stopped and those were the best fielders in the side. In tight games like this, that’s one thing we have to avoid,” Dhoni rued.

The teams now move to Canberra for the fourth one-dayer on Wednesday. - Reuters

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

SPORTS

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INDIAN STAR SREEJESH TO GRACE GULF HOCKEY FIESTA The United Thalassery Sports Club (UTSC) is gearing up to organise the Gulf Hockey Fiesta on February 26. The much looked forward to event, being organised with the support from Oman Hockey Association (OHA) and Starcare Hospital, will take place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. According to UTSC Oman Secretary Javis Ahmed, India’s star goalkeeper and vice-captain Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh will be the guestof honour at the event. A total of 12 teams representing all GCC countries will take part in the festival. — Supplied photo

E DIVISION: Ibrahim Al Kishri celebrate their win over Majees A.

G DIVISION: RAY Team after their victory over OCT Mabella.

Al Maddah too good for Mott MacDonald OCT Mabella were bowled out for 67 in 13.4 overs. Ruban claimed four scalps for RAY. In reply, RAY scored 72 without losing any wickets in 4.3 overs. Ruban top scored with an unbeaten 50.

Batting first, Mott MacDonald were

Brief scores: OCT Mabella 67 in 13.4 overs (Ruban 4/16) lost to RAY 72 for 0 in 4.3 overs (Ruban 50 n.o).

Points: RAY – 3, OCT Mabella - 0.

bowled out for 134 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Al Maddah scored 135 for six in 14.1 overs E DIVISION: Global Money Exchange star performers. – Supplied photos

MUSCAT: Al Maddah recorded a four-wicket victory over Mott MacDonald in an Enhance-sponsored D Division cricket match at the Municipality Ground II during the afternoon session on Friday.

Batting first, Mott MacDonald were bowled out for 134 in 19.4 overs. Vishal and Tausif scored 33 and 29 runs respectively. Sinoj Malathi claimed three wickets for Al Maddah.

In reply, Al Maddah scored 135 for six wickets in 14.1 overs thus enabling them to secure the bonus point. Abdul Rehman top scored with 52 runs.

Sevin Raj claimed three scalps for Mott MacDonald.

Brief scores: Mott MacDonald 134 in 19.4 overs (Vishal 33; Sinoj Malathi 3/21) lost to Al Maddah 135 for 6 in 14.1 overs (Abdul Rehman 52; Sevin Raj 3/36). Points: Al Maddah – 3, Mott Macdonald - 0.

Ibrahim Al Kishri win In an E Ddivision match, Ibrahim Al Kishri defeated Majees A by five wickets. Batting first, Majees A scored 213 for eight in 20 overs.

Adnan and Mubashar scored 42 and 51 respectively.

Muslim Alam claimed three wickets for Ibrahim Kishri. In reply, Ibrahim Kishri scored 214 for five in 19 overs.

Kamaljot Singh and Wasim Khatri scored 76 runs each.

Mubashar Iqbal claimed three wickets for Majees A. Brief scores: Majees A 213 for 8 in 20 overs (Mubashar 51; Muslim Alam 4/29) lost to Ibrahim Al Kishri 214 for 5 in 19 overs (Kamaljot Singh 76, Wasim Khatri 76; Mubashar 3/40). Points: Ibrahim Al Kishri – 2, Majees A - 0.

Caledonians win In a H Division match, Caledonian College defeated Colour & Design by 19 runs. Batting first, Caledonian College scored 202 for eight in 20 overs with Inam Ali top scoring with 67 runs.

Moshin claimed three scalps. In reply, Colour & Design scored 182 for eight in 20 overs. Moshin top scored with 84 runs. Saud, Imran and Aftab claimed two wickets apiece for Caledonians.

Brief scores: Caledonian College 202 for 8 in 20 overs (Inam Ali 67; Moshin 3/40) bt Colour & Design 182 for 8 in 20 overs (Moshin 84). Points: Caledonian College – 2, Colour & Design - 0.

WHITE LOTUS STARS: Sachin, left, and Jomon T. K.

GME down MARC In another E Division match, Global Money Exchange (GME) posted a four-wicket win over MARC. Batting first, MARC scored 153 for nine in 20 overs with Shamad Ali scoring 44 runs.

Noushad claimed three wickets for GME. In reply, GME scored 154 for six in 17.3 overs. Rahul and Amal scored 46 and 55 runs respectively. Khalid Moosa and Anwar picked up two wickets each for MARC. Brief scores: MARC 153 for 9 in 20 overs (Shamad Ali 44; Noushad 3/26) lost to GME 154 for 6 in 17.3 overs (Rahul 46, Amal 55; Anwar 2/26, Khalid Moosa 2/26). Points: Global Money Exchange – 2, Moosa Abdul Rahman Company - 0.

Khurshid CT beat MCCC In an F Division match, Khurshid CT defeated MCCC by two wickets. Batting first, MCCC scored 152 for eight in 20 overs with Bhavesh Mehta top scoring with 35 runs. In reply, Khurshid CT scored 155 for eight in 18.1

I DIVISION: Trust Doosan who defeated ISWK.

overs. Rikkas M. top scored with 48 runs. Shehzad claimed three wickets for MCCC. Brief scores: MCCC 152 for 8 in 20 overs (Bhavesh Mehta 35) lost to Khurshid CT 155 for 8 in 18.1 overs (Rikkas M. 48; Shehzad 3/28). Points: Khurshid CT – 2, OCT MCCC - 0.

Big win for White Lotus In another F Division match, White Lotus defeated Oasis Water by 91 runs. Batting first, White Lotus scored 202 for five in 20 overs with Joman top scoring with 65 runs. In reply, Oasis Water were bowled out for 111 in 17.4 overs.

Sachin and Mustafa claimed four and three wickets each respectively.

Trust Doosan down ISWK In an I Division match, Trust Doosan recorded a five-wicket win over Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK).

Batting first ISWK scored 202 for two in 20 overs with Jeril and Rohan making 94 not out and 63 respectively. In reply, Trust Doosan scored 205 for five in 19.2 overs. Saji Puthiyakunnath scored an unbeaten 108.

Brief scores: ISWK 202 for 2 in 20 overs (Jeril Sebastian 94 n.o.) lost to Trust Doosan 205 for 5 in 19.2 overs (Saji P 108 n.o). Points: Trust Doosan – 2, ISWK - 0.

Brief scores: White Lotus 202 for 5 in 20 overs (Joman 65) bt Oasis Water 111 in 17.4 overs (Sachin 4/17, Mustafa 3/19). Points: White Lotus – 3, Oasis Water - 0.

Easy for QBG In a J Division match, QBG defeated Bronze Rock by nine wickets. Batting first, Bronze Rock scored 166 for seven in 20 overs. Mohammed Amran top scored with 40. Jiresh and Suman claimed two wickets each. In reply, QBG scored 167 for one in 14.1 overs. Aditya top scored with an unbeaten 120.

RAY rout OCT Mabella In a G Division match, RAY International eased to a 10-wicket win over OCT Mabella. Batting first,

Brief scores: Bronze Rock 166 for 7 in 20 overs (Mohammed Amran 40; Suman 2/21) lost to QBG 167 for 1 in 14.1 overs (Aditya 120 n.o). Points: QBG – 3, Bronze Rock - 0.

J DIVISION: QBG after their win over Bronze Rock. – Supplied photos

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

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SPORTS Almouj ranked second in Middle East The judging process was based on seven criteria including shot values, design variety, resistance to scoring, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambiance

MUSCAT: Almouj Golf has moved up two spots from fourth to second in the top ten golf courses in the Middle East, according to a study conducted biennially by Golf Digest magazine. The Sultanate’s first 18hole PGA standard Links course

has beaten competition from some of the most prestigious courses and elite layouts in the region.

“On behalf of Almouj Muscat, it is my pleasure to congratulate the management and staff of Almouj Golf on this well-deserved recognition from its peers in the international golfing community.

It is a tribute to the world-class venue’s uncompromising delivery of the highest standards of service

every single day and to the key role it plays in developing sports tourism in Oman. I am proud to say that this accomplishment is also a resounding endorsement of Almouj Muscat’s on-going success in realising its vision of delivering Oman’s premium lifestyle destination,” enthused Nasser Al Shiebani, Acting CEO of Al Mouj Muscat.

“This acknowledgment is a testament to Almouj Golf’s distinct

character, intricate signature design by Greg Norman, unique coastal setting and the magnificent backdrop of Al Hajjar Mountains.

All these elements came together to attract the best-of-the best golfers, enthusiasts and tournaments such as our flagship NBO Golf Classic Grand Final,” Mubarak Hill, Club Manager at Almouj Golf, said.

Mubarak Hill added: “Our ethos from the outset was to position

GOLF

Oman Amateur Open receives huge response MUSCAT: The Oman Amateur Open golf championship, scheduled to start on January 22, has received an overwhelming response with golfers from across all the GCC countries showing interest in participating in the competition.

The two-day tournament, organised by the Oman Golf Committee (OGC), will take place at the picturesque, lush green, 18hole course of the Almouj Golf.

The field of 120 golfers for Oman’s premier competition is already full and several more golfers from all over the region are waiting to be included in the list, in the Oman Golf Committee organised event.

The tournament is being supported by the Port of Salalah, Al Turki Group, A’saffa Foods and Sohar Aluminium.

Bahrain’s Nasser Yaqoob has confirmed his participation in the competition. He had won the senior category title in the previous edition, and it is expected that the top golfer will once again try to take home the big prize.

He is, however, expected to face

Oman Golf Committee chairman Mundhir Al Barwani.

Bahrain’s Nasser Yaqoob, who won the 2015 edition.

some really stiff competition this time round from title-contenders representing Qatar, the UAE and, of course, Oman.

Among the international players, Bahrain has already confirmed the participation of 15 of its golfers. The Omani contingent

will be spearheaded by the experienced Azzan Al Rumhy, and young talents Rashad Al Harthy and Fahad Al Kitani.

The competition will be played in a 36-hole strokeplay format.

Mundhir Al Barwani, the OGC Chairman, sounded elated with

the positive response surrounding the competition. He said: “The fact that so many players are queuing up to take part in this event indicates two things – firstly, the rising trend of competitive golf in Oman, and secondly, the huge popularity that this championship has begun to enjoy.”

Ahmed Al Jhdhamy, the OGC Vice-Chairman, shared the same opinion.

He said: “The positive build-up to the event clearly shows that the standard of golf in this competition is quite good and going up, to say the least. “ I wish good luck to all the players, from both home and abroad.

The Oman Amateur Open will certainly be as entertaining as it will be a gritty contest.”

The tournament, an annual flagship event of the OGC, was the first ever golfing event that was created in Oman.

After the tremendous success of the inaugural edition in 2010, the competition has quickly grown in popularity in the GCC’s golfing circles. It’s now a premier event in Oman’s golfing calendar.

ourselves as a world-class golfing destination that reflects the rich hospitality and traditions of Oman. It brings me great pleasure to say that in only three years, that vision is becoming a reality.”

Twenty-eight experts selected

by Golf Digest magazine from around the world ranging from editors to decorated Golf Tour professionals ranked the Top Ten Golf Courses in the Middle East.

The judging process was based on seven criteria including shot values, design variety, resistance to scoring, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambiance.

Robbie Greenfield, Editor at Golf Digest Middle East said: “Almouj Golf was a new entry at No. 4 in our 2013 ranking and this time around it ascends two places, only narrowly missing out on the top spot. This Greg Norman design is an absolute belter of a golf course.

There are no gentle crescendos and it is drama all the way.”

Central to the sports tourism allure of Almouj Golf is its position at the heart of Almouj Muscat, a flourishing cosmopolitan integrated tourism development and Oman’s

premium waterfront community.

A magnet for international visitors, Almouj Muscat also boasts the award-winning eco-conscious 124-berth Almouj Marina, an increasingly popular destination for the international boating community.

And The Walk, Almouj Muscat’s landmark commercial gateway, is one of the Sultanate’s most popular social hubs and family entertainment centres.

Constantly innovating and adding to its assets and amenities, the vibrant community will shortly welcome the five-star hotel Kempinski Hotel, the first of four planned luxury hotel experiences, which will feature serviced apartments and a dynamic mix of dining and leisure options.

The 2015 Top Ten Golf Courses in the Middle East: 1. Yas Links Golf Club – Abu Dhabi; 2. Almouj Golf – Oman; 3. The Majlis, Emirates Golf Club – Dubai; 4. Earth, Jumeirah, Golf Estates – Dubai; 5. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club – Dubai; 6. The National, Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Abu Dhabi; 7.

The Els Club – Dubai; 8. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – Abu Dhabi; 9. Doha Golf Club – Qatar: 10. Al Zorah Golf Club – Ajman.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

SPORTS FOOTBALL

Former Oman football stars attend AFC coaches course MUSCAT: An AFC B Coaches Course, organised by the Oman Football Association (OFA) at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex recently, has attracted several former Omani stars who showed keen interest in learning the nuisances of modern coaching.

The December 26 to January 14 course was conducted by Oman’s Khalid Al Lahori, an experienced instructor who is also the Manager of Development and Education Department at the OFA, and Bahraini expert Fahad Al Mukhareq with the participation of 23 coaches.

Among those who benefited from the course was Badr Al Maimani, a member of Oman’s

golden generation of footballers and that of Sultanate’s maiden Gulf Cup winning squad in 2009.

The other former stars who attended the course were former goalkeeper Sulaiman Khamis and fellow internationals Talal Khalfan, Said Al Shoun, Mohsin Al Kharousi and Sultan Al Touqi.

During the 20-day course, the participants were put through intense training sessions in both practical and theoretical aspects of the game.

Subjects covered included team building, coaches duties, role of captains, goalkeepers role, tactics, principles of attack and defence, rules, how to observe and analyse

games, nutrition, health, psychology, physiology and others relevant subjects that are crucial for grooming good coaches.

After refresher session on some basics of football coaches, the participants were taught advanced technical and tactical skills as well as training methods.

Sheikh Dr. Ghaleb Mohammed Al Hosni, Executive Vice-President of HR at Omantel, presided over the closing ceremony and handed over the certificates to the participants.

Khalid Al Lahori, meanwhile, thanked all the participants and wished them the very best in their future endeavors as coaches.

V O L K S WA G E N J U N I O R M A S T E R S

Shinas, Al Badyah and Al Arabi reach final Oman Qualifiers MUSCAT: Volkswagen, represented in Oman by Wattayah Motors, has announced the conclusion of Sohar Qualifiers of the 2016 Volkswagen Junior Masters Oman U-13 Football Tournament.

The qualifiers saw three teams, ‘Shinas’, ‘Al Badyah’ and ‘Al Arabi’, make their way to the final Oman qualifiers that will take place on February 13 in Muscat.

The Sohar Qualifiers, which took place at the Al Arabi Football Ground, was split into two groups of four teams. Taking top honours in Group A were the players from the ‘Shinas’ team, while the ‘Al Arabi’ team topped Group B. The runners up of both groups, ‘Al Badyah’ and ‘Al Najoom’ respectively, then

battled it out. The match ended with ‘Al Badyah’ securing the final spot reserved for the region in the Oman Qualifiers.

Commenting on the tournament, Andrew Squires, the General Manager of Wattayah Motors, said: “We have witnessing an overwhelming response for the qualifiers this year with eight teams participating in the qualifiers in Sohar and with a further 13 teams to take part in the Muscat qualifiers later this month. On behalf of Volkswagen and Wattayah Motors I would like to congratulate the three teams from Sohar that made it to the final Oman qualifiers and wish them the very best of luck in the upcoming tournament.”

Following the Muscat regional qualifiers, which is to take place on January 23, the eight qualifying teams including three winners from Sohar will take place in the Oman Regional Qualifiers on February 13.

The winners and runners-up of the Oman Regional Qualifiers will then join those from Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the Volkswagen Junior Masters Middle East 2016 Tournament, which will be held in Dubai on March 4 and 5.

The winner of the finals will then be crowned Volkswagen Junior Masters Middle East Champions.

The winners of the Middle East finals will then head to Paris in May 2016 to represent the region at the Volkswagen World Junior Masters.

STARS TURNED COACHES: Participants pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the AFC B Coaches Course organised by the Oman Football Association. – Supplied photo

Real march on with thrashing of Gijon Real hammered

Rooney goal lifts United

Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 last weekend on Zidane’s debut and Sunday’s dismantling of Gijon lifted them above Barcelona into second place on

LONDON: Wayne Rooney smashed home Manchester United’s winning goal after 78 minutes with one of the few moments of real class to give them the points in an otherwise drab north west derby at Anfield on Sunday.

Rooney was perfectly placed to volley past Simon Mignolet score after a header from Marouane Fellaini bounced back off the crossbar. He has now scored

in four successive games.

There was little of note in a poor first half in which United failed to create a scoring chance.

The match improved a little as a spectacle after the break with United keeper David de Gea making two important second half saves from Roberto Firmino and Emre Can to keep his side in the game before Rooney struck. - Reuters

43 points from 20 matches, one behind leaders Atletico Madrid

MADRID: Real Madrid continued their serene progress under new coach Zinedine Zidane when Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema each helped themselves to two goals in a 5-1 drubbing of La Liga strugglers Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Real hammered Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 last weekend on Zidane’s debut and Sunday’s dismantling of Gijon, who are second from bottom, lifted them above champions Barcelona into second place on 43 points from 20 matches, one behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Real tore into promoted Gijon at the Bernabeu and were 4-0 ahead inside the first 20 minutes as Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Benzema, collectively known in Spain as “BBC”, ran riot.

Bale headed in a Toni Kroos corner in the seventh minute and Ronaldo smashed in a second after some poor Gijon defending two minutes later.

Bale crossed for Benzema to score with an acrobatic volley in

the 12th minute, Ronaldo turned in a Dani Carvajal centre in the 18th and Benzema got his second to make it 5-0 four minutes before the break after neat work from playmaker Isco.

Gijon pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute when some slack marking allowed Ismael Lopez time and space to clip a smart finish into the bottom corner.

It was another morale-boosting performance from the world’s richest club by income following the sacking of the unpopular Rafa Benitez, under whom they failed to impress against any of their main rivals in Spain and Europe.

The victory may have come at a cost, however, as Bale was forced off with an apparent calf injury late in the first half and Benzema limped out with around 25 minutes left after hurting his foot in a collision with James Rodriguez.

Negredo genius Gary Neville’s disappointing start as Valencia coach continued when the ambitious Singaporeowned club drew 2-2 at home to lowly Rayo Vallecano, prompting more rumblings of discontent from the fans.

Neville, who took over when Nuno Espirito Santo was discard-

ed last month, has overseen six games without a win in Spain’s top division, with four draws and two defeats leaving the team mired down in 10th place.

Valencia risk missing out on a lucrative berth in continental competition for next season, the least they would have expected before the start of the campaign.

Midfielder Jozabed Sanchez put Rayo ahead in the 15th minute at the Mestalla with a superb firsttime strike that flew past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan into the net.

Alvaro Negredo conjured a moment of genius to level 10 minutes into the second half when the former Spain striker won the ball near the halfway line and sent a snap shot arrowing over Rayo keeper Juan Carlos Martin.

The goal lifted the home side but they were rocked back again when poor defending at a 69th-minute corner allowed Rayo defender Diego Llorente to hook the ball high past Ryan. A fluffed clearance by Rayo defender Ze Castro let substitute Paco Alcacer in to bundle the ball home and rescue a point two minutes from time.

Valencia have 24 points, eight points off the European qualification places. Rayo are third from bottom on 16 points. - Reuters

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

Gear WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Story Faisal Mohammed Naim

H

ow do your memories live?

On your monitor, or as an actual photo that you could cherish whenever where ever you want? I bet if you are a real memory collector, the latter would be your answer. Just as real music still means a CD for the real music lover, and words really dance only in an actual book (not those e-books and Kindle) for an avid reader, memories are best preserved and enjoyed in actual photos by the real image lover – on the wall, or in the album.

To the delight of photo buffs, Canon has come up with a bitty photo printer in its SELPHY series, which is smaller than your average tissue paper box. Not just that it connects wirelessly to devices, and prints instant photos with breath taking results.

An ultra-compact photo printer with Wi-Fi and AirPrint support, the Canon SELPHY CP910 lets you print post-card size images direct from your smartphone (iPhone, Android or Windows) or laptop. The highly portable printer can also connect to computers via USB cable or Wi-Fi, and can print directly from memory cards, USB

In three passes the printer lays down yellow, magenta and cyan to build up a finished image. A fourth pass adds a clear protective coating, making the images waterproof, and long lasting with a life of up to 100 years. The quality of images is very impressive. Completely free of grain, the images have sharp definition and true colours throughout. The onboard editing options also allow you to achieve smooth skin, red-eye correction, and even opt for sepia or monochrome prints. There is also a dedicated option to create ID photos of varying sizes. The images can be printed in glossy or semi-gloss finish as well. Weighing less than a kilo, the CP910 is extremely lightweight too, and can easily be slipped into a rucksack or overnight bag.

Only if it could have been portable as well – there is no in-built battery.

Though you do have an option of portable external battery (providing 36 – 4X6 prints per charge), but it costs almost the same as the printer itself. Just click and print; the SELPHY CP910 is a quick way to print quality images at home. Fits the bag, fits the bill.

memory keys, and cameras that support PictBridge.

Operating the SELPHY is quite simple. Simply drop down the side panel and slot in the cartridge.

Then fill up the supplied plastic paper cassette with the required media, lower the front panel and click it into place.

The printer connects to devices through the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint app (available on all app stores). The 2.7 inch TFT LCD display projects all the relevant information, and the setup is real quick and easy. The control buttons and menus are extremely user-friendly and the LCD can be tilted to 45 degrees for better viewing.

Print times on the CP910 are what some might say a bit slow; taking 47 seconds for a postcard size photo and just under 30 seconds for credit card images and mini stickers. It is mainly because the printer uses dye sublimation, better suited for photo printing, instead of the common ink droplets or toner grains. A ribbon impregnated with solid dye is heated, turning the dye to a gas, which solidifies again on the cool paper passing underneath.

faisal@timesofoman.com

TECH SPECS Canon SELPHY CP910 Ultra-compact photo printer Maximum Resolution 300 x 300dpi Supported Print Size Postcard: 148 x 100mm Credit Card: 86 x 54mm Credit Card Stickers: 86 x 54mm Square Stickers: 50 x 50mm Mini Stickers: 22.0 x 17.3mm Print Speed 47 seconds per postcard print Maximum Input Capacity 18 sheets

Interface USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Dimensions 178 x 127 x 60.5mm Weight 810g excluding ink cartridge & paper cassette Colours available Glossy Black, Glossy White Price OMR55 (without paper Photography Supplied

SHOOT TO PRINT

Selfie buff or serial poser, the Canon SELPHY CP910 is an absolute must have for photography lovers. Small, and trendy, it delivers lab-quality prints anytime, anywhere

and cartridge). OMR13 extra for a pack of 108 printing sheets and three cartridges

Available at all leading electronic stores

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

C6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL @SHATTI

@RUWI

SUR The Fifth Wave (Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chole Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 6.45, 8.45, 11.30PM Wazir - (Hindi) (Action | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar 4.30PM Charlie (Malayalam) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Dulquer Salman and Parvathi Menon 10:45PM The Revenant (Adventure) ( 12+) Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio & Tom Hardy 6.45PM Ride Along 2 (Adventure) ( 15+) Cast : Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumter 4.45, 9.30PM

@SOHAR

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI The 5th Wave (2D) (Sci-F) (PG12) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:45, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30PM The Revenant (2D) ( Drama) (12+) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 3:00, 8:45PM Ride Along 2 (2D) (Action) (15+) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 5:00, 9:45, 11:45PM The Hateful Eight (2D) (Comedy) (12+) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 2:30, 5:45, 11:45PM Suffragette (2D) (History) (12+) Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff 7:45PM Norm of the North (2D) (PG12) Voice over: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 6:00PM

Suffragette (2D) (History) (12+) CP# Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff 7:45PM

Chalk N Duster (Drama / Social) – PG Cast: Shabana Aazmi, Juhi Chawla 6.45 PM

PANORAMA MALL Ride Along 2 (Action, Comedy)(2D)(15+) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 2:45, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45PM Ride Along 2 (Action) (2D)-VIP LOUNGE 6:00PM The Fifth Wave ( Sci-fi) (2D) (PG12) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:30, 9:30, 11:45PM The Fifth Wave (Sci-fi)(2D)-VIP LOUNGE 3:30, 11:00PM Norm Of The North (Animation)(2D)(PG12) Voice Overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 2:15, 4:45PM The Hateful of Eight (Drama) (2D)(12+) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 4:45, 8:30PM The Revenant (Adventure, Drama) (2D) (12+) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 6:30, 11:30PM The Revenant (Adventure, Drama) (2D) (12+)-VIP LOUNGE; 8:00PM Bajirao Mastani (Drama)(2D)(PG12) 5:30PM Daddy’s Home (Comedy)(2D)(12+) Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg 3:45 PM

MUSCAT GRAND MALL Ride Along 2 (Action | Comedy) 15+ Cast : Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 12:00, 7:15 & 11:45PM Gold Class - 6:00PM The Fifth Wave (Adventure | Sci-Fi) PG12 Cast : Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:00, 9:15 & 11:30PM Gold Class - 3:30 & 11:00PM Norm of the North (Animation) PG12 Voice over: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 11:30AM & 7:00PM The Revenant (Adventure | Thriller) 12+ Cast : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 4:15 & 8:45PM Gold Class - 08:00PM The Peanuts Movie - (Animation) PG Voice over:(Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez 3:15PM The Good Dinosaur-3D (Animation) U 1:15 & 5:00PM

The Hateful Eight - 2D (12+) Comedy Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russel 4:35, 11:00 PM

2:45, 4:45PM Chalk n’ Duster - 2D (PG) Drama/ Social Cast – Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi 6:15, 8:55PM

AZAIBA Wazir – 2D (PG12) Hindi | Action| Thriller Cast – Amitabh Bacchan, Farhan Akhtar.

2:00, 10:00, 11:15PM Dilwale – 2D (PG12) Action, Romantic.

Cast – Shahrukh Khan, Kajol.

4:00, 11:20 PM Bajirao Mastani – 2D (PG12) Drama Cast – Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone 3:15PM The Revenant – 2D (12+) Adventure | Drama Cast – Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy.

2:30, 11:45 PM Charlie – 2D (PG12) Comedy/ Romance Cast – Dulquer Salman, Parvathi Menon 6:30 PM Thaarai Thappattai (Tamil) – 2D (TBC) Action/ Drama Cast – S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi 8:45 PM Nanakku Prematho (Telugu) – 2D (TBC) 6:55 PM Ho Mann Jahan (Urdu) – 2D (PG) Drama Cast – Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar 5:30, 8:40PM Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn - 2D (PG12) Voice Overs:Jiao Xu, Guanlin Ji, Ying Huang

RUWI Screen 1 Wazir (Action / Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Bajirao Mastani (Romance) – PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh 3.45, 9.45 PM Chalk N Duster (Drama / Social) – PG Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla 6.45 PM Screen 3 Dilwale (Action/Romance) – PG12 Cast: – Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan 3.45, 9.45 PM Ho Mann Jahan Urdu - (Musical/Drama) Cast: Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Adeel Husain (TBC) 6.45 PM

SOHAR Dilwale - 2D (PG12) Action | Comedy Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan 7:00PM The Revenant - 2D (12+) Adventure | Thriller Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 2:45, 11:30PM Wazir - 2D (PG12) Action| Thriller Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar 9:55PM The Fifth Wave - 2D (PG12) Adventure Cast : Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:30, 9:30, 11:45 PM The Hateful Eight - 2D (12+) Comedy Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russel, Jennifer Jason Leigh 4:35, 11:00 PM Ride Along 2 - 2D (15+) Action | Comedy Cast : Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 3:00, 7:35, 11:55 PM Suffragette- 2D (12+) Biography | History Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff 5:00 PM Nanakku Prematho -2D (Telugu) (TBC) Action Cast: Ntr Jnr, Rakul Preet Singh 8:15 PM Charlie - 2D (M) (PG12) Comedy| Romance Cast: Dulquer Salman, Parvathi Menon, Aparna Gopinath 5:45 PM Norm of the North - 2D (PG12) Animation Voice Overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham 2:45, 4:30 PM Thaarai Thappattai - 2D (T) (TBC) Action

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

08:40 11:00

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Next Change : 2 Countries (Mal) Airlift (Hindi) Dictator (Telugu) Rajani Murugan (Tamil) Programmes are subject to change

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

30-60%

ANTONIO FERNANDES January 18, 2009

S. NISHANTH January 17, 2015

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 14:30

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Charlie ( Mal) ( Drama\Comedy) Cast : Dulquer Salmaan & Parvathy 9:30 PM Cinema Main; 3:45 & 6:45PM Cinema-3 Nannaku Prematho (Telugu) (Act | Rom) Cast: J.r NTR & Rakul Preet Singh 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema - 2 Soggade Chinninayana (Telugu | Comedy) Cast: Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna and Lavanya Trirati 3:30 & 6:30 PM Cinema Main; 9:45PM Cinema -3 Thaarai Thappayyai (Tamil) (Drama ) Cast : Sasi Kumar & Varalaksmi 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45PM Cinema-4

Minimum

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

SALALAH The Revenant (2D) (12+) (Action|Drama) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 11:00AM & 2:25PM Ride Along 2 (2D) (15+) (Action|Comedy) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 10:45AM, 2:00, 4:25, 9:55, 11:30PM Suffragette (2D) (12+) (History Biography) Cast: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham 7:00PM The Fifth Wave (2D) (PG12) (Adventure) Cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson 2:15, 9:30, 11:55PM The Hateful Eight (2D) (12+) (Comedy) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell 11:30AM, 6:50 & 11:45PM Dilwale (2D) (PG12) (Action |Comedy) 3:55PM Charlie (2D) (12+) (Malayalam) (Comedy) 9:00PM Norm of the North (2D) (PG12) (Animation ) 12:45, 5:20PM Nanakku Prematho (Telugu) (2D) (TBC) Cast: Ntr Jnr, Rakul Preet Singh 6:30PM

VASUDEV RAM January 18, 2011

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Ride Along 2 (Action / Comedy) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 4.00, 8.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 112 (15+) Suffragette (Drama / History) Cast: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter 2.00, 4.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 113 (12+) Dragon Nest: Warriors’ Dawn (Animation / Adventure / Family) Voice Overs: Jiao Xu, Guanlin Ji, Ying Huang 2.00 , & 6.00 PM CP No : 114 (PG12) Echo Effect (Action / Thriller) Cast: Michael Jai White, Max Ryan, Steve Austin 8.00 PM CP No: 103 (12+) Daddy’s Home (Comedy) Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini 6.00PM CP No: 3061 (12+)

25 18

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

BURAIMI Ride Along 2– 2D (Action, Comedy) (15+) Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter 5:15, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30PM The Revenant– 2D (Adventure, Drama) (12+) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 3:45, 11:00PM The Fifth Wave– 2D (Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Maika Monroe 3:30, 5:30, 9:45, 11:45PM Thaarai Thappattai– 2D (Action) (TBC) Cast: S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi, R K Suresh 7:15PM Wazir – 2D (Action, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Aditi Rao Hydari 3:15, 6:30PM Charlie– 2D (Comedy, Romance) (PG12) 8:30PM

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

BAHJA CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

Cast: S Sasikumar, Varalaxmi, Pragathi 8:45 PM Chalk and the Duster - 2D (PG) Drama Cast: Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla, Arya Babbar 6:15 PM

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.22pm 3.27pm 5.48pm 7.02pm 5.32am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

4K

C7

LIFESTYLE

SHOOTOUT 4K rules ru the roost when it comes to TVs in 2016. Although come there is not much 4K content yet, still brands have out there th made haste in phasing out the full HD H TVs to make way for the buyers’ little 4K. Perhaps Pe knowledge on the subject has know to do with it, who go out shopwith the belief that ping more m latest is definitely the best. But better or not, the truth of the hour is i that it is 4K calling the shots. shots we are with a head So here h comparison among 55 inch on co smart, 3D, 4K TVs, from two of smart best brands the be

Samsung vs Sony Smart TV JU7100 Bravia XBR X850C Angled View

Motion Handling

4K Upscaling

The prime reason while considering which one to go for and Sony leads Samsung here. The X850C delivers excellent black levels and black uniformity. Contrast is outstanding as well —more due to the black levels rather than peak brightness. Samsung JU7100 also delivers great results. The blacks look inky, but there is slight bleed over, from white and light colours, into blacks.

Colour rendition is realistic and not oversaturated on the X850C while gray scale uniformity is exceptional, yielding a very smooth picture. The JU7100 lags behind in picture uniformity due to Samsung’s bright LED lights. However, the bright lights make for excellent light flow through images, creating a beautiful rendition on the clear gloss screen of the Samsung. Light flow is good on the X850C too, but not exceptional for an LED backlit 4K TV.

The X850C delivers the best performance for a mid-priced 4K TV. Colour saturation and contrast begin degrading at around 15 degrees, but nothing severe until around 30 degrees off centre.

The Samsung has clear gloss screen with light flow through, still side angle viewing is not good as contrast is lost early and severely.

The X850C has a dedicated picture mode for sports programming as well as a dedicated ‘Football mode’, which honestly is not quite good an option, causing artefacts, false edges and other unwelcome strobing effects.

However post calibration (adjusting picture settings), fast motion results are simply breathtaking on the Sony.

For the JU7100, motion handling is no problem at all with the powerful LED backlights and gloss screen.

When it comes to gaming performance both show good results with JU7100 having an input lag of just 25ms in Game mode, and the X850C having a lag of 35ms.

This feature is another very crucial one, as most of the content will have to be upscaled from full HD to 4K. With the Sony having the best upscaling engine – X-Reality PRO, upscaling is excellent and conversion smooth. There is a nice bump from streaming material like Netflix and Amazon Instant.

Samsung also does a very handsome job at upscaling but so far has only been able to narrow the gap with Sony, and not come at par yet.

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C:

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C:

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C:

3D Viewing Quality

Features and Functionality

Here, the Samsung takes the crown, with the active 3D having lots of depth, and very less visible cross-talk. No glasses included. Set the Picture Mode to ‘Standard’ for 3D and turn on the ‘Smooth Auto Motion Plus’ feature which adds substantial depth to 3D images and reduces judder to a non-issue. However, the 3D picture degrades hugely at side viewing angles.

The Sony X850C is moderate at best in 3D viewing. It has active 3D, but crosstalk is frequent. None includes 3D glasses in the packing. To be purchased separately.

The Android Powered Sony X850C features fantastic Apps including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, Vudu, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Crackle and SiriusXM, and around 30 other handy Apps. There is access to tons of Google Play games, movies and music content, along with 6 month free subscription to Netflix.

Samsung JU7100 also has relevant usable Apps like SEC network and HBO Go, but not a lot. Loading and selection is not too difficult once software are updated.

The new Smart menu also allows arranging Apps by priority.

Still what sets the Sony’s functionality really ahead of the Samsung is the operation speed combined with excellent video and sound quality of the Android/Google Play section.

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C:

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C:

CONCLUSION

Both the models are excellent 4K TV value choices, with their own strong points.

If the Samsung offers excellent picture quality upgrades, including the ultra-clear coat screen’s light flow through, and UHD dimming upgrade, Sony has the most

admirable picture traits including stellar dark shadow detail and the best upscaling engine, along with Android OS. However, apart from 3D, it is the Sony X850C, which leads the Samsung JU1700 on all aspects, or is on par with it.

TOO Verdict: Excellent picture results, with Android platform and best X-Reality PRO upscaling engine: It is the Sony.

Nobody is interested in 3D that much anyways. faisal@timesofoman.com

Samsung JU7100: Sony X850C: Photography: Supplied

Picture Quality

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

LIFESTYLE

POSTING DEAD ZONES

The worst times to post on social media

Twitter: 8PM - 8AM

Facebook: 12 midnight- 8AM LinkedIn: 9AM - 5PM

Instagram: 12- 8AM Tumblr: 12AM - 12PM

Pinterest: 1 - 7AM, 5 -7PM

Google+: 6PM - 8AM

Source: coolinfographics.com

C8

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

D2

M O N D AY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

FLATS FOR RENT

New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats include 1 living room, 2 Bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets every room with split A/C & high Quality finishing, rent per flat is R.O 340/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 92225523 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. Contact: 92584715/ 24700120 1000 sqmtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc.

Contact 24700120 / 92584715 1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Wadi Adai, Al Khoud, Mabela & shop at Al Khoud & land line Contact: 24834644 GSM 93994401/02/03 3 lines 2BHK modern & spacious flats with split AC for rent in Qurum near PDO Gate No.2.

Contact: 94057023

In a Luxury Building in Al Seeb Market Near Police station Call: 99888007 - 99473500 2 BHK flat New Bldg for rent in Al Amerat.Contact 99353899 New deluxe 1,2,4 bedroom villas, flats at Darsait near Indian School and Al Falaj area. Contac: 99369081 500 square meters workshop space, ready to use, for vehicle repairs, welding and other small industrial units , Misfah Industrial area block 2 near Baladiyah camp. Contact: 94030814 Villa for rent 4 spacious bath attached bedroom private swimming pool Gymnasium (common) with electrical equipment with free maintenance secured compound at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: 98027975

We have 1 BHK, 2BHK flats in Mabela 7 new building. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

We have 1BHK / 2BHK flat for rent in Ghubra, Ghala, Azaibah, Bousher & Darsait. #93782735 / 99208033

We have Staff accommodation in Bowshar # 93782735 / 99208033

We 1000 SQM Ware house in Misfa & 2000 SQM open land for rent in Misfa near cement factory.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

We have 150 SQM offices in Ghubra main road prime location. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra.

Contac: 99328070 Store / warehouse for rent 52 sqm at Maabela Sinaiya.

Contact: 92454170 02 BHK Commercial / Residential (with split AC) flat at Honda road.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

2BHK new bldg for families Al Khuwair 17/2. Contact: 91403136

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi, MBD area & Honda road.

Contact: 92589235/ 94579531

1000 sqm industrial land with compound well & two rooms at Misfah. #99342733/ 99795241

02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nadha hospital.

Contact : 99342733 /99795241

8 BR Villa Shatti Qurum.

Contact: 99024730 Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi MBD Honda road. Contact: 92433127 / 97293708

Brand new Twin Villas in Mawaleh South 4BR; 2Halls; External Kitchen and Maids room.

Contact: 99414106

Flats for rent in Muscat.

Contact: 99262605.

To let rooms in Qurum.

Contact: 99664703

2 Room + hall & kitchen ,3 toilets in Bareeq Al Shatti 750 RO. Contact: 99314314

1 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 170/- . Contact: 95076261

1 & 2 BHK C.B.D & Ruwi.

Contact: 99024730

Commercial / residential flats in a new building for rent near Muttrah Police Station residential 1BHK / 2BHK more details.

Contact: 99364735 / 95729711

2BHK flats with split AC available for rent at Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 94057023

2BHK flat for rent Darsait near ISM. Contact: 95158570 / 99102255

Warehouse for rent in Ghala Industrial use 1000 sqm , 8m height with office & A/C with open area 200 sqm near Al Suqri workshop only R.O 3.5/- sqm.

Contact: 99360453

Flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454 2 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Profs/ Jack. Contact 93219378

1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-.

Contact: 97799175 / 92144045 7 Bedrooms villa in Ghobrah North.

Contact - 96420432 1,2 BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-, 325/- & 350/-. Contact: 97799175 600 SQT commercial flat for rent opposite Oman flourmill Darsait more details. Contact:91214849/ 99364735 One flats for rent 2 bedroom all with bath al Ghobrah north near Indian school (hot burger restaurant) Tel. 9976610

M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

NEW Flats & Showrooms for Rent 1/2/3 BHK Flats & Showrooms at Muttrah, near Oman flour mills, 10 min. from corniche. equipped with split/ cassette unit ACs, internet points, freeto-air dish connection, CCTV monitored, basement parking. Rent RO.250/350/450 (Negotiable) per month.

Contact : 99229263; 93221054; 95215289

FOR RENT 2BHK, 3 washroom Flat with Split Air Conditioners Near Lulu Darsait CONTACT :

93202733

Flat for rent in CBD area - Ruwi Two rooms and a large hall

3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288

•Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road On the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail

Flat for Rent 1/2 BHK Flat at Muttrah, near Oman flour mills, 10 min. from Corniche.Equipped with split unit ACs, internet points, free-to-air dish connection, CCTV monitored, basement parking.

Rent RO.250/350 per month.

Contact:99229263; 93221054; 95215289

•2 bed room flats in Qurum 29 for rent next to ABA New building -split AC - Good location

1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Single BHK flat available in Honda road Ruwi.

Contact: 24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448 Flat in Khoud near Mazoon Mosque with 3 bedrooms, living room, 3 toilets, RO 250/- with A/C. Contact 95328147 Flat for rent in Wadi Al Kabeer near the Kuwaiti Mosque, for more information. Contact: 99425958 Apartment for rent in Muscat Sidab beside road ground floor 3 bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms.

Guestroom, Kitchen & hall.

Contact: 99277377 2BHK Sitting room, 3 bathrooms, split AC big balcony 300/- R.O in Wadi Kabeer. Contact: 99324402 Furnished offices in business center behind Al Burj Hotel Ruwi with all facilities included.

Contact: 99331181 Fully furnished deluxe villa behind Khimji Mart Darsait.

Contact: 99331181 1& 2 bedroom apartments available for rent at Ghubra near Grand mall, 6 bedroom villas available for rent Al Mouj (Wave) at Al Hail.

Contact: 99833747

FOR SALE

BUILDING

Contact No: 96177505

MUMTAZ AREA (NEAR RUWI HOTEL)

1 bedroom flat at Ruwi Mumtaz area. Contact : 95282986

CONTACT - 99353931 FOR HIRE Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Low bed Trailer (PDO – SPC) available monthly / daily for Rent.

Contact: 96633970

MV SALE Tucson Automatic 2007 V – 6, net R.O 1600/-. Contact: 99384640

Used home furniture and household appliances in good condition for sale. (Else 3bhk can be taken for rent along with furnitures.)

Contact: 99738104

Beauty Salon for urgent sale in Azaiba prime location behind Al Fardan building. With sponsor and 1 staff and 1 ready visa clearance. Call: 95318629 / 95169411

Big CoffeeShop for sale at Maebeela South to invest at fast meals and restaurants. Fully equipped with all items. Contact us @ GSM:99377622

Restaurant for sale in Dibba.

Contact: 96446640

Dental Lab for sale Seeb.

Contact: 99826435

Volks Wagen Tiguan model 2014 For Sale 13,700 KM only (Low Mileage) Excellent Condition.

For enquiry call 95438037

Restaurant space for sale or partnership basis, good location in Barka area. Contact: 95918538

Toyota Hiace for sale good condition 2010 model.

Contact 94203204

Restaurant & Coffee Shop for sale in Ghala area. For details contact 99072003 / 99299712

Mitsubishi Lancer 1.3 L, 2006 model, manual transmission, Expat driven. Contact: 99741828

A well running coffee shop for sale at Wadi Kabir near KFC. Contact: 92772825

Hummer H2 model 2006, 178000 km, Full options Number 1 Army edition.OMR 7200. Contact -99466773

Luxury villa for sale at Al Hail South building area 375m land area 323, 6 rooms, 3 halls, 7 toilets.

Contact 99839898

Chaverlet Epica 2004 model RO -700, for sale. Contact 92194205

3Ton Forklift, Special made for Oman market, Japanese Isuze C240 Engine, Cascade side shifter, High amount exhaust, 3m lifting height, Solid tyres, One year warranty. Contact: 98883445

BMW 318/ 2003 for sale.

Contact 96364990

ACC. AVAILABLE

FOR SALE

Exercise cycle for sale.

Contact – 92847957

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting.

Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

Single bedroom flat behind German Embassy, near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact 99203954

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished sharing accommodation in ruwi near O.K. Center for non-cooking indian bachelor.

Contact - 98805474 Semi furnished spacious room with attached washroom separate entrance near Indian school Al Ghobrah for non cooking Executive Indian bachelor.

Contact: 95146361/92657598 Semi furnished separate room for non-cooking Asian bachelor, behind Shell filling station, Ghoubra round about.

Contact: 94263390 Furnished bedrooms for Indian Executives / couple at Al Ansab.

Contact: 96366282 Furnished room & bath Darsait R.O 140/-. Contact: 93289652 Fully furnished bedrooms in a luxury villa at Ansab for Executives / couples.

Contact: 98458542 Single room for expat Indian bachelors near Al Aktham restaurant Al khuwair for RO 120.

Water and electricity included.

Contact 98803261 Furnished room in new building for working Muslim lady/ Muslim couple only. Location AINT, Darsait. Contact - 99008069

Furnished room with a/bathroom in Al Khuwair33 for Indian Executive. Call: 95234062 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for executive bachelor opposite OC centre Ruwi. Call: 92273779 Room available now kitchen bath sharing with lift, dish Wi-Fi near Mars Al Khuwair rent 120/-.

Contact: 95262516 Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan villeage. Contact 93687466

LOST Rajesh Johnson has lost Indian Passport No. L 3858727. Finder please handover to ROP. Nur Nahar Begum has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AC 9933189.

Finder please handover to ROP. Shamsuddin Mohammad has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AF 3644325. Finder please handover to ROP. Sajid Hussain has lost Pakistani Passport No. TJ 6896081. Finder please handover to ROP.

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M O N D AY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT URGENTLY REQUIRE for a reputed Excellent Grade Catering Company

1. Arabic Cook (having experience in the field of Catering with knowledge in preparing Oman Cuisines).

Interested candidates may mail their resume to mast.ll.oman@gmail.com or hr@mast-oman.com

WANTED Excellent Grade Construction Company Requires the following.

1. Purchase Executive (Purchase Officer).

2. Camp Boss.

Interested Candidates send CV to below email.

hr.vecancy.muscat@gmail.com

ASSISTANT RETAIL MANAGER • To support GM in developing Muscat based stores • 5 years past Retail store operations experience • Omani or Expatriate (must have NOC if moving jobs) • Omani /GCC Valid Driving License • Team player & good communicator • Written & spoken English

Email: recruitment@aflaggroup.com

SITUATION VACANT REQUIRED SALES EXECUTIVE for furniture & building material, minimum experience 5 yrs.

Send CV at Email : careeroman@yahoo.com

URGENT REQUIREMENT

Sales & Marketing Manager For a reputed Ice cream outlet 1. Minimum 3 years experience in same field.

2. Good communication skills.

3. NOC and driving license are must.

Send CV with current picture & ref no: 1216/01

Email: vacancy299@gmail.com

A leading company in travels & tourism, accredited by IATA requires:

Sales Executive for Travels & Tourism: Experience not less than 3 years in one of the travels & Tourism, must have a driving license.

Sales Executive for Car Rental: Experience not less than 4 years in one rent a car company, must have a driving license.

Notes: - You must determine which position did you applied for it as email subject - The company will not see at any demand without subject.

Wanted a Structural Supervisor having experience in steel fabrication and erection for a well established fabrication company in Barka.

Candidates should have experience in Oman & should BE capable to handle various jobs independently He should have good experience in fabrication field with NOC and driving license.

Please send CV to jobsteel85@gmail.com / 95412589

Well reputed Marble Company looking for

3 SALESMEN Requires minimum 3 years experience and valid Omani driving license.

Interested candidates please Fax your CV to 24601724 or Email on saab2803@gmail.com

TOURS/TRAVEL

Email: nrtvacancies@gmail.com Travel agency in Ruwi urgently requires experienced ticketing staff preferably with IATA qualification. Contact 95595830

URGENTLY REQUIRED A LEADING TRADING AND CONTRACTING COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR AN EFFICIENT

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

FEMALE SECRETARY WITH MINIMUM 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE. SHE SHOULD BE FLUENT IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH. MUST BE FULLY COVERSANT WITH WORD/EXCEL PROGRAMMES AND BE PLEASANT/PRESENTABLE.

ARCHITECT Architect, Indian Female with 04 years of work experience in Qatar, Oman & India seeking suitable position. Email: shaazneen.s@gmail. com, Contact : 96635846

SALARY ETC….GOOD PACKAGE WIL BE NEGOTIATED FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.

FAX CV TO 24619102 OR E MAIL; artco@omantel.net.om

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

IT

We are looking for Chief Financial Officer, Male 40- 45 years old, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 - 15 yrs. of experience.

Contact: +968 24702133 Email: admin-dept@daud.om

Required male Omani / Filipino, 24 – 35 yrs as IT Coordinator. Fluent in English, to handle all Web Designing aspects, Mail Campaigns management, Technical Support / Troubleshooting. Contact 91371231

ADMIN

MEDICAL

A well reputed trading company requires Customs Clearance Incharge (Omani National) for its logistics division with minimum 3 years experience in the same field.

Please Send Your C.V. to: jobsnow2015@yahoo.com

We require licensed General Practitioner, General dentist and male Asst. Pharmacist. Contact 93129219 or CV to clinicrecruitment2015@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP Looking for housemaid urgently clearance available good salary yearly ticket. TEL 24446920 / 99238121, mail: ravi.ztc@omzest.com

DRIVER

Urgently required General Practitioners (male), lab technician, Staff Nurse & Receptionist (female, Arabic & English speaking) for a reputed Medical Centre, Salalah. Email : hrmdimc2010@gmail.com Urgently required Lab Technician with MOH license. Attractive Salary with Accommodation.

Contact: 97091664.

Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com

Heavy duty driver with valid Oman Heavy Duty license, with 4 years experience. PDO License holder preferred. Call: 99221683

Wanted Nurse for a Dental centre in capital area. Interested may contact 93431024 or send CV to – drasyanaseem@gmail.com

Driver available with release.

Contact: 93885404

Wanted Gynecologist, General Practitioner, Assistant Pharmacist for immediate appointment.

Contact 97884856/ mail CV to – sarita_h23@yahoo.com

Wanted Driver. Contact: 91025698 Reputed Construction Company require experienced light Vehicle Driver. Contact 95526871

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH Reputed Consultancy office requires a Mechanical Design Engineer with minimum 8 years experience in design of HVAC systems and plumbing services. Please send your detailed resume to: info@designunitoman.com Urgently Required: Window Aluminum Manager, Window Aluminum Engineer and Window Aluminum Foreman with an experience in Italian Aluminum Doors and Windows, MUST have NOC and immediately join.

Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Crankshaft Grinding Technician, Engine block boring Technician, turner required urgently for immediate appointment. call or whatsapp 98898273 Urgently Required: Senior Quantity Surveyor with an experience in building construction MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Civil Site Supervisor for telecom tower projects across Oman. Send CV to fyjo@spec-link.com or call +968 9946 7227

A reputed medical complex in Salalah requires to fill the following positions, Staff Nurse & Dental doctor with MOH license, dataflow and NOC. Contact: 92728472 High class Medical Center in Salalah requires good looking Staff Nurses and medical orderlies, excellent English. Interested candidates please send your CV to mdcsalalah@gmail.com Wanted female Staff Nurse with prometric pass/MOH license for a clinic at Musannah.

Contact 99645150 Urgently required PHARMACIST with MOH license or Prometric passed. Attractive Salary with Accommodation. Contact: 97091664.

Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com Required experienced Dentist with MOH license to manage dental clinic in Muscat.

Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com Female marketing for medical centre in Al Khuwair with driving license. Contact: 99010755 Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com Wanted urgently lady Doctor GP or DGO for immediate appointment.

Contact : 99310590 Email: tjmaluke@gmail.com Urgently required Lab Tech & Radiologist for medical Center in ruwi interested candidate kindly send short CV bmdcsg@yahoo.com or cont: 95220350

Architect, Indian Female with 04 years of work experience in Qatar, Oman & India seeking suitable position. Email: shaazneen.s@gmail. com, Contact No: 96635846

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

Required female Nurse with MOH license dental clinic in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99010755 Email: akdmuscat@hotmail.com

Marketing Executive required for tyres & batteries.

Contact: 99020458 Email: mohdautocentre@gmail.com

Wanted GP Doctor with MOH license, job location in Muscat with good salary and benefits.

Drop your cv at 0careerhr1972@gmail.com.

Urgently required Sales Executive with experience in printing press line with driving license.

Contact: 00968 95948142 Email: al_bpp@yahoo.com

MISCELLANEOUS Sales Ladies wanted for Ladies Boutique. Age: 20-35 yrs.

Al Khoudh. Send CV to sameer916@hotmail.com or call 91159905 Urgently required for a reputed company in Oman (Tyre, Battery & Lubricant division) Sr. Executives/Executive-5 nos (Sohar, Nizwa & Muscat), Techno Commercial Professional-5nos, Driver (Omani)-1no. Required minimum 3-5 yrs experience in the same field with market exposure holding valid Omani driving license or GCC. Kindly fwd your CV’s to ashwin@taasintl.org Contact: (+968)93891700 Required lady photographer for studio. Contact: 99020458 Email: mohdautocentre@gmail.com Store keeper (any nationality) for multi divisions (house ware, Toys, sports & foodstuff) must have at 4 years of experience in Oman.

Attractive package will be offer to selected candidate. Contact: 00968 92802204 Email us your CVs onto: info@alliusie.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Experienced Secretary required for Ruwi office. Must have high standard of competence in MS Office suite and excellent Arabic / English communication skills.

Send CV and covering Email to mj-co@omantel.net.om

SALES / MARKETING Salesman require for building material with driving license & 10 years working experience.

Fax your C.V 24833043.

(Mustafa Hardware Store) Tyres company seeking for Sales man, minimum 2-3 years experience. Send CV to saeed@liwainvestments.com Urgently requires Assistant Marketing Manager & Marketing Executive with experience (Preference will be given to Educational / Training exp) and Omani driving License. Mail your CV to: jobs@aifas.net or call 93677795 The Arabian Institute, Al Suwaiq.

An excellent grade company requires Sales Executive for their Aluminium division. Min 3 to 5 years GCC experience in the same field with D/L may kindly send CV to info@sunubunited.com or sunubunited@gmail.com Looking for Sales Executive for a fiberglass Company in Oman.

Should have 5 yrs experience in fiber glass / construction field.

Should have valid driving license.

Email : mfbarka1@omantel.net.om, Contact: 00968 98634898 fax: 26881211 Urgently requires Assistant Marketing Manager & Marketing Executive with experience (preference will be given to Educational / Training exp) and Omani driving License. Mail your CV to: jobs@aifas.net or call 93677795 An excellent Grade company requires Foreman / Supervisor for their false ceiling division. Min 5 to 8 years experience in handling the projects & execution, kindly send CV to hrjobs1679@gmail.com An excellent Grade company requires experience Salesman for indoor and outdoor with Oman driving license. Mail your CV to salesppeoman@gmail.com A leading Trading Group is looking for Sales Executive having experience in construction equipment / building materials with driving license & release / NOC. Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net. om or fax : 24701683 Looking for a foreign staff has experience in Oman in real estate field. Contact Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com

SKILLED LABOR Looking for experienced construction laborers as a subcontractor for a villa construction in Mawaleh.

Contact: 96203333 Immediate Requirements for experienced Tailors (Designer wears, casual clothing). Please call for interview 99471085 We are looking for a person who is expert in cold room, cold store, duct AC, chiller and other cooling systems. Contact: 96406340 / 99807720

Diploma Architect 3Ds Max (interior, exterior) AutoCAD seeking suitable position. # 98907341 Email: susuhu009@gmail.com Architect looking for freelance work in (design plans and 3dmax).

Contact: 96041201

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant / Chief Accountant 24 years experience including 6 years in hotel industry, now on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 92475105 Email: johnkgeorgel10@gmail.com Sudanese National Bachelor of Accounting 7 years experience electronic accounting and auditing.

Contact: 94872045 Email: hussainhassan1@hotmail.com Presently working as Chief Accountant having 16 years experience in accounts in Oman having Oman D/L seeking suitable placement, release available.

Contact: 95060390 Female Accountant with 10 years experience. 93726921 Part time accountant, up to finalization of accounts, looking for job after 5PM (Location prefers –n MSQ to AL Hail) Contact: 95694737 SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com Accounts & finance Indian male 35 years B.Com M.B.A (F) 7 years experience valid Oman D/L family visa N.O.C available.

Contact: 93257426 / 95230114 Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, cammk13@gmail.com Part time Accountant with 15 yrs exp. in Accounts Finance, Tax Audit Management.

Contact: 95857199 Indian lady, bachelor degree in Preparatory Programme (BPP) and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), completed training course in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook from KTI looking for full time / part time job opportunity in Oman.

Contact 92437568, 96795853, Email: linda_navs@yahoo.com Part-time accounting, tax report, auditing & bank loan assistance.

Contact 91720465

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian Accountant professional with 3 years experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable job openings. Contact: 92390604 Email: sachinkokkatt@gmail.com Indian male 28 MBA & M.Com finance 5 yrs exp in Accounts & finance. NOC available seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93939421 Email: baleeq.ams@gmail.com Indian male well experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally9 & Admin in India and Oman currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94834687 Available Indian Graduate (B.Com) / CA Final (Appeared) having 3 years practical Auditing & Accounting Experience. Currently in Oman on Visit Visa. Contact 91418637 Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955 Indian male MBA finance 12 years experience in Oman as Accounts / Admin manger, seeks suitable placement on visit visa. Can join immediately. Contact: 96055815 Email: shaikhussain111@gmail. com Indian male B.Com, MBA with 10 yrs experience (5 yrs in Oman) in accountant receivable, account payable, sales collection, credit control with valid D/L, looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 93240480 ACCA with more than 1year experience in an audit firm looking for a suitable position in accounts, audit section in a company, having Oman driving license.

Contact: 98428098 Indian male 34, MBA finance looking for finance / other management jobs in Sohar have 9 years experience (2 yrs in GCC) with valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92887936 Email: shaniyas@gmail.com Indian with more than 30 years experience in construction accounts (Financial and Cost) and administration seek suitable placement (part/full time) in Oman or UAE. Contact.98598099 Indian male, 27 B.Com, +3 years experience in Qatar GCC driving license, interested in Marketing now on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 92993512 Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah. More than 20 years experience in accounting job (up to the finalization of accounts) 8 years working experience in Middle east in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah.

Contact: 91325029 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Contact 90187483 Indian male, Oman 8yrs exp looking for any suitable vacancy for Accountant / Asst . Accountant / Office Admin, local release available. Contact: 98492752 Email: atiquehazique@rediffmail.com Pakistani male B.Com with accounts experience and Oman driving license seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 94756263 8+ yrs exp in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman) MBA, Indian female, seeks placement. #97243806 Accounts & finance: 32 yrs Indian male (B.Com) having 7 years Oman experience Oman D/L & NOC available, looking for suitable placement.# 98093515 / 97494322 Senior Accountant, well experience & Qualified looking for part time accounting after 4 pm.Contact:91126314 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization, consulting & audit works. Contact: 96247295 Chartered Accountant - Indian, 9 yrs + Exp (7 yrs in Oman & UAE) in Finance, Accounts & Auditing, seeking suitable position in Muscat/ Dubai, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available , Contact : 98707434 / Email: casmart007@gmail.com Indian male 30 B.Com (Accounts) exp 6 yrs in East Africa & 1 yr exp in Oman .NOC available looking for suitable placement. #: 94613626 Email: sharis.shaheer@gmail.com

M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED D.M.E, Indian, 12 yrs experience in Oman, in Project Estimation, Execution, Quality & marketing working as Estimation Engineer in acid & water tanker, semi trailor company, with heavy driving license & will get NOC, seeks suitable job in Oman.

EXPERIENCED TEAM TO PROVIDE TECHNO- COMMERCIAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, FEASIBILITY, ERP WITH BI TOOLS, ADVISE ON FINANCIAL, HR, RISK GENERAL MANAGEMENT, GUIDE STARTUPS RESTRUCTURING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. Contact – 96500729 Email: k.profitoman@ gmail.com

CATERING

SPECIALIST AVAILABLE FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN TERM OF RESTRUCTING ALL MODULES OF BUSINESS WITH 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, MANUFACTURING, TRADING, APPLICATIONS, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. CONTACT – 93343251 / profitoman@ gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Contact - 98968495 Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687 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 Total 24 yrs exp. 15 years served Oman LLC SAOG, SAOC Contracting, trading manufacturing company as Finance Commercial Manager looks after finance logistics, procurement, ERP, oracle, tally focus internal control implementation B.Com PGDBM, ICWA (Inter).

Contact: 91721545 / 95788723, Email: manojpanda111@hotmail. com Accounting B.Com, 2 years experience in Indian tally ERP9, Peachtree, accounting, QuickBooks accounting SMACC , busy advanced excel PowerPoint E filing of statutory return visit date 24/12/2015 visit exp 23/1/2015

ADMIN Indian female Graduate over 6 years experience in Admin operations business support excellent MS Office skills looking for suitable job. Contact: 94231020 Indian Female MBA, 3 Year experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Indian male seeking office driver cum admin job having NOC and 5 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 97942787 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK, Helper supervisor Admin supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288 Indian female 33 years M.Com B.ED 2 years Asst Acct in Oman 1 year teaching experience in India, looking for job. Contact: 96283103 / 99719124, Email: thekkutt@gmail.com Pakistani female Graduate plus Post Graduate diploma in logistics 6 years experience in shipping, office administration and customer service. Fluent English and very presentable on visit visa.

Contact: 91528567 Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder. Currently looking for job in Oman. Interested employer pls call 97728418.

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235 Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc Oman & India, 3 years exp in Admin & HR seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95619537 Indian female 27 yrs with 5 yrs HR /Admin experience seeking suitable placement with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 98236033

Interior designer Indian male with 4 years experience / 3Ds Max, AutoCAD .Now on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 94886507 Email: vizhue07@gmail.com 25 years male BA. English , Qualified as mast in digital animation having 5 yrs ex in character animation specialized Auto Desk mago and motion building software knowledge, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97917357

DOMESTIC HELP Maid from Mumbai looking for house hold work in Al Khuwair only.

Contact: 95896415 Male 26 in looking for Office boy / Receptionist job.

Contact 94640906 Looking full time job.

Contact: 99153378

DRIVER Experienced Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic Well knowledge of Oman Areas Seeking Suitable placement Contact 97950869 Light driver Ruwi. Contact: 95779594 Having Oman D/L seeking suitable placement of driver.

Contact: 92789805 Light Driver, 4 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact: 94608755 Looking for driver job 3 years Oman experience. Contact: 98244078 / 93798802 Driver with car available for part time job.

Contact: 96320385 Driver 2 years job visa Indian male (31 yrs). Contact: 96525311 Light driver Indian 4 yrs exp in Oman having own car need job.

NOC available.

Contact: 93053917 Light driver need job exp 4 years English & Arabic speaking.

Contact: 94208089 Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 95219183 Light duty. Contact: 96995762 Driver for suitable job K.S.A 12 years & 4 years in Oman, with release. Contact: 93885404 Bangladeshi male light driver exp 14 years need job and visa transfer, release paper available.

Contact: 99165961 Driver with new car looking for job.contact: 95873286 Bangladeshi male 48 yrs, light driver 14 yrs of exp, need job & visa. Contact - 98326656 Driver (light & heavy duty) valid gulf /Indian) looking job.

Contact: 95175192

EDUCATION

14 years of Gulf experience in HR/ Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position, NOC available. Contact: 95824598

Indian female, post-graduate in English with ten years’ experience in media and teaching, on visit visa seeks opportunity in media/ teaching. Contact 91447078, e-mail graceserene@Yahoo.com

Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280

Indian female M.Sc B.Ed Mathematics having 2 years experience in teaching currently on family visa. Contact: 96007081 Email: surocs@gmail.com

Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030

Indian female B.ED, BCA & IELTS certified with 6 months Oman exp in teaching primary students looking for teacher job.

Contact: 97384206 Email: rani_sweet786@live.com

Procurement Engineer (27 years Single Male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electro-mechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. (Contact 95852033, hemal1988@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Transmission Cable Technician / Cable Splicer: Saudi Aramco & Saudi Electricity Co License Holder.

Experience 5yrs, Age 29yrs, Nationality Pakistani: KSA Valid Driving License. Immediately Available. Contact: 92850409 Email: usman0083@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer male 26 yrs, with 4 yrs of experience in manufacturing oil & gas retail, brand promoting, marketing, logistics having valid Omani D/L seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 97098676 Email: ja237le@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer experience from Singapore India with CSWIP certificate in holding for placement. Contact: 98919114 Architect Engineer with 3 years experience in Muscat looking for a suitable job Contact: 91262904, Email: saeedbakayeh@gmail.com Indian female, BE in EEE having 3yrs exp in Software & 1 yr Experience in Marketing & Admin in Muscat, looking for suitable placement. Tel:93422434 Indian male Diploma Civil Engineer have 1 yr. experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job (certificate attested).

Contact: 92667406 / 99210411, Email : manojgvh@gmail.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com Sudanese Structure Civil Engineer 2 years experience resident Omani license. Contact: 94393880 Bangladeshi male Diploma in Civil Engineer with D/L 5 years exp, 4 years in Oman has exp. in building construction seeking a suitable placement. Contact: 96732988 Indian male 22 years, B. Tech in Chemical Engineering, currently working as a trainee chemist in India, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 00968 93214375 or 92739839 Mechanical Engineer 4 years experience (3 years HVAC 10 months piping stress) knows more than 10 softwares, Indian Muslim (27) job visa. Contact: 90486758 Email: afsalhyder@gmail.com M.Tech in Manufacturing Engineering with 2 years of experience, on visiting visa looking for a suitable job. Contact: 91417949 Email: dannyrangde@gmail.com Indian male 25 years Mechanical Engineer (2 years experienced) seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93655805 Omani national, female fresh Graduated in Civil Engineer seeking a position. Contact : 97760811 Mechanical Engineer (UK) 28 years, male having 5 years experience in technical sales and service Engineer, looking for suitable placement and having valid Oman driving license. NOC available immediate avail slit.

Contact: 968 97612297 Email: ymirza11@caledonian.ac.uk BE Mech specialization welding technology 11 yrs quality cont Engineer by Steel Cons EPL Installation desalination plant (Gulf). Contact: 96603299 BE Civil Engr - 5-10 yrs Exp Diploma Civil Engr - 5-7 yrs Exp Civil Foreman - 10-15 yrs Exp All must have valid DL send CV to jnstpmco@gmail.com

Chemical Engineer MBA holder ITC certified in supply chain management, ERP familiar 5 years experience. Contact: 94690325 Email: phahad.hashim@gmail.com Operating Engineer MBA holder 5 years experience in electroplating and coating of metals. #94690325 Email: phahad.hashim@gmail.com B. Sc Civil Engineer 27 yrs Oman in Ministry private sector as Project Manager, Senior Structure Engineer in consulting office looking for suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com 5 years of experience in Business Analyst & Product Management with Engineering in ECE on visit visa Contact: 91374247 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Mechanic Diesel Engines & Hydraulic, 25 years Experience in Multinational Companies.

M Arshad 91685048 ELV Sr. Presales Engineer +7 years experience in UAE, Qatar & Oman having valid Oman D/L & NOC. Contact : 93384285 Indian male, Diploma Civil Engineer having 2years experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97376450, Email:shanavasshaj@gmail.com Structural steel supervisor / foreman 12 and half yrs Gulf exp fabrication & erection NOC available.

Contact +91 9061761881 / +91 9446149459 Electrical Engineer: Indian male, 30 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF tyres), holding valid Oman D/L. Contact 92789995, email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience as HVAC design Engineer, Revit MEP, AutoCAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: rahmanmechengg@yahoo.in Civil Diploma Engineer cum Quantity survey male 6 years experience in Oman valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93747759 Email: jaleelvanimalkp@gmail.com HSE Engineer (BE Mech + Dip in Safety+ NEBOSH + OSHA), 10 yrs exp, NOC Available, seeking suitable placement: Mob: 97061817 email: jayanammu1977@gmail.com Instrument Engineer B.Tech Indian male, 24 yrs, 1 yrs experience in reputed oil & gas companies, currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact: 92007218 Email: ahmed0515@gmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 8 years experience HVAC, MEP, MPM in management.

Contact: 97986890 Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 11 years experience in building construction, looking for a suitable placement , having Oman driving license. Noc available.

Contact: 95075365 Email: azharraaz@gmail.com 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Automation Engineer, Graduate Electronics and Communication Engineer with 2 years of experience in programming testing and commissioning, troubleshooting of automation control systems (PLC, SCADA, HMI) . Installation, calibration, operation and maintenance of electrical and equipments. Contact: 94469841 Email: sreeharita.181@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANT

General Manager / Operations / Commercial / Procurement Manager

With 8 years of experience (working in Oman since Jan 2013) is looking for a change.

Experienced in all aspect of accounting up to finalization of accounts. Also experienced in Insurance underwriting and claim settlement.

NOC will be available

Indian male with 18 years of experience in Gulf operations, accounts, purchase, sales, Admin & HR, looking for a Sr. position in a medium size company.

Contact: 95503646

Contact: 99889396

Email: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Project Civil Engineer, BSc, 6 years experience in Oman, building construction Fluent Arabic, English and good Hindi Release and NOC Available). Tel: 97858589

Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 91 9605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com

Indian male, 25 yrs, Diploma in Hardware & Network Engineering having 4 yrs experience now in Oman, on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact 98779754 / 92720311

Indian male 24, B.Tech Electrical & Electronics Engineering & P.G diploma in automation & Scada with 2 years experience in power transformer & generator testing and maintenance, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95340253 Email: seanjohnson176@gmail.com

Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Mechanical Engineer 6 years Oman experience in projects , maintenance, materials Indian male with Omani D/L seeking suitable job. Contact: 94252769 / 95505471 Email: rami.mech@gmail.com Diploma in Automobile Engg male 26 yrs, working as Service Advisor for 2.5 yrs seeking suitable position. Contact: 94744933 Email: shuhaibmost007@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com Diploma in Electronics, 2 years exp in telecommunication.

Contact: 94519571 Email: telecommunicationvishnumadhull @gmail.com Senior Telecom Engineer 4 years experience in Oman valid driving license MBA project management.

Contact: 95688953 Email: johan.joy@gmail.com Male (23) BE Electrical Engineer looking for job as Electrical Engineering job experience 6 months in MEP designing & electrical designing job. Contact 98209070 Email: punivinlal@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95345591 Civil Engineer diploma holder having 7 years experience of Site Engineer with valid Omani D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 93294965 Email: hamza.nazeer717@gmail.com Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Sudanese Architectural Engineer 2 years experience in Oman, Revit, AutoCAD 3Ds max Archicad looking for suitable job.

Contact: 94722356 Email: maya40999@hotmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com

B.Tech (IT) Indian Male 2 years Oman experience in I.T & Networking, holding Oman Driving License, presently on employment visa, seeks for a suitable placement.

Ready to join immediately. NOC available. Contact: 92462578 Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer 11 years experience in construction having driving license & NOC. Contact: 94194399 Email: shiblyrock@gmail.com Male 29 years (BE) MEP Engineer 8.5 years of experience in building construction. Seeking a suitable job. Contact -95119765/ Email id jayachandranmep@gmail.com NOC available Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113 Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

IT Indian male (29) MCA Post Graduate 4.6 years experienced skilled in System and Network administration seeking job in IT sector now on visiting visa. Contact: 92805363 Email: anukkuttan1986@gmail.com Network Engineer degree Computer Science CCNA, MCSA experience NOC. Content: 92346191 Dynamics AX 2009 / 2012 R2/ R3 Microsoft certified professional MCA & BCA Having 15 yrs of total exp & 6 yrs of relevant exp seeking for suitable position. NOC is available. Contact: 93469493 Email: axcertprof@gmail.com

D6

M O N D AY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 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 SIT.WANTED

IT

MANAGER

Indian male IT professional, 3 years experience, CCNA, MCITP, RHCE have GCC driving license on visit visa (last date 25th Jan).

Contact: 93311963 Email: sajal035@gmail.com

Logistics All rounder Indian male 23 years experience administration material management, supply chain, warehouse, purchase, marketing, inventory, accounting, Oman D/L. NOC available.

Contact: 95980115

Indian male 27 yrs Master in Computer applications currently in Muscat with Oman driving L/C seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93191800 Email: vijilraj60@gmail.com B.C.A IT, System Support Engineer 2 years exp visit visa, Microsoft certification. Contact: 95492886 Email: samips49@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 GCC experience projects & business Management professional for IT & ELV systems seeking suitable job. Contact: 93522472 B.E (CSE) Indian male 2 years of experience in System and Network Admin, presently on visit visa, seeks for immediate placement.

Contact: 93832694 Email: bailfupp006@gmail.com Omani seeking placement 6 years excellent exp in networking, hardware and software and software.

Contact: 95356166 Indian male 26 years BSC IT with 4 years experience currently on visit visa looking for IT support job knowledge of networking, programming languages, windows / Linux environment. Contact: +968 95369856 / 24781651 Email: mark.tony.alphonso@hotmail.com INDIAN MALE - 29 years - (certified Computer hardware & network engineer) with six (6) years experience on VISIT VISA looking for suitable employment in system network administration Contact : Mr. SAJEEV KP, GSM : 94256964 mail ID : saji217@gmail.com Indian male 23 years , 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator at Wipro Technologies looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com 10 years Oman experience ICT Sector, capable of handling large accounts, looking for suitable Senior Executive position. Contact: 98987654 B.Tech (IT) Indian Male 2 years Oman experience in I.T & Networking, holding Oman Driving License, presently on employment visa, seeks for a suitable placement.

Ready to join immediately.

NOC available. Contact: 92462578

LOGISTICS More than 8 years of gulf experience & qualified executive in Air freight & Sea freight, proven work experience in logistics coordination, shipment, export and import Coordination, cross shipments and client relation etc. Contact: 95149624 / 0097150-3462492

The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate.

Contact 92385033 25 years Gulf experienced Manager in operations, projects, properties, holding valid Oman driving license, with NOC, looking for suitable opening.

Contact: 91283701 MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Indian male 25, On Visit Visa MBA (HR & Marketing) experienced in Sales, Looking for Suitable Position, Contact 92788018, shinemoncherian@gmail.com Female 31, MBA 4 Years of cross culture experience in Insurance Sector seeking a suitable job opportunity Contact Shubha: 97217626/94377477 Shubhanair17@gmail.com Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 98805474

PROJECTS Indian male 28, MBA, Six Sigma Green Belt with 6 months experience in Operations in Oman. Looking for Suitable Placement With Valid D/L & NOC. Contact 92013737.

SALES / MARKETING MEDICAL Nurse (male) Indian available with 3 years of experience & cleared prometric 64% & data flow.

Contact: 94035637 Male nurse MOH licensed having NOC completed BLS, ACLS total 6 yrs exp seeking suitable job, join at anytime . Contact : 91322744 An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact: 96436517 /97396088

MANAGER Purchase MGR / Transport in charge 9 yrs exp in Oman having D/L & NOC join immediately.

Contact: 90187891 Email: mohammedshariff35@gmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments& transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact :- 92385033 Indian male 8 yrs exp in Oman working as housekeeping supervisor in star hotel, seeking for a job NOC available. Contact – 91753210

Indian male with more than 15 years experience in construction, agriculture, industrial tools, air coolers & personal protective equipments looking for suitable position in sales & marketing valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92406527 Indian male 26, with more than 4 years experience in Sales and Marketing having valid GCC license on visit visa seeks suitable position. Contact: 92423161 PG diploma in Strategic Management having two years experience in Marketing and Management currently on visit visa seeking for suitable job. Contact : 93406821 Email: sayeedminhaj@gmail.com Indian male Sales Engineer 18 years experience (pneumatics, electric, air compressor, garage equipments etc) including 5 years Gulf experience currently employed in Oman with D/L looking for suitable position, NOC available. Contact 94425942 Indian male 7 years experience in procurement with D/L, UAE & Oman, transfer available. Contact: 97085435 Indian female M.Sc in computer application, having experience in Muscat looking for suitable placement available to join immediately.

Contact: 94591608

MANAGER

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male with more than 14 yrs of experience in Business development / marketing Oman D/L looking for managerial position in Business development / marketing. Contact: 93400177

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, 5 years experience in IT sales & marketing working as sales coordinator in Oman; searching better job. Phone: 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com

MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement. Cont : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com

Indian Male 28yr age having 7year gulf+ Indian experience in HR/Admin field, looking for suitable placement. Contact:97914340, Email: rajkv3086@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 Indian male 29 yrs having 6 years Oman experience in hotel industry & sales looking for a suitable placement. NOC available having Oman driving license. #91059015 Email: nidhin.lal86@gmail.com MBA (logistics and supply chain) 3.5 years freight forwarding experience operations & sales, back office operation Oman, Yemen & UAE. Contact: 92549913 Email: jansunil1989@gmail.com Marketing Communication Coordinator: Indian, M.Com with 20 years Gulf experience in Marketing Communications, ATL& BTL branding exp. with Oman D/L. Contact- 93031168 Purchaser having experience in heavy light vehicle parts for 15 yrs looking for job, Oman with valid D/L, NOC available. Contact 91452832, Mr. Gurunath Executive Post, Omani Driving License, MBA 14 years Experience in Multinational Groups in Sales & Marketing. M.Z. 96220975 Indian male, MBA 25 Yrs, 1 year experience in Auditing and 10 Month in sales, currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92054304 34 yrs, Indian male 7 years sales & marketing exp have valid D/L. Contact: 99869456 34 yrs, Indian male 9 yrs experience in Oman have valid D/L 2 Yrs sales & marketing experience.

Contact: 99858456 25 years experienced Supervisor in plumbing and firefighting available, NOC and driving license.

Contact: 95912720 Sales & Marketing Executive MBA with 3 years experience in sales looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91345727.

Indian female (M.Tech in Power system) having Gulf experience seeking suitable placement in Oman, now in family visa.

Contact: 94306164 / 91001194 B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com 30 yr old experienced available with NOC & Oman driving license 6+years experience in chemicals Industry.

Contact: 96675065 15 years experienced Indian seeking suitable job in area purchase, logistics & supply chair.

Contact- 96388496 Email: ranju.uma@gmail.com 5 years experience in Sales currently looking for a placement.

Contact: 93458869 Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com

Part- Time Accountant, well experienced senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439 Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 99514286, Email : azimmohd@yahoo.co.in Sri Lankan Male, 23 years old with 3 years of Sales experience and basic accounting knowledge (AAT and Tally) Seeking for a suitable position. Contact-94864296 Indian, male, 28, BBM degree holder. having 2 years experience.

1 year in banking industry & 1 year in hotel industry. good accounts knowledge also. seeking a suitable job. contact# 94678590, email: awesh.khokar@gmail.com Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/ server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532 Indian female, 35 years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) with no experience and BSc & MA seeking suitable positions in pharmacy, pharmacy stores, hospital, polyclinic & pharmaceutical companies. Contact 90236481 Indian male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office.

Contact: 90182494 Indian Female Accountant, now in Oman on Visit Visa, looking for suitable placement, Contact 94250871.

Sudanese male 31 years, 3 years Diploma in electrical engineer , 6 years and 1year in Oman experience in building construction and electrical plants, have oman drive license. Contact No : 94549609 Chief Accountant , 7 years experienced ( out of 25 years experience in accounts) worked in reputed group companies. Currently procuring MBA finance and having Omani Driving License seeks suitable openings from reputed companies.

Indian Male, pursuing ACCA with knowledge in C++, Java looking for accounting job. Contact 94743462.

Email: zabinbashu@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office.

Contact: 90182494, Manojmallya999@gmail.com Well-qualified Indian Female with 8 years of experience in Procurement Supply Chain from reputed Companies in Oman seeks placement. Contact 91374217 Indian female accountant, now in Oman on visit visa, looking for suitable placement, Contact 94250871.

Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3 yrs exp. in IT/ networking/ server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532

37 years, Indian male, X- Ray welder 7 years experience, looking for job on visit visa now. Contact: 91360190 / 98223683

Indian female 10 years exp as cook in Oman . South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job. Contact 96710189

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

TECHNICIAN /MECH. Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

Indian female, 27, food technologist (MSc Food Technology), 2years experience in Research and Development -Instant foods, Snack, Noodles, Oats seasonings, Soups, Curry powders. Raw Material Quality Assurance and Analysis, HACCP. Contact -93987174 , email :mayacnair@outlook.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED Indian male Autocad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact : 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian male 32 years dip in hardware net working with 10 years hands on experience currently on visit visa seeking immediate placement in IT Support or relevant jobs. Good knowledge of hardware & Networking.

Contact 94169341 Email: haripulikal@gmail.com Indian female, Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality management (IATA), Having 4 years experience, Seeking for a suitable Job, Contact 99104529.

B.Tech (CSIT) 25 years Indian male 3 years experience having excellent communication skills paired with technical skills, VM ware networking, hardware on visit visa looking for suitable positions. Contact: 97641141 Email: wasimakram619@gmail.com PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs work Exp.( 8 yrs in Oman ) working in Contg & Trdg Co LLC. ( for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects ) and having valid LT D/L,Looking for suitable placement- M:94064650, Email: nagauae@gmail.com Part time Accountant available, well experienced in accounting up to finalization. knowledge in tally also. contact. 92643875

B.TEC ( IT) . 24 years, 2 Years of experience in technical support, software development, networking, troubleshooting and managing seek suitable placement. Contact GSM- 98184170 Chemical Engineer, 26 years old, indian,2 years of exp in industrial production, valid oman driving license, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91247222 10 years’ experience in Oman Lady Secretary / Office Assistant worked in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761 MCA (Master of computer applications) with overall 3+ years experience in the field of system administration, networking and sales, Now in visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact- 90390184 Indian male MBA, 8yrs Experienced in South Africa & UAE as a Sales & Purchase Manager, Supporting Manager, Administrative officer in FMCG/consumer goods/ Electrical/Electronics items, looking for a suitable job. Ready to join immediately. Contact +91 7034084039, +91 9947636840, jnairvishnu@gmail.com 54 years Indian male with 25yrs of experience in Accounts & Finance up to finalisation in Construction Oil & Gas and also in Manufacturing industries seeking suitable placement.

Kindly contact me on 95323316 , email:rengan15@yahoo.com

M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

MATRIMONIAL

SITUATION WANTTOURS ED

Christian Orthodox girl 24 yrs, BSC MLT working in Government Hospital Thiruvalla, seeking suitable alliance from Orthodox family.

Contact: 99734325 / 99898130

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

Nair boy 27 years Keralite working in Canada looking for qualified girl. Contact: 99361442

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

Indian female, 25 yrs, belongs to Christian Orthodox family, B.Sc Nurse presently working in Bangalore – India, looking for appropriate spouse. # 99423483

NRI Plot for sale Shadnagar Municipality, Mahboob Nagar District, walk able distance to existing colonies, national highway and basic amenities at reasonable price.

Contact – 0091 8686631669 For sale 142 cents prime land 7 kms from kozhikodu Medical College Hospital in full or plots bus route and electricity available.

Expected price 2.25 lakhs per cent negotiable. Contact person : Dr. Robins 0091- 9447322230 Jayadas 0091- 9446848957

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION

DRIVING

Transportation.Contact: 99099714 Transportation Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92711421 Pick and drop. Contact: 96692774 Transportation. Contact99542393 Transportation. Contact: 91310107

GOOD NEWS

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact:99664703 Transportation. Contact 96173326

Plot, propeties for sale in prime location in pune Contact 95272138, (+918390982975)

Transportation. Contact 94510847

Kollam byepass 5-10 cent for sale. Contact: 96157394

Transportation taxi mini bus.

Contact: 93091106

Al Sharouq rent a car. Contact: 99222617 Silver car, car rental at good rate.

Contact: 96166155/93530540

Transportation Contact:99077395 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. # 99839898

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

D8

M O N D AY, JA N UA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

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

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/TRAINING/COMPUTER/WEBSITE Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

IELTS PREPARATION Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE 92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

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

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.Contact 24793614/ 99314807 House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 We are providing services like Accounts, Auditing, Tax Reports, Feasibility Study, Bank Loan Assistance & L L C Registration ASAS AUDIT & CONSULTANCY Contact at 91720465/94319719

We provide loading unloading helper for contracting.

Contact: 94777137 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact: 93769089 / 95323517 Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723

Canadian Consultancy company (recruitment & immigration) is looking for a partner company in Oman.

For contact 00973 39990830 eurogulf.ca@gmail.com,

NRI 1100 sqft Property for sale opposite to SPFort Hospital, Trivandrum. Contact 91254791, 91 8893226226

Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing, Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 House shifting. Contact: 99657644/98518013 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064

SITUATION SERVICES Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman