Times of Oman - October 26, 2015

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6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 11th National Day

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We have no aggressive designs against anyone. We reject the friendship of no one. We believe with deep conviction that for the future of this world that God has given us we all must lie in the peaceful and constructive co-operation of all mankind. We shall never cease to work for this.

MONDAY, October 26, 2015 / 12 Muharram 1437 AH

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AUSTRIA

His Majesty sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Dr. Heinz Fischer of Austria, on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the

Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings along with his best wishes of continuous good health and happiness to President Fischer and the Austrian people further progress and prosperity. -ONA

HM receives thanks from Spanish King >A6 DEADLINE NEARS

Just 3 days of amnesty left the official added. “We tried our best by reaching out to interior areas in Oman to encourage people to come forward and make use of the amnesty offer. Some 7,000 more have to leave. They have not turned up. But when compared to previous instances of similar offers, the response this year is quite promising,” the official noted.

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com

FESTIVAL OF VOTES: Long queue of voters at a polling booth and an old woman casts her vote. -ONA

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Voting for the Majlis Al Shura elections went

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

on smoothly and the mood was upbeat

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman witnessed a good turnout of voters for the eighth Majlis Al Shura polls held across the Sultanate on Sunday.

The final list of winners or the voter turnout was not available at the time of going to print, but

some leads were available.

Some of the winners for Majlis Al Shura elections are: Wilayat of Madha: Khalid bin Ahmed bin Said Al Sa’adi, Wilayat of Bukha: Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Malik, Wilayat of Dhank: Hamoud bin Ahmed bin Hamad Al Yahya’ei, Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid: Ahmed bin Hussein bin

Khamas Al Sa’adi, Wilayat of Nakhal: Mohammed bin Suleiman bin Hamoud Al Kindi, Wilayat of Wadi Al Ma’awil: Khalid bin Hilal bin Nassir Al Ma’awali, Wilayat of Sumail: Abdullah bin Hamoud bin Salim Al Nadabi, Younis bin Ya’aqoob bin Issa al-Siyabi.

Tawfiq Al Lawati, leading candidate from Muttrah, thanked voters for once again showing faith in him. >A4

O S FA

Maryam, the mentor of artists in Sultanate Staff Reporter R O YA L O M A N P O L I C E

SQU student ‘stabbed’; accused held Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A Sultan Qaboos University student was injured after he was allegedly stabbed by another student on the university campus, according to a Royal Oman Police (ROP) tweet.

While the injured student has been admitted to a hospital for treatment, the police have arrested the accused involved in the attack. The official said that the victim’s injury is not life threatening.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Mobile app for Indian workers in distress

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A mobile app to help Indian workers in distress, especially labourers, will be launched soon. >A2

OMAN

MUSCAT: With Oman’s art scene undergoing steady development, if there is one name that stands out, it is that of Maryam Mohammed Al Zadjali, director, Omani Society for Fine Arts (OSFA). The OSFA was established in 1993 under the orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and is part of the Diwan of Royal Court.

As part of #Omanpride campaign, we feature Maryam, who has been heading the art association since 2008. At the helm of the nation’s premium art association, she has been instrumental in encouraging young Omani artists and giving them a platform

THE HOME OF GOOD NEWS

#OMANPRIDE to display their art. Right now, Maryam is involved in an OSFA project that is close to her heart.

“We are producing a directory of the Omani artists. This directory will feature 200 artists who have been part of the OSFA for 20 years, from 1993 to 2013. It will be published by the end of this year,” she says. >A5

RAIN EXPECTED

Weatherman forecasts new tropical low in Arabian Sea REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A tropical system could spawn in the Arabian Sea during the middle of next week, according to global meteorological departments.

“A tropical system could spawn in the Arabian Sea. The main

threat area would be Somalia, Yemen and Oman,” Jason Nicholls, senior meteorologist from Accuweather.com said.

Although it is early to pinpoint the exact location for the not-yetexisting storm, Nicholls anticipates that several inches of rain and flooding could happen, starting around November 1.

Tender for Muscat airport facilities

2

OAMC invites tenders for terminal facilities at Muscat airport. >A6

MARKET

Huge response to sukuk issue

3

Oman’s first issue of sovereign Islamic bonds got strong orders. >B1

Yemeni government forces make gains

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MUSCAT: Undocumented expatriate workers overstaying in Oman have been urged to take up the amnesty offer immediately, as only three more days are left before the clemency ends, a top official at the Ministry of Manpower has said.

“All overstaying and undocumented workers should come forward to make use of this amnesty as per the rules and regulations,” Salem Said Al Badi, directorate general of labour welfare at the Ministry of Manpower, told the Times of Oman.

“Until the end of September, 23,653 expatriate workers had made use of the amnesty and left Oman,” the official added.

October 28 The amnesty programme announced on May 3 will come to an end on October 28. Initially announced for three months, the scheme was extended to provide more time to undocumented workers to make use of the amnesty and leave Oman.

Earlier, the official had said any violators caught after the end of

23,653 expatriate workers have so far made use of the amnesty scheme in the Sultanate and left for their home countries

the scheme will face strict action.

According to an official from the Bangladesh embassy, some 23,000 people had registered for the amnesty scheme and around 15,500 have left Oman.

“Five hundred more are waiting to complete the procedures,”

Well organised An Indian social worker in Oman said this time the amnesty scheme was well organised and the extended time enabled many to make use of the opportunity.

“The six-month-long amnesty offer helped many stranded expatriates to fly back to their home countries without paying any fine or facing any legal action,” Shaji Sebastin, a Muscat-based social worker who has been closely associated with all amnesty programmes in Oman, said.

“Last time, we used to assist the embassies a lot. This time, it was well organised and there was no need to do much. (We are) Happy to see that undocumented and overstaying workers were sent back without (being made to pay) any penalties,” Shaji said. >A6

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

OMAN

I call upon every Omani woman to feel proud of being a part of this progressive country that gives every woman an equal opportunity to grow and succeed in life, without any gender discrimination Amal Al Hinaiah, Language training supervisor at Anantara resort

Mobile app for Indians in distress Staff Reporter

Named ‘MigCall’, the non-commercial app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and will run on android platform. The app is supported by Manila-based Migrant Forum in Asia

MUSCAT: A mobile app to help Indian workers in distress, especially those in blue-collar jobs, will be launched soon, its makers have said.

“In close cooperation with the Indian embassy in Muscat, the app that will be launched soon will help Indians in Oman to reach out to the Indian embassy officials, Oman-based social organisations, the Indian emigration offices, India-based social organisations and other agencies involved in aiding migrants,” Jose Chacko, a Muscatbased Indian businessman who is supporting the app, said.

Named ‘MigCall’, the non-commercial app can be downloaded

from Google Play Store and will run on android platform.

“Once you register your name and a few more details, it will automatically download five Omanbased and five India-based helpline numbers. The user has to go only once online for this. The numbers will be saved in his telephone contact list,” Jose added.

The Oman-based numbers will include the Indian embassy’s 24x7 helpline number, which will be attended to by multi-lingual dedicated officials, in addition to social workers’ numbers in Muscat.

The India-based numbers will include state-wise emigration office numbers and CIMSKERALA, an NGO which stands for the rights of Indian migrants all

over the world. The app’s registration and description will be available in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bangla languages. In addition to the telephone contact numbers, the app will also have quick icons for sending emails to the Indian embassy, social organisations and emigration offices in India.

“The idea to develop such an app came up after I found that majority of Indians in Oman are clueless about how to approach or contact Indian embassy or social organisations when in distress. Even if we distribute booklets containing the telephone numbers, they misplace these. So I thought of creating an app which will ensure that help remains on their fingertips,” said

Rejimon K, a journalist who conceptualised the app.

“The Indian embassy, with which the app was discussed, welcomed the move and has assured all support. This app will prove to be a boon for the Indian expatriates in distress,” Rejimon added.

The app, developed by Cocoalabs, an Indian software firm, is supported by Manila-based Migrant Forum in Asia, which stands for the rights of migrants, and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

“The app will be widened to cover other expatriate communities in Oman and later, other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will also be covered,” Rejimon added.

HELP AT HAND: The app’s registration and description will be available in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bangla languages. – Supplied photo

FIRST LADY LEADERS IN TOURISM FORUM

Focus on women leaders in tourism, hospitality sector Times News Service MUSCAT: Female tourism and hospitality leaders recently got together to discuss the representation of women in the sector and how to attract more women to it.

Oman’s first “Lady Leaders in Tourism Forum” held at Oman Tourism College comes in the backdrop of marginal representation of women in the booming tourism and hospitality sector.

Held as part of the OTC’s celebrations marking the Omani Women’s Day, the get-together was attended by 33 leading women from private and public sectors who have carved a niche for themselves in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Welcoming the guests, Jaana Raisanen, director of Quality (Professional and Vocational Studies) at the OTC, said, “Internationally, the tourism industry has almost twice as many women employers as other sectors but females are still poorly represented at profes-

sional level. This is reason enough for us, as the only tourism college in Oman, to bring female leaders together for stimulating conversations and collaborations to discuss the issue.”

Dr Shoba Zacharia, assistant dean at the OTC, inaugurated the function, which started with a small panel discussion on how to encourage more women to join the industry as well as how to assist the professional growth of females who are already in the sector.

Katrin Herz, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace Hotel and the first female general manager of a 5-star hotel in Oman, shared with the audience her passion for the industry spoke about career growth opportunities available for females in tourism and allied sectors.

Other panel members including Agata Paula, marketing manager of the Butterfly Hotel Suites in Sohar; Ruaa Al Balushi, student at the OTC and Ibtisam Al Salemiah, a trainer and racer at

Oman Sail, also gave inspiring speeches on the topic.

“As an Omani woman, I am filled with pride to see that the women in Oman have proved capable of working in any field of their choice and contributing to nation building along with their male counterparts,” said Ibtisam Al Salemiah.

Amal Al Hinaiah, language training supervisor at Anantara resort, Jebel Akhdar, spoke about her supportive role in the Sultanate’s tourism industry.

“As a language training supervisor at a premier tourism project in the country, my job involves frequent interactions with people from different nationalities.

This provides me with a chance to network and gain valuable professional experience. I call upon every Omani woman to feel proud of being a part of this progressive country that gives every woman an equal opportunity to grow and succeed in life, without any gender discrimination,” she added.

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

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I N V I TAT I O N

HM receives Saudi King’s message MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said received a written message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), inviting His Majesty the Sultan to attend the 4th Summit of Arab-South American countries scheduled to be held in Riyadh next November.

The message was received by Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, when he received here yesterday Eid bin Mohammed Al Thaqafi, KSA’s ambassador to the Sultanate. -ONA

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His Majesty the great attention and care to the health, education, thinking process,

MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said, chief of the Protocols Department at the Foreign Ministry, received Italy’s Star Order (Class Commendatore) granted by the Italian authorities.

The order was given away by Paola Amadei, Italian ambassador accredited to the Sultanate, during a ceremony held at her residence, yesterday. The ceremony was attended by a number of ambassadors and officials of the Foreign Ministry. -ONA BEST MENTOR

Global award for SQU professor VANCOUVER, CANADA: Nailah Al Lamkiyah, Radiology professor at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, has received the best international mentor award in medical education.

The award, instituted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), was presented to Prof Al Lamkiyah at a special event held in Vancouver, Canada.

Prof Al Lamkiyah, who is working as a professor of radiology at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, is also the deputy CEO for Academic Affairs at the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB). -ONA

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ARTICLE, PHOTOS W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

Sultan has paid

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Italian honour for Omani official

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Sultanate to observe Youth Day

qualification, and training of youth

MUSCAT: Oman will mark today, October 26, as the Omani Youth Day. The date was selected upon a Royal blessing from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and underlines the great attention His Majesty has been paying to the cause of youth since the dawn of the blessed Renaissance.

It also shows that His Maj-

esty appreciates and respects the role youth play as the main segment of society in ensuring overall development and holding out hope not only about the country’s present, but also about its future.

Ever since His Majesty the Sultan took over the reins of power in the country, he has always accorded high priority to the development of the Omani citizens, making it the key goal.

He paid great attention and care to the health, education, thinking process, qualification and training of youth.

In the last 45 years, His Majesty has given his wise instructions to the government to take care of the youth, help them in various ways and harness all the possibilities to achieve their hopes and dreams and instil good principles and values in them. -ONA

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FOOD SECURITY

Oman in Gulf-Japan Food Fund deal MUSCAT: Oman on Monday became a signatory to a pact for establishment of an OMR154 million Gulf Cooperation Council-Japan food fund.

Represented by the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), the Sultanate yesterday signed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel an agreement with a group of Japanese industrial and financial organisations

including Bank Mizo of Japan, Oman National Investment Development Company ‘Tanmiya’ and Gulf Investment Corporation, for the establishment of the GulfJapanese Food Fund with a capital of OMR154 million ($400 million).

The SGRF alongside with a number of investors from the GCC countries own 50 per cent of the Fund and Japan owns the remain-

der 50 per cent. As per the agreement, the Sultanate will receive 70 per cent of the share of GCC investments.

The investment comes within the SGRF’s plan to venture into areas that bring benefit to the national economy including food industries which will promote the level of food security in the Sultanate. -ONA

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

OMAN

Huge interest in Majlis Al Shura elections: Minister

VOICES

‘Majlis needs to have a bigger voice’ TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com

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Majlis Al Shura

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MUSCAT: Omani citizens hope that the new Majlis Al Shura members get more privileges in terms of having their voices heard.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Essa Al Riyami, a voter, said, “Elected Majlis Al Shura members represent the people, so they should have some rights to monitor government activities and projects.”

“But I hope people vote for the best and able candidates,” he said

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election at this stage is attracting interest from around the world, said Dr Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani, Minister of Information

TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura election is eliciting a keen interest as nearly 80 journalists from across the world are covering the exercise, said Dr Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani, Oman’s Minister of Information.

After visiting the media centre set up for Majlis Al Shura elections on Sunday morning, he told journalists, “Majlis Al Shura elections at this stage are attracting interest from around the world.”

“Watching how interested journalists from around the world are in these, we can see how important the Shura elections are,” he added.

About the previous Majlis Al Shura, he said the experience that the council gains is on a step by step basis.

“There are many changes that have happened in the cabinet regarding the people who (got) elected, regarding the awareness in the society, regarding how the country (government, people, communities) sees the Majlis Al Shura as the voice of the people.”

“After 2011, you can see the difference in what happened before and after that year,” he said.

BIG DRAW: As many as 80 journalists from across the world covered Shura elections. – Jun Estrada

Opportunity “This is an opportunity for the candidates to be better than their predecessors. The situation these days (in Oman) has changed,” he added.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Al Riyami expressed his concern about the ‘power’ granted to Majlis Al Shura. “Everyone has been saying Majlis Al Shura will have special privileges, especially since 2011, but unfortunately, some issues that were raised were not taken care of,” said Al Riyami. “They need to have a bigger voice for the (sake of the) nation,” he added.

SHURA ELECTIONS

A1 Voters hail election process for being smooth and professional < FROM

“We are ready to take on more responsibility,” Al Lawati said.

The other candidates leading from the Muscat governorate are Saif Hamood Khamis Al Amri from Seeb; Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Zedjali from Muscat, and Ahmed Said Al Mashery from Amerat.

People came out early from their homes to cast their vote at the 107 polling centres spread across the Sultanate. When the voting started at 7am, most of the polling centres had long queues of people patiently waiting for their turn to cast their votes.

A total of 590 candidates contested for the 85 seats, vying for the backing of a total of 611,906 registered voters.

Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, reviewed the progress of the election process in various wilayats of the Sultanate throughout the day by visiting various polling stations.

Smooth process Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, chairman of the Main Committee for the Majlis Al Shura’s eighth term elections, said voting went on very smoothly without any hindrances in all the wilayats.

Al Busaidi informed that the mobile e-units were available at the election centres to help voters who had not activated the e-system in their IDs to fix it and enable them to vote.

He also said a full paid leave was granted to voters working in both public and private sectors, provided they obtained a paper from the voting centre. “I would like to appreciate the spirit of cooperation among voters and workers at the election committees,” he said.

Most of the voters who turned out for polls gave a thumbs up to the way the election was conducted. Expressing happiness over the smooth process, Khalid Al Sinani said, “The arrangement and management of the election process was very smooth and professional.”

Al Sinani, who was voting for the third time, said, “We had to wait for a long time during the 2007 elections. This automated system is in line with the requirements of modernisation and development of the nation.”

Al Busaidi explained that new technologies including of e-voting were introduced in this election.

Voters used this system on October 18 at the embassies of the GCC countries, the Sultanate’s

Commercial Office in Dubai, as well as for the staff of the electing and voting committees.

The system was also used at the standard election centre in the Wilayat of Bausher in Muscat Governorate and by voters in Dhofar and Musandam Governorates.

The chairman affirmed that e-voting system has proved to be efficient and accurate. Therefore, there is scope for wider use of this system in the election process in the future.

Meanwhile, Ali bin Khalfan Al Jabri, under secretary of the Ministry of Information, said the Majlis Al Shura experiment is going on well as guided by the wise vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Achievement Al Jabri said a landmark achievement during the previous term of the Majlis Al Shura included the election of the chairman of Majlis Al Shura from among its members.

This means that the Majlis Al Shura was constantly developing as an institution and its evolution would not stop at a particular stage.

Al Jabri affirmed that the over the past years, the Majlis Al Shura, in its various terms, has achieved qualitative and quantitative progress and was evolving in line with the best international practices.

He added that many media persons and journalists from different parts of the world alongside Omani correspondents and journalists who prepare reports for regional

EXERCISING FRANCHISE: A total of 590 candidates contested for the 85 Majlis Al Shura seats, vying for the backing of a total of 611,906 registered voters. – ONA, AFP, Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

and international media, covered the election process.

He asserted that the extensive presence of journalists at the Media Centre was an indicator that the Omani experience is being tracked by media from different parts of the world.

Hamdan Al Yousufy, a member of the Municipal Council, said most of the candidates contesting were well educated. “This election features a number of well educated candidates. It will change a lot of things and I believe they will bring

about positive changes in Majlis Al Shura,” Hamdan said.

Maryam Al Zadjali explained that she voted because she wanted “the winning candidates to take people’s voices and demands to the concerned authorities at the centre.”

Of the eight candidates who contested in the Wilayat of Muscat, one was a woman.

Sayyid Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Busaidi, Deputy Wali of Muscat, Head of the Election Committee in the wilayat, said the voting process

was conducted smoothly, highlighting the efforts made by members of the Election Committee to expedite the election process.

He pointed out that the number of male and female voters registered at the electoral registry in the Wilayat of Muscat stood at 12,136.

He also said that two centres were prepared for voting in Al Zahra School for Basic Education that included 13 halls, and Safana Bint Hatim Al Ta’ee School in Yitti that included nine halls.

In the Wilayat of Salalah, voters

headed to the ballot boxes to elect two representatives from among eight candidates. The number of total voters stood at 32,818.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Shanfri, adviser to the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, Head of the Election Committee in the Wilayat of Salalah, said the wilayat witnessed early preparations as four election centres with 53 halls received voters in different parts of the Wilayat of Salalah.

(With inputs from Tariq Al Haremi and ONA)

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‘Need to foster occupational safety culture’

OMAN EXPOSURE TO ARTISTS

A1 Nurturing talented artists < FROM

The Omani Society for Fine Arts now has more than 600 members and branches in Sohar, Buraimi and Salalah. “We have members from different governorates,” she says. What makes Maryam happy is the fact that OSFA has been able to give exposure to a growing number of talented Omani artists throughout the country.

Keen interest “The youth, particularly graduates and university students, are showing keen interest,” she says. “We are cooperating with school, colleges and sports club to hold art workshops in different governorates,” she says, adding that the number of people who appreciate and understand art is also increasing. The fact

The manufacturing and construction sectors record the highest number of occupational injuries in Oman

GOODWILL VISIT

FOCUS ON SAFETY: The three-day conference is being held in co-

MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

operation with the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Oil and Gas, and Public Authority of Social Insurance. – O K Mohammed Ali

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman needs to develop a culture of safety to prevent accidents on work sites.

“We need to develop a safety culture for the workers to prevent occupational accidents and to ensure the wellbeing of workers,” said Dr Mohamed Said Alyazidi, from the Ministry of Health.

He was presenting a paper at the Middle East Health & Safety Conference and Expo, which was inaugurated by Sayyid Salim bin Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Administrative Development Affairs, Ministry of Civil Services.

According to Alyazidi, Oman is following international regulations and also has certain laws to prevent occupational accidents and to look after the health and safety of the workers.

“Safety culture should not only be followed by workers but also by the decision-makers and inspectors in this field,” Alyazidi said.

According to Alyazidi, working in a safe environment, with good equipment, good health services and medical surveillance, will motivate workers and help increase productivity.

Speaking about Oman’s experience in the area of occupational health and safety of the workers, Alyazidi said, “Oman has a national committee for occupational health and safety of the workers, formed in 2003 and reformed in 2007.”

According to Alyazidi, the man-

Dr Mohamed Said Alyazidi from the Ministry of Health, Oman.

ufacturing and construction sector records the highest number of occupational injuries in Oman.

Body parts mainly affected in occupational accidents are hands and many workers lose their jobs because of this disability.

The Middle East Health and Safety Conference and Expo is being held at the Grand Hyatt Muscat.

Three-day conference The three-day conference is being held in cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Oil and Gas, and the Public Authority of Social Insurance (PASI), Sultanate of Oman.

The conference will highlight the latest technologies, methodologies, practices and key trends in reducing lost time, risk identi-

fication, HSE management systems, behavioural safety, fatigue management, fire safety, etc.

Participants at the summit include important government bodies, regulatory authorities, health, safety & environment professionals along with global solution providers to name a few.

The event brings together HSE professionals from sectors like oil and gas, transportation, construction, aviation, energy and manufacturing companies to understand the latest innovations, available technologies and build new business relationships while establishing professional contacts.

According to the organisers, this event will be a knowledge sharing platform to bring in expertise from all across the Middle East and the world. The participants include Middle East’s HSE experts like Dr. Brent Pasula - Vice President, HSSE, Petrofac ECOM; Andrew Clarke - HSE Manager, Global Wells Organization, BP Oman; David Wilson - General Manager, HSSE Port of Salalah; Dr. Macodou Sall Epidemiologist, Saudi Aramco Vice President, IHPM-MENA; Dr. Mohammad Aref- HSSE Manager, UAE Weatherford; Dr. Mohammed Abdulrazik HamzaMedical Consultant Ministry of Health, Oman; Eng. Nadira Al Hinai - Founder & President, Occupational Safety & Health Omani Society, to name a few.

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Shabab Oman leaves for Saudi Arabia KUWAIT: ‘Shabab Oman II’, the Royal Navy of Oman’s ship, left Al Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait on Sunday and is heading to King Abdul Aziz Port, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Hamed bin Said Al Ibrahim, the ambassador to Kuwait and a number of Kuwaiti Navy Force officers, saw off the ship while leaving the port.

The Sultanate’s embassy in Kuwait and ‘Shabab Oman II’ personnel organised a number of events, including the official reception under the patronage of Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs in Kuwait, in the presence of the diplomatic corps of friendly countries in Kuwait. Sheikh Salman said: “We appreciate the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to begin the journey of ‘Shabab Oman II’ from Kuwait for promoting the message of friendship and peace. -ONA

that expatriates living in Oman are given a chance to be part of the society makes Maryam very content.

Awards Herself an accomplished artist, Maryam is a recipient of many international and national awards.

“I have been working with the Omani Society for Fine Arts since 1993 and have been a part of the art scene since 1980,” she says. “There is a boom in the art scene in Oman.

The fact that so many galleries have come up and so many museums are hosting artists’ exhibitions is very encouraging,” she says.

“The OSFA is committed to encouraging the artistic talents of the community through various programmes,” she says.

Maryam Mohammed Al Zadjali.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015 My research in Antarctica was part of the habilitation research that I conducted in cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute of Germany Prof. Dr. Wilfried Bauer, associate professor at the Department of Applied Geosciences at GUtech

OMAN

Tender invited for Muscat airport terminal facilities facility that will provide a magnificent gateway for the Sultanate of Oman,” according to an advertisement issued by the company.

Participating companies are expected to meet the eligibility criteria in terms of expertise and financial capability to deliver on the required services

Times News Service MEGA PROJECT: An artist’s impression of the new Muscat International Airport. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: Qualified businesses have been invited by Oman Airports Management Company S.A.O.C (OAMC), to participate in the Request For Proposal (RFP) for commercial opportunities at the New Muscat International Airport.

Operation and management of Commercially Important Passenger (CIP) lounges, operation

and management of airside transit hotel, souvenirs’ outlet (main departures area), electronics and entertainment outlets, gold and jewellery outlets, high street fashion and sports outlets, convenience/grocery outlet land side, news/CTN outlet, and spa outlet

are among the commercial opportunities available at the New Muscat International Airport.

The participating companies are expected to meet some eligibility criteria in terms of expertise and financial capability to deliver on the required services.

THE RESEARCH COUNCIL

MUSCAT: Eighty-three research proposals are competing for the second edition of the National Research Award (NRA) this year, said Dr Saif bin Abdullah Al Haddabi, assistant secretary-general for Programmes and Research at The Research Council (TRC).

The research proposals have been divided into two categories — 56 under the best led-by Ph.D

His Majesty receives thanks MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from King Felipe VI of Spain in reply to His Majesty’s greetings cable on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, King Felipe VI expressed his sincere thanks for His Majesty’s greetings and best wishes. He affirmed the deep relations binding the two countries, wishing His Majesty the Sultan good health and happiness and the Omani people further progress and prosperity. -ONA E X PAT W O R K E R S

< FROM

A1 Amnesty Initially, the three main Asian country embassies in Oman had estimated that there would be around 47,000 undocumented workers eligible for the amnesty.

Similar amnesty offers for undocumented workers were there in 2005, 2007 and again from the end of 2009 to the beginning of 2011. According to the latest government statistics, there are 1,903,694 expatriates working in Oman legally.

FIELD WORK

83 projects in race for research award Times News Service

All participating companies must provide a bank guarantee issued by a locally registered bank which should be addressed to Oman Airports Management Company at the time of submitting the proposal. “The OAMC envisages a state of the art terminal

Document fees Interested companies can collect the RFP documents from the commercial department of OAMC’s offices near the cargo building between 8am and 3pm upon presenting receipt of document fees paid at the finance department at the OAMC headquarters.

The RFP fee for operations & management of CIP lounges and airside transit hotel is OMR300 while the bid amount is OMR20,000.

The RFP fee for other available commercial opportunities is OMR200 and the bid amount is OMR10,000.

Distribution of the documents will start from October 28 and end on November 15. Companies should submit the bids before January 28 of next year.

The proposer should provide full contact details of the company, including name, telephone number and e-mail address. Alternatively, the company should submit a business card of the main contact person.

CABLE

holder research category, and 27 under the nascent research category. Awarding them will also include six research projects of good quality outcomes presented under the Faculty Mentored Undergraduate Research Award Programme (FURAP).

Al Haddabi said awarding NRA’s winning projects will be a part of the Second Annual Research Forum (ARF) organised by TRC on October 26-27. The ARF will hold

sectorial sessions that address a number of work papers. Activities of the ARF will also include displaying 21 posters of some research, with excellent research outputs that have been published in referred journals.

Speaking about the objectives, Al Haddabi said it aims to encourage researchers to continue with their research, spread the culture of research, and raise its quality in the Sultanate.

GUtech professor showcases Antarctica field research Times News Service MUSCAT: Prof. Dr. Wilfried Bauer, associate professor at the Department of Applied Geosciences at GUtech, gave a presentation showcasing his field research in Antarctica, at GUtech recently.

The presentation was aimed at raising awareness about field research in Antarctica and specifically about the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates that created the current distribution of continents and oceans.

The geoscientist travelled to Antarctica four times and stayed there for a year, working with a team of international scientists at various research laboratories.

“My research in Antarctica was part of the habilitation research that I conducted in cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute of Germany. Through our research, we found out that 1.1 billion years ago, an extensive island arc surrounded the southern tip of South Africa, but it was left behind on the Antarctic continent after the Southern Ocean opened some 50 Million years ago.

“The island arc existed for a period of nearly 100 million years and then collided with South Africa. The cores of the continents are more than three billion years old.

Gondwana, the former ‘supercontinent’, which contained what is today called South America, Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica is around 550 billion years

EXTENSIVE RESEARCH: Prof. Wilfried and a colleague at work in

Antarctica. Photo-Supplied

old”, explained Bauer. “Antarctica was the ‘heart of Gondwana’, its centrepiece”, he added.

According to the researcher, based on the results of the latest research one might draw conclusions about other locations close to Antarctica, which are more difficult to explore, due to various scientific research restrictions imposed in different countries or due to the thick overburden of younger sediments.

Mining ban “In Antarctica, mining and exploration are not allowed, but it is an ideal environment for research, which is free.

“Less than 1 per cent of the continent is not covered with ice, but there are rocks there that are perfectly exposed, without veg-

etation or weathered surfaces,” said Bauer.

Research in Antarctica began only after World War II. Currently, a large number of international research teams are coordinating their field work in order to maximize the scientific findings of their expensive and sometimes dangerous work.

Bauer, who is currently part of a research group that contributes to an ongoing research programme of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS-IGCP 648) Supercontinent Cycles and Global Geodynamics, has extensive research and field experience in petrology and the structural geology of highly deformed rocks.

The geoscientist earned his PhD and habilitation at RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

M U S C AT G R A N D M A L L

Korean movies to be screened Times News Service MUSCAT: In its endeavour to promote people-to-people cultural exchanges and to offer a glimpse of Korean cinema to all interested in Korean culture, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, with the support of Korean Film Council, Oman Film Society and City Cinema, will present another edition of “Korean Movie Nights” on November 3 and 4 at 7:30pm at City Cinema, Muscat Grand Mall.

The two popular films selected this year to be screened at this much-awaited annual event are“Goodbye Mom” and “The Happy Life”.

The first movie“Goodbye Mom”released in 2009 is a touching drama about mother daughter relationship and the second movie “The Happy Life” released in 2007 is a comedy drama revolving around the college rock band Volcano and its members.

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

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REGION

Yemeni President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi loyalists had taken control of a number of mountain peaks on the southern approach to Taiz Resident

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Hadi supporters,

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

backed by Saudiled coalition strikes,

tiations between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. But he warned the conflict had left most of the country in dire need.

The Saudi-led coalition has gained ground in southern Yemen, and Hadi’s government officially returned to Aden after southern fighters and coalition forces drove the Houthis out in July.

made particular progress around the presidential palace

DUBAI: Yemeni forces loyal to President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi made gains on Sunday in the southwestern city of Taiz after days of battles with Houthi fighters, a local official and residents said.

The Hadi supporters, who have been backed by air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition since March, made particular progress around the presidential palace, the locals said. The complex has changed hands several times and been all but destroyed in the fighting.

BADLY DAMAGED: People move boxes of cake from a damaged truck outside a food storage warehouse hit by a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday. – Reuters

Houthi fighters killed Medical sources said 13 Houthi fighters were killed in the fighting in Yemen’s third largest city. So were eight fighters loyal to Hadi.

Reuters could not independently verify their accounts.

The Arab coalition is trying to restore Hadi’s government. The

Houthis have support from forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Several residents said Hadi loyalists had taken control of a number of mountain peaks on the southern approach to Taiz, Yemen’s cultural capital.

At least 5,600 people have been killed in Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, and the United Nations says the humanitarian situation, exacerbated by the Arab coalition’s blockade of Yemeni ports, grows worse every day. Houthi gunmen

prevented convoys of medical supplies from entering an enclave of Taiz, the aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said. Residents there reported the rebels were also blocking the entry of food, water and fuel to the area, it said.

“After weeks of negotiations, we

U S - L E D WA R

2003 Iraq invasion played a role in rise of IS militant group, admits Blair LONDON: Former British prime minister Tony Blair acknowledged the 2003 invasion of Iraq played a part in the rise of the IS militant group, and apologised for some mistakes in planning the war, in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Blair’s decision to send troops to back the US-led invasion is still a live political issue in Britain, where a six-year public inquiry into the conflict is yet to publish its findings.

Asked whether the offensive was the principal cause of the rise of IS, which now controls large areas of Iraq and neighbouring Syria, Blair said there were “elements of truth” in that.

“Of course, you can’t say that those of us who removed Saddam (Hussein) in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015,” Blair told US network CNN. Critics say the US decision to disband Saddam Hussein’s army after the invasion created a huge HEARING

Saudi court upholds death sentence for cleric RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against the death sentence passed this year on cleric Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr.

Nimr’s brother, Mohammed Al Nimr, told Reuters that the sentence had been upheld after hearings that took place without his lawyers or family members being given prior notice.

Nimr and six other Saudi others, including his nephew, Mohammed Al Nimr’s son, Ali, have been sentenced to death.

“We don’t want anything to happen to him or to Ali or the other young men,” Mohammed Al Nimr said.

Protests More than 20 people were killed in protests between 2011 and 2013 in the district of Qatif.

Three of those were killed in protests in the two days after Nimr’s arrest, as well as one policeman.

The deaths were all officially described as happening after exchanges of fire prompted by shooting or petrol bomb attacks on police.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry accused Nimr of being behind attacks on police alongside a group of other suspects. — Reuters

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APOLOGETIC: Former British prime minister Tony Blair speaks during an appearance at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York in this file photograph dated October 6, 2015. – Reuters files

security vacuum exploited by Al Qaeda, which was eventually replaced by IS. Some former Iraqi army officers, members of the minority community which says it has been marginalised by the government backed by Western powers, are

senior strategists in IS. The Iraqi government says it has not marginalised minority community.

Blair said the protests across the region also affected Iraq, and pointed out that IS had risen out of a base in Syria, not Iraq.

Blair apologised for what he

described as mistakes in planning and intelligence before the war and in preparations for would happen once Saddam was removed, but said it had been the right decision.

“We have tried intervention and putting down troops in Iraq; we’ve tried intervention without putting in troops in Libya; and we’ve tried no intervention at all but demanding regime change in Syria. It’s not clear to me that, even if our policy did not work, subsequent policies have worked better,” he said.

“I find it hard to apologise for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he’s not there than that he is there.” — Reuters

have made no progress in convincing officials of the need to provide impartial medical assistance,” MSF’s emergency manager for Yemen, Karline Kleijer, said in a statement. The United Nations envoy to Yemen said on Friday he was arranging face-to-face nego-

In control But Houthi forces remain in control of much of the country despite almost daily air strikes. A suicide attack earlier this month forced the government to relocate to Saudi Arabia while efforts were being made to restore security in the city.

Sudanese forces arrived in Aden last week to reinforce the coalition troops and have deployed around the airport and the city’s four ports. Hadi supporters have begun effort to prevent gunmen from moving around with weapons.

A security official in Aden told Reuters on Sunday that armed tribesmen raided the central prison in Aden, killing a guard and wounding another, to free a prisoner held for an earlier attack in the city. — Reuters

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015 I am confident that these new schemes will give new direction to the economic development of the country. I want your cooperation in this Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

INDIA Diversity is mantra of country’s unity: Modi The Indian prime minister strongly

India is full of diversity.

It has different sects, different religions, different languages and different castes. There are so many diversities in our India and this diversity is our beauty

batted for ‘unity in diversity’ while asserting that peace, harmony and unity are the key to progress

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of incidents of violence with communal and casteist overtones, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said diversity of religions and castes is the beauty of India and that the ‘mantra’ of unity should be carried forward through thinking and expressions.

Invoking Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel ahead of his birth anniversary, he strongly batted for ‘unity in diversity’ while asserting that peace, harmony and unity are the key to progress.

“The mantra of unity should always be the medium of our thinking, our behaviour and expression,” Modi said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

“India is full of diversity. It has different sects, different religions, different languages and different castes. There are so many diversities in our India and this diversity is our beauty,” the Prime Minister said in his 35-minute programme.

He said if this diversity was not there, “we would not have been able to feel proud. Therefore, diversity is the mantra of unity.”

Mentioning the upcoming birth anniversary of Patel on October 31, Modi said, “Let us pay tribute to Sardar (Patel) Sahab. Take

Narendra Modi Prime Minister

the unity mantra forward.”

The prime minister’s comments assume significance as recently there have been incidents of violence lynching of a man over beefeating rumours in Uttar Pradesh and burning of a Dalit’s house in Haryana, which had communal and casteist overtones.

Referring to the ‘Run for Unity’ organised every year on Patel’s birth anniversary, Modi said these are actually the ‘run for progress’.

“In other words, the run for unity is the guarantee for run for progress,” he said, while noting that earlier he used to get a chance to participate in this event.

Reach out In an effort to reach out to Dalits, the Prime Minister invoked B. R.Ambedkar, saying he was feeling excited about his upcoming visit to the UK where he will visit the ‘Ambedkar House’, where the architect of the Constitution

lived. The property was recently acquired by India from the British government.

“A day after Diwali, I am going to Britain. This time, I am excited about my visit to Britain and the reason for it is special. A few weeks back, I had gone to Mumbai to lay foundation stone for a big memorial for Ambedkar...

“Now, in London, I will formally inaugurate the house where Dr Baba Sahab Ambedkar lived, which recently became Indian government’s property and a place of inspiration for 125 crore Indians,” he said.

He noted that the issue related to acquisition of this complex had been entangled for several years and now it is the property of 125 crore Indians.

“When Ambedkar’s name is associated, you can imagine how much happiness people like me have,” Modi said.

He said Ambedkar was an inspi-

ration for the Dalits, the oppressed, the deprived, the backwards and all other Indians who live a difficult life that if there is will power, one can make progress in life and get educated.

“This is the place (in London) where Ambedkar did his devotion.”

The prime minister said the central government also encourages capable Dalit youth.

During the programme, he also announced abolition of the practice of interview for Group D,C and B posts in government jobs from January 1, next year.

He also said several important schemes will be launched ahead of Diwali.

He also talked about how the ‘Swacch Bharat’ Abhiyan is being carried forward by media and common people, the importance of organ donation, progress of the ‘MP Adarsh Gram Yojana’ as also the festivals of Navratri, Eid and Diwali. - PTI

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Gold monetisation schemes launch set for Diwali eve NEW DELHI: On the eve of Diwali, the government will launch important gold-related schemes, including the Gold Monetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday, expressing confidence that it will give a new direction to the economic development.

Besides the Gold Monetisation Scheme, the government will also launch ‘Sovereign Gold Bonds’ and gold coins with Ashok Chakra, he said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

“In the last budget, we had announced an important scheme.

In our country, gold has become a part of our social life. Gold is treated as a means of economic security, a help during the time of crisis.

It is traditionally believed so.

“I don’t think anybody can reduce the love of people for gold.

But to keep gold in the form of dead money does not augur well in this age. Gold can become strength, an economic strength. Gold can become the country’s economic property and every Indian should contribute to this,” he said.

Promise in budget He said he was happy to announce that as per the promise made in the budget, the government is going to launch “some important schemes” during this Diwali festival, prior to ‘Dhanteras’ when gold is purchased by people. Diwali is on November 11.

“We have brought Gold Monetisation Scheme. Under this, you can deposit your gold in a bank and bank will pay interest to you for that like on your cash,” Modi said. He noted that as per the traditional practice, people keep gold in lockers, for which they have to pay to banks.

“Now, keep gold in the bank and bank will pay you in the form of interest. Now say, will gold not be an asset? Can gold not transform from dead money to live

power? This is what we have to do. You support me,” Modi said in his 35-minute programme.

Asking people not to keep gold at home, he said keeping it in banks will have two benefits — security and interest.

“You must take the benefit.”

Talking about the Sovereign Gold Bonds scheme, he said people will not get any gold bar but a piece of paper which will have the same value as that of gold.

“When you return that piece of paper, you will get money as per the value of gold at that time... We are going to initiate this,” he said.

Speaking about its benefits, the prime minister said because of this, one would not not need to buy gold and worry about where to keep it.

It will be a matter of just a piece of paper which “nobody will come to steal”, he said, adding this secure scheme will be launched in the coming weeks.

“I am also happy to announce that we will be bringing out Gold Coins with Ashok Chakra. It has been 70 years since Independence, but till now we are using foreign gold coin or gold bullion bars which is also used by foreigners. Why can’t we have swadeshi-mark coin? This is why in the coming weeks, before Dhanteras, these will be available,” Modi said.

He said the government will start gold coins of 5gm and 10gm with Ashok Chakra.

Along with this, 20gm cold coin will also be available.

“I am confident that these new schemes will give new direction to the economic development of the country. I want your cooperation in this,” the prime minister told the people.

The government is launching these schemes with a view to mobilise a part of 20,000 tonnes of idle gold lying with households and temples. - PTI

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INDIA

Modi faces flak for decision to abolish job interviews Bihar’s anti-BJP alliance alleged

implementation’ of

We strongly oppose this and will make representation to the EC soon and raise this issue inside and outside Parliament

RSS chief’s call for

K. C. Tyagi

that Modi’s announcement, not only violated model code but would also lead to ‘effective

JD(U) general secretary

a review of quotas

NEW DELHI/ PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of doing away with the requirement of interviews for lesser non-gazetted central government jobs from January 1 on Sunday drew accusations of violation of the model code for elections and attempts at putting an end to the reservation policy.

Bihar’s anti-BJP grand alliance

alleged that Modi’s announcement, made at a time when the assembly polls are underway, not only violated the model code of conduct but would also lead to “effective implementation” of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for a review of quotas.

“The PM’s announcement of doing away with interviews for Group D, C and B non-gazetted posts in central government

means a good bye to the reservation policy as recruitment will only be held on merit basis. The PM’s statement suggests so.

“We strongly oppose this and will make representation to the Election Commission soon and raise this issue inside and outside Parliament,” JD(U) general secretary K. C. Tyagi, flanked by Congress leader R. P. N. Singh and eminent lawyer K. T. S. Tulsi,

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told reporters in Delhi.

“This is the effective implementation of Mohan Bhagwat’s demand for a review of the reservation policy and the Prime Minister has to respond to the voters,” he said.

Allegations On the backfoot over allegations against his government that it was contemplating scrapping quotas for the Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs, Modi, on the campaign trail in Bihar, accused RJD chief Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar of spreading the “poison” of caste politics.

Clarifying once again about BJP and his government’s stand on quotas, Modi said his views on reservation match those of Lalu, Nitish and Congress and there is total unanimity among political parties in Parliament on the issue as nobody is against the existing quota system.

“Today in our country, there is no demand from any corner for doing away with reservation. All sections of the society have accepted this arrangement and now new sections are demanding their inclusion in it. There is also a consensus on the issue among politi-

cal parties in Parliament.

“I may have a lot of differences with Lalu, Nitish and Congress on other topics but on the issue of reservation, I have no difference with any political party. My views on reservation are same as Lalu, Nitish or Congress,” he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said both RSS and Bhagwat have clarified on the issue and BJP was never against quotas.

“BJP from the very first day has been in the favour of reservation.

If anybody has given the longest statement on Mandal Commission, it is the third party of the grand alliance and that’s the Congress party. You see Rajiv Gandhi’s speech made in 1991 on Mandal Commission’s report and you will understand who favoured and who opposed it,” Jaitley said.

Tyagi charged the EC with going “soft” on BJP and the PM. Ban on live telecast The grand alliance had petitioned the poll panel earlier this month seeking a ban on live telecast of Modi’s election rallies on days when polling is held in the state. It had also sought a ban on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address contending he would try and influence voters through it. - PTI

C R AW F O R D M A R K E T

60 shops gutted in Mumbai market fire MUMBAI: More than 60 shops were gutted in a major fire that broke out in South Mumbai’s busy Crawford market due to a short circuit in the wee hours on Sunday.

Fire officials said there was no casualty reported in the blaze.

“Our control room received an alert at 5.23am today that a massive fire broke out at Crawford market.

Soon 10 fire tenders and eight water tankers were pressed into action,” a fire brigade official said.

“The fire was brought under control by 8am. Preliminary probe suggested it was caused by a short circuit. Over 60 shops, mostly of perfumes and packaging material, were destroyed,” he said.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar visited the spot and interacted with shop owners whose shops were gutted.

Some of the them alleged that the fire department did not take their call seriously.

“Had the fire department taken our call seriously and swung into action immediately, the loss could have been minimized.

“Our repeated calls to 101 went unanswered and we had to report this incident to 100 (police number),” Mahatma Phule Dukandar Sewa Sangh president Ratnakar Karale said. - PTI

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

PAKISTAN GEETA SET TO GO BACK HOME Geeta, centre, plays with children at the Bilquis Edhi Foundation in Karachi, Sunday. Geeta, a Hindu deaf-mute woman now in her early 20s, is set to depart for New Delhi. Geeta was around 11 years old when she inadvertently crossed the border from India to Pakistan, and lost her family. Since stumbling into Pakistan, Geeta has lived in a home for lost and abandoned children, say officials at the charitable Edhi Foundation. Her long search for her family has captivated the public after a hit film with a similar plot was released, and a Pakistani court said that the two countries should resolve the issue diplomatically. — Reuters

2 killed, 16 stranded in Naran avalanche Eighteen miners, mostly from Kohistan area, were caught in the avalanche, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority officials

PESHAWAR: Two people were killed while 16 others face an uncertain fate after an avalanche struck a mine on Sunday in the far flung village of Baisar in Naran valley close to Chilas.

Eighteen miners, mostly from Kohistan area, were caught in the avalanche, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials said.

Two miners are believed to have been killed while contact has been established with some of the others stranded, officials reported.

A S I A- PA C I F I C C H I L D R I G H T S AWA R D F O R T E L E V I S I O N

Documentary shortlisted for top award ISLAMABAD: Documentary Flight of the Falcons has made to the final list of 2015 AsiaPacific Child Rights Award for Television.

The documentary Flight of the Falcons, which has been produced

by Infocus Asia and directed by filmmaker Shehzad Hameed, is a story about an extraordinary teacher Sister Zeph and her three students as they struggle to fight against child marriage, corporal

punishment and societal pressures to achieve a collective dream: empowering girls and women through education.

Hong Kong convention The documentary is one of 10 films shortlisted for the award which will be presented during the CASBAA Convention in Hong Kong, on 28 October 2015.

“There are a thousand stories about children rights: the threats

and risks to which some children are exposed and the ways they can be overcome so that each child can grow to her or his full potential,” Christopher de Bono, Regional Chief of Communication for UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, said.

Potent storytelling “When these are told using the potent storytelling that is the special talent of the best television

news and documentary teams, children’s lives and stories come alive and communities and countries are inspired to take action,” he added. The award has been run by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, CASBAA and UNICEF since 2001.

It recognises the efforts of broadcasters and producers in pursuing high quality children’s television and better coverage of children’s issues. — Express Tribune

Rainfall, snowfall The meteorological department forecasts strong winds with heavy rainfall and snowfall in coming few days. Assistant Commissioner of Balakot, Roman Burrana, told The Express Tribune that the road link to the affected area has been established. He also confirmed the death of one person while adding that he was hopeful for other men’s survival.

The National Logistics Cell (NLC), National Highway Authority (NHA) and the military were all helping clear the route, according to officials.

Kaghan Valley Meanwhile, Kaghan Valley also received heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours, causing blockage of road between Naran and Balakot.

As a result, hundreds of tourists are stranded in the area.

Taking notice of the situation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the officials concerned to ensure safe evacuation of tourists stuck in the snow.

He directed the interior secretary to contact chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to mobilise help for those stranded.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also announced to initiate helicopter service to rescue the tourists from Monday.

The disaster management authority has also asked the National Highway Authority to clear the road between Naran and Balakot. — Express Tribune

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M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

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Poland votes; opposition set for power

DISASTER: Ferry passengers walk with rescuers after getting onshore in Hong Kong, China on Sunday. — Reuters/Stringer

100 hurt as ferry hits object near Hong Kong The injured were treated in five different hospitals in Hong Kong, though the nature and extent of injuries were not immediately known, a police department official said

HONG KONG: About 100 people were injured on Sunday when a ferry returning from Macau to Hong Kong collided with an unknown object, a police department official said.

The injured were treated in five different hospitals in Hong

Kong, though the nature and extent of injuries were not immediately known, the official said.

Local media group RTHK said six people had suffered serious injuries in the accident. The incident occurred around 1850 Hong Kong time (1050 GMT) on Sunday, near the island of Lantau, the official told Reuters, adding that the cause of the incident was being investigated.

Busy shipping channel Hong Kong is one of the world’s busiest shipping channels.

While serious accidents are rare, the waters have become increasingly crowded with leisure boats and vessels that ferry passengers to the nearby Macau.

In 2012, 39 people were killed in a ferry collision in Hong Kong’s worst maritime disaster in decades. In Sunday’s accident, the vessel was said to have taken in water and lost power after the collision, RTHK said.

It said passengers described chaotic scenes as people stumbled around in the dark, some bleeding and others with injuries to their arms and legs. — Reuters

CONSPIRACY

Maldives president accuses ex-deputy of plot to oust him MALE: President Abdulla Yameen of the Maldives said on Sunday his former deputy Ahmed Adheeb had plotted to impeach him, a day after Adheeb was arrested at the airport in connection with an attempt on Yameen’s life last month.

Yameen was unhurt in the September 28 blast as his presidential boat Finifenmaa approached the capital Male while he was returning from Saudi Arabia after Haj, but his wife and two aides were injured.

Adheeb was detained on Saturday upon his arrival at Male’s airport from China. His arrest comes after defence minister Moosa Ali Jaleel was sacked by Yameen on October 14, amid a security shake up after the explosion. The government initially said the blast may gave been caused by a mechanical failure but this was ruled out under an investigation involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Sri Lanka.

Yameen’s rule has come under criticism at home and abroad.

Under him, authorities arrested the Maldives’ first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed. Despite an international outcry, Nasheed was put on a fast-tracked trial.

Police said 17 of Adheeb’s supporters were arrested on Saturday for “public order offences”.

A lawyer for Adheeb has denied Yameen’s allegation.

In a televised address, Yameen said Adheeb had distracted the investigation into the boat blast and that his “isolation” was necessary for it to continue.

“We saw a lot of things from the vice president that could distract the investigation. The most seri-

Abdulla Yameen

ous of that was working together with the MDP (opposition) politically to take a no-confidence vote against the president in the parliament”.

Yameen also said the boat blast incident could not have happened without the knowledge of police. Adheeb’s lawyer Hussein Shameem said the allegations against his client were untrue.

“They haven’t showed any evidence. They only have an intelligence report with very little substance. “He was threatened by senior government officials and senior security officials before his return.” A broader crackdown against political dissent in the Maldives belies the popular image of the island chain of a holiday paradise. — Reuters

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WARSAW: Poles voted on Sunday in an election likely to usher the eurosceptic conservative opposition into power, ending nearly a decade of stability in central-eastern Europe’s biggest economy and setting Poland at odds with some of its European allies.

If opinion polls are correct, the ruling Civic Platform (PO), a pro-market, centre-right grouping in power for eight years, will lose to the conservative Law and Justice opposition party (PiS), run by the twin brother of late president Lech Kaczynski, Jaroslaw.

Most polls show PiS as the frontrunner on more than 30 per cent. PO is second with just over 20 per cent.

Strong NATO hand Distrustful of the European Union and an advocate of a strong NATO hand in dealing with Moscow, PiS opposes joining the euro zone in the near future, promises more welfare spending on the poor and wants banks subject to new taxation.

Michal Zurawski, in his mid30s, who voted for PiS in the morning in central Warsaw, said he backed the party’s anticorruption narrative and economic programme.

“Their offer is targeted at those who are less affluent and that suits me.

“Taking care of this group and creating better social and labour conditions for them is good will benefit Poland’s economy and the country as a whole,” Zurawski said. — Reuters

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WORLD AT TA C K O N P R O C E S S I O N

Dhaka rejects IS attack claim DHAKA: Bangladesh on Sunday rejected as “entirely baseless” claims by the IS group that it was behind bomb blasts targeting the minority sect that killed a 12-yearold boy and injured 90 others and said people trying to discredit the government were behind the incident.

“The (reported IS) claim is entirely baseless and extremist mili-

tants were not involved in it...give us just one or two days and by that time we expect the real culprits to be exposed to justice,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told PTI. A boy was killed and about 90 others injured in Saturday’s blasts targeting a religious procession in front of the community’s main shrine in the Bangladeshi capital.

The bombing comes just weeks after an Italian aid worker and a Japanese farmer were shot dead in attacks claimed by the IS. Well drawn up Kamal said the culprits planned such an attack under a well drawn up design coinciding with the religious observance so that the incident could be attributed to IS. — PTI

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Minister says 80 journalists from across the world are covering Oman’s Majlis Al Shura elections

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expats against ‘fake’ officers bit.ly/fakeofficerwarningrop

2 Oman weather: Chances of

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3 Oman will be among fastest

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TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS Stephen Leonard New regulations may be introduced for expatriates applying for drivers licences.

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INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN Puerto Rico can’t pay its debts, no amount of moral lectures will change that fact, and any resolution of its debt mess will require a legal framework. Only some Republicans get that -presidential candidate Jeb Bush, for instance bit.ly/goppuertorico

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arlier this year in Myanmar, torrential rain caused mudslides that wiped out hundreds of houses and caused large-scale crop destruction. More than 1.3 million people were affected, and over 100 died. In Vietnam, the same deluges caused toxic slurry pits from coal mines to overflow and run through villages, and into the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay; the death toll was 17. As such weather events become increasingly frequent and intense, the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change is becoming more urgent than ever.

And make no mistake: These events are, at least partly, the result of climate change. As the climate scientist Kevin Trenberth of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research points out, nowadays, “[a]ll weather events are affected by climate change, because the environment in which they occur is warmer and moister than it used to be.”

International climate negotiators recognise this, to some extent. The effects faced by the people of Myanmar and Vietnam are considered unavoidable costs of failing to adapt to climate change, which officials classify as “loss and damage.” But such language fails to capture the full scale of the consequences – especially their impact on human lives. The people who died in Myanmar and Vietnam are not just “unavoidable costs,” and their loved ones cannot simply “adapt” to losing them.

This kind of bloodless rhetoric reflects the inadequacy of the responses to climate change that international negotiations have so far produced.

In fact, if the industrialised world had done what was needed to stop climate change, as promised a generation ago, Myanmar and Vietnam most likely would have been spared their recent “loss and damage.”

The so-called advanced economies failure to fulfill their commitments means that Myanmar and Vietnam are hardly the most vulnerable developing countries today. The tiny island states of the Pacific, for example, have been unable to erect adequate defences against the “king tides” that are encroaching on their land and causing the freshwater “lenses” beneath their atolls to become brackish.

Their populations are paying for climate change with their lives and livelihoods. And without the resources to adapt, they will continue to suffer.

But it gets even more perverse. Those behind the

problem – the world’s biggest polluters – continue to reap billions in profits, while receiving huge energy subsidies from governments (projected to reach $5.3 trillion in 2015, or about $10 million per minute). So who are these polluters? According to a 2013 study by the scientist Rick Heede, nearly two-thirds of carbon dioxide emitted since the 1750s can be traced to just 90 of the largest fossil fuel- and cement-producing entities, most of which still operate.

Recognising the blatant injustice – not to mention the destructiveness – of this state of affairs, a new initiative, launched by the Carbon Levy Project and supported by a growing number of individuals and organizations, has emerged to demand compensation for vulnerable developing countries from the big polluters. Specifically, the Carbon Levy Project proposes a tax at the point of extraction for fossil fuels. Such a tax is consistent with international law, including the “polluter pays” principle, and would provide a new and predictable source of finance – amounting to billions of dollars – for the communities that need it most, without letting governments off the hook for providing public sources of finance. And, by raising the cost of extracting fossil fuels, it would contribute to the eventual phase-out of a sector that has no place in a climate-safe world.

Fortunately, the world will not have to wait for moral suasion to carry the day. Fossil-fuel companies and governments are already facing intensifying legal pressure. Typhoon survivors in the Philippines delivered a complaint to the country’s Commission on Human Rights, calling for an investigation into big fossil-fuel companies’ responsibility for causing climate change. The Dutch group Urgenda and nearly 900 co-plaintiffs successfully sued the Dutch government, forcing it to adopt more stringent climate policies. A Peruvian farmer now intends to sue the German coal company RWE to cover the costs of protecting his home, which lies in the flood path of a glacial lake.

And the signatories of the Peoples’ Declaration for Climate Justice from Pacific Island countries are committed to bringing a case against big polluters for activities resulting in the destruction of their homes. Big Oil, Big Gas, and Big Coal need to accept responsibility for climate change and start making real contributions to adaptation, or prepare to battle for their own survival – a battle that, in the long term, they simply cannot win. - Project Syndicate

READERS’ FORUM Blair’s statement comes as a confession This refers to the online story, 2003 Iraq invasion played role in rise of IS militant group, says Blair (October 25). The admission

by Britain’s former prime minister needs to be taken note of. This amounts to a confession on why the world is seeing a clash of civilisations. The policies pursued by Blair’s administration were similar to those of former colonial powers, along with today’s superpower — the US. It’s nice to see Russia standing up to these countries and I hope President Vladimir Putin is able to lead countries of the East to withstand these policies of blackmail.

— Tahir Rizwan, Ruwi

Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi).

One often mulls over how to open Pakistan’s non-functional government schools. However, once schools are running, government staff is more or less regular and student attendance has been ensured, there is the major problem of how to make learning effective bit.ly/pakistaneducation

CLIPPINGS OCTOBER 2000 Muqaibal to attend preparatory meeting MUSCAT: The Sultanate will participate in the meeting of the preparatory committee for the 18th meeting the AGCC interior ministers to be attended by undersecretaries in Abu Dhabi.

The Sultanate’s delegation will be headed by major General Ahmed bin Abdullah Muquaibal, assistant police and customs inspector general for administrative and financial affairs.

Solid waste generation increased 70 per cent by 2025 (In million tonnes per day)

2025

6

6.0

5

This refers to the online story, Traditional Chinese medicine (October 25).

It is a pity that medical methods other than allopathic are still being propagated. Methods that have no scientific basis should be discouraged by the global leadership, especially the World Health Organisation. — Sallu Louis, Salalah

This refers to the online story, Sherwood sacked by Villa (October 24).

It is a pity that the English Premier League side booted the astute sportsman. It is always the players to blame in any given situation.

This decision reeks of infighting.

— Sara Hussein, Muscat

Global solid waste generation

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

Unscientific medical methods need to be discouraged

Sherwood’s sacking by Villa is a result of infighting

PICTOGRAPH

4

TODAY IN HISTORY

2010

3.5

3

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1774: The first Continental Congress, which protested British measures and called for civil disobedience, concludes in Philadelphia.

The global cost of dealing with all that trash 2010

New India offers a wide range of HEALTH INSURANCE COVERS to you/family/ employee.

www.newindiaoman.com

1942: Japanese attack Guadalcanal, sinking two U.S. carriers.

$205 billion

2025

$375

1955: Ngo Dinh Diem declares himself premier of South Vietnam.

1970: Gary Trudeau’s comic strip Doonesbury first appears.

billion Source: worldbank.org

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015 He (Netanyahu) wants to install cameras in order to monitor and arrest our people; he is lying and lying Saeb Erekat, secretary-general, Palestine Liberation Organization

WORLD

‘Video monitoring at Al Aqsa is Israeli trap’

C I V I L WA R

DISCUSSIONS: President Bashar Al Assad, centre right, meets a Russian delegation of parliamentarians in Damascus. – AFP/HO/SANA

Palestinian Foreign

Assad’s priority is to defeat terrorism before elections: Russian lawmaker

Maliki accused

MOSCOW/BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s priority is to defeat “terrorists” before holding elections, but he is ready to call parliamentary and presidential polls if necessary, a Russian lawmaker who met him on Sunday said.

The remarks are a first indication of Assad’s response to a call by his Russian allies for new presidential and parliamentary elections, as Moscow tries to use its clout with Damascus to end almost five years of conflict in Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country has launched air strikes against Assad’s opponents in Syria, called for the elections in an interview broadcast on Saturday.

The Syrian state news agency SANA made no mention of elections in its account of Assad’s meeting on Sunday with a visiting Russian delegation. SANA said Assad told the visitors that “the elimination of terrorist groups” would lead to the political solution sought by both Syria and Russia.

Asked after the meeting whether Assad was ready for early elections, Russian parliamentary deputy Sergey Gavrilov told Reuters his impression was that

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“the first aim (of Assad is) the struggle with and victory over... terrorism, and after that the elections - parliamentary and president elections”.

Damascus views all the groups fighting it as terrorists.

Insurgents operating in Syria include IS, the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, other militants, and groups with a nationalist agenda seen as moderate by Assad’s foreign opponents and fighting under the banner of the “Free Syrian Army”.

Broad dialogue In a separate interview with Russian state television, Gavrilov said Assad was “ready for broad dialogue with all responsible political forces that care about Syria. He is ready for parliamentary elections, constitutional reform, presidential elections if necessary”.

Another Russian present at the talks said Assad was ready to take part in a presidential election if the Syrian people supported the idea, Russian news agency RIA reported. “Assad said that if the Syrian people consider it necessary, he would not be against taking part in presidential elections,” Alexander Yushchenko, a parliamentary deputy, said. — Reuters

Minister Riyad Al Israel of planning to use such footage to arrest worshippers it believes are ‘inciting’ against it

OCCUPIED RAMALLAH: Palestinian officials reacted warily on Sunday to what US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed as Jordan’s “excellent suggestion” to calm Israeli-Palestinian violence by putting a sensitive occupied Jerusalem holy site under constant HATE CRIME: An Israeli fire-fighter looks at a Palestinian car which was torched and racist slogans video monitoring. were scrawled on it in the occupied east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Umm Tuba, on Sunday. – AFP “This is a new trap,” Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki said on pound, for round-the-clock moni- Palestinian Health Ministry later Voice of Palestine radio, accusing SCAN THIS QR CODE said a Palestinian was hospitalised toring by cameras.

Israel of planning to use such footTO INSTANTLY VISIT Such surveillance, Kerry said, after being shot by an Israeli. age to arrest worshippers it beARTICLE, VIDEO Speaking to his cabinet on Sun“could really be a game-changer lieves are “inciting” against it.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M in discouraging anybody from dis- day, Netanyahu said Israel “has an Kerry, who met Jordan’s King turbing the sanctity” of the Al Aqsa interest in cameras being deployed Abdullah and Palestinian Presisite, which Israel captured along everywhere” to refute claims that dent Mahmoud Abbas in Amman on Saturday, said Israel gave assur- ants, have been killed in attacks with the rest of occupied East Je- it is changing the status quo.

Netanyahu said such surveilances it has no intention of chang- and during anti-Israeli protests rusalem and the occupied West lance on the plaza — where stoneing the status quo at the Al Aqsa in the occupied West Bank and Bank in 1967.

There was no immediate com- throwing protests against Jewish mosque compound.

Gaza since October 1. Nine Israelis have been stabbed or shot dead ment from Abbas. Saeb Erekat, visits often break out — would also Long-standing ban

by Palestinians. Palestinians are secretary-general of the Pales- “show where the provocations are Palestinians fear, amplified in so- also fuming over what they see as tine Liberation Organization, really coming from” and to thwart cial media, that Israel seeks to lift excessive use of force by Israeli said Abbas had told Kerry “that them from the outset.

“He (Netanyahu) wants to inits long-standing ban on Jewish police and soldiers. Israel says it he should look into the roots of prayer at the site, have fuelled a is justified in using lethal force to the problem — and that is the stall cameras in order to monitor and arrest our people;, he is lying continued occupation”. three-week-old wave of Palestin- meet deadly threats.

In violence on Sunday, a Pales- and lying,” Erekat said. A US ofKerry, stepping up diplomatic ian stabbings in occupied Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and efforts to stem the worst Israeli- tinian stabbed and wounded an ficial said Israeli and Jordanian Israeli cities. Israel has repeatedly Palestinian bloodshed since the Israeli near a Jewish settlement in technical officials would discuss 2014 Gaza war, said Israel had ac- the occupied West Bank, the mili- who would conduct the video denied the allegation.

At least 52 Palestinians, half cepted a proposal by Jordan’s king, tary said. The wounded man fired monitoring, but no date for consulof whom Israel says were assail- custodian of the Al Aqsa com- at the assailant, who fled, and the tations was announced. — Reuters

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

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WORLD Haitians vote in key polls More than five million registered voters are choosing from 54 presidential candidates who appear on the crammed ballot

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haitians began voting on Sunday in landmark elections for president, as well as a parliament that has sat empty for 10 months, polls that officials hope will cement democracy in the Western hemisphere’s poorest country.

More than five million registered voters are choosing from 54 presidential candidates who appear on the crammed ballot with facial images, party logos and an accompanying party number to help a vast illiterate population.

If all goes smoothly it will be first time in Haiti’s rocky political history that three democratic elections have been held in succession without interruption by fraud or armed rebellion.

The successor to President Michel Martelly next February is expected to be one of two candidates, Jovenel Moïse, owner of a banana exporting business in the north of the country, and Jude Célestin, a Swiss-educated mechanical engineer who previously headed a government construction agency.

Moïse, 37, represents the rul-

EXERCISING FRANCHISE: Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly carries his ballots at a polling station in Port-auPrince, Haiti, on Sunday. - Reuters

ing Parti Haitien Tet Kale (Haitian Party of Bald Heads) named after Martelly’s famously smooth scalp. He is running neck and neck in polls with Célestin, 53, who heads the LAPEH Party (Alternative League for Progress and Emancipation of Haiti).

A runoff for the presidential race between the top two candidates is scheduled for December 27. Martelly, a popular singer, shook up the political order with his election victory in 2011 as the country was still reeling from a devastating earthquake. But critics say he failed to halt to corruption and political infighting.

The Caribbean nation of about 10 million people has struggled to build a stable democracy ever since the overthrow of the dictatorship of the Duvalier family, which led Haiti from 1957 to 1986, and ensuing military coups and election fraud.

Haiti’s parliament dissolved in January after scheduled legislative elections in 2011 and 2014 were cancelled and terms ran out on sitting members. - Reuters

H O M E C O M I N G PA R A D E

Four killed, dozens injured as car slams into Oklahoma parade crowd STILLWATER (Oklahoma): A car with a suspected inebriated driver at the wheel barrelled into crowds watching a homecoming parade at Oklahoma State University on Saturday, killing four people and injuring more than 40 others, authorities said.

Witnesses told of bodies being flung dozens of feet into the air as the gray Hyundai Elantra plowed into the throng at the intersection of Main Street and Hall of Fame Avenue in Stillwater, some 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Oklahoma City, at the end of the parade.

Stillwater Mayor Gina Noble and local police said the car crashed through barricades and struck an unmanned police motorcycle before carving through the mass of spectators.

“At first we thought it was part of the show,” Konda Walker, a 1991 graduate of OSU, told the local Stillwater News Press. “People were flying 30 feet (9 metres) into the air like rag dolls.”

Representatives for OU Medical Centre in Oklahoma City said the hospital received eight victims from the crash, five of them children, ranging in condition from good to critical.

One of those patients, a 2-yearold child, later died.

Stillwater Medical Centre said in a statement that its staff had treated about 40 patients aged 2 to 65. About half of them had been released by Saturday evening.

Suspect not student The driver, identified as 25-yearold Adacia Avery Chambers, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol, said Captain Kyle Gibbs of the Stillwater Police.

“I’ve been here 29 years and I can’t recall an incident of this magnitude,” Gibbs told reporters at the scene. The suspect does not appear to have been a student at Oklahoma State University, Gibbs said. Mayor Noble said in a statement that Chambers

ASSESSING DAMAGES: Emergency officials stand over the car that was involved after a suspected drunk driver crashed into a crowd of spectators during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade near the Boone Pickens Stadium on Friday in Stillwater, Oklahoma. - AFP

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was a resident of the city.

Megan Lantz of Ponca City, Oklahoma, told the Oklahoman newspaper that about 100 people were standing on the corner at the time the car, going between 45 and 50 mph (72-80 kph), struck the crowd.

“We were facing the parade and heard tires squealing and then started to hear the car hitting things and people and there was screaming and people running away,” Lantz, 32, told the paper for a story on its website.

The suspect’s father, Floyd

Chambers, 47, told the Oklahoman in a phone interview that he learned about the accident through social media and was stunned.

“I can’t figure this out. This is not the person that’s my daughter. ... I can’t imagine alcohol being involved. She is not an alcoholic that I’m aware of,” Chambers said, adding that he would pray for the families and friends of the victims.

Hours later the car was still resting, crumpled, against a lamppost on Main street, the intersection littered with clothes, blankets, lawn chairs and water bottles belonging to the victims.

Streets were blocked off and secured by members of the National Guard.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said on Twitter that she was en route to Stillwater and that her

thoughts and prayers were with those affected.

After the crash, Oklahoma State University said it decided against cancelling its homecoming football game, which went ahead as planned against Kansas and was dedicated to the victims.

Some 25,000 students attend the university.

“We are shocked and heartbroken by this horrible tragedy.

The Oklahoma State University Homecoming parade is the most wholesome of events and to have it marred in such a way is incomprehensible,” the school’s president, V. Burns Hargis, said.

“The Cowboy Family is devastated by events at this morning’s homecoming parade,” the school said on its website, referring to the college mascot. - Reuters

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Torrential rains pummel Texas Flash flood in Navarro County swept a Union Pacific freight train off the tracks

HOUSTON: Fire crews rescued two dozen motorists stranded by high water in Houston as torrential rains pounded southeastern Texas on Sunday, triggered by the meeting of two storm systems, one the remnants of Hurricane Patricia.

As of Sunday morning, parts of

the Houston area reported more than 9 inches (23 cm) of rain. The heaviest band of rain had moved to over the Gulf of Mexico and was heading toward southwest Lousiana, the National Weather Service said. The storm was expected to move up toward Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon, with 3 to 8 inches (8 cm to 20 cm) of additional rain possible in Louisiana through Sunday night, more in spots, said Andy Tingler, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Rain has drenched Texas for the past two days. Navarro County, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Dallas, was one of the hardest-hit areas. The tiny town of Powell got 20 inches (50 cm) of rain over 30

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

hours, said meteorologist Brett Rathbun of Accuweather.

A flash flood in Navarro County swept a Union Pacific freight train off the tracks on Saturday, pushing locomotives and some rail cars on their sides. There were no confirmed deaths from the deluge in Texas, but in San Antonio, a woman reported that her boyfriend was swept into a drainage ditch as he walked his dog early Saturday.

Officials said he was considered missing. The rain systems were

intensified by the remnants of Patricia, which was downgraded to a tropical depression after crashing into Mexico’s west coast on Friday as a powerful hurricane.

In Houston, Mayor Annise Parker had warned residents of the state’s second-most populous metropolitan area with 6.1 million people to stay away from wet roads after dark and be aware of flash floods.

Rescue calls The Houston Fire Department responded to 28 water rescue calls from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, Captain Ruy Lozano said. One man who was sleeping under a bridge on a grassy area was rescued by boat after climbing a

tree, Lozano said. Most of the rescues involved stranded motorists and more than 30 vehicles were towed due to high water, he said.

The weather service issued flash flood warnings early Sunday and later turned that into flash flood watches effective until 11 am Central Daylight Time for several southeastern Texas counties, including Harris County, which includes Houston, and Galveston County, as the heavy rain shifted east of the area. Some 80 water rescues from vehicles, homes and businesses had been carried out in Navarro County since Friday and authorities requested sandbags for evacuated homes, Sheriff Elmer Tanner said. Interstate 45 was shut down in some spots in Navarro on Saturday by rising water, which

reached one foot (30 cm) on the roadway in Richland. It reopened on Sunday morning.

Nineteen flights were cancelled on Sunday at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, after 30 flight cancellations and 183 delays on Saturday, according to tracking service FlightAware.

More than 100 flights were cancelled on Saturday and 309 delayed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, one of the country’s busiest air hubs, FlightAware said. Tides along the south coast of Louisiana were running about 1-1/2 feet (0.5 meters) above normal and were expected to be a few feet above normal at high tide due to sustained winds and the rain on Sunday afternoon. - Reuters

REFUGEE CRISIS

DANGEROUS JOURNEY: Refugees and migrants arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday after they crossed the Aegean sea from Turkey. – AFP

Woman, children drown as migrant boat hits rocks off island of Lesbos ATHENS: A woman and two children drowned when an inflatable dinghy carrying 63 migrants hit rocks off the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday, Greek authorities said.

Seven people were still missing but the rest managed to reach land safely, a coastguard spokeswoman said. Their nationalities were not immediately clear.

Dozens of refugees including many children have died trying to make the short but perilous journey from Turkey to Greece’s outlying islands in recent months, often in overcrowded inflatables.

More than 680,000 migrants and refugees have crossed to Europe by sea so far this year, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania said they would close their borders if Germany or other countries shut the door on refugees, warning they would not let the Balkan region become a “buffer zone” for stranded migrants.

German media have reported that Juncker will present a 16-point plan, including an undertaking not to send migrants from one country to another without prior agreement. “The challenge now is to slow down the flow of migration and to bring our exter-

nal borders under control,” Juncker told Bild. “We must also make it clear that people who arrive at our borders who are not looking for international protection have no right to enter the EU.” Following four years of economic crisis, Europe’s governments are struggling to cope with an influx of people fleeing war and oppression in countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea.

Lack of policy The lack of a common policy is straining ties between European leaders, raising questions about the EU’s future.

Hungary’s decision to close its border with Serbia and Croatia has prompted others to follow, stranding tens of thousands in inhuman conditions as temperatures drop.

Rights group Amnesty International said the 28-country bloc could not afford to end another meeting without an agreed plan.

“As winter looms, the sight of thousands of refugees sleeping rough as they make their way through Europe represents a damning indictment of the European Union’s failure to offer a coordinated response to the refugee crisis,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s director for Europe and Central Asia. — Reuters

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Oman’s sukuk issue evokes huge response The OMR200m, five-year sovereign sukuk issue with an Ijara format, drew 22 orders totaling OMR336 million during the subscription period

MUSCAT: Oman’s first issue of sovereign Islamic bonds has received strong orders ahead of its final pricing on Tuesday, said a Reuters report.

The OMR200 million, five-year sukuk issue with an Ijara format drew 22 orders totaling OMR336 million during the subscription period, which ran from October 8 to 22, Mohammed Hussain Jawad, advisor at the Finance Ministry and head of the committee handling the issue, told Oman News Agency.

Results of the sale and allocations will be announced on November 3. Jawad also said the ministry planned a second sukuk issue next year, but he did not elaborate on the size or timing.

The first issue is a step towards developing Sultanate of Oman’s Islamic finance industry and gives the government a fresh channel to raise money.

It was open to sophisticated investors — usually taken to mean fund managers, banks and other institutions, as well as wealthy individuals — with a minimum subscription amount to the tune of OMR500,000.

LISTING: The sovereign sukuk, which will be listed on the Muscat Securities Market, may provide a benchmark, which encourages private Omani companies to issue Islamic bonds. – Times file picture

The issue will give the country’s Islamic banks, insurance firms and funds a badly needed tool to manage their money more efficiently, which could help them to become more profitable.

Islamic finance launch Oman launched Islamic finance, which follows religious rules such as a ban on interest payments, later than other Gulf countries, granting licences to two Shariacompliant banks, Al Izz Islamic and Bank Nizwa, in 2013.

There are also half a dozen Islamic windows of conventional institutions; together, the banks and windows account for about 5 per cent of the country’s total banking assets.

The sovereign sukuk, which will be listed on the Muscat Securities Market, may provide a

benchmark which encourages private Omani companies to issue Islamic bonds.

The issue also allows the government to begin tapping a new source of funding at a time when low oil prices are slashing its export revenues and hurting its finances.

The government has boosted domestic sales of conventional bonds this year to cover a big budget deficit.

Bank Muscat, its Islamic window Meethaq and Standard Chartered are lead managers of the sukuk sale. - Reuters

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Food grain facility to come up at Sohar port visaged to be sold as a premium product and also supplied to the government for welfare activities in the wider Middle East and North African (Mena) region.

Initial facility will be set up at a cost of $40m and will contain polishing, grading, blending and packaging unit

Times News Service MUSCAT: Usher Agro through its 100 per cent subsidiary Usher Worldwide and Prime Trading signed a joint venture agreement with Al Mada Project Management Company and Sohar Food Cluster Company to set up rice

and pulses storage, processing and packaging facility at Port of Sohar.

Alpen Capital India acted as the sole financial advisor to Usher Agro on this project.

The initial facility will be set up at an estimated cost of $40 million and will contain polishing, grading, blending and packaging unit for 100,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of premium long grain rice,

including basmati rice and a stateof-the-art milling unit for 100,000 tpa of pulses. The facility will also contain 25,000 tpa of rice fortification plant under the patented technology provided by PATH – a nonprofit organisation supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The rice will be fortified with vitamins and minerals to address nutrition requirements and is en-

Basmati rice The basmati rice products of the facility will be distributed within Mena countries whereas pulses products from the facility will be distributed in India and Mena region. The parties expect to commence the operations of the facility by end of the 2016 financial year.

“The proposed food logistics and processing hub at the Port of Sohar will provide a unique opportunity for the new joint venture in a strategic location, capitalising on direct access to agro/food berth and proximity to many export markets in the GCC and the Mena region”, said Essa Al Ghurair, promoter and managing director of Sohar Food Cluster Company.

EXHIBITION HUB

ROADSHOW: Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre has completed

its third roadshow in Europe, which was a joint initiative with the Ministry of Tourism – Supplied picture

Oman convention centre generates European interest Times News Service MUSCAT: Generating a variety of high potential leads and the possibility to attract more than 40,000 delegates, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the Sultanate’s landmark events hub, has completed its third roadshow in Europe, whihc was a joint initiative with the Ministry of Tourism.

A highly important fixture in the OCEC’s annual calendar, the exclusive roadshow presented the compelling offer of the soonto-open venue to decision makers and thought leaders in key European markets of the business events industry including Milan, Geneva, Berlin and Brussels — cities that also have high numbers of leading professional associations.

Four stops of roadshow At the carefully selected four stops of the roadshow, the OCEC and Ministry of Tourism team provided the invited industry players with insights into the extraordinary facilities and potential of the iconic venue.

“The response to the roadshow was overwhelming and the OCEC team is now following up on and consolidating the leads it produced. Indeed, in Geneva we were able to finalise the contract for an event to be held in December 2017. There is no doubt that this booking is a direct result of our collective efforts in championing Oman as a preferred business tourism destination,” Trevor McCartney, the OCEC general manager said.

Illustrating the enormous in-

terest from European events industry leaders, Jocelyne Mülli, managing director of K.I.T. Group GmbH, a company with 25 years of expertise in the organisation of conferences worldwide said, “I have identified Oman to be of great potential for future conferences. It is especially interesting in terms of the capacity of the OCEC and all of the hotels on the ground, the consolidation of all of the services, and access as the international airport is just 4 kilometres away.”

Venue for events Recognising the strong potential of the OCEC as a venue for professional association events, Riccardo Jannoni-Sebastianini secretary-general, Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, which organises international conferences and symposiums to facilitate the exchange of information on scientific, technical, ecological, social and economic apicultural development explained, “Once Oman has a member association incorporated in Apimondia, it stands a good chance of competing for an Apimondia event in the future.”

The third roadshow in Europe is part of the OCEC and Ministry of Tourism’s vigorous international campaign showcasing the exceptional proposition of the state-of-the-art events hub.

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M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

B3

MARKET BRIEFS

Sembcorp Salalah board proposes stock split MUSCAT: Sembcorp Salalah on Sunday said that its board has decided to change the nominal value of share from OMR1 to 100 baisas by splitting a share into 10 shares, which is subject to the approval of lending institutions. The company will seek shareholders’ approval in an extraordinary general meeting to be held in conjunction with the annual general meeting in March 2016, according to a stock market filing.

Majan College recommends 30% cash dividend MUSCAT: Majan College board has proposed a 30 per cent cash dividend to its shareholders, which is subject to approval at its annual general meeting. The board also approved the company financial results for the year ending August this year.

Iran to export 400,000 metric tonnes of wheat TEHRAN: Iran, the secondlargest wheat user in the Middle East, will export 400,000 metric tonnes of the grain after domestic supplies expanded enough to meet local demand. Iran bought 8.08 million tonnes of wheat from local farmers this year, 1.4 million tonnes more than last year, Ali Ghanbari, deputy agriculture minister, said on the Government Trading Corporation’s website. Durum wheat, used to make pasta, will be exported from the crop, he said.

- Times News Service/Bloomberg News

Advantage for Omani firms to grab Iranian contracts also offer ample investment opportunities.

Additionally, Iran has significant mineral reserves, which includes copper, graphite and coal.

Also, plans are afoot to build 25 gigawatts of additional electricity generation in the next four years, between 2016 and 2020.

Iran is set to offer planned projects worth $120 billion in a variety of sectors after lifting trade sanctions

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Omani companies will be able to grab several contracting and investment opportunities in neighbouring Iran as the country is set to offer planned projects worth $120 billion in a variety of sectors.

Iran is planning to seek participation in several sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemical, power and transport. The projects are expected to be announced after the lifting of trade sanctions The value of projects, which are planned and not yet awarded, are some $120 billion and include OMR18.51 billion in the oil sector, $18.14 billion in the power sector, $25.20 billion in the chemical sector and $17.43 billion in developing transport infrastructure, according to Ed James, director of content and analysis, Meed Projects.

James spoke of Iranian business opportunities during a presentation on Iran’s energy and infrastructure projects market at

OPTIMISTIC: Ed James, director of content and analysis, Meed projects, said that the value of projects worth $120 billion include oil sector, power sector, chemical sector and the development of transport infrastructure. - A. R. RAJKUMAR/Times of Oman

the Iran Breakfast Briefing here on Sunday.

“Once sanctions are lifted, we will see more and more projects coming to the market,” added the Meed Projects official.

However, the total value of projects, which are either underway or planned, is estimated at $244 billion, which constitutes about 8 per cent of the $3.4 trillion project market in the region.

Highlighting the attractiveness of investments in the country, he said Iran’s huge oil and gas reserves offer recognised opportunities for investment.

Iran has the largest natural gas

INVESTMENT

Foreign firms need to know the challenges in Iran: Expert mining, banking, retail, food, telecommunications and infrastructure and said that there are certain issues and challenges that need to be taken into consideration.

The challenges include lack of proper planning, lack of liquidity, a lack of significant lending appetite among most local banks, government pricing as well as sharp and unpredictable currency fluctuations, he said.

BUSINESS REPORTER

MUSCAT: There are enormous opportunities in the Iranian market but foreign individuals and entities planning to do business with Iran should have a proper understanding of the risks and challenges, say experts.

Iran has the potential to become one of the world’s fastest growing countries and will enjoy rise in living standards and steady progress in social indicators after the removal of the sanctions, said Richard Thompson, editorial director at MEED Projects.

Speaking at the Iran Breakfast Briefing in Muscat on Sunday, he said increase in exports, unfrozen assets and an inflow of investment will enable Iran to move on a large pipeline of strategic projects, with priority sectors being oil and gas, petrochemicals, mining, power, infrastructure and hospitality.

However, he noted that the business environment can be challenging and complex and investors will need to assess how any of the recent developments would affect their business in Iran and should beware of the risks.

Various risks One of the risks is the collapse in world oil prices due to intra-Opec (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) competition, he explained.

Thompson said that another risk is a collapse of the sanctions relief programme, either due to objections in the United States or by Iran’s failure to adhere to the conditions of the deal, which will immediately lead to the re-imposition of at least some of the sanctions.

According to him, other risks

Richard Thompson, editorial director at MEED Projects.

– A. R. RAJKUMAR/ Times of Oman

include supply bottlenecks particularly in Iran’s defective transport and logistics infrastructure, poor financial management that could lead to asset bubbles, hyperinflation and a new wave of currency depreciation, as well as a serious deterioration in regional stability involving the countries close to Iran.

Sanctions Patrick Murphy, partner at Clyde & Co, provided an overview of the US’ sanctions against Iran as well as other sanctions and said that those who plan to do business with Iran should have a proper understanding of which sanctions will be removed as part of the nuclear deal and which ones will remain in place.

Amir Kordvani, senior associate at Clyde & Co, highlighted the ‘vast’ opportunities in various sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing,

SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS editor@timesofoman.com webeditor@timesofoman.com

Local partner Kordvani also noted that finding the right local business partner can be difficult and time-consuming and publicly available information on companies is scarce, particularly where the target company is not listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.

Commenting on the intellectual property rights, the expert said that Iran is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

“Registering your IP in Iran is important even if you are not contemplating doing business in that market in the near future,” he said, adding that patents, trademarks, copyright and similar things should be registered with the Intellectual Property Centre within the Organisation for the Registration of Deeds and Properties.

Investment approval Commenting on obtaining investment approval, he said that the key legislation is the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act, which has some advantages and limitations. With regard to listing on Iranian capital markets, Kordvani said that the Tehran Stock Exchange is relatively well-established.

reserves in the world, estimated at 1,200 trillion cubic feet, along with the fourth largest oil reserves in the world.

Iran’s oil output Iran’s oil production fell to 3.5 million barrels per day last year, from an average of 4 million barrels per day in the previous three years.

However, natural gas production stood more or less the same during the period, standing at some17-18 billion cubic feet.

Iran is now looking for investments in enhanced oil recovery projects and liquefied natural gas export facilities, and this could be

developed in joint ventures with international oil firms.

Energy firms, which could not complete some upstream oil and gas projects due to sanctions, are eagerly awaiting the lifting of sanctions so they might return to Iran.

Further, Iran, which has a population of 79 million people and a gross domestic product of $400 billion, has the Middle East and North African (Mena) region’s second largest petrochemical industry, after Saudi Arabia, which is also looking for expansion and modernisation.

James noted that mining, power, water and wastewater sectors

Total investment The total envisaged investment for power generation, transmission and distribution is estimated at $70 billion.

Further, there is room for expanding and modernising transport infrastructures like airports, railway network and ports. “Iran already has one of the most extensive railway networks in the region. It is looking for expansion and technology improvements,” noted James.

The country also has one of the most extensive metro networks in the region, which is mostly driven by population growth.

Iran has the third largest nonconstruction projects market of any Mena state, after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The country urgently requires foreign investment, modernisation and access to new technologies and equipment. But the local project market’s contracting and engineering community has a high degree of maturity and capability.

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B4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,922.18 .............. 5,903.39 ................... 5,922.18 ................... 5,905.74..................16.44 ...................0.28 Financial Index .....................................7,256.42 .............. 7,202.98 ................... 7,256.42 ................... 7,229.52................. 26.90 ................... 0.37 Industrial Index ....................................7,323.60 ...............7,305.80 ................... 7,306.54 ....................7,314.68.................. -8.14 ...................-0.11 Services Index ...................................... 3,282.92 ...............3,279.70 ................... 3,281.57 ................... 3,279.70.................... 1.87 ...................0.06 MSM SHARIAH INDEX...................... 908.02 ................. 906.94 .......................907.22 ...................... 907.38.................. -0.16 .................. -0.02 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 4,735,751 .....................1,190,347 .....................341 ............... 14,714,023,990 ................ 12 ........................6 .................... 16 .........................34

The top gainer was Bank Sohar, up by 2.94 per cent, while Oman and Emirates Holding

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

was the day’s top loser, down by 5.71 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: Amid very thin trading volumes, the MSM30 Index gained 0.28 per cent to close at 5,922.18 points. The MSM Sharia Index declined by 0.02 per cent to close at 907.22 points. Bank Nizwa led in terms of volume, while Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) led in terms of turnover.

Today’s top gainer was Bank Sohar, up by 2.94 per cent, while Oman and Emirates Holding was the day’s top loser, down by 5.71 per cent.

As many as 341 trades were executed during the trading session generating turnover of OMR1.19 million with 4.7 million shares changing hands. Out of 34 traded securities, 12 advanced, six declined and 16 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR152,000, while Omani investors were net sellers for OMR124,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR28,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,256.42 points with gains of 0.37 per cent. Bank Sohar, Al Anwar Holding, Al Madina Investments, Bank Nizwa and HSBC Bank increased by 2.94 per cent, 2.19 per cent, 1.69 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 0.83 per cent, respectively.

Oman & Emirates Holding, Al Sharqia Investments and Oman United Insurance declined by 5.71 per cent, 0.88 per cent and 0.77 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index retreated to close at 7,306.54 points, down by 0.11 per cent. National Aluminium, Oman Textiles, Galfar Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals gained by 2.84 per cent, 2.22 per cent, 1.18 per cent and 0.35 per cent, respectively.

Al Maha Ceramics fell by 3.35 per cent to close at OMR0.462.

Services Index advanced 0.06 per cent to close at 3,281.57 points. Renaissance Services, Oman Telecommunications

Company (Omantel) and Sembcorp Salalah advanced by 0.57 per cent, 0.31 per cent and 0.18 per cent, respectively. Al Jazeera Services and OIFC declined by 1.44 per cent and 0.54 per cent, respectively.

Dubai stocks soar Dubai stocks climbed the most in two weeks, leading most Arab markets higher, after measures taken by central banks in Europe and China to shore up the global economy boosted appetite for riskier assets.

The DFM General Index climbed 0.7 per cent, the most since October 11, to 3,614.66 at 12:39 p.m. local time. Emaar Properties PJSC, the real estate developer with the highest weighting on the gauge, led the advance with a 1.2 per cent gain.

Qatar’s QE Index and Kuwait’s SE Index advanced 0.3 per cent.

Israel’s TA-25 Index increased 2.2 per cent.

Equities worldwide rose last week after China’s central bank cut interest rates and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi signaled that he will bolster stimulus if needed amid signs of slowing global growth and tepid inflation.

Investors are betting that central banks worldwide, including the US Federal Reserve, will continue to support low-rate environments. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the MSCI Emerging Market Index both rose the fourth consecutive week on Friday.

The rise in stocks "is largely on the back of developments in the international markets," said Muhammad Shabbir, who manages about $550 million as the head of regional equities at Rasmala Investment Bank Ltd. in Dubai.

"They had some positive momentum on Thursday and Friday."

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

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 229,225 ............40,114........................6 ............0.175 ........... 0.175............0.175 ............0.175 ............. 0.170............ 0.005............. 2.941 ................0.175 .............. 0.175...................0.180................. 252,252,000 .......0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 256,330 ............55,735......................13 ............0.215 ...........0.220 ...........0.215 ............0.217 ............. 0.211............ 0.006.............2.844 ................0.220 .............0.219...................0.220 ................... 7,285,005 ..........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 208,360 ........... 38,982..................... 32 ............0.183 ........... 0.190 ...........0.179 ............0.187 ............. 0.183............ 0.004............. 2.186 ................0.190..............0.190................... 0.191 ...................28,064,025.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................89,000 ............... 5,381........................6 ........... 0.057 ........... 0.061 ...........0.057........... 0.060 .............0.059 ............0.001 ............. 1.695 ................0.060..............0.058...................0.060 ..................12,429,083 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 271,116 ............ 23,250..................... 30 ........... 0.084 ...........0.087 ...........0.084........... 0.086 .............0.085 ............0.001 ..............1.176.................0.087..............0.086...................0.087...................24,938,335.........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 423,450 ............51,054..................... 27 ............0.120 ........... 0.122 ...........0.120............0.121 .............0.120 ............0.001 ............. 0.833 ................0.121 .............. 0.121...................0.123..................242,037,848........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 329,587 ............58,481..................... 23 ............0.177 ........... 0.178 ...........0.177 ............0.177 ............. 0.176.............0.001 ............. 0.568 ................0.178 .............. 0.176...................0.178 ................... 51,445,231 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 127,295 ............ 36,828.....................22 ........... 0.288 ...........0.292 ...........0.288........... 0.289 .............0.288 ............0.001 ............. 0.347 ................0.292..............0.285...................0.293 ...................6,069,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 130,050 ..........212,731........................6 ............1.625 ........... 1.640 ...........1.625 ............1.635 ............. 1.630............ 0.005............. 0.307 ................1.630 .............. 1.630...................1.640................1,226,250,000......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................43,845 ...........119,918......................15 ............2.740 ........... 2.740 ...........2.735 ............2.735 .............2.730 ........... 0.005............. 0.183 ................2.735 .............. 2.735...................2.740..................261,075,428........1.000 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................10,000 .............11,200........................2 ............1.120 ........... 1.120............1.120 ............1.120 ............. 1.120............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.120 ...............1.110...................1.120 ................. 224,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ..................................... 7,000 ...............2,128........................2 ........... 0.304...........0.304 ...........0.304 .......... 0.304 .............0.304 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.304............. 0.304...................0.306 .................407,575,916 ........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................10,400 ............20,020........................2 ............1.925 ........... 1.925 ...........1.925 ............1.925 ............. 1.925............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.925 .............. 1.925...................2.025 .................172,672,500........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 200,000...........48,800........................1 ........... 0.244...........0.244 ...........0.244 .......... 0.244 .............0.244 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.244 .............0.233...................0.250 ................. 376,913,765 ........0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ................................................. 2,475 ...............2,030........................1 ........... 0.820 ...........0.820 ...........0.820........... 0.820 .............0.820 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.820............. 0.000...................0.820 .................131,200,000........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ...........................................................401 ...................172........................2 ........... 0.430 ...........0.430 ...........0.430........... 0.440 .............0.440 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.430..............0.430...................0.448 ..................26,620,000.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER............................................................ 441,175 ...........167,647........................3 ........... 0.380 ...........0.380 ...........0.380........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.380..............0.366...................0.384 ..................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................... 38,414 ...............3,229........................6 ........... 0.084 ...........0.086 ...........0.084........... 0.084 .............0.084 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.084..............0.084...................0.086...................14,700,000 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................49,600 .............10,664........................3 ............0.215 ........... 0.215 ...........0.215 ............0.215 ............. 0.215............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.215 .............. 0.215...................0.218..................145,100,797 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................40,585 ...............8,726........................5 ............0.215 ........... 0.215 ...........0.215 ............0.215 ............. 0.215............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.215 .............. 0.215...................0.219..................153,597,363 ........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 635,721 ........... 117,144.....................44 ............0.184 ........... 0.186 ...........0.184........... 0.184 ............. 0.185............-0.001 ........... -0.541 ...............0.186 .............. 0.185...................0.187...................36,800,000.........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ................................ 60,000 .............15,420........................5 ........... 0.257 ........... 0.257 ...........0.257........... 0.257 .............0.259 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.772 ...............0.257..............0.237...................0.257...................25,700,000.........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............ 20,000 .............. 2,240........................3 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.112 ............. 0.113 ............-0.001 ........... -0.885 ...............0.112 ...............0.113................... 0.117 ...................10,080,000.........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 136,505.............55,967........................6 ............0.410 ........... 0.410 ...........0.410........... 0.410 ............. 0.416............-0.006 ........... -1.442 ...............0.410 ..............0.410...................0.000 ..................25,093,752 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................... 5,559 ...............2,568......................12 ........... 0.462 ...........0.462 ...........0.462........... 0.462 .............0.478 ...........-0.016 ........... -3.347 ...............0.462..............0.462...................0.476...................24,255,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............ 25,000 ...............2,475........................1 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.105............-0.006 ............-5.714................0.099..............0.105...................0.110 ...................12,065,625 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,791,093 ... 1,112,904...................278 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......26........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING .......................................2,200 ..................808........................2 ........... 0.366 ...........0.368 ...........0.366........... 0.368 .............0.360 ........... 0.008.............2.222 ................0.368..............0.362...................0.368....................2,208,000..........1.000 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 799,761 ............ 59,904......................41 ........... 0.073 ........... 0.075 ...........0.073........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351.................0.075..............0.074...................0.076..................112,500,000........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS .......................................................350 ...................165........................1 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.488 .............0.488 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.470..............0.470...................0.480 ..................76,860,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .........................................................2,000 .................. 108........................1 ........... 0.054 ...........0.054 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.054 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.054..............0.054...................0.057....................6,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE........................................................2,000 ..................290........................1 ............0.145 ........... 0.145 ...........0.145 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.145 .............. 0.135...................0.145................... 37,742,771 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ........................................................55,550 ...............8,344......................11 ............0.150 ........... 0.151............0.150 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.150 ..............0.150................... 0.151 ..................219,390,219 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 861,861 .............69,618..................... 57 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 6........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004628 ...........BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 .............................................7,035 ..................704........................3 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.100........... 0.100 .............0.100 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.109.................... 7,150,000 ..........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ..................... 75,762 ............... 7,122........................3 ........... 0.094 ...........0.094 ...........0.094........... 0.094 .............0.094 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.094..............0.094...................0.098................... 30,471,192 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: ....................................................................................82,797 ............... 7,825........................6 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

- United Securities/Bloomberg News

ISLAMIC FINANCE

Apicorp’s $500m sukuk oversubscribed Times News Service MUSCAT: Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp) has placed a $500 million, five-year sukuk as part of its $3 billion sukuk programme announced in July.

Apicorp’s transaction represents the largest inaugural sukuk issuance by a supranational issuer. It is also the first inaugural issuer from the Gulf Cooperation Council to announce and price its

transaction intraday.

The deal was favourably priced with a profit rate of 2.38 per cent.

The total order book for the issuance was $832 million, meaning it was oversubscribed with over 40 participating investors.

The sukuk saw 20 per cent participation from Asia and Europe, with strong interest across all asset classes. The transaction marks a strategic step forward for Apicorp in becoming a regular

issuer of sukuk in the global markets, and positions the company’s credit alongside its multilateral development bank peers.

As the first transaction from a GCC based entity post-summer, the successful Apicorp sukuk may also help pave the way for other issuers from the region to access the international capital markets.

Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered Bank acted as global coordinators for the sukuk issuance.

B

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

TOSHIBA IN TALKS TO SELL SENSOR UNIT Toshiba is in talks to sell its image sensor business to Sony for about ¥20 billion ($165 million) to raise cash after an accounting scandal, people familiar with the negotiations said. The companies are near a deal and may announce it as early as next week. The Japanese industrial conglomerate is selling assets to raise cash after accounting irregularities cut about $1.3 billion off profit reported over almost seven years. - Bloomberg News

Legal backing for Google’s catalog

T E C H U P D AT E S

Digital transformation gets a boost in Middle East, Africa

United States-based technology company, Digital transformation across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia will be fuelled by the partnerships signed by leading public and private sector organisations at Gitex Technology Week, industry experts said. Supporting innovation in the UAE, Dubai Internet City announced a strategic partnership with the Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation for the UAE Drones for Good Award 2016. Etisalat is in discussion with the Expo 2020 office to transform the Expo 2020 site as the first and smartest district of the future with plans to roll out the 5G network. In one of the largest partnerships signed at the event, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Microsoft, and F5 Networks signed an agreement to launch a new era of cloud services for Saudi Arabia. “Gitex Technology Week 2015 has been our biggest and best yet both in terms of investment in the show itself and the sheer quality and quantity of the leads we’ve generated. As ever, Gitex is also a powerful platform to engage in industry discussion and thought-leadership on the most pressing IT challenges and opportunities facing the region,” said Garth Braithwaite, regional director - Middle East and Turkey, F5 Networks. - Times News Service

which has scanned more than 20 million books since 2004, has said that its goal is to provide a ‘virtual card catalog’ of all books in all languages, so that people can search and find excerpts

LG’s digital display solutions BOB VAN VORIS & JACK CLARK

T

he world’s biggest search provider can keep adding to its digital library of millions of books without paying their authors, a United States appeals court has said, ruling that the effort is ‘fair use’ of published material under copyright law.

Google, which has scanned more than 20 million books since 2004, has said that its goal is to provide a ‘virtual card catalog’ of all books in all languages, so that people can search and find excerpts. At the same time, the Web company said it makes sure to respect authors’ and publishers’ copyrights, while providing links to where people can buy or borrow a book.

The court’s decision gives institutions — public or private, large or small — a template for how they can scan and share books, according to Brandon Butler, a practitioner-inresidence at American University’s Washington College of Law. “It’s a charter document for anyone who wants to do research on books and to learn about books, which means librarians, search companies,” Butler said.

“If you’re a relatively informed reader of these cases there’s enough here, now, that you can design a mass digitisation programme.”

Fair use A three-judge panel of the New York-based court said that Google’s purpose of helping people find books and view excerpts online is legal. The ruling promises to help Mountain View, California-based Google retain its dominance in Web searches. The court also approved Google’s Library Project, which provides digital copies of books for participating research libraries.

“Google’s unauthorised digitising of copyright-protected works, creation of a search functionality and display of snippets from those works are non-infringing fair uses,”

US circuit judge Pierre Leval wrote on behalf of the court. “The purpose of the copying is highly transformative, the public display of text is limited and the revelations do not provide a significant market substitute for the protected aspects of the originals.”

Easy to use “The decision underlines what people who use the service tell us: Google Books gives them a useful and easy way to find books they want to read and buy, while at the same time benefiting copyright holders,” said Gina Scigliano, a spokeswoman for Google. “We’re pleased the court has confirmed that the project is fair use, acting like a card catalog for the digital age.”

The appeals panel upheld a lowercourt decision throwing out a copyright lawsuit by writers including Jim Bouton, the former New York Yankees pitcher and author of ‘Ball Four’ — a behind-the-scenes look at life in the major leagues published in 1970.

The Authors Guild, a writers’ or-

ganisation, argued the Google project is “quintessentially commercial in nature” and intended to advance the company’s business interests.

The group said Google Books violates authors’ rights to control their works. The guild may ask the Supreme Court to consider the case.

“The Authors Guild is disappointed that the Court has failed to reverse the District Court’s flawed interpretation of the fair use doctrine,” Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the Authors Guild, said in a statement. “We trust that the Supreme Court will see fit to correct the Second Circuit’s reduction of fair use to a one-factor test — whether the use is, in the court’s eye, ‘transformative.”’

The appeals court ruled that Google Books is fair use despite the company’s commercial motivation.

Other recognised forms of fair use, including news reporting and commentary, quotation, book reviews and parodies, are generally done for profit, Leval said in the opinion.

The Authors Guild sued in 2005

alleging that Google infringed copyrights by scanning and indexing books without writers’ permission.

Judge Denny Chin ruled in November 2013 that Google Books provides a public benefit and doesn’t harm authors. Chin, a judge on the appeals court, didn’t participate in the review of his decision.

Digital library The appeals court ruled in 2014 in favour of the HathiTrust Digital Library, a nonprofit project by a group of university libraries to make digitized books available for the disabled. That ruling, and others like it, gave people confidence that institutions and companies would be able to scan books and expose the results without breaking the law, Butler said. The ruling helps to define how extremely large companies can do this, he said.

“The only question was ‘is it different when the biggest, wealthiest company in the United States does it at a really big scale?”’, Butler said.

“And the answer is no.” - Bloomberg News

With its grand entry at Gitex Technology Week, LG Electronics underlined its strong commitment to the evolving digital display solutions market with the global debut of the world’s narrowest bezel video wall at 0.9mm on each bezel. Stealing the limelight at the show, the VH7B video wall’s seamless and immersive display solution demonstrated how it will redefine the aesthetics of wall display solutions in the region. In addition to the global debut, a range of display solutions were showcased including the 98” ULTRA HD 4K premium signage display, 84” 10-point touch white board, the new ultra-stretch 86” display, and the innovative LG beacon solution demonstrated on 10” compact touch screens.

Also on display was the UHD premium Hospitality TV UX960H designed to provide a connected guest in-room experience.

These solutions are catered for a range of vertical industries including retail, education, transportation and hospitality. LG offered display signage solutions tailored to the conditions of the ever changing market. Among show visitors, there was a strong uptake for the new Web OS 2.0 that elevates and simplifies the customisation possibilities for partners and system-integrators.

In addition, the new 86” ultra-stretch display garnered strong interest among customers. “LG’s B2B display solutions enable multiple regional industries to bridge the gap between traditional media and online marketing by incorporating data-driven digital signage into their marketing strategies. - Times News Service

Significance of smart service Ericsson discussed the implementation of smarter services across a variety of industries and the key issues facing network operators with remit to support increasingly connected societies at GSMA Mobile 360. In the Networked Society, where connectivity is the catalyst for collaboration and innovation, smarter services are creating differentiated experiences and operational efficiency. Drawing on the skills of expert speakers at GSMA Mobile 360, Ericsson will examine the issues in implementing these services, as well as solutions that pave the way to life in the Networked Society. Alp Uysal, vice president and head of Strategy and Business Excellence at Ericsson, said: “In the networked society, information and communications technology will be the catalyst of a new economic model delivering growth and prosperity based on a greater social cohesion and environmental sustainability. It will empower transformation, creating disruptive changes across both industries and society.” - Times News Service

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ROUND-UP Jaguar Land Rover launches Technician of the Year Award This inaugural award programme, which will become an annual event, is dedicated to recognising and rewarding Jaguar Land Rover technicians who go above and beyond to ensure customers receive the highest standard of customer service

MUSCAT: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Mena, the leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles, is launching its first regional competition to find the Jaguar Land Rover Technician of the Year.

This inaugural award programme, which will become an annual event, is dedicated to recognising and rewarding Jaguar Land Rover technicians who go above and beyond to ensure customers receive the highest standard of customer service.

As a long-term investor in its people across the Mena retailer network, Jaguar Land Rover provides a comprehensive learning and development programme ensuring employees from all levels and designations are trained to the

highest possible standard, says a press release.

Challenging both theoretical and practical skills, the Technician of the Year Award Programme will consist of a range of technical assessments in addition to a customer service element to demonstrate how Jaguar Land Rover technicians provide exemplary customer service beyond the mechanical fundamentals.

Commenting on the Technician of the Year competition, Rob Preston, director, Customer Service at Jaguar Land Rover Mena, said: “As part of our promise to deliver superior customer service across our retailer network, we continuously invest in extensive training to make sure our techni-

B R E A S T C A N C E R AWA R E N E S S

cians offer the best possible service to our customers. This award programme helps us show our appreciation to technicians who go one step further in delivering excellence and carrying our brand promise and values at the heart of their work.”

Retailers from each market will have the opportunity to nominate up to two technicians for the programme across both Jaguar and

Land Rover brands. Open to the entire Mena region, the selected technicians from each market will attend preliminary finals that will be held in Dubai, UAE; Amman, Jordan and Casablanca, Morocco from November 22 to December 6.

Two of the top six finalists for both Jaguar and Land Rover brands (12 in total) will then compete for the Jaguar and Land Rover Mena Technician of the Year titles

in Dubai on January 26, 2016. In addition to winning the Jaguar Land Rover Technician of the Year Trophy and cash prizes, the two winning Jaguar Land Rover technicians will go on to compete in the Global Jaguar Land Rover Technician of the Year finals that will be held in the UK in 2016.

Daron Lloyd, manager, Training Academy, added: “The Jaguar Land Rover Mena Technician of the Year Award Programme shows our commitment to setting service standards for our technicians through extensive training and development, which are aligned with the global brand standards.

“By recognising those technicians who excel at their expertise, we aim to inspire all Jaguar Land Rover technicians to achieve this level of distinction.”

Jaguar Land Rover launched a new dedicated regional training academy in Dubai in 2014 designed to deliver technical and non-technical training programmes to retailers and regional office staff across the Mena network. Now, with 40 retailers across 18 markets in Mena, and a further 24 retailers expected by 2017/18, the academy serves as a dedicated regional training facility to enable Jaguar Land Rover to replicate the in-depth training offered by its UK-based academy.

MY HASSAD

ahlibank picks daily winners MUSCAT: ahlibank announced the names of the My Hassad daily prize draw winners, each of them taking home OMR1,000.

Dawood Sulaiman Nasser Al Maawali from Seeb branch, Amal Saif Sulaiman Ameir Al Ghafri from Ibri branch, Ahmed Saif Mubarak Al Sulaimani from Barka branch, Said Nasser Saif Al Yahmadi from Barka branch and Al Salim Amur Al Jahwari from Sohar branch, were the lucky winners for the week, says a press release.

My Hassad savings account continues to successfully satisfy the existing customers and attract new ones.

My Hassad Saving Scheme was introduced in July 2008 as an extension of the bank’s tradition of product innovation.

Opening My Hassad Saving account is simple and easy.

CORRECTION

Corrigendum In a report headlined ‘SSA Business Solutions holds seminar on lean management’ published on October 13, the keynote speaker’s name and designation should have read as ‘Minoo Saher, former Group CEO and MD of Mustafa Sultan Enterprises’.

The error is regretted.

EXHIBITION

EduTraC 2015 harnesses platform for higher education, training and career opportunities

Oman Avenues Mall extends support to 12th OCA walkathon MUSCAT: As the world marks the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ during October, Oman Avenues Mall has put its best foot forward to support the breast cancer awareness initiatives in the Sultanate.

The mall has taken a dedicated step to support Oman Cancer Association (OCA), which is organising its 12th annual walkathon at the Qurum Natural Park tomorrow from 4pm. This year’s walkathon is expected to witness a large turnout under the theme ‘Don’t’ wait till it’s too late’, says a press release.

By joining hands with OCA to support the noble cause, Oman Avenues Mall has reiterated its commitment towards society through building awareness about breast cancer with a particular focus on promoting early screening and healthier lifestyles in the country.

OCA operated a small stand at the mall each weekend in October. Participants were encouraged to take the first step towards fighting cancer by registering their names for the walkathon in these special counters. The counters also sold walkathon T-shirts, which helped raise funds for the overall campaign.

The mall team is demonstrating its support to OCA’s Annual Pink Ribbon campaign by turning the central atrium pink. The central atrium will be adorned in pink décor till today. October 24 was also dedicated to the cause, when 50 of the staff wore OCA’s pink T-shirts throughout the mall to drive awareness for the campaign and educate the society on breast cancer.

Speaking at the Oman Avenues Mall recently, Ben Watson, general manager, said, “We take this as a privilege to show our support to OCA in promoting their cancer awareness initiatives in the

Sultanate. We strongly believe that such awareness campaigns are vital to educate women and their family members about the importance of regular screenings to detect breast cancer at an early stage, when it is likely to be most easily treated.”

“By taking this step, we aim to set an example to encourage every single individual to join hands to advocate awareness and educate our communities on the risks and hazards of this disease.

We appreciate OCA for all their efforts, initiatives and yearly walkathons to raise awareness on the symptoms and screening options for cancer among people of every gender, age and nationality in the Sultanate,” he added.

In addition to the annual walkathon, OCA has a number of sustainable land mark projects such as MMU, palliative care training and Dar Al Hanan which recently won the GCC 2015 award for public service.

Emphasising the importance of the yearly walkathon, Dr Wahid Al Kharusi, secretary general of OCA, said, “We have been organising this walkathon every year to spread the word that early detection of cancer can save lives. We appreciate Oman Avenues Mall for having extended their support to promote our cause by being a part of this year’s walkathon.

“The motto of the association is ‘Repeated regular examinations gives early diagnosis which results in cure’. We thank all the participants for making the 12th annual walkathon too a great success like all previous years. We are glad that our participants made maximum use of all facilities offered to them like the mobile mammography units (MMU), which was specially set up to provide free, on-the-spot mammograms to all women.”

MUSCAT: The second edition of EduTraC Oman was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Services at Oman International Exhibition Centre recently.

EduTraC Oman has established as the benchmark event and the three-day event took place under the patronage of Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education – National Career Guidance Center, Ministry of Civil Services and Ministry of Manpower. The Oman Academic Accreditation Authority participated as the associate partner at EduTraC Oman 2015. The three-day expo aimed to educate visitors how to make the best decision about their future and explore more about higher education, training, and job options available to them in Oman and overseas, says a press release.

Higher education pavilion The higher education pavilion was supported by Education USA, US Embassy in Oman, British Council, UK Trade & Investment, Education Malaysia, Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL), Ministry of Education & Culture – Cyprus, Study in Cyprus, Education New Zealand. The diamond sponsors were Majan College and Colleges of Technology.

The platinum sponsors were College of Banking and Financial Studies, International College of Engineering and Management, Caledonian College of Engineering, Gulf College, National Automotive Higher Education Institute and IE Business School from Spain. University of Dundee, Leeds Beckett University, Swiss Education Group, Education Zone, Emirates Aviation University and Hult International Business School participated as the gold sponsors. The catalogue sponsor

was Bradfield Group and MI Store (Apple Inc) the education technology partner.

EduTraC Oman 2015 also hosted free interactive career advice forums which ran concurrently throughout the event for its visitors featuring experts who presented the latest information on a variety of topics.

Each seminar was interactive and followed by a Q&A session with the presenter. A series of lectures, presentations and workshops were organised on the sidelines during the exhibition.

Bregje Van Baaren- Researcher and Liaison from DG of Scholarships at Ministry of Higher Education presented the undergraduate and postgraduate external scholarships presentation to the delegates who participated at the exhibition. Akram Al Yaqoubi and Owais Al Syed were also among the panel and put light on the undergraduate and postgraduate external scholarships offered by the Oman government.

Training and job pavilion The expo also featured a pavilion for job seekers to meet HR personnel from different industry sectors, associations, government organisations and private sector companies who promoted the available on-the-job training and job vacancies for prospective candidates.

A dedicated pavilion for banking and finance institutions provided an excellent opportunity to job seekers interested in hunting job opportunities in banking and finance sector and young entrepreneurs in obtaining financing information to start their new business as well as for the needs of their existing business.

The training and job pavilion was supported by Jisser Oman, Amideast and The Training Gateway. Bayt.com was the strategic career partner. The diamond sponsors were HSBC Bank Oman, National Bank Of Oman, Polyglot Institute, Rusayl Institute, Sohar International Institute and Knowledge Grid. The plati-

num sponsors were Oman Arab Bank, Port of Salalah, Maharat, Pioneer Institute of Management and Technology, International Institute of Robotics & Intelligent Studies, Oxygen OM, T.C for Entrepreneurship and Technical Administrative Training and Institute (TATI).

Expo highlights • Supported by Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education – National Career Guidance Centre, Ministry of Civil Services and Ministry of Manpower • 8 country pavilions • More than 165 local and international participants • 8,500 visitors over the three days • 18 participation countries EduTraC Oman is an annual event for higher education, training and career and is organised by Al Nimr International Exhibition Organisers – Sultanate’s leading organiser in the exhibitions and conferences industry.

WORKSHOPS

FTTH conference to host Oman roadshow tour MUSCAT: The 7th edition of FTTH Council Mena Conference taking place from November 9 to 11 at Grand Hyatt, Muscat will host an Oman roadshow tour, world of application demos and workshops, besides a two-day conference programme as announced by the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Council Mena under the theme ‘FTTH, The Edge of a Brighter Tomorrow’.

Following the inauguration of the conference on November 10,

by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, a formal introduction to the overall theme will be given through keynote speeches

by Dr Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi,

CEO of the Information Technology Authority, Ebrahim Al Haddad, regional director of the ITU Arab Regional Office and Dr Suleiman Al Hedaithy, chairman FTTH Council Mena, says a press release.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a special panel which will cover the key drivers in developing national broadband strategies and will include high level leaders such as Sheikh Talal Said Marhoon Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel and Said Al Mandhari, CEO of OBC. The conference topic of the first day will also cover the role of verticals in the FTTH business deployment process including the best regulatory models.

On the same day, the ‘World of Applications’ session, will showcase the latest applications and eservices by various companies in a dedicated area.

A promising second day of the conference on November 11, will explore the future of fibre, the role of FTTH and FTTx in transforming countries to smart cities, the global experience of FTTH services with special focus on delivering gigabit services, new opportunities for FTTH deployment in the Mena region and innovative FTTH solutions for operators, networks and customers.

“We encourage participants to register for three days to allow

them access to all activities, workshops and the main conference.

On this occasion, we are pleased to announce that Omani participants will benefit from special conditions to access these days,” says Al Hedaithy.

The pre-conference day on November 9 will include many activities and workshops.

These include ‘A Mini MBA in Fibre-to-the-Home’ and ‘Next Generation Access’ which will guide attendees on proper infrastructure deployment strategies; the Oman roadshow a guided tour which will explore the fibre infrastructure of Oman; and two technical workshops.

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ROUND-UP

FRiENDi now serves 15% of people in Oman We are delighted that so many customers in Oman have embraced the FRiENDi mobile brand and we look forward to further market growth

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa, and now has 600,000 customers enjoying the service across the Sultanate

Mikkel Vinter MUSCAT: One in seven people in Oman are now using the FRiENDi mobile brand as their mobile service provider, an important milestone for Oman’s third largest mobile provider.

FRiENDi mobile Oman, is a brand of Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa, and now has 600,000 customers enjoying the service across the Sultanate. The brand caters to those who have a piece of their heart outside the Sultanate and to the modern data hungry customer, says a press release.

FRiENDi mobile was the first mobile reseller to launch in the Middle East when it opened in

CEO and Founder of Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa

Oman in 2009. The FRiENDi mobile brand has since expanded beyond Oman, and now also operates in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Malaysia.

According to Mikkel Vinter, CEO and Founder of Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa: “FRiENDi mobile Oman is among the top 5 best performing MVNOs in the world and we are proud of the results and the steady increase in its market share year after year.

This is an impressive achieve-

RECRUIT QUOTE If I were running a company today, I would have one priority above all others: to acquire as many of the best people as I could [because] the single biggest constraint on the success of my organization is the ability to get and to hang on to enough of the right people.

— Jim Collins

ment, particularly given the other high performing MVNOs are in markets where the MVNO framework has been in existence for a longer time.”

To continue the growth in Oman and supporting the vision for the business, Alex Bennett has been appointed as its new chief executive officer in the Sultanate.

Bennett joins from telecommunications giant ACN, where he was vice president, European Services, based in Amsterdam. He also pre-

CONSERVING MARINE LIFE

SA conducts second phase of Coral Reef Cleaning Campaign

FRiENDi mobile Oman, is a brand of

B7

viously worked in senior roles at TalkTalk in the United Kingdom, and will be based in the FRiENDi mobile Oman main office in Muscat, and will lead the organisation to deliver on its ambitious plan.

“We are delighted that so many customers in Oman have embraced the FRiENDi mobile brand, and we look forward to further market growth. We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Bennett as CEO for the Oman operation. Alex brings the vision and proven ability to manage successful telecoms businesses and teams. His role is to continue to delight our customers in Oman with world class products and services,” Vinter added.

MUSCAT: Sohar Aluminium (SA) recently conducted the second phase of its annual ‘Sohar Aluminium Coral Reef Cleaning Campaign’, an initiative to conserve marine life and coral reefs.

The campaign conducted in cooperation with the Directorate General of Fisheries in North Al Batinah Governorate, represented by the Department of Fisheries Development in Sohar, reflects the continuing efforts of SA in community service.

The coral reef cleaning team comprised volunteers from the company, Sohar Department of Fisheries Development, Al Murjan Volunteering Team and local fishermen, says a press release.

The teams were briefed on safety to ensure this activity is done safely. SA also distributed safety gear, including life jackets and GPS devices to all volunteers.

The team then set sail 35km into the sea where the divers were dis-

tributed and started cleaning the reefs. The activity took four hours, during which vast amounts of broken nets, cages and other forms of littering were removed from the coral reefs off the shores of Al Sabarah, Al Shizaw, Al Hadhaira, Karawan and Sallan.

In the depths of Omani waters is a paradise of coral reefs, inhabited by an array of marine life.

These reefs, however, get polluted by broken nets, fishing cages, and littering. The sediments deposited onto reefs smother corals and interfere with their ability to feed and reproduce killing off several reef species. Abandoned fishing nets can entangle and kill reef organisms and break or damage reefs. Hence, enormous efforts are required to clean these reefs and save their ecosystem.

‘Sohar Aluminium Coral Reef Campaign’ aims at promoting the company’s ‘Zero Harm’ mindset in the local community.

B8

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ROUND-UP

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Meethaq forum hosts agriculture minister

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RECOGNITION

Majlis Meethaq is a

BankDhofar receives award at OER summit

monthly gathering in which a well-known economic, social, religious or cultural persona having influence on Omani society from the Sultanate or abroad is hosted by the bank

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, hosted the sixth Majlis Meethaq evening, a unique social forum aimed at facilitating interaction with prominent personalities sharing inspirational aspects of their life and career as well as views and perspective on the economy and important social and cultural issues.

Dr Fuad bin Jaffer Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, addressed the gathering at Bank Muscat head office, says a press release.

Highlighting the renaissance

achievements of the Sultanate, Al Sajwani recalled the various responsibilities handled by him at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the College of Banking and Financial Studies and as a member of the Al Shura. He noted that life was challenging in the early 70s but the inspiration provided

by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said helped citizens to take up their responsibilities seriously.

The minister said the agriculture and fisheries sectors were poised for major development as part of the government strategy to diversify the economy.

Majlis Meethaq is a monthly gathering in which a well-known economic, social, religious or cultural persona having influence on Omani society from the Sultanate or abroad is hosted. The interaction between the guest and the audience is aimed at focusing on aspects of the presenter’s personal life, success in career and views on issues facing the country and community.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, group general manager, Islamic Banking, said: “Meethaq is proud to host the Majlis forum aimed at presenting successful role models to community and highlight their achievements to motivate and inspire citizens, especially youth, to attain success in life.

Ideal platform “We thank Dr Fuad Jaffer Al Sajwani for addressing the session and enlightening the audience on opportunities and challenges he faced in making crucial decisions in life which led to success.

Meethaq, as part of its social development commitment, aims to develop the Majlis forum as an ideal platform to interact with prominent personalities and draw inspiration from their experiences in achieving success in life.”

Al Harthy added: “Meethaq is focused on developing as a benchmark Islamic financial institution in Oman and the region. Within

just two years of operations, Meethaq has attained the leading position in the Islamic banking industry in Oman in terms of financing receivables, branch network, products and services, IT infrastructure and human resources development. Meethaq not only provides benchmark Islamic financial solutions to support the country’s development but also plays a key role in raising awareness and educating people on important aspects of Islamic banking and finance.”

As the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman, 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: In further recognition of its excellence and pioneering of nationwide business initiatives, BankDhofar has been awarded the ‘OER Top 20 Oman’s Largest Corporates’ at the annual ‘OER Finance Summit & Top 20 Awards’ organised

by United Media Services.

The award was received by Abdul Hakeem Omar Al Ojaili, acting CEO of BankDhofar, during a high profile function that was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Muscat recently, says a press release.

The event brought together CEOs and senior executives from the top 50 listed companies on Muscat Security Market, business leaders from privately owned and joint stock companies, as well as senior government officials, invited guests and keynote speakers from regional and international organisations.

Upon receiving the award, Al Ojaili said: “We are very delighted to have been recognised among the top performing firms in Oman. This reiterates BankD-

hofar’s commitment to excel and grow in all business areas, contribute to the development of the country’s economy and meet the aspirations of all internal and external stakeholders.”

Focusing on finance management and the challenges in the business environment, the summit provided a platform for the participants to; engage in peer networking, exchange knowledge and expertise in the global business arena along with best practices and opportunities in the dayto-day business environment.

“We at BankDhofar have directed all our efforts and resources towards leading the Omani banking industry in all business areas, working constantly to provide the best customer experience through creative financial solutions, tailored products and innovative services. We have intensified our effort to further expand our business operations and continued to follow best international banking practices,” added Al Ojaili.

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Bank Sohar wins ‘Peak of Success Trophy’ from Worldcob MUSCAT: Marking its 7th award in 2015, Bank Sohar received the ‘Peak of Success Trophy’ for business excellence from the Texas based World Confederation of Businesses (Worldcob) for the second consecutive year.

Receiving this recognition is a resounding endorsement of the bank’s astounding performance year-on-year, its high customer service standards and the successful integration of its sound business strategies and growth plans, says a press release.

The award was handed over to the bank at the Bizz Arabic 2015 Awards held recently at the Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Muscat. Receiving the award on behalf of the bank were Rashad Ali Al Musafir, acting CEO, and

Mustafa Ali Mukhtar, DGM and head of Corporate Banking. Also in attendance at the awards were Sasi Kumar, Group GM of Business, and R. Narasimhan, GM of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar along with other senior managements members from the bank.

Judging criteria The judging criteria for the prestigious award took into consideration managerial leadership, management systems, quality in services, managerial creativity and innovation, social responsibility, business results, certifications, and other recognitions received recently.

Sharing his thoughts on the significance of the award, Rashad Al Musafir said, “We at Bank Sohar strive to deliver business excel-

lence right from our products and services to the experiences customers share when visiting our branches and interacting with our staff. Accolades such as this clearly support the vision that has been set forth for the progress of the bank by the Board and Executive Management. We are truly honoured to have received this award which

VA L U E PA C K S

will most definitely also serve as a source of encouragement for our staff, especially as we move towards the start of our ninth year of operations in the Sultanate.”

Bank Sohar was selected for this prestigious award following a rigorous assessment and judging process. The Worldcob research team compiles data from around

the world on businesses with references from market research companies, public relations firms, more than 100 different chambers of commerce around the world including the American Chamber of Commerce as well as references from Worldcob’s own members, which amount to over 3,000 companies in 100 countries.

The research team forwards the compiled data to Worldcob’s Evaluation Committee, which then screens the data and matches it against a business excellence questionnaire. The committee reviews companies on business excellence criteria such as managerial leadership, management systems, quality of goods/services, managerial creativity and innovation, social responsibility, busi-

ness results, certifications and other recognitions. Companies that receive 90 points or more are considered to have achieved business excellence and are thus selected to receive the award.

“We would like to thank Worldcob for this honour and will continue to pave the way for innovation and excellence within the Sultanate’s banking sector,” added Al Musafir.

The BIZZ Awards Committee comprised a distinguished panel of judges who took into account a number of key features of the organisation before reaching their decision. Bank Sohar scored consistently high on all parameters to emerge as a winner in the business excellence category for Middle East.

PROPERTY SHOW

Ooredoo unveils iPhone 6s and More than 30 property developers 6s Plus with great data bundles from India to take part in Oryx show MUSCAT: At an exciting midnight launch in their flagship store in Muscat Grand Mall as well as in stores in Salalah and Sohar, Ooredoo unveiled the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

The first 10 customers at each store were presented with goodies and had their photos taken and shared on Ooredoo’s popular social media platforms. Everyone in the queue was treated to traditional Omani hospitality; there was certainly a great atmosphere surrounding the event, says a press release.

Customers purchasing the new iPhones and combining it with one of the value packed Shahry Plans; Shahry Sahra or Shahry Mazeed, will receive 50 per cent extra data for a full year on top of the bundle allowance.

Feras Al Shaikh, Ooredoo director of Sales, said: “This promotion was tailor-made to give our customers more value than ever before by combining our best postpaid and prepaid plans with the latest iPhone. To make it even more exciting we added more data to the promotion, as customers are constantly telling us they want more data. This is an amazing phone on an amazing network and we are providing cus-

tomers with an unrivalled offer in the Omani market.”

Ooredoo’s Shahry plans are perfect for frequent smartphone users. Shahry Sahra gives youth and the young at heart a value added monthly service with 10GB of free night time data per month to use between 10pm and 8am, 1GB of unrestricted data and 600 national minutes to any network, all for just OMR19 per month.

Shahry Mazeed gives customers 1,500 national minutes to any network, 3GB of data on weekdays and unlimited SMS. Plus, from Thursday 10pm until Saturday 10pm, there’s 10GB data and 2,500 Ooredoo-to-Ooredoo minutes.

To take advantage of Ooredoo’s new promotion, customers are required to purchase their new iPhone 6s or 6s plus in-store.

MUSCAT: The Times of India, India’s largest newspaper, in association with Muscat-based East Expo, is organising Oryx Property Show on October 30 and 31 at Holiday Muscat, Al Khuwair from 10.30am to 8.30pm, both days inclusive.

Well-known property developers from five countries will participate in the two-day international exhibition. Join the industry’s choice for the best international and local property deals.

One glance is all it takes to get hooked onto these luxury homes, says a press release.

The Indian pavilion at the exhibition will have the largest presence as more than 30 real estate developers are taking part in it.

Properties from different states and major cities in India will be showcased at the exhibition.

NRIs usually look for a property that can replicate their standard of living regardless whether the property will be utilised for end use or taken purely from an investment point of view, no compromise on standards, convenience of lifestyle options and most importantly security.

The property exhibition remains the number one choice for people buying property in India and abroad and it is hard not to see why the appetite for luxurious living is still going strong — with great deals, exciting offers, the best living conditions to choose and relaxed pace of life that it has to offer.

The real estate exhibition will showcase properties from the

UAE, Singapore, Oman, Malyasia and India (Biggest pavilion with 30 exhibitors - Pan India Presence). Both commercial and residential projects will feature in the exhibition. Property developments, which will be showcased at the property show, will be known for their latest technological advancements and new construction trends.

Great time to invest M. I. Sait, managing director of Mindscape Exhibitions, says: “Property in these countries, particularly India continue to provide excellent value for money

— like elsewhere, there is a huge choice and variety of property for sale, which has had the effect of maintaining a buyer’s market.

With extremely reasonable prices, and many bargains to be had, it is a great time to invest.”

The exhibition will help both citizens and expatriates of the Sultanate to get first-hand information about the latest trends in the real estate sector.

This is a rare opportunity as internationally well-known companies are coming under one roof.

Moreover, the exhibition will also showcase some of the leading and upcoming projects in Oman.

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Three tons power South Africa to ODI series triumph against India QUINTON DE KOCK

FAF DU PLESSIS

109

133

runs from 87 balls, 7 fours, 1 sixes

runs from 115 balls, 9 fours, 6 sixes

AB DE VILLIERS

119 runs from 61 balls, 3 fours, 11 sixes

SCOREBOARD

After superb tons from Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers, Kagiso Rabada took four wickets while Dale Steyn took three for the touring side to complete a 3-2 series win, their first in ODIs in India

MUMBAI: Quinton de Kock, Faf de Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India’s bowling attack to post 438-4 and win the deciding One-day International by 214 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.

With the five-match series tied at 2-2, de Villiers won the toss and opted to bat in hot and humid conditions and could not have been a happier man at the close of their innings as his team matched their second highest score in the 50over format.

A 58-ball 87 from local boy Ajinkya Rahane and a 60 from outof-form opener Shikhar Dhawan brought some cheer for the crowd

OVER THE MOON: South African players pose with trophy after win one day series win against Indian during a one day match played in Mumbai on Sunday. – PTI

but it was never going to be enough for the hosts, who folded for 224 inside 36 overs.

Kagiso Rabada took four wickets while pace colleague Dale Steyn took three for the touring side to complete a 3-2 series win, their first in ODIs in India.

It was only the second time that a team had scored three centuries in an ODI innings after South Africa did it against West Indies in January this year on their way to their highest total of 439 for two.

De Kock (109) continued to

make merry against the Indian bowlers, scoring his fifth century in nine innings against the opponents after South Africa had lost Hashim Amla (23) early.

The left-hander hit 17 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI hundred and laid the perfect platform for de Villiers’s onslaught with a 154-run stand with du Plessis (133 retired hurt).

India compounded their misery by dropping catches and du Plessis made the most of his good fortune to score his first century against

India and his fifth overall after being put down twice, on 45 and 85.

The right-handed batsman suffered severe cramps during the later part of his innings and had to retire but had added 164 runs with de Villiers for the third wicket before that.

De Villiers, the owner of the record for the fastest hundred in the format, needed no invitation to launch into the Indian bowlers with the stage set perfectly for his pyrotechnics.

The 31-year-old reached his

century, his 23rd in the format, in just 57 balls and cleared the boundary ropes with ease. The right-hander hit 11 sixes and three fours in his knock.

India medium paceman Bhuvnehwar Kumar ended with figures of 1-106 in his 10 overs, the second most expensive in ODIs behind Australian Mick Lewis’s 0-113 against South Africa in 2006.

The two sides will play a fourTest series with the first match starting at the Northern Indian city of Mohali on Nov. 5. - Reuters

SOUTH AFRICA Q. de Kock c Kohli b Raina 109 H. mla c Dhoni b M. Sharma 23 Faf du Plessis retd hurt 133 AB de Villiers c Dhoni b Kumar 119 D. Miller not out 22 F. Behardien c Raina b Harbhajan 16 D. Elgar not out 5 Extras: (lb-2, w-9) 11 Total ( for 4 wickets, 50 overs) 438 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-187, 2-351(Du Plessis rtd hurt), 3-398, 4-430 Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10-0106-1; Mohit Sharma 7-0-84-1; Harbhajan Singh 10-0-70-1; Axar Patel 8-0-65-0; Amit Mishra 10-0-78-0; Suresh Raina 3-0-19-1; Virat Kohli 2-0-14-0 INDIA R. Sharma c Tahir b Abbott 16 S. Dhawan c Amla b Rabada 60 V. Kohli c de Kock b Rabada 7 A. Rahane c Behardien b Steyn 87 S. Raina b Rabada 12 MS Dhoni b Tahir 27 A. Patel c Miller b Steyn 5 H. ingh c sub (Morris) b Steyn 0 B. Kumar c Miller b Tahir 1 A. Mishra lbw b Rabada 4 M. Sharma not out 0 Extras: (lb-1, w-4) 5 Total: (in 36 overs) 224 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-44, 3-156, 4-172, 5-185, 6-195, 7-201, 8-210, 9-219, 10-224 Bowling: Dale Steyn 7-0-38-3; Kasigo Rabada 7-0-41-4; Kylie Abbott 7-0-39-1; Farhaan Behardien 8-0-55-0; Imran Tahir 7-1-50-2 Man of the match: Quinton de Kock Man of the series: AB de Villiers Umpires: AK Chaudhary (India) and HDPK Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) TV umpire: VA Kulkarni (India) Match referee: BC Broad (England)

GOLF

Azzan counts on home advantage at Ghala Open MUSCAT: Azzan Al Rumhy will hope to benefit immensely from playing in his own backyard when the MENA Golf Tour makes the next stopover at the picturesque Ghala Golf Club this week.

The top-ranked Omani golfer, who lives just a lob wedge away from the course, will be joined by Ali Hameed Al Saleh and Rashad Al Harthy in leading the home challenge against a quality international field, led by defending champion Zane Scotland of England.

Fresh from competing in the Nomura Cup in Abu Dhabi, where they finished 23rd overall, the trio will look to break into the top three on the MENA Division that recognises the region’s top performers, creating a separate competition within the main competition.

“I know the course pretty well, having played it numerous times.

If I play to my potential, I think I can do well here. The immediate goal is to try and make the cut and then see how far I can go,” said Azzan, adding: “Whatever the outcome, playing alongside a strong field will be a great learning curve.”

If Azzan and his fellow Omanis have their own goals, England’s

The top-ranked Omani golfer Azzan Al Rumhy will be joined by Ali Hameed and Rashad Al Harthy in leading the home challenge against a quality international field, led by defending champion Zane Scotland HIGH HOPE: Azzan Al Rumhy hopes to ride on home advantage at Ghala. – Supplied photo

Scotland will be eyeing another strong finish, if not victory, to close the gap on his compatriot Gary King, who currently leads the Order of Merit standings. A nine-time winner on the tour Scotland boasts four top-10s this season and will start as one of the firm favourites, but po-

tential storylines look very strong as each of the first eight events on the tour has seen a new winner.

Order of merit With just one more event left on the 2015 MENA Golf Tour schedule before the cut is made for the

season-ending Tour Championship, the third edition of the tournament at Ghala will keep things interesting with players jockeying for positions on the Order of Merit.

It is brewing up to be a terrific battle for the honours in the Amateur Division with India’s Ryhan

Thomas and Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati, who finished tied on top at Muscat Hills last week, fast catching up with leader James Allan of England.

Both Thomas and Allan have flirted with success this season before missing out on the honour of becoming the first amateur to win

a MENA Golf Tour event, their dramatic progress bringing a breath of fresh air to the competition.

With Morocco’s Younes El Hassani returning to form with a tied fourth at Muscat Hills, the title race in the MENA Division has been thrown open. Just $3,000 separate the top four, including frontrunner Faycal Serghini, indicating the race for the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation has all the ingredients for a thrilling finish.

Order of Merit standings: Professionals: 1. Gary King (England) $17,588; 2. Paul Doherty (Scotland) $17,076; 3. Per Barth (Sweden) $15,551; 4. Jake Shepherd (England) $15,300; 5.

Thriston Lawrence (South Africa) $14,700; 6. Ross McGowan (England) $13,000; 7. Gabriel Canizares (Spain) $12,343; 8. Luke Joy (England) $10,985; 9. Stuart Archibald (Scotland) $9,871; 10. Zane Scotland (England) 9,563.

Amateurs: 1.James Allan (England) 251 points; 2. Rayhan Thomas (India) 186; 3. Ayoub Lguirati (Morocco) 164; 4. Karim El Hali (Morocco) 141; 5. Michael Harradine (Switzerland) 124.

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Stubborn Root steadies England, but still it’s advantage Pakistan Root, 59 not out, put on 102 runs with Ian Bell (46), the duo’s second innings defiance giving the tourists hope of forcing an improbable draw

DUBAI: Joe Root made a halfcentury as England rallied to 130 for three at the close of the fourth day of the second Test on Sunday, 360 runs behind Pakistan after the hosts’ Younis Khan had made a swaggering 31st Test century.

Root, 59 not out, put on 102 runs with Ian Bell (46), the duo’s second innings defiance giving the tourists hope of forcing an improbable draw.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq had declared in the early afternoon on 354 for six to set England a daunting victory target of 491.

Batting for a second time, England appeared as if they cared little for the scoreboard and were simply aiming to get through potentially more than 140 overs without losing 10 wickets.

Pakistan were similarly unconcerned by the run rate, positioning four slips as Misbah began with an all-seam attack of Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan. Moeen Ali (1) lasted 15 balls in another miserable outing for the novice opener, his series average now just 12 after a thick edge carried to Younis at second slip off Imran Khan.

In came Bell to partner skipper Alastair Cook, who appeared to be struggling with an injury that left him labouring between the wickets.

Cook’s (10) torment was soon over, his attempted sweep off Yasir Shah giving Wahab a catch at deep backward square as England stumbled to 19 for two.

Misbah switched from seam to spin and then back to pace, but Bell and Root defended adroitly.

Root brought up his 15th Test half-century, and third of the se-

YOUNIS KHAN ONE MORE DAY TO GO: England’s Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow walk off at the end of the fourth day’s

play in Dubai. – Reuters

runs from 211 balls 13 fours

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan 1st innings: 378 (Misbah-ul Haq 102, A. Shafiq 83, Y. Khan 56, S. Masood 54) England 1st innings 242 (J. Root 88, A. Cook 65; W. Riaz 4-66, Y. Shah 4-93) Pakistan 2nd innings (overnight: 222-3) M. Hafeez c Root b Wood 51 S. Masood c Buttler b Anderson 1 S. Malik b Wood 7 Y. Khan c Ali b Rashid 118 Misbah-ul Haq c Cook b Anderson 87 A. Shafiq lbw b Ali 79 S. Ahmed not out 3 Extras (b-6, lb-1, nb-1) 8 Total (for 6 wickets declared, 95 overs) 354 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-16, 3-83, 4-224, 5-337, 6-354 Did not bat: W. Riaz, Y. Shah, Z. Babar, I. Khan Bowling: J. Anderson 15-7-22-2, S. Broad 10-1-34-0, M. Wood 14-3-44-2 (nb-1), M.

ries, with a four past third man.

Bell then tried to leave a Zulfiqar Babar delivery, but the ball hit his glove and carried to Younus. Jonny Bairstow is six not out.

118

Ali 11-0-60-1, B. Stokes 17-3-54-0, A. Rashid 25-1-107-1, J. Root 3-0-26-0 England 2nd innings: A. Cook c Riaz b Shah 10 M. Ali c Y. Khan b I. Khan 1 I. Bell c Y. Khan b Babar 46 J. Root not out 59 J. Bairstow not out 6 Extras (b-6, nb-2) 8 Total (for 3 wickets, 54 overs) 130 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-19, 3-121 To bat: B. Stokes, J. Buttler, A. Rashid, S. Broad, M. Wood, J. Anderson Bowling: I. Khan 6-2-16-1 (nb-1), W. Riaz 8-1-15-0 (nb-1), Y. Shah 16-5-37-1, S. Malik 6-0-32-0, Z. Babar 18-7-24-1 Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney Match referee: Andy Pycroft

Pakistan stroll Pakistan, who have never lost a series in the United Arab Emirates, their adopted home since 2009, began the morning on 222 for three.

They suffered an early setback, however, when Misbah (87) thumped James Anderson’s slower delivery to Cook at mid-off for a comfortable catch. Younis was unruffled and Pakistan’s record run scorer registered his 10th hundred in the UAE with a cut for four as Pakistan reached lunch without further loss.

England were lethargic in the afternoon, their sluggish movement in the field allowing Pakistan to score freely. That slowness lulled the hosts into complacency, however, as Younus (118) lofted a top edge from Adil Rashid beyond the bowler’s head and Moeen made a sprawling catch.

Asad Shafiq (79) was then trapped leg before wicket by Moeen as Pakistan scored 43 runs in seven post-lunch overs.

The highest total England have ever chased down successfully in the fourth innings is 332, against Australia in 1928-29.

The first Test in Abu Dhabi was drawn. Sharjah will host the final match in the series from November 1. - Reuters

TEST CRICKET

Persistent rain washes out fourth day’s play in Colombo COLOMBO: The fourth day’s play in the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies was washed out due to persistent rain on Sunday.

West Indies will resume their second innings on 20 for one on the final day and need another 224 runs for a series-levelling win after the hosts won the first test in Galle by an innings and six runs.

Shai Hope (17) was unbeaten overnight after his opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite (three) fell lbw to paceman Dhammika Prasad on the final delivery of the second session on Saturday before rain washed out the entire final session.

The ground at the P Sara Oval remained covered with Colombo receiving heavy overnight rain and more showers during the day.

The umpires made a couple of inspections during the day and finally called off play shortly after the scheduled tea break. - Reuters

NO PLAY POSSIBLE: Australian umpires Simon Fry, left, and Rod Tucker walk on the covers as rain stops play during the fourth day of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo. – AFP

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

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

Atmosphere not conducive for Indo-Pak cricket: Thakur NEW DELHI: BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur on Sunday said the atmosphere between India and Pakistan is not conducive for cricket right now and stressed on the importance of creating a good environment before resumption of the proposed bilateral series.

“The atmosphere right now is not conducive for cricket to be played between the two countries.

Pakistan government should talk to Indian government first. That will be a great help for building the conducive atmosphere,” said Thakur on the sidelines of a cricket match between Parliamentarians and Celebrities.

“And then you don’t require so much effort for talks to happen

between two cricketing boards,” he added.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan was in India last week to discuss the proposed India-Pak bilateral cricket series in December but Shiv Sena workers stormed the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai last Monday, and the scheduled meeting between the heads of two cricket boards were called off.

Meeting Last Friday, PCB called on its Indian counterpart BCCI seeking a rescheduled meeting to discuss the series in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Meanwhile, wishing the Indian team all the best for the final match

played between India and South Africa at Wankhede, Thakur said, “Look the series is well poised. It’s going to be a thriller. One who wins this match will automatically win the series also. I also want to thank the Prime Minister who talked about the importance of this series on Mann ki baat. I wish the Indian team all the best.”

Thakur who also scored an unbeaten century in the match played between Parliament and Celebrities thanked the organisers for giving him an opportunity to play. All the earnings from the match will be given to Prime Minister Relief fund to support Nepal Earthquake victims and Heat Wave victims in India. - PTI

Gambhir ‘made racist remarks’ Gambhir and Tiwary had nearly came to blows on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Bengal at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here on Saturday and umpire K. Srikanth had to step in to defuse the situation

NEW DELHI: India discard Manoj Tiwary, who was involved in an ugly on-field altercation with Gautam Gambhir in a Ranji Trophy match, on Sunday claimed that the Delhi skipper had made racist remarks about former Indian captain Saurav Ganguly and

BLAMED: Gautam Gambhir. – PTI

Bengalis. “He made racist remarks made about Saurav Ganguly and Bengalis. I spoke to Saurav Ganguly and he is very upset that his name has been dragged in the matter. We will never accept anything against Saurav Ganguly,” Tiwary said.

“Gautam Gambhir is not saying the truth. If I had done what Gambhir is saying why have I been fined 40 percent and him

70 percent,” the Bengal cricketer added. Gambhir and Tiwary had nearly came to blows on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Bengal at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here on Saturday and umpire K. Srikanth had to step in to defuse the situation.

The two players were summoned for a hearing after the day’s play by Match Referee Valmick Buch. Buch has said that detailed report has gone to BCCI and they will now decide the quantum of punishment.

“I don’t mind sledging but abusing someone’s mother is not right,” Tiwary said.

The incident happened in the eighth over on Saturday when Partha Sarathi Bhattacharjee got out of Manan Sharma’s bowling and Tiwary came in to bat at No.4 wearing a cap. Tiwary first took guard and was about to take strike. But he stopped the bowler and signalled at the dressing room to bring his helmet as a pacer was operating from the other end.

Delhi players felt that it was a deliberate time wasting tactic.

Manan ticked off Manoj and he told him to lay off.

All of a sudden, Gambhir, at first slip, got into the action and started abusing the Bengal skipper, who then retaliated. - PTI

CRICKET

Harris backs Ashes pacers to come good against Kiwis MELBOURNE: Retired Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has backed the pace bowlers employed during the recent Ashes series to find greater consistency and to bleed fewer runs during this summer’s opening Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.

Harris, who was to be a key element of the ultimately failed Ashes defence until a chronic knee injury forced him into retirement before the first Test in Cardiff, believes the national selectors are likely to stick with a seam attack of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The 35-year-old, who has been working as a specialist assistant coach with the PM’s XI and Cricket Australia XI in Canberra in recent days, indicated that Peter Siddle and James Pattinson might also figure in this week’s national selection discussions.

Australia’s squad for the start of the three-match Test series against the Black Caps is expect-

SUPPORT: Retired Aussie quick Ryan Harris.

ed to be announced next Friday. “I think the guys that were in there (for the Ashes Tests) can do it,” Harris said “That’s why Hazlewood was in there, and Starc as well and they were a little bit inconsistent - they all were. I don’t think they (selectors) need to change personnel, obviously Peter Siddle came in for the last Test (in England) and did a great job.”

“James Pattinson might be in the mix as well although he’s coming back from injury. The good

thing is there’s options there, there’s pressure there for the guys that did play (in England) and with Pete (Siddle) coming in and doing what he did at The Oval it’s going to chuck a spanner in the works for selection, which is healthy.”

“We need someone who can bowl dots and keep that consistency, and that allows Johnson to attack and even Starc at times, he’s got pace and he can attack. We do need that, and we probably lacked that in England,” he said. - IANS

Pakistan government should talk to Indian government first and that will help a lot Anurag Thakur BCCI secretary

T H R E AT

Pakistan threaten to pull out of 2016 T20 World Cup LAHORE: Pakistan may pull out of next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, if hosts India fail to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing them to play six series between 2015 and 2023.

Talks between the two cricket boards failed to bear fruit on October 19 in Mumbai.

On Saturday, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan said that if India do not play a series in winter, then the government might not let Pakistan team take part in the World T20 next year, BBC reported.

“This is possible that if India close all doors, then we have to decide and make a policy. We will have to take advice from the Pakistan government and I think the government will say don’t go in the event,” Khan said.

India and Pakistan have not taken part in a bilateral Test series since 2007. India were to feature in two T20s, five One-Day Internationals and two Tests this year in the UAE, where Pakistan play their home matches because of security concerns in their own country. - IANS

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SPORTS MOTORSPORT

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East set for seventh season MUSCAT: With 12 action-packed races taking place over six pulsating weekends and across four worldclass regional racing circuits, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is gearing up for its most exciting season yet, as organisers confirmed the schedule for the seventh instalment of the series.

A proven path for regional drivers to accelerate their careers onto the biggest stages of racing through intense competition with global motorsport professionals, the return of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East for Season 7 is a significant boost for the region’s racing scene. Regarded as the purest form of racing with

all drivers competing in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, the unique one-make series will consist of 12 races between November 2015 and March 2016.

New for Season 7 will be the return of race action to Al Reem International Circuit in Saudi Arabia and also Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, tracks not visited by the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East in over two years.

Following a gripping Season 6 which saw Clemens Schmid take the Drivers’ Championship over Kuwait’s Zaid Ashkanani, and Skydive Dubai Falcons secure the team title in just their second season, drivers and fans can expect

another year of exciting sporting drama with old scores to be settled and new rivalries to be forged.

A world class grid featuring a number of past champions, veterans and new, home-grown future stars is expected to line up at the first race weekend in Bahrain.

Speaking ahead of the forthcoming series, Walter Lechner, Manager of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said: “Year on year we have seen this series bring out the very best in local racing talent. As they battle against each other on the region’s finest racing circuits, they increase their racing knowledge and ability, all while supplying regional motorsport fans with

a thrilling spectacle. The series has attracted and nurtured some incredible regional drivers and we expect more of the same in the coming season. It’s going to be another tough competition ensuring a lot of excitement for the fans and plenty of opportunities for the participants to enhance and refine their skills.”

Deesch Papke, CEO of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, added: “Motorsport is the lifeblood of Porsche, it is in our DNA. From over 50 years of competition on the racetrack our brand has evolved motorsport technology and transferred the knowledge into its powerful road legal sports cars.

“The 911 GT3 Cup which our

Halep, Sharapova win in contrasting styles Halep kicked off her campaign with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Pennetta and Sharapova beat Radwanska 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

SINGAPORE: Romania’s Simona Halep kicked off her campaign for a maiden WTA Finals title in emphatic fashion with a thumping 6-0, 6-3 victory over U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta in the first match of the eight-woman seasonending tournament on Sunday.

While the opener proved to be a sprint, the second ‘Red Group’ tie was a marathon when Maria Sharapova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a fullblooded encounter marked by several swings in momentum as both players struggled on serve.

CAPTION KICKER: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates during her match against Falvia Pennetta of Italy at the season-ending WTA Final in Singapore on Sunday. – AFP

World No. 2 Halep is the highest ranked player in the field after Serena Williams, who has won the tournament for the last three years, withdrew citing the need to rest after a year spent carrying injuries in her quest for a calendar Grand Slam.

Halep crushed Williams in round robin play a year ago before losing to the American in the final and her love of the Singapore Indoor Stadium hard court was evident in a first set she wrapped up in 26 minutes after breaking serve three times.

“I feel the same now as I did against Serena,” Halep told reporters of the win. “I can play my best tennis here yet I didn’t play my best today, but I played good tennis. I played solid and was dominating the match,” she added.

Sidelined by leg and arm injuries, Sharapova had yet to complete a match since Wimbledon but after shaking off some initial rust, the Russian was back to her very best against Radwanska, playing each point as if her life depended on it.

A single break was enough to give the Pole an edge in the opener but her excellent retrieving skills could do little to prevent the world number three from rallying for victory once the Russian had raised her intensity levels through the roof.

“Coming into this event, I tried to do everything I could to be healthy and although I didn’t play my best tennis today, sometimes that’s not what matters,” Sharapova said of a match that lasted two hours, 48 minutes with a large portion of games going to deuce.

“I’m so happy that I got through and have a chance to play two more matches to end the season and hopefully more, so I couldn’t be happier at this point.” - Reuters

M A L AY S I A N G R A N D P R I X

MotoGP title goes to wire amid Rossi drama KUALA LUMPUR: MotoGP championship leader Valentino Rossi will start the season finale in Valencia from the back of the grid after the Italian was penalised for clashing with Marc Marquez at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Dani Pedrosa claimed a dominant victory at Sepang and was followed home by Rossi’s Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who has closed the gap on his championship rival to seven points ahead of the decider in Spain in two weeks’ time.

Rossi finished third but had an anxious wait to see if he would

keep the points after making enough contact with Marquez to send the Spaniard spinning into the gravel on the eighth lap.

After an inquiry, Race Direction opted against docking the seventime premier class champion any points but imposed a “three-point penalty” that will see him start at the back of the field in Valencia.

The Yamaha team have appealed the decision. Prior to the race, Rossi had claimed former champion Marquez wanted fellow Spaniard Lorenzo to win the championship instead of him and the simmering relation-

ship between the pair boiled over at the Sepang International Circuit.

The duo darted into corners trying to get the upper hand, swapping places and touching wheels a number of times until Rossi slowed at Turn 14, forced Marquez wide and then flicked out a knee, which resulted in his rival’s Honda sliding into the gravel.

Rossi said it was a racing incident and regretted his rival had crashed out. By avoiding disqualification, Rossi remains on 312 points ahead of the Valencia Grand Prix, seven ahead of Lorenzo with

25 available for victory in Spain.

There was more drama on the podium as a largely pro-Rossi Malaysian crowd booed Lorenzo when he picked up his secondplace prize, with the Spaniard storming off immediately after the anthems and not waiting to pose for photographs.

Rossi then declined to attend the traditional post-race news conference, where double world champion Lorenzo said: I don’t think it’s a good decision. He took out Marc, and Marc gets zero points but he gets 16 points. - Reuters

drivers will compete in have a direct link to the 911 GT3 which you see on the roads today. It’s through this race-inspired philosophy we have been able to maintain our racing edge over the competition.

Crucially the Porsche brand continues to evolve in every region and as Season 7 fast approaches, we are extremely proud to have established the Middle East’s premier motorsport series to help local drivers develop their skills.”

The new season will open in spectacular fashion at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) on November 19 2015, as part of the thrilling World Endurance Championship weekend, before

travelling to Al Reem in Saudi Arabia in early December. Three UAE rounds will kick-start the New Year across January and February, before the return to Bahrain for the climactic conclusion to Season 7 in early March.

The 2015-2016 race schedule: Round 1: Race 1 (Nov 20), Race 2 (Nov 21) at Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain. Round 2: Race 3 (Dec 4), Race 4 (Dec 5) at Al Reem International Circuit, Saudi Arabia. Round 3: Race 5 (Jan 22), Race 6 (Jan 22) at Yas Marina Circuit, UAE. Round 4: Race 7 (Jan 29), Race 8 (Jan 30) at Dubai Autodrome, UAE. Round 5: Race 9 (Feb 19), Race10 (Feb 19) at Dubai Autodrome, UAE. Round 6: Race 11 (March 4), Race 12 (March 5) at Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain.

GRAND FINAL

NBO Golf Classic to provide all-round entertainment MUSCAT: The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, which will be organised at Almouj Golf at The Wave, Muscat, between November 4 and November 7, promises to be an event for all the family with a range of entertainment and exciting activities for all ages.

As well as providing an opportunity to see talented international and young Omani golfers fight it out at the finale of the European Challenge Tour season, there is also an opportunity for patrons to visit the Public Village for an abundance of entertainment for both children and grownups.

The highlight of the Public Village activities will be a starstudded performance of the songs of Frozen, the smash-hit movie, in which three beloved characters will perform iconic anthems from the film including the catchy ballad, ‘Let It Go’, winner of Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Tickets for the performance, which will take place on November 6 and 7 are available from Muscat City Center till October 30, but numbers are limited.

Other activities available for dignitaries, distinguished guests, adults and children alike are golf nets and putting lessons, a jumpo-mania station, an air speed gun and, of course, the bouncy castle.

The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final marks the climax to the European Challenge Tour season where the top 45 players on

the Road to Oman Rankings will compete for not only the prestigious tournament title, and a prize fund of €375,000, but also one of the coveted spots on next season’s European Tour on offer for the top 15 ranked players following the conclusion of play.

Ahmed Al Musalmi, CEO of the National Bank of Oman, commented: “We are delighted to welcome so many families to the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final. Golf is a sport which is inclusive and for all ages, and we want to use the opportunity to encourage the next generation to pursue sporting endeavours. As one of the leading sports events in the Sultanate, National Bank of Oman feels that it is our duty to inspire school children and involve the full spectrum of the community in this exceptional, world-class tournament.”

“Even for those not partial to golf will find a wide range of activities available to ensure that a memorable day is had by all.”

As one of the Sultanate’s leading sports events, the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final 2015 will further cement Oman’s status as a global hub of high-quality sporting competition. Key sponsors of this year’s edition of the globally-celebrated tournament include: key sponsors: Shangri-La Barr il Jissah Resort & Spa, Oman Air, Al Jenaibi International Automobile, Al Mouj and Al Tukri Enterprises.

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Mumbai City beat toppers FC Goa 2-0 MUMBAI: Sunil Chhetri and Frederic Piquionne found the net in either half as Mumbai City FC defeated table-toppers FC Goa 2-0 at the DY Patil Stadium here on Sunday.

Chhetri gave Mumbai the lead by converting a penalty in the 33rd minute after Goa defender Raju Gaikwad had pulled Frederic Piquionne from behind inside the penalty box.

Piquionne (48th minute) scored the hosts’ second goal shortly after the break when he headed in a cross from Juan Aguilera.

Mumbai are now sixth on the eight-team tablke with seven points from five matches. Goa continue to hog the top spot with 10 points from six games.

The visitors, however, had started on a strong note with Narayan Das firing wide after a speculative shot from outside the box early on.

Leo Moura also shot over the bar for the Goans moments later.

Goa almost took the lead in the ninth minute, but Raju Gaekwad’s flick from a corner was headed wide by Victorino Fernandes.

Breakthrough Mumbai City FC’s first threatening moment came in the 13th minute. Sony Norde’s deflected cross fizzed across the Goan penalty box before going out of play inches from the far post. The hosts started growing in confidence as the game went on.

The breakthrough came courtesy a brilliantly taken Chhetri penalty after the referee adjudged that Piquionne had unfairly been brought down in the box. Chhetri confidently stepped up and did the rest, bagging his third goal in as many matches.

He could have scored again just minutes later, but for Goa goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani pulled off a brilliant save. Chhetri was having a major influence on the game by this stage and minutes later he played in Piquionne who was denied by another excellent save by Kattimani.

Goa almost scored near the hour mark when Fernandes was played through on goal with just the keeper left to beat. His shot failed to meet the target though, after an on-rushing Mumbai custodian Subrata Paul did just enough to put him off. Paul denied Fernandes again in the 66th minute by diving low to his right.

FC Goa head coach Zico made several changes in an attempt to turn things around, bringing in Mandar Rao Dessai, Joffre and Romeo Fernandes. Mumbai, however, were in no mood to let their advantage slip as marquee playercum-coach Nicolas Anelka decided to come on himself and see the remainder of the match out. - IANS

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Ashley-Cooper hat-trick sends Australia into World Cup final Saturday’s final will be the first time the southern hemisphere powers, both world champions on two occasions, have met in a World Cup final having clashed in three semifinals

LONDON: Winger Adam Ashley Cooper’s hat-trick of tries sent Australia into a first World Cup final since 2003 after a 29-15 victory over Argentina on Sunday secured a showdown with holders New Zealand at Twickenham next weekend.

The Wallabies were superior at the breakdown with David Pocock immense and too clinical in the backline for the gung-ho injuryhit Pumas who paid the price for costly early mistakes.

Australia, in control from two

HAT-TRICK HERO: Australia players celebrate Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try during their Rugby World Cup semifinal at Twickenham in London on Sunday. – Reuters

early tries, were under the cosh for long periods of the second half but resilient defence and AshleyCooper’s third try on 71 minutes put the game beyond reach.

Saturday’s final will be the first time the southern hemisphere powers, both world champions on two occasions, have met in a

World Cup final having clashed in three semifinals. The only final not to feature either New Zealand or Australia since the tournament’s inception in 1987 was eight years ago when South Africa beat England.

Australia, who scraped into the semifinals with a controversial

last-gasp penalty against Scotland, flew out of the blocks with 14 points on the board in the opening nine minutes.Sixty-seven seconds had elapsed when Australia lock Rob Simmons intercepted a risky Nicolas Sanchez offload to sprint under the posts from 30 metres out and set the tone for an open

PREMIER LEAGUE

F1

City return to top after dull derby draw LONDON: Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League by drawing 0-0 away to Manchester United in a disappointing local derby on Sunday that only flickered into life in the dying stages.

City have 22 points, the same as Arsenal, but a better goal difference. United stay fourth, two points behind, with West Ham United also above them. They came closest to a goal when substitute Jesse Lingard hit the bar six minutes from the end.

City had won six of the previous eight league derbies, but like the home side found chances hard to come by this time.

There were more yellow cards than chances in a first half during which United did not manage a single attempt on goal.

City did at least have a header

by Yaya Toure following a corner that drifted wide and an earlier shot by Raheem Sterling deflected for a corner.

Fernandinho and returning captain Vincent Kompany re-

ISAPPOINTING DERBY: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, left, hugs Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany after their Premier League match at Old Trafford on Sunday. – Reuters

ceived yellow cards, as did the home side’s Juan Mata, joined later by Morgan Schneiderlin.

United improved after the interval, Chris Smalling going close with a header from a corner and Mata only just being beaten to a through ball by goalkeeper Joe Hart. They

brought on Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini while City took off Yaya Toure and it was the United pair who came closest to creating a goal in the last few minutes.

The lively Lingard latched onto a pass from Anthony Martial and hit the bar before Fellaini headed

ISC BADMINTON

Percy defeats Shabaz to bag singles title

FINALISTS: Percy Pereira, left, and Shabaz. – Supplied photo

and exhilarating contest. Sanchez got the Pumas up and running with his first shot at goal but they then paid the price for knockingon from a quick tap-penalty.

Superb back play by the Wallabies following a scrum ended with a fine floated pass from Bernard Foley that gave Ashley-Cooper a clear run to the line.

The Pumas, who lost winger Juan Imhoff to a head knock after 20 minutes, were weakened further when lock Tomas Lavanini was sent to the sin-bin for a noarms tackle on Israel Folau.

Worse was to follow when captain Agustin Creevy, a fitness doubt all week, trudged off after half an hour. The Wallabies quickly rubbed salt in the wounds, Ashley-Cooper this time taking a long pass from Will Genia to score in the left corner.

Sanchez’s boot gave the Pumas hope as they trailed 19-9 at the break and two more penalties got his side to within seven with plenty of time left.

The Pumas came at the Wallabies hard and it needed plenty of scrambling defence to keep them at bay.

Having held firm, Australia got back into Pumas territory and wrapped up the game when winger Drew Mitchell zipped through a flurry of tired tacklers and Ashley-Cooper walked the ball over the line. - Reuters

MUSCAT: Percy Pereira added one more crown to his collection of trophies by winning singles title at the National Bank of Omansponsored annual badminton tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC) Muscat.

Percy, the number four seed, met Shabaz the number three seed in the final.

Shabaz, who is known for his hard hitting smashes, went into the game with confidence of having beaten Percy last year.

The first game, Shabaz used his smashes in attempt to take control while Percy used his drops and high tosses to keep his opponent at bay.

However, it was Percy who soaked up all the pressure and won the first game 21-19.

The second game was no different with both players exhibiting delightful drops.

Shabaz started off well but Percy managed to keep at level terms at the interval.

On resumption, Shabaz stepped up on his smashes but Percy managed to put these back and win some crucial points to keep his nose in front.

Closer to the end, Percy held his nerve to fashion another close win at 21-19.

Earlier in the semifinals, Shabaz had beaten the number two seed Niyaz in two tough games winning 26-24 and 21-9 while in the other hand, Percy had toppled the top seed Prabhu AR in another thrilling encounter winning 24-22, 17-21, 21-15.

down for Smalling to bring the only significant save from either goalkeeper, as Hart turned his shot behind for a corner.

Despite manager Louis van Gaal’s concerns about fatigue following Wednesday’s long trip to Moscow for a Champions League game, while City had played at home, United finished the stronger.

“We came wanting three points but respect to Manchester United, we had to defend well and limited them to two half chances,” Hart told the BBC. “We don’t want praise, we want points. We are back on top of the league now and we can hopefully kick on.”

City skipper Kompany admitted the game had not lived up expectations. “I don’t know how it looked from the outside but it didn’t feel like a dynamic derby,” he said. “Both teams looked defensively solid.

“Everyone knows how much this game means to me. I was disappointed to be left out of the team (previously) but it is all about opinions. There is no problem with me and the manager.” - Reuters

Rosberg on pole in US AUSTIN: Lewis Hamilton will have to get past Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg if he is to secure his third Formula One world championship at the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday.

Rosberg took his third successive pole position, with Hamilton alongside on the front row, in a qualifying session postponed from Saturday and then cut short by further bad weather.

Hamilton will become a triple champion with three races to spare if he scores two points more than Rosberg and nine more than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who qualified fifth but has a 10-place grid penalty.

The grid places were decided by the positions in the second of the three qualifying sessions after the final phase was delayed and then cancelled.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo will line up in third place for Red Bull with Russian teammate Daniil Kvyat alongside. - Reuters

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Ooredoo A post big win over Galfar

A DIVISION: Ooredoo A who defeated Galfar. – Supplied photos

Put into bat first, Ooredoo A scored 293 for the loss off six wickets in 30 overs and then they bowled Galfar for 102 in 19.4 overs

MUSCAT: Ooredoo A defeated Galfar CT by 191 runs in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored A Division match played at the Municipality Ground II during the morning session on Friday.

Put into bat first, Ooredoo A scored 293 for the loss off six wickets in 30 overs with Gustav Borger, Ramesh Kandachamy and Vijeesh

C.V. contributing 71, 60 and 68 respectively. Tanmoy Kar claimed three wickets for Galfar.

Ooredoo A completed their bonus point victory by bowling out Galfar for 102 in 19.4 overs. Sunil Baby claimed six scalps while Vijeesh took two.

Brief scores: Ooredoo A 293 for 6 in 30 overs (Gustav Borger 71,

A DIVISION: Renaissance team pose for a group photo after their win over MRD Enhance Eagles.

Ramesh Kandachamy 60, Vijeesh C.V. 68; Tanmoy Kar 3/50) bt Galfar 102 in 19.4 overs (Srikantha Achari 24 n.o.; Sunil Baby 6/30). Points: Ooredoo A 3, Galfar - 0.

Renaissance win In another A Division match, Renaissance recorded a 43-run win over MDC Enhance Eagles at the Municipality Ground I. Winning the toss and batting first, Renaissance put on 246 for four in 30 overs with Jaganth G. and E.K. Sajith scoring with 91 and 59 runs respectively. Khalid Latif was the pick of the MDC Enhance Eagles bowlers with figures of two for 36.

Renaissance completed their victory by bowling out MDC Enhance Eagles for 203 in 28.4 overs.

Khalid Latif and Nishanth M. scored 31 and 38 respectively. Ibn Eameen and Faizal Jerome were the star bowlers for Renaissance claiming three wickets each.

Brief scores: Renaissance 264 for 4 in 30 overs (Jaganth G. 91, E.K. Sajith 59; Khalid Latif 2/36) bt MDC Enhance Eagles 203 in 28.4 overs (Khalid Latif 31, Nishanth M. 38; Ibn Eameen 3/42, Faizal Jerome 3/26).

Points: Renaissance - 2, MDC Enhance Eagles - 0.

Al Nahdha down Powertech In an Al Ansari Group of Companies-sponsored B Division match, Al Nahdha edged Powertech by five runs.

After being asked to bat first, Al Nahdha put on 137 in 20 overs

with Kamran Mohammed top scoring with 22.

Manikandan, Nishad and Prabhakaran were the pick of the Powertech bowlers claiming two wickets each.

Al Nahdha completed their victory by restricting Powertech to 132 for eight in 20 overs thanks to the efforts of Kamran Muhammed and Imran Nasir who picked up two and three wickets respectively.

Aroan and Manikandan scored 32 an 30 respectively for Powertech.

Brief scores: Al Nahdha 137 in 20 overs (Kamran Muhammed 22; Manikandan 2/13, Nishad 2/23, Prabhakaran 2/35) bt Powertech 132 for 8 in 20 overs (Aroan 32, Manikandan 30; Imran Nasir 3/18). Points: Al Nahdha - 2, Powertech - 0.

OMAN CRICKET

Al Maddah outlast Al Meer in thriller MUSCAT: Al Maddah overcame a stiff challenge from Al Meer before recording a three-wicket victory in an Enhance-sponsored D Division match at the Municipality Ground III on Friday.

Batting first, Al Meer scored 166 for six in 20 overs with Yogendra R. and Shankar M.G. top scoring with 53 and 45 runs respectively. Abdul Rehman claimed three wickets for Al Maddah.

Al Maddah reached their target in 19.2 for the loss of three wickets thanks to an unbeaten 57 by Abdul Rahman. Al Ameer’s Sanket and Punit claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores: Al Meer 166 for 6 in 20 overs (Yogendra R. 53, Shankar M.G. 45) lost to Al Maddah 168 for 7 in 19.2 overs (Abdul Rahman 57 n.o.; Sanket Cyril 2/25, Punit Mehta 2/19). Points: Al Maddah - 2, Al Meer - 0.

Enhance Falcons win In an E Division match, Enhance Falcons defeated Al Fairuz five runs. Batting first, Enhance Falcons scored of 195 for seven in 20 overs with Anand Pathi and Jaison Manila making 41 and 45 respectively. Aneesh and Satham took two wickets each.

In reply, Fairuz fell just short, scoring 190 for seven in 20 overs.

Satham and Sunil top scored for Al Fairuz with 57 and 52 not out. Jaison, Kunal and Ikram claimed two wickets each for Enhance Falcons.

Brief scores: Enhance Falcons 195 for 7 in 20 overs (Anand Pathi 41, Jaison Manjila 45; Aneesh 4/35, Satham Hussain 4/29) bt Al Fairuz 190 for 7 in 20 overs (Satham Hussain 57, Sunil 52; Kunal Pandya 2/21). Points: Enhance Falcons - 2, Al Fairuz - 0.

Khurshid edge OUA Travel In a F Division match, Khurshid CT recorded a narrow 12-run win over OUA Travel.

Batting first, Khurshid scored 179 for six in 20 overs with Jibin K. top scoring with a brilliant 104 off 58 balls. Shamras P. was the pick

RC with 51. Abdullah Alam and Hilari D’Souza took two wickets each.

Brief scores: MSE 192 for 9 in 20 overs (Baiju Gopal 101; Abilash S. 2/39) bt RAHRC 153 for 9 in 20 overs (Madan Pagar 51; Abdullah Alam 2/22, Hiari D’Souza 2/30). Points: MSE - 3, RAHRC - 0.

F DIVISION: Khurshid CT

BANK MUSCAT STAR: Mony

MUSTAFA SULTAN’S HERO:

Narayan.

Baiju Gopal.

of the OUA bowlers with figures of three for 23.

In reply, OUA Travel managed to score 167 for six in 20 overs. Rafeek Al Balushi top scored with 95.

Shahanavas and Jibin picked up two wickets each for Khurshid.

Easy for Bank Muscat In a G Division match, Bank Muscat defeated Al Rehwan by four wickets. Batting first, Al Rehwan scored 147 for seven in 20 overs with Aboo P.C. top scoring with an unbeaten 61. For Bank Muscat, Benny and Prathik took two wickets each.

Bank Muscat completed their bonus point victory by reaching their target in 15.2 overs, scoring 148 for six. Mony Narayan top scored with 70. Shihabudeen was the pick of the Al Rehwan bowlers with figures of three for 32.

Brief scores: Khurshid CT 179 for 6 in 20 overs (Jibin K. 104; Shamras P. 3/23) bt OUA Travel 167 for 6 in 20 overs (Rafeek Al Balushi 95; Jibin 2/25, Shahanavas 2/18). Points: Khurshid CT - 2, OUA Travels - 0.

White Lotus win In an F Division match, White Lotus recorded an eight-wicket win over OCT Muscat B. Batting first, OCT Muscat B were bowled out for 120 in 19.4 overs with Najeeb Qader top scoring with 34 runs. Rajesh Ramesh picked up three wickets for White Lotus, while Sujith and Sachin chipped in with two wickets each.

White Lotus completed their bonus point victory by scoring 122 for two in 12.4 overs. Praveen Shetty and Ramesh Nair scored 38 not out and 33 respectively.

Brief scores: OCT Muscat B 120 in 19.4 overs (Najeeb Qader 34; Rajesh Ramesh 3/20) lost to White Lotus 122 for 2 in 12.4 overs (Praveen Shetty 38 n.o., Ramesh Nair 33). Points: White Lotus - 3, OCT Muscat B - 0.

Brief scores: Al Rehwan 147 for 7 in 20 overs (Aboo P.C. 61 n.o.; Benny Mathew 2/23, Prathik Dalal 2/24) lost to Bank Muscat 148 for 6 in 15.2 overs (Mony Narayan 70; Shihabudeen 3/32). Points: Bank Muscat – 3, Al Rehwan - 0.

MSE down RAHRC In an H Division match, Mustafa Sultan Enterprises recorded an easy 39-run win over RAHRC. Batting first, MSE scored 192 for nine in 20 overs, with Baiju Gopal top scoring with a fantastic 101. Abilash S. was the pick of the RAHRC bowlers, with two for 39.

MSE completed their bonus point victory by restricting RAHRC for 153 for nine in 20 overs.

Madan Pagar top scored for RAH-

Trust Doosan beat Khalsa In an I Division match, Trust Doosan defeated Khalsa United by seven wickets.

Batting first, Khalsa United scored 129 for eight in 20 overs with Mohammed Irfan top scoring with 52. Nithin Sasi and Mohammed Imran took four and three wickets respectively.

Trust Doosan completed their victory by scoring 130 for three in 17.2 overs. Mohammed Imran top scored with 54. Rajesh Ravi claimed two wickets.

F DIVISION: White Lotus

Brief scores: Khalsa United 129 for 8 in 20 overs (Mohammed Irfan 52; Mohammed Imran 3/15, Nithin Sasi-4/21) lost to Trust Doosan 130 for 3 in 17.2 overs (Mohammed Imran 54; Rajesh Ravi 2/27). Points: Trust Doosan - 2, Khalsa United - 0.

Hydrotech beat HFP In a J Division match, Hydrotech defeated Hussain Fahdil Partners (HFP) by four wickets.

Put into bat first, HFP scored 139 for seven in 20 overs with Stalin Johnson top scoring with 33.

Jebin, Khurram and Nikesh took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Hydrotech scored 140 for six in 18.2 overs to secure victory. Sadik P.M. and Vibin Kumar top scored with 39 not out and 31 respectively. Prasobh Mohan was the pick of the HFP bowlers with figures of 2/16 of 4.

Brief scores: Hussain Fadhil Partners 139 for 7 in 20 overs (Stalin Johnson 33; Khurram Rashid 2/22) lost to Hydrotech 140 for 6 in 18.2 overs (Sadik P.M 39 n.o., Vibin Kumar 31; Prasobh Mohan 2/16). Points: Hydrotech - 2; Hussain Fadhil Partners - 0.

I DIVISION: Trust Doosan

J DIVISION: Hydrotech

Easy for FAP UTSC In a Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division match, FAP UTSC defeated Ooredoo B by 64 runs. Batting first, FAP UTSC put on 201 for seven in 20 overs with Rasik top scoring with 51. Mohammed Waqas and Vinod took three and two wickets each respectively.

In reply, Ooredoo B managed to score 138 for eight in 20 overs.

Faizal top scored with 45.FAP UTSC secured the bonus point in their victory. Nishad was the pick of the FAP UTSC bowlers with figures of three for 29.

Brief scores: FAP UTSC 201 for 7 of 20 overs (Rasik 51; Vinod 3/44) bt Ooredoo B 138 for 8 in 20 overs (Faizal 45; Nishad 3/29). Points: FAP UTSC 3, Ooredoo B- 0.

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Mention the brand Isuzu, and the first thing that comes to our mind is ‘truck’… for so long the word has been glued to it. But Isuzu has finally done the unexpected with its latest SUV — the MU-X. We lay hands on this daredevil.

Story: Faisal Mohammed Naim Photography: Shabin E

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With seating for seven, numerous features, and the benefit of a proper four-wheel drive system, Isuzu’s MU-X 4x4 brings family values and plenty of off-road ability to the brand’s hardy D-MAX platform.

Tech Specs – Isuzu MU-X Engine: 4 cylinder, 2.5 litre CRDI intercooled VGS turbocharged Power: 136bhp, 320Nm (1800-2800rpm) Transmission: 5 speed automatic Category: 4WD Seating Capacity: 7 Authorised Dealer OTE Group, Wattayah Contact no: +968 2230 7253, +968 2230 7260 Toll Free No: +968 8007 7007

There’s ample acceleration for quick and satisfying overtaking manoeuvres on Muscat’s busy roads, although sometimes the engine felt a bit strained, and we felt the need of a few more ponies on it, but so was the case only when lugged constantly to the peak, which was quite rare a happening, if at all. Also, it’s a big thing to pilot around the average shopping centre car park, with an 11.6m turning circle requiring plenty of input at the wheel.

The happy surprises continue on the inside with the MU-X’s spoiling trove of creature comforts. Adjusting the driver’s seat is a motorised affair with six-way adjustment. The interior itself is unfussy and practical, with smart leather seats. With a press of the ‘Engine Start’ button, the electroluminescent gauges come to life with a full swing before settling down to normal.

The MID (Multi Information Display), sandwiched between the speedo- and tachometer, has a wealth of information including time elapsed and even an instantaneous fuel con-

PHOTOS: SHABIN E.

I

n the ever-expanding realm of mid-sized SUVs, comes a new contender that has the potential to take the bull by its horns. With a robust build, proven drive-train with gutsy 4X4 capability, and plush interiors, this one is in for ‘the big trek’. And the fun part is not over yet – the mean machine has got turbo-charged diesel power.

Wait, did we mention diesel?

Coming from the house of Isuzu – the champion of diesels, the MU-X gives a fresh whiff of life to off-road lovers, providing them with a potent and quite affordable alternative in the diesel segment.

Tough and torquey, the MU-X is an off road oriented SUV. The diesel advantage scores when wandering off road, to conquer those rough stubborn terrains.

Much of the off-roading is done at low speeds, using a lot of power. While crawling over rocks and obstacles it is very difficult to stall (hold and move), and requires an engine that produces high amounts of torque at low revs (aka grunt). Same holds true for descending.

Diesel engines, by their very nature, are low-revving, high-torque engines. A petrol vehicle will often require much higher revs to maintain momentum up hill and over obstacles. Also diesel engines induce combustion through compression, and hence are well-suited for wading through water. (Off-roaders already getting goosebumps?)

The engine barks to life with the typical gruff diesel growl. Shift to Dmode and the car moves ahead with eagerness. Not knowing what to expect from the MU-X’s performance, it was actually quite surprising how lithe and responsive it felt.

The 2.5L intercooled VGS turbocharged CRDI engine is incredibly quiet at idle, and feels much peppier than the 136bhp power figure suggests. And the more important figure, torque, is produced from as low as 1,800rpm to 2,800rpm. And you have 320Nm to play with.

The automatic 5-speed transmission is electronically controlled by the transmission control module via an adaptive-learning function which constantly monitors the driver’s brake and throttle behaviour, selecting the most appropriate shift points.

sumption metre, in both bar and numerical form. It even has an automatic illumination control that adjusts the brightness of the dials based on ambient lighting.

The handling of the MU-X is put to test on the winding road to Jebel Sifa, full of tight hairpin bends and turns. Much to our delight, it feels surprisingly responsive with a tight turn-in and controlled body roll.

The suspension is a bit firm, but rewards the driver with confidence to push just that extra bit.

And when things do get hairy, the gritty 4x4 has the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to keep you pointed in the right direction. The rear tyres chirp through corners at times, but the MU-X feels planted and stable enough to bite through… even through gravel and uneven rocky terrains.

The MU-X’s great all-around visibility certainly helps as well.

Even the high positioned driver’s seat, which has the potential to annoy taller types on the road, makes more sense off-road, giving you a

better view of upcoming terrain over the bonnet. All 4x4 MU-X models also have the use of Isuzu’s simple-to-use Terrain Command 4WD select dial – 2-high, 4-high and 4-low ranges – on the centre console and are fitted with hill ascent and descent control.

Based on the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the MU-X shares many of the same body lines. Isuzu however, has added a dash of muscle with pumped-out fender flares.

Off-tarmac, the MU-X takes its cues from its tough cousin, the DMax ute (coupe utility). Not only does it borrow similar styling with the wedge-shaped front and flared wheel arches, it adopts the D-Max’s durability. Should you wish to forgo cityscape for countryside, there is a front steel plate skid/splash shield and steel plate guards that protect the sump and transfer case. The profile speaks to the sturdy underpinnings necessary for taking on any task from carting kids to school and sport, tackling tough off-roading,

or towing up to three tonnes.

The MU-X is a comfy place to be in, and perhaps also the roomiest also in its class right now. The legroom is great and enables you and your seatmate to cross legs with still enough space for a third person in the middle. With adjustable headrests on all rows and a second row that actually reclines, sleeping on-the-go is a total possible.

If you’re not in the napping mood, the MU-X has a groovy 6-speaker music system with Bluetooth, and USB/iPod capability. There are also 12 cup holders and 19 storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin making it a truly roadtrip friendly vehicle. Passive safety is ensured by the six airbags (dual front, curtain and side).

Isuzu’s MU-X strikes a good balance between off-road ability and general comfort. It may not have the best on-road etiquette, but it will leave the average road-based SUVs in dust when things get off tarmac. Quite impressive. faisal@timesofoman.com

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

C9

LIFESTYLE S T O R Y :

F A I S A L

M O H A M M E D

N A I M

ENJOY THE SILENCE

The two main contenders for the best noise cancelling headphones are the Bose Quiet Comfort 15 (QC15) and Monster Beats Studio by Dr Dre. Both the headphones are a potent challenger to the other; falling in the same price bracket (around OMR100), and being on par with each other in delivering an outstanding auditory experience. Each has their own features that may or may not be a deal-breaker for you. We put both head to head. Choose the one which suits you best. You will be able to pick out sounds and nuances of your music that you have not heard before.

Bose Quiet Comfort 15 vs Monster Beats Studio Design

Battery Compartment

Noise Cancellation

Sound Leakage

Comfort

Audio Cables

The Monster Beats has metal hinges and folds up, and the earcups of the Bose fold down to lay flat on a desk.

The Monsters looks very sleek in their shiny look, but the finish is quite prone to smudges and fingerprints, even at the slightest touch. The headphone kit although has a microfibrecleaning cloth, but to keep these at their best you’d be polishing them all day. The Bose on the other hand has a nice and clean finish, and quite likely to stay that way for longer periods.

Both the headphones are battery operated: the Beats requires two AA batteries while Bose only requires one. Both headsets operate only with noise cancellation on, but the Monster does also have a “mute” button on.

On the Beats, the batteries are installed in the left ear-cup, which are revealed when you twist the “B” logo counter-clockwise. The logo cap feels cheap; looks like it will fall off, and is a little loose when clipped on.

Bose’s battery implementation has a more clever design.

Just pop open a hinge to reveal the battery compartment, which is discretely tucked away once the battery is installed.

The Beats requires two AA batteries because in addition to its noise-cancelling technology, they are also amplified. You do notice a slight volume difference between regular headphones and the Beats: they just appear to have more energy.

The noise cancellation on the Monster although does work, still it doesn’t completely do away with the external noise.

Active noise cancellation of the headphones negates 17 dB, which isn’t very much, considering the fact that even a quiet office is at least 30 dB, forget your living room. Try the Monster in any of the two places, and others around you would still be audible, along with all the rumble.

In contrast, the noise cancellation on the Bose QC15 is perfect. The QC15 replicates complete silence. Even the slightest noise is practically eliminated.

Both the headphones are ported because they have to release air pressure from the sealed cups, and they use microphones to sample ambient noise. But there is still a bit of sound leakage, especially when compared to earphones.

However, wearing the Monster, everyone in the close vicinity could hear exactly what one is listening to, making the experience far from being private, which is one of the major points for using a headphone: a major flaw. The QC15 leaks much lesser, and isn’t noticeable from a few feet away.

The Monster, though quite comfortable, has a bit too small earcups, resulting in a little much pressure on the head. The QC15 has a much lighter grip and is of the most comfortable pair of headphones around right now. However, since the pressure is less, they may slip off while exercising.

Another crucial factor is storage. The Bose folds flat and the case is far slimmer (so much it can slip into a laptop bag) and has room for all the cables and even a pocket for your portable music player. The case for the Monster Beats is quite bulky and won’t slip into anything small, but comes with carabineer, so as to clip it to the bag; not that good an option though.

Both come with two sets of detachable audio cables (one with an in-line remote and microphone for Apple iPods and iPhones, and other for general devices).

The Monster’s cables are much beefier than the ones with the QC15, but the Bose audio cables are technically more sound and proprietary. The end of each cable terminates with a little “cartridge” that fits snugly into the left can, and when installed looks completely integrated – as if the cable were permanently attached. The cable also has a “high/low” gain switch so you can adjust the volume on highgain devices.

QC15: QC15: Monster Studio:

QC15:

QC15:

Monster Studio: QC15:

Monster Studio:

Monster Studio: QC15:

Monster Studio:

Monster Studio:

Sound Quality

QC15: Monster Studio:

Conclusion The Monster Beats Studio is a very nice headphone, and has a few features that the QC15 does not. The Beats also has a slight edge on bass, but it isn’t much of a night-and-day difference.

The Bose QC15, on the other hand,

has a more crisp and balanced sound quality, perfect noise cancelling, and is more handy – making it the more obvious choice while on the go.

TOO Verdict: More private, more convenient, better music: Bose QC15. faisal@timesofoman.com

Photos: Provided

Both the QC15 and Monster sound just awesome; the sound separation is excellent and bass reproduction is true.

While the Monster claims to have more prominent bass, it does not reproduce sounds below 20Hz and the volume starts to drop off.

The Bose QC15 however is capable of reproducing sounds up to about 10Hz and maintains volume throughout. The bass is there in the Bose, but just not as exaggerated as the Beats.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

C10

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

@MGM

@SOHAR

@RUWI

Ennu Ninte Moideen – 2D (Romantic | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon 6:45, 8:30PM SUR The Last Witch Hunter (Action) (PG12) Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:45, 4:45, 11:45 pm Soldier of the Damned (Action) (15+) Cast: Gil Darnell, Miriam Cooke, Lucas Hansen 3:00, 6:50, 9:55 pm War Pigs (Action | War) (12+) Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Luke Goss 5:00 pm Shandaar (Hindi) (Romance | Comedy) (PG) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 12:15, 8:45, 11:30 pm Ennu Ninte Moideen (Mal) (Romance | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon, Saikumar 12:00, 6:45 pm

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Shaandaar (Romance) (HINDI)(PG) Cast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 4:00, 8:45, 11:30 pm The Little Prince (Animation)(3D)(PG) Voice Overs: Rachel McAdams, Benicio Del Toro, Marion Cotillard 2:00 pm The Last Witch Hunter (Actin)(2D)(PG12) Cast : Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:00, 5:45, 9:45, 11:55 pm Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Horror)- (3D)(15+) Cast : Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Ivy George 4:00, 8:00, 10:05 pm War Pigs (Action, War) (12+) Cast : Luke Goss, Dolph Lundgren 2:15 pm The Martian(3D) (Adventure, Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast : Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig 7:30, 11:45 pm Momentum (Action, Thriller) (15+)(2D) Cast : Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman 6:45 pm Infinitely Polar Bear (Drama)( (2D)(PG12) Cast : Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana 5:45 pm Breaking Through (Drama)(2D)(12+) Cast : Sophia Aguiar, Jordan Rodrigues 4:00 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL The Last Witch Hunter 2D (Action) PG12 Cast : Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:00, 7:00 & 11:55 pm Gold Class : 8:45 & 11:00 pm Breaking Through 2D (Drama | Music) 12+ Cast : Sophia Aguiar, Jordan Rodrigues 9:30 pm The Little Prince 3D (Animation) PG Voice Overs: Rachel McAdams 11:45 am & 2:45 pm Shandaar 2D (Romance| Comedy) PG

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION (Horror)- (3D)(15+) Cast : Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Ivy George 4:00, 8:00, 10:05 pm

The Last Witch Hunter 2D (Action | Adventure | Fantasy) PG12 Cast : Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood Timing : 2:00, 7:00 & 11:55 pm Gold Class : 8:45 & 11:00 pm

Cast: Olga Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman 4:15 & 9:15 pm Pan 3D (Adventure | Family ) (PG) Cast: Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund 7:15 pm The Martian : 3D (Action | Sc-Fic ) PG Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain 12:00 & 11:30 pm Gold Class: 3:30 pm The Walk : 3D (Adventure | Drama ) (PG) 4:45 pm Gold Class: 6:15 pm

Patthu Endrathukulla – 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Vikram, Samantha 11:45 am, 4:15, 9:00 pm The Little Prince – 2D (PG) Animation Voice Overs: Voice(Rachel McAdams, Benicio Del Toro, Marion Cotillard) 12:00, 2:30, 7:00pm Shaandaar – 2D (PG) Comedy, Romance Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 12:00, 2:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00, 11:15 pm Ennu Ninte Moideen – 2D (PG12) Romantic Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon 11:45 AM, 8:15 pm

AZAIBA The Martian – 3D (PG) Action, Sci-Fi Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain 5:30, 11:45 pm Jazbaa – 2D (12+) Drama, Action, Adventure Cast: Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Irrfan Khan 2:00 pm Crimsom Peak - 2D (15+) Drama, Horror Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain 7:15 pm The last Witch Hunter – 2D (PG12) Action | Adventure | Fantasy Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:45, 5:00, 9:30, 11:45 pm

Shandaar : 2D (Romance| Comedy) PG Cast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant Timing : 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

Patthu Endrathukulla - 2D (T) (PG12) Action Cast : Vikram, Samantha Timing : 9:00 pm

Screen 3 Talvar (Mystery/Thriller) – PG12 3.45 pm Jazbaa (Action / Drama ) – 12+ 6.45 pm Pathu Enrathukulla (Action ) Tamil – PG12 9.45 pm SOHAR The Martian - 3D (PG) Action, Sci-Fi Cast : Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain 6:45 pm War Pigs - 2D (12+)Action | War Cast : Luke Goss, Dolph LundgrenTimings : 5:25, 11:45 pm Patthu Endrathukulla - 2D (T) (PG12) Action Cast : Vikram , Samantha 9:00 pm The Last Witch Hunter - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:30, 4:35, 9:30, 11:45 pm The Little Prince - 3D (PG) Animation Voice Overs: Rachel McAdams 2:45, 4:45 pm Infinitely Polar Bear - 2D (PG12) Comedy Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana 3:30, 7:15 pm

RUWI Screen 1 Shandaar 2D (Romance| Comedy) PG Cast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 pm Screen 2 Jazbaa (Action / Drama ) – 12+ Cast : Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Irrfan Khan 3.45, 9.45 pm Talvar (Mystery/Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Tabu 6.45 pm

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension - 3D (15+) Horror Cast : Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Ivy George 6:45, 11:30 pm Shandaar - 2D (PG) Romance| Comedy Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 2:30, 5:15, 8:00, 10:45 pm Ennu Ninte Moideen - 2D (M) Romantic Cast : Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon 8:30 pm (PG12) BURAIMI The Last Witch Hunter – 2D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 5:00, 9:45, 11:45PM Soldier of the Damend – 2D (Action, Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Gil Darnell, Miriam Cooke, Lucas Hansen 6:30, 9:50, 11:45PM Kung Fu Jungle – 2D (Action, Thriller) (12+) Cast: Donnie Yen, Charlie Yeung, Baoqiang Wang 4:30PM Shandaar– 2D (Romance, Comedy) (PG) 3:45, 7:00, 11:30PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

33 28

Daily Daily

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

Programmes are subject to change

Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

40-80%

RUBAN VELIP October 26, 2008

RUPEN VELIP October 26, 2008

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@ timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ennu Ninte Moideen (Mal) (Drama) Cast: Prithviraj, Parvathi Menon, Bala & Lena 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 Pm Cinema Main 10 Endrathu Kulla (Tamil) (Act ) Cast : Vikram, Samantha & Jackie Sherof 3-45, 6-45, 9-45 pm at Cinema -2 Life of Josutty (Mal) (Drama) Cast: Dileep and Jouthi Krishna 3-30, 6-30, 9-30 pm at Cinema-3 Shaandaar (Hindi) (Rom) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Ali Bhatt 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema -4 Next Change: Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (Tamil) Kanche (Telugu)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ARYAN AMIT October 26, 2003

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

STAR CINEMA

0

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

Paranormal Activity:The Ghost Dimension (Horror) Cast: Chris J Murray, Britshaw, Ivy George 6.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2815 (15+) The Last Witch Hunter (Action /Adventure/ Fantacy) Cast: Vin Diesel,Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2816 (PG12) Breaking Through (Drama /Music) Cast: Julie Warner, Robert Roldan, Jordan Rodrigues 2.00, 4.00 & 10.00 pm CP No: 2817 (12+) Shaandaar (Comedy/Drama /Romance) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 4.00 & 7.00 pm CP No: 2818 (PG)

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

WEATHER

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36) Quriyat Sur Jaalan

SALALAH The Martian (3D) (PG) (Action//Sci-Fi) Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain 4:45 pm The Last Witch Hunter (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 11:15 am, 2:30, 4:30, 9:15, 11:30 pm Breaking Through (2D) (12+) (Drama/Music) Cast: Sophia Aguiar, Jordan Rodrigues 12:45, 4:35 pm The Little Prince (3D) (PG) (Adventure) 10:30 am, 12:30 pm Infinitely Polar Bear (2D) (PG12) (Comedy) Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana 2:45 pm War Pigs (2D)(12+) (Action/War) 11:00 am, 6:45 pm Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (3D)(15+) (Horror) 1:15, 3:00, 7:20, 11:45 pm Shandaar (2D) (PG) (Romance/Comedy) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 9:00, 11:35 pm Patthu Endrathukulla (2D) (PG12) (Tamil) Cast: Vikram, Samantha 6:30 pm Ennu Ninte Moideen (2D) (PG12) (Mal) 8:35PM (Romantic)

BAHJA CINEMA

WITH LOVE

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

11.56pm 3.12pm 5.38pm 6.49pm 4.53am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@SHATTI

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

PRAYER TIMINGS

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Hamdan Hospital 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

M ONDAY, O CTO BER 26, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE BRIEFS

Love Korean pop dances?

You may soon learn the art easily at home by tracking body joints, thanks to a virtual dance teacher developed by South Korean researchers. Researchers Daijin Kim and his team at Pohang University of Science and Technology South Korea, successfully developed the precise 3D tracking of 15 human body joints using data of the human body and the relational information among human body joints.

Its tracking performance showed just a 4.5cm error on average among 15 human body joints, the study reported. In order to develop the virtual K-Pop dance teacher, the team selected a hundred K-Pop dance routines and collected the moves of 15 body joints of each dancing movement.

Twitter Rolls Out Polling Feature Called ‘Polls’

Social microblogging website Twitter on Friday launched a new feature called Polls, which will allow its users to take opinions of other users on the platform on any topic.

Previously, Twitter offered a few ways to participate in polls including tweeting questions, tracking replies, tallying favourites, retweets and hashtag votes.

Tesla’s China Sales to Catch Up With US in Years

In the long term, “we will probably see equal or higher sales in China than in the US. That may take five or six years,” Elon Musk, CEO of electric automobile-maker Tesla Motors, said recently. Sales in China in the first three quarters of 2015 reached 3,025 cars, with 791 sold in Q1, 882 in Q2 and 1,345 in Q3, respectively, Xinhua quoted Musk as saying at a press conference to unveil Tesla’s new autopilot system in Beijing. Musk said the figures are good on a percentage growth basis, and he is very optimistic about Tesla’s future in China. The company is in talks with officials at the national and provincial levels about potential joint ventures in China, according to Musk.-IANS

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Virtual Dance Teacher to Help You Learn K-Pop

HEED THE CALL S T O R Y FA I S A L M O H A M M E D N A I M

T

here is nothing like the feeling of loading up and heading out on a big motorcycle, exploring the unknown territories. For motorcyclists a long road-trip is the ultimate soul soother. But wait, don’t get excited yet; don’t plan to pack your bags and getting out on the road right away for that heavenly experience. The notion of long and alone might sound pretty adventurous and at the same time romantic, but ask a past-master and you will know that every adventure has its misfortune, and every romance has its tragedy.

Yes, the freedom of being on your own comes at a price.

Long road trips can be a blast —but at even the slightest twist of fate, they can turn to be boring and exhausting endeavours. The best way to tackle any untoward situation, or better, preventing it in the first place is to be prepared in advance. Familiarise with the place you are headed to (respect to Google), and prepare a checklist of must-haves and must-dos accordingly. Here are a few golden tips:

MUST HAVES 1. Tool Kit: Tyre repair equipment, air pump, a metric hex wrench set, screwdrivers and lockable pliers, ratchet wrenches and a multi-purpose hand tool.

2. Spares: Simple electrical repairs include a flashlight, rolls of duct and electrical tape, a mini voltmeter, spark plugs, wire, a wire stripper, fuses and spare bulbs.

be updated. Use a plastic cover and store in a waterproof bag.

5. Communication: Having a fully charged mobile phone along with an extra charged battery helps you stay connected and is invaluable in times of emergency.

6. First-Aid: A bottle of antiseptic, pain tablets, sterile bandages and an elastic bandage for sprains. You never know when you might need them.

3. Personal Gear: Dress in layers to save weight; use synthetic underwear and socks for easy maintenance. A good rain suit that has reflective stripes and a mesh lining for an extra layer of protection from moisture.

Foam ear plugs are important to use no matter how quiet your helmet may be: wind turbulence can cause hearing damage and drains your energy.

7. Roadmap: Carry a laminated, foldable roadmap; a travel compass is also a great tool to help you get your bearings. A solid GPS system with bike mount is a good investment or a cellphone with online GPS can work, but you can’t rely on techno-aid too much while on the road (zero connectivity most of the times). You have to return to the basics.

4. Identification: Make photocopies of all of your documentation: emergency contact information, driver’s license and registration; bike and health insurance and service cards should

8. Security: A wheel lock or heavy chain with a lock to securely park your bike at the most secluded points. You may also want to install an anti-theft alarm on your bike for an added level of protection.

9. Spare Key: It’s a smart idea to carry a spare ignition key. Stow it in a ziplock plastic bag and secure it in a safe place on your bike or in your gear.

10. Personal Necessities: There might be stretches where you don’t get any eating joints for long. Power snacks like nuts and dried fruits give you long lasting energy. And don’t forget the toiletries; sanitary wipes, tooth brush, toothpaste and deodorant.

MUST DOS 1. Practice: The road is longer than you think. If you aren’t accustomed to riding for more than just a few hours, don’t jump onto a road trip right away. Try taking some practice rides to get used to being on a bike for longer periods of time. It takes time to adapt to longer durations of riding.

2. Keep it Balanced: In the end, you would want to keep the weight low and close to the centre of the bike and you also need to make sure that saddlebags on both the sides weigh approximately the same. Secure loose items with

net or stretch cord and stow your lightest gear in the rear rack and tank bag.

3. Install Windshield: If you’re looking to road trip, save yourself the exhaustion and install a proper windshield, before riding out, as the wind blowing in your face for long times can make tyre badly. Yes, we agree bikes do look cool naked, but again its more about practicality and less about making a style statement when out on the empty road.

4. Get your position right: If you’re going to take a stock motorcycle on a road trip, getting your seating and riding position right is going to be incredibly important. You probably want to buy an aftermarket seat, and you might even want to consider a back rest. You may also want to get some highway pegs and make sure your handlebars are adjusted to be as comfortable as possible.

The more comfortable your bike is, the more likely you are to ride it long distances again.

More next time, ride safe. faisal@timesofoman.com

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 6, 2 015

LIFESTYLE TECH

TECH GIFTS BRING TEACHABLE MOMENTS

Sony Xperia Z5 Dual: Future Ready Smartphone

Japanese electronics major Sony is set to launch its new Xperia smartphones next month in the Middle East — Z5 and Z5 Premium. Here is what we think of it: What is good?

The phones come with the same design and look as the Xperia’s Z series. Other than the dedicated camera button for the quick launch camera app, the addition seems to be the fingerprint scanner on the side. What is interesting is the positioning of the scanner: the power button doubles up as the scanner.

No other phone has a scanner on the side.

The Z5 is also IP65 and IP68 certified which means it is dust proof and water proof.

The phone’s 5.2-inch screen has a good 427 pixel density and there are no problems with viewing angles. Watching videos and gaming is also a good experience, combined with the phone’s awesome sound.

The Z5’s 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, along with a 3GB RAM unit, can take most of the things thrown at it, including heavy games.

The camera is the best of the features on the phone. The camera, in combination with several modes that are usually seen in all Z series phones, can take wide angle pictures. The rear 23-megapixel camera performs really well in any condition. The front five-megapixel can also take wider selfies and groupies.

The phone’s 2,930 mAH battery is a fair performer as well keeping in mind that it comes with ultra stamina and stamina modes to preserve its charge.

F

rom games to smart phones and devices, you’d be hard-pressed to find a wish list that doesn’t include at least one new tech device. These gifts provide children with the tools to connect with friends, and empower them to learn and explore; while also presenting an opportunity for parents to start a conversation on how to live safely in an increasingly digital world.

Technology access starts as early as six years old in many families, according to a recent survey by LifeLock, an industry leader in identity theft protection. At this young age, a whopping 74 per cent of children have access to laptops/desktops. The

rate of technology use increases from there – by the time kids hit their mid-teens, 80 per cent have a smartphone.

“The holidays are a great time to gift a child their first device, but parents are trying to find the balance between the opportunity to build friendships, learn and have fun using technology, and the need to stay safe and develop healthy lifestyles,” said Paige Hanson, Educational Programmes Senior Manager with LifeLock.

As technology increasingly plays a larger presence in our lives, parents recognise the need to help their kids live a balanced life online and offline. Four out of five parents surveyed reported having technology agreements

with their children that define areas such as safety and privacy, screen time, apps and downloads and respectful behaviour. However, the overwhelming majority (79 per cent) relies on verbal versus written agreements with varying degrees of effectiveness. As you think about gifting your kid a device this holiday season, it is also a good time to establish, or update, the ground rules you’d like to have as a family, and discover new resources that can help create a positive conversation.

One such resource is “The Smart Talk.” LifeLock and National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association, recently teamed up to create this free digital tool which

is designed as an interactive experience between parent and child, guiding families through a series of questions and conversations.

After agreeing on healthy limits, a personalised family agreement can be stored on the computer or printed out and posted in a high-traffic home area – like your fridge! By doing this, it will help serve as a daily reminder for the whole family to follow the agreed upon guidelines.

“We need to help the next generation establish safe behaviours at an earlier age, and give parents a roadmap to set ground rules that strike a better, healthier balance,” said Hanson. It is also a good exercise to remind parents that they also should practice healthy

online habits and safeguard their family’s identities. “Always think before you post to your social networks,” said Hanson.

“While posting a picture of your family seems harmless enough, you could be opening yourself to identity theft. Each photo and status update also creates your child’s first digital footprint, especially when they are too young to be online themselves.”

“When it comes to forms – extracurricular, doctors’ records and more – don’t be afraid to ask what personal information is actually needed by the organisation. Many times they just need a name and maybe a birthdate, but not your kids’ Social Security Number,” concluded Hanson. - Family Features

TECH

You Need 27 Seconds to Regain Attention After Phone Use If you thought it is okay to talk to your car infotainment system or smartphone while driving then think again. New research has found that it takes up to 27 seconds to regain full attention after issuing voice commands.

University of Utah researchers conducted two studies for the traffic safety charity AAA Foundation for

Traffic Safety.

One of the studies showed that it is highly distracting to use hands-free voice commands to dial phone numbers, call contacts, change music and send texts with Microsoft Cortana, Apple Siri and Google Now smartphone personal assistants.

In another study, they examined voice-dialing, voicecontact calling and music

selection using in-vehicle information or “infotainment” systems in 10 modelyear 2015 vehicles.

Three were rated as moderately distracting, six as highly distracting and one as very highly distracting, the US-based traffic safety non-profit said in a report.

“Just because these systems are in the car doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use

them while you are driving,” said senior author of the two studies David Strayer, psychology professor at University of Utah.

“It is better not to use them when you are driving,” Strayer said.

The research also found that, contrary to what some may believe, practice with voice-recognition systems does not eliminate

distraction.

But the most surprising finding was that a driver travelling only 25mph continues to be distracted for up to 27 seconds after disconnecting from highly distracting phone and car voice-command systems, and up to 15 seconds after disconnecting from the moderately distracting systems. -IANS

What doesn’t work for the phone?

Be it customer dissatisfaction or lack in innovation, the Japanese major seems adamant on retaining the look and design of the Z series. What seems worrisome is the sudden heating of the phone when the battery level reaches a certain level or exposure to heavy games for tad longer duration.

The positive is you could cool it with a cold water bath. Also, the phone ranks a little lower (around 7,000 points) than other flagship rivals in An Tu Tu and Geekbench 3 scores.

The front camera should have come with a flash keeping in mind the price. A 4GB RAM would also have been fair.

However, keeping in mind the fans of the brand, the phone is definitely an improvement over the previous Z series as it comes future ready with a fingerprint scanner and VolTE support.

Should you buy it? You can decide when the prices are disclosed.

Full specifications: Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor @1.96 Ghz with Adreno 430 graphics processing unit | 3 GB RAM | 5.2-inch FHD display | Android Lollipop | 32 GB internal expandable to 200 GB | 23-megapixel rear and fivemegapixel camera units | 2,930 mAH battery | water and dust proof | 4G LTE and VolTE support | Bluetooth 4.1 | NFC.- IANS

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

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FLATS FOR RENT • Spacious 3 Bedroom flats at Rex Road, with Split a/c’s & ample Parking facility.

• 3BR flats at Qurum.

• Brand new 3BR flats at Bowsher with Split a/c’s.

• Brand new 2BR flats at Bowsher with Split a/c’s.

• 2BR flats at Al Khuwair (near Badr Al Sama).

• 2BR flats at Azaiba (next to MHD Showroom).

• 1BR flats at Al Khuwair & Ghala.

• Studio type of flats at Rex Road, Al Felaj, Wadikabir.

CLINIC FOR SALE A well established medical clinic with new equipments with valid license

Contact: 99888586 E-mail.

Issa@oasismaritimeservices.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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M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

Deluxe, spacious & air conditioned two bedroom flats with good quality finishes, wardrobes & secured basement parking are available for rent in Azaiba North, close to 18th November Street. Contact: 93888666 / 24493666/ 99228454

02 BHK commercial / residential (with split AC) Flat at Honda road.

Contac: 99342733 / 99795241

600 SQT Commercial flat for rent opposite Oman flourmill Darsait more details please Contact: 91214849/ 95729711

02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nadha Hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

Deluxe 3 BHK Penthouse with Seaview, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. #9772 1313

1000sqm industrial and with compound well & two rooms at Misfah.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

New buildings commercial / residential in Muttrah both will BE rented out for one company only for more details. Contact: 99364735/95729711

Readymade office space for rent (100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building, MBA area, Ruwi, opposite Center Point. Contact: 99011352 Room for rent in Al Khuwair near Ibis hotel with A/C. Contact: 95124975 1/2, B/R – Res / commercial directly from owner near Bank Muscat, Bausher. Contact 92158031 Flat for rent in Al Hail 5 floor building 1bedroom R.O 180/-, 2 bedroom R.O 260/- Mabela, 3 bedroom R.O 280/- near Nesto Hyper market.

Contact: 99614346 New deluxe villas in Madinat Qaboos , near British Council. Contact: 99369081 ISD, walking distance, 2 BHK, recently renovated flat, new and well maintained building. Ideal for Keralite / South Indian family, 350/per month, including air conditioners and maintenance. Contact: Iqrar on 99076557. Available from 1st November.

For rent one bedroom Majlis, 2 toilets, kitchen, balcony Greater Muttrah near Muscat Electricity distribution new building rent R.O 230/-. Contact: 99243059

Villa at Al Khuwair having six bedrooms, six bathrooms, sitting, dinning, hall, kitchen . Contact 24833972/24833974/ 99367448 1000 sq mtrs industrial land in Ghala suitable for ware house, work shop etc. Contact : 24700120 / 92584715 Villa in Arjan complex near Seeb stadium 4BHK, 1 living room, 1 majles, 1 extra room in ground floor.

Contact 93219597 1BHK flat available in MBD near Khimji Supermarket with split AC & curtain R.O 230/-. Contact: 97748721 / 92393067 1BHK new bldg with A/C curtains near Khimji Mart MBD. Contact: 99061408 / 99024039 Large room private toilet small kitchen, Electricity water lnclusive monthly RO 180/-, opp. Qurum Park.

Contact Hassan: 99349990 Private room with toilet, electricity water lnclusive opp Qurum Park monthly RO 130/-. Contact: 99349990 2BHK flat + AC Amerat 6 km from Amerat police. Contact: 95521432

Single BHK flat available in Honda road Ruwi Contact 24833972/24833974/99367448 Flat 2bedrooms, 2 toilets, kitchen and sitting room in Al Ansab.

Contact: 95302993 / 95216161 Office/Shop 28 SQM, Wadikhabeer, Contact 93004902 2BHK with Split Unit A/C , Wadikhabeer near Indian School, 99441193, 93004802 Flats and shops for rent in Ruwi, MBD Mumtaz area. Contact : 97293708 / 92433127 Deluxe beach front villa at Al Hail North with 5 bedrooms and Staff quarter having excellent finishes is available for immediate occupation.

Contact: 93888666 / 244493666 / 99228454 2 rooms, bath room & kitchen OR. 175/- & 2 B.H.K OR. 250/- Wadi Kabir near Sana. Contact: 95094028

3 BHK Penthouse Flat with Split A/Cs, Free Unlimited Broadband WiFi, Security access system, Pvt. Terrace & Secured car park, Opposite Kims Hospital Al Falaj, Monthly Rent: 625/-.

Contact: 99657906 or 24702141 Air conditioned two bedroom flats centrally located at Al Khuwair are available for rent. Contact: 93888666 / 24493666 / 99228454 2BHK with Split Units , WadiKhabeer, 93004802.

Flat for rent 2BHK Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Mosque. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 Brand new residential flats in Wadi Kabir near Muscat football club, have 2 bedroom family hall, 2 toilets, Kitchen with spilt AC for 250/- R.O. Contact: 95999904 / 98585889 / 92383886 Furnished flat for rent, 3 rooms with attached bathroom, 1 dining room, 1 sitting room, 1 kitchen at Al Hail South. Contact 99835995 600 SQT commercial flat for rent opposite Oman flourmill Darsait more details.#91214849/ 99364735 New flats for rent At Darsait near to Ministry of Sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes1 living room, 2 bedrooms, Kitchen, 3 toilets, every rooms with split A/C, high quality finishing, rent RO 340 /-.

Contact: 00968 92225523 1&2 BHK flat for rent at MBD Hamriya, Al Khoud, Mabela and shop at Al Khoud. Contact: 24834644 / GSM: 93994401/02/03, 3 lines 1, 2 BHK in Azaiba. Contact: 99385835 / 99428143

Fully furnished, 2 bedroom luxury flat for rent at Ghala for short or long term basis. contact 91786526 / 99881653 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975 2 bedrooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. contact 92584715 / 24700120 Showroom / storage / office space (area 290 SQM, 6 M Height) available 4 R.O PER SQM, facing Al Mina Street, near Darsait Lulu. Contact: 99360631/ 96760819/ 24711184 2 rooms in Al Khuwair 17/1 rent 250/- R.O with water & elect. Contact: 99330385 Luxury apartments in Al Khoud 3, composed of clean – conditioned room, lounge and toilet, kitchen and store. Contact 93366421 Al Mawalh villa for rent 17 bedrooms, all attached toilet, 2 big hall, 1 big kitchen, outside 1 kitchen 1 PVT room near (Mac Donald). Contact: 99654252 / 95566475 2bedroom centrally air conditioned flat at CBD. contact 24714625 / 94460790 Flats in Wadi Kabir.contact 99376454 1BHK flat spilt with A/C Al Khuwair, 230/-. contact 99358589 / 95570288 Ware house space for rent at Ghala and Barka up to 20000/- Sqm. Contact: 99509460 / 93731363 1BHK flats available for rent in CBD area. Contact: 98116480 1 & 2 bedroom flats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible.

Contact: 97677170

FOR SALE Excess tractor and agricultural parts for sale for details. For details please visit us at Zawawi Trading Company – Muscat branch – E& P division, for more information please Contact: Mr. said Al Shammakhi 99456045 Used Visi coolers (chiller) for sale.

Contact: 93888028 / 93204920 Restaurant for sale lease running restaurant, opp. Mars Wadi Kabir 7 visa. Contact: 93334685 Shop for sale North Al Hail near Zam Zam Hyper market. #99618161 / 94422131/ 96557131 Expat leaving, house hold Items for sale W. machine, A/C, furniture.

Contact: 90320430 Attention to wholesalers, retailers & manufacturers. We can Sell/Buy your dead stock. Contact : 99742983, 95226989 Split A/C -2, Window A/C- 25, Iron cot- 120, cupboard - 130, water cooler - 2, Gas big - 2, small-3 , Grinder-1 , Chapatti tava-1 , stove-2, kitchen equipment etc .

Contact: 99328223 Homegym with cross trainer for sale. Contact 95367937 Comm. & Res land in the heart of Ruwi 2400 sq mtr for sale.

Contact : 91155779 Comm. & Res land in Darsait, opp.

Pakistani School, 900 sq mtr for sale.

Contact: 91155779 Used Fabrication machinery for sale : Fabrication machinery and tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. contact 94652485/ 99273774/99202278 Comm. & res. land for investment for 25 years in Ghala heights.

Contact: 91155779

M O N DAY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE

AL KHAIRAT TRAINING SERVICES

Running furniture showroom for urgent sale.

• PMI - PMP • PMI - RMP • PMI - PGMP • AACEI - CCP • AACEI - PSP • LEED GA/AP • NCMA - CCCM/CPCM

- (Project Management Professional) - (Risk Management Professional) - (Program Management Professional) - (Certified Cost Professional) - (Planning & Scheduling Professional) - (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - (Certified Commercial Contracts Manager & (Certified Professional Contract Manager) • STRESS MANAGEMENT • PRIMAVERA - (P6.8) • CUSTOMISED TRAININGS

Ladies beauty parlor sale at Muttrah.

Contact - 91135930

FOR SALE Company maintained Mercedes prime mover (2005).

Scraps for Sale: 1. Metal 2. Cable 3. Wires

Contact 99449048 26750468

Please contact: Drake & Skull International LLC GSM: 94277228

FOR SALE

AVAILABLE

Comm. & Res land in Ghala heights 400 sq mtr for sale. contact 91155779 Beauty parlour in Mobela for sale.

Contact: 96131261 For sale land in Amerat 3000 Sq.mt with petrol pump permission.

Contact 99323957 / 92702891

ACC. AVAILABLE

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

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

For more info: +968-92295269 - +968-24488341 Email: info@alkhairattraining.com (Muscat, Sohar& Salalah)

COMPANY CLOSING- LANDS FOR SALE 1. Al-Hail North 6300 SQM. (Resi/Comm) 2.Al-Hail South 3600 SQM. (Resi.)

3.Ar-Rumais 5235 SQM.

Interested buyers please contact GSM 99227267 TATA BUS model 2009

For sale Seating 60+1 Good condition Sohar

Contact 99449228

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Fully furnished office space in As - Assalah Tower Ghobra.contact 98202001 Single room available near Muttrah Souq for Executive Kerala bachelor.

Contact: 96195506 Furnished room for IND EXE bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A. Contact : 99659513 Single room with attached toilet & bath for Executive bachelor rent including with water & electricity in Ruwi. Contact: 99327158 Family sharing Ruwi high street Raymond bldg. Contact : 99895616 Independent rooms in Qurum /AL Hail. Contact 95529970 Furnished room with attached bathroom separate balcony MBD area available for couple or Executive bachelor. Contact: 96275098 Sharing accommodation available in Bausher with split AC. Contact: 99223261 Furnished single rooms available for Executive bachelors at Ruwi.

Contact : 93431089 Single room attached bath S/ kitchen at Mumtaz area.

Contact: 95212017 / 96916398 Room for Rent Alkhuwair - Behind Al Aktham Restaurant. 120 RO. With elec. and water.For executive bachelors only. #98803261

Reputed contracting company required sound parties to invest ongoing excavate projects high profits assured. Contact: 98867530/ 95565039

COMPUTER

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

We want finance for 3 (three) moths or renewable every 3 months from Omani nationals or Expatriate for trading business. Contact: 99462591 or 93525028 Email: blueoceanoman@gmail.com INVESTORS in real estate needed to develop and construct a low cost housing and memorial/burial parks in the Philippines. Return of investment is very good due to big demands. Business partner is available to help you. Please email drjmd719@ gmail.com for details.

MATRIMONIAL

DRIVING

Flat for rent available in CBD near Costa Coffee. Mobile no.92820734 Toyota YARIS. Model 2008. KM 70000 Expat driven, All services at Toyota. Very clean. Rate: 2750. Contact 99445675.

Accommodation available for indian executive bachelor’s (no kitchen).RO:125 including water and electricitycontact 98145825, 98949724

BWM 320i 2006, 120K kms, black fully automatic engine interiors exteriors in excellent condition R.O 4200 (O.N.O). Contact: 92801633

ACC. WANTED 4-5 bedrooms villa with / without swimming pool in Wave / Madinat Qaboos / Al Shatti area. Contact: 91396909

NRI

Indian Kerala male, 32 yrs, Christian R.C working in Muscat looking for a suitable bride. If interested Contact: 9845460 / 99883109 Nair boy 38 years Palakkad having land & property in Kerala working in a Star Hotel MCT as Supervisor for cast 15 years is looking for life partner. No demand at all. Bindu : 97944673

M.V.FOR SALE

Private room with toilet near Qurum park incl. W& E, monthly RO 220/-.

Contact Hassan 99349990

GOOD NEWS

GOOD NEWS Kutchhi coffee shop, pure Veg available, Mandvi Kutch Dabeli, Chappati, puri Bhaji, Vada Pav, Farari Kachori, many more, next to Lulu Wadi Kabor Souq Al Juma, shop #3. Contact Udit – 94460286, Kishore – 99437869

Pakistani male 34 years living with parents in Oman for 27 years using hearing aid looking for a suitable alliance. Contact: 95544612 / 99353096 Seeking alliance for our son from Muslim families. Interested families Contact: 99889590

LOST Architect designed 5000 Square feet exquisite Villa in 16 cents of land at a scenic location on Aakkulam Road, Ulloor, Trivandrum for sale. Contact +968 95372011

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Namesettim Padma Akumarthy has lost Indian Passport No. F 4974552.

Finder please handover to ROP

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M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Urgent Requirement

Sales Lady For Jewellery Showroom

1. Two years experience in sales.

2. NOC is must. (send CV with current picture) Email:vacancy299@gmail.com

Urgently Required Philippino sales Lady for a boutique in Muscat. Salary best available in market

appointments@timesofoman.com

SITUATION VACANT Required smart and efficient COUNTER SALES EXECUTIVE (FEMALE) Omanis/Filipinas for a reputed trading company with:1. Min. 2 years experience in sales of perfumes, watches etc.

2. Ability to handle the cash/stock/outlet independently.

3. Excellent knowledge in English and Arabic is an added advantage.

4. Good knowledge of computers.

5. Attractive salary according to the experience.

May fax their CV’s to 24597347 or email to techno@omantel.net.om

ENGINEER/TECH/MECH

SKILLED LABOUR

Urgently required Project Engineer for a reputed Construction Company in Muscat with Civil Engineering Degree/Diploma, 4 to 10 years experience, holding Oman/GCC Driving License. E.mail: assaud@omantel. net.om or FAX: 24953530

Required female tailors Philippine national 2Nos and cutting Master also Philippine female. Must have Oman experience in stitching fashion clothes. C.R 1046847. Contact : 93219696

Required urgently Structural Mechanical Engineer having more than 5 years of experience with GCC driver license for a reputed fabrication company in Barka. Contact: 94144901

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

Contact: +968 99250595 Mail CV: tc.subi@yahoo.com ADMIN/ HR Urgently required for a Hotel / hotel apartments in Muscat: Receptionists (Omani) – male / female. Contact 97677211

ACCOUNTANT Job vacancy for Omanis (male / female) an experienced showroom cashier in Wadi Kabir. Interested candidates please mail your CV to hanif@sofantrading.com & fax No. 24792831 We are looking for Chief Financial Officer, Male 40- 45 years old, , Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 - 15 yrs. of experience.

Contact: +968 24702133, Email: admin-dept@daud.om Wanted Accountant. contact 94007259 Email: smylackal@gmail.com

Leading construction company requires experienced Site Engineer and QA/QC Engineer for residential/ commercial project. Require NOC. Send your CV : degree.engineer2015@gmail.com Urgently required for a leading Company Planning engineer. Fax : 24478522, Email : gh1.careers@ gmail.com Experienced construction Civil Engineer with qualification (attested) certificates & with Omani driving license.

Contact: slayhawk@yahoo.com 99601004

MEDICAL CATERING Chinese/ Arab/ continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970

DOMESTIC HELP FULL time housemaid needed for family in Azaiba - visa, accommodation provided. No release. Contact 95123244 House maid 1No. good speaking English and Arabic diploma holder preferably Philipino. Contact: 99200084 Email: almammry2013@ gmail.com Wanted full time maid for Indian family. Visa provided. Contact: 92800073 / 95120404 Wanted housemaid with release for Indian family. Contact 92800073 or 99247040 Domestic helper for a family in Muscat. Must be able to cook Indian food & speak Hindi. Cleaning home laundry and accompanying children. Contact: 91396909

DRIVER

Required Prometric passed nurse to join clinic. Contact: 91478749 Required female Nurse with MOH license for a private a private clinic in Bowsher area, Muscat. Contact: 92189807 Female Lab Technician required urgently for Sohar International Medical Centre-reasonable salary and furnished accommodation -email: muttaheraziz@yahoo.com ; sohar.imc@gmail.com / tel:91304511 / 92369417 /93342567 New private clinic looking for GP Doctor & OBS & GYNK Doctor & staff Nurse with MOH license in Oman.

Contact: 97882811

MANAGER A newly started travel agency in Ruwi requires a Manager. The candidate should have 5-7 years experience with excellent communication skills and a valid Omani driving license. Interested candidates , please send CV to manager4travels@gmail.com, within 15 days from the date of this advertisement

MISC

Required Driver 1 No Indian or Philipino, good speaking English and Arabic with valid GCC driving license. Contact: 99200084 Email: almammry2013@gmail.com

Travel agent in Muscat required counter staff (male / female) Sales Executive (male/female).

Interested send CV on vacancies20152015@hotmail.com

Valid bike license (Oman), Driver required for reputed chain of restaurants in Muscat visa available.

Contact: 93798969

Storekeeper Required Urgently – Any Graduate with 2-3 years experience in similar field with good knowledge of MS Office, Age: 2328 years can apply to tclsales@ teejan.com

We required driver (L.M.V). Contact: 92392979 Urgently required one experienced House Driver to work in capital area. Contact: 93888666 / 24493666 / 99228454 Required heavy duty driver, preferably with good experience and communication skills. Contact: 91408759 Email: hanaa.alritaj@ gmail.com

EDUCATION Required teachers with B.Sc B.Ed BA B.Ed, Karate and art for Omani Pvt. School.contact 95141554 / 95825772 Post Graduate researcher required.

Contact 99229700

A well reputed profile sheet & Purlin manufacturing company urgently requires following personals with valid Oman driving license, Factory Manager, Accountant, Sales Executive. Send your CV to applymd2015@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Experienced Secretary required experienced for Ruwi office. Must have high standard of competence in MS Office suite and excellent Arabic / English communication skills. Send CV and covering email to mj-co@omantel.net.om

SALES / MARKETING

A new lady’s fashion shop in shopping mall require Omani and Filipino sales lady. A new fast food shop in the same mall require Filipino cashier.

Please send CV to newbrandpanorama@gmail.com Urgently required Sales & Marketing Executives, carpenters and light duty drivers for a Muscat based kitchen company valid Omani D/L and experience in the related field are preferred.

Contact: 92929906 Email: omansales2016@gmail.com Required project salesman on profit sharing basis. contact@absmct.com/ 99221683 Lady Telesales Executives & Business Development Executives with Oman D/L for leading IT & Media Enterprise. Enthusiastic Freshers also welcome. jobs@interacoman.com

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SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance, Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L, NOC available.

Cont: 98278801, mansoormk10@ gmail.com Sr. Accountant with 14 yrs experience, 2 yrs in Oman capable of handling all accounting functions. NOC available. Contact: 92404608 Email: jin_75@rediffmail.com Male Accountant 24 yrs, MBA (Finance & HR), DIFA certified having 2.9 yrs experience as Account assistant looking for suitable job, Currently on Visit Visa. Contact:95878661 E-mail: nazeelc@yahoo.com Fresher 24 years B.Com Graduate, Tally 7.2 & ERP-9, looking for a suit#Contact: 97219505 Male accountant BSc Hons (Finance & Accounts) having 2 years experience in accounts, looking for suitable job on visit visa. Contact: 91420128

Male/Female advertising and media sales executives required with valid driving license and minimum 1 year experience. Mail CV to blackandwhiteoman@gmail.com

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah.

More than 20 years experience in accounting job (upto the finalization of accounts), 8 years working experience in Middle East in Dubai, Salalah.

Contact: 91325029

Sales man with 3- 5 years experience with driving license to work in insurance brokerage in Oman.

Contact: 93544244

CMA, three years experience 24, Indian on visit visa seeking accounts / Audit position. Contact: 96694516 Email: kalathiljoe@live.com

Require sales executive with experience in hydraulic hoses, crimping and services / building materials contact@absmct.com/92830110

Indian male 25 B.B.M Arabic, English, Hindi speaking 2 years experience in Accounting at Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact: 91266733 / 96392009 Email: safvank.k9@gmail.com

Required urgently for sales of building materials, PPE & related products with driving license & 4+ yrs experience in this field. Email CV & expected package to salesforoman@gmail.com Wanted Sales man (experienced in transporting etc). contact 94007259 Email: smylackal@gmail.com Urgently required: Sales Executive- with 5 years experience in aluminum and sales, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Urgently required Sales Executive with 2 years experience in electrical outdoor sales. Must have D/L and NOC. Contact: 91373200 Email: oman@sentorsupplies.com Sales & Marketing Executive for travel and tourism. Contact: 92890506 A trading company in Muscat requires Sales Executive with minimum 1 yr experience & Oman driving license & welding machine / electronics / power tools technician with min. 1 year experience.

Email: jobs.trading2015@gmail.com

Required cleaner for restaurant at Ruwi. Labor clearance available.

Release letter required. Call immediately- 92836495

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

Required cleaner/helper for restaurant at Ruwi high street. labour clearance ready.

Contact 92836495

Male 28, MBA Finance & Marketing with 4 Years experience in UAE seeks suitable placement. Contact - 90264337

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

A special section from Times of Oman & Al Shabiba Every Monday & Wednesday.

Finance Manager 26 years experience with NOC available immediately. Contact: 91302906 / 91335205 MBA International Business in finance and operations Indian male 24, (3 months visit visa) seeking immediate placement. Contact 968 97489409 / Email: abhay8168@ gmail.com Accountant finance Indian male 25 yrs B.Com tally ERP.9, 3+ yrs working experience in India on visiting visa for 3 months seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93772901 /95309001 Email id: araj2378@ gmail.com Indian male 22 years, B.Com Graduate 1 year experience as Accountant in India on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 98693800 / 95709455 Email: hameeshham29143@gmail. com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT. 8 years experience. Noc Available. Oman driving License seeks suitable Opportunity. GSM- 98184170 Accountant , Indian (Kerala) male, more than 09 years experience in Qatar (02 years) and New Delhi experience upto finalization of Accounts & expertise in using Tally ERP-9, MS Office (Word & Excel). Currently on visit visa, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97864890 / 97268429 Email: vinodthomas80@gmail.com 20 years Oman experienced Lady Accountant / Manager.

Contact: 96025193

Indian female 22 years experience in Secretary, Accounting tally, looking for suitable job on visit visa.

Contact: 97084473 Email: jumihasin10@gmail.com Indian male 35 years BBM diploma in A/C & Banking 5 years experience in Oman as Business promoter with valid D/L & NOC seeking urgent placement in Muscat. Contact : 92683606 Email: abhi.abraham09@gmail.com

Indian male 8 years experience having B.Com and MBA ready to work in HR customer service, Admin banking & related field.

Contact : 97436890 / 96939803.

Email: girimub@gmail.com

Indian lady 15 yrs experience in Insurance / Accounts looking for suitable placement. Contact : 92986455

Indian lady, bachelor degree in Preparatory Programme (BPP) and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), completed training course in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook from KTI looking for full time / part time job opportunity in Oman. Contact 92437568, 96795853, Email: linda_navs@yahoo.com

Urgent Accountant (female India, 6+ years exp in tally ERP (latest), finalization of account, tax accounting, stock maintenance, payroll, ledger etc. Contact: 91551164 / 91175456

Accountant, Indian Male, 15 Years experience (8 Years in Oman with Driving License & NOC) Seeks suitable placement, Contact 94117616, 91238272 praveen78oman@gmail.com

Accountant, B.Com, male, having 2 years Oman & 8 years Kerala experience in finalization of accounts, stock maintenance, payroll, tally ERP , MS Office etc. NOC in hand.

Contact: +917356273548 Email: shajumathew23@gmail.com

Chief Accountant, 12 years of Oman experienced looking for suitable placement. Contact: 99513082

ACCA member / B.Com looking for Accountants / auditing or relevant job on visit visa. Contact: 97769145 Accountant cum Sales Executive Indian male 29 yrs, 6 years experience in Oman presently on visit visa, Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 95273713, Email: binadam399@gmail.com Male, 27 years work experience 3 years lost employment Administration Manager and Finance Executive education MBA and BBA finance C.G.P.A 3.71 Good hardworking professional. contact 99685330 Email: hussain_ca87@ yahoo.com Accountant Indian female having 5 years exp in finalization, audit and administration in GCC presently in Muscat seeking suitable position. Contact 97323574 Email: sreeja@236@gmail.com 10 yrs UAE experience fin. Controller looking for job change. Contact: 98006226 Accountant Indian male 10 years experience in Oman can do up to finalization and good knowledge of Tally ERP- 9 can be joined immediately with NOC. Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com Keralite lady (2 yrs experience in Oman) required job in Accounts. Contact: 97096918 Accountant, Indian female on visit visa degree: B.Com, exp 6+ years in tally ERP-9 (latest), finalization of account, Tax, Accounting, Stock maintenance payroll etc. Contact: 91551164 /91175456 Email: mk-jothipriya@gmail. com Sri Lankan Male Accountant, Age 26, BBA Spl, CA Inter, Having more than 5 years’ Experience in accounting field seeking for suitable placement NOC Available Contact: 97250638 msmnaja@ gmail.com Indian male with B.Com, MBA finance & marketing 14 yrs exp seeking suitable placement.

Contact : 0091 8697292219, Email : rejesh.nair@gmail.com

Part time accountant, senior accountant, doing all type of accounting works, up to finalization. contact.95254864 SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement.

NOC Available. Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com Finance Manager, 12 years experience in leading Construction and manufacturing companies (9 years in Oman) have strategic vision and proven leadership ability. B.Com, CPA- USA & modern accounting certificate from “AUC”. “NOC” in hand. Contact: 97220505 Indian female 28 years M.Com, Accountant having 6 years experience in Accounts, finalization, Tally currently on visit visa.

Contact : 95595083 Email: merlinfernandes16@yahoo.in

ADMIN Indian female MBA , 3 Years experience in Admin MIS , family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com 10 years Gulf & 4 years Oman experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact: 95824598 Looking for job Admin / HR. Release available. contact 94229041 Indian, Male having 8 years in purchase and admin furnishing / metal scrap On visit visa, available to join Immediately if selected # 00968- 96675184 , 97704828 Indian male, HR / Admin (MBA) Executive with 3 years experience (UAE , India) seeks suitable placement ready for immediate joining.

Contact: 90162412 HR/ Recruitment specialist with 8 years Oman experience in entire gamut of HR functions like resource planning, recruitment, HR policies & procedures performance appraisal, expatriate affairs, exit interviews & ticketing.

Contact 93825307 Email: javthath@rediffmail.com

M O N DAY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN A BBA degree holder Man looking For suitable job #95864575

ARCHITECT Architect (BSC), female 23 one year experience with valid Omani driving license, under family visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92670199 Email: tkhaleque92@ gmail.com Interior 3d designer, good knowledge in softwares. #93837973 Architect with bachelor degree 4 years experience in architectural design (interior & exterior) professional in (3D Max- Archicad - AutoCAD - Photoshop). #96041201 Email: amer.yousfan@gmail.com

CATERING Indian cook, tandoori cook, Chinese cook experience in Indian looking for a cook job in hotel, restaurant.

The candidate is presently in India. Contact: 98744307

DRAUGHTSMAN

Indian female, 30 yrs, Interior Designer Bachelor degree with 5 yrs working experience seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact 98499975, Email : swasdesigner@gmail.com

Qualification MBA PMP six sigma (GB) Countries exposure Canada & Middle East, Industry any (experienced in bank, telecom, transport.

Nationality-Canadian. On visit in Oman.

Contact - 97203531

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian, female, 24 yrs, BE, CS Engg with 2 yrs Exp in Tech Support at Hewlett Packard & S/W Development at ISRO-India, looking for a job in Tech Support /Admin/Teaching/IT field. Contact : 92891427, reshmatj@ gmail.com

Civil Engineer 5 years experience in Oman, 3 years in EURO looking best career in my field or management, with valid driving license. Contact: 93149659

B.Sc Civil 9 years experience looking for suitable placement as a Residence Engineer having valid Omani D/L. Contact : 94431917 Email: gmssohel.ce@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 20 years experience in project management including 10 years in Oman. Contact: 91177755

Indian female 11 years experience in Oman as a Quantity Surveyor in Civil having valid Omani driving license.

NOC available. Contact: 99879525

Civil Engineer B.Sc -6 years experience with constructions companies - 1 years in Oman - qualified as Site Engineer & Planning Engineer.

Contact+968-94682217

Experienced Civil Engg professional 12/26 years ran a company as Working partner have estimation, tendering of high rise building infrastructure steels conc. Products seeks suitable placement. contact 95360102 / 94460357 Indian male 24 years Instrumentation technician have 2.5 years experience in India, seeks a suitable job. Contact: 92696798 Email: ajoarikkatt@gmail.com

20 years experience. Contact: 94795033

Indian female 25 years B.Tech (Electrical) having 4 years experience in tendering, estimation and costing seeking suitable placement currently on family visa. #97228117

Driver Bangladeshi, 26 years, 3 years experience U.A.E, 3 years experience Oman. Contact: 96737693 / 99463698

Omani Mechanical Engineer with 2years Experiences looking for new opportunity . Contact:95993315, alrus7idisaif@gmail.com

Architect more than 2 years exp in design, site supervision with strong knowledge in AutoCAD, Revit , 3D Max, Photo shop and Microsoft office looking for a good job. N.O.C available. Contact: 90162685 Email: mohamed.dakrory92@gmail.com

Driver looking For job 95154610

Maintenance planner (CMMS), Indian male 29 yrs, B.Com, MBA having 5 years Gulf exp in oil and gas industry in planning dept. currently on visiting visa, looking for suitable job. Contact: 93179096

Qualified Engineer with 3-5 yrs exp in purchase, 2.2 yrs in automotive service, excellent communication, presentation and management skills.

PH: 968 91306841; Email: shanyphilip23@gmail.com

Civil Engineer, Indian male, 11 years experience in construction, having D/L and NOC. Contact: 94194399 Email: shiblyrock@gmail.com

Electronics diploma 1 year exp in telecommunication, mobile tower field support Engg. Vishnu Madhu Soodanan. Contact: 94519571 / 95233636 Email: vishnumadhull@ gmail.com

Pakistani Driver wanted job, with 3 years experience. #94356465 Driver, 42 yrs, suitable job K.S.A 12 years Oman, 4 years release available. Contact: 93885404 Looking for driving job. Contact: 93650209 Light driver need job exp 4 years.

Contact: 94208089 Looking for driving job. #98219182 Indian driver, 4 years experience in Oman with car looking for suitable job (NOC available). #93053917 Light duty driver looking for job, 2 yrs exp. Contact : 96342684 Driver seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98134080 Indian Driver need job. #91254539 Light driver for job 5 yrs exp.

Contact: 92171166 Bangladeshi male driver, 48 yrs, exp 14 years, 9 years need job & visa, got release letter.#99165961

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Jordanian Engineer in MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING Good experience Sheet Metal Fabrication, AutoCad, Solidworks 3D, Storage Tanks & Silos, Sales - Speaking Arabic/English/Russian -GSM#90198575 / 99201710 Electrical Engineer (B.E) with 5 years experience (3 yrs in Gulf) NOC available. Contact: 92119851 Email: mayurdevadiga@gmail.com Resident Engineer B.E civil 25 years exp 12 yrs in Architecture consultancy having Oman Dubai D/L NOC available. Contact: 95732453 Email: milindj951@gmail.com

Civil Engineer, Indian male 29, having 7 years exp in construction field& Auto Cad in Oman. Having valid driving license. Fluent in English & Arabic. Looking for suitable job in reputed firm. Contact 99650569

Palestinian Petroleum Engneer (B.E) 25 yrs available in Oman seeking for placement.

Contact: 91445467 Email: abdulrahman.m.mustafa@gmail.com

B.SC Civil Engineer, road construction field with 12 years experience in Oman. Contact: 92200485

Light duty driver 8 years exp in U.A.E need visa Oman seeks placement.#96975028 / 95803184

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with MBA in marketing & HR 3 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. #0091 9846568080 / 0091 4772702080, Email: jbabu4@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer (6 years Diesel Engine, control maintenance, solar) (1 year HVAC) NOC & D/L. Contact: 97452159 Email: mohamedkarrar.mk@gmail.com

Architectural & Structural Draughtsman 5 years experience.

Contact: 97312627

Light duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 94435912 / 92439315

M.Tech having 3 years experience in Mechanical Engineering department looking for any University to hire. Contact: 90150913 Email: rahmanmechengg@yahoo.in

Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male 24 years of age on visiting visa with 2 years experience in oil & gas seeking suitable position. Contact: 94743685 Email: akashpp444@ gmail.com

Civil designer, Autocad, Diploma (3 yrs) Civil Engg, well exp PH : 92741929

DRIVER

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Indian male 38 yrs total 19 yrs experience (Gulf 13 yrs) in Electrical field, electrical Forman experience 4 yrs in Oman seeking suitable placement in hospital setup, maintenance, department, construction field now visit visa, NOC available. Email: binu. kumar51@yahoo.com

Indian male, 23 years, B.Tech [ECE], 1 year experience in sales and installation (electronics, IT and networking devices) is looking for suitable job. Currently on visiting visa. Contact: +968 96761020 email:a dik.mm7@gmail.com

Autocad d/man, exp in arch, interior 3d, photoshop. Contact : 93837973

Project/ Program Manager/ Finance professional

B.E Mechanical Engineer Indian male 27 years having 4 years experience including 2 years GCC experience, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 90156984 Email: noorullahanas@gmial.com M.Tech (Electronics) Indian lady (on visit), 5 years teaching experience in engineering colleges also running entrance coaching centre for 8 years is looking for a better placement in colleges, schools & office etc. Contact: 93596002 Indian B. tech Civil, 19 years exp , seeks suitable position.

Contact: 98365910 Email: kks.pkd1969@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, B.Tech Electrical Engineer 2 years experience in construction + Auto Cad designing, is looking for suitable job. Currently on visiting visa. Contact: 98266897 Email: elbinkeldhose92@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, B.Tech, with 8 years GCC experience (5 years in Oman) in MEP & Oil/gas construction/Inspections side with NOC, is seeking new assignments in Oman.

Has attested degree certificate and Oman D/L. Contact No.96083636, Email:tobineasow@gmail.com Male 22, B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering dynamic personality, seeking suitable position languages known English, Hindi, Currently in Oman. Contact: 93611341 / 92603257 Email: arjunakshysree@ gmail.com Indian lady Electrical Engineer, M. Tech in power systems (NITC) & B.Tech in EEE (CET) with 3 years experience in electrical design & consultancy. Proficient in AutoCAD, LT & HT design estimation, seeking suitable position in Muscat. #97710156 Email: deepthikarur@gmail.com

Indian male 23 years B.E Electrical Engineer 1 year experience is looking for suitable job in Oman currently on visiting visa (certificate attested). Contact: 93547687 Email: ajay.v.sprabu@gmail.com

BSC Civil Engineer and MBA 25 years experience in roads, infrastructure and management have Oman D/L. Contact: 96936263 Email: saadfallih@gmail.com

Workshop Supervisor 29 years working in Oman P.D.O area project NOC available. Contact 94594234 Email: acmshaheed@outlook.com

Electronics Engineer, 26 yrs Indian with 2 years work experience & PG diploma in power electronic. Contact: 98477015

BSc. in Civil Engineer 12 years experience in infrastructure & building having UAE D/L currently on visit visa looking suitable placement.

Contact 91206763 Email: delwar.civil.97@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer, have total 4.5 years experience & have 1.5 years experience in Oman. #96535084 Mechanical Engineer (Indian male) with experience in HVAC & Fire fighting looking for suitable placement in electro mechanical field. #90154793 Email: sangu.vazhoor@gmail.com BE Mechanical Engineer, 23 years, Indian male on visit available for immediate placement please contact: 96145820 or arunsankar.10.92@ gmail.com Civil Engineer B.Sc 5 years experience with building construction companies in Oman seek suitable placement. Contact: 98180524 Electrical Instrument Engineer having 10 years experience in high voltage and low voltage with extensive experience in instrumentation & automation, approved from PAEW for more info. Contact: 92950788 / Email: engtariq2007@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with 7 years experience in oil & gas field have extensive experience in QA/ QC (Static equipment) , have API 653 & CSWIP3.1 certifications for more info: khaled19858@gmail.com Contact: 91917294 4 years experience Electrical Engineer electrical primary substations UG cables and OHL, fluent in English and Arabic. Contact: 91204243 Electrical Engineer 4 years experience oil and gas electrical substation water project fluent in Arabic and English primavera p6 operator.

Contact: 99525856 Diploma Engineer civil. #91151237 Project Engineer (Electrical) 5 years experience in Oman primary substations + OHL, oil & gas, AutoCAD design driving license. NOC available.

Contact: 93210528 / 99410588

MEDICAL Medical Lab technician, MSc, 29 years, An Indian female having 3 years experience with prometric passed on family visa seeking suitable placement in capital. Contact: 93231549 Email: sujithsolomon@ yahoo.co.in

MISCELLANEOUS Sudanese lawyer with experience 10 years in Judiciary in Khartoum.

Contact: 94458976

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Welder fabrication, 6g 3g,tig arc gas PH : 95068064

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills.

Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. #95149624

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male B.Tech Mechanical Eng (2 years exp in India) fire safety seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93523752

Microbiologist, Indian female, 25 yrs Msc Microbiology with 2.5 yrs Exp in Hospital & Dairy industry. Expertise in Microbial analysis of milk products and clinical samples. Currently in Oman seeking for suitable job opportunities. GSM#94767297 Email:shobi24190@gmail.com

FEMALE SYRIAN ARCHITECT ,new graduate have good experience in architect programs, auto-cad 3d max ,sketch up , Photoshop ,sketch up, searching for a job full time or part time, for contact : 97482871

Indian male 30 yrs 9 experience in Oman housekeeping supervisor with NOC seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96254837 Email: sudheeshmrf@gmail.com

Indian Male 33 yrs, BCA ,10 years experience(India & Oman) IT Support, System administrator/ supervisor looking for suitable Job.#95448561

Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres), seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Road and Construction Engineer exp 5 years in Oman. contact 97646908

HOSPITALITY B.F hotels management 2 years exp food and beverages service, kitchen, 4 languages, N.O.C available. Contact: 95196212 Email: mido.hossams09@yahoo.com Hotel exp 4 years F+ B (service) visit visa expires 13/11/2015, B.A Hotel Management. Contact: 91987013 / 96971643 Email: shinekls34@gmail.com

IT Desktop / server / network support exp 7 yrs male, visit visa CCNA, MCSE. Contact: 93594114 Indian army Retired Colonel with 25 years experience in project management, optical cables, telecommunications & IT system integration available for immediate employment in project management / Business development. Immediate available to join. Email: amrain66@gmail.com Indian male 28 yrs, Master degree in Computer Application, 2 years exp in Oman looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 93295112 Email: syedsadathali.mca@gmail.com Indian female 25 years M. Sc Computer Science 1 year experience looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 91080464, Email : leahagnes@ hotmail.com ME Communication System, Exp in RF/Microwave, Access Ctrl, Networking & Server Ph: 95508754 Indian male (22) Java /J2EE specialization with BCA Graduate having 6 months experience in web application development / IT technical support, looking for suitable job. Contact: 00968 96292480 Email: farzeenfarook@gmail.com IT Telecom / Networking Engineer with CCNA & CCNP, 3 yrs experience, currently in visit visa. contact 97435944 Email: abdulsameerr@ gmail.com IT System Administrator MCSA Sudanese UAE experience. #91302074 Computer & Network Engineering.

11 yrs experience looking for suitable job. Contact 92811179/ 95882614 Email: khalido24@yahoo.com

LOGISTICS 10 yrs exp in Oman in logisticshave Oman D/L-looking for suitable placement-contact 96410767, email: harishkts@yahoo.com

MEDICAL Palestinian dentist looking for job in private hospitals, Medical Center or Dental Centers in Muscat 15 yrs exp P. hospitals out Muscat. #96951750

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Indian 14 years experience in consumer goods as Marketing Manager with visa D/L. Contact: 90314809 Manager- Media & Advertising industry-15 yrs Gulf exp - seeks suitable opening- 93031168

PROJECTS Civil Engineer, Indian male, 25 years, B.Tech, have 3 years experience in building construction seeks suitable positions. 92609893, alenalexander123@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING

Indian male, 10 years Driving experience in Dubai. Looking as a company driver job. Contact : 96180458 , +91 99 61 019366 (India ) 32 years, Indian Male MSC,MBAHR having 7.5yrs Exp (HR/SAP operations) with Oman valid driving license, seeking suitable opening in Human Resource & Admin/backend jobs.Contact: 00968-99322978 Bangladeshi male, seeks job as Supervisor, 2 yrs experience with cleaning company & valid Oman driving license. Contact 97443270 Indian Male,27 years, MCA, 3 years Experience in Web developer, Technical Supporter, looking for suitable position. Presently Working in India. Contact- +91 7403288953, +91 9020679788.Email-vinuvn88@ gmail.com.

Indian female 2+ years Oman experience with D/L seeks suitable position in Business development / corporate & retail sales in training / IT / education ITES companies.

Contact: 98989784

Indian male having 14 years of experience in HR, Purchase Dept, having Oman driving license looking for a suitable position , at Salalah.

Noc available. Email. Madhuvtk@ gmail.com Contact: 91182907

Indian Male 22 years B. Com Graduate currently in Oman on family visa looking for a job, preferably in sales department. Also possess a valid Oman driving license.contact 98504698

Indian Female 10 years as cook in Muscat, Oman . South Indian, Gujarati special food, Looking for part time. Contact 96710189

Indian male B.Com with valid driving license & 8 years of Gulf experience with NOC or transfer letter whatever required looking for a outdoor job is sales or business development immediate placement.

Contact 91234320 Sales & marketing professional with 8+ years experience at UAE & Oman in hotels & airlines with valid driving license NOC available, seeks suitable opportunity. Contact : 95544612 Purchase experienced 8 years in Construction Company Indian male 45 yrs, release & D/L available. Contact: 90268183 / 96987234 Pakistani male, 8 years sales and marketing experience specialized in MBA, Marketing with valid driving license (GCC), NOC and with best sales performance award looking for suitable position Email: sheraz. rotanahotel@gmail.com , 99249296 / 93313173 Indian male MBA, 2 years experience in sales and 2 years experience in HR with D/L looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91202335 Email: mrishad90@yahoo.com

Indian male MBA (MKTG) B.com having 2 years experience in sales marketing and business development looking for a suitable opening presently on family visit visa.

Contac: 93268245 Email: gregjose1991@gmail.com Indian male with CA & CPA having 20 years of experience, currently on visit seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 93910095 Email: rejithomas07@gmail.com Filipino male, 29 Graduate of Bs IT with GCC experience as document controller and Executive Secretary looking for employment. Contact: +968 93929569 Indian female MSC computer Sc, IELTS certified experienced in teaching higher grades IGCSE GD, CBSE in Oman and India seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98048946 Indian female M.Sc Physics, B.Ed having 5 years experience in teaching looking for suitable job. Contact: 97367389 Sales Manager MBA, having 12 years of experience with valid GCC driving license looking for a suitable position NOC available. Contact: 98125226

Indian male, 26 M.A., 2 yrs experience in India and 11 months in Oman looking for job in sales or accounts.

Contact: 97022508 Email: zakariyazba@gmail.com

Female accountant on family visa available for part time / full time.

Contact: 98002428

Having 5 years exp, as office coordinator, NOC available. contact 92889617

Electrical Forman Indian male 38 years, total 19 yrs exp in electrical field, electrical Forman exp 4 yrs in Oman seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97379290

Indian male more than 8 years experience in UAE in Office , Sales Marketing with good computer skills having driving license looking for suitable placement. contact 99369081 Email: shazulashraf60@gmail.com Male BA, with D/L having 7 years exp in Oman wanted suitable job in Sales inventory & procure. contact 92191026 Sales and marketing - male 27 yrs, 2 years experience seeking suitable placement with Oman D/L. Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com

MECH. Engg with 3+ year’s exp in India & U.A.E (Site Engg / Sales Engg) in oil & gas on visit visa looking for suitable jobs. contact 97896725 Email: georgymct@gmail. com Pakistani male 29 years General Salesman with 5 years of experience, valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placement. contact 97216830 Chemical Engineer, Indian, 2 years of exp in industrial production, seeking suitable placement. contact 91247222

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M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male having 7 Years of Experience in Oman Having Valid Driving License working as a Office Driver ,Looking for a suitable Position, NOC Available. Contact: 99680429, Email:anzarkutty1975@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANT: Indian male 25 having 4 years experience in accounting & having well knowledge in tally.

Contact:968094535881, 0091 9037622048, Email: vishnuraj889@gmail.com

Syrian architect have years and half experience in oman looking for work, full time perfect in architectural programs 3d max , auto cad , Photoshop , and sketch up. for contact : 0096897482871

Pakistan Male: 24 years,M.Com Finance having 2.5 year experience as a accountant & marketing executive looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97670816, E.mail: naeem.ahsan68@gmail.com

Female, Indian, 35 years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) fresh graduate with BSc looking for positions in Front Office, administration office, or any suitable positions in hospital, polyclinic, companies or Institutions.

Contact 90236481.

Senior Accountant. 8 Years experience. NOC available. Oman driving license. Seek suitable opportunity.

GSM- 98184170

Indian Male 47 years MBA-Operations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC, seek challenging position in SCM/Logistics/Procurement.

GSM-94236414. Mail id – dialindia33@gmail.com Well experienced management finance specialist having 18 years experience available for placement.

Contact.95602518 23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, OBU Bsc, 2.5 years of experience in audit and finance in Big 6 Firms, Looking for permanent placement in similar field. Release NOC available. Contact: #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com 22, Male, Indian, BBA (Marketing), 1 year experience in India, Looking for suitable placement in Sales and Marketing. #91897046, azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Indian Male,27,ACCA Part Qualified,B.COM with 7+ yrs exp in receivables and credit control in Oman looking for suitable placements. NOC available. # 9657 4343.

Indian Female, Science Graduate, 3 years Experience in Teaching back home. Looking for a suitable job opportunity as a teacher, in Schools in Muscat Region. Contact : 96431456 / 95704814 Looking for a suitable job as Jr. Accountant/ Jr. Administration in a reputed company. NOC Available.

GSM # 93004738.

ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experience, presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available, seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Chemical Engineer Indian 2 years of experience in production field Contact: 91247222 Email:sahadpoonchola@gmail.com Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing.

Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91033395 Civil Autocad Draughtsman part time work for job mob :96023726 Indian female, MBA, 25yrs Having 4yrears of experience in MNC, hands of experiences in recruitment and administration, flexible for any suitable job placements currently in visting visa. Contact Tel : 98864639 Email : neethuvijayan06@gmail.com Indian Male, 25, Chartered Accountant, working with ICICI Bank India.

On a Visit Visa in Oman. Staying with parents at Azaiba. Ph: 24492638.

Email: shyamal008@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 Yrs, Business Management, 6 years in Oman.

Knowledge of MS Office and Arabic Language. Seeks suitable position.

Contact 93931935 Indian Mechanical Engineer, 30, having 8yrs of UAE Sales/Business Development. experience in Electromechanical and Irrigation sectors. Contact no- +971558763220 email id-sangowri@outlook.com Indian male, with finance and Law degree, having more than 25 years of experience in Finance/ Accounts / Audit (5 years of Oman experience) seeks suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 98421619.

E-mail: talemadhamu@yahoo.com.

31 year Indian male PG in HR ,with 5 yrs Professional experience in HR in Construction Oil & Gas Oman seeking for a suitable placement.

Kindly contact me on 93488914, email-Kaarthickshankar@gmail.com MBA Finance with more than five years of experience in Finance & Accounts including GCC, looking for a suitable opening. Having UAE driving license. #91391802.

Indian female with MBA in finance seeking immediate placement.

Contact: 968-93316493 Sudanese/26/Bsc Computer Science /3 years exp/skills Excellent knowledge in operating systems and maintaining computers Java Programmer Web Developer Linux SMS solutions Android developer/ email khalid.omx@gmail.com/ # 944958080 and 99758186.

Indian male B.Eng. in IT,CCNA, MCSA,MCSE, 2.5 yrs + exp. in IT support, networking and server support valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 92607532 Indian B.E Computer Science graduate 2012 passout. 1 .5 yrs exp. in Accounting. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Having NIIT certificate in Diploma in Java Technology. # 97767894 Email: jinsonjacobjohn@gmail.com Indian male 24 YEARS, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics), having 2 yrs. exp as Electrical Site Engineer.

Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications, seeking for suitable placement in any related industries. Contact 98045482, Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail. com Indian male, 24 years, HSE Engineer having 2 years of Indian experience.

Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications, seeking for suitable placement in any related industries.

Contact 98045482 Indian Male (Diploma in electronics Engineering and CCNA.) having 9 years of experience in Networking, 5 years’ experience in Oman. Looking for a suitable Placement. NOC available. GSM- 93787098, Email –anishktr@gmail.com Mechanical Draftsman, Indian male 27, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering having 7 years of experience in Auto CAD looking for a suitable placement.#97351786 / 96143708 mohammednazeer07@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, OBU Degree, 2.5 years experience in audit and finance in Big6 firm, Looking for permanent placement. NOC release available. Contact: 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com 27, male, ACCA finalist, have professional experience up to finalization of Accounts, Statutory and internal audit, expertise in using tally and focus & Oracle Software, have 3.5 years experience in accounts till finalization, seeking for permanent replacement ,#97654769, email id- abdullah.nooralam@yahoo. com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, 8 years experience ,Oman driving licence,Noc available. Seek Suitable opportunity.

GSM- 98184170 B.E Mechanical Engineer with 2 years’ experience in HVAC field on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 93442296 Email Id: sal201091@gmail.com.

Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286

MBA (F) B.COM Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job.

Presently on family visit visa.

Contact: - 96259171. Email: bhumicapandya@gmail.com

Indian male 22yr BBA with LOGISTIC Diploma, exp in tally and data entry seeking in suitable placement.

Contact; 90151739 email shakeeb.mp280gmail.com

Site Supervisor/ L Driver, Pakistani Male 33 with valid D/L, 4 years experience in Muscat, fluent in English, Arabic looking for suitable place. Contact: 97950869

Indian Male, MBA, Talented management expert having 6 year experience at U.A.E, India and Oman in luxury goods and Retail. Seeking suitable openings in related or same field. Contact:92700670 Email: jobcareer44@gmail.com B.Tech EEE with 4+ years experience in the field of it, networking, ex-tonics etc. presently working in Amazon India development centre as a content quality associate seeking for suitable jobs in Oman.

Contact : +91 9940514005, 93116402 email: mail2nbn@gmail.com MBA Finance with more than five years of experience in Finance & Accounts including GCC, looking for a suitable opening. Having UAE driving license. Contact no..91391802 Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact 98803439 Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in IT Trainer / Computer Teacher, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. # 95983711.

Join.mtmali@gmail.com M. Tech VLSI design, B. tech Electronics and instrumentation, Indian female,3 years teaching experience for graduation level students, seeking suitable placements .

Ph:00968 92904155. email-achusooraj@gmail.com Indian 26M, B. Tech Computer Science graduate, 3 years exp in India, looking for suitable job in Muscat.

Contact : 93125669, Email : amritrajGT18@gmail.com Sudanese/Bsc IT/26/2 years experience/excellent Eng-Arb speaking/ Omani driving license/96387227/ henrykarrar@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. # 91892264. mail: yv.dixit@yahoo.com Admin, having 10+ years experience in Admin/HR/Logistics/Time Keeper, in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat. Contact94369965mail - satya1528@gmail.com Two year experience in Oman, experience in sales, purchase and system admin, Having GCC license.

Contact number 97475860, Yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com Indian male B.Eng. in IT,CCNA, MCSA,MCSE, 2.5 yrs + exp. in IT support, Networking and Server support with valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. contact 92607532 Indian Female BSC nurse with 8+ years of experience including 3 years of GCC exp. Oman Prometric passed with 57 %. Currently in Oman. Contact : 98034384 Indian male Accountant, 12 years experience, looking for a full time or part time job, experience in tally also. Contact 98983122 Indian Male, 25, Chartered Accountant, working with ICICI Bank India. On a Visit Visa in Oman.

Staying with parents at Azaibah.

Ph:24492638. Email: shyamal008@ gmail.com India male 33 years. DCT, BBA, OSHA, looking for Job in Construction HSE, 11 Years experience with GCC license, NOC available Contact :- 9418 4280 Filipino Senior Architect with 13 years GCC experience. Proficient in 3D StudioMax, AutoCAD, Revit, Phostoshop, and Microsoft Office.

With NOC and Omani driving license.

Please contact 91292933.

Indian female, 40 yrs, 7 yrs experience in customer service, with D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95580711 ME Civil- structural Engineer, 8 Years Structural Engineer experience, Looking for Structural Designer, supervisor or site engineer Position. Iranian male.

Contact: 93696929 Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com Electronics System Eng. UK Graduate. Indian Female with relevant work experience. Eng. Analysis, Instrumentation and Control, Power & Heat, Electrical & Fluid, Drives & Actuators etc. Looking for an entry level position. Email s.dinesh1508@ gmail.com. Mobile: 97848075, +918105413827

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil Engineering having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact- 95042656 Indian female, MBA, 25yrs Having 4yrears of experience in MNC, hands of experiences in recruitment and administration, flexible for any suitable job placements currently in visting visa. Contact: 98864639 Email : neethuvijayan06@gmail.com Indian Male -25years B.Tech Engineer seeking any suitable jobs in Oman ,currently on visit visa.

Contact : Haneesh N. Surendran, Mob : 90126573, Email: - haneeshns02@gmail.com Female Junior Architect, Excellence in Autocad, Sketching & Modelling, Internship - KHAM Designs, Bangalore. Presently with Atulya Architects & Associates. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com Contact 00968-94057427.

Indian male BE Electrical & Electronics and PG in power systems (transmission & distribution) on visit seeking placement.

Contact 94669679 E Mail : prsabarish@gmail.com 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 Female, 35years, Bachelor of Pharmacy fresh graduate with BSc and MA looking for suitable position in hospital, polyclinic, companies or Institutions. Contact 90236481.

Electrical Maintenance Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact 98440637.

Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com Administration - Having 9+ years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement.

Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, 8 years experience, Oman driving license, Noc available seeks suitable opportunity.

GSM- 97705854 Indian male 24 B.Tech IT(engineer) 2.5 years exp in hardware networking, programming such as C and C++.

Currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 95153693 Indian male Auto Cad Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job.

Contact : 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian male 32 M. A. English and having 4 years of experience in teaching current company is ready to issue release letter.

Contact : 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Sudanese male, 31 years, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer , 6 year experience in construction and electrical production plant .

Mobile No ; +96894549609 Indian male 37 years B.Tech Graduate having 12 years experience of Electrical DCRP Works / Jobs in Oman with driving license looking for suitable opening. NOC available can join immediately. Contact : saiviharvasanth@gmail.com Indian female B.ARCH with 10 years experience (Indian & Oman) as an Architect is seeking a suitable in Muscat. Contact: 92412810 BE Civil Engineer with 11 years of experience in building construction with valid Oman DL, looking for suitable placement, NOC available.

Please contact 91329910.

Indian male 24 B.Tech IT (engineer) 2.5 years exp in hardware networking, programming such as C and C++.

Currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 95153693 Indian male 23yrs, 2yrs exp. In Accounts (india). Seeking suitable position in accounts. Currently on express visa. M: 94399509, E. midhunaloor16@gmail.com Civil Autocad draughtsman looking for part time job. Mobile: 95218737

Indian Male: 31yrs 8 Years Experience in the field of Business Development/ Sales/ Retail/ Logistics with good communication Skills seeking for suitable job in Oman .

Now available in Visit visa valid till (21st Oct). Contact; 99052340 , email: pradee.ys@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT , Indian male 30 years B.Com Having 7 years of Oman experience in the field of accounts & finance seeks for better placement.

Contact : 96143708 / 97351786 ME Civil- structural Engineer, 8 Years Structural engineer experience, looking for Structural Designer, supervisor or site engineer Position.

Iranian male. Contact: 93696929, Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT, 8 years experience, Oman D/L, Noc available seeks suitable opportunity. GSM- 98184170 Network/Noc Engineer, Indian male 27 years B.com (General) 5 years & 4 month’s of experience in the field of networking seeks for better placement. Contact :97663834, bro’s no:98730758 Indian male, BBA, having 8yrs exp including 2yrs of (UAE) exp looking opportunities withinSales, Logistics, Retail, Operations. CONTACT 99052340, Mail Id: pradee.ys@gmail.com B.Com Graduate, associate insurance, 25 year male, 3 years experience in accounts and 3 years in sales and marketing.#no-95236312, mail id-lilommca@gmail.com Syrian Architect years experience in oman for work 2d plans and 3d internal and external projects in cooperation or even a piece . for contact : 97482871 Electrical Engineer with BS & MS Degree having 5 years of Experience in Electrical Utility/Water sector seeks a suitable job (on visit).

Contact: snaveelh@gmail.com Phone: 24413033/ 95731852 25 year male, B graduate, associate insurance with 3 years exp in accounts and 3 years in marketing.

NOC available. Mail id lilommca@ gmail.com and no-95236312

M O N DAY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

CLASSES IELTS & TOEFL Academic / General Target Band 8 TQT Institute.

Ph # 24480800 / 99347202

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS 27,male,ACCA finalist, have professional experience up to finalization of accounts, statutory and internal audit, expertise in using tally and focus & oracle software, have 3.5 years experience in accounts till finalization ,seeking for permanent replacement ,GSM-97654769,email id-abdullah.nooralam@yahoo.com

WEBSITE

Senior Management Professional, MBA, 12 years+ exp. in Business Development/Sales Management , Sales Training, Content Development & Six sigma GSM:97428090 Part Time Accounting Job Complete Data Entry, Upto Finalization. Any Time Available. Location Al Hail, AL Khoud. #- +968-92049215 Email:- aiafe.oman@gmail.com ACCA finalist, Recent B.Com Graduate, Indian Female, looking for full time employment in Accounting and Audit.+96896964379, sangeethaumesh5@gmail.com Indian Chartered Accountant, Male 25 years, 5 years of relevant experience, On Visit visa, Staying with Parents. Also holds BCOM (Computer Applications). Contact 98164467, 24492638 shyamal008@gmail.com Arab Lady seeking for Housemanager/Personal Assistant job.

Highly experienced. Arabic, English &French. Contat : +961 71339568 email : famurr@hotmail.com

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, 4 years of experience in Structured cabling, termination and Fiber optic splicing. Looking for a suitable Placement. NOC available. GSM- 92484039, Email –rajaveer8989@gmail.com Indian male , 23 yrs, postgraduate Mechanical Eng. (M.Sc, UK), 1 year sales exp, having Oman DL, seeking for suitable employment in reputed firm. Contact: 91419764 Email: z.enggoman@gmail.com Pakistani male, MBA(Marketing)+PGD(HR) with 9 yrs experience in banking & hospital industry (Consumer Credit Review, Admin & HR). 3 yrs experience as Asst Manager, Admin & HR in famous private hospital in Oman with NOC. Contact: 95761982 or umerok@ hotmail.com Indian male 25 years, MBA finance and marketing with tally have 1.3 year experience in India. Now in Oman on visit visa. GSM: 97445488 Indian male, 19 years experience in purchase, material coordinator in building construction & factory production field. have good computer skills & driving license and NOC, looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 99008101 Working as Senior accountant,5yr. exp.in oman, Accounting upto finalisation, relevant computer skills tally9, Sage, vcams , Audit ,valid oman driving license, languages known English, Arabic, Hindi. NOC avaliable can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599. E-mail(ahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com) Indian Female, 35years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) fresh graduate with BSc and MA looking for positions in Front Office, administration office, or any suitable positions in hospital, polyclinic, companies or Institutions.

Contact 90236481 Network/Noc engineer, CCNA certified & CCNP trained, Indian male 27 years B.com(general) 5 years & 4 month’s of experience in the field of networking seeks for better placement. contact 97663834 / 98730758 INDIAN FEMALE– ME in CSE with 2 years’ experience in teaching seeking Suitable Job Opportunity. Contact: 94263445 or +91 9486251274, E mail – apshinmar@gmail.com Registered Filipina Nurse looking for a suitable job in Admin/ receptionist, experience in admin, on visit visa seeks placement. Contact 97435849

Structure/Pipeline,Piping Draughtsman have 12+ yrs. Exp. in Oman seeking suitable placement.

Contact 92103713 NOC available.

Indian male 22 years, looking for suitable placement in Hardware and Networking field, Having 1 year exp. in India, training in al ameen computers Muscat Ruwi. Qualification is Diploma in Electronics and Communication at present I am having my valid employee visa In the same work. Contact : 9739622910/8050101914, Email ID :- fairozhuded13@gmail.com Admin, having 10+ years experience in Admin/HR/Logistics/Time Keeper, in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat. #968 94369965,mail - satya1528@gmail.com Civil Engineer B.Sc -6 years experience with constructions companies - qualified as A Project Engineer & Planning Engineer .

Contact+968-94682217 Sudanese / Arabic & English teacher for all nationalities / willing to teach at home. Tel: 94211377 Indian male, 26 yr, b. tech Computer science, 4 years experience as system and network engineer looking for suitable job.

Contact : 0096893125669, Email : amritrajGT18@gmail.com Electrical Engineer with BS & MS Degree having 5 years of Experience in Electrical Utility/Water sector seeks a suitable job. Contact: 95731852 snaveelh@gmail.com Chartered Accountant, looking out for an opportunity in Oman in Audit OR Finance field. Available in Muscat from 10th – 16th Oct. Call : 91258435 26, Male, Indian, BBA (Finance), MBA(HR), Looking for suitable Job. Contact immediately. Contact 98176105, nruknaddin@outlook.com Indian lady looking for accounts Job, two years experience one year worked in Oman B.Com Graduate , Tally ERP9. GSM : 91123561 Indian looking for a part time accounting or Internal Auditing job, contact 99196621.

33 year male Indian Keralite looking for Senior Accountant or Assistant Accounts manager having 10 years of working experience in Oman and Qatar with valid GCC license willing to work any GCC country, please contact : 97433387

The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 14 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments& transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business.

Contact 93240027 26, Male, Indian, BBA (Finance), MBA(HR), Looking for suitable Job. Contact immediately contact 98176105, nruknaddin@outlook.com INDIAN MALE , MBA. Having 10+ years experience as Automotives Sales Manager .Worked with M/s TALWAR AUTO GARAGES PVT LTD India’s Largest Selling Dealer for VOLVO EICHER commercial vehicles .Seeking for suitable Job in Oman.

Contact no: 98045482 Email: dmstalwar@gmail.com 26, Male, Indian, BBA (Finance), MBA(HR), Looking for suitable Job. Contact immediately #98176105, Email: nruknaddin@outlook.com FABRICATION & ERECTION-DUCT MAN Candidate seeking suitable opportunities & presently in Oman with NOC Mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com 25yrs Indian Female with Bsc Nursing, MHA (master of hospital administration) Graduate looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 99513267 Email:-alinaelshaddai@gmail.com 50 years Indian male 15yrs experience as Manager in Steel and paper Plant seeking suitable placement. Kindly contact me on +91 9840943638 Chartered Accountant, Indian male, 25, two years experience, on visit visa. Staying with parents. Also has B.com+computer Application.

Contact: 24492638/98164467. shyamal008@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer. I have 6 year experience in Oman seeking for suitable position Oman. #97415597, email: Nasir.muscat@gmail.com Indian male with 18 years of Indian and Overseas experience in hospitality industry, with excellent cooking, operational, managerial and communication skills seeking a suitable job from reputed groups and organizations. On a visit visa.

Contact: 95363751 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 26, Male, Indian, BBA (Finance), MBA(HR), Looking for suitable placement in Finance/HR/Marketing.

Contact immediately. # 98176105, nruknaddin@outlook.com

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male, 38 years, BE and MBA in Marketing from UK seeks suitable placement in the IT industry. #91200413.

Indian male B.Eng. in IT,CCNA,MCSA,MCSE, 2.5 yrs + exp. in IT support, networking and server support valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/ Server support.

Contact 92607532 8+ years experienced senior accountant looking for a better placement. Contact No. +968 92935684.

Email - shabeerkkm@gmail.com.

NOC available.

29 years Indian female (MBAFinance) with 4 yrs experience in Accounts, seeking suitable placement in Accounts/Admin/HR. NOC available. Contact:96141283 ACCOUNTANT: Indian male 25 having 4years experience in accounting & having well knowledge in tally.

Contact:968 094535881, 0091 9037622048.

Email: vishnuraj889@gmail.com

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Split window unit A/ C servicing.

Contact 94694472 Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing, Ocean Center LLC. #99884591 Pest Control Treatments.

Ocean Center LLC. #99344723 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & antitermite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. contact 24810137, 99450130 House shifting & packing.

Contact: 99657644 /98518013

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. contact 24793614/ 99314807 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 Pest Control Gulfa Intl .LLC. Contact: 92326955 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

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M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 2 6, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

TOURS

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours # 98029602, 92808636

MANPOWER

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 94087276 Transport. Contact: 94510847 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability