Times of Oman - December 20, 2016

TUESDAY December 20, 2016 20 Rabi Al Awal 1438 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 25th National Day Silver Jubilee, 1995

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ During these past years, with God’s help, our precious land has witnessed the realisation of many successes in all fields, which have resulted in bringing our Omani people to higher standards of life through their deliverance from the bondage of isolation, ignorance and backwardness.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 247 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

BUDGET CARRIER

AUSTRALIA

Thai AirAsia X to suspend Muscat operations from January 19

HM receives message MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a written message from Malcolm Bligh Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia related to promoting bilateral relations between the two countries in all spheres.

The message was handed over to Sheikh Salim bin Suhail Al Ma’ashani, Head of the International Organisations Department at the Foreign Ministry when he received Philip Ruddock, Special Envoy of the Australian premier and his accompanying delegation on an official visit to the Sultanate. >A2

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com

Another Musandam park goes solar

A5

MUSCAT: Budget carrier Thai AirAsia X is suspending its Muscat operations from January 19, 2017, the airline has announced.

Thailand’s first low fare, long haul airline operates two flights a week to the Don Mueang International Airport in Thailand from the Muscat International Airport with Airbus A330-300s.

“Thai AirAsia X announces the suspension of its service between Bangkok and Muscat, starting

FUEL HIKE BITES AS CAR SHARE CULTURE BLOOMS

January 19, 2017 onwards. Both our Thai AirAsia X flights, XJ555 and XJ556, will remain suspended,” a statement sent by Thai AirAsia X to the Times of Oman, said.

Passengers with bookings on the affected dates can change to an

REJIMON K CHIEF REPORTER

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Most drivers in Oman are now paying around 45 per cent more for fuel compared to January this year, thanks to plunging oil prices, removal of the government subsidy and price hikes.

The government’s own data on fuel prices for the months from January through December show that a litre of supergrade fuel has risen from 120 baisas to 176 baisas.

The government subsidy, which varied from month to month and was linked to that month’s oil price, was removed on January 15.

That – coupled with monthly variations – has left Omani drivers paying almost half as much again for the same amount of fuel. This month, regular fuel costs 165 baisas a litre, the price of supergrade is 176 baisas and the price of diesel is 177 baisas.

Comparing the January 1 price with the December 1 price, the supergrade price is 46.6 per cent up, the price of regular grade is 44.4 per cent up and the price of diesel is 21.2

With the removal of subsidy, motorists have to spend almost 45% more money for filling their fuel tanks, upsetting their monthly budgets

earlier flight between December 19, 2016 and January 14, 2017 at no additional cost.

“The change will only be permitted one time, and subject to seat availability. We are also offering a transfer cost of flight to a 180-day credit shell that can be used for the purchase of goods and services from AirAsia via www.airasia.com (such as flight tickets, pick-a-seat, pre-booking meals, baggage weight fee) or passengers can also receive full refund via the channel through which payment for the booking was made,” the official said.>A6

per cent up. Filling station owners say their takings are also down this year. One reported a drop in profits from around 9 per cent to just 1 per cent.

The downturn has forced residents to car share or not take the car at all, according to filling station bosses, who say they are not reaping the rewards of the higher prices at the pumps.

Almost a year after the fuel subsidy removal in Oman, motorists have become sensible in filling their tanks as they have to spend around 45 per cent extra in prices when compared to what they had to do until January 15.

Fuel subsidy “The months without fuel subsidy has upset my budget.

I travel a lot for my business and personal purposes. Before subsidy removal, I had to shell out only around OMR5 to fill my car tank. Now, it costs around OMR8,” Sunil Kumar K, a senior engineer at a construction company in Muscat, said.

“I have to fill the fuel tank at least 10 times per month. This means that I am shelling out OMR30 extra every month,” Sunil added. >A6

OPEC DEAL

CEASE-FIRE

Oman’s oil price rises as dollar weakens

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SHOT DEAD A gunman gestures after killing Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, at a photo gallery in Ankara on Monday. Turkish security sources said the gunman, who See also >A12 shouted “Don’t forget Aleppo”, was an off-duty police officer. -AP/PTI

Kerry thanks Oman for talks on Yemen

SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s crude rose by more than a dollar amid a weakening dollar and delay in Libyan oil output as confidence in compliance of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) deal grew stronger.

Omani crude oil futures, to be delivered in February, grew by 2.4 per cent to $53.24 on Monday due to expectations of tighter crude oil supply going into 2017.

The prices mirror gains made by international crude oil benchmark, the Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate, which grew by 26 cents to reach $55.47 and by 30 cents to reach $52.20, respectively.

Although, there has been a significant rise in the price of Oman crude, it remains nearly 3 per cent less than last week, postOPEC announcement to choke oil production.

In a direct response to the OPEC deal with independent producers to cut 1.8 million barrels a day, Omani crude prices soared by more than 5 per cent on December 11.

However, the decision of the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates poured cold water on the oil rally on December 14, cancelling gains made earlier that week.

According to analysts, prices will continue to rise with US bank Goldman Sachs updating its oil price forecast for 2017 to $57.50 for WTI from $55, on account of high compliance expec-

MUSCAT: John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, met Oman’s Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi on Sunday and thanked the Sultanate for charting a way forward on Yemen, including the urgent need for a ceasefire and implementing a roadmap.

Kerry was in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to discuss US-Saudi ties and Yemen issues.

In a statement, Kerry thanked Alawi, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, his counterpart from United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed from the UAE, for moving forward with a plan to stop the fighting and to negotiate a political settlement.

Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also posted pictures of the meeting on its twitter account stating that discussions were held to resolve the Yemen crisis.

1.8m barrels a day output cut has been pledged by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

tation from the OPEC deal in Vienna and low oil production in the US. Allison Holland, IMF mission chief in Oman, said the OPEC deal would help reduce excess supply in the market, and has already resulted in a significant increase in oil prices which could boost revenue for Oman.

“If the oil price increase is sustained, it should result in higher oil revenues for Oman despite the cuts agreed to in production.

This will boost Oman’s export and government fiscal revenues and help support the implementation of the government’s economic policy agenda, including the associated public investment programme,” she said.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

WORLD

MARKET

Oman Post to start remittance service

Lagarde guilty, but not punished

Solar project advisers to be selected soon

1

2

3

The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) on Monday approved a request from Oman Post for starting remittance service. The apex bank’s board also allowed Oman Investment and Finance Company to raise its stake in Bank Sohar from 15.13 per cent to 17 per cent. >A2

French judges found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge a state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was French finance minister, but they did not punish her. In their ruling, the judges did not see negligence in Lagarde’s decision. >A12

Consultants for advising the Sultanate’s government on the country’s first large-scale solar project are expected to be selected by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) this month.

OPWP had floated a request for proposal (RfP) in October. >B1

MORNING MINUTE

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

OMAN DECISION

PRAISES OMAN’S POLICY

Fahd reviews ties with Cyprus minister CBO allows Oman Post to MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers received yesterday Ioannis Kasoulidis, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Cyprus.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister conveyed greetings of President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said along with his best wishes of permanent successes to His Majesty and the Omani people further progress and growth.

They reviewed the relations between the two countries and means of supporting cooperation in several areas, besides activat-

ing pacts and memorandums of understanding signed between the two sides. They also reviewed the current developments in the regional and international arenas.

Kasoulidis affirmed his country’s appreciation of the policy being pursued by the Sultanate in its relations with the world’s countries, stressing the importance of this visit for exchanging visions and consultation. He also praised the existing coordination between the foreign ministries in the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Andreas Panayiotou, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Sultanate. -ONA

start remittance service

BOOST TO RELATIONS: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers with Ioannis Kasoulidis, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Cyprus. – ONA

MUSCAT: The Central Bank of Oman on Monday approved a request from Oman Post for starting remittance service. The apex bank’s board also allowed Oman Investment and Finance Company to raise its stake in Bank Sohar from 15.13 per cent to 17 per cent.

These decisions were taken by the Central Bank of Oman at its board meeting, which was chaired

by Dr. Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, deputy chairman of the CBO’s board of governors.

The board reviewed various issues on the agenda of its meeting,

including the Economic and Financial report upto September 30, 2016, as well as the activity report of the CBO’s departments during the period under review.

Further, the board endorsed the CBO’s budget for 2017, CBO’s Pension Fund annual budget for 2017 and Bank Deposit Insurance Scheme (BDIS) annual budget for 2017. The board also deliberated on the recommendations included in the report of the IMF and the World Bank mission on Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP). -ONA NCSI

More accidents in November compared to October TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: November saw a higher number of accidents compared to October and September 2016, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

In fact, November saw 33 more accidents, taking the tally to 382, compared to October when 349 accidents happened, or September this year when 303 accidents were reported.

A total of 267 people were injured in November, more than the 224 injured in accidents in October and 182 in September.

Of those injured in November, Omanis formed a majority with 207 while the remaining 60 were expatriates.

However, the data showed that since the beginning of the year and until the end of November, the number of accidents dropped by 35.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015 when 3,793 accidents were registered. Last year had seen a total of 5,889 accidents.

Injuries also came down by 23.1 per cent since January 2016 with 2,604 people injured, compared to 3,388 during the same period in 2015.

Omanis injured since the beginning of this year until the end of November 2016 numbered 1,949 while 655 expatriates suffered injuries, according to the latest data. Deaths fell by 1.4 per cent during the 11 months of 2016 with 616 fatalities being registered, compared to 625 in the same period last year. Omanis recorded a 6.7 per cent drop in death rates since January with 393 being recorded, compared to 421 last year. Unfortunately, a 9.3 per cent rise in deaths of expatriates was recorded since the beginning of the year with 223 dying compared to 204 last year.

S H A P I N G C U LT U R E S

Mantheri meets journalists MUSCAT: Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoodh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council received a delegation of the General Federation of Arab Journalists (GFAJ) led by Moaid Al Lami, GFAJ President and a delegation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), within the framework of their current visit to the Sultanate.

Dr. Al Mantheri highlighted the role played by media in promoting and shaping cultures of the societies, drawing the attention to the great interest accorded by His Majesty the Sultan to the Omani journalism. -ONA C O O P E R AT I O N

< FROM

A1 Message The two sides exchanged viewpoints on several issues of common concern.

They also discussed promoting areas of the bilateral cooperation between the Sultanate and Australia, particularly in the field of international organisations and agencies.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

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THE BRIEFING REGION

Jordanian gunmen planned wider attacks our gunmen who shot dead nine people in Jordan on Sunday had stored suicide vests and other weapons that indicated they planned wider attacks across the country, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad said. Jordanian security forces said they had killed four “terrorist outlaws” after flushing them out of a Crusader castle in the southern city of Karak. >A7

INDIA

Opposition stalled parliament to defend the dishonest: Modi

OMAN

Sayyid Haitham praises NRAA role Praising the programmes implemented by National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture said that the NRAA has taken proper steps since its inception. The permanent national exhibition of documents and archives was opened at the Airport Heights in Muscat yesterday under the auspices of Sayyid Haitham.

He added that this exhibition will be a reference for researchers and scholars, commending the role played by the NRAA in highlighting the history of the Sultanate.The exhibition comes to highlight the timeless historical position and the deep-rooted civilisation of the Sultanate. >A6

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

OMAN

Dr. Madiha to preside over award function Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education, Chairperson of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science will patronise over Sultan Qaboos Award. >A6

OMAN

Shift to renewable energy encouraged

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

Best way to increase renewable energy’s footprint in Oman is by encouraging individuals to install gadgets to harness these energy resources, according to an official at The Research Council >A5

S TAT E C O U N C I L

Discussion on private sector challenges MUSCAT: A draft study on the challenges of private sector and development of work policies was discussed by the Economic Committee at the State Council yesterday.

The Committee held its 3rd meeting of the 2nd annual sitting of the 6th term under the chair of honourable Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, Head of the Committee.

The Committee reviewed outcomes of the study, which indicated that the main challenges facing the private sector include providing attractive work environment, correcting labour market imbalances and their associated issue, creating jobs for Omanis, removing market access barriers and ensuring equal opportunities for all players at the market. The Committee also approved minutes of the previous meeting, followed up the decisions implemented, reviewed the new items and took decisions towards them. -ONA

Apple has launched a legal challenge to a record $14 billion EU tax demand, arguing that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law and deliberately picked a method to maximise the penalty, senior executives said. Apple will tell judges the Commission was not diligent in its investigation because it disregarded tax experts brought in by Irish authorities. >A11

41 die in Siberia after drinking bath oil Stepping up attack on Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that Parliament was not allowed to function as rival parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on issues like graft and simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said the BJP welcomes it. >A8

PAKISTAN

Pakistan repatriation push, rising hostility alarm Afghan refugees Almost 40 years after seeking sanctuary in Pakistan, Nusheen Bibi lives in fear of being expelled from the only country she has ever known.

Bibi was only three when her family fled the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - some of more than 6 million Afghan refugees who crossed into neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. >A9

Consumer protection ensures OMR10,000 payment A total of OMR10,119 was paid to consumers in November 2016 under mutual agreements

OMR277.5, while tyre shops yielded a sum of OMR355. The electric and electronics sector reimbursed consumers a total of OMR340 while car dealerships and services paid up OMR220.

A sum of OMR218 was paid to the consumers by the tailoring sector while other sectors coughed up OMR558.5.

Furthermore, during Novem-

Apple constests EU tax demand

BUSINESS

Exports from Oman fall to OMR5.79b Oman’s total exports for the first seven months of 2016 plunged by 28.2 per cent to OMR5.79 billion from OMR8.07 billion for the same period last year. The fall in export revenue was mainly on account of a dip in oil and gas prices in international markets and also a fall in non-oil exports. >B1

BUSINESS

ber 2016, the Department of Consumer Protection, handed out OMR5,400 worth of fines after it detected cases of wrong prices being displayed on products, sale of banned products, failure to display product information such as manufacture and expiry date and marking up the fixed price of a product, apart from other violations.

At least 41 residents of the Siberian city of Irkutsk have died after drinking scented bath oil in a desperate search for an alcoholic high in one of the deadliest cases of its kind in years, Russian investigators said on Monday. “It is a terrible tragedy,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “This type of problem is well known and the president has been informed. Measures must be taken.” >A12

SPORTS

Australia survive Shafiq scare to win

A relieved Australia captured Pakistan’s last two wickets to win a captivating first day-night Test in Brisbane by 39 runs on Monday but the touring side won huge admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance. >C3

SPORTS

Troup named Oman golf team manager

WORLD

D E PA R T M E N T O F C O N S U M E R P R O T E C T I O N

MUSCAT: The Department of Consumer Protection in Seeb ensured payment of more than OMR10,000 to consumers last month, and also imposed fines worth OMR5,400 on various businesses.

A total of OMR10,119 was paid to consumers in November 2016 under mutual agreements.

Aluminum, smiths and carpentry sectors topped the list by returning OMR3,240 while manpower services sector followed with a payment of OMR2,920.

Vehicle repair shops paid out OMR1,886 while OMR1,020 came from contracting and building materials sector.

Telecom services paid up

WORLD

Bank credit in Oman grows by 10.2 per cent

As part of the drive to grow the game of golf in the Sultanate, the Oman Golf Committee on Monday appointed Steven Troup the national team manager. >C4

Total outstanding credit extended by Oman’s conventional and Islamic banks has achieved a yearon-year growth of 10.2% at OMR21.92b by the end of October 2016, over the same period of last year, according to data released by the Central Bank of Oman. Credit to the private sector increased by 11.9 percent to OMR19.7 billion as at the end of October 2016. >B3

LIFESTYLE

Talk of the town The New Sheraton Seafood Night Walk into the restored Sheraton Hotel on a Wednesday night for a meal and you will be far from disappointed. A gourmet’s delight that is sure to satisfy your every seafood craving, Sheraton’s seafood buffet is spread across the hotel lobby and the outdoor lawn that skirts the swimming pool.

A refreshing ambience that is only enhanced by the very entertaining live band. >A14

A4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

OMAN

Drill to thwart cyber attacks in Sultanate

T R A I N S C H O O LT E A C H E R S

Muscat University project aims to boost English skills in primary schools

More than 115 GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

professionals from

Gautam@timesofoman.com

28 government entities as well as specialists from various critical sectors in the Sultanate were targeted in the third National Cyber Drill

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Government organisations and companies in the Sultanate are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks unless preventive measures are taken.

The Oman National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), represented the Information Technology Authority, organised the third National Cyber Drill yesterday at the Golden Tulip, Muscat. The three-day drill targeted more than 115 IT professionals from 28 government entities as well as specialists from various critical sectors in the Sultanate, including finance, telecommunications, energy, oil and gas, transportation and aviation, among others.

Speaking about the drill, Engi-

ONLINE SECURITY: Data also shows that the Oman National CERT discovered and handled 5,932

real and serious cyber security attacks against Oman’s cyber space as well as discovering 298 damaging malwares last year.

neer Bader Ali Al Salhi, Director General of Oman National CERT, said, “It is very clear that such attacks are becoming drastically more frequent, considering the cyber attacks that occurred over the past few years which targeted some of the organisations.”

According to Symantic, a renowned cyber security organization, government and private organisations are increasingly facing the threat of malicious ransomware, reporting a 35 percent rise in 2015, accounting for

362,000 instances, equivalent to 992 cases a day. “This is what makes it necessary to shed light on enhancing cyber-security readiness and to train and empower human resources to deal and address cyber-security incidents which might affect government and critical organizations in the Sultanate,” said Al Salhi.

The drill will give participants exposure. It will feature incident response teams acting in various scenarios based on case studies and real life situations, thus test-

ing their skills and knowledge about responding to such attacks.

According to the ITA’s annual report, the Information Security Division thwarted 398,118 attacks against government portals as well as 4,872,081 against government networks in 2015.

Data also shows that the Oman National CERT discovered and handled 5,932 real and serious cyber security attacks against Oman’s cyber space as well as discovering 298 damaging malwares last year

H E A LT H C A R E

‘Oman needs a renal society’ DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman urgently needs a Renal Society to help support patients waiting for organs and those willing to donate, says Dr. Issa Al Salmi, head of renal services at the Royal Hospital in Oman.

“We are waiting for the Oman society of patients for renal failure, for which talks are on. We do not have a patient society specifically for the kidney disease, and talks for this centre have been on since February 2012, but it needs to come to action.”

Dr. Al Salmi highlighted the example of Saudi Arabia where such a model has shown good results.

“The society for kidney disease in Saudi Arabia plays a major role in providing a lot of help to people with kidney diseases and also to those who want to donate, and also to their families.”

“Let’s say a person is willing to donate, but perhaps needs help, or maybe his family needs help. The ministry cannot do all of this, but the society can come together and provide help, both to the recipient and the donor and their families.”

According to Dr. Al Salmi, almost 12 per cent patients died from end-stage kidney disease in Oman. As such patients are mostly from the younger population, a society catering to these is the need of the hour.

“Almost 12 per cent patients

CLARION CALL: “We are waiting for the Oman society of patients for renal failure, for which talks are on. We do not have a patient society specifically for the kidney disease, and talks for this centre have been on since February 2012, but it needs to come to action,” Dr. Issa Al Salmi, head of renal services at the Royal Hospital in Oman.

who were on dialysis have passed away. We need to keep in mind that our patients on dialysis are very young with their average being about 40 years. When you compare it with the average age in the West, it is too young. In Europe, it’s about 60 years and in Japan, about 60 to 67 years.”

Donor cards To encourage organ donation, the Ministry of Health had introduced organ donor cards early this year. While a few hundred people did pick up these cards, the future of organ donation in Oman looks better than what we have currently.

Two years ago, in 2014, the Grand Mufti of Oman, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed Al Khalili, had issued a fatwa, allowing organ transplant after brain death under certain circumstances. This message clarified people’s doubts as some were unsure of organ donation in the past.

According to the fatwa, the necessity of transferring the organs should be established and it should be apparent that the patient cannot be treated further.

Although Dr. Al Salmi agreed that the donor card is a positive step towards creation of awareness about organ donation, he said it was not going to yield any

short terms results. “It is mostly the young people who fill up the donor cards.

“We began distributing these cards at the end of last year and did so this year, too. With young and fit people being the card bearers, the donor cards can be a long term policy, not beneficial in the short term.

“Although we do have a good few hundred people who signed up through these donor cards, it’s not something we are looking at for an immediate solution. These are for long term, unless an accident or a disaster happens.”

Over 1,600 patients are waiting for organs in Oman.

MUSCAT: Muscat University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will train 25 primary public schoolteachers from the January 15 to 19, 2017.

A workshop will be held at the Muscat University’s temporary headquarters at the Children’s Public Library next to the Amphitheatre in Qurum for the purpose.

The aim is to improve the Englishteaching capabilities of the teachers, who often educate children between the ages of six and nine.

This initiative is the brainchild of Eliot Wright, the Director of Pathway Programmes at the university.

“The idea of a teacher training course emerged following a meeting we set up with the Director General of the Ministry of Education where we spoke about the possibility of sharing best practices in learning English,” he said while speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman. He said he had carried out similar initiatives in the past.

“We carried out an online survey and sent it to the Ministry of Education,” added Wright.

“I believe there are about 1,100 primary and secondary school English teachers in Muscat. From the response we received from them, we tried to learn about the kind of training they underwent in the past and the challenges they face in the classroom.

“We then arranged two school visits in late November and dropped in on a few lessons,” he explained. “We were impressed with the standard of teaching and then we formed a focus group with about 10 teachers, where we discussed their needs, their challenges and the pragmatics of the teacher training course. We found that two school visits were enough because teachers were saying similar things about what they needed in terms of training and the challenges they faced.”

“Some of the challenges they enumerated included making lessons interesting and enjoyable,” added Dr. Said Al Kitani, the Executive Director for Quality and Government Relations at the Muscat University.

A former Technical Director of the Ministry of Higher Education, he will be supervising this teacher training programme.

“We also saw that kids were not speaking a lot of English at

The idea of a teacher training course emerged following a meeting we set up with the Director General of the Ministry of Education where we spoke about the possibility of sharing best practices in learning English Eliot Wright Director of Pathway Programmes at Muscat Univerity home, because they were not being taught properly in school,” he said. “We want to teach these children English at a young age, so that when they graduate and reach university level, they are able to speak the language fluently.

“This is actually very important in a country like Oman, because most of the courses at university are taught in English, and the admission criteria for these are quite high. So not just anyone can enroll for these courses,” said Al Kitani.

“In addition, English is the language that most businesses in the Sultanate use, so if students want to join the workforce, good English language skills are a must.”

Dr. Anthony Cahalan is Vice Chancellor for the newly-formed University, having served in that position for the last 16 months.

“The Muscat University was established with a vision to contribute to higher education in Oman and the wider region,” he said. “Universities do three things: teaching and learning, research, and an active involvement with the community.

“The Muscat University wants to be involved with the community and we want to be an active corporate citizen as well, so that we can actually contribute towards the good of the country,” added Cahalan. “We engage with employers, with industries and with the government in order to make sure we are providing what’s needed.

“It’s really practical and grounded in what the country needs.”

GOALS: “Some of the challenges they enumerated included making

lessons interesting and enjoyable,” added Dr. Said Al Kitani, the Executive Director for Quality and Government Relations at the Muscat University.

FESTIVITIES

High price forces turkey out off the Christmas dinner table TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: It is the single most important item to grace any Christmas Day dinner table, but the price of turkey in Oman is forcing many to chicken out.

Christmas dinners mainly consist of turkey and stuffing, and with Christmas just five days away, some shoppers in Oman are paying up to OMR12 a kilo for turkey – and that’s without the trimmings.

Others are opting out. With one chaintore revealing that 300kg of turkey will be sold in the days leading up to Christmas, it’s a profitable time for producers keen to gobble up their share of the market.

Marianne, a German resident

in Muscat, said, “In our family, the tradition is that my dad makes Christmas dinner and we get our meat from Germany when he goes there before Christmas.

“We usually do not have turkey as part of our tradition but because of the cost involved here, we generally buy what we need for our feast from Germany,” she added.

This year, fresh turkey across the four major grocery stores in the Sultanate has been going for OMR3.5 to OMR12 a kilo, while frozen alternative goes for OMR2.3 to OMR3.2 a kilo.

Raison, an Assistant Marketing Manager at the Lulu Hypermarket, said turkey prices were normal across the GCC. “The prices were normal and the same everywhere,

This year, fresh turkey across the four major grocery stores in the Sultanate has been going for OMR3.5 to OMR12 a kilo, while frozen alternative goes for OMR2.3 to OMR3.2 a kilo

including Dubai and elsewhere.

Easter and Christmas are the two days when we sell the most. We have frozen turkey throughout the year, but these two days are more profitable,” said Raison. He explained that they expect 300 kilograms of fresh turkey to be deliv-

ered to their main stores in Muscat and Sohar on December 22, and it will be sold for OMR3.5 to OMR4.5 per kilogram. Those celebrating Christmas say it is expensive to celebrate in Oman as they have to cough up anywhere between OMR100 to OMR200 on the day.

Aside from the main turkey dish, dinner also includes a serving of stuffing, ham, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce and other side dishes, all of these making for an expensive feast.

Apart from the dinner, Christmas decorations are a must. These

include a Christmas tree and lightings, gifts and stockings. Indeed, it is a costly holiday to celebrate.

Eva, a Filipina resident in Muscat, said she would have to pay an arm and a leg this festive season in the Sultanate. “We usually have friends and family coming over to celebrate Christmas with us. So I would have to buy the usual turkey and ham for dinner. On top of that, there is wine, a Christmas tree, some decorations, costumes and gifts and all of that is just too expensive this year. And all this for only a couple of days’ worth of festivities,” Eva lamented. Some opt to get their meals from abroad and have their own traditions instead of paying for the overly expensive produce in the Sultanate.

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A5

OMAN

Remittances to India dip post note scrapping

A’ S A D D PA R K

Another Musandam park goes solar HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

On November 8, Indian Prime

We have suffered a dip of OMR500,000 during the past one month. As recipients in India are facing difficulties in withdrawing remitted money, senders are not doing it through IMTs

Minister Narendra Modi announced that at the stroke of midnight, some Rs14 trillion worth of 500- and 1,000-rupee notes

Rajan B,

would no longer be

General Manager of Al Jadeed MoneyExchange

legal tender, pushing the Indian economy into chaos

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Two money exchange houses in Oman saw a dip of at least OMR1.2 million in Instant Money Transfer (IMT) as recipients in India continue to face difficulty in withdrawing cash following the Indian government’s November 8 decision to scrap Rs500 and 1,000 notes.

“The IMTs have fallen by 15 per cent. The loss would be approximately OMR700,000 during the last month,” Madhusoodanan R, General Manager at Global Money Exchange, managed by the State Bank of Travancore, said.

“IMTs are going down, especially those destined for northern India,” he added.

On November 8, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi an-

nounced that at the stroke of midnight, some Rs14 trillion worth of 500- and 1,000-rupee notes – 86 per cent of all the currency in circulation – would no longer be legal tender, pushing the Indian economy into chaos.

Another money exchange house boss said they witnessed a 50 per cent dip in IMTs to India.

“We have suffered a dip of OMR500,000 during the past one month. As recipients in India are facing difficulties in withdrawing remitted money, senders are not doing it through IMTs,” Rajan B, General Manager of Al Jadeed MoneyExchange in Oman, said.

So far, non-resident Indians holding the scrapped currency have not been offered any practical and easy options by the Indian government to exchange the currency. Those receiving these remittances back in India are facing difficulty in withdrawing the remitted money.

As banks and ATMs are drying up due to cash crunch, NRIs had begun sending money by IMTs to

Western Union and other agencies in India.

However, as they are also facing cash crunch, recipients have been given cheques.

“I had sent money to my mother through IMT. But instead of giving liquid cash, the outlet had given her cheque. Now, she has to stand in a long queue and face hassles to get the money,” Sunil Kumar K, a resident in Muscat, said.

Quite difficult “Many NRIs are now not remitting money as it’s quite difficult for the recipient to withdraw it.

They are waiting to see if the situation improves,” Sunil added.

Money exchange houses confirmed that cash crunch due to scrapping of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes had resulted in 10 to 20 per cent fall in remittance from Oman.

Tonny George Alexander, director, Oman UAE Exchange, said the problem in cash transfers has affected his business.

He didn’t quantify the decline

INCREASE FOOTPRINT

Encourage individuals to shift to renewable energy SYED HAITHAM HASAN

haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Best way to increase renewable energy’s footprint in Oman is by encouraging individuals to install gadgets to harness these energy resources, according to an official at The Research Council (TRC).

Commenting on the future of renewable energy in Oman, Dr. Ahmed Al Busaidi, programme manager of renewable energy research at TRC, said the implementation must start at a low scale, in small residential buildings and then turn to large scale use. “Residents in Oman must look at solar based home solutions, which include using devices such as solar panels to power household electric equipment.

This is certainly the best way forward towards a future with less dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.

“Currently, solar energy can be exploited in certain areas, such as farm irrigation, where solar panels can be installed. The cost of these panels is not too high, as was the case a few years ago.

The period of return has come down, too, and it is now a viable solution,” he added. One of the proposed energy policies at the Tanfeedh labs—the national programme for enhancing economic diversification—is to invest in renewable resources so that 10 per cent of total energy generated by 2025 comes from renewable resources. According to the proposal, three quarters of this energy will be harnessed from the sun.

Al Busaidi argued that there is a huge potential and making a shift towards non-conventional energy resources is necessary.

“Although profitable solar energy use requires long term investment and returns are expected after a decade of implementation, there is a need for clean energy resources so that we don’t burn all the available natural resources. Also, we must not forget the health and environment aspects, which are affected adversely if we continue to burn fossil fuels,”

Residents in Oman must look at solar based home solutions, which include using devices such as solar panels to power household electric equipment.

This is certainly the best way forward towards a future with less dependence on fossil fuels Dr. Ahmed Al Busaidi Programme manager of renewable energy research at The Research Council he explained. Citing the example of Morocco where returns from investment in solar energy were expected in 14 years but came much ahead of time, Al Busaidi noted that prices of solar energy solutions are falling in Oman and efficient solutions are widely available for personal use, therefore the period of return has been slashed considerably.

According to L.K. Verma, Managing Director of Dubai-based solar energy company, Power n Sun, countries in the Gulf will eventually adopt solar energy harnessing echnologies. “It is only a matter of time when GCC countries start using solar solutions for electricity generation. The potential is too huge to ignore,” he said.

He added that the extent to which individuals will adopt solar energy usage will depend on government policies, such as allowing individuals to minimize costs by supplying electricity to the grid

through their personal sources.

From 2006 to 2014, cost of production of electricity from solar energy dropped by 78 per cent from $3.25 to $.72 per unit worldwide. A solar energy system producing 100kW of electricity can cost around OMR50-60.

In Oman, price per unit for generating electricity from solar energy sources is around 25 bz per unit while a conventional fossil fuelled power costs around 2080bz per unit depending on the source. However, no subsidies are provided to the private sector using solar energy while consumption of electricity derived from conventional resources is heavily subsidized. An official from Nafath Renewable Energy said there were no regulations to govern home use of solar technology and policies are still being worked on, so companies are not allowed to sell home solar systems to individuals yet.

but conceded a drop in business.

“As recipients are facing issues, those remitting money are holding back and waiting to see whether the situation becomes better,” he added.

Recently, a senior official of the SBT had said the Indian government has set up a panel to look into non-resident Indians’ concerns about scrapped Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes.

“The government has set up a special ministerial committee to look into NRIs’ concerns regarding the currency with them in these denominations. Soon, they will come up with a solution,” CR Sasikumar, SBT managing director, said.

The Indian ambassador in Oman also confirmed the move and assured that NRIs’ concerns in this regard will be addressed.

“Moreover, we have requested the government to issue an advisory for NRIs regarding demonetisation,” Indra Mani Pandey, Indian ambassador to Oman, had told the Times of Oman earlier.

MUSCAT: Solar-powered lights lit up A’Sadd Park for the first time on Sunday, according to Ahmed Al Kamzari, assistant director of Daba Municipality.

This is the second public park in Musandam to have replaced electric light poles with energy-saving ones. As the country’s smallest governorate to have eco-friendly lights, it has again proved it was capable of paving the way towards fostering a culture of sustainable energy in Oman, according to the municipality.

Collect energy Explaining the functioning of the lights, Al Kamzari said the panels atop these poles collect energy from the sun throughout the day and lights come on when the skies get dimmer.

“The lights are switched on automatically in the evening or when the skies become dark or cloudy,” Al Kamzari explained.

Fifteen poles are now lighting up 90 per cent of A’Sadd park at a cost of OMR6,000.

One year ago, the Daba Municipality had set up around 20 solarpowered lights in Al Ghorabiyah Park. “We saved 50 per cent energy after installing these poles,” said Ahmed Al Shihi, director of the municipality.

Al Kamzari said the municipality adopted the idea after it saw the success of the environment friendly lights in other countries.

Al Shihi said more solar lighting installations were being planned in the near future. Street lights may also be included during long-term planning. “Parks are nice places where families can enjoy nature. Hence, we believe that making these environmentfriendly comes with the ambiance,” Al Shihi said.

GOING GREEN: Fifteen poles are now lighting up to 90 per cent of A’Sadd park at a cost of OMR6,000.

A6

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

OMAN EXHIBITION OF DOCUMENTS

Sayyid Haitham praises NRAA role MUSCAT: Praising the programmes implemented by National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture said that the NRAA has taken proper steps since its inception.

The permanent national exhibition of documents and archives was opened at the Airport Heights in Muscat yesterday under the auspices of Sayyid Haitham.

He added that this exhibition will be a reference for researchers and scholars, commending the role played by the NRAA in highlighting the history of the Sultanate.

Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dhoyani, Chairman of NRAA said

that the opening of this exhibition stems from the belief in the importance of highlighting the cultural and historical role of the Sultanate through the different eras,

the role of Omanis in contributing to the human civilisation and in confirmation of the importance of documents in scientific research and intellectual creativity.

The exhibition comes to highlight the timeless historical position and the deep-rooted civilisation of the Sultanate.

It also comes to narrate the wonderful tale of glory and authentic cultural heritage to the world.

The Omani history is not only told on papers, but carved on the stones of Sumer and Akkad, drawn on international maps, minted on stamps and coins, documented in manuscripts, written in international newspapers and magazines, and recited in the pictures and movies.

The opening ceremony was attended by ministers, undersecretaries, and honourable members at the State Council. -ONA

Pakistan envoy meets MMG Chairman MUSCAT: Pakistani ambassador Ali Javed visited the headquarters of the Times of Oman in Muscat recently and held a cordial meeting with Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, the Editor-in-Chief of the Times of Oman and Chairman of the Muscat Media Group.

The Ambassador briefed Zadjali on the bilateral relations that draw their strength from a historical kinship, tied through a unique blood-bond dating back to the preIslamic era, and highlighted the convergence of a strategic vision between the people and leaderships in both countries.

The ambassador recalled with respect and appreciation the services rendered towards the cause of Pakistan-Oman friendship by late Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali, the founder of the Times of Oman, and praised the paper’s long-standing commitment for consolidation of bilateral ties.

The Editor-in-Chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali fondly recalled that his late father Essa bin Moham-

The 5th version of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature for Omanis

HISTORICAL TIES

Times News Service

Dr. Madiha to preside over award function

med, who founded the Sultanate’s first and largest English daily, i.e., the Times of Oman, in 1975, had received his early education in Karachi.

He appreciated the contribution made by the Pakistani community towards building the Omani society and observed that bilateral relations rest on very solid foundations. He reiterated the Times of Oman’s commitment to furthering the historical bonds of friendship with Pakistan.

The 90-minute-long meeting concluded with the ambassador presenting to Zadjali an advance copy of the Special Edition of Embassy Newsletter on “Sultanate of Oman: National Day” that showcases a wide range of festivities and events to mark the 46th National day of Oman, organized by the Pakistani community, the PIA, the HBL, the Pakistan Social Club, the Pakistan School System and private educational institutions with their roots in Pakistan, including the Beaconhouse City School as well as American Lycetuff.

CORDIAL MEETING: Pakistani ambassador Ali Javed with Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali, the Editor-in-Chief of the Times of Oman and Chairman of the Muscat Media Group.

will be given at Al Wahat Club in Muscat

MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education, Chairperson of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science will patronise over the ceremony of the 5th version of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature for Omanis at Al Wahat Club in Muscat.

Ministers, undersecretaries, representatives of the Arab cultural awards, namely the Secretary-General of the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, the Secretary General of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation, Secretary General of the Tayeb Saleh International Award for Creative Writing, and a representative of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, in addition to journalists, intellectuals, writers and artists from within and outside Oman will attend the ceremony.

The ceremony will include a speech by Habib bin Mohammed

Al Riyami, Secretary-General of Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, to be followed by a musical performance by the Omani Society for Amateur Oud that contains traditional music and classic Omani songs.

The honouring ceremony will begin when Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibaniyah present the Order of Merit for Culture and Science, Arts and Literature for the three winners in the areas of translation, folklore arts of Oman and the novel.

The fields of the 6th edition 2017 of Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature (open for Arabs) will be revealed at the end of the ceremony.

The last four versions of the award were handed over to 12 Omani and Arab intellectuals, artists and men of literature in 12 fields, arts and culture, namely: historical studies, contemporary thought issues and educational studies, as well as studies in Arabic language, painting, music, photography, Arab calligraphy, short story, Arab poetry, theatre writing and children’s literature. -ONA

CRUDE PRICE

< FROM

A1 Deficit for first 10 months of 2016 rises Following the global oil price dip from mid-2014, Oman’s budget deficit for the first eight months of 2015 rose to OMR2.68 billion, eventually forcing the country remove its fuel subsidy.

And according to latest government data, Oman’s budget deficit for the first 10 months of 2016 has surged by 46.7 per cent to OMR4.81 billion.

This is against a projected deficit of OMR3.3 billion for the entire year and a deficit of OMR3.26 billion for January-October period of 2015.

This year on January 13, Oman removed the subsidy and the new prices came into effect two days after the announcement.

On January 1, this year, while one litre of super grade petrol was sold at 120 baisas, it became

160 baisas after removal of the subsidy on January 15. Similarly, regular grade petrol cost only 114 baisas per litre. After removal it became 140 baisas. Diesel which cost 146 baisas per litre before subsidy removal, became 160 baisas after.

Latest inflation figures from the government reveal that transport prices jumped 10.2 per cent from a year earlier after Oman raised domestic petrol and diesel prices.

“The price increase has prompted us to do car sharing.

Earlier, while going to different locations, we used to drive our own cars. Now, we share cars. A new good habit after the subsidy removal,” Mohammed Suleiman, an IT engineer and a resident in Muscat, said.

NS Rajiv, who runs a transport

company in Muscat, said that he has suffered at least a 30 per cent drop in profits this year due to removal of the fuel subsidy.

“I have been in the transport business for the last 30 years in Oman. This is the first time I am suffering such a loss. As my contracts with companies are for two years and three years, I cannot increase the fare in line with fuel price increases. We are stuck,” Rajiv, who manages around 50 buses in Muscat, said.

Mohammed Fahad, a taxi driver in Ruwi, said:“I am struggling a lot to make both ends meet.

“We cannot increase the fare in line with fluctuating fuel price.

It’s a tough time for us,” the taxi driver said.

Meanwhile, Rajeev KR, a senior official at Siraj Al Jazeera

Projects, a fuel sales company in Oman, said that fuel price rises have not helped them.

“Even though prices have gone up, profits are down. Year on year sales increase is around 9 per cent. This year from January 1 till December 1, our sales have come down to 1.2 per cent,” Rajeev said.

“Economic conditions, motorists becoming sensible and adopting car sharing ideas have hit our sales leading to profit dip,” Rajeev added.

Mubeen Khan, chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in Muscat, said that the government had to do away with the subsidies on petroleum products to keep up with the economic realities due to the severe drop in government revenue on the back of falling oil prices.

PAC A

THAI AIRASIA X

Oman to

A1 Thai AirAsia X load host aviation factor came down meeting < FROM

Passengers can contact the AirAsia Call Centre in Thailand at +662-515-9999 or in Oman at Tel +968-2478-0016 (Sunday to Thursday) to receive assistance or submit your request via an EForm at http://www.airasia.com/ th/en/e-form.page today (Monday) onwards.

“Thai AirAsia X apologises for any inconvenience and affirms it will continue to serve flights from Bangkok to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, Seoul, South Korea and Shanghai, China as usual,” it added. Travel agents in Oman said the summer was good for AirAsia X but after that, load factor had dropped drastically which prompted them to shelve their Muscat operations.

Passengers were not able to book their tickets online for January, 2017. “I had been trying hard to book tickets through their website for the beginning of 2017 but every time the website merely said ‘Looks like the flights for this date are unavailable or sold out. Please select another date or

refer to our flight schedule for details,’” said Satish, an Indian expat who was planning a Januaryend vacation in Thailand.

The airline had launched Muscat to Thailand operations with three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) flight in June 2016.

More than 72,000 Omani tourists visited Thailand between January and August, 2016. “As of 31 October, 2016, we had a total of 27,076,308 tourists from all over the world visiting Thailand this year,” the official added.

Omanis do not require a tourist visa to visit Thailand for a period of 30 days. “They can also apply for a multiple-entry visa with six months validity and entitlement to stay for a period of 60 days at a time. Those wishing to seek medical treatment can apply for a 60day medical tourist visa, which can be renewed up to six months, depending on submission of supporting documents from hospitals,” according to the Thailand Embassy in Oman.

MUSCAT: The Sultanate will host on December 21 and 22 the 55th meeting of the Executive Council for the Arab Civil Aviation Commission, which will be held at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) premises under the chair of Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za’abi, CEO of the PACA. Delegations of nine Arab countries, in addition to the Director General of ACAC and representative of League of Arab will attend the meeting.

The meeting will discuss civil aviation issues of common interest among Arab countries including air transport, air navigation, air safety, air security and environment.

The ACAC Executive Council is responsible for following up the implementation of the decisions taken by the General Assembly, following up the implementation of its plans and programmes, and taking measures to achieve the aims of the Commission and develop the services it renders. -ONA

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

A7

REGION CORRUPTION

Israeli billionaire under house arrest in Guinea bribery inquiry TEL AVIV/LONDON: Israeli authorities placed billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz under house arrest on Monday over allegations of bribery and corruption in Africa linked to his mining company, BSG Resources (BSGR).

Steinmetz, along with other Israelis living abroad, is alleged to have paid tens of millions of dollars to senior public officials in Guinea to advance their businesses, a police spokesman said in a statement.

Questioning The 60-year-old was detained earlier in the day for questioning and will remain under house arrest until January 2. BSGR said in a statement that the allegations

SHOOTING SPREE

‘Gunmen planned wider attacks in Jordan’ AMMAN: Four gunmen who shot dead nine people in Jordan on Sunday had stored suicide vests and other weapons that indicated they planned wider attacks across the country, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad said.

Jordanian security forces said they had killed four “terrorist outlaws” after flushing them out of a Crusader castle in the southern city of Karak. They had holed up there after killing a Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers.

“This was a big terrorist operation but we are still in the stage of follow-up of information that relates to it,” Hamad told a news conference on Monday. Authorities have yet to say if the attack, unusual for Jordan, was driven by militancy, tribal grievances or some other cause.

Jordan is an ally of Washington and one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a US-led air campaign against IS in Syria.

But many Jordanians oppose their country’s involvement, and officials worry about the potential for radicalisation, especially in poor urban centres and deprived outlying rural and desert areas.

Hamad said at least five suicide belts were found, together with an ammunition store, automatic guns and explosives in a hideout in a house in the desert town of Qatranah, 30km (20 miles) northeast of Karak.

Many tribal residents in the region are heavily armed and have long resisted state authority.

The gunmen had fled to Karak after an exchange of fire with the police, Hamad said. Based on the quantities of explosives and weapons, “I don’t think the target was just Karak castle, it’s more,” he added.

He gave no details on the identity or nationality of the attackers, saying investigations were continuing and disclosing details at this stage could hamper national security. — Reuters

were baseless and Yuval Sasson, a lawyer for Steinmetz and BSGR in Israel, said the proceedings were “a recycling of an old process led by the government of Guinea...in order to illegally expropriate BSGR’s mining rights”.

“These are continuous and baseless attempts meant to conceal the corruption aimed at illegally expropriating assets,” Sasson said in a statement. BSGR said in a separate statement that the investigations were initiated by the government of Guinea with international police organisations in the United States, Britain and Switzerland.

A Guinean government spokesman declined to say whether the African country was involved in the case, but said the govern-

Beny Steinmetz, along with other Israelis living abroad, is alleged to have paid tens of millions of dollars to senior public officials in Guinea to advance their businesses, a police spokesman said in a statement.

ment would fight corruption and uphold the principle of judicial independence.

Commitment “The Guinean government will assume its responsibilities and will respect the commitment of

Meanwhile, on Sunday, settlers due to be evicted from an outpost in the occupied West Bank under an Israeli court order accepted a government-proposed deal to head off a forced evacuation and confrontation with troops.

The Supreme Court had ruled that the Amona outpost, where 330 settlers live, must be evacuated by Dec. 25.

The court found that Amona was built illegally on privatelyowned Palestinian land.

The case, a test of authority between an increasingly politically powerful far-right in Israel and an independent judiciary, led to legislation that would retroactively legalise settlement homes on Palestinian-owned tracts. — Reuters

Thousands evacuated from rebel-held Aleppo after deal In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city, and more buses left the villages of Al Foua and Kefraya for government lines

BEIRUT: Thousands were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of the Aleppo on Monday after a deal was reached to allow people to leave two besieged progovernment villages in nearby Idlib province.

In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city, and more buses left the villages of Al Foua and Kefraya for government lines, according to a UN official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

The United Nations Security Council agreed a resolution calling for UN officials and others to be allowed to monitor evacuations from east Aleppo and the safety of civilians still there.

The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja’afari, denounced the resolution as propaganda, saying the last of the rebels were leaving and Aleppo would be “clean” by Monday evening.

The recapture of Aleppo is Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s biggest victory so far in the nearly six-year-old war, but the fighting

FOR SAFER PLACE: Civilians from the remaining rebel-held pockets of eastern Aleppo are evacuated from the embattled city by bus on Monday. – AFP

is not over with large parts of the country still controlled by insurgent and hardline groups.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 20,000 civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo so far.

Nearly 50 children, some critically injured, were rescued from eastern Aleppo, where they had been trapped in an orphanage, the United Nations said.

The evacuation of civilians from the two villages had been demanded by the Syrian army and its allies before they would allow fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. The stand-off halted the Aleppo evacuation over the weekend.

“Complex evacuations from East Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya now in full swing. More than 900 buses needed to evacuate all. We must not fail,” Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted.

Ahmad Al Dbis, a medical aid

STRICT LABOUR CODES

More professions should be open to Saudi women: Official RIYADH: A senior Saudi cleric and a health ministry official said women should be allowed to work as paramedics and opticians, Saudi newspapers reported on Monday, part of a push to relax strict labour codes in the kingdom.

The government announced an economic reform plan in June that aims to increase the number of women as a proportion of the workforce to 28 per cent from 23 per cent by 2020 and to quadruple the number of women in senior civil service roles to 5 per cent.

Saudi Arabia is the only country where women are forbidden to drive, making it harder for them to get to work. Regulations also bar them from certain professions, while rules on gender mixing in shops and businesses further limit job opportunities.

“It’s fine (for a woman) to work as a paramedic, provided she’s decent and in the lawful attire,” a senior member of the state-appointed body of clerics, the Ulama, Sheikh Abdullah Al Manea told the Okaz daily.

the head of state to fight against corruption,” Damantang Albert Camara said. BSGR described Steinmetz as an adviser to the company, which is headquartered in the Channel Islands and is a mining arm of Steinmetz’s business conglomerate.

A BSGR spokesman told Reuters that Steinmetz does not sit on BSGR’s board or have an executive role, but “is the beneficiary of the foundation which owns BSG Resources”.

A Guinean government panel reviewing the West African nation’s mining deals investigated how BSGR obtained the rights to the Simandou deposit, one of the world’s largest untapped iron ore resources, in 2008. Mining giant Rio Tinto and BSGR have both launched legal claims over the rights to Simandou. Guinea’s former minister of mines, Mahmoud Thiam, was arrested in New York last week on charges he was involved in bribery payments linked to Guinea’s mining industry.

BOOSTING EMPLOYMENT:

Women in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah. – AFP

Women are already allowed to work as doctors and have volunteered as medics in the holy city of Mecca during the Haj pilgrimage for the past few years, with similar requirements for modest dress. Mohammad Bajbair, a senior health official in the Red Sea commercial hub of Jeddah, told the Saudi Gazette that women could work in opticians’ shops as long as they do not mix with men.

“If a complaint is received by the health affairs department about the mixed environment

then the shop might be closed down,” said Bajbair. Out of 144 nations, only Iran, Yemen and Syria place lower than Saudi Arabia in a gender equality ranking compiled by the World Economic Forum.

Saudi Arabia’s economic plan envisages weaning the economy off its high dependence on oil and increasing the range of jobs available to citizens.

It does not specifically mandate more open social mores in Saudi Arabia, but it challenges decades of practice by seeking to open theme parks and cinemas to boost the entertainment sector.

The plan provided few concrete details on how to boost female employment but said the government aims to spend 2.78 billion riyals ($741.19 million) to improve transport options for working women.

The government’s newly refashioned sovereign wealth fund has also invested $3.5 billion in US ride-hailing service Uber, a popular tool for transportation among Saudi women. — Reuters

worker heading a team evacuating patients from Aleppo, said 89 buses had left the city. “Some evacuees told us that a few children died from the long wait and the intense cold while they were waiting to evacuate,” he told Reuters.

For those still in rebel-held Aleppo, conditions were grim, according to Aref Al Aref, a nurse and photographer there.

“I’m still in Aleppo. I’m waiting for them to evacuate the children and women first. It’s very cold and there’s hunger. It’s a long wait,” he told Reuters. “People are burning wood and clothes to keep warm in the streets.”

Photographs of people evacuated from Aleppo showed large groups of people standing or crouching with their belongings or loading sacks onto trucks.

Children in winter clothes carried small backpacks or played with kittens. One older man, in traditional Arab robes and headdress, sat holding a stick.

On Sunday, some of the buses sent to Al Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men.

That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia - Assad’s main supporter - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold talks in Moscow on Tuesday aimed at giving fresh impetus for a solution in Aleppo.

At stake is the fate of thousands of people still stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied militias under an intense bombardment that pulverised large sections of the city.

They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have been prevented from doing so during days of hold-ups.

In the square in Aleppo’s Sukari district, organisers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses.

“Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape,” said Salah Al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria. They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north.

For four years the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months.

A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble everywhere and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed.

Traders began to return to their stores in the Old City to see if they could be fixed up.

One merchant, Jamal Deeb, said: “We are all here to see what the situation is like, and to consider reconstructing the stores.

We do not want to leave things as they are, hand in hand we want to rebuild everything once again.”

East of Aleppo, several villages held by IS have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, the Observatory said.

The advance is part of a campaign backed by an international coalition to drive IS from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. — Reuters

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

INDIA POST NOTE BAN

Provident fund interest on deposit slashed to four-year low of 8.65% BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Retirement fund body EPFO on Monday slashed interest on deposits to a four-year low of 8.65 per cent this fiscal in tandem with falling rates on savings due to surge in bank deposits post demonetisation.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had provided 8.8 per cent rate of interest on deposits for 2015-16 to its 40 million contributing subscribers. It maintained 8.75 per cent for 201314 and 2014-15 while it was 8.5 per cent in 2012-13.

“We have decided the interest rate for EPF subscribers at 8.65 per cent for 2016-17.

“The decision was arrived at after detailed consultations with all stakeholders. With consensus we have taken this decision,” Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters here.

After the 215th meeting of EPFO’s apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees

(CBT), the minister said: “In spite of giving 8.65 per cent interest rate, we have surplus of Rs2.69 billion.”

He said that despite reduction, EPF paid the highest rate among others like Public Provident Fund (PPF), where the interest rate is 8.1 per cent; General Provident Fund (GPF), 8 per cent and post office term deposits that start from 7.10 per cent for one year.”

“The overall scenario is such that interest rates are coming down. We are giving the highest interest rate for workers. It indicates our ministry and our prime minister’s commitment to protect the interest of employees,” he added.

The Finance Ministry has been reportedly asking the Labour Ministry to bring the EPF interest rate in alignment with other small saving schemes like PPF of the government.

Earlier this year, it lowered interest rate on EPF for 2015-16 to 8.7 per cent from 8.8 per cent approved by the CBT but the step

was retracted after protests by trade unions. Interest income from PF investments for 2016-17 has been estimated mainly on the basis of interest income received or receivable in this financial year, including surplus of Rs 410 crore from previous year, an official said.

“Last year, the interest rate decided was at 8.8 per cent. At that time, along with the income of EPFO, the surplus from the previous year was Rs16 billion. This year, along with the income, the surplus available is Rs 4.1 billion,” EPFO’s Central Provident Fund Commissioner V. P. Joy said on the reduction in interest rate.

As the surplus has come down compared to the previous year, interest has been reduced by 0.15 percentage point compared to last year, he said, adding that “if we had declared more interest rate this year, surplus from this year for next year would have been less.”

Dattatreya also said that a decision has been taken to reduce

EPFO administrative charges from 0.85 per cent at present to 0.65 per cent on total wage on which contributions are payable.

The CBT also recommended to abolish administrative charges levied in implementing the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 passing on the benefits of efficiency and computerisation to employers, a Labour Ministry statement said.

The Central Board also decided to constitute a sub-committee of CBT with members drawn from employees and employer representatives to make a pragmatic study of employment trends for next 10 years and recommend appropriate administrative charges to the Central Board, it added.

The minister said a campaign will be undertaken to meet the twin objectives of increasing the enrolment of new workers, thereby extending social security benefits to all workers and reduce litigation. - PTI

SPELLING OUT: Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Badaru Dattatreya speaks during a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday. - PTI

Opposition stalled parliament to defend the dishonest: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money.

But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament ...

I am puzzled

KANPUR: Stepping up attack on Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that Parliament was not allowed to function as rival parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on issues like graft and simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said the BJP welcomes it.

Addressing BJP’s ‘Parivartan Rally’ here, he also said that some politicians had tried to “provoke” people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient

RALLY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the BJP Parivartan Rally in Kanpur on Monday.

and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

Agenda “Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled,” Modi said, days after the Winter session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

He said he had given a suggestion at an all-party meeting con-

vened before the Winter session of Parliament that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

“But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue,” the prime minister said.

He said “earlier, the opposition would disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt and bring out scams. But this time,

- PTI

Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate.”

Singling out Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India.

“But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor people do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now

DECEMBER 30 DEADLINE

Sushma Swaraj discharged from hospital NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was on Monday discharged from All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS), 10 days after she underwent a kidney transplant at the premier hospital.

Doctors decided to discharge her after all her latest biochemical tests were found normal including kidney function.

“Sushma Swaraj has been discharged from Hospital at 7pm after her postoperative uneventful recovery following kidney transplant operation on December 10,” the AIIMS said in a statement.

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, who is president of AIIMS, visited Swaraj before her discharge and expressed satisfaction about her recovery. A team of doctors will continue to review Swaraj’s progress over next several weeks, AIIMS Director M. C. Misra said. Sixty-four-year-old Swaraj has been advised to restrict visitors for next three months at home and office to minimise the chances of infection. - PTI

A I R B A S E AT TA C K

Government tightens norms for deposit of old currency notes NEW DELHI: Tightening rules for depositing junked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, the government on Monday said individuals can deposit over Rs5,000 in old currency bills only once until December 30 and that too after explaining why it had not been done so far.

After banning old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8, the government had allowed all of the cash holdings with any person to be deposited in bank accounts till December 30. There was no limit on the quantity or value of the junked notes that could be deposited. However, the government on December 17 issued a gazette notification putting restrictions on deposits henceforth.

“The deposits of old notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 denominations have been reviewed by the government from time to time.

Already more than five weeks have elapsed since the time of the announcement of the cancellation of the legal tender character of these notes. It is expected that, by now, most of the people would have deposited such old notes in their possession,” an official statement said.

With a view to “reduce the queues in the banks”, the govern-

they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies,” the prime minister said. He said Congress has always shied away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying about then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point.

“Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what is said by Kesri),” he said.

Modi told the gathering that the decision to demonetise Rs1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes has shown that there are two sides in the country — one consisting of a “handful” of people who have been defending those who exploit the middle class and snatch the right of the poor and the other comprising of those who are fighting corruption and the scourge of black money. Attacking the Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh, Modi alleged that “goons are troubling the people openly as they have the blessings of those in power in the state”.

He hoped that people of the sate will “vote for change” in the assembly polls due early next year.

The prime minister asked people to spread the word that government is beginning a lucky draw scheme for people using cards and E-wallets for purchases and merchants accepting digital payments.

He said only those who buy anything between Rs50 and Rs3,000 will be eligible for the draw as it is meant to encourage the common man and not the rich. - PTI

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

DEFUNCT CURRENCY: After banning old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8, the government had allowed all of the cash holdings with any person to be deposited in bank accounts till December 30. - PTI file photo

ment said it has now been decided that “amounts exceeding Rs5,000 in old notes can be deposited only once between now and December 30, 2016.”

“The banks have been advised to conduct due diligence regard-

ing the reasons for not depositing these notes earlier,” the statement said.

Amounts of Rs 5,000 or less may continue to be deposited with banks in the customer’s account, as at present.

“However, cumulative deposits exceeding Rs5,000 between December 19 and December 30, 2016 will be as per the procedures advised by the RBI in respect of deposits exceeding Rs 5,000,” it said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) too came out with deposit guideline stipulating that restrictive conditions will also apply on the cumulative deposit of such notes in a single account when it exceeds Rs 5,000.

However, the defunct currency up to any amount can be deposited under the new black money amnesty scheme, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana(PMGKY).

Also, the government said a separate notification has been issued allowing District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) to deposit the old notes they collected between November 10 and 14.

“National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, which supervises the DCCBs, will conduct complete audit check of the Know Your Customer (KYC) documents of the individual customers who have deposited these notes or of the members of the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) who have deposited these notes,” the statement said. - PTI

JeM chief named in NIA charge sheet in Pathankot case NEW DELHI: Wrapping up investigations in the Pathankot airbase attack case, National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a charge sheet against Jaish-eMohammed(JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy of the January two audacious terror strike that left seven personnel dead and 37 others injured.

The charge sheet was filed in the NIA court at Panchkula in which all the four have been slapped with charges under Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Besides Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers — Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan — have been named in the exhaustive charge sheet. While Interpol Red Corner Notice against three has been issued, the same was pending against Jan, the NIA said. The charge sheet will also put to rest speculation about the number of terrorists involved in the attack as the agency gave details of only four militants. There was confusion about the number of terrorists as Defence Minister Manohar Parikar and Home Min-

ister Rajnath Singh had informed that the number was six.

The charge sheet also hinted of lax security at the strategic IAF base in Pathankot and said that the four terrorists -- Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom-- who were Pakistani nationals belonging to Jaish, had entered the premises at 0840 hours of January one and entrenched themselves in a drain and adjacent shed belonging to Military Engineering Services.

The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight only at 0320 hours of January two, 19 hours after they had entered the IAF base.

The charge sheet is likely to be used by India in advocating its case for imposing sanctions against Azhar, released in 1999 in exchange of IC-814 hijacked Indian Airlines Plane, under the United Nations anti-terror law, officials said. The terror case saw an unusual move from India and Pakistan as Islamabad had sent its probe team to Pathankot.

They were handed over all the documents and allowed to question everyone except security personnel involved in foiling the attempts of the terrorists. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

CPEC to generate returns for paying back foreign debt There is important relationship between the International Monetary Fund loan and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as Pakistan will start repaying the IMF debt in 2018

STRATEGIC PORT: This file photograph taken on April 13, 2016, shows a general view of the dockside at the port of Gwadar, some 700km west of Karachi. - AFP file photo

KARACHI: Pakistan has completed its loan programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September this year with inflows of $6.4 billion over a period of 36 months.

This borrowing helped ease the strain on the balance of payments and enabled the country to bear cost of its foreign debt.

In the meantime, foreign currency reserves of the country, which had dropped to dangerously low levels three years ago, swelled to an all-time high in 2016.

The loan programme successfully ended at a time when Pakistan kicked off work on a raft of infrastructure projects including the building of energy plants and ports and construction of roads

and highways under the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). There is important relationship between the IMF loan and CPEC as Pakistan will start repaying the IMF debt in 2018 and this will be the time when CPEC will start giving returns to Beijing and Islamabad.

Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Shahbaz Ashraf calculated that China had so far invested $1516 billion in CPEC projects.

The projects, especially the power production plants, would help Pakistan’s GDP to grow by an additional two percentage points from Financial Year 2019, he said.

Apart from this, services to China for transporting its trade cargo via Pakistan would generate $500700 million per annum for Islama-

bad, Ashraf said. “This amount may be utilised to pay back China’s debt for CPEC projects, which is mostly included in the power tariff to be recovered from end-consumers.” The first of the power projects is expected to come online by June 2017 in Punjab.

It will give some boost to the national economy and create resources for the country to clear IMF loan as well as service and reduce the huge overall foreign debt worth around $74 billion.

However, such developments will not come easily unless the government has the courage to tackle the persisting challenges and address fundamental faults in the economy and the political system.

“Significant challenges remain for Pakistan in the post-loan pe-

A9

riod,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhiro Furusawa said after the loan installments were completed. A senior economist, who was associated with the loan programme, outlined a number of existing problem areas, saying the tax-to-GDP ratio “is still very low…everywhere Pakistan is lagging behind (including) primary education.”

“Tax compliance is a national issue. Political class has to pay taxes,” he said.

Circular debt had been at the heart of crisis in the energy chain, but it was under control now, he said. The economist pointed to the business climate and governance as some other problem areas.“It is very difficult to do business and deal with bureaucracy in the

country,” he said. The deficit in balance of payments and weak exports were some other areas that required serious efforts on the part of the government.

“The efforts should not be restricted to an “incentive package… but some serious export promotion steps should be undertaken,” he said.

Former State Bank of Pakistan governor Dr Ishrat Husain was quoted as saying the other day, “Vested interests, which are likely to lose out under the reform process, have a strong political and economic hold on decision-making under every elected government.

“They make sure that only some cosmetic changes take place for acquiring IMF and other external financing and then go ahead with business as usual.”

London School of Economics’ Professor of Economics and Political Science Timothy John Besley, who visited Pakistan last week, said promotion of values and norms in the society were a must to create a culture of tax payment.

Responding to a question at a lecture, he said if someone in parliament and judiciary did not pay taxes, it had nothing to do with the regulations in place, but it was linked with the norms and values.

People would pay more taxes when the collection was reflected in investments in old-age benefits and education, he said. If governments in office do not address the fundamental faults, Pakistan will continue to beg for foreign loans to clear the previous ones. - Express Tribune

SINDH

Government sends IG on ‘forced leave’ KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday reportedly sent Inspector General(IG) A. D. Khawaja on ‘forced leave’.

Khawaja is said to have handed over a two-week application to the Sindh chief secretary. Additional IG Mushtaq Maher has been named the new IG following the development. The federal government had removed IG Ghulam Haider Jamali on November 12 and appointed Khawaja in his place following a Supreme Court directive. Man who patrolled streets as milk seller to uncover corrupt cops takes charge as new IG. According to reports, the Sindh government had submitted names of three candidates for the top post.

A day earlier, the top court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to efficiently and expeditiously probe corruption charges against Sindh police officers, including Jamali.

A larger bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, asked the country’s top anti-graft watchdog to complete inquiries in accordance with the law and present a report within a month.

The apex court had also directed the provincial chief secretary to find out what action the government will take against officers found guilty of corruption, which included the provincial police chief, saying the apex court would pass such orders otherwise. Khawaja, a member of the inquiry committee, had submitted reports before the top court regarding irregularities in the appointment of police officers. - Express Tribune

D E M O N S T R AT E D G R E AT G E N E R O S I T Y

Pakistan repatriation push, rising hostility alarms Afghan refugees ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Almost 40 years after seeking sanctuary in Pakistan, Nusheen Bibi lives in fear of being expelled from the only country she has ever known. Bibi was only three when her family fled the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan - some of more than 6 million Afghan refugees who crossed into neighbouring Pakistan and Iran.

They soon made a new life in northern Pakistan where Bibi grew up, got married and eventually gave birth. But growing animosity towards Afghan refugees combined with a push from the Pakistani government to repatriate thousands of Afghans has left the 40-year-old feeling vulnerable.

Under Pakistan’s laws, a foreign woman can acquire Pakistani citizenship by marrying a local man, but Bibi has never done the paper-

work to change her nationality.

“I can’t even think about leaving Pakistan,” the mother of five said in her home, a small mud house.

“How can I leave my children, husband and entire family of in-laws?” said Bibi, who asked that her real name not be used.

Pakistan has some 1.5 million registered refugees, one of the largest such populations in the world, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). More than a million others are estimated to live there unregistered. Although repatriation is not compulsory, Islamabad has stepped up pressure to send people back and numbers have risen sharply in recent months.

UNHCR said 67,057 refugees were permanently repatriated in August, up from 12,962 the month before. In all, more than 380,000 registered Afghan refugees have

returned home in 2016 so far, with more than 1.4 million still remaining in Pakistan, UNHCR said.

In September, Pakistan extended Afghan refugees’ right to stay until March 2017, but restrictions and harassment have increased, refugees and the UNHCR say.

Many Afghans complain of discrimination when considered for jobs and university places. Pakistani officials deny there has been systematic harassment of Afghans living in Pakistan and say their country has demonstrated great generosity to the refugee population, despite severe economic problems of its own.

Like Bibi, Dilshad Begum is also facing the threat of separation from her spouse. Begum was born in Mardan, a district of Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In 2003, she mar-

C O M B AT T E R R O R I S M

PTI submits adjournment motion in NA on Quetta carnage report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday submitted an adjournment motion in National Assembly on the judicial commission’s report following Quetta carnage.

The motion was submitted by PTI MNAs Shireen Mazari, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Munaza Hasan. The one-man commission report released by the Supreme Court on December 16 pointed out the ‘monumental failure’ of the interior ministry to combat terrorism.

“The report has raised serious issues relating to the non-implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism,” it said. “The report directly implicated the interior ministry in this failure,” it added.

The adjournment motion went on to add that “the report raised the issue of the interior minister inviting and holding meetings with the leaders of banned militant organisations.”

It further said, “the report exposed serious shortcomings in the government and state infrastructure, which have hindered the fight against terrorism.”

“As such it is a strong indictment of the government’s antiterrorism policy,” it maintained.

On Saturday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said that he had decided to resign over allegations of his political rivals following Supreme Court’s report on Quetta

DEFIANT: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday the Quetta carnage report was one sided and was released without including the Interior Ministry’s narrative. - AP/PTI file

hospital carnage. Nisar also said the report was one sided and was released without including the interior ministry’s narrative, saying “personal attacks were also hurled at me for no reason.”

On December 16, the PPP also submitted an adjournment motion against Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the National Assembly Secretariat, claiming that the interior minis-

ter was incapable of playing a role in combating terrorism.

According to the report, based on investigations into the Quetta incident in which 70 people, most of them lawyers, were killed, Nisar ‘displayed little sense of ministerial responsibility’ and that there was a continued delay on part of his ministry to take steps against militant groups and proscribed organisations. - Express Tribune

ried an Afghan man whose family migrated across the border.

But unlike foreign women, foreign men cannot acquire Pakistani citizenship through marriage.

The couple grew increasingly concerned about their future following brief clashes between Pakistani and Afghan security forces at the Torkham border crossing in June. “My husband sold his property in Afghanistan to establish his business in Pakistan,” Begum said.

“However, the government is now asking him to close down his business, withdraw all the money from his bank and move back to Afghanistan.” Sana, whose Afghan father moved to Pakistan at the age of eight, has tried but failed to gain a place at the University of Peshawar. “I finished college in Peshawar, where I was born. But the management tells me the quota for

Afghan students is full already, so I can’t get in,” she said.

“It is extremely disturbing for me to learn that after all these years, we are still being treated as foreigners.” Many who have returned to Afghanistan are struggling to reintegrate in a country they barely know.

Malala’s family recently left for Afghanistan but the student, who declined to give her full name, decided to stay in Pakistan to complete her studies. “I’m finding it difficult to continue because my dad is having a hard time establishing his business in Afghanistan,” she said. But the young woman says she bears no ill will towards Pakistan. “I was born here and love this soil. No matter where I go, Pakistan will always have a special place in my heart,” she said. - Reuters

START NEW LIFE: Afghan refugees travel on a truck as they cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Torkham on May 20, 2012. Pakistan has some 1.5 million registered refugees, one of the largest such populations in the world, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). - AFP file photo

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

WORLD

In Shijiazhuang, capital of northern Hebei province, levels of PM 2.5, fine particulate matter, soared to 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre

South Korean president’s friend denies fraud charges Choi Soon-sil’s lawyer argued that Choi did not collude with President Park Geun-hye or other defendants in the case

SEOUL: A friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the centre of a corruption scandal that led to Park’s impeachment in parliament denied charges of fraud and abuse of power on Monday on the first day of her trial.

The friend, Choi Soon-sil, 60, who had not appeared in public since arriving at a prosecutors’ office on October 31, was led into court by two correctional officers, her head down, wearing a bulky grey prison suit with a number on her chest. She is charged with pressuring big businesses to pay money to foundations that backed Park’s policy initiatives.

Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice, although she has immunity from prosecution while in office. Park’s powers have been suspended since the December 9 vote by parliament to impeach her, giving the Constitutional Court up to 180 days to uphold or overturn the decision.

In a brief hearing, Choi denied all charges brought against her by prosecutors. Her lawyer argued that Choi did not collude with Park or other defendants in the case, and also denied the fraud charge. “I need to clarify the facts now,” Choi was quoted as telling the court by Yonhap News Agency.

Choi spoke so softly and she

IN TROUBLED WATERS: Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye who is at the centre of the South Korean political scandal involving Park, arrives for her first court hearing in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday. – Korea Pool/via Reuters

was barely audible in her brief comments.

South Koreans have been keen to get a glimpse of the woman at the centre of the political storm and members of the public were allocated seats in the court’s gallery by lottery. “I hope this becomes a turning point for change for the better for our society,” said Lim Soon-ja, 68, one of those who attended.

Jury trial Two former presidential aides who have been indicted along with Choi did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers told the court that they had been following Park’s orders. Choi also said she did not want a jury trial. South Korean courts normally hold criminal trials presided over by a panel of judges, who deliver a verdict and sentence, while defendants in

select cases are given the choice of a jury trial.

Her lead lawyer, Lee Kyung-jae, rejected the charge that Choi colluded with Park and one of the former aides to the president, An Chong-bum, to exert pressure on various “chaebol” conglomerates.

“We stressed that there was no collusion between Choi and An Chong-bum and the president, and we look forward to having an intense examination over this point,” Lee told reporters after the hearing. The next hearing is set for December 29.

Earlier, a long queue of people who had won places in the gallery waited for nearly an hour to be allowed into the court.

Afterwards, an arguement broke out on the pavement outside between a Park supporter and opponent about whether there was sufficient evidence to

implicate the president. Park, 64, whose father, Park Chung-hee, ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has described Choi as a friend she had turned to at difficult times and apologised for carelessness in her ties with her.

Park has denied any legal wrongdoing.

Park’s lawyers arguing against the impeachment vote in an opinion filed at the Constitutional Court have said the case had no legal basis and was also procedurally flawed, and that the impeachment was based largely on unproven suspicion and charges that were now under investigation and trial. “This goes against the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence,” the lawyers said in the opinion seen

by Reuters.

Prosecutors have portrayed

Choi as the mastermind in several schemes to gain financial benefit from companies she controlled.

Choi’s friendship with Park dates to the time when Park served as acting first lady after her mother was killed in 1974 by an assassin who had intended to kill her father. Her father was shot dead five years later by his disgruntled spy chief.

Choi is the daughter of a religious figure named Choi Taemin, who was referred to in a US diplomatic cable as the “Korean Rasputin” for his perceived influence over Park. The intensely private Park was long criticised for relying on a group of advisers who closely guarded access to her.

Choi Soon-sil has been portrayed in media as having inherited her father’s influence over Park, who has never married and is estranged from her siblings. — Reuters

100 TIMES RISE

Air pollution in Chinese city surpasses WHO guideline BEIJING: Concentrations of airborne pollutants in a major northern Chinese city exceeded a World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline by 100 times on Monday as north China battled with poor air quality for the third straight day.

In Shijiazhuang, capital of northern Hebei province, levels of PM 2.5, fine particulate matter, soared to 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. That compares with a WHO guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms.

In nearby Tianjin city, authorities grounded dozens of flights for the second day and closed all highways after severe smog blanketed the port city, one of more than 40 in China’s northeast to issue pollution warnings.

PM 2.5 levels hit 334 micrograms per cubic metre in Tianjin as of 4pm local time, according to local environmental protection authorities.

In Beijing, PM 2.5 levels were at 212 micrograms per cubic metre.

On Saturday, 22 cities issued red alerts, including top steelmaking city Tangshan city in Hebei and Jinan in coal-rich Shandong province. A red alert is the highest possible air pollution warning.

Red alerts are issued when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to exceed 200 for more than four days in succession, 300 for more than two days or 500 for at least 24 hours. The AQI is a different measure from the PM 2.5 gauge.

Pollution alerts have become increasingly common in China’s northern industrial heartland, especially during winter when energy demand - much of it met by coal - skyrockets. AQI readings at some monitoring stations in seven cities in Hebei peaked above 400 on Monday, with Shijiazhuang and two other cities breaking above the 500 limit, Xinhua said. — Reuters

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

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WORLD

EU tax ruling: Apple says it was a ‘convenient target’ Apple will tell judges the Commission was not diligent in its investigation because it disregarded tax experts brought in by Irish authorities

CUPERTINEO, CALIFORNIA/ BRUSSELS: Apple has launched a legal challenge to a record $14 billion EU tax demand, arguing that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law and deliberately picked a method to maximise the penalty, senior executives said.

Apple’s combative stand underlines its anger with the European Commission, which said on August 30 the company’s Irish tax deal was illegal state aid and ordered it to repay up to 13 billion euros ($13.8 billion) to Ireland, where Apple has its European headquarters.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, a former Danish economy minister, said Apple’s Irish tax bill implied a tax rate of 0.005 per cent in 2014.

General Counsel Bruce Sewell and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri outlined in an interview with Reuters at Apple’s global headquarters in Cupertino the company’s plans for its appeal against the Commission’s ruling at Europe’s second highest court.

The iPhone and iPad maker was singled out because of its success, Sewell said. “Apple is not an outlier in any sense that matters to the

LAUNCHING LEGAL CHALLENGE: Buildings on the Apple campus in Cork, southern Ireland. – AFP File

law. Apple is a convenient target because it generates lots of headlines. It allows the commissioner to become Dane of the year for 2016,” he said, referring to the title accorded to Vestager by Danish newspaper Berlingske last month.

Apple will tell judges the Commission was not diligent in its investigation because it disregarded tax experts brought in by Irish authorities. “Now the Irish have put in an expert opinion from an incredibly well-respected Irish tax lawyer.

The Commission not only didn’t attack that - didn’t argue with it, as far as we know - they probably didn’t even read it. Because there is no reference (in the EU decision) whatsoever,” Sewell said.

The European Commission accused Ireland in 2014 of dodging international tax rules by letting Apple shelter profits worth tens of billions of dollars from tax collectors in return for maintaining jobs. Apple and Ireland denied the

accusation.

On Monday the Commission published the detailed version of its decision which may provide clues as to how the Commission will deal with similar tax cases in future. It cited, for example, notes of a meeting in 1990 between Apple’s tax adviser and the Irish revenue service discussing an appropriate level of profits Apple’s Irish unit would pay tax on - Apple’s adviser suggesting a ceiling of $30-40 million. “[Apple’s tax adviser] confessed there was no scientific basis for the figure. However the figure was of such magnitude that he hoped it would be seen to be a bona-fide proposal,” the excerpt read.

Ireland’s tax treatment has allowed Apple to avoid tax on tens of billions of dollars of non-US profit. Over the past 10 years, the company has paid tax at a rate of 3.8 per cent on $200 billion of overseas profits, filings show. This

A11

is a fraction of the tax rate in the countries where Apple’s products are designed, made and sold.

The low rate is achieved by Apple telling US tax authorities that the profits are earned by Irish units. Meanwhile it tells Ireland the profits are not earned in Ireland. Some lawmakers in the United States and in countries where Apple has large sales have criticised the arrangement.

Ireland says if it’s not fair, it’s other countries’ fault for not closing loopholes. On Monday Ireland accused the Commission of exceeding its powers and interfering with EU member states’ national sovereignty over tax affairs.

Apple also intends to challenge the EU enforcer’s basis for its case, arguing that what Sewell called the “crazy notion of nonresidency” was chosen on purpose to produce a punitive amount.

Other arguments the EU could have used could have been based

on transfer pricing - the pricing strategy between a company’s units - or the “arm’s length” principle adopted by companies to sell and buy from affiliates as if they were unrelated firms.

“Both of those other two theories at least could be fleshed out, but they produced much lower numbers,” Sewell said.

He added it was not possible for Apple to comply with the EU decision because it would mean Ireland violating its own past tax laws setting different rules for residents and non-resident companies. Apple plans to tell the court that the Commission erred when it ruled that the head office of Irish-registered units Apple Sales International (ASI) and Apple Operations Europe existed only on paper, with no justification for the billions of euros it posted in untaxed profits.

Sewell said the fact that an entity was a holding company with no employees on its books did not mean it was inactive and it could be actively managed by employees of its parent company.

“So when Tim Cook, who is the CEO of our company, makes decisions that impact ASI, the Commission says we don’t care because he is not an ASI employee, he is an Apple Inc employee. But to say that somehow Tim Cook can’t make decisions for ASI is a complete mis-statement of corporate law, it’s a misunderstanding of how corporations operate,” he said. Maestri said the Commission over-estimated the importance of the company’s European headquarters in Cork in the south of Ireland. “(Vestager) is arguing that the base on which we should pay taxes in Ireland is essentially all the profits we generate outside the United States... in a place that doesn’t do any engineering, doesn’t generate any intellectual property for us,” he said, adding it was an “absurd theory.” — Reuters

SURVEY

Filipinos fear killings, but approve of drugs war MANILA: Eight out of 10 Filipinos worry they or someone they know might become a victim of extrajudicial killings, an opinion poll published on Monday found, although a majority also gave President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war an “excellent” rating.

More than 2,000 people have been killed by police in anti-narcotics operations in the Philippines since Duterte took office on July 1. Another 3,000 deaths, some attributed to masked men on motorcycles or vigilantes, are under investigation.

Social Weather Stations (SWS), an independent pollster, asked 1,500 Filipinos nationwide if they were concerned that either they or someone they knew could fall victim to an extrajudicial killing, and 78 per cent said they were either very worried or somewhat worried. The SWS survey was conducted with face-to-face interviews on December 3-6, with the results posted online on Monday.

Despite those fears, the survey also found Filipinos were staunchly behind Duterte’s drugs war, which has drawn international concern and a request from a United Nations human rights expert to investigate. Duterte’s drugs war received an “excellent” mark from an overwhelming majority of respondents, a rating determined by deducting the eight per cent of respondents who said they were dissatisfied from the 85 per cent who were satisfied.

“I am not surprised with the conundrum that people acknowledge that the anti-drug campaign is fitting, so they allow it. But they would like less killings,” said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform. Martin Andanar, Duterte’s communication secretary, said the government recognised concerns among Filipinos but reiterated that the killings were not state-sponsored. — Reuters

SEIZURE OF ITS KIND

China discussing return of undersea drone with US military BEIJING: The Chinese and US militaries are having “unimpeded” talks about the return of US underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week, China’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday in waters off the coast of the Philippines, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory. The Pentagon went public with its complaint about the incident and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back. China’s defence ministry had earlier accused Washington of hyping up the issue.

“What I can tell you is that at present, China and the United States are using unimpeded mili-

tary channels to appropriately handle this issue,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with China over its economic and military policies, jumped on the unusual seizure with a pair of provocative tweets over the weekend, accusing Beijing of stealing the equipment.

Asked about Trump’s comments, Hua said describing the drone as stolen was “completely incorrect”. “The key is that China’s navy had a responsible and professional attitude to identify and ascertain this object,” she said. “If you discover or pick something up from the street you have to exam-

IN DISPUTED WATERS: The oceanographic survey ship, USNS Bowditch, which deployed an underwater drone seized by a Chinese Navy warship in international waters in South China Sea. – Photo courtesy US Navy/Handout via Reuters

ine it and if somebody asks you for it you have to work out if it’s theirs before you can give it back.”

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully was

N O R M A L R E L AT I O N S H I P

Norway, China normalise ties after Nobel Peace Prize row OSLO/BEIJING: Norway and China on Monday normalised diplomatic and political ties, frozen since 2010 when Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said the two countries would immediately resume negotiations on a free-trade deal.

“Through meticulous and numerous conversations, the two sides have over the last years reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of a normal relationship,” they said in a joint statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a separate statement after meeting Brende in Beijing that in recent years relations had taken a serious step backwards.

“Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations,” Wang said.

Both sides reached an important consensus on the lessons learned and restoring mutual

BILATERAL TIES: Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann, left, reading Liu Xiaobo’s text “I have no enemies” next to the The Nobel Peace Prize committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland, right, at the city hall in Oslo, on December 10, 2010. – AFP File

trust, which accords with the interests of Norway and its people and the correct direction of relations, he added, without mentioning Liu. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his meeting with Brende, said China was willing to start free trade talks, China’s Foreign Ministry said, also without mentioning the Nobel laureate.

Liu, 59, a dissident involved in

the 1989 Tiananmen Square prodemocracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 on subversion charges for organising a petition urging an end to one-party rule.

He remains in prison.

The peace prize is chosen by a committee in Oslo, while other categories of the annual awards are decided in Stockholm. — Reuters

collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, off the Philippines. The Philippines said the

occurrence of the incident inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was “very troubling”.

“Not only does it increase the likelihood of miscalculations that could lead to open confrontation very near the Philippine mainland but the commission of activities other than innocent passage which impinge upon the right of the Philippines over the resources in its EEZ are violations of the Philippines rights over its EEZ,” Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, with state media and experts saying the use of the drone was likely part of US surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway.

The overseas edition of the rul-

ing Communist Party’s People’s Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was operating the drone, was a “serial offender” when it came to spying operations against China. “The downplaying of the actions of the drone cannot cover up the real intentions in the background,” it said. “This drone which floated to the surface in the South China Sea is the tip of the iceberg of US military strategy, including towards China.”

The USNS Bowditch is an “infamous” military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying China’s coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University, told the official China Daily. — Reuters

A 12

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

WORLD Russian envoy shot dead in Ankara The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, which marked one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict

ANKARA: The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in the back and killed while giving a speech at an art gallery on Monday. Turkish security sources said the gunman, who shouted “Don’t forget Aleppo”, was an off-duty police officer.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, which marked one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict. Turkey has struggled with a string of attacks by hardliners and Kurdish militants but the killing of a Russian envoy could have resonance throughout the region.

Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. President Tayyip Erdogan, however, has been a vociferous opponent of Assad. “We regard this as a terrorist act,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

“Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.”

TRAGIC END: Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, left, at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 10, 2016. Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot in Ankara, Turkey. – Reuters

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie, and standing behind the ambassador as he made his speech at an exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

“He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out,” said the witness, who asked not to be identified.

Two security sources identified the gunman as an off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital. A Reuters cameraman at the scene said gunfire rang out for some time after the attack.

The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been “neutralised”, apparently killed.

A video showed the attacker shouting: “Don’t forget Aleppo,

don’t forget Syria!” As screams rang out, he could be seen pacing about and shouting as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Another photograph showed four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lying on the floor.

Russia and Turkey have both been involved in the conflict in

Syria, which borders Turkey. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of Assad, while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

The US State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. IS militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets over the last year. — Reuters

S TAT E PAY O U T

COUNTERFEIT

41 die in Siberia after Lagarde found guilty in negligence trial drinking bath oil MOSCOW: At least 41 residents of the Siberian city of Irkutsk have died after drinking scented bath oil in a desperate search for an alcoholic high in one of the deadliest cases of its kind in years, Russian investigators said on Monday.

Use of counterfeit or surrogate alcohol is rife in Russia’s regions, where two years of economic pain have pushed more people below the poverty line. Russian media reported that the victims were poor residents of Irkutsk, a hard scrabble city around 2,600 miles (4,000 km) east of Moscow.

The case underlines how hard up a large swath of the population is despite Moscow’s growing profile and clout on the global stage.

“It is a terrible tragedy,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “This type of problem is well known and the president has been informed. Measures must be taken.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee sent a group of experienced investigators from Moscow, while Russian news agencies said the mayor of Irkutsk had declared a state of emergency and temporarily banned the sale of all liquids containing spirits not meant for human consumption. “According to our latest data 41 of 57 people who were hosptialised after drinking the liquid have died,”

investigators said in a statement.

“More than 2,000 units of the liquid have been confiscated with an overall volume of 500 litres.”

Among liquids that have been used as a substitute for alcoholic drinks are perfume, after-shave, anti-freeze and window cleaner.

Alexei Navalny, a Kremlin critic who wants to challenge Vladimir Putin for the presidency in 2018, said the case had garnered wide attention because so many people had died at the same time. Hundreds of people, he said, died unremarked every day in unrelated cases for the same reason.

“The problem .... for Russia and its national security is roughly a thousand times more important than Syria, Aleppo, Ukraine and Trump put together,” said Navalny, blaming poverty and corruption for the sale of such toxic surrogates.

“Every year ... (such concoctions) kill more people than have been killed in terrorist attacks in Russia’s entire history.”

Investigators, who opened a criminal case into the poisonings, said they had detained two people suspected of distributing the deadly bath oil. The product carried a warning saying it should not be swallowed, but investigators said people had ignored that and consumed it as if it was alcohol. — Reuters

PARIS: French judges convicted International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde on Monday of negligence for a state payout made while France’s finance minister in 2008, but imposed no punishment, citing her preoccupation at the time with the global financial crisis.

The executive board of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund was expected to meet shortly to consider the implications of the verdict, an IMF spokesman said.

The ruling could cause a new leadership crisis at the IMF. Lagarde’s predecessor, Dominique Strauss Kahn, resigned in 2011 over a assault scandal. In Monday’s ruling, the judges did not find negligence in Lagarde’s decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie, but they said her failure to contest the award to him of about 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent, and led to a misuse of public funds.

“The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account,” Martine Ract Madoux, the main judge on the case, said in explaining the absence of any sentence.

She also cited Lagarde’s good reputation and international standing as reasons why the court did not hand down a punishment.

The charge against Lagarde could have carried a sentence of up to a year in prison. Lagarde, whom

The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account Martine Ract Madoux French judge

IMF members reappointed in February, has won respect from global finance leaders for pushing governments to do more to boost economic growth and helping to include China’s yuan in the fund’s currency basket. Lagarde’s lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision. Though an appeal could clear her name, it could also turn out worse for Lagarde since she was not given a sentence.

“Since Madame Lagarde was not sentenced, I wonder about whether to appeal or not to the

highest court,” Maisonneuve told journalists outside the court.

Lagarde, who described the case as a five-year ordeal for her, argued in the trial last week that she had acted in good faith, and with the public interest in mind.

She said she had signed off on the arbitration - against the advice of some Finance Ministry officials - to end a costly 15-year-old legal battle between the government and Tapie, a supporter of thenpresident Nicolas Sarkozy.

The case dates back to a time when Tapie sued the French state for compensation after selling his

stake in sports company Adidas to then state-owned Credit Lyonnais in 1993. He accused the bank of defrauding him after it resold its stake for a much higher price.

With the case stuck in the courts, the two sides agreed to a private settlement and Tapie was awarded a 403 million euro payout, including interest and damages.

The case was only the fifth ever heard by a special French court created in 1993 to try ministers.

The court, which is made up of 15 judges, including 12 lawmakers, has never handed down a firm prison sentence. — Reuters

VIOLENCE

Troops, vigilantes guard streets after unrest in Venezuela

CONFRONTATION: People confront Bolivarian National Guard member whilst attempting to cross the Francisco de Paula Santander international bridge, linking Urena, in Venezuela and Cucuta, in Colombia, despite the border closing order issued by the Venezuelan government, on Sunday. – AFP

BOLIVAR/TACHIRA (VENEZUELA): Soldiers patrolled on Monday in areas worst hit by violence sparked by Venezuela’s cash shortage while neighbourhood groups mounted street barricades and businessmen raked through their damaged shops.

More than 300 people have been arrested, mainly in southern Bolivar state, after several days of protests and looting over last week’s elimination of Venezuela’s largest currency bill.

A 14-year-old boy was shot dead while dozens of people have been injured and hundreds of stores ransacked.

Some rioters targeted Chineseowned shops, witnesses said, prompting concern in Beijing.

In response to the mayhem, Venezuela’s socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, has postponed

the elimination of the 100-bolivar notes until January 2 in order to allow time for new larger bills to enter circulation.

The removal of the 100-bolivar bills, before replacement notes were in place, caused chaos with many people unable to pay for basic goods and transactions in the busy run-up to Christmas.

Scarcities of food That heaped hardship onto Venezuelans already suffering scarcities of food and the world’s highest inflation. In Ciudad Bolivar, capital of the mineral-rich and junglecovered Bolivar state, residents formed barricades in the streets to protect themselves and shops from further violence.

More than 350 outlets have been ransacked there since Friday, business leaders say. The opposition

said there had been five fatalities in Bolivar state, citing a local newspaper investigation, but Reuters could not confirm that.

In the Andean highland town of La Fria, in Tachira state, rubble and packages lay strewn on the ground on Monday, witnesses said.

Eight Chinese-owned food stores were among the outlets ransacked, the local governor said.

Some local government offices also were attacked, one by arsonists. National Guard soldiers stood watch.

Maduro said the currency measure was needed to fight back against criminals he said are hoarding bolivars to fuel contraband and sabotage his leftist administration.

He also accused political opponents of whipping up violence, at the behest of US President Barack

Obama, to seek a coup against him.

Washington denies constant accusations of meddling, although government supporters recall US approval of a short-lived coup against Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, in 2002 during the George W. Bush administration.

Opposition leaders say Maduro has only himself to blame for incompetent economic policies that have stirred Venezuelans’ anger.

Opponents are now calling for Maduro to resign after having had their push for a referendum to remove him thwarted by election and judicial bodies who seldom go against the government.

The 54-year-old former bus driver and foreign minister, who replaced Chavez in 2013, has seen his popularity plunge during a three-year recession. His term runs to January 2019. — Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM Security has become the biggest challenge for everyone This refers to the report on suicide bombing in Yemen killing several soldiers (December 19). In my opinion, it is quite disgusting that such gruesome incidents continue to happen around us, and soldiers and common people both continue to pay for the enduring unrest and insurgency in several of the conflict-hit countries across the region. The story behind suicide bombers is a shock, as some of the reports indicate that they involve educated youngsters leaving their hometown and joining the militants with no absolute Scan this QR code return. The bigoted outlook of the terroto send letters to the rists has overlooked the struggle they had Readers’ Forum, in their early days if life. They have been containing not more than 200 words with emotionally attached to commit any sort of full name, address atrocities which eventually killing the ciand telephone vilian community and the number of such number, may be sent incidents are growing every day. The fact is by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). that despite the fact that the world has been spending heavily on tackling the spread of extremism it is quite disappointing that mass spending on defence is on the rise by responsible countries. In this new era of living, security has become the biggest challenge for everyone, and thus every second in life is a mix of anxiety about the next course of action.

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Trump has made Russia the top foreign policy issue

ESWAR PRASAD

US President-elect Donald Trump has once again managed to turn facts on their head. As part of a broader effort to take China to task for supposedly hitting the US economy through unfair trade policy, he has now renewed his accusation that the country manipulates its currency in order to gain an advantage for its exports.

F

or 40 years after World War II, the dominant national security issue for any new US administration was dealing the Soviet Union. After a quarter-century hiatus, it’s deja vu.

Donald Trump has praised President Vladimir Putin and nominated a secretary of state and a national security adviser with Russian connections.

The president-elect has consistently rejected most criticism of Putin, including high-level intelligence reports that Russia illicitly hacked into private e-mails to try to affect US elections.

This has overshadowed the most pressing shortterm challenge — battling terrorism — and the biggest long-term concern, dealing with China, the other 21st century superpower along with the US. But the most pressing question after Inauguration Day will be Russia and the intentions and motives of the new US president. For secretary of state, Trump ended up picking Rex Tillerson, the Exxon Mobil chief executive officer, who has done a lot of business with Russia and who was awarded the Order of Friendship by Putin.

The runner-up for the job was Mitt Romney, who described Russia as America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe” when he was the Republican presidential candidate in 2012. (The potential Romney appointment may have been a setup: A Trump confidant said the president-elect just wanted to “torture” Romney, who had criticised him during the campaign.) It is indisputable that Trump is enamoured of Putin. He really believes the Russians, who also face a threat from terrorists, can be important allies in that fight.

Moreover, the president-elect likes authoritarian figures. He has indicated that he believes the world would be less dangerous if Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were still in power and that he would have no problem with a Syria deal that keeps Bashar Al Assad in control.

Putin has become a folk hero to right-wing white nationalists in Europe and America; many in this group also like Trump.

Trump says he wants to “get along” with Russia and expresses little support for the tough economic sanctions that President Barack Obama and the European Union imposed after Putin annexed Crimea and invaded eastern Ukraine. Even some supporters of those actions cite the need to bolster US-Russian relations, now at the lowest point

since the Cold War. The US and Russia have the the biggest nuclear arsenals and are both major players in the Middle East, so it’s hard for them to avoid one another. Sure, Putin is tough, but so were the Soviet dictators that every president from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan dealt with.

Dimitri Simes, a Russian emigre, former top adviser to Richard Nixon and an advocate of closer ties, argues that “major irritants” in the relationship could be lifted thanks to the president-elect’s aversion to democracy-promotion programs, military interventions and skepticism about the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s mission.

Nonetheless, there are fears that Trump’s excessive eagerness to do a deal could result in an agreement that disproportionately favours Russia: For example, phasing out the sanctions in return for Putin’s reiteration of a commitment to align with the US in the war against terrorism.

Michael McFaul, the US ambassador to Moscow from 2011 to 2014 and now a Russia scholar at Stanford University, says any arrangement along those lines “would be a bad deal for America and a fantastic victory for Putin. He annexed and invaded another country and got away with it.”

Rather than focus on getting along better, McFaul said the US “should figure out what outcomes we want and when that would involve getting along and when it would involve confrontation.”

The US and Russia both face threats but have some significantly different approaches to terrorism and other issues. In Syria, Putin’s forces are killing anti-Assad rebels that America considers the preferred opposition.

And, of course, there are the overwhelming indications that the Russians, probably under Putin’s direction, interfered with the US presidential election by hacking into the e-mails of the Democratic National Committee and top party officials and leaked negative information. Trump has dismissed these intelligence findings.

These tensions will be aired during the Tillerson confirmation hearings where the nominee will have to go beyond simply differentiating between the role of CEO and that of America’s top diplomat.

If he continues to take a soft line on the economic sanctions and if he plays down Russian hacking, his approval could be jeopardized. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan’s policy in dealing with the Soviet Union was “trust but verify.” Putin critics fear Trump may neglect the second part. - Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES DECEMBER 2001 Marathon to mark HM’s presence BARKA: As part of the celebrations to mark the presence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in the wilayat of Barka, an open day was held at Al Sawadi beach yesterday. The programme included a number of sports and cultural activities and a marathon in which 389 people participated. The 12km marathon was held under the auspices of Hamad bin Suleiman Al Ghuraibi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources. Al Ghuraibi presented trophies to the first 40 winners of the contest.

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NEW RENTAL VEHICLES REGISTERED 2016 September

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1938: First electronic television system is patented.

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2007: Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in the history of the UK; previously, that honour belonged to Queen Victoria.

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A14

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

LIFESTYLE DINING

THE NEW SHERATON SEAFOOD NIGHT Story ASHISH DUBASH

WALK INTO the restored Sheraton Hotel on a Wednesday night for a meal and you will be far from disappointed.

A gourmet’s delight that is sure to satisfy your every seafood craving, Sheraton’s seafood buffet is spread across the hotel lobby and the outdoor lawn that skirts the swimming pool. A refreshing ambience that is only enhanced by the very entertaining live band.

Sheraton surely know how to do things in style. We were warmly welcomed by the very cordial and friendly Jeremie, the Director of Marketing for the hotel, who spared no effort in taking us around the entire buffet area (not the easiest of tasks).

Interspersed between the supremely appetising dishes were a plethora of food stations, manned by a host of knowledgeable and friendly chefs.

It was evident that Sheraton was diligently trying to evoke memories of a nostalgic past; 20 years ago, Sheraton laid out a lavish seafood spread, artfully titled the “Pacific Express”. Its centrepiece? A faux train, with several compartments, each featuring a different cuisine from a far-flung corner of the world.

On our recent visit, it was hard to know where to sate our burgeoning appetites. Our first stop was the hors d’oeuvres table. We feasted on huge lobsters and Alaskan giant king crabs, swiftly followed by huitres creuses oysters served in their own shells and a mélange of tender and juicy tiger jumbo prawns, an extremely rare find at local hypermarkets.

Truly, the fare on offer was a sight to behold. Complementing these deliciously seafood delicacies were an array of sauces and dips, which added to the panoply of flavours dancing on our palettes. Next we indulged the soup lovers in us, though we found ourselves torn between spicy sea food Tom-Yum Thai-style soup and the broccoli and vegetables soup. In the end, we decided to have both. Simple, really.

The lavishly arranged salad bar featured an eclectic array of hearty, nutritious fare, ranging from smoked pink salmon and seared tuna loin to a delicate nicoise salad and various other cold cuts of fish, all of which were accompanied by some wonderfully fresh herbs and veggies.

For the main courses, the hot tandoori station served whole pomfrets cooked in their own juices with a smattering of spices, resulting in a gloriously delicious and piquantly spiced offering. There was also the Arabian favourite, hamour curry, which went swimmingly well with a side of fragrant, flavourful rice.

We took a brief intermission from the caravanserai of seafood sensations to sample a tender, melt-in-your-mouth offering of slow-cooked beef, as well as a plethora of chicken and mutton dishes on offer for those who preferred more terrestrial fare.

Continuing our tour of the offerings, I was captivated by the tantalising sizzle of fish and chips, that British favourite of crispy, beautiful fish fillets and rustic home fries served with a generous helping of tartar sauce, which brought back memories of a simple time.

The Bangkok Street Food Station featured an appetising assortment of grilled spicy sausages, grilled octopus, bacon roll chipolata, crispy tofu, and fried dim sum, all of which transported our taste buds to Southeast Asia. But we didn’t linger there long as the aroma from the next section drew us back to huge lobsters, prawns, sea bass, and red snapper being grilled-to-order.

Though there was much diversity at Sheraton’s seafood night, nothing seemed out of place or off-theme. The dishes from the Ravioli Station, from pasta with tomato fondue, coriander pesto with walnut sauce, and Parmesan cheese, were beautiful accompaniments to the freshly grilled fish. Rice aficionados, though, would be over the moon on seeing the Seafood Paella Station, a South American celebration of the bounty of the sea.

Besides the glorious spread of food offerings, an ample supply of beverages was present at every station, as thoughtfully selected to complement our meals as the side dishes were.

As we began winding down our culinary journey (try as we might, we simply couldn’t make it to every station), we spotted a towering cheese section, which featured a particularly tasty soft, French goat cheese called Mons that had me dreaming of Paris. Then, we finally made our way to the dessert station in the lobby. There’s always room for dessert, after all, and the various chocolate delicacies, cakes, passion fruit curd tart and mango chocolate cake, were the perfect finishing touch on a dream meal.

Thinking back on the Sheraton of a decade ago, I still reminisce on what a gastronomically delightful ride we had on the Pacific Express. Those of us who were here then have the fondest memories of that glorious buffet, which was quite a unique offering in those days. The present-day Seafood Night at Sheraton is no less memorable; with an excellent ambience and an abundance of expertly crafted foods from around the world that are presented in a thoughtful and exciting way, Sheraton has succeeded in capturing the magic of the first seafood nights, so many years ago, a feat nearly as impressive as the meal itself.

— ashishdubash@timesofoman.com

SHERATON OMAN HOTEL, RUWI Wednesday Seafood Night, 7pm-11pm +968 2237 7777 reservations.oman@sheraton.com OMR29 (inclusive of soft beverages), OMR39 (inclusive of house beverages)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

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S H U WA D I N ER S Where Shuwa Diners Must Eat American shuwa burger What Is It A thick beef patty topped with lamb shuwa, beef bacon, pickles, and onions, with burger classic condiments, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard.

Price OMR3.8 (with French fries) Also Try Mexican shuwa burger, a cheesestuffed beef patty topped with jalapeno, guacamole, mildly spicy salsa, mayonnaise, and shredded pieces of lamb shuwa.

What’s Special?

The ambiance at Shuwa Diners is to die for. Who wouldn’t enjoy a brunch by the beach, watching waves breaking as you indulge in your shuwa burger? The service is another plus that sets this place apart from other burger joints. It combines causal diner aesthetics with classiness and sophistication. And, for burger fanatics, make sure you try other burgers from their endless burger menu that has butter chicken burger, and pizza burger, too.

—salim@timesofoman.com Location Jawharat Al Shatti, Qurum, Muscat Website shuwadiners.com Call +968 2469 9976 Photography Salim Al Afifi

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

G C C T R AV E L

MILLENNIUM Resort Mussanah unveiled plans to deliver the perfect holiday season with a variety of offers tailor-made for its guests to celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year in style. The new package deals include exciting themed brunch and dinner options, reduced room rates, and festive gatherings that will join the resort’s award-winning hospitality to create memorable moments that will last visitors a lifetime.

Christoph Schleissing, General Manager of Millennium Resort Mussanah, said, “This year, we are proud to offer residents and tourists the ideal home away from home to celebrate the holidays. From December 18th to New Year’s Day, we have a whole host of surprises lined up for all our guests including opportunities to meet Santa Claus, festive food, and a vintage celebration to welcome 2017. With so much prepared, we are looking forward to delivering an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience.”

Since December 18th, the resort has displayed a number of festive decorations including environmentally-friendly Christmas trees made from 5,000 water bottles, ornaments and lighting in the main lobby, ballroom and all dining establishments. A spe-

Picture Supplied

Millennium Resort Mussanah Prepares Christmas And New Year Celebrations

cial 50 minute-long Christmas Tree Lighting event was also held on the 18th and featured performances from the resort’s resident choir.

Rita Ogunfiditimi, Executive Housekeeper at the Millennium Resort Mussanah, said, “Our visitors are invited to enjoy the festive season with their loved

ones right here along the Batinah coast. We have been working around the clock to ensure they receive nothing but the best and are set to once again exceed expectations this holiday season.”

The resort has prepared a special menu filled with traditional and festive delicacies for its oneof-a-kind Christmas Eve dinner

and Christmas Day Brunch. From 6:30pm-10:30pm on December 24th 2016, guests will be able to enjoy a themed buffet for adults and a mini-buffet for the little ones for just OMR19.990 at the Mydan Restaurant.

Additionally, all rooms will receive a complimentary card and gift courtesy of the GM. On

‘Tis the season to be Jolly with Le Meridien

Christmas Day itself, visitors will have the chance to relish a special all-inclusive brunch at the Azure Restaurant for OMR19.990. Included in the Christmas Brunch offer is access to the beach and pool facilities, live music by an in-house band and Christmas choir as well as a visit from Santa Claus. Both festive occasions are set to be a perfect Christmas gift for the entire family, with children below the age of six dining for free and 50% off children aged between 6-12 years-old.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, the resort will be organising an irresistible Retro New Year’s Eve Party starting at 8:00pm on December 31st.

Guests will have the chance to enjoy its hip Retro theme and welcome the New Year with a special guest DJ Nawras, the Vital Strands band and resident DJ Harcourt “Turn it Up”. Entry to the party is just OMR24.990, with dinner and soft beverages included for OMR39.990. Family swimming pool packages are also available. A special room rate for two is also being introduced for OMR59 the day of the event.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

WE ALL KNOW Christmas is a time for friends and family to experience some of their fondest memories. From the 20th to the 24th of December, you can revel in the Yuletide Spirit at Le Meridien Dubai, with a host of attractive packages, ranging from a warm, laid-back brunch and an indulgent party for all your friends, to an intimate dinner for those closest to you. Join in with some classic Christmas carols from 7:15 to 8pm, as you revel in the dulcet tones of the spirit of the festive season with Le Meridien’s resident choir.

You are sure to have a memorable time at Le Meridien Dubai this Christmas.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Call: +968 2687 1519 email: reservations.mrmo@ millenniumhotels.com

Le Meridien Dubai +971 4 217 0000 lemeridien-dubai.com

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

LIFESTYLE ONE INGREDIENT 5 WAYS

CHOCOLATE DRINK Heat 45g unsweetened chocolate, 1/4 cup sugar, 1-2 tablespoons instant coffee, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, dash of salt, and 3/4 cups water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring constantly for 4 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups milk, heat through. Just before serving, beat with hand beater until foamy. Top with whipped cream. Place cinnamon stick in cup for garnish.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE Heat 115g chocolate and 2 tablespoons of milk over low heat, stirring until melted. Beat 2 tablespoons sugar into 85g creamed cheese. Add another 3 1/2 tablespoons milk into the chocolate mixture. Beat until smooth. Fold 225g whipped cream into chocolate mixture and blend until smooth. Spoon into 1 graham cracker crust. Freeze 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE PIZZA Melt 340g chocolate chips with 400g almond bark in large saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth; remove from heat.

Stir in 2 cups miniature marshmallows, 1 cup crisp rice cereal and 1 cup peanuts. Pour onto greased 12 inch pizza pan. Top with 170g jar red maraschino cherries, drained, cut in half and 3 tablespoons green maraschino cherries, drained, quartered; sprinkle with 1/3 cup flake coconut. Melt 50g almond bark with 1 teaspoon oil over low heat, stirring until smooth; drizzle over coconut. Chill until firm; store at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE CAKE Cream 3/4 cup shortening, 3 cups sugar and 5 egg yolks together.

Stir together 4 cups flour, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Add flour mixture alternately with 1 cup milk to the shortening mixture. Melt 145g unsweetened chocolate, stir in 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; stir into batter. In a clean bowl, beat 5 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold gently into batter. Pour into a greased and lightly floured (or dusted with cocoa) sheet cake pan. For easiest removal, line sheet pan with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C for 20-30 minutes. When cool, spread with chocolate icing on this cake.

CHOCOLATE SAUCE (with Chicken) Skin 1 chicken, cut and brown lightly in 1/4 cup oil. Remove chicken. Coarsely chop 1 large bell pepper and 1 large onion, mince 2 cloves garlic, and cook in oil until onion becomes translucent.

Add 2 cups tomato sauce and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt. Add 1 tablespoon chilli powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper powder and 30g baking chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted, add chicken, and simmer on low heat until chicken is very tender. Remove and discard bones. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve over rice or noodles.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

R E G I O N A L T R AV E L

Celebrate Christmas in style with the Taj Dubai

WITH AN EXTRAVAGANT setting, sophisticated ambiance and excellent service, the Taj Dubai is the place to be for some wondrous festivities and stylish celebrations to ring in Christmas 2016. There’s plenty of fond memories to be had in style with Taj’s excellent room and dining packages and theme-based events.

Experience that traditional Taj Hospitality with family and friends, which is only amplified by the breathtaking pyrotechnic

Join Taj and savour a truly delightful Festive Season, ideal for intimate gatherings during the Christmas period.

display from the majestic Burj Khalifa and views of the serene Dubai Fountain close by.

An authentic grotto experience awaits discerning diners at The Eloquent Elephant, complete with beverages and roast turkey.

Join Taj and savour a truly delightful Festive Season, ideal for intimate gatherings during the Christmas period. Be at the centre of it all, with the renowned Taj hospitality at your service.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

B OMAN CRUDE RISES Oman Crude (February delivery) increased by $1.29 to $53.29 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (January delivery) stabilised at $44.54 per barrel, $4.64 higher than December delivery. – ONA

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TU ES DAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

MARKE

State-owned OPWP had floated a request for proposal (RfP) in October, inviting bids from consultants for conducting a technical and economic study for the proposed project.

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Consultants for advising the Sultanate’s government on the country’s first large-scale solar project are expected to be selected by the Oman Power and Water

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

Consultants for solar project to be selected soon

A E JAMES

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

Procurement Company (OPWP) this month.

State-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company had floated a request for proposal (RfP) in October, inviting bids from consultants for conducting a technical and economic study for

the proposed project, which will be based on an independent power project model. The last date for submitting bids was November 27.

A tender process for selecting an IPP developer for the project, with a capacity to generate 100 to 200 megawatt electricity, is expected to start by the middle of next year, Eng. Khalil Ibrahim Al Zeidi, acting manager of renewable energy at the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of fifth Arab-Indian Partnership Conference.

The whole plan is in line with a proposal a few years ago to build a commercial-scale solar project with a capacity to generate 200 megawatt of power. > B2

FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF 2016

Exports from Oman fall by 28 per cent to OMR5.79b A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s total exports for the first seven months of 2016 plunged by 28.2 per cent to OMR5.79 billion from OMR8.07 billion for the same period last year.

The fall in export revenue was mainly on account of a dip in oil and gas prices in international markets and also a fall in nonoil exports. The fall in prices of a wide range of commodities has affected export earnings of the Sultanate since a major chunk of the country’s exports comprised commodities.

Oman Crude The average price of Oman Crude dropped by 31.5 per cent to $39.3 per barrel for the first eleven months of this year from $57.4 a barrel for the same period of 2015,

according to the latest monthly data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

As a result, exports of crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas plunged by 35 per cent to OMR3.12 billion in the first seven months of 2016 from OMR4.81 billion for the same period of 2015.

Crude oil exports Of this, crude oil exports showed a 35.9 per cent fall, while liquefied natural gas exports were down by 33.4 per cent. The overall crude oil production, including natural gas, of the country grew by 3 per cent to 336.71 million barrels for the January-November period, which was equivalent to an average of 1,005,100 barrels per day.

Non-oil exports plunge Likewise, non-oil exports plunged by 24.9 per cent to

OMR1,422.9 million from OMR1,893.5 million, the NCSI report showed. Among various product segments, plastics and rubber products plummeted by 50.2 per cent to OMR77.4 million.

Exports of live animals and chemicals were also down by 25.5 per cent and 24.2 per cent, respectively, during the period.

The Sultanate’s re-exports showed a fall of 9.1 per cent at OMR1,244.1 million from OMR1,368.4 million during the period under review.

Oman’s export development agency, Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (popularly known as Ithraa), is undertaking several initiatives to enhance non-oil exports. These programmes include visits of trade delegations, participation in international exhibitions, business-to-business meetings and market studies in potential export markets.

B2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

MARKET LARGE-SCALE SOLAR PROJECT

SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS www.facebook.com/timesofoman

B1 Consultants for solar project < FROM

to be selected this month

The consultant will advise the government on price benchmarking for the Sultanate and also help in the tendering process.

“We will decide whether to proceed with the plan on the basis of the recommendations of the consultant and the result of the

price benchmarking. The cost of building solar projects has been coming down (in recent years),” noted Eng. Al Zeidi.

The official also said that out of the four identified sites for the large-scale solar project, preliminary environmental studies were

SHARE SALE

MSM SHARIA INDEX

Saudi Aramco IPO could still be in US RIYADH: Saudi Arabia could still decide to sell shares of oil giant Aramco in New York, Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said, even after the US passed a law that allows victims of the September 11 attacks to sue the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is looking at markets from Hong Kong to New York as possible international venues of what could be one of the biggest share sales in history, Al Jubeir told a news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh on Sunday. The decision is still a “work in progress,” he said.

Saudi authorities plan to sell less than 5 per cent in Saudi Arabian Oil Co. by 2018 as part of a plan by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to set up the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund (SEF) and help reduce the economy’s reliance on hydrocarbons.

In addition to the tension caused by the September 11 law, Al Jubeir’s comments follow a US decision to block the transfer of an arms sale to Saudi Arabia because of concerns about rising civilian casualties in the war in Yemen.

Al Jubeir also dismissed speculation that Saudi Arabia would reduce its US investments. “Saudi Arabia has tremendous investments in the United States and

conducted for two sites – Manah and Adam. Meteorology stations were also set up in these two locations. However, Manah is expected to be more suitable due to its proximity to power grid network connectivity, thanks to an existing power plant there.

Muscat bourse announces list of Sharia compliant firms Times News Service

Adel Al Jubeir.

— Bloomberg file picture

we review those investments on a regular basis,” he said. “There are issues associated with risk, but our objective is to increase those investments, we will not decrease them.”

A former Saudi ambassador to Washington, Al Jubeir said he visited the US recently “to get to know the positions of the new administration” lead by Presidentelect Donald Trump, and to try to persuade Congress to amend the September 11 law, also known as JASTA. The Obama administration had vetoed the law but its proponents gathered enough votes to override the presidential action. — Bloomberg News

MUSCAT: As many as 34 companies have been selected as Sharia complaint firms by the Muscat Securities Market on Monday.

These firms were selected on the basis of financial activities in the third quarter of 2016 on the basis of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards.

However, this will not affect the current MSM Sharia index constituents, according to a circular from the bourse.

The selected companies include Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles, Al Jazeira Services, Al Madina Takaful, Al Maha Ceramics, Al Izz Islamic Bank, Bank Nizwa, Computer Stationaries Industry, Dhofar Beverage and Foodstuff, Al Batinah Development, Gulf International Chemicals, Gulf Mushroom Products, Oman Cables Industry, Oman Chromite, Oman Flour Mills, Oman Telecommunications Company, Raysut Cement Company, Salalah Mills, Shell Oman Marketiing, Oman Refreshment, Oman Packging and Salalah Port Services.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

B3

MARKET SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

Scheme launched for graduates in water desalination Times News Service MUSCAT: BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme has joined hands with MEDRC Water Research to deliver a capacity building programme (Tahlya) in reverse osmosis (RO) desalination to fresh Omani graduates.

Registration for Tahlya is now open till January 15, 2017 for unemployed persons, students, college or university graduates via an online application form available on MEDRC’sofficial website.

New desalination plants “Oman has plans for 10 new desalination plants over the next seven years. Omani staff is needed to lead these projects and operate these plants. MEDRC’s detailed assessment of the desalination skills need in Oman indicates a clear requirement for an additional 450 Omani operators and 160 supervisors over the next five years. To help meet this demand we established the Tahlya programme,” said Eng Riadh Dridi, Head of Training in MEDRC. Desalination training “This programme will train at least 40 operators and 20 supervisors, who will receive world class hands-on training on the only purpose-built desalination training and research plant in the region,” he added.

The purpose of the programme is to prepare young Omanis to fill positions of supervisors and operators to meet the ongoing developments of Oman’s water

desalination industry. Working towards 10 operational plants by 2020, treatment facilities are being developed in Salalah, Ash Sharqiyah,Ad Duqm, Barka, and Sohar.

Growing needs With the aim of producing 52 million gallons per day to support the nation’s rapidly expanding needs, the industry is set to deliver a new realm of domestic operation and employment opportunities for the local job market.

“It is consequentially imperative to ensure we invest in high quality and sustainable initiatives that enable a qualified national workforce to lead this emerging industry as a future contributor to the national economy,” said Shabib Al Maamari, BP Oman’s Communications and External Affairs Manager.

“Our Social Investment Programme’s partners are approached on the basis of competence and passion,this is why we are collaborating with MEDRC Water Research,” he added.

MEDRC Water Research is a regional hub for training and research in water desalination.The first to graduate from its courses will have the option to compete for employment atupcoming desalination facilities.

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

Bank credit in Oman grows to OMR21.92b Of the total credit to the private sector, the household sector, mainly under personal loans, stood at 46.1% followed by the non-financial corporate sector at 45.7%, financial corporations at 5% and other sectors the remaining 3.2%.

— Times file picture

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The total outstanding credit extended by the Sultanate’s conventional and Islamic banks has achieved a yearon-year growth of 10.2 per cent at OMR21.92 billion by the end of October 2016, over the same period of last year, according to data released by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) on Monday.

Credit to the private sector increased by 11.9 per cent to OMR19.7 billion as at the end of October 2016. Of the total credit

ECONOMY

to the private sector, the household sector, mainly under personal loans, stood at 46.1 per cent closely followed by the non-financial corporate sector at 45.7 per cent, financial corporations at 5 per cent and other sectors the remaining 3.2 per cent. Of the total credit growth, conventional banks have achieved a year-on-year 7.13 per cent growth in credit disbursements, which stood at OMR19.63 billion by the end of October 2016.

The total assets of conventional banks marginally fell to OMR27.14 billion by end-October 2016 from OMR28.29 billion for the same AV I AT I O N

Oman’s budget deficit surges ahead by 46.7% to OMR4.81b Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s budget deficit for the first ten months of 2016 surged by 46.7 per cent to OMR4.81 billion, as plunging crude oil export revenues started affecting the government’s fiscal balance. This is against a projected deficit of OMR3.3 billion for the entire year and a deficit of OMR3.26 billion for January-October, 2015, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Deficit for this year is expected to remain high, primarily because the average crude oil price was low during the first half of the year. Now it is a little higher than $50 per barrel and is likely to recover further next year, thanks to a cut in crude oil production announced by Opec and non-Opec countries. Led by Saudi Arabia, all GCC countries are facing mounting deficits due to plunging oil revenue. The country’s net

ROBUST GROWTH: Of the total credit growth, conventional banks have achieved a year-on-year 7.13 per cent growth in credit disbursements, which stood at OMR19.63 billion by the end of October 2016.

Oil production of Oman rises Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s crude oil production in November 2016 stood at 30.45 million barrels, according to a monthly report released by the Ministry of Oil and Gas on Monday.

With daily average of 1,014,942 barrels, the figure shows an increase of 0.11 per cent compared to October 2016.

oil revenue for January-October period of 2016 plunged by 40.9 per cent to OMR2,774.1 million from OMR4,692.4 million for the same period of last year, which was mainly on account of a 31.5

The Sultanate exported 27.77 million barrels in November, showing a daily export of 925,722 barrels.

This shows an increase of 5.26 per cent compared to the previous month.

China imported 83.59 per cent of Oman’s total crude oil exports, butrecorded a fall of 3.39 per cent from the previous month. The crude oil imports of Taiwan and Japan witnessed a decline.

per cent plunge in the average price of Oman Crude at $39.3 per barrel for the first eleven months, against $57.4 a barrel for the same January-November period of last year.

Iran jet deal PARIS: Iran has finalised an agreement with Airbus to acquire 100 jetliners, the first of which is tentatively expected to be delivered in mid-January, a senior official said on Monday. The deal, split roughly equally between narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, will be signed in coming days, possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday.

— Reuters

period a year ago, said the monthly statistics of CBO. “The low oil prices have brought to the fore several challenges to the Omani economy and the authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, taking appropriate policy measures when warranted.

With the hydrocarbon sector still fundamental to the economy, the oil prices have impacted overall economic activity adversely,” said the CBO monthly report.

The total deposits of all banks put together registered a growth of 5 per cent to OMR20.5 billion by end-October 2016. Private sec-

tor deposits of the banking system registered a growth of 4.4 per cent to OMR13 billionas at the end of October 2016.

Sector-wise, the share of households was 49 per cent of the total private sector deposit base, followed by non-financial corporations at 28.3 per cent, financial corporations at 19.5 per cent and the other sectors at 3.2 per cent.

The CBO report said that the aggregate deposits held by conventional banks alone registered a modest growth of 0.94 per cent to OMR18.34 billion by end-October from OMR18.16 billion a year ago.

B4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,734.06 ............... 5,723.18 ....................5,729.38 ................... 5,728.27.....................1.11 ...................0.02 Financial Index .....................................7,598.55 ...............7,575.94 ....................7,579.10 ................... 7,586.80...................-7.70 .................. -0.10 Industrial Index ....................................7,368.49 ...............7,329.27 ....................7,351.96 ................... 7,361.60.................. -9.64 .................. -0.13 Services Index ...................................... 3,070.52 .............. 3,066.88 ................... 3,066.88 ................... 3,067.39...................-0.51 .................. -0.02 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................862.76 .................. 859.13 .......................860.31 ......................862.34..................-2.03 .................. -0.24 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 12,914,086 ..................2,840,112 .....................637 ................17,339,325,531 ................ 10 ......................12 .................... 18 .........................40

The top gainer was Oman Fisheries, while the top loser was Oman Cement with a loss of

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 19

2.56 per cent.

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

MUSCAT: Shares on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) edged up on better buying support from retail investors. The MSM30 Index remained stable at 5,729.38 points, up by 0.02 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 860.31 points, down by 0.24 per cent. HSBC Bank Oman was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover.

Up by 1.64 per cent, the day’s top gainer was Oman Fisheries, while the top loser was Oman Cement with a loss of 2.56 per cent.

As many as 637 trades were executed on Monday, generating turnover of OMR2.84 million with 12.9 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, ten advanced, 12 declined and 18 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR300,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR89,000 while GCC and Arab investors remained net sellers for OMR389,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index retreated 0.10 per cent to close at 7,579.10 points. Gulf Investment Services, Ominvest, Al Sharqia Investment and Bank Muscat increased by 0.87 per cent, 0.82 per cent, 0.71 per cent and 0.45 per cent, respectively. Al Madina Investment, HSBC Bank Oman, Al Izz Bank, Al Batinah Investment and Development and Oman & Emirates Holding declined by 1.82 per cent, 1.71 per cent, 1.39 per cent, 1.03 per cent and 0.75 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index closed negatively at 7,351.96 points, down by 0.13 per cent. Oman Fisheries, Gulf International Chemicals, Raysut Cement and Al Anwar Ceramics gained by 1.64 per cent, 1.49 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 1.16 per cent, respectively. Oman Cement, Galfar Engineering and Oman Flour Mills declined by 2.56 per cent, 0.99 per cent and

0.57 per cent, respectively.

Services Index had a marginal loss of 0.02 per cent to close at 3,066.88 points. Renaissance Services and Al Jazeera Services gained by 1.22 per cent and 0.50 per cent, respectively. Port Services, Phoenix Power and Omantel declinedby 0.84 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.33 per cent, respectively.

Asian shares Asian shares pared gains as Philippine stocks added to declines in the Chinese market on Monday, while Australian and New Zealand benchmarks rose.

The MSCI Asia Pacific index advanced 0.1 per cent to 135.78 as of 4:53pm Hong Kong time.

The Philippines Stock Exchange index posted the biggest loss among Asia Pacific equity gauges, erasing 2 per cent to close at a 9-month low as foreign investors continued a selloff.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.9 per cent to close at 21,832.68, the lowest close since Aug. 4.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises index dropped 1 per cent, led by financial and construction firms on concern that earnings growth will suffer after the nation’s leaders vowed on Friday to safeguard the financial system and deflate asset bubbles.

China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite index slipped 0.2 per cent. Growth stability remains the main backdrop even as China looks to deepen supplyside reforms in 2017, Suan Teck Kin, senior economist at United Overseas Bank in Singapore, wrote in a note.

Japan shares fell for the first time in three days after the Topix closed at a one-year high on Friday.

The yen strengthened against the dollar for a second day.

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

OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................20,328 ............ 30,492........................4 ............1.500 ........... 1.500 ...........1.500........... 1.500 .............1.480............ 0.020..............1.351.................1.500..............1.400...................1.500................. 300,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ...................................... 25,000 .............. 6,200........................2 ........... 0.248 ...........0.248 ...........0.248........... 0.248 .............0.245 ........... 0.003............. 1.224 ................0.248..............0.221...................0.247 ..................74,096,863 .........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 740,387 ......... 129,265..................... 89 ............0.174 ........... 0.176 ...........0.173 ............0.175 ............. 0.173............ 0.002..............1.156.................0.173 .............. 0.173...................0.174 ................... 51,837,394 .........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 453,620 ............52,591........................8 ............0.116 ........... 0.117............ 0.115 ............0.116 ............. 0.115 .............0.001 ............. 0.870 ................0.115 ...............0.115................... 0.117 .................... 6,825,813 ..........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ......................................................................72,589 .............35,859........................3 ........... 0.494 ...........0.494 ...........0.494........... 0.494 .............0.490 ........... 0.004............. 0.816 ................0.494..............0.494...................0.500 .................314,080,699........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 365,299 ............73,895..................... 47 ........... 0.202...........0.205 ...........0.200 .......... 0.202 .............0.201 ............0.001 ............. 0.498 ................0.200 .............0.198...................0.200 ..................12,363,263 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,538,717 ....... 686,172..................... 84 ........... 0.446 ...........0.448 ...........0.444 .......... 0.446 .............0.444 ........... 0.002............. 0.450 ................0.446..............0.446...................0.448 ................1,113,327,615 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 766,154.......... 182,235.....................22 ........... 0.236 ...........0.238 ...........0.236........... 0.238 .............0.238 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.238..............0.237...................0.239..................350,997,943........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................ 1,000 ...............1,480........................2 ............1.480 ........... 1.480 ...........1.480........... 1.480 .............1.480............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.480 ..............1.480................... 1.510 ..................132,756,000........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 527,520 ........... 86,577......................19 ............0.164 ........... 0.165 ...........0.164........... 0.164 .............0.164............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.164 .............. 0.163...................0.164..................263,137,892 ........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 105,124..............51,511........................7 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.490 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.500 ..................29,645,000.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER................................................................ 4,700 ............... 1,081........................5 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.230........... 0.230 .............0.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.230..............0.226...................0.229 ..................50,832,300.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO...........................................................................4,270 ...............2,826........................4 ........... 0.668 ........... 0.668 ...........0.660........... 0.668 .............0.668 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.660..............0.660...................0.668..................434,830,746........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER....................................................5,000 .................. 910........................2 ............0.182 ........... 0.182 ...........0.182........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.182 .............. 0.183...................0.184.................. 121,479,737 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ....................................................5,000 .............. 2,400........................1 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.476 .............0.476 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.486...................24,990,000 ........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 147,309..........223,867..................... 23 ............1.525 ........... 1.525 ........... 1.515 ........... 1.520 ............. 1.525............-0.005 ........... -0.328 ............... 1.515 ...............1.515...................1.520................1,140,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 910,831 ...........172,414..................... 65 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.188 ........... 0.189 .............0.190 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.526 ...............0.189 ..............0.189...................0.190...................33,075,464 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 103,139 ..............15,161........................4 ............0.147 ........... 0.147 ...........0.147 ............0.147 .............0.148............-0.001 ........... -0.676 ...............0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.148..................215,002,415 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................15,000 .................. 810........................2 ........... 0.054 ...........0.054 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.055 ...........-0.001 ............-1.818................0.054..............0.054...................0.055....................11,186,175..........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 113,970 .............51,894......................15 ........... 0.452 ...........0.464 ...........0.452........... 0.456 .............0.468 ...........-0.012 ........... -2.564 ...............0.464..............0.462...................0.464 .................150,877,956 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,924,957... 1,807,641...................408 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ..... 20........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ....................................................... 12,708 .................. 786........................4 ............0.061 ...........0.062 ...........0.061 ........... 0.062 ............. 0.061.............0.001 ............. 1.639 ................0.062..............0.061...................0.062 ................... 7,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 185,000 ........... 50,320......................14 ........... 0.272 ...........0.272 ...........0.272........... 0.272 .............0.268 ........... 0.004............. 1.493 ................0.272..............0.272...................0.273.................... 5,712,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............ 92,000 .............12,987........................6 ............0.142 ........... 0.142 ...........0.140............0.141 .............0.140 ............0.001 ............. 0.714 ................0.140.............. 0.139................... 0.141 ...................12,690,000.........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 160,000 ........... 30,720........................2 ............0.192 ........... 0.192 ...........0.192 ........... 0.192 .............0.192............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.192 ..............0.192...................0.195 .................... 6,445,718 ..........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 255,710 .............59,325......................13 ........... 0.232 ...........0.232 ...........0.232........... 0.232 .............0.232 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.232..............0.230...................0.232 .................440,614,725........0.100 OM0000002580 ...........OMAN EDU. & TRIN. INV. ............................................2,000 ..................290........................1 ............0.145 ........... 0.145 ...........0.145 ............0.152 ............. 0.152............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.145 .............. 0.137...................0.153 ...................10,640,000.........0.100 OM0000002911 ............THE FINANCIAL CORPORATION ................................40 .......................4........................2 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.100........... 0.102 .............0.102 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.000 ................... 7,143,056 ..........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .......12,500 .............17,938........................2 ............1.435 ........... 1.435 ...........1.435 ............1.435 ............. 1.435............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.435 ..............1.430...................1.435 ...................99,015,000 .........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ...................................................55,100 ...............6,607........................4 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.119 ........... 0.120 .............0.120 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.119 .............. 0.119...................0.120...................30,430,800.........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ..................................................................99,500 ............... 8,139........................9 ........... 0.083 ...........0.083 ...........0.081 ........... 0.082 .............0.082 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.082..............0.081...................0.082 .................123,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH...................................................3,150 .................. 750........................6 ........... 0.238 ...........0.238 ...........0.238........... 0.238 .............0.238 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.238..............0.230...................0.238..................227,188,124 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ......................................................... 500 .....................94........................1 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.188 ........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.188 .............. 0.185...................0.188.................. 135,737,205 ........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ..................................................15,310 .............10,629........................7 ........... 0.688 ........... 0.696 ...........0.688........... 0.696 .............0.700 ...........-0.004 ............-0.571................0.696..............0.688...................0.700..................109,620,000 .......0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 122,000 ............16,236........................8 ............0.134 ........... 0.134 ...........0.133 ............0.133 .............0.134............-0.001 ........... -0.746 ...............0.133 ..............0.132...................0.133...................16,209,375 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 677,300 ............ 67,775..................... 28 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.100........... 0.100 ............. 0.101............-0.001 ........... -0.990 ...............0.100..............0.100...................0.101 ...................28,998,064.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................10,000 ..................960........................2 ........... 0.096 ...........0.096 ...........0.096........... 0.096 .............0.097 ...........-0.001 ............-1.031................0.096..............0.095...................0.096....................2,880,000..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 645,235 ............45,812......................18 ............0.071 ........... 0.071 ...........0.071 ............0.071 .............0.072 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.389................0.071 .............. 0.071...................0.072...................71,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 3,244,435...... 373,051......................81 ............0.117 ........... 0.117............0.114 ............0.115 ............. 0.117 ............-0.002 ............-1.709................0.115 ...............0.115................... 0.116 ..................230,035,971........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,592,488 ......702,422...................208 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......18........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

- United Securities/Bloomberg News

TA R G E T O F H A C K I N G

ECONOMY

Yahoo's growing security problem is a story of too little and too late SAN FRANCISCO/BOSTON/ WASHINGTON: In the summer of 2013, Yahoo launched a project to better secure the passwords of its customers, abandoning the use of a discredited technology for encrypting data known as MD5.

It was too late. In August of that year, hackers got hold of more than a billion Yahoo accounts, stealing the poorly encrypted passwords and other information in the biggest data breach on record. Yahoo only recently uncovered the hack and disclosed it last week.

Weakness of MD5 The timing of the attack might seem like bad luck, but the weakness of MD5 had been known by hackers and security experts for more than a decade. MD5 can be cracked more easily than other so-called “hashing” algorithms, which are mathematical functions that convert data into seemingly random character strings.

In 2008, five years before Ya-

hoo took action, Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute issued a public warning to security professionals through a US governmentfunded vulnerability alert system: MD5 “should be considered cryptographically broken and unsuitable for further use.”

Yahoo’s failure Yahoo’s failure to move away from MD5 in a timely fashion was an example of problems in Yahoo’s security operations as it grappled with business challenges, according to five former employees and some outside security experts.

Stronger hashing technology would have made it more difficult for the hackers to get into customer accounts after breaching Yahoo’s network, making the attack far less damaging, they said.

“MD5 was considered dead long before 2013,” said David Kennedy, chief executive of cyber firm TrustedSec.

“Most companies were using more secure hashing algorithms by then.” He did not name specific firms.

Still using MD5 Yahoo, which has confirmed it was still using MD5 at the time of the attack, disputed the notion that the company had skimped on security. “Over the course of our more than 20-year history, Yahoo has focused on and invested in security programs and talent to protect our users,” Yahoo said in a statement to Reuters. “We have invested more than $250 million in security initiatives across the company since 2012.”

Competing priorities The former Yahoo security staffers, however, told Reuters the security team was at times turned down when it requested new tools and features such as strengthened cryptography protections, on the grounds that the requests would

cost too much money, were too complicated, or were simply too low a priority.

Financial struggles Partly, that reflected the Internet pioneer’s long-running financial struggles: Yahoo’s revenues and profits have fallen steadily since their 2008 peak while Alphabet’s Google, Facebook and others have come to dominate the consumer internet business.

“When business is good, it’s easy to do things like security,” said Jeremiah Grossman, who worked on Yahoo’s security team from 1999 to 2001. “When business is bad, you expect to see security get cut.”

To be sure, no system is completely hack-proof. Hackers have managed to break into passwords that were encrypted using more advanced technologies than MD5.

Other companies, such as LinkedIn and AOL, have also suffered security breaches, though none nearly as large as Yahoo’s. — Reuters

Indonesia plans to redenominate rupiah JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank is reviving a plan to redenominate the currency of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy despite the threat of market turmoil as the US steps up the pace of interest-rate increases. “Re-denomination must be done while the economy is stable,” Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Mirza Adityaswara told reporters in Jakarta on Monday. “Now, at this moment, it can be done. The exchange rate has been turbulent but it won’t have too much of an impact. The main thing is that the economy must be stable.”

Cutting three zeroes The rupiah is one of the highest denominated notes in Asia, and Bank Indonesia has proposed cutting three zeroes from the currency to simplify payments.

A similar plan mooted four years ago was abandoned amid the taper tantrum, when the Federal Reserve announced it was withdrawing stimulus, triggering a

rout in emerging-market assets, including a sell-off in the rupiah.

Financial markets Financial markets were rattled again in the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s surprise victory last month in the US presidential election, with the rupiah one of the hardest hit currencies, sinking to a two-month low on November 9 when Trump was declared the winner. The currency has rebounded 1.3 per cent against the dollar this month to reach 13,383 as of 2:30pm.

Inflation pressure “The economy and the rupiah have held up pretty well actually under the Trump tantrum,” said Tim Condon, head of Asian research at ING Groep NV in Singapore. With the government having removed fuel subsidies, “there really is no good reason to see a spike in inflation and the currency as we’ve seen in the past.” — Bloomberg News

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B5

ROUND-UP

MHD honours employees and excelling divisions

QUALITY ENHANCEMENT

MEC signs MoU with WCAS Employees who have served the company for more than 10 and 15 years of service were recognised for their sincerity and commitment towards the company

MUSCAT: The annual awards honouring employees with long years of service, as well as awards for excelling employees and business divisions were given away by Mohsin Haider Darwish, Group Adviser, MHD at a special function organised on the evening of December 15 at the Sheraton Oman Hotel.

Employees who have served the company for more than 10 and 15 years of service were recognised for their sincerity and commitment towards the company, says a

press release.

Awards were also given away to individual employees in different categories such as best assistant manager/ manager/ senior manager of the year, best employee in sales function, best employee in support function, best employee in service/technical function and the best driver of the year. Three of the business divisions within

the MHD group received special mention. While the Building Materials Division was selected as being most compliant with Health, Safety & Environment standards, the Electrical & Electronics Division and MHD Salalah shared the honour as the most Dynamic Divisions for the year 2016.

Two new categories of certificates were also awarded this year:

F O U R AWA R D S

Recognition for outstanding & sincere commitment for the company & recognition for house staff who are rendering exemplary personal service to the MHD family.

A record of sorts was set with more than 200 certificates and two trophies being given away during the evening. More than 380 members of the MHD staff and their families attended the event.

MUSCAT: The Middle East College (MEC, Acting Dean: Dr Kiran G. R.) and the Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS, Dean: Dr S. L. Gupta) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the WCAS campus recently for the purpose of benchmarking their educational activities.

Dr Anupam Srivastav, associate dean, Harith Al Jahwari, assistant registrar, Nandita G., head - Quality Assurance Department, and Dr Ram Kishore Manchiryal, HoD, Civil Engineering Department represented MEC and attended the occasion, says a press release.

Dr Alok Kushwaha, Assistant Dean, Academic, Dr Arockiam Prakash, Acting Quality Controller, and Mithun Shrivastava, chairperson, Benchmarking Committee represented WCAS in this meeting.

MEC is one of the leading higher education institutions in Sultanate of Oman.

MEC is dedicated to educating students and equipping them with the values, knowledge and life skills needed to enrich

their lives and enabling them to meaningfully contribute to the progress of society. WCAS was founded in 2001, pursuant to the wise vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and his government to build an educational platform with high international academic standards. WCAS promotes high international quality education in Oman that prepares students for modern, high quality jobs and thus adds a landmark on the path of education in Oman, specialising in engineering, IT and business administration.

Dr Kiran shared his expectations from the outcomes of MoU and expressed thanks to Dr Gupta for the initiative taken by WCAS in proposing inter-institutional collaboration in the said domain.

Gupta commented that this MoU is perhaps one of the first steps in sharing key learnings and good academic practices by both institutions. The mutual collaboration of MEC and WCAS is significant as it will lead to enhanced growth and enrichment of the educational experiences of both institutions.

H E A LT H C A R E

Starcare multispeciality hospital opens in India

Alfardan recognised at Oman Auto Excellence Awards 2016 MUSCAT: Alfardan Motors the official importer of Ferrari and Maserati in the Sultanate of Oman was honoured recently upon receiving four prestigious awards at the Oman Auto Excellence Awards, held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, says a press release.

For the first time the Oman Auto Excellence Awards were held alongside the Oman Motor Show. The awards recognise the top cars in each of the 17 individual categories during 2016.

The cars were judged by five judges from different countries including Oman, where each judge evaluated every car following specific standards such as performance, design, material, and many other standards.

Alfardan Motors received two prestigious awards for Ferrari and two for Maserati. Ferrari 488 GTB received Best Super Car award in its category, due to the outstanding performance and power that Ferrari represents.

What sets this car apart from others within the same category is the easy handling and control by any driver, regardless of their driving skills. California T received Best Premium Luxury Convertible. This car can be used on a daily basis and is a combination of practicality & luxury.

This model is different from other cars within the same category with its retractable hard top (RHT) and 2+2 configuration. As for Maserati, Ghibli received the Best Large Sedan. The car is char-

acterised by the smooth and elegant lines, the luxurious interior design and the space - the driver can enjoy the experience of driving a luxurious sports car with unrivalled power and performance.

Maserati’s newest SUV The Levante received Best Performance SUV of this year. The Levante is the first SUV ever built by Maserati, and this outstanding car was designed exclusively by Maserati where the car chassis has been specifically developed to offer unique on-road drivability and competitive off-road capability, with day-to-day comfort and practicality.

The top notch Italian SUV was conceived around three main pillars, design, exclusivity and performance.

MUSCAT: Starcare Group inaugurated its latest multispecialty hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, India in November.

The soft launch of the hospital was already done in May. Kerala Minister of Health and Social Justice, K. K. Shailaja Teacher inaugurated the hospital. A. K. Saseendran, Minister of Transport, K. T. Jaleel Minister of Local Administration - Kerala, Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Secretary General, Supreme Council for planning, Sultanate of Oman were the other chief guests. Invited dignitaries along with Dr Sadik Kodakat,

chairman, Dr Abdulla Cherayakkat, managing director and the director board members of Starcare Hospital Kozhikode were also present, says a press release.

Sultan Al Habsi and Dr Mazin Jawad Al Kahbouri, Director General, Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman inaugurated the international patients desk, opening the portal for international patients.

The dialysis unit was inaugurated

by Sulaiman Salim, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Sultanate of Oman. The other units like the advanced centre for ENT, Cath lab and OT complex were inaugurated

by various ministers from Kerala.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Sadik Kodakat said, “Our vision is to be the most renowned health care destination in the world.

Starcare has always been at the forefront of benchmarking quality clinical practices and operational efficiency in the regions that it operates. We believe in our employees and it is their abilities that remain our greatest asset in serving our patients. Starcare hires people with a positive attitude and a penchant for learning and invest in their skill development, the secret to its highly professional workforce."

B6

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

ROUND-UP Attractive offer on new Toyota Aurion, Camry Those who have experienced the Toyota Aurion and the Camry may not be surprised to know that these are some of the top-selling cars, anywhere

MUSCAT: There is a buzz in Toyota showrooms across Oman. The reasons are not hard to find.

According to the spokesperson, “Toyota’s 2017 line-up started with the arrival of the Aurion and Camry and it offers high-end features such as Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System as standard.”

There is news that is even more thrilling for those who have been dreaming of owning a sophisticated Toyota Aurion or Camry. These

two winning models are now available on a special offer that has never before been heard of, says a press release. ”Up to OMR1,175 are being offered as a cash gift apart from which there also is a year of insurance, says the spokesperson, “This is on the 2017 YM models and so I would strongly urge everyone to make the most of the golden opportunity” (These benefits are applicable for all purchases except government organisations and ministries. Conditions apply.

Please visit nearest Toyota showroom for exact details.)

The 2017 YM model of the Toyota Aurion is truly exceptional. It makes a deep impression on those who look for a classy automobile that performs with equal aplomb.

Adding refinement with sophis-

ticated features, the 2017 Aurion leaves a powerful impact with its unsurpassed fusion of luxury and performance. “The Aurion has always been regarded as a refined sedan and now the 2017 Aurion is studded with a sophisticated suite of features that enhance this feel. I am seriously considering it,” remarked a high-ranking official, “These new features include rear fog lamps, child restraint system, tyre pressure warning system, vehicle stability control, amongst others.”

Available with 6-speed Multimode automatic transmission mated to a 3.5 L, V6 engine, with Dual VVT-I, the Aurion surges forward on an awesome 268 HP. Thin, long headlamps on either side of the impressive front grille and elevated hood lend it a ma-

jestic and powerful presence. The side of the Aurion is accented for a stronger appearance through a flared bottom section and an accented door-cross section.

Built for those who dare to be bold, the Camry has striking Hood-lines that command attention. A global favourite, the Toyota Camry has always commanded a fan following of not just proud owners but also many enthusiasts that vouch for its performance, quality and safety.

“Indeed, those who love the Camry will definitely feel exhilarated by the offer that makes their favourite Toyota even more rewarding to own,” an enthusiast remarked,” One of the reasons is that the new Camry looks good and feels even better. Its elegant interior is adorned with new Black Wood Grain Finish. The Steering Wheel is equipped with Audio and Bluetooth Controls. There is a sophisticated new Auto Light Control System and now even the base grade comes equipped with Cruise Control,” he added.

Those who have experienced the Toyota Aurion and the Camry may not be surprised to know that these are some of the top-selling cars, anywhere! Visit the showroom for a closer look, today!

BOWLING EVENT

KR team takes part at The Eco Bowl MUSCAT: Khimji Ramdas has sponsored the fifth bowling event organised by the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) recently.

Khimji Ramdas support forms part of the company’s ongoing endeavours to aid environment conservation initiatives in Oman and spread awareness on the subject. Khimji Ramdas values ESO’s initiatives and has been supporting the ESO Bowl Tournaments year on year with an active participation, says a press release.

Commenting on the significance of Khimji Ramdas participation, Nailesh Khimji, KR Director, said, “It gives us great pleasure to once again be part of the annual Eco Bowl and play our part in aiding the ESO accomplish its mission to conserve the environment.

Khimji Ramdas has been a long-

time supporter of initiatives of the ESO, where we have helped build strong partnership networks across Oman to spread awareness and education.”

He emphasised that the company followed a very inclusive principle, involving employees from all levels of management, in its commitment and support of the environment. KR employees, he added, have been champion ambassadors at successive Eco Bowl tournaments through their participation, sportsmanship and team spirit.

This year’s event focused primarily on community and recruiting environment ambassadors within higher education institutions. ESO is also continuing efforts to build capacities among young Omanis in the field of environment conservation.

CULINARY SKILLS

CELEBRITY CRUISES

A’Saffa picks BBQ Challenge winners

Modern luxury cruise line Celebrity Constellation stops over in Oman MUSCAT: Celebrity Constellation, one of the modern luxury ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, docked in Oman during her first Arabian Gulf season.

The ship accommodates 2,170 guests on double occupancy, has a total of 13 decks and a gross tonnage of 91,000 tonnes. Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning cruisers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programmes, and worldclass cuisine, says a press release.

Anwar Said Al Balushi, acting director of Tourism Events Department, Ministry of Oman Tourism said, “As Ministry of Tourism we are delighted to have Celebrity Constellation visiting Oman for its first time. We believe that this visit will add huge value to the cruise sector in Oman. We are quite sure that Oman with its nature, culture, history and its people will create unforgettable experience to its guests.”

Celebrity Constellation, the first premium cruise line to sail in the Gulf, will sail two nine night cruises within UAE and Oman. In addition, the Modern Luxury liner will also be sailing longer round trip itineraries from Abu Dhabi, UAE, following the ancient spice route to some of India’s most interesting cities – Cochin, Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai – before returning via the popular destinations of Dubai, UAE and Muscat, Oman.

Lakshmi Durai, chief executive officer of Travel Matrix, the Mid-

As Ministry of Tourism we are delighted to have Celebrity Constellation visiting Oman for its first time.

We believe that this visit will add huge value to the cruise sector in Oman. We are quite sure that Oman with its nature, culture, history and its people will create unforgettable experience to its guests Anwar Said Al Balushi Acting director of Tourism Events Department, Ministry of Oman Tourism

dle East Representative of Celebrity Cruises said, “We are really excited to be introducing Celebrity Cruises modern luxury style of cruising to the Middle Eastern vacationer. Celebrity Cruises offers the ultimate in premium cruising.

With its world class attractions offering extensive shore-excursion options together with rich culture and heritage, Oman will be appealing to our guests sailing on Celebrity Constellation from all over the world and provide them a complete luxury holiday experience.”

Celebrity Cruises has been voted as the Best Premium Cruise

Line for eight years in a row by Travel Weekly’s Readers’ Choice Award. Guests can expect magnificent show lounges, a variety of award-winning restaurants, the new Canyon Ranch Spa and more.

Celebrity Constellation also hosts extensive family amenities, with some of the most expansive children’s facilities in the Celebrity fleet. Ex: X-Club for teens with newest gaming consoles and sports activities, Fun Factory activities for children including games, sports, crafts, music, karaoke, treasure hunts, theme parties, movies and much more.

MUSCAT: The ‘A’Saffa BBQ Challenge 3’, Oman’s most prestigious barbecue cooking competition - recently witnessed 45 families battle it out at the Civil Aviation Club.

Due to the overwhelming response and participation, the competition was divided into 2 groups this year and winners were declared from both the group in equal numbers to encourage the participants.

The perfect opportunity to showcase one’s barbecue culinary skills, and an appetising family barbecue getaway; the winning teams at the competition were judged by Oman’s celebrated masterchef Issa Al Lamki and his team of chefs who declared Salim Mubarak and team as the winners, Sameer and team as the 1st runners up and Abdul Mallick and team as the 2nd runners up from Group A; and Sunita Verma and team as the winners, Mehdi and team as the 1st runners up and Ali Saif Mohammed Al Rasdi and team as the 2nd runners up from Group B, says a press release.

“As in previous years, we celebrated the advent of winter and BBQ in the best way possible, with passionate BBQ teams showcasing their talents; and families and friends gathering over delicious food, making the ‘A’Saffa BBQ Challenge 3’ the ultimate “live” barbecue experience,” said Sidhartha Lenka, head of Marketing and Sales, A’Saffa Foods. “It was a day of high-energy family fun and competition, and possibly the best way to showcase our range of fresh, halal, healthy, tasty

chickens. A’Saffa is a brand that is steadily becoming synonymous with healthy eating habits and family fun; and by hosting this event - the first of its kind each year, we aim to reiterate this.”

He continued, “On behalf of A’Saffa Foods, my heartiest congratulations to the winning teams and a sincere thank you to everyone who participated and helped make it a success. Also, special thanks to our judges for evaluating another intense competition this year.”

‘COOL SUMMER’

Daikin promo winners announced MUSCAT: Muscat Electronics (ME) recently announced the winners of its ‘Daikin Cool Summer’.

The promotion was specially designed for retail customers to win exiting prizes, which included three sets of Daikin’s premium FTD series wall-split air-conditioners, six Sharp 40’’LED TVs, and nine Sharp 32’’ LED TVs. On every purchase of a Daikin wallsplit AC, customers were given a raffle coupon to enter the draw, which was held in three stages, says a press release.

The draws were held at ME latest showroom in Al Farahidi Street - Ruwi and ME showroom in Salalah, in the presences of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and following the draws a prize distribution ceremony was held. During the function Faisal Al Yousef, the

CEO of ME and the management of ME networked with the customers and further comprehend their feedbacks and suggestions.

The prizes were distributed to the winners by Al Yousef.

“We received an impressively overwhelming response from our consumers during the promotion period and which may not have been without our authorised dealers’ support, and this has also motivated us to roll-out even more exciting offers in the coming months and thereby adding more value for our loyal customers,”

said Al Yousef.

“We have a wide range of product to suit the needs of our retails customers, of which the recently launched FTKM series is the super premier range of wall-mount split ACs and is a flagship product of Daikin designed for high energy efficiency and power saving for homes with optimum comfort.

We are among the first few to introduce in the Oman market residential wall-mount split ACs with the environment friendly R-410A & R32 refrigerant,” stated Geeju Paul, GM, AC division.

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ROUND-UP

Omantel receives ESQR ‘Quality Choice Prize’ Omantel received the award in the ‘Platinum Category’ at the European Society for Quality Research’s recent awards ceremony which was held in Berlin, Germany

MUSCAT: In continuation of its successes, Omantel, the Sultanate’s first telecoms provider, has been awarded the ‘Quality Choice Prize 2016’ by the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR).

Omantel received the award in the ‘Platinum Category’ at the Society’s recent awards ceremony which was held in Berlin, Germany, says a press release.

Commenting on the award recognition, Talal Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel noted, “We place a great emphasis on delivering business excellence across all facets of our operations, from our popular retail products and services all the way to our customised large-scale corporate projects. This recognition is testament to the high quality standards our customers can

come to expect when they choose Omantel. It is also a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction with our transformational 3.0 strategy, as we pave the way for a digitally connected society in the Sultanate.”

“It is an honour for us to have received such a prestigious award from ESQR. It will no doubt serve as an inspiration for everyone here at Omantel to leave no stone unturned towards our unified goals; paving the way for innovation and excellence within the Sultanate’s telecom sector as we go,” added Talal Al Mamari.

The ESQR’s Quality Choice Prize recognises the companies, organisations, public administrations with ethics and initiatives that demonstrate exceptional success in quality management which maximise the full potential of their services through quality-oriented practices. The awards ceremony took place at the hotel Grand Hyatt Berlin.

This recognition is testament to the high quality standards our customers can come to expect when they choose Omantel. It is an honour for us to have received such a prestigious award from ESQR Talal Al Mamari CEO of Omantel

SPORTIVE SPIRIT

Annual sports day at Al Injaz

MUSCAT: Al Injaz Private School conducted its Annual Sports Day recently for the Kindergarten, Section for Special Needs and Grades I - IV in the morning and for Grade V - XI in the evening.

Al Sheekh Hilal bin Hamad Al Sarmi, member of Majlis Al Shura of wilayat Al Seeb, attended the occasion as chief guest for the morning session. Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, Founder of the Whisper of Serenity Clinic for mental health and winner of the Golden recognition by the Arab women council, attended the occasion in the noon, says a press release.

They both praised the enthusiasm and sportive spirit of the students and the efforts of the school to enthuse sports and academics.

The students presented drills

and track events. Medals, trophies and certificates were awarded for individual and team winners. The best house trophy went to the Green House.

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The ESQR’s Quality Choice programme takes a comprehensive look at the initiatives and strategies that business leaders implement in their companies and organisations; and recognises the efforts of exceptional and talented employers and employees and provides motivation for continuous progress.

Omantel secured its position as one of the top companies evaluated by ESQR, after being recognised for the professionalism and excellence that permeates services and product offered by the company as well as its ability to continually push the limits of quality with innovations. Omantel subsequently received its award, in recognition of its hard work and other achievements, in the presence of the international business community at the ESQR’s Quality Choice Prize 2016 Awards Ceremony.

The European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) promotes quality awareness, recognises good business practices, technological innovation, quality achievements in organisations worldwide, and publicises these organisations’ successful performance strategies. ESQR also provides solutions to enable organizations from any industry, irrespective of its size and geographic location, to learn the tools and techniques for managing quality as well as address global challenges.

Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the best customer experience, while growing Oman’s most extensive and reliable telecommunications network.

HOME STYLE

Tips for choosing a couch MUSCAT: These days with the infinite options available in the market, you are often left spoilt for choice and may feel overwhelmed by the plethora of the styles, shapes, and customisation alternatives available.

Adel Sajan, director of Danube Home provides some tips for choosing a couch to its customers. Here are a few tips that can help head start your hunt for the perfect couch.

1. Consider size first The most important factor while choosing a couch is to check the size of your living room and how much of it you want your couch to fill. If you have a small living room, your couch should be smaller with a strong design that can complement other furniture and the rest of the space. For a bigger living room, you can consider having two couches or one couch with a few chairs. Another great option is a slight L-shaped sofa that can help fill your living room well 2. Leather or fabric?

Functionality is key but it is also important that the couch you choose looks appealing. Research upholstery materials and check what will suit your home. Leather can be good choice as it is easier to clean. On the other hand, fabric comes in a wide range of colours and patterns and can be customised as per your personal preference. You can also opt for removable covers, which can be washed from time-to-time

3. Colours for your couch.

You can pick between neutral, bright or printed couches. If you are not very comfortable with bold colours and patterns for your couch, you can always choose a trendy coffee table. Moreover, quirky prints and funky colours can help you personalise and transform the feel of your entire living room Tips for right couch 1. The most important factor while choosing a couch is to check the size of your living room and how much of it you want your couch to fill. You can choose to have a medium size couch accompanied by a number of chairs to make your room look more structured 2. A clean L-shaped couch is great for open areas, helping it to separate the living room from the rest of the house. Whereas, a rounder shaped couch is better for a smaller space.

3. Decide exactly how the sofa will be oriented and in which direction you would like them. It is best to create a semi-circle or a full circle around a central table.

4. For easier cleaning of your couch, choose Leather or you can also opt for removable covers made of fabric, which can be washed from time-to-time.

5. You can pick between neutral, bright or printed couches.

If you are not very comfortable with bold colours and patterns for your couch, you can always choose a trendy coffee table.

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ROUND-UP

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Meethaq claims Best Islamic Banking award In recognition of

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Eint Automotive supports Motor Show Oman 2016

vital contributions to Islamic banking and finance in Oman, Meethaq was honoured at the Islamic Business & Finance 2016 awards ceremony held in Dubai

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, has won the Best Islamic Banking in Oman award by Islamic Business & Finance.

In recognition of vital contributions to Islamic banking and finance in Oman, Meethaq was honoured at the Islamic Business & Finance 2016 awards ceremony held in Dubai, says a press release.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Islamic Banking, said: “Meethaq is honoured to be chosen for the important award in recognition of vital contributions to Islamic banking

and finance in Oman.

“The success of Meethaq stems from its commitment to offer world-class Islamic banking service to customers. Meethaq is contributing significantly to the growth and development of the Omani banking sector and we are witnessing an upswing in Islamic finance and investment compatible with the provisions of Sharia laws. We see a growing interest among retail and corporate clients to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by Islamic banking and finance.”

In about three years, Meethaq has attained the leading position in Islamic banking industry in the Sultanate in terms of financing receivables, branch network, products and services, IT infrastructure development and human resources. Meethaq extends support to all key economic sectors with innovative Sharia based products and is well positioned to sustain Islamic financial expertise

and thereby promote the good of society as a whole.

As the leading Islamic financial services provider in the Sultanate, Meethaq has many achievements relating to financing major projects in various fields, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the Sultanate’s economy. Meethaq Islamic financing receivables amounted to OMR782 million as of 30 September 2016 compared to OMR482 million in the same period of 2015. Islamic customer deposits touched OMR746 million as of 30 September 2016 compared to OMR549 million reported for the same period in 2015.

The Meethaq branch network has grown to 16 since inception of operations in 2013.

The banking sector in Oman is witnessing the consolidation of Islamic banking and the state-ofthe-art branch network reflects Meethaq’s focus to redefine Islamic banking operations in Oman.

Meethaq plans to expand the branch network as well as launch new products and services to complement the unique Islamic banking experience.

Meethaq offers a full suite of Islamic banking products and services, including savings account, current account, home finance, auto finance, credit card, mobile banking and internet banking.

The bank has invested in staff, systems and controls to ensure the service is delivered in a professional, segregated and fully Sharia compliant manner.

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

MUSCAT: Known to be associated with the biggest names and events in the Sultanate, Eint Automotive with its esteemed brands Primax, Emtrac and Kendall were the silver sponsors of one of the most anticipated and popular automotive events of the year, the Motor Show Oman 2016.

With numerous accolades to its name, Primax batteries boasts of an extensive range of calcium maintenance-free batteries which is designed to maximise energy capacity and is backed with an assurance for lasting performance ensuring the batteries are protected against battery failure, thereby helping vehicle batteries stay strong and perform longer. With batteries to catering to the automotive, industrial and marine customers, Primax has already made a mark in the Oman market and is quite popular amongst these sectors.

Kendall Lubricants, on the other hand, is a multi-grade, heavy

duty engine oil which is supplemented with liquid titanium technology that provides anti-wear and oxidation protection to the critical components of the engine.

Dealing with only the best brands, Eint Automotive is also the distributor of Emtrac batteries. Emtrac’s high performance batteries with its patented SilvenX alloy additive confidently allow an extended warranty period of two years to its users.

“We have always ensured we maintain a close contact with our customers. Simultaneously, we also endeavour to make a strong presence with our brands at key events. It is of utmost importance to us that we take keen efforts to understand the demands of different markets so as to better position our brands. As sponsors of the esteemed Motor Show 2016, we have been able to achieve all of that and more,” said Shajahan Azeez, Business Operations manager, EINT Automotive - PLB Division.

E N H A N C I N G C U S T O M E R R E L AT I O N S H I P

Bank Sohar hosts gathering for corporate clients MUSCAT: Highlighting its commitment to delivering banking excellence, Bank Sohar continues to focus on its most important asset – its customers, with the aim of providing the highest levels of service and tailor-made products to suit every need.

In keeping with this strategy, the bank recently hosted a special gathering for its corporate customers with a focus on discussing current services and products offered by the bank, understanding current market trends, and thanking them for their continued patronage of the bank, says a press release.

Representing Bank Sohar at the event which took place recently at the Grand Hyatt were Sasi Kumar, acting CEO of Bank Sohar, together with Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of HR and Corporate Support, and Mustafa Ali Mukhtar, DGM and Acting Head of Wholesale Banking. Other members of the bank’s management and senior members of the bank’s corporate banking team, who welcomed the guests also attended the event.

The event was inaugurated with

a welcome speech by the emcee, following which Sasi Kumar addressed the audience. His speech was then followed by a video documenting the numerous achievements and milestones covered by the bank over the course of the past nine years. Shortly thereafter, the audience was addressed by a guest speaker – Francis Matthew, Editor at Large of Gulf News, Al Nisr Group. A journalist with 30 years of experience in the Middle East and an author of three books

‘LEADING OTHERS’ PROGRAMME

on the UAE, Francis Matthew touched upon the current and future outlook of the global and regional economy. The event then concluded with a banquet dinner accompanied by a soothing live piano performance.

Touching on the bank’s dedication to its corporate clients, Sasi Kumar said, “Our valued corporate customers continue to be a vital element of the nation’s growth and a key contributor to the overall development of its economy. This is why

we expend a great amount of time, effort and resources into supporting their businesses, initiatives, and projects in order to accelerate their development. In fact, our involvement with them go far beyond financing only, we focus on creating mutually beneficial and lasting long-term business relationships.

In this regard, through our dedicated Wholesale Banking Unit, we endeavour to join hands with our corporate clients to provide unique and personalised finance, invest-

ment and other banking solutions.”

Mustafa Ali Mukhtar, commenting on the core values of the bank’s wholesale banking unit, added, “Corporate banking continues to be one of the most important business divisions at Bank Sohar. The services we provide are being continually developed in order to meet our customers’ specific needs in the best possible way. The Wholesale Banking Unit at Bank Sohar relies on its accumulated experience, the implementation of the latest technologies in the sector, as well as its experienced employees to provide the best possible service to clients. The bank’s corporate banking operations has also witnessed continued growth over these past nine years. Consequently, Bank Sohar has become one of the leading banks in providing comprehensive banking services for companies operating in different economic sectors across the country.”

The Wholesale Banking Unit at Bank Sohar services the needs and requirements of its corporate and Trade finance customers, international companies, and institutional

and government relationships. It is through this dedicated division that the Bank offers an entire range of services to assist its corporate customers across all levels. It ensures talented and professional consultants are always on hand for customers to meet every client requirement. Manned by a cohesive and knowledgeable team of professionals, the bank is more than capable of guiding its corporate clients on services that most efficiently meet their desired financial requirements.

“This annual customer meetings provide us with an ideal opportunity to meet with our customers in person and gain a better understanding of the evolving needs and requirements of our customer’s businesses and the sector as a whole. In doing so we can guarantee our clients a complete and outstanding banking and business experience every time we interact; actively continuing to build robust and enduring relationships with our ever growing portfolio of corporate clients across the country,” concluded Sasi Kumar.

O C C U PAT I O NA L S E C U R I T Y A N D S A F E T Y

ahlibank conducts mock fire drill exercise

23 InterContinental supervisors, managers graduate from IHG Leadership Academy MUSCAT: Twenty three supervisors and managers from InterContinental Muscat graduated from IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Leadership Academy - Leading Others Programme, the IHG’s global leadership development course which focuses on developing the capability of the mid-management colleagues in hotels and offices, recently.

The highlight of the event was the recognition of three Omani

colleagues who topped the class and they were given an excellence award by Thierry Perrot, area general manager - IHG Oman and Michael Jabbour, hotel manager - InterContinental Muscat for their outstanding result and commitment to the programme.

This is just the beginning of creating a stronger learning culture at InterContinental Muscat. There will be more leaders to graduate in due course, says a press release.

MUSCAT: Within the framework of its occupational security and safety policy, ahilibank held a mock drill on fire and safety at its headquarters in Wattayah. ahlibank promotes the importance of training and awareness in fire prevention to ensure safety and security at the workplace, with a complete understanding of

fire and safety procedures, says a press release.

Lloyd Maddock, ahlibank’s CEO, praised the drill and said, “Implementation of requirements, measures and objectives of occupational security and safety is an ethical and legal obligation in accordance with International Labour standards, to avoid injuries, accidents

and risks. Strict adherence to the occupational security and safety policy is the only way to mitigate risks to our employees.

Abdul Majeed Al Hooti also, ahlibank’s DGM – General Services said, “The human element is the most precious for our company. ahlibank understands occupational security and safety, realises

the importance of drills and implementation of their objectives in work environment.” ahlibank has always been an organisation which guarantees the safety of individuals and property. Hence, its buildings are well equipped with the latest security and safety equipment that are in accordance with international standards.

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AUSTRALIA SURVIVE SCARE TO SNATCH WIN FROM PAKISTAN >C3

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KARUN’S EPIC TRIPLE TON FUELS RECORD INDIA TOTAL Karun Nair made an epic unbeaten triple century to power India to their highest ever innings total against a demoralised England in the fifth and final Test on Monday. >C2

Seeb regain HM’s Cup glory In a well-contested final, Seeb Club subdued a battling Bausher to clinch the coveted trophy with a 3-2 verdict

T.K. MOHANDOSS

sportseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Winning His Majesty’s Cup for the eleventh time, Seeb Club ensured that they remain the top hockey team of the Sultanate after clinching a 3-2 verdict against Bausher Club in the final at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Monday.

However, this triumph for Seeb came after a big gap with Ahli-Sidab Club and Al Nasr causing a dent in their supremacy.

Coached by Osama Hussain, Seeb appeared determined to regain the prestigious title, but it did not come the easy way as Bausher coached by Ahmed Nasser Al Darmaki put up a strong fight.

However, the final did not live up to the previous encounters between the two teams in earlier rounds. Seeb and Bausher had played each other twice earlier this season with honours being shared and in the final it was high steam encounter at times and just the opposite otherwise.

Seeb opened the account in the 7th minute through Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati, who deflected a Rizwan Mohammed pass but their lead got nullified three minutes later when Mohanna Nasser Al Hosni sounded the board.

That effort brought life into Bausher’s push and Ali Shaan couldn’t control his goalmouth attempt and finished with a wayward shot.

With honours even, Seeb bounced back after the breather to pump in two goals through Mohammed Hassan Al Lawati and Qasim Moosa Al Shibli to go 3-1 up in a flash.

Bausher, meanwhile, kept fumbling despite winning short cor-

MEMORABLE WIN: Members of the victorious Seeb Club celebrate with the trophy. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

ners. Playing in their only second final, Bausher came back alive with Mohammed Tauseeq successfully converting the penalty corner.

Only five minutes remained and Bausher almost came close to equalise, but Ali Shan failed to connect a cross and that ended their aspirations of winning the title for the first time.

Bausher coach Ahmed Al Darmaki later conceded that bad short corner conversions cost them dear.

“We were not able to capitalise on the penalty corners and that stole away the chance of winning,” said Al Darmaki.

“I must say, Seeb played well and put lot of pressure on us and they deserved to win,” he said.

“I will also like to congratulate my boys to have played so well this season and we will surely aim for the title next year,” said Al Darmaki.

The fact was that Bausher Club had earned four penalty corners against Seeb’s none but could convert only one of them.

Seeb Club’s assistant coach Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Raisi said: “We played according to plan and that worked.”

AHF honour for OOC chief Khalid Al Zubair MUSCAT: Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) honoured Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), with Distinguished Sports Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of sports in the Sultanate.

The award was presented during a ceremony at OOC premises by AHF CEO ‘Dato’ Tayyab Ikram, who is also a

“Having played Bausher twice before, we knew very well what can be expected from them. Our plan was to score early and add two more to the tally and then defend.

In a sense the strategy worked and we won,” said Khalid Al Raisi.

The match was officiated by FIH

board member of FIH and Member of Development Committee of International Olympic Committee.

“Sheikh Khalid expressed his thanks and appreciation for the recognition accorded to him by the Asian Hockey Federation and highly assed the good efforts and constructive initiatives made by AHF towards promoting hockey sport at the Asian and world levels,” an OOC statement said.

umpires Malik Mohammed Haider Rasool of Pakistan and Javed Shaikh of India.

Later in a glittering ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Dr Rawiya bint Saud Al Busaidi gave away the medals and trophies to the top three teams.

Champions Seeb also took home OMR. 40,000 while Bausher were richer by OMR. 25,000.

Ahli-Sidab, who had settled for the third place, had two of their players win individual honours with Rupinder Pal Singh winning the top scorer award with 12 goals

and Gassan Gareeb Al Hosni the best goalkeeper.

The team also won OMR. 15,000.

Mohanna Nasser Al Hosni of Bausher was adjudged the best player of the tournament.

Present during the final were Minister of Sports Affairs Shekih Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, Advisor Ministry of Civil Service Dr Hammad bin Hamad Al Ghaffri, dignitaries from various ministries and sports association along with FIH member and AHF CEO Tayyab Ikram.

AHF medal for Dawood Former Oman Hockey Association chairman Dawood Ali Al Raisi was on Monday honoured by AHF CEO Tayyab Ikram with an honorary medal.

Speaking after the final on Monday, Tayyab mentioned that the medal was to recognise Dawood Al Raisi’s contribution to Oman hockey and his long time service with AHF and FIH. “This medal constituted by the Asian Hockey Federation is to recognise and honour dedicated service to hockey by individuals,” he said.

SAILING

New line up for EFG Bank Monaco at EFG SATT 2017 MUSCAT: French duo Thierry Douillard and Mathieu Richard will take up the mantle as EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour (SATT) favourites for the 2017 title on board EFG Bank Monaco after they stepped in for skipper Sidney Gavignet, three-time winner of the Gulf classic.

Douillard, who skippered the Diam 24 Oman Airports by Oman Sail to a top five place in this year’s Tour de France a la Voile, will be skipper while Richard, one of the most distinguished skippers on the World Match Racing Tour will take the helm.

Gavignet has been forced to sit out the 2017 race around the Gulf due to surgery on a long-standing knee injury but his Omani proteges Raad Al Hadi and Haitham Al Wahaibi, both Oman Sail sailing instructors, will be on board, bringing their local knowledge of the region to bear in their campaign.

The pair recently completed the Dubai to Muscat Race with Oman’s most accomplished offshore sailor Fahad Al Hasni, securing an impressive second place to boost their confidence, though come February, they will be doing their best to beat Al Hasni who will once again be skippering a rival crew.

“I wish them the best of luck and it is important to keep the same targets as we have always had, which is to win,” said Gavignet. “There is only one goal and they have a good enough crew for that. If they win, it will also be a success for me because it shows we have put together a team that can continue their winning habit without me – this is our long-term objective.”

Also selected in the EFG Bank Monaco crew is Fabian Delahaye, the French navigator who is a spe-

FRESH LOOK: EFG Bank Monaco will have a new look team in the 2017 Sailing Arabia - The Tour. – Supplied photo

cialist in coastal racing with two Tour de France a la Voile campaigns under his belt. This will be his third year on board EFG Bank Monaco. “We have a strong team again this year,” said Douillard.

“Our navigator Fabien Delahaye knows EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour very well and Mathieu Richard has huge experience on the Farr 30, winning the Tour de France four times with the boat.

Raad and Haitham have made big steps in their learning and know the game so we look forward to enjoying the regatta.”

Guillaume Le Brec, a previous

winner of EFG Sailing Arabia The Tour with Gavignet who with Douillard has represented Oman Sail in the Tour de France a la Voile for the past two years, will add his experience and powers of endurance to the bid. For Richard, the 2017 edition of EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour will be his first.

“It is a great honour to be invited to stand in for Sidney and I am very excited to be doing this race,” said Richard. “It is exciting because I have never sailed in these waters – I think it is very different from the French coast - and I have never sailed with this crew but it is a

great crew. They have won it three times and we will start as favourites so there will be some pressure.

We will just have to win!”

The stakes have been raised in the 7th edition of Arabia’s leading offshore race with a new route and new teams, both professional and amateur, and the prospect of a potentially thrilling finale in store.

EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2017, organised by Oman Sail, is now acknowledged as the Middle East’s foremost offshore race and well on its way to being a classic in the international yacht racing calendar. A unique annual event,

its appeal for seasoned campaigners lies in the opportunity to train and race in the sunshine over the winter months and for less experienced crews, to score points against some of the best offshore sailors in the world in some of the most beautiful waters.

So in February, a fleet of up to 11 Farr 30s will cross the start line in Muscat and head north up the coast to the first stopover at Sohar, having already cast their eye over the opposition in the opening in port race hosted by Al Mouj in Oman’s capital city.

They will finish 763 miles later

in Dubai having completed five offshore legs, via Khasab in the spectacular Musandam Peninsular, the gruelling Straits of Hormuz, Abu Dhabi and Doha notching up crucial points during the in port races in Doha and Dubai.

Even without Gavignet, EFG Bank Monaco is a formidable team, once again backed by the event sponsor EFG who have supported four SATT campaigns and helped the event earn its status as the most highly regarded sailing event in the region as well as a recognised tourism platform for showcasing Gulf’s maritime heritage.

Over the next few weeks, the crew on EFG Bank Monaco will find out which other teams from around the world will be joining them on the start line and according to Oman Sail’s event director Salma Al Hashmi, the 2017 event is set to be the biggest and most hotly contested SATT since it started in 2011.

“We are very excited to be rolling out the identities of the crews over the coming weeks and are confident that EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour’s amazing success will continue to attract new faces and new opportunities in the future,” she said.

“Interest this year has been higher than ever which we believe is down to our commitment to keeping the event fresh and competitive by changing the route and mixing up the challenges. We are constantly seeking feedback from sailors and sponsors to try and get the mix right and this is clearly working to everyone’s advantage.”

EFG SATT 2017 gets underway at the Almouj Marina in Muscat on February 14 and finishes with a prize-giving celebration in Dubai on March 1.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

SPORTS CRICKET

Australia unchanged BRISBANE: Australia will head into the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan unchanged from the side that closed out a nerve-jangling 39-run win in the first match in Brisbane on Monday. The news will have been warmly greeted by number six batsman Nic Maddinson, who has struggled to cement himself in the side in his two Tests so far.

The hard-hitting Nic Maddin-

son scored one and four from his two innings at the Gabba after being dismissed for a duck against South Africa in the dead rubber Test in Adelaide.

Squad: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers. - Reuters

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Karun’s epic triple ton fuels record India total SCOREBOARD

Nair became the second Indian batsman to score a Test triple hundred and his 303 not out helped the hosts post a massive 759 for seven before skipper Virat Kohli declared

CHENNAI: Karun Nair made an epic unbeaten triple century to power India to their highest ever innings total against a demoralised England in the fifth and final Test on Monday.

Nair became the second Indian batsman to score a Test triple hundred and his 303 not out helped the hosts post a massive 759 for seven before skipper Virat Kohli declared.

After conceding a 282-run firstinnings lead, England finished on 12 for no loss, needing to bat out the final day to save the match and prevent a 4-0 series loss.

Skipper Alastair Cook was unbeaten on three at the close with Keaton Jennings on nine after a difficult day in the field for the touring side.

Nair struck his 32nd four off Adil Rashid to bring up his triple century before raising his bat in celebration as his coach Anil Kumble, a keen photographer, captured the moment on camera.

Nair was at the other end when Lokesh Rahul, his partner in a 161-run fourth-wicket stand, fell agonisingly short of his double century on Sunday by playing a

KARUN NAIR

303* runs from 381 balls 32 fours, 4 sixes

rash shot when one run away from the milestone.

Playing only his third Test, Nair brought up his maiden century in the morning session, turned it into a double after tea and accelerated to reach the 300-mark in an innings which also included four sixes.

Resuming on 391 for four, India lost Murali Vijay for 29 but Nair and Ravichandran Aswin added

181 runs for the fifth wicket to put the hosts firmly in command.

Batting down the order following a shoulder injury, Vijay became debutant Liam Dawson’s first Test victim when the leftarm spinner trapped him lbw.

Nair, dropped on 34 by Cook, enjoyed another slice of luck when he hung out his bat trying to leave a Stuart Broad delivery, the deflection running past

England 1st innings: 477 (M. Ali 146, J. Root 88, L. Dawson 66no, A. Rashid 60) India 1st innings: L. Rahul c Buttler b Rashid 199 P. Patel c Buttler b Ali 71 C. Pujara c Cook b Stokes 16 V. Kohli c Jennings b Broad 15 K. Nair not out 303 M. Vijay lbw b Dawson 29 R. Ashwin c Buttler b Broad 67 R. Jadeja c Ball b Dawson 51 U. Yadav not out 1 Extras (b-2, lb-4, w-1) 7 Total (for 7 wickets decl, 190.4 overs)759 Fall of wickets: 1-152, 2-181, 3-211, 4-372, 5-435, 6-616, 7-754 Did not bat: I. Sharma, A. Mishra Bowling: S. Broad 27-6-80-2, J. Ball 23-2-93-0 (w-1), M. Ali 41-1-190-1, B. Stokes 20-2-76-1, A. Rashid 29.4-1-153-1, L. Dawson 43-4-129-2. J. Root 2-0-12-0, K. Jennings 5-1-20-0 England 2nd innings: A. Cook not out 3 K. Jennings not out 9 Total (for no loss, 5 overs) 12 To bat: J. Root, M. Ali, J. Bairstow, B. Stokes, J. Buttler, L. Dawson, A. Rashid, S. Broad, J. Ball Bowling: I. Sharma 1-0-2-0, R. Ashwin 2-0-7-0, R. Jadeja 2-0-3-0 Umpires: M. Erasmus & S. Fry TV umpire: B. Oxenford Match referee: Jeff Crowe

slip to the boundary. Ben Stokes bowled with hostility, generating reverse swing from an otherwise flat track, and nearly had Nair caught at mid-off with another short delivery.

Nair was on 217 when Joe Root dropped him at slip off Jake Ball and the batsman also survived a stumping opportunity.

Ashwin hit a six off Moeen Ali and registered his 10th test fifty before he fell for 67 to a brilliant diving catch by Jos Buttler off Broad. Virender Sehwag is the only other Indian to make a Test triple century, achieving the feat twice. - Reuters

OMAN NATIONAL MILITARY FOOTBALL TEAM TO TRAIN IN EGYPT Lieutenant General Ahmed bin Harith Al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), met the members of Oman military football team before they left for Egypt for a training camp. The team will train in Egypt till January 4 as part of their preparations for the 2017 World Military Cup Football Championship, which will be organised in the Sultanate from January 15 to 28. Al Nabhani urged the players to extend tremendous efforts and to benefit from such camps. — Supplied photo

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

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SPORTS ROYAL CAVALRY’S MAISOOR WINS ABU DHABI RACE Royal Cavalry’s Maisoor, ridden by Anas bin Salim Al Siyabi, emerged the winner in the 1600m race organised by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. The horse was trained by Said bin Bati Al Badi. The Royal Cavalry-bred stallion was competing for the first time outside Oman. Meanwhile, Royal Cavalry’s Duc de Faust, ridden by Patrick de Paus and trained by Ibrahim bin Zaher Al Hadrami, secured third position in the same race. This colt is competing for the first time outside Oman. — Supplied photo

Aussies survive Shafiq scare to snatch victory Chasing a Test record 490 for victory, Pakistan had resumed the fifth and final day on 382 for eight and paceman Mitchell Starc proved the game-breaker when he ended a stubborn 71-run ninth-wicket partnership between Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah

BRISBANE A relieved Australia captured Pakistan’s last two wickets to win a captivating first daynight Test in Brisbane by 39 runs on Monday but the touring side won huge admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance.

Chasing a Test record 490 for victory, Pakistan had resumed the fifth and final day on 382 for eight and paceman Mitchell Starc proved the game-breaker when he ended a stubborn 71-run ninthwicket partnership between Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah.

Starc struck with a searing delivery that pinged off Shafiq’s glove for an easy catch to David Warner in the gully, bringing to an end a heroic knock of 137.

Yasir fell moments later to seal the win, run out by home skipper Steve Smith with a direct hit for 33, having failed to ground his bat after an aborted single as Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 450.

Australia take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but Pakistan showed impressive fight to turn the match into a cliffhanger and will head to the second game in Melbourne on December 26 with renewed confidence.

Starting the day needing 108 runs to win but with only two wickets intact, the tourists maintained a sliver of hope with middle-order

BRAVE KNOCK IN VAIN: Pakistan’s batsman Asad Shafiq acknowledges applause by spectators as he

walks off the field. – AFP

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings: 429 (S. Smith 130, P. Handscomb 105, M. Renshaw 71; W. Riaz 4-89, M. Amir 4-97) Pakistan 1st innings: 142 (S. Ahmed 59no) Australia 2nd innings: 202 for 5 decl (U. Khawaja 74, S. Smith 63) Pakistan 2nd innings: S. Aslam c Renshaw b Starc 15 A. Ali c Wade b Starc 71 B. Azam c Smith b Lyon 14 Y. Khan c Smith b Lyon 65 Misbah-ul Haq c Wade b Bird 5 A. Shafiq c Warner b Starc 137 S. Ahmed b Starc 24 M. Amir c Wade b Bird 48

batsman Shafiq at the crease after he cleaved a magnificent unbeaten century on day three.

Australia’s nerves were becoming increasingly frayed as Pakistan approached their target but the relief was palpable when they finally sealed a victory that looked a formality a day earlier.

“I lost all my fingernails, I think,” joked Smith. “Some game of cricket, wasn’t it?

“Credit’s got to go to our bowlers, they really stuck at it and got us over the line. That wicket, I guess, of Asad showed the class of Starcy with a ball that was 60 overs old and quite soft.... but what a game of cricket.”

Rode luck Australia appeared bemused to

W. Riaz c Smith b Bird 30 Y. Shah run out (Smith) 33 R. Ali (not out) 1 Extras (lb-5, w-2) 7 Total (all out, 145 overs) 450 Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-54, 3-145, 4-165, 5-173, 6-220, 7-312, 8-378, 9-449,10-450 Bowling: M. Starc 38-10-119-4 (w-1), J. Hazlewood 42-11-99-0, J. Bird 33-6-110-3 (w-1), N. Lyon 29-3-108-2, N. Maddinson 3-0-9-0.

Result: Australia won by 39 runs Umpires: I. Gould & R. Illingworth TV umpire: S. Ravi Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle

even be competing on day five and it manifested itself in Smith’s conservative field settings.

Shafiq and Yasir cantered past 400 and the Australian captain became fidgety as his front-line bowlers were despatched regularly through the gaps.

Slow bowler Nathan Lyon was introduced and coaxed a nick from Yasir which pinged off his pad and flew just wide of Peter Handscomb at short leg.

Growing in confidence, Yasir Shah then whipped paceman Jackson Bird off his pads for four at the square leg boundary to bring up the 50-run partnership with Asad Shafiq.

Yasir then survived a missed stumping, a dropped catch and overturned an lbw decision by

The way the team showed character was wonderful.

Asad Shafiq, that was a superb knock. So, a lot of positives, and I’m happy and proud the way the team played Misbah-ul Haq Pakistan captain umpire Richard Illingworth before Starc timed his intervention to perfection at the other end with a searing, short-pitched delivery that reared up on Shafiq.

Shafiq was named man-of-thematch following his ninth Test century, the most ever for a number six batsman.

“The way the team, all the batsmen showed their character, that was wonderful,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said.

“Asad Shafiq, that was a superb knock.

“So, a lot of positives, and I’m happy and proud the way the team played.” - Reuters

SMARTEN UP DRIVE SAFE A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016

SPORTS OMAN CRICKET

U-13 A DIVISION: ISM B players pose for a group photo after their win over MCCC B.

U-13 B DIVISION: Bosher Olympic Center A players after their win over ISWK B. – Supplied photos

ISM B, BOC A, ISWK and ISN taste success MUSCAT: Indian School Muscat B (ISM B) recorded a 101-run win over Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre B (MCCC B) in the Oman Cricket Under-13 A tournament.

Batting first, ISM B put on 160 for six in 20 overs. Shashank Ram and Piyush Sivakumar scored 63 and 58 runs respectively.

In reply, MCCC B were restricted to 59 for seven in 20 overs. Tanuj and Gagan claimed two wickets each for ISM B. Brief scores: ISM B 160 for 6 in 20 overs (Shashank Ram 63, Piyush

Batting first, ISWK put on 194 for four in 20 overs. Sai Surya Kumar top scored with 39.

In reply, SLSM scored 126 for four in 20 overs. Sanjaya Ravindra top scored with 43.

Sivakumar 58) bt MCCC B 59 for 7 in 20 overs (Tanuj 2/10). Points: ISM – 3, MCCC B – 0.

Shinon top scorer In another U-13 B match, Bosher Olympic Center A (BOC A) defeated Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir B (ISWK B) by five wickets.

Batting first, ISWK B put on 97 for seven in 20 overs. Vishal Krishnan claimed two wickets for BOC A. In reply, BOC A scored 98 for five in 18.1 overs with Shinon Sajith top scoring with 40.

Brief scores: ISWK B 97 for 7 in 20 overs (Vishal Krishnan 2/29) lost to BOC A 98 for 5 in 18.1 overs (Shinon Sajith 40). Points: ISWK B – 0, BOC A – 2.

Sai Surya shines In an U-13 match, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) defeated Sri Lankan School Muscat (SLSM) by 68 runs.

Troup named Oman golf team manager Adding to his existing role with Almouj Golf, Steven will help revamp the national team structure and work to strengthen the pool of Omani golfers to select from

MUSCAT: As part of the drive to grow the game of golf in the Sultanate, the Oman Golf Committee on Monday appointed Steven Troup the national team manager.

Adding to his existing role with Almouj Golf, Steven will help revamp the national team structure and work to strengthen the pool of Omani golfers to select from.

Commenting on the appointment, Oman Golf Committee (OGC) chairman Mundhir Al Barwani noted: “We are really pleased to appoint Steven as he brings many years of experience and commitment to the role.

“This is the first of many new initiatives we will be launching for 2017 as we drive golf forward to become an important contributor

NEW PARTNERSHIP: Oman Golf Committee chairman Mundhir Al Barwani, right, with newly-appointed Oman national team manager Steven Troup. – Supplied photo

to Oman’s growth. We will soon be announcing the criteria for selection of the national team, ensuring it is transparent and open to all Omani golfers.”

Steven Troup has been a PGA professional for 12 years and came to Oman from Qatar a year and a half ago. Steven quickly developed a reputation for his commitment to the sport and has helped many of Oman’s golfers to improve their game.

With the support of Almouj Golf, Steven’s employers, this appointment highlights their commitment

to help grow the game in Oman and develop a strong National Team.

Steven said: “I feel really privileged to be given the position of national team manager and look forward to working closely with the Oman Golf Committee to establish the right environment in which the national team can thrive.

“I have helped some of the national team players previously on a coaching level and from my first weeks in Oman I recognised immediately that there is an incredible amount of potential here.

“I’m relishing getting started and

look forward to getting to know the players even better but the primary focus is the long term development and ensuring this is done from the earliest ages to ensure Oman is producing a squad who can compete at the highest levels.”

Ali Hameed Al Saleh, a board member of the OGC and former national team player, commented: “The national team has represented Oman across the globe this year from South Korea to Scotland, the home of golf. There are very few sports that offer what golf does and we are now focused to strengthen the depth of the national team.

“The School Initiate we recently launched is the start and now bringing on board Steven’s expertise shows our commitment. 2017 is going to be a big year for golf.

“The Oman Golf Committee’s mission, with the support of the Ministry of Sporting Affair and partners Oman LNG, is to build a foundation for golf in Oman that will give all golfers the opportunity to play the sport. The committee wants to create an environment that allows beginners to learn and serious golfers to strive to the top.

“We will focus on raising the standard of golf in Oman and produce a national team capable of competing in international events like the Olympic Games and the World Cup of Golf. OGC aim to build a population of local golfers which will support the domestic clubs to ensure golf flourishes and is sustainable in the long term.”

OOC ELECTIONS:

Al Zubair, Al Hosni, Al Kishy file nominations MUSCAT: Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Zubair, the chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), who is seeking a second term as the OOC chief has filed his nomination papers along with current team members, including

vice-chairman Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni.

The OOC board elections for 2016-20 term are scheduled to take place on January 31. While Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni will be running for the vice-chairman-

ship, Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry will also be seeking another term as the OOC Secretary-General.

Meanwhile, Oman Tennis Association chief Khalid Al Aadi is hoping to become the OOC’s treasurer.

Former board member Sheikh

Badr bin Ali Al Rawas, chairman of Oman Volleyball Association, and Mohsin Al Masoori, first vicechairman of Oman Football Association, filed nominations for the posts of board members. The nominations close on Wednesday. - ONA

Brief scores: ISWK 194 for 4 in 20 overs (Sai Surya Kumar 39) bt SLSM 126 for 4 in 20 overs (Sanjana Ravindra 43). Points: SLSM – 0, ISWK – 3.

Bilal bags four wickets In another U-13 match, Indian School Nizwa (ISN) posted a five-

wicket win over Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre A (MCCC A).

Batting first, MCCC A put on 143 for nine in 20 overs. Batting first, Saami Khan and Arjun Dhiman scored 34 and 36 respectively.

Bilal Shaju claimed four wickets for ISN. In reply, ISN scored 147 for five in 20 overs. Arvind Menon top scored with 48.

Brief scores: MCCC A 143 for 9 in 20 overs (Arjun Dhiman 36) lost to ISN 147 for 5 in 20 overs (Arvind Menon 48). Points: MCCC A – 0, ISN – 2.

FOOTBALL

Oman Drydock Company lift Duqm Refinery Football Cup MUSCAT: The Duqm Refinery Cup, now in its second year is an annual football event organised

by Duqm Refinery in the wilayat of Duqm. The matches were played over three days, starting on December 12 in the indoor sports hall of the Oman Drydock Company.

Duqm Refinery Cup followed a six-a-side knock-out format and had 14 registered teams, an increase from the 12 teams that were featured last year.

Finally the team of Oman Drydock Compnay emerged as winners of Duqm Refinery Cup 2016.

Ras Madraka were the runnersup while Haitam team secured the third place.

After a well contested first round that featured a lots of goals, eight teams emerged into the second round of the tournament.

Of these eight teams, Haitam, SEZAD, Ras Madraka and Oman Drydock Company qualified for the semifinals. Eventually Oman Drydock Company and Ras Madraka emerged as the best teams and made it to the final.

“As with the rest of Oman, football is very popular in Duqm,” said Jasim Al Ajmi, Corporate

Communication and CSR Manager at Duqm Refinery, on the occasion of the prize distribution ceremony.

“The Duqm Refinery Cup serves not only as a platform for the youth to showcase their talents in, but also serves as a platform that brings the neighboring communities of Duqm, the companies and organisations operating there along with fans together in a spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie,” he added.

“Our support towards football goes beyond just organising tournaments, we are investing in the individual as well as the sport by supporting training programmes and camps along with support towards sporting facilities and infrastructure.”

The guest of honor at the final and the prize distribution ceremony was Sheikh Taher bin Mabkhoot bin Ali Al Junaibi, member of the Shura council and representative of Wilayat of Duqm.

Issa Al Ismaily from the Oman Drydock Company’s team emerged the top scorer while Mohammed Al Junaibi of Ras Madraka won the best player of the tournament award.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 1 6

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Contact 95154331

Two apartments for rent in the first Ansab consisting of 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, 2 Balcony and the second consisting of 5 rooms and 5 bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and balcony with Split Air Conditioners. Contact 99319620 / 97771121

Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable

1 BHK Flat for rent in Darsait.

Contact: 99357586 / 97500021

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

New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes 1 living room , 2 bedrooms, kitchen, 3 toilets, every room with split A/C & high quality finishing. Rent per flat is RO 320/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968 – 92225523

1 BHK near Medical Darsait Muttrah house R.O 180/-.

Contact: 95070201

Room for rent behind Oman house Contact: 99025809 New villa for rent in Azaiba 18 November Street. 6 Bedrooms, 2 kitchens & 7 toilets. To view the villa contact - 95919059 Room in Azaiba. #99555843

Land in Al

Contact Hood: 91155779

FOR SALE

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) 6. Scaffoldings 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Room for rent in Bowshar.

Contact: 91153933

- Twin villa in Azaiba & Ghubra for sale

New building in Bowshar for sale.

Contact: 91155779

603 sq mtrs residential land in Al Hail North Block 45 NE near Radio station. OMR 96 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 - or 97509955. No Brokers Please Farm in Barka for sale.

Contact: 91155779 Ice cream Shop, Prime location, Ruwi for sale. Contact: 92150455 Villa for sale in Al Amerat 8/1 upscale finishes. Contact: 91153933 BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only. Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909 Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm. Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

FOR SALE Land for sale in the village of Bimmah on the coastal road Qurayat/ Sur with a space of 604 square meters for an attractive price.

Contact 92905222 Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239 RESTAURANT for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 99378964

ACC. AVAILABLE Room for Rent for Filipinos, New Building near City Seasons Hotel, KM and Teejan Furnishing Spacious and safe. Accessible to public transport. Call 97728418 Rooms available in Azaiba for family or Bachelor. Contact: 92887809 / 93211417 Single room with separate bathroom for cooking bachelor in Rex Road. Contact: 98209132 Spacious bedroom, toilet & kitchen, near ISWK (KG). #96098443 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for Executive bachelor Opp. O.C. Centre Ruwi. Call : 90611670 Sharing accommodation in W/K. Contact: 94986587 Furnished single room with toilet at Al Khuwair, Kabab factory Ronald. Contact: 99568122 Furnished room sep / entrance Wadi Kabir Executives. #99336206 Room for rent available at Al Khuwair. Contact: 91512037 Furnished room in ruwi and azaiba for rent for executive bachelors. Gsm 99058344 Sharing accommodation available with W/E at Al Khuwair 33.

For a small family or non-cooking bachelors. Contact - 92834145 Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi. #91107383 / 93120054 Sharing accommodation available at honda road Ruwi. #99040590

MV SALE Honda Accord 2008 model, 4 cylinder, number 1 full options with navigation/ camera, full insurance. No accident history, 1640000 km, well maintained.

OMR 3300/-. Contact –95919059 Prado 2014. Contact 99336093 Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017.

Contact No: 92812144

ACC.WANTED Wanted a single room for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi area.

Contact: 93708595 Wanted a family shared accommodation for Senior Executive Bachelor in Ruwi-Wuttayah area.

Please contact: 93708595

BUYING Buying cars for cash. #90202090

WANTED Warehouse minimum 600 SQ. MTR for dry foodstuff storage between Muscat and Ghala.

Contact: 99108171 Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 /93203778

BUSINESS Attention to Traders : we have our office in China we can import any thing you require directly from Chinese manufactures we insure prompt delivery with very low prices. #99742983 / 95226989.

New Year gifts dairy pens t -shirt with print. Contact: 98604960

AVAILABLE Bobcat available for rent.

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

LOST Mohammad Samsul has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AF 9524517.

Finder please handover to ROP Selina has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AE 6450382. Finder please handover to ROP

NOTICE Heavy Technical for Trad ASTD company which is recorded under the commercial register number 1188602 is going to change its legally shape from ASTD company L.L.C to company And in accordance with Article 13 of the Commercial Companies Law No. 4/74 . This is to inform any body who concerns about that to 2 months from the date publishing this advertising.

NRI 2000 SQFT 3 bedroom, villa in gated colony for sale at thalore Trissur Kerala. Contact: 99725985 Malayalam movie partner invited for a Malayalam comedy film ready to shoot talented artists also welcome. Contact: dffa.dffa@gmail. com or 0091- 95679 - 60329 or (92817797)

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES Special packages, Facial, Pedicure, Eyebrow, only 10 RO. Al doom Beauty Parlour contact 99619409

D4

T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Required an experienced Sales Engineer

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

for an Oil & Gas Company, should be self- starter with minimum 6 years experience in sales & marketing. You will have knowledge of oilfield products and posses of valid Oman driving license and must be a degree holder of Mechanical Engineer.

An Omani Road Construction Company seeks Business Development Manager with Oman experience in the similar field.

Contact: info@anwaarfahud.com

Interested candidates please forward CV on: job.muscat@gmail.com

SITUATION VACANT Experienced Boatman wanted, in charge of Boat & Jet skies. Technical background in engine and boat systems.

Contact 99466062

Sales Executives Applicants are invited for existing vacancies in a leading information Technology company.

Interested candidate should have the following criteria: - Background in marketing. (MBA is preferable) - 2-3 years experience in Oman for selling IVMS Products or Information Technology solution.

- Well versed with Oman market.

- Omani driving license is a must.

- All Nationalities are welcome to apply.

Interested candidate may send CV to hr@kginfotech.com

ACCOUNTS Urgently required for group co.

Chartered Accountant with minimum 4 years experience as Senior Accountant with tally knowledge, driving license and NOC. Email: hr@cityvago.com Graduate in Commerce with 10 years experience, must have Oman working experience with valid Oman driving license. Interested candidates send resume to hr@aljood-oman.com Accountant 2-3 years experience.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com. Fax: 24509312

MEDICAL Al Farooq Polyclinic Barka requires experienced Male & Female GPs & Gynecologist. Contact 99754628 Care Medical Centre (Al Seeb) requires General Practitioners & Pharmacists. Email : muscat.medicalcarecentre@gmail.com

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

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES COͳORDINATOR with Omani driving license HELPERS ͳ Experience 3 to5 years

Contact - 90372638 SALES / MARKETING Require sales man for hydraulics and oilfield sector. Contact 99221683 / 92830110

Urgently required licensed Pharmacist temporary or permanent for a reputed polyclinic. Contact 96721709 or send CV to : manageribnalhaitham@yahoo.com

Looking for an Expat staff, with experience in Oman in real estate field. Email: aburashid94dd@ gmail.com

Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other benefits. Contact 92989109, Email: medicoport@gmail.com

A leading trading Group is looking for outdoor Sales Executive with driving license & release / NOC. Fax: 24701683 or Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net.om

Urgently required GP doctor with NOC for well known running clinic ready to work in Bidbid.

Contact 96746460

Required Sales Executive – 3nos. for rental car, with Omani license.

Contact: 90955777

BEAUTICIAN Urgent required Mehandi / Henna, artist & designer salon 1 or 2 years experience, visa & accommodation free, location: Sohar, female candidates only apply. Contact: 95089844

CATERING A well reputed restaurant, urgently required seafood & Arabic biryani chef & a waiter, should be fluent in English only, experienced candidates can contact for more Details 99364735/ 93141672 Forward your Resume to cafechefa2013@gmail.com Excellent male cook w/ experience 200 Riyals salary + accommodation & food. Must be in Oman have own visa. Contact: Whatsapp: 95887572

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

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

DRIVER Driver required, drivers with valid Oman light duty driving license.

Contact: 95894258

A MOH license Staff Nurse needed to work in a clinic in Medha 400 Rial salary with accommodation. Contact: 94220240 Required Optometrist for a leading Optical group in Oman.

Email : albasilopticals@gmail.com Contact 93822557 Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman. com

MISCELLANEOUS We are looking for Admin & Sales officer for our company. Send your CV to Email: alsarooj@omantel.net. om Candidates with the following should apply: Previous experience in a similar, working for a security company Proven experience of designing and estimating large integrated CCTV, Access Control, and Perimeter detection systems.

Detailed technical knowledge of database and operating security systems associated with CCTV, access Control, with Oman license.

Send CV by mail info@sahabit.com Urgent required : Store labors.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com, Fax: 24509312

ENGINEER SURVEYOR /DRAFTSMAN ITI Surveyor with 2 years experience in Oman in OHL transmission lines with valid D/L and knowledge in drafting preferred #93339586 Email: hromancv@gmail.com Required urgently B.E. / Diploma having good experience in Automobile & Engineering workshop.

Contact: 99439701 Email: nnoe11977@gmail.com Required Urgently Engineer with Driving License & Foreman for construction company in Suwaiq, Al Batinah Contact: 96322202 / 93677795, mail your cv’s to: unionnationalhouse@gmail.com

Required well experienced dynamic candidate in Real Estate Evaluation Field beside Building Management Techniques.

Contact 91246444, Email: rescooman@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL / OFFICE Required female Graduate having knowledge in Tally & MS Office with good skills in English.

Candidate may send CV to knsibi@electrotechoman.com Contact: 97984134

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

Contact 90955777

SKILLED LABOUR Construction company looking for foreman with Gulf experience.

Contact : 95758004 Required Experienced Auto Electrician and Automobile Mechanic for a reputed service station.

Contact : 91232638 hashim@ramainvestment.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC.

DRAUGHTSMAN Draughtsman, PT/ FT. Send resume, work samples to zrarchitecture1@gmail.com. contact 96098443

Sales man & designer for Offset printing press. Contact: whatsapp 94756618

MANAGER Urgently required Cold store experienced Manager & Staff.

Email : almahadint@gmail.com, almahadint@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING Wanted Sales Executive with GCC D/L & NOC for a company deals with automatic doors in Salalah. Email CV to: accounts@alatonoman.com or Fax: 24700408 Wanted experienced Sales & Marketing Manager (with Oman driving license) for fine dine restaurant in capital area. Fax 24565544 GSM / 99103777 & 97100892 Looking for a male candidate for sales and marketing. Fresher can also apply, please forward your CV at visaconsultancy82@gmail.com

Architect 11 years experience & 9 years in Oman seeks urgent job having driving license & limited time till 12th Jan 2017 Architectural consultancy & construction engineering. Contact: 969 95913761 Indian female Architect NIT Calicut pass out seeking for suitable job, 1 yr experience in design & coordination of residential & commercial buildings.

Contact: 95293638 / Email: arayilakathsafa@gmail.com Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

SITUATION WANTED

ADMIN

ACCOUNTS

Young B.Com Graduate with computer literate holding Oman D/L seeks placement in Administration or Accounts Assistant. contact 95041489 Indian male 24 years BBA currently on visit visa looking for suitable job in accounts Administration customer logistic operations etc ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96987802 | Indian female, MBA HR & finance, 4 years experience in MNCs looking for good job. Contact: 95299271 / 95124289 Omani experience on reception, admin PRO seeks job.

Contact: 96495545 / 96184616 8 Years Experienced Graduate Omani Female presently working as Administration Manager in a reputed group Company, supervising HR and other administration activities, liaisoning with Ministries and other Government departments looking for suitable opening in a progressive professional organization. Contact: 91727742 Indian male, B.C.A Graduate, having 4+ years experience in system administration & technical support available on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact: 92813630 Administrator B.Com with D/L on release, 30 years India & Gulf experience in office. project documentation & logistics.

Contact: 92324789 / 97281023 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa, looking for suitable position.Contact 90196235 Indian male M.SW (HR) 2 years exp in India, 27 years age.

Contact: 93353912 Filipino HRD especialist /material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 8 years experience in administration and guest relations department in Oman With valid omani driving licence. Seeking suitable jobs. Ph: 98145825 email: getcb@rediffmail.com Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126 Omani, male, 26 yrs experience looking for job in reputed Companies as PR, having experience at airport / Emigration, Ministries/ Manpower with Oman D/L. Contact 95445779 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288

MISCELLANEOUS

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC.

A Filipino female searching for a job, with 3month visit visa.exp January 2017.hospitality and sales job will be a Good offer to me. Contact no:98271658

Iranian Architect, 3 Ds max, Photoshop interior design expert 3 years experience Omani D/L. Contact: 97309545

Accounts Manager looking for job in accounts or finance, 4 years Oman exp with accountancy degree & Omani D/L with NOC available.

Contact: 95661169 Email: moshin_zaman4u@hotmail.com

Male Accountant, MBA (finance) 5 yrs experience including UAE & India up to finalization available immediately (on visit) Contact: 91704866 Email: anees0989@gmail.com

Indian (M), Qualified CPA, CMA, CIA (USA), MBA (Finance) & M.Com, 15 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting & Audit, (3 years in Oman) looking for suitable Senior/Middle level position in Finance/Accounting/Audit. NOC available.

E-mail soji_ansu@yahoo.com, mob – 91595436

10+ Years Experience in Accounts & Finance upto Finalisation, NOC & License available. Contact – 96239126

Indian, MBA Finance & Marketing with 4 years of experience in Finance & Accounts. With valid Oman D/L. Contact: +968 96321890 Senior Accountant 16 years experience handle accounts up to finalization MIS cash flow, NOC &, D/L available. Contact: 94117616 Email: praveen78oman@gmail.com Indian female 22 years, B.Com, 1 year experience in India as Accountant / Clerk, looking for suitable opening. Now on visiting visa.

Contact: 97754830 Accounts job required, I have done MBA(Finance) and having 5 years banking experience and 1 year accounts experience(Part-Time) of Oman. My Contact# 94478099, Email:sumbalmehreen@yahoo. com Indian male 22 B.Com looking for job in accounting or data Operation special interest in accounts will be happy to hear from you. Contact: 90758030 Email: uttiawesome@ gmil.com Chartered Accountant Indian B.Com, CA , CIA 10+ years experience Tally, Focus, Sap, Oracle.

Contact: 94641805 Finance Manager B.Com, CA, CIA, 10+ years experience Indian. Contact: 94641805 Indian male, 27 yrs, Asst. Audit Manager 3 years experience in accounts & audit in India B.Com + CA (Inter) 1st Group qualified looking for a suitable job. Contact: 0091 8281358224 / 00968 90687772 Email: pradeepsasidharan4@ rediffmail.com Indian male 34 yrs looking for Accounts Asst job, Oman with valid driving license Cont. 92092486, email: sagarjohn28@gmail.com Indian male 22 years B.com with 1 year experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable opening.

Contact: 91247507 Accounts & Admin 3 years experience in GCC, BBA Graduate, Indian male 29 yrs. Contact: 79103778 Finance manager, MBA finance 21 yrs of MNC contracting experience, looking for a job thorough knowledge in MIS Ext/ Int Audit, tax budget, trade finance, system implementation etc.

Contact: 94652975 Email: ramu2587@hotmail.com Indian MSC finance accounts & management (UK) seeking opening in accounts & finance available immediately with driving license.

Contact: 97116798 Email: abin.mathew52@gmail.com Looking for a job Assistant Accountant. Contact: 90119212

Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Contact : 90157073 Indian male MBA (finance) Accounts, Customer service, 2 yearsExperience.(Dubai Airport) Iran Airlines. GCC driving licensevalid till 2025. On Visit Visa (Till 20 Dec 2016).Looking for suitable job. Contact – 71093532. Emailmirzahassanbaig89@gmail.com Experienced Indian female 23 B.Com with computer application on visit looking for suitable position. Contact: 94964860 / 92436404 MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com Oman Experienced Finance & Audit Manager CPA, MBA-USA ACCA ,Expert in Profit Maximizations , Business Developments, All Banking Facilities , ERP- Accounting Software & Solutions of All Business Problems ,With NOC & Driving License Call 94886226 Part time Accountant up to finalization auditing. #93598736 MBA with 3 years experience.

Contact: 98381784 Email: nustruggle@gmail.com Senior Accountant Jordanian Nationality looking for suitable position – accounts up to finalising.

NOC available. Contact : 91702073 General Accountant, MBA (Financial Management) Having 8+ Year Experience in Accounts of UAE. Qualified Accounting Software TALLY, QUICK BOOK ETC. On Visit.

Contact 9526 8360, Email. Sheikhs786.qh@gmail.com Indian female, 12 years experience in Oman work an Asst. Finance Manager, looking for suitable position, NOC available. Contact: 92824146 Accountant male qualified /quick books package CA part qualified AAT, 6 years experience in Sri Lanka & 2 years experience in Maldives. #: 98187164 / 99107591 email: uwmprabhath@gmail.com Indian male 26 years Graduated having over all 5 years experience in Accounts ware house fields sales & marketing, NOC available.

Contact 95307619 / 92237173 Part time qualified experienced Accountant available.

Contact: 91126314 Part time Accountant, 7 yrs Gulf experience available 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM FRI &SAT. Contact: 97895741 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact 99284193

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED B.COM GRADUATE With 30 years Oman experience in various fields like Accounts, Administration, Operation, Credit control etc. worked in reputed companies as Manager with Oman driving license and knowledge of basic Arabic language.

Contact - 98185350

ACCOUNTS Indian male, B.Com, MBA in Finance, 4 yrs in Larsen & Tourbo, 26 yrs in Oman, English/ Arabic speaking with driving license.

NOC available. Contact 95588565 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Chief accountant Senior 16 yrs exp can handle accounts up to finalization, MIS, C. flow budgeting, ERP costing & leasing with auditing, NOC available, seeking job. Contact: 94885686 Email: zahid123368@gmail.com Accountant & Admin 18 years exp (7 yrs in UAE) good knowledge of accounting software’s & English.

Contact: 91729724 Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. #97712084 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. #96988923 email:- sajith3969@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 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. #90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Accountant B.com Indian male 12 yrs exp seeks suitable job.NOC available . Contact : 91212471 Email: rennyj6@gmail.com Omani female Accountant, 32 years, having 10 years exp in admin/accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93295953 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian (M), 31 yrs, M Com 9 yrs experience in Oman, looking for Manager or Executive position in Fin & Accounts, NOC Available.

Contact 968 96166178/ +919768537435: mohammednajeem@yahoo.com Finance Manager, 17 + years Gulf exp. in Accounts, MIS, budgets, strategic planning, cost control, cash flow management, seeks job.

Contact 99489784, E mail :- vijay.564@hotmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER

8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement.

Contact 97243806 Indian (m) MBA ( f) more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiently in various A/C software SAP ( F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95920740 Email Id : abdulhameed1527@gmail.com MBA Finance having 6 years experience (4 years) in Oman as an Accountant, local release. NOC available can join immediately.

Contact: 96742474 Indian, Kerala, CMA-USA, ICWA, Mcom 10+Years Experience Budgeting Planning MIS Accounts&finance.Cont.94064931shijupnarayanan@gmail.com Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing. #96976240 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394 Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact :94743790 Certified Public Accountant (Filipino, Male, 27-yrs-old) with four years experience, seeking suitable placement in accounting/audit, currently on visit. Contact 94959606, email: czesar.42@gmail.com 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients.

On visit visa in Muscat.

Contact 90191628 / 96175780

work cleaning / housekeeping, body / physiotherapy. #96725168

CATERING Restaurant / Banquet Manager Indian male having 3 yrs Diploma in Hotel management & Catering technology, above 16 yrs work experience sin F& B service, Managerial position in reputed Star hotels at Gulf countries & India.

Contact: 91164043 Email: mohanpriya1975@yahoo.com

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168 Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com Looking for Part time/full time Civil Autocad & Quantity Surveying jobs.

Prepare all types of Civil drawings, 3D Modelling and taking up quantities. Please cont. 93480346.email : esdeeoman@gmail.com AutoCAD Draughtsman 9 years Gulf experienced. Contact: 93528255 AutoCAD Draughts man Indian male with 10 years working experience (9 years experience in GCC) & well experience in Architectural & civil field looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 91598043 Email: mu5495608@gmail.com 9 years experienced Interior designer seeking for suitable placement, Oman driving license holder. Contact: 98678225 Interior designer seeking job in Muscat with 6 years of related experience as an interior designer with a strong background in work place interiors. Contact: 91291502 Email: ahmad.jassem025@gmail.com Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

Please contact: 931 42923 with over 20 years in Oman.

Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices.

NOC available.

Contact # 96654216 DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784

DRIVER Driver with car, 6 years experience. Contact: 93961503 / 96448004

DRIVER Bangladeshi male light driver exp 16 years looking for job. Contact: 99165961 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 95396905

Searching job for light driver, with 1 yr experience. #94496620

Experienced driver available with 4WD willing to work fulltime / part-time, familiar with all tourist destinations in Oman.

Contact: 24814231 / 91941545

Indian male, age 29 looking driver job. Contact: 97614837

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Male 40 yrs, 15 yrs exp, D/L seeking job (Sales & driving) English, Hindi, Arabic. Contact: 97003340 Searching job for heavy duty driver, having 4 yrs experience.

Contact 94752728

Indian male BE mechanical engineer CSWIP, 4 years gulf experience in visit visa having Qatar driving license. Contact: +968 96550807 Email: vishnusohanlal@gmail.com

20 years exp, driver with own delivery van. Contact: 99062400

Electronics Engineer in project & sales with 4 years GCC experience having Oman driving license looking for a job. Contact: 92103711

1 years exp D/L male 28 yrs, looking driver job. Contact: 94338977

Master in Civil Engineering with 5 years Gulf exp. Contact: 96658456

Driver job wanted. #96393082

B.Sc Civil Engineer 5+ years experience in Building construction & Steel structural building with having valid D/L. Contact: 93850440/ shahadat033@gmail.com

Driver seeks job, with driving license & salesman. #94235254 Looking for driving job 10 yrs exp, D/L UAE & Oman.

Contact: 95918834 / 97098081 Light driver looking for job 3 years experience.

Contact: 97468646 Indian male 42 yrs UAE , QTR 24 years road work experience looking for good post, with driving license, on visit visa. Contact: 91177203

Houseboy available for house Accountant B.Com/ M.Com, Indian male 10 years exp seeks suitable job NOC available valid ROP driving license. Contact: 97375608 Email: vincentdsouza1979@gmail.com

11yrs experience in Accounts & Finance in Gulf.

5years in reputed Oil & Gas company; Finalization & Consolidation FS, MIS, Audit, Budget, AP & AR, Tax, etc., Indian Male, Post-graduation, Oman D/L and NOC available.

Experienced IT Professional

ACCOUNTS Indian female, 26 years,brought up in oman,M.COM(FINANCE) CA Foundation(CPT),CA , INTER (DOING) presently on family visa seeking for immediate and suitable placement. Contact -97174201/99663957 Email-anishasasi@gmail.com

Sr. Accountant with SAP/ERP.

Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 94397006 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 99775728 Driver with car have good experience in Oman. Contact: 94039796 Looking for light driver job experience 8 years Eng, Urdu & Arabic.

Contact: 95658675 Light driver with 5 yrs exp need job. Contact: 92024487 Driver with 2 years experience in job looking for job. Contact: 93374969 / 93721242 Driver with license & car. Contact: 99158913 Light duty driver looking for job with 5 years experience. Contact: 97380787 Light duty driver with valid Oman license available.#92686876 Looking for job light driving.

Contact: 93779819 Driver available for job.

Contact: 96381406 Pakistani, 10 years experience in Saudi, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, license 3 years in Oman.

Contact: 94350734 / 97665807 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 95892363 Looking for light driver job.

Contact: 93782166 / 94356465 Looking for job light driver 17 years exp Oman. #95541940 Looking for driving job. Contact: 94802988 / 94435912 Looking for driver job.

Contact: 99578649 Want light driver job, 4 years experience. Contact: 91740910 Light duty driver 5 yrs Dubai, 1 yr Oman experience seeks placement knowing English, Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 90271794

Mechanical Engineer/ Indian Male with 1 Year experience looking for an opportunity in Electro Mechanical field of IMS/BMS/HVAC systems. on Visit visa. Contact: 99288700 E Mail: karthias1995@gmail.com HSC officer male 29 years, 6 years experience seeking good opportunity. Contact: + 968 90595885 / + 968 71140487 Email: bipin.tkurian@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer with 6 years Gulf experience, NOC & D/L available.

Contact :92730137 Graduate female, 36 yrs, with driving license, looking for a suitable position. Contact: 96234434 Civil Engineer, B.Tech, Indian with 1 year experience in Oman seeking suitable placement, NOC available from sponsor. Contact: 91702450 Email: tijoct2015@hotmail.com Electronics Systems Engineer (UK Graduate) with skills in Robotics programming languages IC, PCB designing seeking suitable position Indian female on visiting visa. Contact: 95806296 Email: s.dinesh1508@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, male, Keralite, having 1 year experience, certified in Primavera and catia, on visit visa looking for suitable job. #+ 968 94959233 / +968 97474225 Email: anandsunil94@gmail.com Indian male 24 B.E Mechanical Engineer, 1 year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 98530806 / 99362006 Civil engineer D.A.E Civil, B.Tech Civil, having four years experience on visit visa. Contact: 97248565 / Whatsapp 94996896 Indian male 23 years Mechanical Graduate, looking for job in mechanical field also completed diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Contact: +968 98812608, Email : mesahad@gmail.com Civil Engineer experience 10 yrs, 8 years in Oman. Contact: 97201504 / 98047527 Mechanical Engineer 22 years experience in manufacturing industries in Oman Efficient in all plant operations seeking managerial position. Contact: 98871548 / 98758606 Mechanical Engineer with 3 years experience in RO plant maintenance of boilers, breakdown maintenance, pumps, control valves and air compressor etc currently in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95632276 Email: jassinsudhakaran797@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer (B.E) with 5+ years experience in Gulf and India (oil & gas projects). Contact: 91987143 Email: jebilk212@gmail.com Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 91328079 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. #92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available.

Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com Structure Engineer/civil BSC, worked in mega projects with 2 years experience, soft ware skills (Cad, staad, Revit, Robot, Sap, Hilti), Fluent Arabic, English. #:99814536 HSE Engineer having 10+ years experience in both Construction and Oil & Gas (PDO). Looking for suitable position, NOC & valid driving license available.

Contact: 97717468 B. Tech Mechanical HVAC site Engineer 4 years experience, currently on visit. Contact 92837696 / mdabdulather@gmail.com Civil Engineer 10 years experience working in International company, Infrastructure & building construction having Omani driving license.

Contact: 96616396.

Purchasing professional having 7 years experience in power, water construction projects seeking job.

NOC available. Contact: 96518316 Email: vineethsubashpillai@gmail. com Professional land surveyor available with total station vehicle NOC 9 years experience in building construction bridges topography survey roads available to join or higher. Contact: 96287425 Email: ihtisham.tkm@gmail.com Mechanical/ Piping Engineer (B.Tech.) on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 94703350 Email: nadeembcoolboy@gmail.com Looking for suitable placement.

Indian Male 36 yrs Machineshop sales and service, repair and maintenance mechanical equipments & jobs. Noc available, Oman D/L Available Working in Oman for 5+ years. 98481039, anand27kumar@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer having 8 years experience Quantity Surveyor Civil in Oman looking for a job around 21 years experience in civil works. Contact: 97829710 Civil Engineer holder a master degree with +3.5 years experience in gray & Jordan.

Contact: +968 94592122 Email: m_f_h88@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer Pakistani form N.E.D University 15 years experience of operation maintenance installation of CNH comp, gas engineer generative fiber optic FTTH & LTE projects in Oman.

Contact: 00968 95196597 Email: s_atif76@hotmail.com Sudanese civil Engineer master holder with 6 years experience.

Contact: 99636424 Fresher cloud Engineer.

Contact: 98207829

An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78 @gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Looking for job in construction industries, office coordinator, document controller, Administration B.A with good computer skills 10 years experience. Contact: 95399753 / 93892877 Email: dhananjayam0@ gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with 6 years GCC experience in Petro chemical & Steel plant construction currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 93926488, Email: sanjuns89@gmail.com Need for job industrial Electrical technician with Oman driving license, earlier experience in the oil field. # 91285302 / 96348016 Civil Engineer (Indian male) 12 years of experience in construction field having Omani D/L and NOC looking for suitable job. Contact: 94194399 Email: saashibly@gmail.com BOQ available, site visiting inspection. Contact: 93850875 / 95031239 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Experienced auto mobile Engineer seeking job. Contact: 91487747 Mechanical Engineer, 3 years experience, 1 year in Oman, with driving license & NOC. Contact: 94887665 Email: mechatron_mt@yahoo.com Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891 Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283 Electrical Engineer, 24 yrs, Indian Male, Fresher, Training Undertaken in Electrical Draughtsman, Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting and Industrial Automation.

Contact: 94989767, Email: Junaiz987@gmail.com Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

Contact: 93837973 Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Ph number: 97964862, Email: jossyabraham20@gmail.com

Civil Engineer diploma 6 yrs of exp 3 years Oman seeks suitable position in a reputed company NOC available can join immediately.

Contact: 97912853

Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact - 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com

Indian female, 22 yrs, BE (Electronics & Communication) searching for suitable placement.

Contact 96008324

Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022

D6

T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

IT

Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com

IT Engineer male, 28 yrs, over 7 yrs experience with NOC, D/L available seeking placement in IT / Network / Telecom field.

Contact 93563297 Email: monuzv24@gmail.com

Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Contact : 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail. com

Indian male on visit visa, Network Administrator with 5 years experience in IT field seeking suitable placement immediately.

Contact: 93926541 / 92703007 Email: 16.prasanth@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment.

Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@gmail.com Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact: 94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Indian female 24. Masters in Computer science engineering, seeking job in colleges, schools and institutes. Having in good skill in teaching and advanced technologies.

Contact : 93356858 Email id : annielino11@gmail.com Masters (M.Sc) in applied Psychology, specialization in counseling, Indian female, 24 years, good caliber in teaching and counseling, with reasonable practical experience in some reputable schools and colleges looking for an appropriate opportunity in related field. Contact 99133896, afsh.shariff@gmail.com Female Arabic Teacher well experienced looking for a suitable job for non native speakers.

Contact: 96094116 Indian Female, Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact – 99675828, Email anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact 99739415 / 92091528

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

IT Senior Network Engineer (USA Citizen) network design & implementation, network config and maintenance, CCNA, CCNP, CCIE (WR). Contact – 90350262/ Email- ammar.eng@gmail.com Indian / Female (29) married.

MCA, 2+years of experience in software development Accenture, Bangalore. IT skills include Dot Net, SQL server 2008, ASP.Net, excellent communication skills with Omani DL looking for a suitable job. Mb: 94057790; Email: geetika. pesit08@gmail.com IT Support Engineer, 6 yrs experience with NOC available seeking placement in IT system & server Administration. Contact: 93200454 Email: pandiyanraj85@ gmail.com IT Engineer male 28 yrs over 6 yrs experience with NOC available seeking placement in IT net work Administration, software development. Contact: 94744858 Email: athulmundayad@gmail.com

Indian male Keralite Post Graduate Diploma and Graduate CCNA & MCSA certified have 5 years experience in software & hardware technical support. Contact : 93988511 Email: vimalkanthkv@gmail.com B. Tech IT Graduate 5 years experience in web dev, networking have valid Oman license looking for suitable placement. contact 98825722 Email: ajaybin.joy@gmail.com Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available.

Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 98660672 27, Indian male: Software Developer having 5years+ experience in oracle forms & reports 10 g, BI publisher. Contact:91156571

MEDICAL Homeopathy Doctor Indian female with MOH license looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 94541830 Email: homeo64319@gmail.com Indian female MOH Dietitian working in Muscat NOC available well experienced. Contact: 90996037 Email: nabanitasaha12@gmail.com Female dentist Pakistani prometric pass (66%) dataflow in process 10 years of experience in Malaysia & Pakistan, looking for in Muscat.

Contact: 96173783 Email: humerasafdar@hotmail.com Male Staff Nurse (Indian 26 years old) having MOH license NOC & 3 year’s experience, seeking suitable placement. #94932245 / 95068075 Indian Male Dentist BDS with MOH license seeks for a job. #94397499 Iraqi Dentist looking for job in Muscat with MOH license & NOC 6 years experience and half.

Contact: 96907572 Female Dentist Indian with MOH license & NOC looking for a job in Muscat. Contact-96035981 Indian male Nurse with 7 years seeking for a suitable job in Muscat.

Data flow, prometric completed.

Contact: 93519957 / 98275068 Email: mammenv24@gmail.com

IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact 94672759

Female Staff Nurse, with 6 yrs experience MOH license and NOC available date flow completed looking for a suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 97440718

CFA level 1 cleared (pursuing level 2) MBA operations research, female, 5 yrs experience as Analyst, have a valid Oman driving license, looking for related openings.Contact 95818892

Filipino male Medical / Sales representative with 3 yrs experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: 92610394

Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Female, master in mass communication, B.Ed, experience in media channel and teaching PH : 99362024

Indian male Nurse, with well experience in profession and working in Oman. Seeking for a suitable placement. (Preferring opportunity in as Rig Medic). Has BLS and ACLS. Contact : 97236545 Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com Dr.Ayman Abduljalil Ali, E.N.T Specialist (Otolaryngologist), Yemeni-male, looking for job.

Mobile: 00201096542706, Email: aymanjalilorl@gmail.com

LOGISTICS

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

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

Secretarial & Office: Indian(F), MBA in Finance, 2 years experience as Associate in Branch Operations (Record Keeping, Desk job)on family visa. Ph: 93186865 ; email: ddthoppil@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Omani male, 21 years graduate, (bachelor in management studies) seeks suitable placement. #97904200 21, Indian female B.com graduate on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Holds valid Omani Driver’s license. Contact: 97208869 Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523 B.Com,IICL Certified Container Inspector(No.150850),Visit Visa, Six months experience, need placement. Contact: 90880935, 99023279,Email solexyesudas@ gmail.com Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation.

Contact 92956848 9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence. NOC available. Seeks suitable placement. Contact Zakeer Hussain 96681934.

BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

SKILLED LABOUR Male 42 electricians & plumber, looking for job NOC available.

Contact: 98081227 Watch repair and service looking for job, 24 yrs experience.

Contact: 99530405

India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office administration independently, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in hallenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. #99120500 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. #95244761 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Tel: 90157073 Joinery / Woodworking Production Supervisor, Indian, with knowledge in estimation, 18 years experience (5 years in Oman).

Contact: 92975314, praveen777prabhakar@gmail.com.

Indian male (40 yrs), looking for warehousing /logistics supervisor position, having 12 yrs Oman Exp with D/L, currently with a leading distribution company in Oman, NOC available - PH: 94337320 ; Email: truefails@rediffmail.com Indian male MBA with 8 years of exp as Assistant Manager in investment banking sector. Looking for suitable position, currently on visit visa. Contact – 98685704, WhatsApp 919000676512 Email – suhelpashaa@gmail.com

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR CEO, CEO Assistant, Managing Director, Senior Level Manager, A senior level business developments executive with 18 Yrs of experiences in USA, Africa, GCC, with MBA from Texas A&M ,USA).

Contact 92010247 General Manager Indian National With 20 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company.

Contact-97464650.

Joinery / Woodworking Purchase Manager, Indian, with 12+ years experience in UAE, Qatar & Oman.

Experience in Trading & Manufacturing divisions, having valid Omani D/L. Knowledge in Materials Management, Finance, Office Administration and Operations.

Contact: 98040421, vinodthattayil@gmail.com.

SALES / MARKETING Indian male, Keralite Post Graduate Diploma and Graduate have 6 years experience in Sales and Marketing have experience in Ecommerce, IT, Security and FMCG Sales & Marketing. Contact: 93988511

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com

BBA Bachelor of business administration exp in custom clearance procedure, also done international logistics management & Nimb National Institute business management (US) certification all documentation work related logistics. contact – 91949050 / akram.chaush001@gmail.com

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

Marketing Executive with 10 years experience in Gulf on visit visa. Contact: 90116693

SALES / MARKETING

INDIAN male, BBA with 4 years experience in SALES & MARKETING, holding omani driving license. seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95607037 Email: raaz0jannat@gmail.com.

Indian male with 15 years of rich experience in business development & marketing 7 + years in Oman , looking for a suitable opportunity.

Contact: 98652962

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

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

Contact: 91939227

Indian male around 7.5yrs technical product sales, new agency development experience in Oman B.E mechanical PGP.MKT , IB , Oman D/L urgent placement (m). contact 91536968

Indian male, 6 yrs experience in oman as Business Analyst / Business Support, Seeking suitable position. NOC Available.Contact-95882930 5 years Oman sales experienced Indian with valid Omani & UAE driving license. Contact: 92507253 / 99414642 Sales professional (Graduate) with additional qualification MCSE & CCNA having more than 10+ yrs of experience in handling IT hardware, Networking & Security Products (project based) and experience in education and training industry in Oman, seeking employment in relevant IT companies. Contact: 99354209 Indian male, looking for sales & marketing job, Oman license holder.

Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com 3 years experience in sales in Oman, looking for suitable vacancy, NOC available-96983324 26 yrs, Indian male, M.S.C IT having 2 years of experience in sales & Marketing seeking job in sales. Contact: 93703185 Indian male 35 years, BBM, 5 years experience as Sales Executive & key Accountant in Oman with NOC, D/L seeking immediate placement in Muscat area.

Contact: 92683606 Email: abhi.abraham09@gmail.com Indian male 23, MBA (marketing) with 1year experience in India as Sales Executive searching for suitable job in marketing, sales, management, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 95957278, Email: zeeshanhamdule.75@gmail.com Indian male, 27 years 2+ completed, 2 years Muscat experience looking for suitable placement (supermarket shop etc).

Contact: 95128634 Email: sabuthoams@gmail.com 20 years exp, driver / sales man with own van. Contact: 99062400 Engineering Graduate having 5+ years of exp as Marketing Coordinator in advertisement company and as security system service engineer. Contact :79059197 B.com graduate from India with 6 months of experience in billing and sales in one of the largest retail chain company in India is looking for a suitable position. Currently in visit visa 99610602 or hashim.hashi@yahoo.in Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820 9 years experience in Lube sales with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement in sales / driver. NOC available. Contact: 99263912 Indian male masters in Petroleum Engineering with 1 yr Oman exp in sales & marketing holding D/L, currently on visit visa looking for oil / gas industry field related or sales related job. Contact : 93789123

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

Email: 002015r@gmail.com Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. contact 96143430 / 99875919 Graduate Indian male 26 yrs, 3 yrs experience logistics & management seeking suitable opportunity in reputed organization.

Contact 98847095 Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 /95774854 Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95337665 Key Accounts Manager of sales.. with an experience of 13 yrs, across the country. Bsc, MBA seeks suitable placement. Contact- 92100116 MBA (UK), raised in Oman & with 2 yrs work experience holding valid Oman driving license, seeks job in sales / business development. Contact: 99513132 India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office independently administration, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in challenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. Contact 99120500 Omani female 6 years experience in management, fluent in English & French searching for new opportunity. Contact: 90998255 Indian male age 24, B.Com. having 2 year experience and currently in visit visa. Looking for suitable placement in Sales, Marketing & finance. Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian male MBA and Diploma in management from Australia. On visit visa, looking for a suitable job in sales & marketing. contact 71189884 Indian male with 6 years experience in sales in oman. NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95364128 Omani national, fluent in English looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97173753 Egyptian male experienced sales executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies.

Holds Omani driving license.

Tel: 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com

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

Conatct 96001877 Client Relations and Sales Professional with 8 years in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, looking for suitable opportunity in Muscat. Contact +96879050752 Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact# 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com

TRAVELS/TOUR Reservation & ticketing female one & half experience in travel & tour ism industry visit visa exp, looking for a job.

Contact: 97183575 /99015735 Email: aneesayoosufss@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male 15 years gulf experience in HR / Admin Assistant, Purchase, Office Coordinator with good computer skills seeking employment for suitable position. Holding valid Oman Driving license. Contact 99709336 Indian Male 29 years MBA, B.Com having 8 years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement. Contact :97914340. Email: kvraj30@gmail.com Indian/male(26)/MBA/2 years experience in procurement, coordination and distribution management, with valid oman license available for immediate joining. Contact: 92536194, email:suhailbs@gmail.com Good knowledge in Planning and arranging works and sites. Estimation, drawing, Billing and project management. AUTO CADD, STAAD, MS Office and various software packages #99334770/ 997 43 709 Electrical and electronics engineering graduate, 23yrs Indian male, NOC available, 2 yrs site experience in industrial and commercial building sites(MEP ELECTRICAL), expert in autocad, etap, ms office, electrical engineering design, fluent in English and Hindi, exp in handling a team of 20 workers, ph:92201939.

Indian, male, BBA graduate and diploma in IATA Cargo Supply Chain and Transport Modes with DGR Initial Category 6.Holds Omani driving license. Presently in family visa. Seeks suitable placement in Cargo section.

Contact :-96370022 Indian female, 27 years, MBA in Finance, currently pursuing ACCA, having 10 months voluntary job experience as accountant looking for suitable placement. Contact 94388910, E- mail Id: sowmya. vs1989@gmail.com Indian female, holds masters in business administration (MBA) & LLB, 2 yrs oman experience as hr & admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ Sohar, Falaj. contact 96541959 Accountant. Having 9 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). GSM. 00968-93528057, Email - waheed. murtaza@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer/ HVAC/ Indian: 1year experienced mechanical engineer with piping engineering & quality control certification, on visit visa. email:nishadphoenix@ gmail.com Contact: 90957740, email: nishadphoenix@gmail.com Indian/male(26)/ca finalist and b.com/3 years experience in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa, available for immediate joining. Contact: 98078321 email: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Indian male 23 Fresh Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : mdajaib@yahoo.com

T U E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

CHANGE OF NAME We Faris Alungal Fasel (name of father as per the passport holder of Indian passport No. M 2294073 and Faseena Faris (name of mother as per the passport, holder of Indian passport No. G 1978326) having permanent address in Farah near Pathodi Masjid, Theyyangad, Ponnani, Malappuram Kerala - India (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Wadi Kabir, P.B No. 337 PC No. 117, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Faryal Faris (name as per present passport) holder of Indian passport No. M 2294072 date of issue 28-1014 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Faryal Khadija Faris (new name) for all purposes. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.B No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

We Faris Alungal Fasel (name of father as per the passport holder of Indian passport No. M 2294073 and Faseena Faris (name of mother as per the passport holder of Indian passport No. G 1978326) having permanent address in Farah near Pathodi Masjid, Theyyangad, Ponnani, Malappuram Kerala - India (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Wadi Kabir, P.B No. 337 PC No. 117, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Farin Faris (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. K 0753135 date of issue 07/01/2012 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Farin Fatima Faris (new name) for all purposes. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Pakistani male 25 y, fluent in English, valid oman driving license experience of pak. & oman. Needs suitable replacement like teaching, administration, documents controller, sales and marketing, rent a car field and personal Assistant etc. aamirkhan_7860@yahoo.com.

Contact 94908725

Indian male, 26 years, B-Tech Graduate with 3 years experience in Oman& 2 Years experience in india as Civil Engineer in a reputed construction company. Looking for suitable jobs.

NOC available. Seeking immediate placements. Contact: 96179737/ 97076972, email:robinsj.sj@gmail.com

4 WD Pagero with driver.

Contact: 98031620 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED Indian male B-com Graduate1.5 Year exp. in various office works, valid Oman driving license. Looking for any suitable post .Please contact: 95322175 / 91987965 INDIAN MALE (26)/CA-inter and b.Com/3 years expereince in audit & assurance services, financial reporting & analysis on visit visa. Available for immediate joining. Contact: 98078321 EMAIL: shahir.usman.su@gmail.com Indian male 34 yrs, MBA-HR with 10.9 yrs.exp. In Recruitment, Training, PMS, OD, Sites-HR and Omani nationals development, seeking a job, NOC avl.contact 94179499 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Indian male 45 looking for a job in Car driving. Oman License from last 20-22 years. #9961 3513, Email : Miqbal.kaa@gmail.com

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

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

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

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

Contact: 92226866

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

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

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

MANPOWER

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

DRIVING

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250

TRANSPORTATION

SITUATION WANTGOOD NEWS

Transportation. Contact: 97128083 Picking & drop Ruwi to Rusail.

Contact: 98957524 / 91287470 Transportation. #99099714 From Ruwi to Ghala. #99562527 Transportation. Contact 94510847 Transportation. #94297820 Transportation.#92015894 Transportation. #94087276

ENJOY YOUR VACATION!!! worrying about your car? Here is a solution for safe parking and cleaning your car when you are away on vacation. For people travelling from distant location, you can just drop off your keys to the car care team and peacefully check into the airport. Your vehicle will be waiting at the airport on your return.

Contact: 96964767 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

MATRIMONIAL

SERVICES

SITUATION WANTSERVICES Keralite Nair boy, 31 yrs, working in Muscat, looking suitable alliance from Nair family. #93764602 Nair boy, 26 yrs Revathy, Alleppy dist, B.Tech working as planning / project Engineer in Oman, 4 yrs seeks suitable alliance.

Contact: 94232342 / 99065898

House shifting with carpenter and transport. Contact: 96737158 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair.

Contact 97263637 / 93309131

A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact 94147874 / 24504281, mail :globalaccessunited@gmail.com

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, 18th November Street Al Ghubra (North). #99639695 / 97397320

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting.

Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading.

L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

SITUATION WANTGOOD NEWS

We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 Caret & Sofa Shampooing General Cleaning & Polishing. Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 24707833

WE SERVE OMAN

Marble Crystallization & Grinding, Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 92705130 House shifting packing. Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 Pest control Treatments. Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Maintenance Electrical, plumbing, painting A/C services installations gypsum. Contact: 96319522

Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786

We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com