Times of Oman - October 27, 2015

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6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

Speech at the Council of Oman (2005)

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ The road is long and the goal is far. However, we are confident that this dear country has the necessary cultural and historical elements, and hopes and aspirations for the future, that will enable it – God willing – to implement its domestic and foreign policies, and the principles of which are clearly defined, praise be to God.

TUESDAY, October 27, 2015 / 13 Muharram 1437 AH

T U R K M E N I S TA N

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Berdymukhamedov and Turkmenistan people further progress. -ONA

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Plan to make bosses pay for workers’ healthcare Under a plan submitted to the Cabinet, medical insurance would be mandatory for all workers, Omani and expatriate, easing the burden on government resources

A. E. JAMES/REJIMON K

businesseditor@timesofoman.com reji@timesofoman.com

MEDICARE: Employee medical insurance is a cashless scheme wherein the insurance firm gets volume business and the employees get access to cashless healthcare facilities.

24% DROP

MUSCAT: Mandatory healthcare insurance for all expatriate and Omani workers, to be provided by employers, is being actively considered by the government.

Drawing on the example of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, a detailed report has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval, which followed a study in close cooperation with the government of South Korea on its health insurance scheme.

“The study was submitted to the cabinet two months ago and we

are waiting now,” Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qasmi, director of planning and studies, Ministry of Health, told a conference on Oman projects here on Monday.

“It will be implemented gradually in a phased manner, over a period of five to 10 years. Sooner or later, health insurance will be compulsory,” added Dr. Al Qasmi, while participating in a panel discussion at the Oman projects conference here on Monday.

Employee medical insurance is a cashless scheme wherein the insurance company, which ties up with a network of hospitals/polyclinics, gets volume business and the employees of its corporate cli-

ents get access to cashless healthcare facilities.

Once the company pays its group medical premium, there is no administrative work for the company and all worries related to employee healthcare would rest with the insurance company and the hospital concerned.

The whole scheme is aimed at reducing the healthcare burden of the government when it is finding it difficult to meet its expenditures amid dwindling oil revenues.

It will reduce the burden of the Ministry of Health in extending healthcare facilities. This will also ensure that private sector hospitals will get enough patients to make them viable.

The government will start with big companies for expatriate workers in the first phase.

“We will review what happens in the first stage.”

In fact, the market for medical insurance is growing in Oman, especially after expatriates moved out of government hospitals to private health centres. This is one of the growth areas for insurance companies. >A4

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

56% voters exercise their franchise in Shura polls Al Manwari, chairman of the Higher Committee for Majlis Al Shura eighth term elections, said that the committee had not yet received any notices or complaints from candidates about the voting process.

FAHAD AL GHADANI TARIQ AL HAREMI

fahad@timesofoman.com tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: While we expected more voters to come out and vote, we are happy with those who did, said one of the winners of the Majlis Al Shura elections.

He was reacting to a question on the decrease in the voter turnout this time. While it was 76 per cent in 2011, the voter turnout was 56.66 per cent this year, registering a 24 per cent drop.

This year, 297,905 citizens voted out of the 525,785 registered citizens. In 2011, out of the nearly 520,000 citizens who were registered to vote, around 400,000 had used their voting rights.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Tawfiq Al Lawati said, “I was expecting a higher turnout but I am happy that the voting percentage has been good”.

“The number is good especially when compared with other Gulf countries,” said Al Lawati.

Figures show that council polls in Kuwait (2013) saw a voter turnout of 51.9 per cent, in UAE

297,905 voters exercised their franchise out of 525,785 registered citizens

(2015) it was 35 per cent and in Saudi Arabia (2011) it was 39 per cent. At a Majlis Al Shura press conference attended by 80 journalists from around the world, the completion of a smooth election process was welcomed.

Sheikh Khalid bin Rashid

FA L L I N G P R I C E S

C A N C E R AWA R E N E S S

Unions to discuss oil sector job cuts REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As fears for jobs grow in Oman’s oil and gas sector, officials from all of the Sultanate’s 25 trade unions are set to meet today for the first time, to search for a way to weather the storm.

“Since the end of 2014, we have dealt with at least 1,000 cases of dismissals in the oil and gas sector. Some were taken back after our discussions with the minis-

Appeals He, however added, “any appeals related to the elections may be submitted to the higher committee within 20 days”.

In response to a question about having only one woman member of Majlis Al Shura, Al Manwari said that voters have the freedom to elect whoever they want.

Meanwhile, the winning woman candidate, Ne’mah bint Jamiel bin Farhan Al Busaidiyah, told Times of Oman that her victory is a happy news for all women.

Nasser bin Sulaiman Al Sibani, deputy chairman of the Public Authority for Radio and TV and chairman of the Media Committee for Majlis Al Shura elections, said the “Shura experience in the Sultanate of Oman is constantly progressing in line with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s vision”. >A6

tries. However, some are pending,” Saud Salmi, chairman of the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) trade union and Oman oil and gas sector, told the Times of Oman.

“The total number of workers, who have lost their jobs, may be around 200. However, there are even unconfirmed reports that some 300 workers have been laid off today. We are waiting for the confirmation,” Saud Salmi added. >A6

Met keeps track as rain on the way

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THE HOME OF GOOD NEWS

#OMANPRIDE An exemplary fighter Times News Service MUSCAT: On being diagnosed with cancer, Yuthar Al Rawahi had vowed that if she would survive, she would dedicate her time to increase awareness on cancer in Oman and to help the affected community.

She has done just that. After 17 years, whenever one talks about cancer awareness in Oman, the name that comes to anyone’s mind first is that of Al Rawahi.

Today’s #Omanpride campaign features this passionate fighter against cancer.

Al Rawahi is the chairperson of the Oman Cancer Association, which was earlier called the National Association for Cancer Association. >A4

OMAN

WORLD

MARKET

Oman plans to launch air taxi service

More than 200 dead in Pakistan, Afghan quake

Call for major role of private sector

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Minister of Commerce and Industry called on private sector to play a bigger role in funding and developing projects. >B1

Oman wants to launch an air taxi service that would help passengers fly directly from where they are to their destination. >A5

More than 200 people were killed and more than 1,300 others injured as a powerful quake hit Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday. >A13

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

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T UESDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

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Tropical system not to impact Oman directly

SWEPT OUT TO SEA

Missing Emiratis’ uncle in Oman to help identify body

The system is heading to southern coast of Oman. The Meteorological Department is TRAGEDY: Abdullah Mohammed Al Dhaheri, left, and his younger brother Mansour Mohammed, who went missing on Thursday while swimming on the southern coast of Oman. -Supplied photo

keeping a track of it

Times News Service

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A tropical system that has developed in Arabian Sea will not have a direct impact on Oman in the coming three days, Oman’s Meteorological Department said in a statement on Monday evening.

“The system will not have any direct impact on Oman. The system is heading to southern coast of Oman.

“The Meteorological Department is keeping a track of it,” the department said in its statement.

A senior meteorologist at Accuweather.com said the system over Arabian Sea is better organised and has the best chance for development.

“Easing shear and better moisture should allow it to gradually strengthen,” Jason Nicholls, the senior meteorologist from Accuweather.com, said.

Last week also, there was a tropical cyclone heading to Oman.

It lost strength while reaching the Oman coast. However, it brought rains in many parts of Oman,

RAIN AGAIN: Heavy rains fell in Quriyat on Monday morning, leading to the overflowing of the wadis.

– Courtesy Mohammed Al Battashi

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claiming eight lives in rain-related accidents.

Meanwhile, heavy rains fell in Quriyat on Monday morning. “It started in the morning. It’s continuing in different parts. Wadis

are overflowing,” Mohammed Al Battashi, a weather enthusiast, told Times of Oman from Quriyat.

According to Mohammed, it rained on Sunday evening and the skies are still cloudy. “In the evening also there were rains in some parts of Quriyat,” a resident said.

Due to the ‘El Nino’ phenomenon, meteorologists have predicted that it will rain more than the normal from October to February.

Earlier, Dr Saeed Al Sarmi, had

told the Times of Oman, “It is expected that due to the El Nino effect, there will be higher-thannormal rainfall in Oman, especially in the northern mountainous regions and the interiors.”

In Muscat, the annual rainfall is about 100 millimetres, falling mostly from December to April.

In general, precipitation is scarce in Muscat and during several months, on an average, there is only a trace of rainfall.

DUBAI: The father of the two Emiratis, who were swept out to sea in rough weather in Oman in July, is awaiting a forensics report to discover whether the body found last weekend is one of his sons, according to The National.

Mohammed Al Dhaheri, father of Abdullah Mohammed, 21, and Mansour Mohammed, 19, who went missing on July 23, said a relative had gone to Salalah to try and identify the body.

“I wasn’t contacted by the Omani authorities right away. They still don’t know who the body belongs to, but the boys’ uncle has gone to Oman to help out with the identification,” Al Dhaheri told The National. He said he expects to hear the forensic results from Oman this week.

A spokesman for the Oman News Network told The National: “A partially decomposed body was found on Friday, late in the afternoon off the Al Dumar beach in Dhofar province. The identity of the dead person has

not been confirmed yet.”

The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance had said that a search and rescue team in Dhofar had removed the body from the water, following which it was taken to a police forensics laboratory.

The brothers were visiting the town of Mirbat for the Eid-AlFitr holidays and were at a beach in Dhofar, east of Salalah, when they were swept out to sea.

Abdullah may have drowned while trying to save his younger brother, according to friends who were with them. The Emirati community has rallied around the family after the incident and funeral prayers were held.

Ali Al Zaabi, a neighbour in the Asharaej neighbourhood of Al Ain, said the ordeal had been difficult for the family and the community as a whole.

“They found someone’s decomposed body and this is sad news for anyone. I pray that the Al Dhaheri family can find solace and the strength and resilience to move on,” said Al Zaabi.

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015 I have done nothing more than perform my duties, taking guide and leadership from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who taught us the importance of global friendship and duties towards our guests His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said, Head of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

OMAN

Italian honour for Omani official Not only has he (His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said) greatly contributed to strengthening of bilateral relations between Italy and the Sultanate of Oman, but has also proved to be a true friend of Italy, said Paola Amadei, the Italian ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman

MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said, head of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate, has been awarded the Order of the Star of Italy.

The order was delivered by the Italian Ambassador to the Sultanate, Paola Amadei.

“It is given to Italian nationals and foreigners, who have achieved extraordinary results in promoting the bilateral relations between the Italy and the foreign country,” Amadei told the Times of Oman.

The award ceremony was held at the residence of the Italian ambassador in the presence of the Chief of the Diplomatic Protocol of the Italian Republic, Riccardo Guariglia.

“This is a beautiful occasion for me, to present the Italian decoration to His Highness, in the presence of our Italian Chief of Diplomatic Protocol,” Amadei said.

During her speech, the ambassador stated that the Order of the Star of Italy is bestowed by the President of the Italian Republic on foreigners, as well as nationals, who have achieved extraordinary results in the preservation and promotion of the national prestige and facilitated bilateral relations between Italy and other foreign countries.

“This is exactly was His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said has been doing,” ambassador Amadei declared in her official speech.

“Not only has he greatly contributed to strengthening of bilateral relations between Italy and the Sultanate of Oman, but he has also proved to be a true friend of Italy by providing an unmatched support to all the activities carried out by this Embassy over the years, many of which would not have been possible if it weren’t for his enduring constructive

engagement,” she added.

Speaking further, the Italian ambassador noted, “For us and for me in particular, he has been an excellent point of reference and we are honouring him with the Order of the Star of Italy to express all our gratitude”.

The Star of Italy Order accords the rank of “Commendatore” on the recipient. “I am deeply touched by the kindness of the Italian government to have granted me the decoration of the Order of the Star of Italy,” said Al Said during his speech.

“I have done nothing more than perform my duties, taking guidance and leadership from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who taught us the importance of global friendship and duties towards our guests,” he added.

Al Said also appreciated the ambassador for her devotion and hard work in maintaining outstanding bilateral relations between Italy and the Sultanate.

Ambassadors of other friendly countries, as well as a number of officials from the Foreign Ministry, attended the ceremony.

RECOGNITION: I am deeply touched by the kindness of the Italian government to have granted me the decoration of the Order of the Star of Italy, His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Salim Al Said, head of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said during his speech. – OK Mohammed Ali/Times of Oman

M A N D AT O R Y H E A LT H I N S U R A N C E

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DISPELLING MYTHS

Mixed response to move

If the government makes it compulsory, insurance companies in the Sultanate will get a huge additional business.

Yet another advantage of group medical insurance is that employees with group insurance cover will have the option to choose from several hospitals/polyclinics spread across the country.

Although the scheme has several advantages, it will add on to the cost of the company opting for group healthcare insurance, which in turn will have a cascading effect on prices. The cost of insurance will be passed on to the consumers, once healthcare insurance becomes mandatory.

Also, authorities will have to monitor the private hospitals and polyclinics to check malpractices, before making medical insurance mandatory. Private health centres have to be better regulated and corporate governance should be introduced there.

Meanwhile, the plans to introduce mandatory healthcare insurance coverage to both national and expatriate workers has received mixed response. While responding to Times of Oman, a Majlis Al Shura member said that only after detailed study we can find out the advantages and disadvantages of the plan.

“At this stage it is difficult to say the advantages and disadvantages. How it will impact the economy, and how it will impact small and big companies,” Mohammed Al Busaidi, the Shura member from Bausher, told Times of Oman.

Meanwhile, a businessman in Muscat said that globally good companies provide health insurance coverage to all its employees compulsorily.

“In Oman also, it can be done. It is good move to help workers. As

High-powered ‘heath council’ being planned, says official Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman is considering a high-powered ‘health council’ to regulate the healthcare sector in an effective manner, said Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qasmi, director of planning and studies, Ministry of Health.

The council, in line with the education council, will regulate both the ministry and private hospitals and polyclinics. The proposal is

the ministry aims, it can lessen the burden on the government. In the present situation, to help the government, companies should come forward to take up the responsibility,” Anvwar Al Balushi, chairman of Anvwar Asian Investment Group, said. “If we help the government now, then when its condition betters, eventually we will be benefitted,” he added.

Need to keep a tab A trade union leader said that moving ahead with mandatory health insurance coverage for workers is a good move. However, the government should keep a tab on companies, whether they are following it up religiously or not.

“Some of the companies are not religiously following many other rules set by the government. So, a follow up should be there to check whether it is implemented or not,”

under discussion.

Another major initiative of the Ministry is to link patient records of four major government hospitals with private hospitals and clinics to ease complexities in treatment. This will enable the government to have a unique number for each and every patient. The four major government hospitals, including Royal Hospital, Khoula Hospital and Al Nahda Hospital, are already linked.

said Mohammed Al Khaldi, board member of General Federation of Oman Trade Union (GFOTU).

A senior official from healthcare insurance industry while welcoming the move said that the move will help to uplift the conditions of working class socially and economically.

“It will be a help for workers to get quality healthcare. However, governments should come out with a proper plan before implementing it, especially like grading or the rating the hospitals depending on the service they are providing,” Dr PS Regikumar, assistant manager at New India Assurance, said.

“If hospitals are not monitored properly, there are chances that they may misuse and the actual beneficiary will be left out without quality service,” the insurance official added.

Boosting A1 awareness on cancer < FROM

She said her journey of spreading the cancer awareness message has been “memorable” and “rewarding”.

“Since 2002, when people were throwing pamphlets at us and calling us devils, to now where women are really active, we have come a long way,” she noted. What makes her most happy is the fact that considerable awareness exists about all kinds of cancers now.

“Doctors in the hospital are detecting breast cancer and other cancers early. There is definitely more awareness and we are happy to have played a role in the awareness programme,” she added.

Al Rawahi pointed out that OCA has branches in Ibra, Sur, Salalah and is going to register another one in Sohar, which will play an important role in spreading awareness.

OCA projects that are close to her heart are the Mobile Mammography Unit, which has screened 15,000 women since 2009 and Dar Al Hanan, a home for children undergoing outpatient treatment for cancer, which houses 300 patients.

“The Mobile Mammography Unit will leave on November 1 for its fifth year of travelling around the wilayats,” she revealed, urging women to visit the unit for check-ups.

She is also happy that the cancer survival group has become active once again.

“We have different activities for cancer survivors every month. We also have sessions for their care givers. We held them do yoga, have counselling and inclusive sessions,” she added. Al Rawahi also urged the public to participate in the 12th annual walkathon to be held on Tuesday at the Qurum Park.

“The patron of the event is Dr. Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani, minister of Information, who has been very supportive. He helped cover our conference for the first time on national television where cancer survivors spoke. The fact that survivors spoke on television is a great milestone,” Al Rawahi noted.

The ardent crusader said, “We have a long way to go, but from where we were, we have grown leaps and bounds.”

OCA is also promoting a campaign entitled, “Cancer can be prevented too”, which focuses on how the risk of developing cancer can be reduced significantly through simple measures,” said Al Rawahi.

She is also pleased that the society’s attitude itself has changed and OCA has been able to dispel widespread myths about cancer, especially breast cancer.

Al Rawahi said she knew that needs to relax and look after her health. “You know I have had couple of scares again and stress doesn’t go with the disease. But there is so much to be done still.

I believe there must be a reason why I am alive and will continue doing all I can for all the issues related to the disease,” she said with a smile.

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OMAN OMAN PROJECTS

ALAWI RETURNS HOME Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, returned home yesterday evening after a visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, during which he met with President Bashar Al Assad of the Syrian Arab Republic. The meeting discussed developments of situations in the region, particularly the war against terrorism in Syria and the ideas presented regionally and globally to help find solution to the crisis in Syria. – ONA

Medical City near Muscat to be centre of excellence Times News Service MUSCAT: A medical city, which is being constructed on the suburbs of Muscat, will act as a centre of excellence in medical and biomedical research, a senior health official has said.

Speaking at a conference on Oman projects on Monday, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qasmi, director of Planning Studies, Ministry of Health, said the medical city will have several hospitals, including a general specialty hospital, children’s hospital, trauma and neuroscience centre, rehabilitation centre, and imaging laboratory centre.

“The speciality hospital will have 255 beds, of which 85 beds will be meant for surgical purposes,” he pointed out.

The children’s hospital will have 180 beds, of which 40 beds will be earmarked for surgical purposes.

“Besides that, a rehabilitation centre with 100 beds, will constructed, of which 50 will be day

Air taxi tenders to be floated by end of the year Tenders will also be invited for aerial photography, air ambulance and amphibian aviation, an official of the Ministry of Transport and Communications has said

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman wants to launch an air taxi service, a unique travel option that would help passengers fly directly from where they are, to their destinations.

Disclosing the investment opportunities available in general aviation services, Hanan Al Rabbi, general director, Planning and Studies, Ministry of Transport and Communications, said that tenders for air taxi services will be floated by the end of this year.

“Other than the air taxi, we will invite tenders for aerial photography, air ambulance and amphibian aviation (an amphibious aircraft that can take off and land on both land and water),” she said at a conference on Oman projects held on Monday. All these tenders will be floated by the end of this year.

Rabbi expects there will be 4,700 rides offered by air taxis by the end of 2025, catering to 56,000 passengers. “The tourism and amphibian movement, which will link the tourist sites, is estimated to have at least 10 flights a day by 2025,” she revealed.

The total volume in 2014 at airports in Muscat and Salalah had touched 9,553,146 passengers, of which 8,711,102 were using the Muscat International Airport. “It is estimated that the approximate volume will be between 16.69 million and 17.23 million passengers a year by 2025,” she stated.

The estimated weight of the goods carried by air in 2025 will be between 179,000 tonnes and 186,000 tonnes per year.

“Muscat airport will continue to grow at a rate of 110 per cent and the Salalah airport at a rate of 140 per cent,” she added.

The new Muscat International Airport will have the capacity to handle 12 million passengers annually after it is opened.

Further expansions planned during three subsequent phases will ultimately boost the airport’s annual capacity to 24, 36 and 48 million passengers as and when the demand is there.

Commenting on Oman Rail, Rabbi mentioned a survey of the opportunities available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“1,500 companies have been identified during the initial survey and 800 companies have been registered so far, including 28 per cent small, 40 per cent medium and 32 per cent large,” she said during a presentation at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

Oman Rail, the Sultanate’s national railway company, has identified several categories of commercial opportunities that it wants Omani contractors, as well as SMEs, to capitalise on during the construction and operational phases of the multi-billion dollar rail venture.

Under the patronage of Ali Massoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Oman Projects Forum 2015 has offered critical insight into Oman’s $140.6 billion project pipeline to help delegates effectively penetrate and increase market share in Oman, as well as the chance to meet and network with key government and private company stakeholders.

C E RVA N T E S C L A S S I C

Cuban National Ballet group to perform Don Quixote at ROHM Times News Service MUSCAT: Cuban National Ballet will perform Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) on Thursday and Friday at 7pm, followed by a matinee show on Saturday at 2pm.

The excellence of the Cuban National Ballet is expressed in their brilliant and gifted performance of Don Quixote.

WORLD-FAMOUS: Founded 67 years ago, the Cuban National Ballet specialises in traditional ballet. – Supplied photo

Exciting ballet ROHM will present three performances of this exciting ballet, including a special Saturday matinée for the convenience of families.

Founded 67 years ago, the world-famous Cuban National Ballet specialises in the traditional repertoire of ballet, while also working with innovative choreographers for the creation of contemporary pieces. Don Quixote is one of the most interesting and entertaining pieces in world ballet. It is based on Miguel de Cervantes’ celebrated novel “Don Quixote”, which dates from

1605 and 1615 and has made a significant contribution to the global history of literature.

Cervantes relates the tale of a Spanish nobleman, who immerses himself in stories of chivalric romances, to the point that he loses touch with reality and feels compelled to venture out into the wide world to revive chivalry, undo wrongs, and bring justice under the name Don Quixote. This out-of-touch, idealistic knight enlists a simple farmer by the name of Sancho Panza as his squire.

One of the best-loved charac-

ters in literature, Sancho Panza has an earthy wit, which he uses with comically stubborn persistence, to counter Don Quixote’s grand illusions and puncture his exaggerated orations on antiquated knighthood.

An iconic scene in Cervantes’ novel has given rise to the popular idiom “tilting at windmills”, an expression which means attacking imaginary enemies. As Don Quixote charges forth on horseback to tilt at windmills with his jousting lance, he imagines the windmills to be giants with immense arms.

UPDATE: The medical city will have several hospitals, said Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qasmi, director of Planning Studies, Ministry of Health. – Jun Estrada

care unit beds and 50 beds will belong to the inpatient department,” Al Qasmi added.

Additionally, an organ transplant centre with 100 beds, and an imaging centre and a laboratory centre will also be built in the medical city.

“There will also be a College of Health Sciences, which can ac-

AV I AT I O N

commodate 6,000 students, with all needed support buildings, such as classes, laboratories, different types of halls, recreation facilities, etc.,” he noted.

The construction of a medical city near Muscat was announced in 2013, with a capital expenditure of OMR567 million allocated for the same.

EGM

Oman Air’s paid capital increased Times News Service NEW DESTINATION: Oman Air will serve customers on the new

route using an award winning Airbus 330-300s. – Supplied photo

Oman Air launches new service to Dhaka Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Air launched a new service to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka from October 25.

Dhaka will be the airline’s second destination in Bangladesh, the other being Chittagong, and the service will initially offer four flights per week on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Flight frequency will increase from December 1, with flights also departing on Monday and Wednesday.

Fight WY-317 will arrive at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport on Fridays and Sundays at 16:30 and depart at 18:00. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Flight WY-315 will arrive at 20:05 and depart 21:20, offering convenient connections to various Middle East and European destinations.

In addition, Oman Air is currently operating seven flights a week between Chittagong and Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman Air will serve customers on the new route using an Airbus 330-300s, configured with 204

Economy Class and 26 Business Class seats.

“Oman Air is very happy to start services to its second destination in Bangladesh, to the capital city of Dhaka. Flights between Muscat and Dhaka mark a significant milestone in enhancing trade, manpower, tourism and cultural exchanges between Oman and Bangladesh. A large number of Bangladeshis work in Oman and the connectivity offered by the new service will provide easy and convenient travel to their home country. We are sure the new service will be well received by the Bangladeshi expatriates residing in Oman, as well as by those residing in Dhaka”, Oman Air’s Chief Operating Officer, Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, said.

Furthermore, Oman will also offer itself as a magical destination for travel and tourism through the new flight. The connectivity offered by the new service will offer Bangladeshi holidaymakers an opportunity to experience the warm hospitality offered throughout the Sultanate.

MUSCAT: Oman Air has been given around OMR140 million to invest in the growth of Oman’s flag carrier by shareholders. The decision was taken at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the shareholders held on Sunday.

“The EGM approved to increase the issued and paid capital of the Company from OMR546,047,755 to OMR684,157,755 and to allot equity shares in the value of OMR138,110,000 to the Government of the Sultanate of Oman towards the cash contribution received during the financial year 2014 and to amend the articles of association of the company accordingly,” a press statement said.

The EGM was presided over by Maitha bint Saif Al Mahrouqia, the deputy chairperson of the Board of Oman Air and was attended by the board of directors, shareholders and other stakeholders.

The EGM also approved restructuring of Oman Air Company so as to achieve functional efficiencies, and improve the quality of services provided, which would result in improved service delivery. The EGM authorised the board to carry out and take all steps and actions necessary to execute the restructuring process; entering into a joint venture agreement share purchase agreement and technical services agreement between the company and the joint venture partner; and transferring 33 per cent of the shares held by the company in the Cargo LLC, to the joint venture partner by the agreed date.

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015 Voting during elections could not be made mandatory. It is a democratic process and nobody can force the public to vote Tawfiq Al Lawati, newly elected member

OMAN

Interior minister declares results of Shura elections Interior Ministry, in cooperation with the authorities concerned, had taken steps for

As per the Majlis Al Shura’s Election Law, issued by Royal Decree No. 58/2013, and the memorandum of the Higher Committee of Majlis Al Shura’s 8th Term Elections No. (MK /1100/325/2015), of 12 Muharram 1437 H, corresponding to October 26, 2015, I hereby announce the names of the winners:

Suleiman bin Hamoud Al Kindi

GOVERNORATE OF MUSCAT:

Wilayat of Sur: Said bin Mohammed bin Said Al Sinani and A’mir bin Said bin Ali Al Misharfi

peaceful and

Wilayat of Muscat: Ali bin Salim bin Ali Al Jabri

smooth conduct of

Wilayat of Muttrah: Tawfiq bin Adbul Hussein bin Jum’ah Al Lawati and Murad bin Ali bin Yousef Al Hooti

electoral process

MUSCAT: Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, announced the final results of Majlis Al Shura’s 8th Term Elections on Monday. The results have also been approved by the Higher Committee for the Majlis Al Shura 8th Term Elections. Headed by a deputychairman of the Supreme Court to oversee the elections and the examination of all electoral appeals, the process has witnessed great progress in various legal, procedural and technical aspects, including the formation of a higher committee for Majlis Al Shura’s elections that enjoys independence and impartiality.

The Interior Ministry, in cooperation with the authorities concerned, had taken steps for peaceful and smooth conduct of the electoral process. The efforts of supervising committees enabled citizens to exercise their franchise.

On this occasion, the minister said: “I have the honour to express my utmost loyalty and gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his gracious patronage and wise guidance, which laid a solid foundation for the electoral participation.”

Wilayat of Wadi Al Ma’awil: Khalid bin Hilal bin Nassir Al Ma’awali Wilayat of Barka: Salim bin Sae’d bin Hamdoon Al Malki and Saleem bin Salim bin Khalfan Al Rashidi Wilayat of Al Musan’ah: Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Jum’ah Al Balushi and Nassir bin Khamis bin Mohammed Al Khumaisi

GOVERNORATE OF SOUTH A’SHARQYAH

Wilayat of Al Kamil Wal Wafi: Abdullah bin Musallam bin Hamad Al Rasbi Wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Hassan: Sulaiman bin A’mir bin Said Al Rajhi and Ali bin Salim bin Hamad Al Owaisi

Wilayat of Al Amerat: Mohammed bin Ramadhan bin Qasim Al Balushi and Ahmed bin Saud bin Hamoud Al Ma’shari Wilayat of Bausher: Mohammed bin Salim bin Khalifah Al Busaidi and Aziz bin Salim bin Hamoud Al Hassni Wilayat of Seeb: Ne’mah bint Jamiel bin Farhan Al Busaidiyah and Hilal bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sarmi Wilayat of Quriyat: Said bin Jum’ah bin Salim Al Ghizaily and Mahfoudh bin Ali bin Jum’ah Al Juma’h

GOVERNORATE OF DHOFAR Wilayat of Salalah: Mohammed bin Abu Bakar bin Salim Al Ghassani and Ahmed bin Mubarak bin Said Al Hadhari Wilayat of Taqah: Ali bin Ahmed bin Salim Al Ma’shani Wilayat of Mirbat: Mohammed bin Ali bin A’mir Baqi Wilayat of Rakhyut: Mohammed bin Musalam bin Rabei’ Habees Wilayat of Thumrait: Saleh bin Said bin Salim Masan Wilayat of Dhalkut: Abu Bakar bin Alawi bin Sulaiman Ba Omar Wilayat Al Mazyounah: Salim bin Mohammed bin Saloumah bin Ma’kouf Za’banot Wilayat of Maqshin Al Nabei bin Al Abed bin Suhail Jidad Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Halaniyat Islands: Said bin Mohammed bin Said Tho’ar Wilayat of Sadah: Abdullah bin Ali bin Adbullah Al Amri

GOVERNORATE OF MUSANDAM Wilayat of Khasab: Abdullsalam bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Kamali

Wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali: Sultan bin Abdullah bin Said Al Ja’fari and Said bin Mohammed bin Jum’ah Al Saa’di

ELECTORAL PROCESS: Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, reviewing arrangements. – ONA

Wilayat of Masirah: Ghanim bin Said bin Khamis Al Junaibi

GOVERNORATE OF NORTH A’SHARQYAH Wilayat of Diba: Ali bin Mohammed bin Said Al Shihi Wilayat of Bukha: Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Malik Wilayat of Madha: Khalid bin Ahmed bin Said Al Sa’adi

GOVERNORATE OF AL BURAIMI Wilayat of Al Buraimi: Mohammed bin Ali bin Said Al Badi and Rashid bin Ahmed bin Rashid Al Shamsi

Wilayat of Sumail: Abdullah bin Hamoud bin Salim Al Nadabi and Younis bin Ya’aqoob bin Issa Al Siyabi Wilayat of Bidbid: Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Hadabi

GOVERNORATE OF NORTH AL BATINAH Wilayat of Sohar: Mohhamed bin Ibrahim bin Issa Al Zadjali and Hilal bin Nassir bin Abdullah Al Sadrani

Wilayat of Ibra: Ahmed bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Barwani Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi: Hamdoon bin Hamoud bin Ghunaim Al Fazari and Khalid bin Yahya bin Mohammed Al Far’ei Wilayat of Bidiyah: Mohammed bin Said bin A’mir Al Hajri Wilayat of Al Qabil: Ahmed bin Said bin Ahmed Al Sa’di Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid: Ahmed bin Hussein bin Khamas Al Sa’adi

Wilayat of Mahadah: Salim bin Ali bin Salim Al Ka’abi

Wilayat of Shinas: Sultan bin Rashid bin Mohammed Al Ka’abi and Yousef bin Ahmed bin Shahin Al Balushi

Wilayat of A’Sininah: Hamdan bin Ali bin Rashid Al Manea

Wilayat of Liwa: Shimas bin Khalid bin Ahmed Al Risi

GOVERNORATE OF A’DHAHIYRAH

GOVERNORATE OF A’DHAKILYAH

Wilayat of Saham: Mohammed bin Khamis bin Abdullah Al Badi and Salim bin Nassir bin Said Al Kahali

Wilayat of Ibri: Shaham bin Rashid bin Saif Al Shouhomi and Sultan bin Majid bin Khamis al-Abri

Wilayat of Al Khabourah: Fahd bin Sultan bin Saif Al Hosni

Wilayat of Yanqul: Ali bin Mohammed bin Salmeen Al Alawi

and Ali bin Khalfan bin Salman Al Qutaiti

Wilayat of Dhank: Hamoud bin Ahmed bin Hamad Al Yahya’ei

Wilayat of Nizwa: Hamdan bin Nassir bin Masoud Al Rumaidhi and Ahmed bin Said bin Sa’ed Al Hadrami Wilayat of Bahla: Hilal bin Said bin Hamad Al Yahya’ei and Salim bin Hamad bin Said Al Mufarji Wilayat of Manah: Abdullah bin Salim bin Mohammed Al Junaibi Wilayat of Al Hamra: Jamal bin Ahmed bin Hamad Al Abri Wilayat of Adam: Ahmed bin Hamoud bin Hamad Al Derie Wilayat of Izki: Younis bin Ali bin Azzan Al Mantheri and Nassir bin Humaid bin Barghash Al A’amri

Wilayat of A’Suwaiq: Said bin Hamad bin Hilal Al Sa’adi and Mohammed bin Khalid bin Salim Al Rashidi

GOVERNORATE OF SOUTH AL BATINAH Wilayat of A’Rustaq: Nassir bin Rashid bin Humaid Al Abri and Zayed bin Khalfan bin Ali Al Abri Wilayat of Al Awabi: Hilal bin Adbulrahaman bin Yousef Al Kharousi Wilayat of Nakhal: Mohammed bin

Wilayat of Dima’ Wal Taeyeen: Rashid bin Ali bin Hamad Al Hassni

GOVERNORATE OF AL WUSTA Wilayat of Haima: Hamoodah bin Mohammed bin Khalfan Al Harsosi Wilayat of Mahout: Said bin Mabrook bin Salim Al Wihibi Wilayat of A’Duqm: Tahir bin Mabkout bin Ali Al Junaibi Wilayat of Al Jazir: Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Khanfor Al Junaibi. — ONA

BELARUS

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus on being re-elected as the president of the Republic for another term.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of success to President Lukashenko in leading his country’s people towards further progress and prosperity and further progress to the relations between the two countries. -ONA SHURA POLLS

‘Welfare of A1 people must be priority’ < FROM

Talal bin Ahmed Al Saadi, rapporteur of the Higher Committee for Majlis Al Shura elections, said that among the 590 candidates, 12 were Ph.D holders, 70 holders of master degrees and 200 holders of bachelor degrees, in addition to holders of higher education diploma post general education.

Well-being When Times of Oman spoke to Abu Rayan Al Noamani, an Omani national, who didn’t vote, he said that some Majlis Al Shura members were more concerned about their well-being and retaining their positions in the council, and least bothered about the welfare of people.

On being asked if voting should be made mandatory, Tawfiq Al Lawati said: “Voting during elections could not be made mandatory. It is a democratic process and nobody can force the public to vote.”

The number of voters who are eligible to cast their votes yesterday stood at 525,785 including 237,918 females and 278,804 males. Out of this, 172,955 males and 124,950 females cast their votes. - With inputs from ONA

L AY I N G O F F W O R K E R S

Call for job security A1 in oil and gas sector < FROM

From 2010 to mid-2014, world oil prices were fairly stable, hovering at around $110 a barrel.

However, since June, prices have more than halved.

According to the Ministry’s data, Oman has posted a budget deficit of OMR2.68 billion ($6.97 billion) during the first eight months of this year, compared with a OMR205.7 million surplus reported a year ago because of lower oil export prices.

It has also grown since the first half of 2015 when Oman posted a budget deficit of OMR1.92 billion.

“During the meeting we will discuss how to avoid the dismissals. Job security has to be ensured. It cannot be dependent on market fluctuations. We will also chalk out a plan on how to overcome this situation,” Salmi stated.

Meanwhile, a PDO spokesperson said that at the present, PDO is working to “stay the course” with a robust growth programme despite the low oil price environment.

“Notwithstanding some project deferments and thanks to cost and contract optimisation efforts throughout our spectrum of activities, our activity levels will remain high as our focus is to create the maximum value for the Sultanate. Even where contracts have ended or naturally expired without renewal, we have worked with contractors to relocate personnel onto other contracts wherever possible,” the PDO spokesperson added.

Laying off workers However, another trade union leader said companies laying off workers citing lack of projects is not agreeable.

“Laying off workers citing market fluctuations cannot be agreed upon. Companies that have earned a surplus profit when conditions were good cannot lay off workers when a crisis is there,” Mohammed Al Khaldi, board member at the General Federation of Oman Trade Union (GFOTU) said.

“I know Omani workers are struggling to push the days ahead for the last six months after being dismissed by companies. Government should step in immediately. Companies are threatening government. They are saying that if (they are not awarded) government projects then they will lay off national workers,” Al Khaldi added.

Data from the Oman Tender Board showed a sharp decrease in the number of awarded contracts since the beginning of the year, which slipped more than 55 per cent, compared with 2014.

That reflects how much the private sector depends on the government’s expenditure to expand its operations.

According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), recruitment of Omani employees rose by only 0.4 per cent in August this year, compared with the month of July. There was only a 4.5 per cent growth in expat recruitment during the same period. Both segments of employment have registered the slowest growth since 2011.

Domino effect Meanwhile, expatriate social workers said the oil price dip has caused a domino effect in Oman.

“When Omanis are losing jobs, what can we say about expatriate workers? Hundreds of expatriate workers have already lost their jobs”, Shaji Sebastin, an Indian social worker, said.

“Many workers are trying to get local transfers without leaving Oman. Currently, I am coordinating with stranded workers and a company, which is willing to accommodate them. Expatriate workers come to Oman after spending a lot of money on visas and all. Moreover, there will be liabilities back home.

So, it is quite difficult for them to leave the country suddenly,” Shaji explained.

According to a forecast by international traders, oil revenues are predicted to dip further by the end of this year.

T UESDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

REGION

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday the Russian air force, which has been bombing insurgents in Syria since September 30, would be ready to help the “patriotic” Syrian opposition

Netanyahu to revoke rights of Palestinians The move could affect a third of the Arab residents of occupied Jerusalem

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the possibility of revoking benefits and travel rights of some Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem in response to a wave of Palestinian violence, a government official said on Monday.

Such a move did not appear to be imminent or even politically feasible but its mere mention ran counter to a decades-old Israeli assertion that Occupied Jerusalem is a united city where Arab and Jewish residents enjoy equal rights.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said the step, if adopted, would deprive Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem of the most basic rights and services and provoke confrontations. “This alarming escalation, an inhuman and illegal measure, must be stopped immediately,” Ashrawi said in a statement.

Israel regards all the city, including occupied East Jerusalem, which was captured along with the occupied West Bank in 1967, as its indivisible capital. Unlike their brethren in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem receive Israeli social benefits and can move freely in Israel.

Many of the Arab assailants in one of the worst waves of Palestinian-Israeli street violence in decades, fuelled in part by tensions over a holy site, have come from occupied East Jerusalem.

CLASHES CONTINUE UNABATED: A Palestinian protester throws stones during clashes with Israeli security forces at the northern entrance of the occupied West Bank town Al Bireh, on the northern outskirts of Ramallah on Monday. – AFP

Many of the Palestinian attacks on Israelis are now occurring in the occupied West Bank, rather than in occupied Jerusalem where they started. Israeli forces on Monday shot dead a Palestinian assailant who the army said had stabbed and wounded a soldier at an intersection near the town of Hebron. Hours later, another Palestinian was shot and killed by soldiers after he tried to stab an Israeli, the military said.

Since October 1, at least 55 Palestinians, half of whom Israel says were assailants, have been shot and killed by Israelis at the scene of attacks or during protests in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israeli police say 10 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian stabbings or shootings.

Citing comments at a security cabinet meeting held two weeks ago, the government official said Netanyahu mentioned the possi-

bility of revoking some rights for Palestinians who live within occupied Jerusalem’s municipal borders but outside the barrier Israel built during a Palestinian suicide bombing campaign a decade ago.

Beyond the barrier Rights groups estimate that about 100,000, or almost a third of occupied Jerusalem’s Palestinians, live beyond the barrier.

The official, however, said there was no discussion of the matter at the forum and Netanyahu did not ask that it be included on the agenda of a future meeting. Netanyahu’s remarks were first reported

by Channel Two television late on Sunday.

At the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu complained of lawlessness in Palestinian neighbourhoods in occupied East Jerusalem’s outlying areas, where sporadic Israeli raids to arrest sus-

SUICIDE BOMBING

Three killed in Saudi attack DUBAI: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Najran in southern Saudi Arabia on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding several others, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported.

The attack on the Al Mashhad mosque occurred during evening prayers, and authorities were investigating the bombing, www. sabq.org, a Saudi news website,

reported, without giving further details. A video shared by daily newspaper Al Watan showed panicked worshippers fleeing the scene and a child falling to his knees as sirens wailed and dust filled the street.

On August 6, a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people in an attack on a mosque used by members of a local security force in southwest Saudi Arabia, an assault that an on-

line statement said was carried out

by IS miilitant group. In May, two suicide bomb attacks on mosques in Saudi Arabia were claimed by IS. The first on a mosque in Qatif in the east of the kingdom killed 21 worshippers, and another four died in a bombing a week later at a mosque in Dammam. Another bombing claimed by IS on a mosque in Kuwait in June killed 27 people. - Reuters

A7

pected militants are usually met with violent protests.

After the 1967 war, Israel expanded occupied Jerusalem’s municipal borders by annexing parts of the West Bank to the city. Occupied Jerusalem Palestinians are not Israeli citizens, but they hold Israeli-issued blue IDs that grant them permanent resident status.

Rights groups and Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem have long complained of a paucity of municipal services, difficulties in receiving building permits and Israeli moves to revoke the residency of those who leave the city for extended periods.

Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem and its claim to all of the city as its capital are not recognised internationally. Palestinians want occupied East Jerusalem to be the capital of the state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. — Reuters

C I V I L WA R

Syria rebel alliance sceptical about Russian proposal LONDON/BEIRUT: An alliance of Free Syrian Army-related insurgent groups said on Monday it was sceptical about a Russian proposal to help rebels, and that Moscow must stop bombing rebels and civilians and withdraw its support for President Bashar Al Assad.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday the Russian air force, which has been bombing insurgents in Syria since September 30, would be ready to help the “patriotic” Syrian opposition.

“Their words are not like their actions. How can we talk to them while they are hitting us?” Issam Al Rayyes, spokesman for the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters.

Russian warplanes have bombed a number of FSA-affiliated groups in northern areas of Syria since intervening in the war on the side of Assad. The Russian air force is providing air cover for several major ground offensives being waged by the Syrian army and allied fighters.

Rayyes added that there was no contact between the rebels and the Russians, clarifying an earlier remark to the BBC that the rebels had not turned down a Russian offer. “There is no offer, there is no communication,” Rayyes said.

“We don’t need the help now, they should stop attacking our bases and then we can talk about future cooperation,” Rayyes said in his earlier BBC interview.

His comments echo the views of other Syrian rebels towards the Russian statement, with Assad’s opponents suspicious that Moscow is working purely to shore up its ally.

The Southern Front alliance operates mostly near the border with Jordan and Israel - an area thus far not targeted in the Russian air strikes, but where the rebels are continuously fighting the Syrian army and allied militias.

The FSA is a loose alliance of groups, some of which have received military aid from Assad’s foreign enemies. They are often led by former Syrian army officers and espouse a nationalist vision for the country. Such groups have, however, been eclipsed in much of Syria by militants including the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the IS group -the stated target of the Russian intervention in the war.

Meanwhile, the Russian air force flew 164 sorties in Syria in the last three days, striking 285 IS and Jabhat Al Nusra targets including ammunition stores and arms factories, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday.

Russia says it has destroyed more than 800 terrorist targets in Syria since it began its campaign of air strikes on September 30, an intervention Moscow says is aimed at destroying extremist hardline militants, but which Washington says is also targeting moderate rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

The defence ministry said air force jets destroyed two metal hangars housing a major Al Nusra ammunition store in the eastern Suburbs of Syria’s capital, Damascus. Additionally, two Su-24 fighter jets hit a vehicle workshop in the northern Aleppo province where IS militants were equipping cars with mortars and Zu-23 anti-aircraft cannons, the ministry said. The defence ministry said Russian jets had also hit terrorist positions in the last three days.

Further Russian strikes took place in the western Latakia, Idlib and Hama provinces where data compiled by the Institute for the Study of War shows there is no IS or Al Nusra presence. A Reuters analysis of defence ministry data last week found that almost 80 per cent of Russia’s declared targets in Syria have been in areas not held by IS. — Reuters

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

INDIA

No matter if we find her (Geeta’s) parents or not, she is a daughter of India and we will take care of her Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Minister

Geeta returns to India but fails to recognise family Touched by the rousing welcome, an emotional Geeta, through an interpreter, said, ‘I am very happy to be in India. My heart is filled with happiness.

I am touched...’

NEW DELHI: Over a decade after inadvertently crossing into Pakistan, Geeta, a deaf and mute girl, on Monday returned here to an emotional welcome but failed to recognise a family which she had initially identified from photographs even as India “wholeheartedly” thanked Pakistani government for allowing her homecoming.

Geeta, who was received by senior officials from External Affairs Ministry and Pakistan High Commission here on her arrival from Karachi, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who played a key role in bringing her back.

“Welcome back home, Geeta.

It is truly wonderful to have you back home... All of India will take care of you,” Modi said and assured that every effort would be made to trace her family.

Touched by the rousing welcome, an emotional Geeta, through an interpreter, said, “I am very happy to be in India. My heart is filled with happiness. I am touched the way I am being welcomed. In Pakistan, I used to often feel sad.”

HOMECOMING: Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian woman who accidentally crossed over to Pakistan a decade ago, is seen here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bilqees Edhi during their meeting, after her return to India, in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI

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The prime minister thanked the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta for over a decade and announced Rs10 million assistance for their foundation. He described the family as “apostles of kindness and compassion”.

‘Happy day’ Earlier, addressing a press conference with Geeta, Swaraj called it a “happy day” as the “innocent daughter came back home”.

She said Geeta refused to recognise the Mahato couple from Bihar which she had identified from photographs and added that she will be kept in an institution in Indore till her “real family” was found.

Geeta, who had accidentally strayed into Pakistan nearly 15

years ago, said her priority is to stand on her feet.

Though Mahato family claimed she was married and has a child, Geeta vehemently denied it.

DNA samples Swaraj said Geeta’s DNA sample is being examined and if it does not match with the samples of the Mahato couple, then government will start afresh the process to find her parents.

“If the DNA samples match, then it will be a complex situation.

We will ask Geeta to recollect things and go down the memory lane. We will make her sit again with them (Mahatos) so that she recollects her memory,” the minister said, adding Geeta did not show any excitement when she saw the Mahato couple.

“No matter if we find her (Geeta’s) parents or not, she is a daughter of India and we will take care of her,” the foreign minister said, adding Geeta has said the Mahato

family is not hers. The minister also thanked the Pakistan government, saying, “I on behalf of people of India and government thank Pakistan government and its Prime Minister for facilitating Geeta’s return.”

Swaraj, however, refused to answer questions on whether Geeta’s homecoming will help improve relations between India and Pakistan. Geeta was adopted by the Edhi Foundation’s Bilquis Edhi and lived with her in Karachi. Bilquis and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, have accompanied Geeta here.

Geeta’s story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India.

Mahato claimed Geeta is his first child and her name was Heera who was lost in a fair in 2004.

Heaping praise on Bilquis, Swaraj said all the members of the

organisation who accompanied Geeta have been accorded state guest status.

The Edhi delegation is likely to visit Taj Mahal, Ajmer Sharif dargah as well as various historical places in Delhi.

Giving a detail account of her stay in Edhi Foundation, Bilquis on her part said, “I am extremely happy. Today is like Eid for me.

I am happy for Geeta.” She said Geeta initially was restless and wanted to flee from Pakistan.

Bilquis said Geeta watched Bajrangi Bhaijan several times.

“She had said the movie has been made taking my story but I have not been taken back,” said Bilquis quoting Geeta.

In her meeting with Bilquis, Swaraj told her that she will be invited to Geeta’s wedding.

Swaraj said government’s priority is to bring back the Indians who are languishing in Pakistani jails for years and have developed mental illness.

Asked Pakistan High Commission’s comment on Monday that it hoped India would release 459 Pakistani prisoners with same “love and affection” that Pakistan showed for Geeta, Swaraj refused to comment.

Extend help She, however, said Geeta’s return has reflected importance of people-to-people contact in relationship between the two countries.

Swaraj said there cases somewhat similar to Geeta’s and government will extend help to those families to bring back their relatives.

Before boarding the PIA flight in Karachi, a beaming Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her.

Faisal Edhi of the Edhi foundation told reporters in Karachi that they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her.

“She is not really separating from us,” he said. - PTI

INDIA-AFRICA SUMMIT

India, African officials discuss framework to boost ties NEW DELHI: Aiming to ramp up engagement, India and African countries on Monday deliberated on possible deliverables at a summit between the two sides which is aimed at lifting the overall ties to a new high with particular focus on trade, security and development cooperation.

On the first day of the four-daylong India-Africa Summit, top officials of India and a number of African countries discussed about a specific framework to boost ties besides deliberating on a “political document”.

“They are negotiating two documents. One is going to be a political document which will talk of the political partnership between India and Africa. It will touch upon global and regional issues.

“Other one is going to be framework document of cooperation which will talk about the development partnership of Africa, line of credit by India to African nations,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters. He said terrorism could find place in the discussions in the summit.

On Tuesday, the summit will see interaction at the level of foreign ministers while the third leg will see meeting of the heads of the states on October 29.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also hold bilateral talks with her counterparts from Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Ghana among others on Tuesday.

Representatives of 54 African nations including heads of state and government of around 40 countries and powerful African Union are expected to participate in the summit.

India’s current trade with Africa is around $75 billion and it has granted a whopping $7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects in the past four years. - PTI

PETITIONS

Jaya’s election challenged in Madras High Court CHENNAI: Petitions challenging the election of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to the assembly in a byelection have been filed in the Madras High Court by

two independent candidates.

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana on Monday ordered notice to Jayalalithaa, the Election Commission, state Chief Electoral Officer

and the Returning Officer on one of the petitions filed by T Suresh whose nomination papers for the June 27 last bypoll to R K Nagar constituency were rejected. -PTI

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INDIA

Campaigning ends for Bihar polls 3rd phase Fifty of the state’s 243 assembly seats spread over six districts — Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Nalanda, Bhojpur and Buxar — are going to elections in the third phase polls on October 28

WOOING VOTERS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Buxar district of Bihar on Monday. - PTI

PATNA: The high-voltage campaigning for the third phase of Bihar polls ended on Monday during which the rival contenders for power locked horns over the contentious issue of reservation, largely putting aside their development plank.

After a brief Dussehra break, both the NDA, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and JD(U)-RJD-Congress combine, plunged headlong into the hurly burly of electioneering, targeting each other over issues many of which were unrelated to the state.

added variety and spice to the electoral discourse.

A sting video showing JD(U) MLA Satyadev Singh purportedly accepting bribe from a businessman also gave Modi and his NDA allies ammunition to pillory the grand alliance.

Addressing rallies at Chhapra, Nalanda and Patna on Sunday, Modi dubbed Nitish-Lalu duo as leaders with a regressive agenda and “18th century mindset”.

He attacked Kumar over the “tantrik” controversy and said the RJD chief was leading “Rashtriya Jadu Tona” party.

Nitish Kumar lost no time in launching a counteroffensive saying in a tweet “the people of Bihar have made Shah and the autocrat (Modi) realise the power of democratic forces in this election... they have been rattled by an imminent defeat.”

Under unrelenting assault on the quota issue, Modi on Monday mounted a counterattack, accusing the grand alliance of plotting to take away five per cent of the quota share of Scheduled Castes,

Counter-offensive Apart from the grand alliance’s claim of the Narendra Modi government contemplating to scrap quotas for SC, ST and OBCs, which provoked a counteroffensive from the prime minister on the last day of the campaign, Dalit burning case in Haryana’s Faridabad, Union Minister V. K. Singh’s dog remark on it, besides a video clip of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting a ‘Tantrik’

Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class and give it to “a community” despite the Constitution and the law not providing for it, a move aimed at neutralising the rival alliance’s attempts at polarisation of upper caste votes.

While Modi returned to the state on the last two days of campaigning, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD boss Lalu Prasad led the charge against anti-BJP alliance. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul visited the state for a day each and focused on targeting Modi.

Several central ministers including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, J. P. Nadda and Ananth Kumar campaigned at various places.

BJP President Amit Shah camped at Patna and also addressed several rallies.

Fifty of the state’s 243 assembly seats spread over six districts — Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Nalanda, Bhojpur and Buxar — are going to polls in the third phase on October 28. Polling has already been

held in 81 assembly seats in the first two phases.

Meanwhile, a small political outfit modelled on AAP is making its debut in Bihar elections, while a journalist seeking civic changes in the capital, along with a string of other independent candidates is testing fortunes in the hustings.

Styled as ‘Gareeb Aadmi Party (GAP)’ and barely a year-old, the Delhi-based new outfit says that like the ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ it seeks to offer an “alternative politics” and is asking voters to “mind the GAP” between “Modi camp and Nitish-led grand alliance”.

“We are fighting this polls with all our might and spirit and have fielded candidates for 19 seats including Digha, Danapur, Bankipur and Kumrahar, Phulwari, Patna Sahib in Patna district.

Our candidates are also in the fray in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Hajipur as well.Two of our candidates are also competing against Laluji’s two sons in Mahua and Raghopur constituencies,” GAP’s national state president, Shyam Bhartiya said. - PTI CURBS

ON THE RUN FOR DECADES

Rajnath confirms arrest of Chhota Rajan in Indonesia

Age of bans is over, says Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Confirming the arrest of underworld don Chhota Rajan, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said it was a “major success” for the Indian government’s efforts to nab him and thanked Indonesia for his capture in that country.

“It has been confirmed that Chhota Rajan has been arrested in Indonesia. The process of verification and other details are on,” he said over phone from Bihar where he is campaigning.

He said Indian government had been trying to nab him for a long time and had made a request to Interpol in this regard.

“We had issued a notice (through the Interpol),” he added.

The Home Minister thanked Indonesian government for the arrest, saying it was a “major success”.

Asked when Rajan will be brought to India, Singh said the CBI and other agencies are in touch with the Indonesian authorities and things are being worked out. He, however, did not give any timeframe.

Asked whether underworld don and 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim would be the next target, Singh said “let’s see what happens in the future”.

NEW DELHI: The government should stay away from putting any curbs on freedom of expression as the “age of bans is over”, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday, adding that restrictions imposed in the Constitution play an important role in the larger interest.

Delivering the Sardar Patel lecture organised by All India Radio (AIR) here, the union minister noted that while the right to freedom of expression has expanded in India through successive judicial verdicts and technological advances, its misuse continues to happen.

“Many believe, and I am one of those who do believe, that the age of bans is now over. It is literally impossible if not very difficult to implement them,” he said.

Jaitley ruled out the idea of involvement of the state in enforcing bans.

“Should the state step in? As far as possible, no,” he said.

The minister noted that while print media and to a large extent electronic media adopt discretions in their content, social media completely lacks such a mechanism. He pointed out that makers of the Constitution rightly held that freedom of speech and expression is not absolute and subject to reasonable restrictions which were specifically defined.

“In a society where because of multi-religious, multi-cultural reasons there are sensitivities, what do we do if somebody crosses the Lakshman Rekha itself? What would the Indian society have done if instead of the Danish cartoonist, it would have been an Indian cartoonist?

“And therefore we have criminal laws in provision but then in extreme cases, very reluctantly so, some power of restraint in larger interest so that it doesn’t disturb public order, and that is where those 1950s restrictions imposed in Article 19(2) itself will have an important role to play,” he said. - PTI

Close coordination Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the arrest has been made due to close coordination between Indonesia, Australia and Indian security agencies. Rijiju said most of the cases against Rajan were registered in Mumbai and the police in that city will take the initiative of his prosecution.

Rajan’s arrest in Indonesia is a “significant” development and his questioning is expected to shed light on hitherto unknown facts related to underworld and criminal cases linked to his syndicate, former and serving police officials claimed on Monday.

The 55-year-old fugitive from Mumbai, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia,after being on the run for decades.

NABBED: A file photo of underworld don Chhota Rajan. He was caught by Indonesian police in Bali on Sunday. - PTI Photo/TV Grab

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner, M. N. Singh, who had played a key role in eliminating underworld gangs in the city, said he would not get excited till the gangster was brought back to the country.

“Rajan’s arrest is significant for investigating agencies as he can reveal unknown facts about underworld-police-political nexus,” said Y. P. Singh, IPS officer-turnedlawyer. The details of conspiracy behind the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey on June 11, 2011, which was executed allegedly at the behest of Rajan, and firing on another scribe in early 1990s may come to fore if he is questioned by Indian agencies, he said.

Also, police and other lawenforcing agencies could come to know of Rajan’s connections in the killings of his own hirelings in India and abroad, said a Crime Branch officer, requesting anonymity. One such case is that of gangster Farid Tanasha, a close Rajan aide who was killed in Mumbai on June 2, 2010.

Tanasha was bumped off as Rajan suspected he was in the pro-

cess to dump him and join a rival gang, he said. The case of attempt on the life of Iqbal Kaskar, brother of Rajan’s main rival and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in 2010 in South Mumbai, may also get solved, said another officer.

Financial angle Explaining the financial angle of the Rajan gang, an IPS officer said that several small and big time city-based builders, who are suspected to be associated with the crime boss, may face the heat.

Mumbai Crime Branch is in possession of a list of builders who police suspect have links with the Rajan gang, he said.

Reacting cautiously to the arrest of the fugitive, M. N. Singh said he is not excited till he is deported to India.

“Going by my past forgettable experience, I would say that neither am I excited nor very much hopeful because Rajan is yet to be deported to the country. And even if he is deported here, he has become very old, sick and almost non-operative with his gang,” Singh said. - PTI

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E N V I R O N M E N TA L C O N C E R N S

In Bihar poll battle, who cares about the environment?

PATNA: For an election that can make or break the main contenders for power in Bihar, no one seems bothered about environmental issues.

The ever increasing pollution in the Ganges, people hit hard by arsenic, fluoride and iron content in drinking water, rising air pollution and falling rainfall — issues that affect millions — have been given a go-by as Bihar readies for the third round of the five-phase assembly election.

Political parties and top leaders are harping on economic development, job quotas, beef, shooting prices of food items as well as caste equations to woo voters.

Neither the BJP-led NDA of Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor the Grand Alliance of the JDU, RJD and Congress led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appear to take up green issues.

With star campaigners from Modi to BJP president Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar to RJD chief Lalu Prasad trying hard to target youths by promising development including jobs to education, green issues have been missing from the campaign. Yet, pollution is a major issue for millions all over Bihar.

In places like Patna, Buxar and Bhagalpur districts, pollution in the Ganges is worrying everyone.

According to Gangetic dolphin expert R.K. Sinha, over the years disposal of untreated waste has been the major cause for growing pollution in the river considered holy by Hindus. Six major drains carry untreated water directly into the river in Patna.

“Any development cannot be sustainable by ignoring environmental concerns. If our water and air are polluted, what kind of development are we talking about?

Development minus environment is like fish without water,” said Ranjeev, a green activist.

He warned that the neglect of green issues will cost the people of

A large part of Bihar is in the Himalayan terai area, which is most vulnerable to climate change.

The poor will face livelihood problems but surprisingly it is not an issue in the election campaign Ranjeev Green activist

Bihar dear, particularly the poor, in view of climate changes.

Vulnerable to climate change “A large part of Bihar is in the Himalayan terai area, which is most vulnerable to climate change. The poor will face livelihood problems but surprisingly it is not an issue in the election campaign,” he said.

Another environment activist, Mahender Yadav, said some green issues were mentioned in some manifestos but were not raised at public rallies.

Rampati Kumar, CEO of the Centre for Environment and Energy Development(CEED), said environmental issues were the real challenge.

Rampati Kumar said that the political class had forgotten green issues. - IANS

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

PAKISTAN New unit to boost murder investigations There was some pressure to do that (plant evidence) in the past, and the courts did not really want to rely on it.

With this new unit there is no need

Launched last month by police in the eastern province of Punjab, the 478-strong unit pairs veterans with university graduates who had an extra year of training in forensics,

SPECIALIZED HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UNIT: A police forensic expert gathers evidence from a bloodied wall at a murder crime scene in Lahore, Pakistan October 1, 2015. — Reuters

Mushtaq Sukhera Punjab police official

report writing and interrogation

LAHORE: Pakistan’s first specialized homicide investigation unit is promoting a radical idea: find evidence, don’t plant it.

Launched last month by police in the eastern province of Punjab, the 478-strong unit pairs veterans with university graduates who had an extra year of training in forensics, report writing and interrogation.

Reforming the crumbling crimi-

nal justice system and the cashstarved, poorly trained police force is vital to Pakistan’s stability. Militants and criminals commonly walk free, and citizens are doubtful of seeing justice done.

That is partly because antiquated courts rely heavily on witness testimony and evidence found at the scene, and both are easily manipulated, say police and lawyers.

Punjab police chief Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera hopes the new unit will help put an end to the practice.

“There was some pressure to do that (plant evidence) in the past,

and the courts did not really want to rely on it,” said Sukhera. “With this new unit there is no need.”

In most murder cases, victims’ families say they know who the killer is, police say.

Yet few officers are trained to collect evidence to prove it, and sometimes make it up.

A dozen senior prosecutors and police told Reuters they coached witnesses and planted evidence, but only to incriminate the guilty.

“We get the right guy by the wrong methods,” one senior officer in the eastern city of Lahore told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

Without a protection programme, witnesses are afraid to testify, leaving police with little choice but to coach them and plant evidence, said Hassan Abbas, author of “he Taliban Revival and a prominent expert on police reforms.

“You can’t ask someone to risk everything if they are not convinced it will make any difference,” he said.

Abbas argued that the new homicide unit was not enough.

“Basic problems like lack of police training, political interference and lack of funding are still not be-

ing addressed,” he said. “Announcing new units is nice for the media, but the basics are still neglected.”

Another challenge for police is that laws allowing families of victims to pardon killers in exchange for cash mean the guilty can go free and the innocent may be blackmailed.

“People are losing faith in the justice system day by day,” said defence lawyer Raja Ghaneem Khan.

He recently got three men acquitted after a judge ruled evidence was planted and the men were in custody when the murder occurred. They were on death row for five years before being cleared.

At a mosque in the Punjabi city of Lahore last month, a team from the new homicide unit carefully photographed a corpse sprawled in the library, a bloody axe wedged in its back.

“In the old days, they would have just moved the body immediately and vital evidence would have been lost,” said Umar Riaz, head of the new unit’s Lahore section.

More than 400 homicide cases have been registered in the last month, and by mid-October the unit was close to completing one hundred. So far, 24 people have appeared in court based on its findings.

But funding and training gaps remain.

The new homicide squad does not have a budget. Officers should receive Rs50,000 ($490) per in-

vestigation to cover the cost of transport, equipment and forensic tests. The senior police official in Lahore said the stipend had been paid in around 40-45 per cent of cases.

One newly appointed homicide officer, a veteran stationed outside Lahore, said he only had 25 days of extra training and had not been paid investigation expenses.

“We are in favour of this initiative, but if they don’t do it properly, it will just be old wine in new bottles,” warned another Punjabi policeman, himself a seasoned investigator.

A tiny national police budget leaves little cash for training and witness protection.

“In Pakistan, most of the time the natural (genuine) witnesses don’t come forward. Even where the natural witnesses are available, police have to guide them on how they are supposed to testify,” said Sukhera. One method several police officers said was used in Punjab to bolster their case was to buy a gun, shoot a few rounds then place the bullets at a crime scene.

When the suspect is captured, the gun is planted.

The Punjab Forensic Science Agency, which carries out tests for police, said around 70 per cent of guns taken from suspects match bullets from crime scenes. The senior police officer said the match rate from genuine evidence is closer to 5 per cent. — Reuters

H E A LT H C R I S I S

Minar-i-Pakistan goes pink to raise of breast cancer awareness LAHORE: Pink lights illuminated Minar-i-Pakistan on Sunday evening to raise awareness on breast cancer.

The change of lights was organised by the Pink Ribbon Campaign and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for the International Mammogram Day. The colour is associated with Pinktober, the breast cancer awareness month celebrated in October across the world. According to Pink Ribbon Organisation Pakistan has the highest breast cancer incidence in Asia, with one out of 9 women likely to be diagnosed of the disease.

Nearly 90,000 breast cancer cases are reported every year.

Pink Ribbon estimates that 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year.

“Despite these figures, there is a 90 per cent chance of recovery with an early diagnosis. Lack of awareness about the diseases and diagnostic facilities, however,

Despite these figures, there is a 90 per cent chance of recovery with an early diagnosis. Lack of awareness about the diseases and diagnostic facilities, however, leads to late diagnosis which is why many women lose their lives to the disease, said Omer Aftab, chief executive of the Pink Ribbon campaign leads to late diagnosis which is why many women lose their lives to the disease,” said Omer Aftab, chief executive of the Pink Ribbon campaign.

He says the lighting initiative would raise awareness about breast cancer. “People hesitate to discuss the issue because of cultural norms,” he said.

“It is important for people to realise the importance of early detection to save the life of a mother, a sister, a wife or a daughter,” he says.

He said the Pink Ribbon is setting up Pakistan’s first hospital dedicated to breast cancer treatment.

Lack of awareness PHA spokesman Javed Shaida appreciated the initiative, saying lack of awareness has affected public health. He said the PHA would continue to extend support for such events.

‘Pink October’: Early diagnosis key to fighting breast cancer, said the expert.

The Pink Ribbon Campaign will raise awareness among female students by providing reading material at such events. Over the years, many monuments, including the Empire State building, the White House, the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House, have been illuminated with pink lights to raise awareness on breast cancer.

Last year, Liberty Roundabout turned pink under the Pinktober campaign on breast cancer awareness. — Express Tribune

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Veteran artiste Nargis returns to theatre LAHORE: Back in 2012, in the presence of the media, Nargis had vowed never to return to stage and announced that she had become a preacher.

AThree years on, she is back in town and in business, having signed a stage drama and drumming up efforts to put together her film Dushman Rani.

Theatre activities will resume once again after the brief break due to holidays few days ago and Nargis’ drama will be staged at Shalimar Theatre, starting October 30.

Helming the project herself, she is busy finalising her cast these days. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Nargis shares it is the right time to make a comeback. “I was streamlining various matters

Nargis

and now I am relaxed and willing to work. “Theatre has always been my field of choice; so I have decided to restart my career with a stage drama.”

It has been well over two months since Nargis returned from Canada. She was not seen at

social events, let alone on stage, and was concentrating on her beauty parlour business only.

Now that she is back, she is aware of how several new actors have arrived since her departure. But she is certain that her loyal fans will not disappoint her. “I know the audiences still want to see Nargis,” she says.

There was a time when Nargis and her sister Deedar ruled the stage as the highest-paid actors in the industry. Audiences would flock to theatres to catch a glimpse of Nargis and she’d make the best of her popularity — charging as much as Rs2 million for a single play. Her return has made fellow actors hopeful of a revival of stage drama in the city.

Shalimar Theatre’s owner, Ma-

lik Tahir, seems delighted with her return. “Nargis is still a big name in the world of theatre and we are expecting a huge turnout at the play. So far, actors Mahnoor, Sunahir Khan, Payal, Qaiser Piya and Nawaz Anjum have been roped in,” he shares.

On the film front, Nargis gave the green light to director Pervaiz Rana to start work on Dushman Rani during a meeting at her residence. “Kamal Pasha has written the script of the film and I have already finalised shooting locations.

We are all waiting on Nargis’ directives to begin filming,” says Rana. “She is very enthusiastic about the film,” he added.

In fact, for her role in the movie, she has also begun following a strict gym routine. — Express Tribune

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I S C L A I M E D AT TA C K

Bangladesh arrest four over Italian worker killing DHAKA: Bangladeshi police have arrested four people in connection with the killing of an Italian aid worker who was shot dead last month in the first attack in the country claimed by IS militants.

Cesare Tavella, 50, was shot in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter by three gunmen on a motorcycle on September 28. Attacks on foreigners are rare in Bangladesh, despite a rising tide of extremist violence over the past year that has seen four online critics of religious militancy hacked to death, among them a US citizen of Bangladesh origin.

Days after Tavella was shot, a Japanese man was killed. IS claimed responsibility for both attacks. The government has rejected the IS claim and blamed the growing violence on political opponents.

The four arrested for the attack on Tavella were caught in different parts of the capital overnight and police also recovered a motorcycle that they said was used in the killing.

“Three directly took part in the killing mission and the other one supplied the motorcycle,” city police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia. — Reuters

situation,” said Michel Rooijackers, deputy country director of aid agency Save the Children.

“We are concerned about food security and livelihoods... It will significantly impact their recovery. In the medium to longer term, that is what we see as the biggest problem.”

The NDRRMC said 15,289 houses and 249 schools were completely destroyed by winds, landslides and flooding, while 88,158 houses and 554 schools suffered partial damage.

Typhoon Koppu brought strong winds and days of heavy rain last week to seven regions on the country’s main island Luzon, affecting 2.7 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Monday

BANGKOK: Authorities and aid workers in the Philippines are assessing losses and providing assistance for survivors of Typhoon Koppu, which killed 58 people and caused $185 million of damage to farms and fisheries.

TOUGH TASK: Residents affected by flood caused by Typhoon Koppu look on after receiving relief goods at Barangay Delfin, Albano, Isabela province, north of Manila on October 20, 2015. — AFP

Typhoon Koppu brought strong winds and days of heavy rain last week to seven regions on the country’s main island Luzon, affecting 2.7 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Monday.

It said about 300 villages re-

A villager tries to extinguish a peatland fire on the outskirts of Palangkaraya city, Indonesia on Monday. For nearly two months, thousands of fires caused by slash-and-burn farming in Indonesia have choked vast expanses of Southeast Asia, forcing schools to close and scores of flights and some international events to be cancelled. — AFP

TSAR ALEXANDER III

Russia set to exhume Tsar’s remains to solve puzzle The investigation will try to ascertain whether remains believed to be those of Alexei and Maria, two of Tsar Nicholas II’s five children, are genuine and can be laid to rest in St. Petersburg

with their servants in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals.

Their bodies were first thrown into a mineshaft and then burnt and doused in acid before being buried elsewhere after the Bolsheviks thought locals had seen them dispose of the corpses.

Russian investigators who have conducted DNA tests say they are satisfied the remains of the two children are genuine.

But the Orthodox Church,

which has grown increasingly powerful under President Vladimir Putin, has demanded more proof.

“The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation together with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church plans to exhume the remains of Emperor Alexander III, who was buried in 1894 in the Peter and Paul Cathedral,” the investigators said in a letter to the museum. — Reuters

P R OVO C AT I O N

US to deploy warship off China isles WASHINGTON: The US Navy plans to send the USS Lassen destroyer within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands built by China in the South China Sea within 24 hours, the first of more regular challenges to China’s territorial claims, a US defense official said on Monday.

The destroyer’s patrol would occur near Subi and Mischief reefs in the Spratly archipelago,

WORLD

Philippines faces hardships as Koppu losses touch $185m

INDONESIA PEATLAND FIRE

MOSCOW: Russian investigators say they plan to exhume the remains of Tsar Alexander III at the request of the Orthodox Church, the latest twist in a macabre effort to authenticate the remains of his son, the murdered last tsar, and his slain children.

The investigation will try to ascertain whether remains believed to be those of Alexei and Maria, two of Tsar Nicholas II’s five children, are genuine and can be laid to rest in St. Petersburg.

They were discovered in 2007, some distance from the other five members of the imperial family discovered earlier.

The church is also keen for further proof that the remains of Nicholas himself, whose family dynasty ruled Russia for 300 years, are bona fide.

All seven, including Nicholas’s wife Alexandra, were murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918 along

A11

features that were formerly submerged at high tide before China began a massive dredging project to turn them into islands in 2014.

The ship would likely be accompanied by a US Navy P-8A surveillance plane, and possibly P-3 surveillance plane, which have been conducting regular surveillance missions in the region, according to the official.

The patrol will mark the most

serious US challenge yet to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims around the islands, and follows months of deliberation. Additional patrols could follow in coming weeks, the official said. Similar US patrols were also conducted around features that Vietnam and the Philippines have built up in the Spratlys in the past, according to the US Defence Department. — Reuters

main flooded, and 40 sections of road and five bridges are unpassable due to flooding and landslides.

All communications lines are open, but some towns are without electricity, it said.

The Department of Agriculture reported Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Lando, damaged more

than 330,000 hectares (815,000 acres) of farmland, destroying 510,000 tonnes of crops, including 464,000 tonnes of rice.

“Poor farmers - who probably had to borrow money for planting (crops) that were about to be ready to be harvested - went from the El Nino drought... to a flood

Deforestration According to Kate Marshall, a spokeswoman for the International Federation of the Red Cross, people in the area say deforestation has exacerbated the typhoon damage.

“That area is crucial to food production. They’re already talking about importing rice. They need to talk about the deforestation because it’s tragic,” Marshall said.

Save the Children and Plan International, which both have assessment teams in typhoonhit areas, have distributed assistance kits that include jerry cans, water purifiers, soap, toothbrushes, cooking pots and eating utensils. —Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Need to make Pakistan a weapons-free society

Location: Salalah/Photo: Marino Stephan

K

arachi’s Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS) has become the first major educational institution to declare itself a weapon-free zone.

The IVS deserves praise and appreciation for its bold public stand against weaponisation. Our indefatigable crusader for causes that matter the most, Naeem Sadiq, has lobbied for a system under which random purchase and display of weapons is restricted. So far there has been little success.

Who can forget the recent case where two children in Karachi committed suicide with a gun that belonged to one of the parents? Had the access to a gun not been so easy, maybe those two would be alive today.

To adopt the government’s stance at present which is to say that nothing can be done is to admit defeat without making an effort. It can be done. And what better time than the present, when the current operation being conducted in Karachi can help put a system in place.

To start with, the widely abused and largely outdated gun licensing system has to go.

Our national database authority NADRA needs to be given the charge of managing the country’s gun register. There can be only wild guesses as to how many licenced guns are being bandied around in Karachi, let alone guns with no licences whatsoever.

The other step is a massive crackdown on the public display of weapons by those who do not belong to law enforcement agencies.

Many rich and powerful persons have hired guards who accompany their masters all over town and threaten anyone who comes in their way with their weapons. Such practices cannot be allowed to happen.

This menace can easily be contained with road checks by law enforcement agencies.

Even if private guards are allowed to carry weapons, these should not be on public display. This is the least we can expect.

In fact, private guards should not be allowed to carry weapons beyond a certain category at all. Personal guards do not need machine guns. Nor should any private citizen be allowed to possess guns that could better be

used on a warfront and not in a bustling city.

On the issue of illegal weapons, the drive to detect these and seize them is a much larger task. And as we have seen with the Rangers operation in Karachi, where there is a will, there is a way. Many households in Karachi have illegal weapons in their possession.

Other than that, even guards of many security agencies and in some instances government departments have weapons for which they have no licence. There can be a public initiative to unearth such weapons that can be seized. A name and shame campaign can be started.

The business of possessing guns without a licence will become less attractive if and when the licensing system is made more efficient and taken out of the hands of the bureaucracy and politicians. This is where NADRA can come in. A drive can be started to get people to get licences for their guns.

The proliferation of guns in Karachi as in the rest of Pakistan has led to violence and unnecessary deaths. Who can forget the string of young men who were killed by over-zealous guards who fired first and asked questions later? Such incidents continue to take place.

The problem, of course, is not restricted to Karachi. One of our correspondents, who travelled to the rural parts of Sindh, told of how boys as young as 11 were carrying automatic weapons and were becoming increasingly involved in feuds.

Parts of Sindh have become lawless because the police has stepped aside and people have taken up arms in a bid to get justice or from protection from criminal elements.

This is also true of other parts of the country.

Some defend the culture of gun carrying as part of a culture. This is like saying that the reprehensible practice of honour killing should be allowed to continue as it is part of our culture. In the past, we have seen that when a government had the resolve, outdated practices could be done away with.

In a country like Afghanistan, for example, some years back de-weaponisation was done within weeks. It’s time we took the bull by the horns and gradually worked towards a safer Pakistan. - Express Tribune

READERS’ FORUM Mobile app for those in distress should be promoted This refers to the news story, Mobile app for Indians in distress (October 26). As an innovative idea to help the needy, the promoters of this app deserve appreciation. Many expatriate Indians are facing difficult situations owing to various reasons. They are desperately looking to reach out for help and support.

An app like this will definitely be of great relief to them. As almost everyone on the street has got a smartphone and is always on online, access to this facility would not be a problem. People should be encouraged to utilise this app when in need. This service is a great blessing as it can be used at any time even from remote places. This would be a great support to the expat communities as the promoters plan to expand its reach.

Scan this QR code — P. A. Jacob, Muscat 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).

What China really needs to do, though, is the same thing Japan’s struggled with for so long: import labour. If bringing immigrants into the world’s most populous country sounds crazy, it’s not.

China is already home to large immigrant communities many of whom work illegally bit.ly/migrantworkerschina

FROM OUR ARCHIVES OCTOBER 2000 Oman to participate in Bahrain tourism fair MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Directorate General of Tourism will participate in the International Fair for Tourism, which will open in Bahrain on Monday. The Sultanate’s delegation will be headed by Mohsin bin Khamis Al Balushi, the ministry’s undersecretary for tourism.

PICTOGRAPH

POTASSIUM IN FRUITS

Potassium helps maintain a normal blood pressure and also helps the muscles contract and nerves function. These are some fruits that contain high amount of potassium (in milligram)

1 medium banana

425 390

1

/2 of a papaya

Sooner or later, the accused will be termed as mentally ill in US

This refers to the online story, Oklahoma parade crash suspect charged with four counts of murder (October 26). In the US, whether it is gun violence or any other delinquent activity, sooner or later the accused is declared as mentally ill. This isn’t the norm in most other countries. It appears that to get sympathy, the US authorities make sure such a declaration is made. Such a state of affairs is witnessed every time the perpetrator is a white. It seems US is still immersed in racism and nothing has ever changed under the veneer.

— Sam Morrison, Al Hail

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1612: A Polish army that invaded Russia capitulates to Prince Dimitri Pojarski and his Cossacks.

370 1

/2 cup of prune juice

1 medium mango

325

1 small orange

240

1806: Emperor Napoleon enters Berlin.

1907: The first trial in the Eulenberg Affair ends in Germany.

1962: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev offers to remove Soviet missile bases in Cuba if the US removes its missile bases in Turkey.

1 medium pear Source: Drugs Web

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The quake was 213 km (132 miles) deep and centred 254 km (158 miles) northeast of Kabul in Badakhshan province.

More than 200 killed as quake hits Afghanistan, Pakistan and India

DESTROYED: Residents walk past the rubble of a house after it was damaged by an earthquake in Mingora, Swat, Pakistan, on Monday. – Reuters

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The death toll could

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climb in coming days because

a 7.6 magnitude quake in another part of northern Pakistan killed about 75,000 people.

communications were down in much of the rugged Hindu Kush mountain range where the earthquake was centred

KABUL/PESHAWAR: A major earthquake struck the remote Afghan northeast on Monday, killing more than 200 people in Afghanistan and nearby northern Pakistan, injuring hundreds and sending shock waves as far as New Delhi, officials said.

The death toll could climb in coming days because communications were down in much of the rugged Hindu Kush mountain range where the quake was centred. In one of the worst incidents, at least 12 girls were killed in a stampede to flee their school building in Taloqan, just west of Badakhshan province where the tremor’s epicentre was located.

“They fell under the feet of other students,” said Abdul Razaq Zin-

MAJOR EARTHQUAKE: A man carries a boy, who was injured in an earthquake, at the Lady Reading hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan on Monday. – Reuters

da, provincial head of the Afghan National Disaster Management Agency, who reported heavy damage in Takhar.

Shockwaves were felt in New Delhi in northern India and across northern Pakistan, where hundreds of people ran out of buildings as the ground rolled beneath them.

No deaths were reported in India.

“We were very scared ... We saw people leaving buildings, and we were remembering our God,” Pakistani journalist Zubair Khan said by telephone from the Swat Valley northwest of the capital Islamabad. “I was in my car and, when I stopped my car, the car itself was

shaking as if someone was pushing it back and forth.”

The quake was 213 km (132 miles) deep and centred 254 km (158 miles) northeast of Kabul in Badakhshan province. The US Geological Survey initially measured the magnitude at 7.7, then revised it down to 7.5. Just over a decade ago,

Security threats In Afghanistan, where rescue and relief work is likely to be complicated by security threats created by an escalating Taliban insurgency, at least 52 people were reported dead in several provinces.

In addition to the 12 schoolgirls in Takhar, officials said seven people died in the eastern province of Nangarhar, two in Nuristan province in the northeast, 22 in eastern Kunar province and nine in Badakhshan, where hundreds were killed in mudslides last year.

Hundreds of houses were also destroyed, creating additional hardship, with cold weather setting in.

In Pakistan, the head of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Agency, Amer Afaq said the death toll had reached 167, while military spokesman General Asim Bajwa said nearly 1,000 were injured.

Officials said most of the casualties had occurred in northern and northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan and the death toll was likely to rise. Dr John Ebel, chairman of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at

Boston College in the United States, said the depth of the earthquake meant damage was likely to be spread broadly rather than focused in one disaster zone. But he said landslides on the unstable slopes of the mountainous region could pose a major problem to rescuers in the coming days.

“Obviously if a landslide comes in to a village, it will take out buildings, but landslides can also take out roads and communications and power systems, so you lose the ability to access remote areas,” he said.

In Pakistan, the northern area of Chitral, where 20 people were killed, was particularly hard hit.

Journalist Gul Hammad Farooqi, 47, said his house had collapsed.

“I was thrown from one side of the road to the other by the strength of the earthquake. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he said.

“There is a great deal of destruction here, and my house has collapsed, but thankfully my children and I escaped.”

Further south, the city of Peshawar reported two deaths and at least 150 injured people were being treated at the city’s main hospital, the provincial health chief said.

In Afghanistan, international aid agencies working in northern areas reported that cell phone coverage in the affected areas remained down in the hours after the initial quake.

“The problem is we just don’t know.

A lot of the phone lines are still down,” said Scott Anderson, deputy head of office for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kabul. — Reuters

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ECUADOR: The Cotopaxi volcano of Ecuador spews ash on Monday. The volcano is considered one of the world’s most dangerous because its snow cap is vulnerable in an eruption and because of its close proximity to densely populated areas. — AFP

THAILAND: Jockeys compete in Chonburi’s annual buffalo race festival, in Chonburi province, Thailand on Monday. The event, which also celebrates the rice harvest, dates back to the buffalo trade in Chonburi, once the commercial centre of Thailand’s east. — Reuters

BRITAIN: Britain’s Kate Duchess of Cambridge is hugged by children during a meeting of the Charities Forum at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in London, on Monday. — Reuters/Ian Vogler/Pool

JAPAN: A boy slides through a tube in a cylindrical walkway at the Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachi, Japan, on Monday. — Reuters

LEBANON: Smoke billows from a burning garbage dump on the northern entrance to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Monday. — AFP

FRANCE: French investigators remove the wreckage of a bus and a lorry in Puisseguin on Monday as they clear the site of a crash that killed 43 people on Friday. — AFP

RUSSIA: A couple enjoys the autumn weather in Moscow’s Kolomenskoye park on October 26, 2015. — AFP

T UESDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

WORLD

A video released by the Dogan news agency showed two armoured police vehicles moving toward a row of houses as gunfire echoed in the background

Two policemen, seven IS militants killed in Turkey The clash took place in the Kayapinar district of the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir

DIYARBAKIR/ISTANBUL: Two Turkish policemen and seven IS militants were killed in a firefight after police raided more than a dozen houses in Turkey’s southeast early on Monday, security sources and government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday.

The clash took place in the Kayapinar district of the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. It was the first such shoot-out between Turkish security forces and suspected IS militants in an inner city; previous confrontations have taken place on the Turkish-Syrian border. Five police officers were

wounded while 12 militants were captured alive, Kurtulmus said.

“An important IS cell has been neutralised,” he told reporters.

“Work to identify (militants) and to uncover their connections in other cities is still under way.”

Gunfire A video released by the Dogan news agency showed two armoured police vehicles moving toward a row of houses as gunfire echoed in the background. Turkish authorities have extended operations into suspected IS cells after a double suicide bombing in Ankara that killed more than 100 people, the worst attack of its kind in Turkey’s modern history, was blamed on the militant group.

Last week, President Tayyip Erdogan said Syrian intelligence and Kurdish militants, not only IS, were behind the attack on a rally of pro-Kurdish activists and civic groups. Erdogan said Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, the Syrian “mukhabarat” secret police and the Syrian Kurdish PYD militia had worked together with IS in the bombing on October 10. — Reuters

OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS

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OPERATION UNDER WAY: Members of Turkish police special forces take part in a security operation in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on Monday. – Reuters

ELECTIONS

Full majority eludes eurosceptic Polish party WARSAW: Poland’s eurosceptic Law and Justice party (PiS) will have to wait for the final vote tallies before deciding whether to seek a formal political partner after crushing the incumbent pro-EU government in elections on Sunday.

Exit polls covering 90 per cent of polling stations showed three smaller parties, including the leftwing alliance that grew out of the pre-1989 Communist Party, teetering on the edge of the threshold for entering parliament.

That might make for some political horsetrading over the next few weeks but will not weaken the decisive swing towards Law and Justice’s brand of social conservatism mixed with left-leaning economics. Official results are due on Tuesday. The victory for Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s group returns it to power for the first time in eight years and is the biggest in terms of seats by a single party in free elections since Poland shed communism in 1989. The party immediately signalled plans to reap new revenues from next year with a tax on bank assets, and there were also signs that it was confident of enough informal support. — Reuters

REFUGEE CRISIS

40 volunteers held EU willing to offer Greece more aid after Tanzania poll DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s opposition Chadema party said on Monday police had detained 40 of its volunteers after a combined presidential and parliamentary election at the weekend, in an incident marring an otherwise broadly peaceful voting process.

Another opposition party, the Civic United Front, said police fired teargas at a crowd of supporters celebrating what the party said was its victory in Sunday’s race. Official results are not expected out until later this week.

Partial results on Monday could show the direction of voting following the most hotly contested race after more than five decades of rule by the CCM party.

The race for president has pitted the ruling CCM’s Works Minister John Magufuli against a coalition of opposition parties led by former prime minister Edward Lowassa, who defected from the CCM just three months ago. The Chadema party, part of the Ukawa coalition Lowassa heads, said the arrest of 40 of its volunteers was part of a government bid to intimidate the opposition. “Police also

confiscated computers and mobile phones of our volunteers who were tallying results of the presidential election,” John Malya, a Chadema lawyer, said.

There was no immediate comment from the government. Police Commissioner Paul Chagonja said some arrests were made due to “violations of electoral procedures” at a Chadema centre, where volunteers were tallying the vote. He did not give details. CCM and the opposition parties posted observers at most polling stations, sending results to their own tallying centre to get an idea of voting patterns to prevent abuses.

Opinion polls and analysts have forecast a presidential victory for John Magufuli, the CCM candidate. But many expect the party’s parliamentary majority to dwindle after the opposition united behind a single candidate for the first time. Results started trickling in on Monday morning.

Magufuli was ahead after just 65,000 ballots were counted in the nation of 47 million with 22.75 million registered voters. — Reuters

ATHENS: The European Union stands ready to extend additional aid to help Greece if needed to deal with the refugee crisis, the vicepresident of the bloc’s executive Commission said on Monday during a visit to Athens.

Valdis Dombrovskis’ comments came after EU leaders agreed late on Sunday to cooperate to manage migrants crossing Greece and the Balkans but offered no quick fix to the crisis, which threatens to take more lives as winter sets in and to set Europe’s nations against one another. “From the Commission’s point of view, we are willing to find additional means of supporting those countries which are most exposed to the refugee crisis and Greece is among them,” Dombrovskis told a news conference.

More than half a million people have transited through Greece this year, many of them fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Most move on to destinations in wealthier western and northern Europe, especially Germany. The EU’s new action plan agreed on Sunday evening includes United Nations-aided accommodation for 100,000 people, half of them in Greece.

LIVES IN PERIL: Refugees and migrants arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on Monday. – AFP

Dombrovskis was in Athens for talks with the finance and economy ministers on Greece’s latest economic reform efforts.

Dombrovskis said he was opti-

mistic that a ‘compromise’ could be found in the talks with lenders, which have hit a snag over protection for homeowners whose mortgages are non-performing. — Reuters

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LANDSLIDE VICTORY

Former TV comedian wins presidential elections in Guatemala

OVERWHELMING WIN: President-elect Jimmy Morales, right, and Vice President-elect Jafeth Cabrera of the National Front Convergence celebrate with supporters after winning the run-off election in Guatemala City on Monday. – AFP

GUATEMALA CITY: Jimmy Morales, a former TV comedian who has never held office, swept to power in Guatemala’s presidential election on Sunday after milking public anger over a corruption scandal that deepened distrust of the country’s political establishment.

The 46-year-old Morales overwhelmingly beat center-left rival and former first lady Sandra Torres in a run-off vote despite his lack of government experience and some policy ideas that strike many as eccentric.

The headquarters of Morales’ center-right National Convergence Front (FCN) party erupted in celebration as official returns showed he had around 68 per cent support in a landslide victory.

Voters pointed to widespread

discontent with Guatemala’s political class, compounded by a UNbacked investigation into a multimillion dollar customs racket that led last month to the resignation and arrest of former president Otto Perez.

Fight against corruption “As president I received a mandate, and the mandate of the people of Guatemala is to fight against the corruption that is consuming us,” Morales said on Sunday night.

The US government has strongly supported the UN-backed investigators and their success has helped push against corruption in Central America, where economic hardship and gang violence spurred an exodus of migrants to the United States.

However, the anti-graft fervor has also led to the election of an unknown quantity in Guatemala.

It is unclear how Morales will tackle gang violence or try to stem the flow of US-bound migrants.

Morales was already a household name following a 14-year stint on a popular TV comedy and the self-proclaimed centrist from a humble background wooed voters with promises to tackle corruption and hand out millions of smartphones to children.

“We were tired of the same faces of people who get rich off our money,” said Eduardo Tablas, a maintenance man who voted for Morales.

“He knows that if he does something corrupt, all of Guatemala will be demanding that he resign.”

Last year, Morales quit his TV

show, which centered on skits and lewd jokes, to run for the presidency. Back in April, he barely registered in opinion polls but he soon surged as both Perez’s government and a candidate who was then leading the presidential race became mired in corruption probes.

Morales further targeted voter frustration with Guatemala’s failing institutions by pledging to tag teachers with GPS devices to ensure they attend class.

He has also floated the idea of reviving a historic land dispute with neighboring Belize.

Such plans exposed Morales to ridicule from critics, and he also had to downplay ties between his FCN and the army, which was blamed for atrocities in Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war. — Reuters

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ROUGH CONDITIONS

Five Britons killed as Canadian whale-watching boat sinks TOFINO (British Columbia): Five Britons were killed when a Canadian whale-watching boat sank on Sunday, the British foreign secretary said on Monday.

The boat, carrying 27 passengers, sank off the coast of British Columbia on Sunday afternoon, sparking a rescue effort by the Coast Guard, fisherman and private mariners.

Five people were confirmed dead and one was missing, while 21 were rescued.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected by this terrible accident,” UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.

“Consular staff in British Columbia are supporting the family members of those who have died and we will remain in close contact with Canadian authorities as further information becomes available.”

The vessel, the Leviathan II, was operated by Jamie’s Whaling Station and Adventure Centres.

“It has been a tragic day. Our entire team is heartbroken over this incident and our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones of everyone involved,” owner Jamie Bray said in a statement posted on the company’s website.

“We are cooperating with investigators to determine exactly what

happened,” he said. In 1998, a boat operated by the same company sank near Tofino, killing the ship’s captain and a German tourist.

A military rescue helicopter and plane responded after the vessel sent a distress signal around 5pm local time, according to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

Military planes and coast guard vessels lit up the area where the vessel remained partially submerged, eight nautical miles northwest of Tofino.

Most of those rescued were taken to hospital, and several have since been released. Tofino, a community of about 2,000 people on the west coast of Vancouver Is-

land, is a popular tourist destination for surfers, hikers and whale watchers from around the world.

John Forde, who works at another eco-adventure company, said passengers on a vessel like the Leviathan II, a three-deck 65foot cruiser that can carry up to 46 people, would not have had to wear life jackets.

The boat, like ferries, would only be required to have life jackets on board.

He told the Global Television Network that the waves were three to four metres high at the time of the sinking, conditions that were rough but not unusual for the area, Forde said. - Reuters

Processed meat can cause cancer: WHO The France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent

PARIS: Eating processed meat can lead to bowel cancer in humans while red meat is a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts said on Monday in findings that could sharpen debate over the merits of a meat-based diet.

The France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, put processed meat such as hot dogs in its group 1 list, which already includes tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, for which there is “sufficient evidence” of cancer links.

“For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” Dr Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement.

Lower classification Red meat, under which the IARC includes beef and lamb was classified as a “probable” carcinogen in its group 2A list that also contains glyphosate, the active ingredient in many weedkillers.

The lower classification for red meat reflected “limited evidence”

CANCER LINK: If the cancer link with red meat were confirmed, diets rich in red meat could be responsible for 50,000 deaths a year worldwide. - File Photo

that it causes cancer. The IARC found links mainly with bowel cancer, as was the case for processed meat, but it also observed associations with pancreatic and prostate cancer.

The agency, whose findings on meat followed a meeting of health experts in France earlier this month, estimated each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent.

The IARC, which was assessing meat for the first time and reviewed some 800 studies, does not compare the level of cancer

risk associated with products in a given category, so does not suggest eating meat is as dangerous as smoking, for example.

Limit intake Health policy in some countries already calls for consumers to limit intake of red and processed meat, but the IARC said such advice to consumers was in certain cases focused on heart disease and obesity.

The preparation of the IARC’s report has already prompted vigorous reactions from meat industry groups, which argue

meat forms part of a balanced diet and that cancer risk assessments need to be set in a broader context of environmental and lifestyle factors.

The IARC, which does not make specific policy recommendations, cited an estimate from the Global Burden of Disease Project - an international consortium of more than 1,000 researchers - that 34,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide are attributable to diets high in processed meat.

This compares with about 1 million cancer deaths per year globally due to tobacco smoking, 600,000 a year due to alcohol consumption, and more than 200,000 each year due to air pollution, it said.

If the cancer link with red meat were confirmed, diets rich in red meat could be responsible for 50,000 deaths a year worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease Project. - Reuters

RESCUE OPERATIONS: Rescue personnel mount a search for vic-

tims of a capsized whale watching boat park on a wharf in Tofino, British Columbia on Sunday. - Reuters

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

Oklahoma parade crash suspect charged with four counts of murder STILLWATER (Oklahoma): An Oklahoma woman was charged on Sunday with four counts of second-degree murder a day after she allegedly crashed the car she was driving into a crowd at an Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, killing four people and injuring dozens, police said.

Adacia Avery Chambers, 25, allegedly drove a gray Hyundai Elantra into a crowd watching Saturday’s parade in Stillwater, about 65 miles (105km) southwest of Oklahoma City.

Police said they suspected Chambers was intoxicated.

Three adults and a toddler were killed and about four dozen people were injured, five of them critically. Stillwater police said in a statement on Sunday the murder charges were filed in consultation with the Payne County District Attorney’s office.

Police were still awaiting results of a blood test administered to Chambers after the crash.

Her lawyer, Tony Coleman, told The Oklahoman newspaper he believes his client is mentally ill and doubted she was drunk at the time of the crash.

“I don’t believe right now that she was intoxicated,” Coleman told the newspaper. “I have deep concerns about her competency at this point. I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I can tell you she’s suffering from mental illness,” Coleman said.

Reuters could not reach Coleman immediately. A man who was watching the parade with his family said the crash sounded like a bomb had gone off, transforming a festive mood into one of horror.

“All I remember was a gush of wind and then the sound,” Mark McNitt said at a news conference, recalling when the vehicle jumped the curb, mowing down dozens of men, women and children.

“The only thing I can relate it to is some type of bombing,” said McNitt, whose father-in-law Leo

CHARGED: Adacia Avery Chambers is pictured in this booking photo provided by the Stillwater Police department, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Saturday. - Reuters

Schmitz, 54, was critically injured. “The screaming...and a lot of screaming.”

Police said Chambers lives in Stillwater but did not appear to be an OSU student. She worked at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Stillwater, her employer said. Her father, Floyd Chambers, 47, earlier told The Oklahoman his daughter lived with her boyfriend in Stillwater.

He described her as timid and not an alcoholic.

“They’re going to paint her into a horrible person but this is not (her),” he told the paper.

In a statement on Sunday, police identified the three adults who were killed as Nakita Prabhakar, 23, of Edmond, Oklahoma; Bonnie Jean Stone, 65; and Marvin Lyle Stone, 65, both of Stillwater.

They were all pronounced dead at the scene. A toddler died later on Saturday, police said.

Family members identified him as Nash Lucas, according to Oklahoma television station KOTV. Prabhakar, originally from Mumbai, India, was a graduate business student at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, the school said, identifying her as Nikita Nakal. - Reuters

R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y

Solar panels empower indigenous people in Canada’s north BEHCHKO (Canada): Daniel T’seleie, an indigenous activist in Canada’s far north, is campaigning to help his people wean themselves from a worrying dependence on imported fuel and food, recover old traditions and win greater autonomy from the government.

In a region with nearly 24 hours of daylight in the summer, one way to help meet his goals seems obvious: more solar power.

“Right now a lot of communities in the Northwest Territories are dependent on diesel-generated electricity, along with store-bought food,” said T’seleie an interview near Behchoko, a clutch of small wooden houses nestled along the shores of Great Slave Lake.

Standing beside spindly jack pine trees growing from thin soil on the hard granite rock that covers much of northern Canada, T’seleie sees renewable energy as the force which could respond to the region’s complex, intertwined challenges.

Global warming Canada’s north is particularly vulnerable to global warming, which is making it harder for indigenous people to continue their traditions of hunting and trapping on the land, as ice sheets are

melt and caribou herds collapse.

And although indigenous people want what they call a “nation to nation” relationship with the Canadian government, they largely depend on it for diesel fuel in order to keep warm.

By harnessing renewable energy, T’seleie believes indigenous communities could gain more freedom from the state and revive ancient cultural practices, while doing their part to combat climate change which is hitting them particularly hard.

“Any way that communities can produce energy at a local level produces independence,” said the 34-year-old, sporting a baseball cap and jeans, the informal dress common in Canada’s rugged north.

Solar surge The Northwest Territories has seen a surge in the use of solar power over the last five years, after the regional government spent about $50 million to boost renewable energy production and improve efficiency, said Jim Sparling, the territory’s senior climate change manager.

“On a per capita basis, we are second only to Ontario (Canada’s most populous province) for installed solar capacity,” Sparling

of the northern territory have already risen more than 3 degrees from pre-industrial levels, Sparling said. Scientists say average world temperatures should not rise more 2 degrees if the world is to avoid the worst disasters associated with global warming.

“We have to scale up the ambition,” Sparling said. “We are very vulnerable if this problem gets worse.”

BRINGING DOWN ENERGY BILLS: The town of Behchoko, which is mostly populated by indigenous members of the Dene Nation, is shown in this October 2, 2015 file photo. - Reuters

said in the territorial capital Yellowknife.

The huge and sparsely populated northern territory has fewer than 50,000 residents, about half of whom are indigenous, many from the Dene Nation, a tribal people who traditionally hunt caribou.

Solar power still represents a fairly small part of its energy consumption, though the level is rising, said Sparling.

Private individuals and companies in the territory are also installing solar panels on their own to try and bring down their energy

bills and cut dependence on imports, he said.

That combination of rising use of renewable and better energy efficiency has allowed the province to hold its climate-changing emissions stable at 2005 levels despite a rise in the population and a growing economy, Sparling said.

The territorial government plans to be part of a Canadian delegation going to Paris for a UN climate summit in December, aimed at reaching a new global agreement on climate change.

Average temperatures in parts

Switch over North of the Arctic Circle, the village of Colville Lake, with fewer than 200 residents, is in the midst of a major switch from diesel power to solar. Last year, the mostly indigenous community faced weekly power outages.

But after a new solar power system was set-up, the area is now nearly self sufficient in electricity production during summer months when the sun shines almost round the clock.

It still needs to import fuel for the winter, but officials believe the new investments will lead to a 30 per cent drop in diesel consumption, helping the environment and saving money. Other small northern towns are looking to mimic the project to save cash and allow people to maintain traditional life-

styles by being less dependent on expensive imports.

“In the last 10 to 15 years there has been a huge push from (indigenous) communities to try and support themselves,” said Ashlee Cunsolo Willox, an indigenous studies professor at Cape Breton University and a researcher on climate change impacts.

As global warming leads to the thinning of Arctic sea ice and changes in the habits of northern animals, the region’s indigenous inhabitants are struggling to adapt their lifestyles while holding onto old traditions, she said.

The caribou population has collapsed in parts of the territory in a development experts link to climate change, and melting ice makes it harder for hunters to navigate the land in search of other animals to hunt.

“The north is the fastest changing geography in the world,” Cunsolo Willox said in a phone interview.” There is a lot of concern that traditional knowledge and skills will be lost with climate change.”

Building greater self sufficiency — including by adapting cleaner, cheaper energy - may be a strategy for holding onto the old ways, activists say. - Reuters

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Play bigger role in developing projects, private sector urged The minister of commerce and

New investment law expected by the first quarter of 2016

industry said that the government has already built necessary infrastructure projects, and several initiatives aimed at easing regulation are also on the anvil

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businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, on Monday called on private sector to play a bigger role in funding and developing projects, especially real estate ventures, to stimulate the economy.

The minister said that the government has already built all nec- CLARION CALL: Dr Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy said that most of the infrastructure projects like ports, roads essary infrastructure projects and and airports are either completed or nearing completion and the private players can take advantage of several initiatives aimed at easing these infrastructure projects to build industrial and real estate projects. - Jun Estrada/Times of Oman regulation are also on the anvil, which makes it easy for the private The government will adopt Real estate potential on the sidelines of Oman Project sector to enhance investments. measures to reduce challenges in The minister said that stateA new framework on public-pri- 2015 conference.

Oman Tourism The minister also noted that attracting investment due to la- owned vate-partnership will be unveiled Development Company as part of the Ninth Five Year Plan most of the infrastructure pro- bour market restrictions.

Dr Al Sunaidy also noted that (Omran) is developing and a new investment law will be jects like ports, roads and airannounced in the first quarter of ports are either completed or the next five year plan is com- a major housing proing at a time when prices of oil ject in a 7-square2016. “The Ninth Five Year Plan nearing completion.

And the private sector players have dropped to an unpredictable kilometre area. will lay the foundation for publiccan take advantage of these infra- level and there is a need to find Also, 96 square private-partnership.”

“We also need invest easy plat- structure projects for building in- new means of finance. It is also kilometres are for the right time for implementing allocated form, which the ministry is doing dustrial and real estate projects.

The government should refrain reforms. Enhancing competitive- South Batinah now. Also, Royal Oman Police’s e-customs platform is also under from overfunding real estate pro- ness of Oman by easing regula- Logistics centre.

“There is a test in Sohar, while e-visa is under jects and should leave this sector tions is a major focus in the next big potential in five year plan. completion,” added Dr Al Sunaidy, for private sector.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman is planning to unveil a new investment law to attract investment from within the country and outside. World Bank experts have submitted their draft report on a new investment law and this has to be approved by the cabinet, which is expected in the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, Oman’s project market, which is the seventh biggest in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, is estimated at $170 billion.

The project market is growing at 14.6 per cent per annum, according to an estimated by MEED projects.

real estate sector, which will keep driving all contractors for another 10 to 20 years if private sector is allowed to build gated complexes.”

The government also needs to prioritise funding and leave certain sectors for private sector to develop.

Richard Thomson, editorial director of MEED, said that the country’s deficit is projected at 8 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, while the Sultanate’s break-even price for oil is $94 per barrel.

In May, the International Monetary Fund had asked Oman to carry out structural reforms, which include subsidy cut.

New and alternative sources of funds are needed for the country in view of slack oil prices.

The crude oil production in the country grew by 4 per cent to an average of 980,000 barrels per day so far this year.

The experience of Oman government in telecommunication, power and water was a great success, with all these sectors showing remarkable growth after handing it over to private developers.

“Our experience in power and water sectors will pave the way for privatisation in other sectors.

Major growth areas The five major growth areas identified by the government in the coming years are logistics and transport, manufacturing, tourism, fisheries and mining.

The minister said that petroleum revenue constitutes 34 per cent of the gross domestic product, while non-oil revenue constitutes the remaining 66 per cent. A new agency called Logistics Centre will be established to promote Oman as a logistics centre.

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

MARKET ECONOMY

Middle East’s corporate bonds warn of shifting sentiment DUBAI: Middle East corporate bonds are mispricing the effects plunging oil prices are having on the region’s finances, leaving borrowers vulnerable to a deterioration in market sentiment.

The average premium investors require to hold bonds from the Middle East and North Africa was 159 basis points on Friday, two points lower than this year’s high in June, JPMorgan Chase indices show.

That compares to 165 basis points on United States investment-grade debt, according to the Bloomberg US Corporate Bond Index.

“The Middle East’s grossly mispriced credit spreads will eventually blow out to reflect the new economic reality,” Ghassan Chehayeb, the chief investment officer

at Texas-based Sancta Capital, a distressed-debt money manager, wrote in a note this month. The change in spreads since Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) decision to maintain oil output last year doesn’t take into account “the risk premium investors should demand given the deteriorating fundamentals,” he said.

With crude prices close to sixyear lows, budget deficits in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will reach 13.2 per cent of gross domestic product this year — compared to a surplus in 2014 — as financial buffers in some nations are depleted, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

The pricing discrepancy that

has left GCC spreads narrower than in the US since August reflects how Middle Eastern banks and institutions have favored a buy-and-hold strategy amid a slump in bond issuance to a fouryear low, according to Abdul Kadir Hussain at Mashreq Capital DIFC. Overvalued Brent crude, the benchmark for about half the world’s oil, has slumped more than 30 per cent since Opec decided to hold production steady in November. It was trading at $48.06 a barrel in Dubai on Monday. Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab economy, relies on oil revenue to fund about 90 per cent of its spending, and the decline will widen its budget deficit

to more than 20 per cent of economic output this year from 2.3 per cent last year, the IMF said on Wednesday.

The bonds don’t reflect the change in the region’s ‘risk profile’, said Hussain, chief executive officer of Dubai-based Mashreq, which runs the region’s best-performing sukuk fund, describing corporate debt as ‘overvalued’. A change could occur if “you have a lot of new issues which then come and reprice the market,” he said.

A 15 per cent decline in bond sales from the Middle East and North Africa this year to $30.3 billion has helped keep bond yields depressed. Issuers held back sales in the summer to avoid the volatility in bond markets sparked by

China’s slowing economy and expectations that the US Federal Reserve was close to raising interest rates after leaving them near zero since 2008.

Pockets of value The political situation in the Middle East isn’t helping. Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition battling Houthi rebels in Yemen, a conflict that has killed more than 5,400 people since March and displaced nearly 1.5 million.

In Syria, Saudi Arabia is providing cash and weapons to allies fighting to topple President Bashar Al Assad. Russia’s entry into the conflict may have tilted the balance in favor of the government in the four-year war, which has dis-

placed 7.5 million people. IS rebels also hold sway over large parts of the country.

Some widening of spreads in the region over the past three months has created pockets of value as oil remains in a narrow range and credit risk is contained, according to Anita Yadav, the Dubai-based head of fixed-income research at Emirates NBD, the UAE’s secondbiggest bank by assets.

UAE paper including from Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and Bank of Sharjah is oversold “and we also find value in Oman Electricity Transmission’s 2025 bond,” Yadav said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia may run out of financial assets needed to support spending in five years. - Bloomberg News

Oil swings near four-week low Crude is failing to sustain a rally earlier this month above $50 as surging United States inventories bolstered speculation that a global glut will be prolonged

MELBOURNE: Oil swung between gains and losses near the lowest closing price in almost four weeks as investors weighed a slowing pace of United States drilling-rig reductions against an interest rate cut in China.

Futures in New York rose as much as 0.5 per cent and fell as much as 0.4 per cent. The number of active machines targeting oil dropped by 1 through October 23 after declining by 45 over the prior three weeks, according to Baker Hughes. China, the world’s second-biggest crude consumer, stepped up monetary easing with its sixth interest-rate cut in a year on Friday to combat deflationary pressures and a slowing economy.

Oil is failing to sustain a rally earlier this month above $50 a barrel as surging US inventories bolstered speculation that a global glut will be prolonged. World

crude supplies will remain ample until at least the middle of 2016 while investments in the industry is set to shrink further, International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol said in Singapore on Monday.

“The recent spate of crudestockpile builds in the US is reinforcing that story about supply, that story about a saturated market,” Jonathan Barratt, the chief investment officer at Ayers Alliance Securities in Sydney, said by phone. “Oil has very strong headwinds to get through.”

Rig count West Texas Intermediate for December delivery was at $44.68 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 8 cents. The contract slid 78 cents to $44.60 on Friday, the lowest close since September 28. The volume of all

futures traded was about 48 per cent below the 100-day average.

Prices have decreased 16 per cent this year.

Brent for December settlement was 5 cents higher at $48.04 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices lost 4.9 per cent last week. The European benchmark crude traded at a premium of $3.36 to WTI. The US rig count fell to 594, the lowest level since July 2010, Baker Hughes, an oilfield-services provider, said on its website Friday. Drillers have cut the number of active machines by more than 60 per cent since December.

Oil at $50 a barrel is a ‘gift to the world’ as prices should be low enough to spur economic growth, according to Ali Al Mansoori, the chairman of the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi. Crude may climb to $60 by the end of next year, he said in an interview Sunday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the fourth-largest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. - Bloomberg News

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T UE SDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

B3

MARKET Allocation of land plots for SMEs to begin by year-end Nine projects worth OMR512,000 supported by Sharakah this year

Land plots are available in all the governorates, except

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

Musandam, and will

MUSCAT: Nine projects have been supported by the Fund for Development of Youth Projects (Sharakah) since the beginning of this year, with an investment of OMR512,000, says the company’s general manager.

“We still have some (projects) in the pipeline,” Abdullah Al Jufaili told reporters on the sidelines of the Oman Projects Forum on Monday.

Ten projects had been supported by Sharakah in 2014 with an investment of OMR814,000, he said, adding that a total of 78 projects have been supported by the organisation since its establishment.

be allocated to SMEs in a phased manner

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: First phase of land plots allocation to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is expected to begin before the end of this year, according to the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (riyada).

Land plots are available in all the governorates, except Musandam, and will be allocated to SMEs in a phased manner, Khalifa Al Abri, chief executive officer of riyada, told reporters on the sidelines of the Oman Projects Forum on Monday.

The first allocation will be made before the end of this year, Al Abri said, without specifying the number of the available plots.

Applications The official said that applications have been received for Muscat and Liwa and the remaining ones will be announced accordingly, he noted. Over 500 applications have been received for Muscat, he said, adding that there are certain criteria to evaluate the eligibility of the small and medium enterprises.

For example, they should be Omani, should be working for the company full time and should be registered in riyada’s database, he said. Another important criteria is the nature of their projects as land plots are limited and will be given to those who really need them, Al Abri explained.

Allocation of a percentage of the planned land plots for com-

Asked about the success rate of the projects, the official said, “I would measure the success rate from the time I have taken over. Out of 52 projects, 12 have paid off completely since the time I have joined. Two have failed.

The rest are still operating and are still in our portfolio.”

In addition, Al Jufaili said that Sharakah plans to hold a forum on December 14 and 15 under the theme ‘the role of social media in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’.

Media organisations from all media platforms, including print, digital and social media, are being invited, he said, adding that there will be a section dedicated to local SMEs in the field of media.

Oman, Japan to form $400m fund to invest in food sector MUSCAT: Oman’s biggest sovereign wealth fund has agreed with Japanese institutions to set up a joint $400 million fund that will invest in food and agribusiness industries, Omani officials have said.

The fund will facilitate direct investment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states by Japanese food and agribusiness firms, ranging from grains and feed to vegetables, milk and dairy products, logistics and research firms, they said, aiming to spend at least 35 per cent of the money in Oman.

The Gulf Japan Food Fund will be owned 37.5 per cent by Oman’s State General Reserve Fund.

State-run Oman National Investments Development Company and Gulf Investment Corporation, owned by the six GCC states, will hold a combined 12.5 per cent.

Japan’s Mizuho Bank and Norinchukin Bank will provide the remaining half of the capital. The Sultanate is trying to diversify its economy beyond oil, using state funds in international ventures that steer investment and technology back to Oman. - Reuters SHARE OFFER

BOOSTING SMALL BUSINESSES: Khalifa Al Abri, chief executive officer of Riyada, said that more than 500 applications have been received for Muscat. There are certain criteria to evaluate the eligibility of the SMEs. - Supplied picture

mercial, industrial, agricultural and tourism use at all the layouts made by the Ministry of Housing or any other respective organisations to SMEs was one of the decisions of a symposium held earlier this year.

Supervision committee The official said that a committee, represented by the government and the private sector, has been established to follow up the implementation of the other decisions made.

One of the decisions called on public organisations to dedicate

a section for SMEs to follow up compliance with the allocation of 10 per cent of the governmental purchases and tenders to SMEs and ensure timely payment to these businesses, Al Abri said.

More than 30 authorities have already defined a section to deal with these issues, he added. During a panel discussion at the forum, the chief executive officer of riyada said that the authority has asked the ministries to submit the information related to the projects awarded to SMEs in 2014 and the first half of 2015.

In addition, an office has been

established at riyada to receive complaints of late payment, Al Abri said, adding that there have been complaints that some large organisations have delayed payment to SMEs. The challenges Abdullah Al Jufaili, general manager of the Fund for Development of Youth Projects (Sharakah), commented on some of the challenges facing SMEs and said that the challenges cannot be totally eliminated as the socio-economic environment is changing constantly.

New sets of challenges keeps emerging and Omanis SMEs are not only in competition with other local companies but also regional and international ones, Al Jufaili said.

According to him, one of the important issues that need to be taken into account by small businesses is ‘financial management’ and ‘financial literacy’, which

would help them repay the fund they have received.

There should also be more programmes to help upgrade the SMEs such as the ones being implemented in the oil and gas sector, Al Jufaili noted, adding that this requires collective effort by all the authorities concerned.

Understanding gap Louis du Preez, general manager at Oman Cables Industry, said that corporations should ‘embrace’ SMEs and the understanding gap between the capabilities of small businesses and the demands of the larger corporations should be bridged.

In addition, Warith Al Kharusi, executive director, Al Safwa Group and Partners, said that some of the challenges facing by SMEs are related to access to contracts, experience, financial resources, payment and competition from major companies.

Y E L L O W M E TA L

China gold demand likely to exceed 2013 record BEIJING: Gold consumption in mainland China may match or exceed the record in 2013 after financial-market turmoil and the yuan’s devaluation boosted the metal’s appeal, according to the Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society, which also saw higher sales at jewellers in Hong Kong.

Buying in mainland China, which vies with India as the world’s largest consumer, picked up after the stock-market turmoil this year and August’s surprise devaluation, according to Haywood Cheung, chairman of the supervisory committee at the century-old bullion bourse.

Demand in Hong Kong may expand 25 per cent this half after a lacklustre first six months, he said in an interview.

Gold prices are lower in 2015 following two years of losses on prospects for higher United States interest rates. The decline in 2013, when bullion sank 28 per cent, spurred increased buying across Asia, and 2015 is shaping up well and may surpass that year’s total, according to Cheung.

The yuan was devalued in the third quarter to bolster the nation’s competitiveness, and policy makers have also acted to stem a stock-market rout.

INVESTMENT

GAINING SHEEN: Gold prices are lower in 2015 following two years of losses on prospects for higher United States interest rates. – Bloomberg News

‘Prefer gold’ “Investors still prefer gold as they don’t have many alternatives in terms of investment choices,” Cheung said on Friday, citing estimates by the society’s members, which include the world’s largest listed jewellery chain Chow Tai

Fook Jewellery and Chow Sang Sang Holdings International.

“Also, there’s a general feeling there’s less price uncertainty now.”

Gold for immediate delivery was little changed at $1,163.93 an ounce in Hong Kong as the precious metal swung between gains

and losses this year. Investors are weighing up prospects for the first rise in US rates since 2006, with US central bankers set to meet this week and again in December.

Consumer demand in China, which totaled 973.6 metric tons last year, was 497.3 tonnes in the

first half of 2015, according to data from the World Gold Council issued in August. In Hong Kong, demand was 61.4 tons in 2014 and 24.8 tons between January and June, according to the August report. In February 2014, the producer-funded group estimated Chinese consumer demand at 1,066 tonnes.

Gold has risen 5.6 per cent this month as patchy economic data spurred traders to push back expectations for a US rate increase to next year.

While Goldman Sachs put the probability of a move in December at about 60 per cent, Fed-fund futures show odds of 36 percent for an increase this year.

“News of a rate cut in China is helping support investor sentiment and precious metals,” Georgette Boele, an Amsterdam- based strategist at ABN Amro Bank, said by e-mail.

“Gold central bank easing makes gold as a low yielding asset more attractive.” - Bloomberg News

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Japan Post fixes share offer price at top of range TOKYO: Japan Post set the price for its initial public offering (IPO) of shares at the top of an indicative range, following the pattern set in concurrent IPOs for its banking and insurance arms and reflecting strong demand from retail investors in Japan’s biggest privatisation in three decades.

In a regulatory filing on Monday, the holding firm for the stateowned mail and financial giant priced shares at ¥1,400 apiece in the IPO, the top of a book-building range set at ¥1,100-¥1,400, raising ¥693 billion ($5.7 billion).

It didn’t disclose details of subscription levels in an offer that values all of Japan Post at ¥6.3 trillion, with just over 10 per cent of the firm’s shares being sold.

Triple listing The triple listing of one of the best-known — and most trusted — companies in Japan has been marketed directly at Japan’s mom-and-pop investors.

The IPOs are a key plank of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign to encourage the nation’s legion of canny savers to shift money away from bank deposits and into Tokyo’s stock market.

The government will raise a total of ¥1.4 trillion from the triple IPO, with proceeds to be used to help fund reconstruction programmes after Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance priced their IPOs at the top of respective ranges last week.

All three stocks will begin trading Nov. 4 in what is Japan’s biggest privatisation since the 1987 IPO of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in the heyday of its economic bubble. - Reuters

B4

TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,932.95 .............. 5,922.28 ................... 5,932.95 ...................5,922.18.................. 10.77 ................... 0.18 Financial Index .....................................7,288.88 ...............7,257.26 ................... 7,288.88 ................... 7,256.42................. 32.46 ................... 0.45 Industrial Index ................................... 7,322.23 ...............7,308.15 ................... 7,322.23 ...................7,306.54..................15.69 ................... 0.21 Services Index ...................................... 3,284.36 ...............3,282.16 ................... 3,283.49 ................... 3,281.57.................... 1.92 ...................0.06 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 909.74 ..................906.34 .......................909.74 ...................... 907.22....................2.52 ...................0.28 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 31,214,860 ..................3,834,619 .................... 802 ...............14,730,433,549 ................ 17 ........................4 .................... 25 .........................46

The top gainer was Al Izz Islamic Bank, up by 5.71 per cent, while Oman Flour Mills was the

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

day’s top loser, down by 3.69 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: Share prices on the Muscat bourse edged up on better support from retail investors. The MSM 30 Index posted a gain of 0.18 per cent to close at 5,932.95 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 909.74 points, up by 0.28 per cent.

Bank Nizwa led in terms of volume as well as turnover. Monday’s top gainer was Al Izz Bank, up by 5.71 per cent, while Oman Flour Mills was the day’s top loser, down by 3.69 per cent.

As many as 802 trades were executed in the session generating a turnover of OMR3.83 million with 31.2 million shares changing hands. Out of 46 traded securities, 17 advanced, 4 declined and 25 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR164,000 worth of shares, while foreign investors, who were net sellers, sold shares amounting to OMR132,000 followed by Omani investors at OMR32,000.

Financial Index advanced 0.45 per cent to close at 7,288.88 points. Al Izz Bank, Oman & Emirates Holding, Bank Nizwa, Global Financial Investment and Al Madina Takaful increased 5.71 per cent, 4.04 per cent, 2.67 per cent, 2 per cent and 1.19 per cent respectively. Al Madina Investments, United Finance and Al Anwar Holding decreased 1.67 per cent, 1.52 per cent and 1.07 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed the session at 7,322.23 points, up by 0.21 per cent. Oman Fisheries, National Aluminium, Al Maha Ceramics, Oman Cables and Gulf International Chemicals gained 5.56 per cent, 1.84 per cent, 0.87 per cent, 0.78 per cent and 0.35 per cent respectively. Oman Flour Mills declined 3.69 per cent to close at OMR0.470.

Services Index closed on stable note at 3,283.49 points, up by 0.06 per cent. OIFC, Phoenix Power,

Ooredoo, Omantel and Sembcorp Salalah advanced 1.09 per cent, 0.67 per cent, 0.53 per cent, 0.31 per cent and 0.18 per cent respectively.

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

OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............. 17,000 ................1,753........................3 ............0.102 ........... 0.104 ...........0.102........... 0.103 .............0.099 ........... 0.004.............4.040 ................0.104..............0.104...................0.107................... 12,553,125 .........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................. 44,326 ...............4,534........................5 ............0.102 ........... 0.103 ...........0.102........... 0.102 .............0.100 ........... 0.002.............2.000 ................0.103 ..............0.103...................0.104...................20,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 630,552 ......... 139,500..................... 46 ........... 0.220...........0.224 ...........0.218........... 0.221 ............. 0.217............ 0.004............. 1.843 ................0.222............. 0.222...................0.227 ................... 7,419,290 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 136,877............. 11,623........................9 ........... 0.084 ...........0.085 ...........0.084........... 0.085 .............0.084 ............0.001 ............. 1.190 ................0.085..............0.084...................0.085...................14,875,000 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 565,300 .........104,907..................... 29 ............0.187 ........... 0.187 ...........0.185 ........... 0.186 .............0.184 ........... 0.002............. 1.087 ................0.185 ..............0.184...................0.185...................37,200,000.........0.100

Most emerging stocks rise Most emerging-market stocks rose as China’s surprise interestrate cut sent the Shanghai Composite Index to a two-month high, countering declines in energy companies. Russia’s ruble and South Korea’s won retreated.

The Shanghai gaugeadded 0.5 per cent for its third day of gains.

Philippines shares advanced to a nine-week high. PetroChina led losses for energy shares as oil traded near the lowest level in almost four weeks. Russian equities slid 0.7 per cent and the ruble halted a two-day increase.

The won weakened 0.8 per cent against the dollar. Poland’s zloty was little changed versus the euro as the opposition Law & Justice party was projected for an election victory.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index was little changed at 868.44 in Hong Kong, as 360 shares rose and 255 declined. The gauge posted its longest stretch of weekly gains since April last week amid prospects for continued monetary stimulus in Europe. China cut interest rates for a sixth time in a year and lenders’ reserve requirements late Friday as the nation’s leaders gather this week to map out a five-year plan for an economy already on pace for its slowest expansion in a quarter of a century.

“China’s rate cut is taken favorably for it shows it’s doing all it can to boost economic growth,” said Nescyn Presinede, a trader in at Rizal Commercial Banking, which manages $1.8 billion in trust assets. “It’s a concern for some investors as this move could be an indication that China’s slowdown is more than expected.” - United Securities/Bloomberg News

OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............ 56,200 ...............6,345......................12 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............0.112 ............0.113 ............. 0.112.............0.001 ............. 0.893 ................0.113 .............. 0.112................... 0.113 ...................10,170,000 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................. 22,719 .............10,586........................3 ........... 0.462 ...........0.466 ...........0.462........... 0.466 .............0.462 ........... 0.004............. 0.866 ................0.466..............0.464...................0.466...................24,465,000.........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................ 6,050 ..............11,731........................4 ............1.925 ...........2.025 ...........1.925 ........... 1.940 ............. 1.925.............0.015 ............. 0.779 ................2.025.............. 1.925...................2.025 .................174,018,000........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 148,699 ............26,130........................2 ............0.175 ........... 0.177 ...........0.175 ............0.176 ............. 0.175.............0.001 ............. 0.571 ................0.177 .............. 0.175...................0.177 ..................253,693,440 .......0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 163,320 ......... 123,885..................... 28 ............0.756 ........... 0.760 ...........0.756 ........... 0.760 ............. 0.756............ 0.004............. 0.529 ................0.756 .............. 0.756...................0.760.................. 494,717,615 ........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............96,398 .............27,965......................16 ........... 0.294 ...........0.294 ...........0.288........... 0.290 .............0.289 ............0.001 .............0.346 ................0.288..............0.286...................0.290 ...................6,090,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................34,566 ............ 56,627......................13 ............1.640 ........... 1.640 ...........1.630 ........... 1.640 ............. 1.635............ 0.005.............0.306 ................1.630 .............. 1.630...................1.635 ................1,230,000,000......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 5,500 .............15,070........................1 ............2.740 ........... 2.740 ...........2.740........... 2.740 ............. 2.735............ 0.005............. 0.183 ................2.740..............2.700...................2.740..................261,552,714 ........1.000 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 140,000 ........... 35,962......................11 ........... 0.255 ...........0.260 ...........0.255........... 0.257 .............0.257 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.260..............0.256...................0.259...................25,700,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................ 10,801 ............. 12,117........................3 ............1.125 ............1.135............1.120 ............1.120 ............. 1.120............ 0.000.............0.000 ................ 1.135 .............. 1.120................... 1.135 ................. 224,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 130,000 ........... 39,540........................5 ........... 0.304...........0.308 ...........0.304 .......... 0.304 .............0.304 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.308............. 0.304...................0.308 .................407,575,916 ........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 272,100 ........... 32,927......................14 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.121 ............0.121 ............. 0.121............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.121 .............. 0.121...................0.122..................242,037,848........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................14,000 ...............6,244........................1 ........... 0.446 ...........0.446 ...........0.446........... 0.446 .............0.446 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.446..............0.446...................0.460 .................147,569,229 ........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 200,000...........68,400........................4 ........... 0.342 ...........0.342 ...........0.342........... 0.342 .............0.342 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.342..............0.322...................0.342 .................101,305,079 ........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ..................................... 5,500 .............11,000........................2 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 ............ 2.000...................0.000 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................ 11,500 ................1,139........................2 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.099...................0.101 ....................2,970,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 330,000 ........... 80,580......................11 ........... 0.244...........0.245 ...........0.244 .......... 0.244 .............0.244 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.245..............0.245...................0.246 ................. 376,913,765 ........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 211,999........... 113,721..................... 46 ........... 0.536 ........... 0.538 ...........0.536........... 0.536 .............0.536 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.536..............0.536...................0.538................ 1,228,416,912 ......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 534,000 ........... 53,569......................18 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.100........... 0.100 .............0.100 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.101 ....................5,884,322 ..........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .........2,900 ............... 5,655........................1 ............1.950 ........... 1.950 ...........1.950 ........... 1.950 .............1.950............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.950 ..............1.950...................0.000 .................134,550,000........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 941,190.......... 166,497..................... 52 ............0.178 ........... 0.179 ...........0.176 ............0.177 ............. 0.177............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.176 .............. 0.176...................0.178 ................... 51,445,231 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 417,679 .............35,951..................... 32 ........... 0.087 ...........0.087 ...........0.086........... 0.086 .............0.086 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.087..............0.086...................0.087...................24,938,335.........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 120,500 ........... 53,020......................17 ........... 0.440...........0.440 ...........0.440 .......... 0.440 .............0.440 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.440..............0.434...................0.440 ..................26,620,000.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER.................................................................1,910 .................. 745........................2 ........... 0.390 ...........0.390 ...........0.390........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.390..............0.350...................0.390 ..................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING .......................................... 100,000 ........... 74,800........................3 ............0.748 ........... 0.748 ...........0.748 ............0.748 ............. 0.748............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.748 ..............0.748...................0.000 .................149,327,429 ........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................75,000 ............. 16,125........................3 ............0.215 ........... 0.215 ...........0.215 ............0.215 ............. 0.215............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.215 ..............0.207...................0.215..................145,100,797 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .......................................................7,486 ...............1,609........................3 ............0.215 ........... 0.215 ...........0.215 ............0.215 ............. 0.215............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.215 .............. 0.211...................0.215..................153,597,363 ........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 3,945,344......730,722..................... 95 ............0.190 ........... 0.191............0.185 ............0.185 ............. 0.187............-0.002 ........... -1.070................0.185 .............. 0.185...................0.188................... 27,763,875 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..........................................................7,961 ............... 1,035........................1 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.130........... 0.130 .............0.132............-0.002 ............-1.515 ................0.130 ..............0.130...................0.133...................40,399,442.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 209,050 ............12,382........................8 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.059........... 0.059 .............0.060 ...........-0.001 ............-1.667................0.060..............0.059...................0.060 ..................12,221,932 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,616,427 ..2,094,392...................505 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......35........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 2,670,499.......196,705..................... 56 ........... 0.070 ........... 0.076 ...........0.070........... 0.074 .............0.070 ........... 0.004..............5.714.................0.076..............0.075...................0.076...................74,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ....................................................... 12,100 .................. 688........................4 ........... 0.056 ...........0.058 ...........0.056........... 0.057 .............0.054 ........... 0.003............. 5.556 ................0.058..............0.056...................0.059.................... 7,125,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 18,456,530. 1,418,696...................190 ............0.075 ........... 0.079 ...........0.075........... 0.077 .............0.075 ........... 0.002............. 2.667 ................0.079..............0.079...................0.080 .................115,500,000........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 279,781 ............ 42,221..................... 25 ............0.150 ........... 0.151............0.150 ............0.151 .............0.150.............0.001 ............. 0.667 ................0.151 ..............0.150................... 0.151 ................. 220,852,820 .......0.100 OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING .......................................5,900 ...............2,168........................4 ........... 0.368 ...........0.368 ...........0.366........... 0.368 .............0.368 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.366..............0.362...................0.368....................2,208,000..........1.000 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ............................................... 157,289 ............ 73,926..................... 10 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.470 .............0.488 ...........-0.018 ........... -3.689 ...............0.470..............0.468...................0.488...................74,025,000.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 21,582,099......1,734,404..............289 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 6........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004016............AHLI BANK UNSECURED.SUB. BONDS ...............4,352 ...............4,635........................1 ............1.065 ........... 1.065 ...........1.065 ............1.065 ............. 1.065............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.065 ............. 0.000...................1.065...................37,275,000 .........1.000 OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ..........................2,834 ...................317........................2 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.112 ............. 0.112............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 .............. 0.112................... 0.115 ...................33,907,900.........0.100 OM0000004628 ...........BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 ............................................ 1,300 .................. 130........................2 ........... 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 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ................................................ 445 .....................45........................1 ............0.101 ........... 0.101............0.101 ........... 0.100 .............0.100 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.101 .............. 0.101...................0.105...................31,964,268 .........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ........................7,403 .................. 696........................2 ........... 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: ....................................................................................16,334 ...............5,823........................8 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 5........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN MARKETS

Sensex sheds 109 points; rupee declines MUMBAI: Retreating from twomonth highs, the benchmark BSE Sensex on Monday ended 108.85 points lower at 27,361.96 despite positive Asian cues on the back of China's interest rate cut as subdued quarterly numbers by heavyweights Bharti Airtel and HDFC failed to cheer investors.

Participants remained on the sidelines ahead of the October derivatives expiry and United States Federal Reserve meeting, which

starts on Tuesday.

The BSE barometer Sensex after rising over 147 points in early trade to hit a high 27,618.14 soon slipped into the negative zone after participants preferred to book profits in recent gainers and touched a low of 27,318.20. Finally, it settled 108.85 points or 0.40 per cent lower at 27,361.96. The index had rallied by 183.15 points in the previous session to hit a two-month high of 27,470.81.

Rupee ends lower In line with equity market, the rupee ended lower by 13 paise to 64.96 against the American currency on month-end dollar demand from importers.

The Indian unit opened lower at 64.92 as against last Friday's closing level of 64.83 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market an dropped further to 65.0150 on initial dollar demand from banks and importers. - PTI

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ROUND-UP

10th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest for children Toyota provides this unique opportunity for children to display their talent. Share the drawing of a car of your imagination with it and stand a chance to win a trip to Japan’

MUSCAT: Since 2004, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has been conducted as part of Toyota Motor Corporation’s social contribution initiatives. It gives children throughout the world the opportunity to develop an interest in cars and helps them feel the joy and importance of having a dream.

Now, the 10th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is being held in Oman, in association with the Ministry of Education. This follows the success of the previously held art contests, says a press release.

The contest’s theme is ‘Your Dream Car’. Toyota is providing this unique opportunity for kids to display their talent. Share the drawing of a car of your imagination with it and stand a chance to win a trip to Japan.’

“We are giving the kids a blank canvas … and then watching them paint their dreams on it,” remarked a Saud Bahwan Automotive spokesperson. “It is a real joy to see their free and unfettered artistic expressions.”

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest invites children from all corners of the globe to share ideas about the future of mobility by drawing their dream cars. The aim is to kindle their creative imagination. According to an official source, the kids' expression will reflect their thoughts and aspirations. “How will your dream car make the world a better place?”

In Oman, Toyota is conducting the competition at various Toyota showrooms as per schedule below.

Interested participants can visit the nearest Toyota showroom for more details. Izki, Adam, Bahla: Today, Bidiyah and Suweiq: November 2, Muscat and Sumail: November 4, Nizwa and Ibri: 8, Barka and Rustaq: November 9, BB Ali and Al Kamil: November 10, Seeb Al Mawaleh, Mabelah, Salalah: November 11, Ibra: November 12 During the event, popular cartoon characters will welcome the participants to the showrooms.

Drawing sheets, drawing kits, light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Each contestant participating at the Toyota showroom will be awarded a Certificate of Participation. For those who are not able to make it to the event, additional drawing sheets are being kept at all Toyota showrooms.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Three winners from each branch (one in every category) will be chosen and nine winners will be selected as national winners.

“We welcome kids up to 15 years old from all over Oman to participate in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest,” said the spokesperson, “The best entries stand to win exciting prizes such as Xbox One, iPad Air2, iPhone 6, Laptops, SLR Camera, Tabs and more. There are three age categories comprising the ‘under 8’, ‘8 to 11’ and ‘12 to 15’ years groups.

The winners of the national contest will be eligible to take part in the World Contest to win gold, silver and bronze awards and an invitational trip to Japan.

Competition rules apply: The contest is open to anyone under the age of 15 and legal resident of Oman; artwork can be created using paint, colour markers, crayons or felt pens and should be drawn by hand.

Digitally created artwork will not be accepted; artwork should include a background and should be submitted on entry forms available at Toyota showrooms; judging will be based on originality, artistic expression, description and colouring. All artworks should be submitted with an entry form signed by a parent or guardian. Terms and conditions apply.

H E A LT H C A R E

Kims Oman experts successfully conduct thyroid gland surgery MUSCAT: Expert medical team at Kims Oman Hospital (KOH) — 50-bed hospital equipped with excellence in healthcare delivery — conducted a successful operation that included near total thyroidectomy that weighs 250g and leaving 5g of thyroid tissues at the right lobe, to a 46 years old diabetic man who was diagnosed with multi-nodules retro-sternal goiter.

The operation was conducted

by Dr Muhamed Mustafa Alhabash, senior consultant, and his professional medical staff at KIMS Oman Hospital’s general surgery and laparoscopic department; where the patient was diagnosed with a huge left retrosternal gaiter’s lobe and right enlarged multi nodules lobe. The patient who received a special medical care was later discharged after being completely recovered, says a press release.

The patient thanked KOH’s medical team for all the medical care they offered. He also conveyed his appreciation and gratitude for the distinct service and great hospitality he received at KOH. “We are very proud of our distinguished medical team who provides our patients with distinctive and compassionate care

The patient thanked KOH’s medical team for all the medical care they offered.

He also conveyed his appreciation and gratitude for the distinct service and great hospitality he received at KOH in addition to dealing professionally with the most serious and complicated medical issues,” said Dr Hussam Akoum, chief operating officer of KOH.

E X PA N S I O N

OWA in Duqm launches art, jewellery designs exhibition DUQM: Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohsin bin Hamad Al Maskary, wali of Duqm, the Omani Women’s Association (OWA) in Duqm launched an exhibition at Crowne Plaza Hotel Duqm in partnership with Duqm Refinery, showcasing landscape art and jewellery designs made by local women.

The exhibition was attended by a number of officials from different governmental and private entities as well as local citizens, says a press release.

The exhibition came as a result of a series of workshops under the ‘Wadha’ initiative held at the Omani Women’s Association in Duqm which was supported by Duqm Refinery. Landscape art and local handicrafts/ jewellery design workshops were facilitated by local Omani artists and lasted for a week.

It is worth mentioning that all exhibited items were for sale and revenue generated was allocated to support activities and programmes of the Omani Women’s Association in Duqm.

Nasha Al Fallahi, general manager, Corporate Affairs at Duqm Refinery, said: “Supporting activities that empower women is part of Duqm Refinery’s core CSR

B5

strategy, through these workshops we had the opportunity to engage with talented artists from Muscat and receive their help in facilitating the workshops in Duqm. We recently undertook the refurbishment of the Omani Women’s Association’s temporary office as part of our CSR commitment and have followed it up with workshops that nurtures their talents and have now showcased their work at this unique exhibition.”

“This initiative comes in line with His Majesty’s directives to support and empower women so they can actively participate in the sustainable development of their communities and the Sultanate.

We are grateful for the support extended to us by Duqm Refinery

and the Refinery’s CSR initiatives in Duqm are highly appreciated,” said Neshella Baroot Al Juniabi, chairman of the Omani Women’s Association in Duqm.

Duqm Refinery recently delivered a number of CSR initiatives that included an essential IT training programme for 200 women from Wilayats of Muhoot, Duqm and Al Jazir in partnership with ITA, ‘Tahadi programme’ for 100 students in Duqm in partnership with Outward Bound Oman, launched innovation camp for 600 students in Al Wusta region in cooperation with Injaz Oman, as well as supported a number of higher education scholarships for local students through the local community development committee.

Pure Gold opens new stores in Oman, UAE MUSCAT: In line with its plans to double the number of stores in the Middle East by 2018, award winning jewellery retailer and the only World Diamond Mark certified retailer in the GCC, Pure Gold Jewellers has opened three new retail outlets in the UAE and two stores in Oman.

Located in key shopping outlets in Oman, Pure Gold Jewellers plans to reach a significant number of customers in Oman with its new modern stores in Wave Mall and Lulu Sohar, says a press release.

In Dubai, Pure Gold Jewellers is now present in two more retail locations at Shindagah and Dragon Mart. Residents in Sharjah can now purchase Pure Gold Jewellers exquisite gold and diamond jewellery more conveniently with a new store opening near National Paints.

Growth plans “The new retail outlets are centrally located in high footfall locations and help us to reach more customers. All the stores follow our customer friendly design concept and display our signature collections, giving shoppers a wide range of choices in precious jewellery for various occasions. We are right on target with our growth plans in the Middle East and we aim to open more stores in the region,” stated Karim Merchant, CEO & MD of

All the stores follow our customer friendly design concept and display our signature collections, giving shoppers a wide range of choices in precious jewellery for various occasions Karim Merchant CEO & MD of Pure Gold Jewellers

Pure Gold Jewellers.

Pure Gold Jewellers currently boasts 125 modern retail outlets making it one of the fastest grow-

ing jewellery retail chains in the Middle East. By 2020, Pure Gold Group expects to increase its presence to 250 stores.

ACCOLADE

C E L E B R AT I O N

KG Cultural Fest held at Indian School Muladha

International Marble wins Triumph Award MULADHA: The Kindergarten Cultural Festival of Indian School Muladha was celebrated recently with much zest and splendour. Dr Sridevi P. Thashnath, principal, Indian School Darsait, attended the occasion as the chief guest.

Felix Vincent Gabriel, member SMC, Mammootty, managing director of Makkah Hypermarket, S. I. Shareef, principal, V. S. Suresh, vice principal, Dr Lekha O. C. coordinator (Co-curricular and Extracurricular), staff, students, parents and well-wishers attended the function, says a press release.

The programme began with a prayer song aptly composed by the music department and beautifully sung by the tiny tots. This was followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp by the dignitaries. Kin-

dergarten teacher Mary Shanavas welcomed the gathering.

The chief guest in her speech appreciated the principal and the kindergarten teachers for their remarkable effort to put up such a wonderful programme in an emphatic manner. She quoted some lines from Kahlil Gibran and elaborated on the key role played by parents and teachers in shaping young minds. She also extolled the school managing committee for encouraging the school staff for organising such events.

Speaking on the occasion, Shareef reiterated the role both the parents and teachers play in moulding the character of a child. Mammootty presented a memento to the chief guest as a token of gratitude.

The venue of the function

decked with balloons and festoons was no less than the fantasy world in itself. The cultural programmes commenced with the Silver Jubilee song. The foot tapping ‘Titlee udi’ dance and ‘Chandoba’ Marathi dance by the young angels created a mesmeric effect.

Dance performance The audience was enthralled by a melodious Hindi group song followed by ‘Lollypop’, an impressive dance performance.

The colourful fancy dress show was another mesmerising visual treat as the blooming buds of the kindergarten section dressed up in an array of attires presented varieties of characters from fiction to reality. The audience was on their feet when the little dancers

presented ‘Boli Chudiya’, a spectacular Hindi dance. Fabulous ‘Disney Princess’ and ‘Gummy Bear’ were other remarkable dance performances by the tiny budding talents.

The children captivated the gathering by an incredible ‘Parrot Dance’, and to pay tribute to their parents they staged ‘Give Me A Song’ which was a touching and mind–blowing performance.

The mega event that filled the air with mirth, amusement and excitement came to an end with the vote of thanks proposed by the kindergarten teacher Annie Enos. The school management committee and the principal appreciated the kindergarten wing for their dedication and team work which made the event really commendable.

MUSCAT: International Marble Co., one of the world’s largest processors and suppliers of natural marble, has been honoured with The Bizz Arabic 2015 award from World Confederation of Businesses, USA under the category of Triumph Award in recognition for its business excellence.

The award recognises top companies, teams, executives and products for their business success as judged by panel of judges of Worldcob. The Bizz Award is conferred every year in separate functions held all around the world, says a press release.

Sheikh Ali bin Hamed bin Saif Al Kalbani, chairman of International Marble Company, Sheikh Hussein bin Ali bin Hamed Al

Kalbani, the general manager, along with Sheikh Khalid bin Hamed bin Saif Al Kalbani, member, Board of Directors, received the award at a glittering function held recently at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Muscat.

The awards ceremony was attended by 61 awardees spread across 27 countries. In his thanks giving speech, the chairman expressed his gratitude over achieving this world renowned award for the seventh year in succession and congratulated the entire team of International Marble Co. for their hard and dedicated work. Sheikh Ali also mentioned that it was his privilege to have taken the initiative to bring the awards function to Muscat.

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

ROUND-UP ‘Chaar Yaar coming to Oman for friendship through music’ The Charity Wing of the Indian Social Club brings ‘Deepmala’, a Sufi fusion musical evening by the group ‘Char Yaar’ at the Oman Auditorium on October 30 Times News Service MUSCAT: Noted for its unique music and its global appeal, popular Indian band Chaar Yaar is coming to Oman to mesmerise its fans as well as “to touch the invisible core of friendship”.

The Charity Wing of the Indian Social Club brings ‘Deepmala’, a Sufi fusion musical evening by the

group ‘Char Yaar’ at the Oman Auditorium on October 30. Celebrated for their unique amalgamations of Western, Indian, and Sufi influences, lead composer, vocalist, and poet Madan Gopal Singh shares what gives ‘Char Yaar’ their distinctive flair.

Excerpts from the interview: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Pundit Kumar Gandharva, Pundit Mallikarjuna Mansur, Ustad Tufail Niazi Sa’ab — though not necessarily in that order.

What do you hope to achieve through your music?

A sense of endless and joyous travel, an exploration of who we are through multiple poetic and musical registers. To affirm to the world that we are multiply singular or singularly multiple.

How did you meet?

It was entirely fortuitous. Deepak Bhai was into Western classical music and I was merely an inspired, unlettered crooner. I was immediately drawn to Deepak’s uncanny hold and creativity with guitar chords.

I met Pritamji through our tabla player. Pandit Pritam Ghosal has the magical ability to stay in a note and create beautiful beats. I had no difficulty in choosing him along with another pluck instrument.

I met Gurmeet when I was com-

What can the audience in Muscat look forward to in your show? Which are your most popular songs?

An evening of lasting togetherness in melody. Our most popular songs are: Anand, Thayya Thayya, Jeti Jeti, Uchchiyaan Lammiyaan Taaliyaan.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

I would change the devastation of our environment, and the murderous violence that leads to unending distrust.

posing music for a dance drama.

Meeta has great team spirit and a huge stage presence. His mastery over a variety of percussion instruments is quite unique.

What contemporary music do you listen to?

Hindustani and Carnatic classical.

Which contemporary artists do you admire?

I enjoy Abida Parveen, Ali Sethi, Kaushiki Chakraborty and many more.

How did you discover your sound?

We discovered it as a group, painstakingly over more than a decade.

Without being immodest, I would like to think that for whatever our music is worth, we are unlike any other artiste.

U N I QU E I N I T I AT I V E

This is your first time in Oman.

What are you looking forward to most?

Touching the invisible core of friendship.

LITERARY CONTEST

MIS students awarded in art competition MUSCAT: The students of Modern International School (MIS) were awarded certificates for their outstanding performance in artistic and literary creation competition organised by the Embassy of France and Embassy of Germany in Oman on the theme climate change.

Roland Dubertrand, ambassador of France and Hans Christian, ambassador of Germany, were the chief guests at the function held at Al Wattayah theatre of Ministry of Education recently, says a press release.

Roshni Jesrani and Milika Nayak of Grade VII won first and third prizes respectively in the art competition. The video presentation on climate change by the students won third prize.

ENHANCED SERVICES

Bank Muscat Open Day receiving great Al Raffah appoints response; next event in Sohar tomorrow new dermatologist MUSCAT: The series of Open Day for exclusive personal finance offerings launched by Bank Muscat has evoked massive response with the event held in Muscat and Nizwa benefiting hundreds of customers who availed the special rate of interest on personal finance, 24-hour disbursement along with a range of add-ons, including Lulu Bank Muscat credit card, Bank Muscat prepaid card preloaded with OMR25 and personal protection insurance plan.

A large number of customers also signed up for the bank’s enhanced Internet banking service.

The third in the series of Open Day events now moves to the wilayat of Sohar and will be held at Lulu Hypermarket Sohar tomorrow and the day after from 10am to 10pm, says a press release.

The unique initiative launched by the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate as part of its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in enhancing banking service, is aimed at simplifying and enhancing convenience to help customers meet their financial requirements. The highlights of the Open Day activi-

ties in Sohar include the monthly prize draw of al Mazyona Savings Scheme offering prizes worth OMR450,000.

The bank is committing 24hour disbursement of finance along with free Lulu Bank Muscat credit card, Bank Muscat prepaid card preloaded with OMR25 and free personal protection insurance plan. The offer is valid only at the Open Day venue and not at any Bank Muscat branches.

To avail the exclusive offer, customers are required to submit copy of national identity card or resident card, salary assignment

letter, passport copy for expatriates and address proof on water or electricity bill or rental agreement.

This is the first time a finance offer of this kind with a range of addon benefits is being made available to the largest banking family in Oman. The concept of the Open Day is to provide a unique opportunity for customers to avail personal finance at their convenience.

The bank has lined up Open Day events across the Sultanate with the fourth event to be held in Sur at Makkah Hypermarket on November 4 and 5. The concluding event will be held at Lulu Hypermarket

Salalah on November 11 and 12.

The Open Day timing at all venues is from 10 am to 10 pm.

The unique opportunity stemming from the ‘Let’s Do More’ vision reiterates the bank’s commitment to extending the helping hand to fulfil the financial needs of customers.

In step with responsible banking, the focus of Bank Muscat is clear — create a sustainable financial platform for the nation and people and thereby contribute to the country’s progress and development. Committed to supporting economic growth and sustainable development, the bank seizes every opportunity to reiterate partnership in building the nation by creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to grow and prosper.

Doing more is the forte of Bank Muscat — more for the economy, more for the community and more for the individual. The bank has incorporated sustainable best practices and is fully equipped to guide customers through all stages of banking life, whether it be savings, investments, financing or just reliable financial advice.

JOYALUKKAS OPENS NEW SHOWROOM IN KARNATAKA The world’s favourite jeweller, Joyalukkas opened its new showroom in Udupi, Karnataka. Pramod Madhwaraj, Karnataka Udupi constituency MLA, inaugurated the showroom in the presence of dignitaries like Joy Alukkas (CMD, Joyalukkas Group) Jolly Joy Alukkas (director), Yuvaraj, Vasanth Kamat, Shyam Prasad, Jerry Wincent Daiz, P. D. Jose (executive director) and P. D. Francis (DGM retail). — Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Al Raffah Hospital, Al Ghubra is pleased to offer enhanced services of its dermatology department with the skills and expertise of Dr Dhwani Shah, dermatologist and cosmetologist with over nine years of experience in India.

“With over 49 per cent of the Omani population being female, the demand for a female dermatologist was very high. This led us to ensure that a female dermatologist is posted in all our branches across Oman to cater to this unique need,” says Seeniya Biju, COO. Dr Dhwani Shah has enormous experience as a cosmetologist, dermatosurgeon and venereologist and has thousands of satisfied patients to her credit, says a press release.

“In the short time that I have been in Oman it is amazing to see the positive response from the patients. Women are very open about approaching a female dermatologist and I have been able to help many patients within a very short span of time,” says Dr Dhwani.

Dr Dhwani completed her medical education – both MBBS and DVD from the prestigious M.S.University and Govt Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India.

Following this she has worked in several reputed hospitals and cosmetic centres in India as a consultant. Her areas of focus are paediatric dermatology and cosmetology.

“We get a lot of queries from patients for providing treatments involving botox, fillers etc. And Dr Dhwani is an expert in the same. Many female patients approach the department for laser treatment for hair and pigment reduction which is also being catered to presently,” says Dr Ashik Sainu, Medical Director.

“I had visited the dermatologist in Al Raffah for a problem of hyper-pigmentation. The doctor was very kind and explained the solution with so much care. I am happy to say that the treatment was very effective too,” says Muna Al Zadjali, a delighted patient.

Dr Dhwani also manages treatments like chemical peeling, micro-dermabrasions, dermarollers etc. Clients also visit her

In the short time that I have been in Oman it is amazing to see the positive response from the patients Dr Dhwani Shah Dermatologist, Al Raffah Hospital for other hair disorders and skin rejuvenation programmes.

“The arrival of Dr Dhwani Shah in Oman has enhanced the existing team of dermatologists in Aster, Oman comprising Dr Sajeela Rasheed (Al Raffah Hospital, Sohar) and Dr Raji S. Patel (Al Raffah Polyclinic, Al Khoud).

We are proud to offer exemplary care to our patients across many locations,” added Seeniya.

Aster, Al Raffah Hospital offers a full range of medical services from general medicine, paediatrics, dentistry, to speciality services like endocrinology, cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, dermatology and more. Aster Al Raffah group of hospitals has been envisioned with the aim of bringing to Oman the highest standards of health and medical services along with care, comfort and compassion.

To achieve this, Aster Al Raffah hospital is equipped with the best health experts and professionals, high-end technologies, systems and facilities to take total and empathetic care of its patients.

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ROUND-UP

NBO wins ‘Best Trade Finance Bank’ award In 2015, National Bank of Oman transaction banking business experienced growth in both cash management and trade finance, with 19 per cent growth in revenue and over a 30 per cent increase in the fee income

MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) yesterday announced that it was named Best Trade Finance Bank in the Sultanate of Oman 2015 during the Third Annual Middle East and Africa Awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Park Hyatt, Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, recently.

In 2015, National Bank of Oman transaction banking busi-

ness experienced growth in both cash management and trade finance, with 19 per cent growth in revenue and over a 30 per cent increase in the fee income. The bank’s efficient turnaround time for delivery of trade services is one of the quickest in the local marketplace enabling the bank to actively grow its customer base, says a press release.

National Bank of Oman’s channel platform and the Internet banking has improved rapidly; the bank has engaged large corporate clients to provide them with online trade solution where they will be able to conduct multiple trade related transactions with extensive reporting features as well as notifications.

As excess liquidity remains in the Omani marketplace resulting in lower lending rates for cor-

porates, National Bank of Oman evolves its product offering to accommodate the growth in the corporate space. Open platform, host2-host solutions have now become sought after for customised solutions in Oman for government entities and large companies to leverage on these enhanced platforms.

The bank is looking at other value add features for 2016.

Commenting on the awards, Sayyid Wasfi bin Jamshid Al Said, DGM, deputy head of wholesale Banking Group at National Bank of Oman said, “Transaction banking at National Bank of Oman is clearly distinguishing itself in the market as the service provider of choice. We have been able to achieve unrivalled levels of trust with our clients by taking time to understand their specific needs and issues, identifying gaps in ad-

EXPRESSING LOVE TO HIS MAJESTY

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dressing them and then offering tailored solutions that are cost effective and enable higher levels of operational efficiencies capable of providing competitive advantages for large corporations in the Sultanate. We are at the forefront of designing highly relevant products and services for the business community supported by heavy technology investments and outstanding people and we are delighted to receive such prestigious recognitions.”

The Asian Banker Transaction Banking Awards is the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent annual awards programme recognising leadership in the cash management, trade finance and payments industries among international financial institutions in Asia Pacific and in the last two years has grown to include the Middle East & Africa.

The Transaction Banking Awards evaluate bank’s achievements in cash management, payments, and trade finance. The winners for these awards are determined through a combination of surveys, interviews and field research by The Asian Banker’s research staff.

A stringent three-month evaluation process based on a balanced and transparent scorecard was used to determine the winners.

74TH POSITION

Kia remains strong on Interbrand’s list MUSCAT: Kia remains strong on Interbrand’s 2015 list of 100 Best Global Brands.

“We are proud to announce that Kia stands proudly at number 74 on the international brand consultancy Interbrand’s 2015 list of 100 Best Global Brands.

Kia has demonstrated strong performance as a global brand, making Interbrand’s exclusive list for Best Global Brand for the fourth consecutive year. Despite the unfavourable economic environment of the past year, Kia has sustained a brand value increase of 5 per cent, growing to an estimated value of $5.7 billion. This value is an outstanding 530 per cent growth since 2007,” said a spokesperson.

Interbrand attributes this remarkable growth to Kia’s dedication towards ‘excellent design, high quality and innovative brand management in the global markets’. Kia has also earned a number of other accolades this year.

“Earlier this year, we were honoured with No. 1 position among mass market brands in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study (IQS), while the Soul EV, our first globally sold electronic vehicle, was crowned Car of the Year in Norway and Best Eco-Friendly Vehicle via MotorWeek’s 2015 Drivers’ Choice Awards,” the spokesperson added.

Indeed, at the end of the day,

Kia cares for the smiles on the faces of its customers. And what better way to pay tribute to its loyal customers than by dedicating the latest accolade to them.

A favourite of customers in Oman, Kia’s exciting and enabling range includes the Picanto – a fresh and vibrant car to turn up the colour in life; the Rio - a smartly styled car that makes absolutely no compromises; the Cerato, to help anyone step into the good life; the Cerato Koup- a car in tune with one’s emotions; refreshed Optima the car with sporty stance & style that conveys confident individuality; Cadenza, a car that attracts and reassures with its innovative attention to detail; Kia Soul – gives the freedom to express personality and to connect with an urban lifestyle; Sportage – for appeal that’s ahead by many miles; Carens - a car that lets one live life to the full; Sorento - an SUV built for urban living; Mohave – that puts one at the peak of performance; Carnival - an elegant all-in-one tool that makes one’s life a whole lot easier; K- 4000G - A highly polished work horse and of course Kia’s new game changer, the Quoris, that pushes the horizons of its segment by inviting drivers to experience what we call ‘New Luxury’, a breakaway and brand new take of what it means in modern terms – feature rich technology.

CUSTOMER MEET

BankDhofar set to celebrate 45th IHE Sohar celebrates 6th anniversary National Day with digital contest MUSCAT: As the nation celebrates the 45th National Day, BankDhofar has launched a digital competition that provides a platform for the public to express their love for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said through creative designs and arts work.

Participants are required to design a picture or produce a short video clip to express the nation’s love for His Majesty the Sultan and the spirit of the 45th National Day, says a press release.

Sami Omar Al Zadjali, head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at BankDhofar, said: “This competition aims to provide a platform to express love and appreciation for His Majesty the

Sultan and the nation’s pride of the tremendous achievements over the past 45 years.

“We started receiving entries on October 22 and will continue to accept participations through November 18. Entries should be designed by participants themselves and should have two hashtags: #We_Love_Qaboos and #BankDhofar. Participants should follow the official BankDhofar Instagram page and can submit their entries directly through a private message along with full name and Omani ID or resident card number.

“Only shortlisted entries will be posted on our Instagram page. Ten entries will be shortlisted to win valuable cash prizes that range

between OMR100 and OMR1000, and winners will be selected based on the number of likes.”

Earlier this year BankDhofar organised an exhibition as part of its We-Love-Qaboos initiative.

The bank had also released a musical album in love of His Majesty the Sultan. The album contained a selective collection of Omani musical tracks in a folkloric style representing traditional Omani musical styles of Razha, Rabuba, Bu Zalaf, Bara’a and Madar. Available on BankDhofar YouTube channel, the album was produced and recorded by Omani artists to express the high-spiritedness and joy prevailing over the Sultanate in this occasion.

MUSCAT: International Heavy Equipment (IHE) celebrated their 6th anniversary combined with their first customer meet exclusively for customers from Batinah region, recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which saw a large turnout of industry customers and their interaction with many of the IHE Principal representatives and IHE team.

More than 150 customers attended the event, where they had a chance to see all the products in the IHE portfolio. They interacted with more than 20 different manufacturer principals who attended the event, which gave them first-hand experience about different products.

IHE had a display of the latest trucks range from the Renault and Volvo including Prime

movers, transit mixers, concrete pumps and tippers.

The display also included a wide range of equipment including Bobcat skid steer loaders and Telehandler, Ausa dumper, Kobelco excavator with Montabert breaker, Jungheinrich forklift, Hi-Force hydraulic tools, Heshbon lifts and other garage equipment and tools.

Awards The event kicked off in the evening with a welcome address to the attendees, followed by presentation of appreciations awards to key customers, video presentations and a raffle draw in the end.

A team of highly experienced sales and service personnel from IHE, along with representatives from the manufacturers, were

present at the show to advise and support customers with their queries. The event also provided the perfect opportunity for the brand principals to interact one-on-one with industry customers in Sohar.

“The event was a huge success with more than 150 customers attending and interacting with the manufacturer representatives. Considering the success of this first initiative, we plan to make this an annual event in Sohar. Everyone who attended the event really enjoyed the time they spent with the IHE team and principals representatives,” commented Khamis Al Shidi, branch manager, IHE Sohar.

IHE is a one stop solution for trucks and equipment, catering to the needs of different industrial sectors.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

MB Holding’s drive safe campaign to ensure safety of school students MUSCAT: As part of its ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of safe driving practices in the community, MB Holding group have launched a drive safe campaign across all schools in the Wilayat of Bausher.

This campaign has been supported by the Traffic Safety Committee in Bausher, led by Sheikh Muhanna bin Saif bin Hamad Al Ma’awali, wali of Bausher and other members and stakeholders such as Dr Humaid bin Salem Al Hajri, adviser at Muscat Education Directorate, says a press release.

As part of this agreement between MB Holding group (including Petrogas E&P, MB Petroleum Services and MB Holding Co.) and the committee, 26 school buses that serve the wilayat of Bausher have been equipped with safety standards and systems.

These include In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS) instruments, reverse parking sensors and shoulders that alert drivers while students are getting in or out

of the buses.

In addition each of these buses has been painted in a standard universal colour and have drive safe messages on its exterior.

Commenting on the initiative, which cost almost OMR30,000, Al Maawali said that the aim of this initiative is to ensure that highest standards of safety for students travelling in school buses and raising the level of awareness and consciousness of not only the drivers but also citizens at large who get exposed to these messages.

“MB Holding group also provided schools with a monitoring system that enables the school management to detect the location of the bus and its route during the school hours. This device will help the school management to remain aware of the reasons behind any delay in bringing students to school or taking them back home,” he added.

Eng. Mohammed bin Salem Al Busaidi, member of Shura Council for the wilayat, said that this is

one of the community service projects that targets school students and citizens at large. The project enhances awareness of the importance of abiding by traffic rules and regulations by the students, bus drivers and road users. The project also uses a standard colour – the orange yellow on the exterior, used by most schools in different parts of the world. The aim of this standard colour is to alert road users of the school buses and make it easy to identify such buses from a distance. It also holds drivers accountable for the safety of students in the buses.

Said Al Jabri, director corporate

operations, MB Holding, said: “As a corporate, we are committed to the highest standards in HSE and supporting communities within which we operate.

“This is our support to the government’s endeavour of inculcating safe driving practices amongst its citizens. We have partnered with several schools in the past in the capital region. We are delighted for the initiative, support and encouragement we received from the Traffic Safety Committee throughout the conception, planning and implementation of this campaign. We want to impart safe driving habits to our citizens from

a young age so that when they start driving, they will emulate the same on the roads. Our motto is to try and make the roads in Oman safe!”

Sayyid Nasser bin Salem Al Busaidi, member of the Traffic Safety Competition at the wilayat, said that the aim of this initiative is to ensure safety of students.

“School bus drivers are thus required to show full cooperation and abide by traffic safety rules and regulations. I am sure they are aware of the importance of this and the key role they play in ensuring the safety of our children.

They are also required to be familiar with handling any safety issues

while driving. They should also report any instances that endanger students’ safety and security and should be quick in decision making to safeguard the lives our dear kids,” he added.

Ali bin Hamoud Al Raqadi, a bus driver from Dohat Al Adab School, stated: “This initiative is a positive step in the right direction and personally I am fond of it. I wish all private sector companies would follow the footsteps of MB Holding Group and provide utmost support to student traffic safety initiatives.

I wish all school buses would be provided with rear cameras to allow drivers to see the area behind the buses.”

Abdullah bin Mohammed Awlad Thani, who agreed with Ali, said: “The colour has made the school buses unique and easily identifiable from a distance. This initiative will not only enhance the safety and security for school students but also promote these very relevant messages to citizens of the Sultanate.”

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ROUND-UP

Grand Mall gears up to celebrate National Day In addition to performances and activities, Muscat Grand Mall will also be running the popular ‘Shop & Win’ campaign

MUSCAT: To mark the occasion of the 45th National Day, Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) is celebrating in style with special décor, decorations, performances and activities.

For the month of November the mall exterior will be adorned with festive lights, flags and a portrait of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin

Said to observe the joyous occasion. Also part of the festivities, local and traditional bands and musicians will be performing every Friday during the month of November.

Commenting on the planned festivities, Hassan Jaboub, general manager of Muscat Grand Mall,

said: “On behalf of Muscat Grand Mall and our patrons, we extend our sincere greetings and best wishes to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the people of Oman on this jubilant occasion.

We are proud to pay tribute to 45 years of his wise and benevolent leadership.”

“For the past 45 years His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has led the people of Oman to build a nation of prosperity, dignity and prestige. It is a great honour to participate in the celebrations to mark this momentous day in our history,” he added.

In addition to performances and activities, Muscat Grand Mall will also be running the popular

‘Shop & Win’ campaign, following the success of the promotion earlier this year. Under the promotion running between November 1 and December 31, customers are eligible for the Shop & Win coupon for every OMR20 purchase at any store within Muscat Grand Mall. With every coupon shoppers will have the opportunity to win a grand prize of four Chevrolet Cruze cars, which will be given away to lucky winners through draws.

MGM is Oman’s most dynamic shopping destination. It is the fastest growing lifestyle hub in the Sultanate, offering choice and convenience for shoppers and residents, as part of a combined leisure experience.

PROPERTY SHOW

Meet top Indian real estate developers at Oryx MUSCAT: Top developers will be present at Times of India’s biggest Oryx property show being held on October 30 and 31 at Holiday Muscat, Al Khuwair.

This is an innovative event held annually with India’s premium developers with years of legacy in the real estate business. Launching many attractive deals for their projects at the upcoming show, the organisers will ensure customers will be able to meet the real estate fraternity with a Pan Indian presence that make your dreams come true, says a press release.

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The international property show is the leading consumer event in Oman making it a perfect platform for providing buyers and investors with a ‘one-stop shop’ opportunity to capitalise and take advantage from the best property deals in India.

Customers can meet and interact with India’s top real estate developers who have the means and desire to offer and showcase the finest property and upcoming projects designed to your requirement.

Properties from different states

and major cities in India will be showcased at the exhibition. 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.

The expo will help the Indian expatriates in the Sultanate to get first-hand information about the latest trends in the real estate sector. This is a rare opportunity as internationally known companies are coming under one roof.

EASY ACCESS

OAB inks home finance pact with Badr Group MUSCAT: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has recently entered into home finance agreement with Badr Real Estate Group, Dhalia Project.

Yasser Abdul Kareem, general manager of Badr Group, and Rashad Jaffar Al Shaikh, deputy general manager of Retail Banking Group, representing the bank, signed the agreement at the bank’s head office in Al Ghubra North, says a press release.

Rashad Al Shaikh, DGM of Retail Banking Group, said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Badr Group, Dhalia Project, and to offer our customers easy access to home finance in order to help them have their dream homes. The bank offers finance facilities with attractive interest rates and flexible repayment terms for our clients.”

Dhalia Project of Badr Group is conveniently located at the heart of a vibrant area, featuring prime residential units. It is at a short drive from the main malls in the Sultanate and within easy reach of the beach and Qurum Natural

Park. Dhalia Project comprises spacious one, two or three bedrooms apartments that will have the private use of a garden and swimming pool, all designed to provide a living space suiting to today’s lifestyles with high quality finishing and fittings.

Constructed on an elevated ground near an active commercial area, and overlooking Sih Al Maleh Road, it represents one of the most exciting development projects.

It is worth mentioning that the bank has previously signed two agreements with the same group in two different projects, Badr Al Hamra and The Links, executed

by Badr Real Estate Group.

OAB provides home finance for all types of completed or under construction real estate projects, in the form of long-term loans, covering up to 80 per cent of the property value, with repayment period of up to 25 years. The customer will also have the option to defer the principal instalments from 12 to 18 months for under construction projects.

UNIQUE CONCEPT

Jamia Millia alumni to mark Foundation Day on October 30 MUSCAT: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) alumni in Oman is organising its 95th Foundation Day celebration on October 30 at the Chancery Auditorium, Embassy of India.

Indra Mani Pandey, ambassador of India, will be the chief guest for the event. The special guest for this event will be a Jamia alumnus RJ Naved, famous for his association with Radio Mirchi.

The event will be attended by distinguished guests and eminent personalities of Oman apart from Jamia alumni residing in Oman, says a press release.

Jamia Millia Islamia was founded on October 29, 1920 during the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements in response to Gandhi’s call to boycott government supported educational institutions by Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud-ul Hasan, Maulana Mohammed Ali, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Abdul Majeed Khwaja, Dr Zakir Hussain. Jamia Millia Islamia became a central university by an Act of Parliament in 1988 vide the Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988. Tufail Ahmad, a JMI alumnus, said: “There is sizeable number of JMI alumni in Oman and like many places around the world, we celebrate Jamia Foundation Day here too. Jamia is not only an institution where one gets education and degree rather it is a place which creates a feeling of brotherhood and togetherness.

This function will provide an opportunity for the Jamia alumni in Oman to come closer to each other.

I have come across many instances wherein a Jamia alumni, who lands in a new place, finds it homely after meeting Jamia alumni here.”

There is sizeable number of JMI alumni in Oman and like many places around the world, we celebrate Jamia Foundation Day here too. This function will provide an opportunity for the Jamia alumni in Oman to come closer to each other Tufail Ahmad JMI alumnus

New restaurant Ramsa Cafe opens in Ruwi MUSCAT: The residents and executives in the Muscat Business District (MBD) have a new place to dine in as Ramsa Cafe, a new restaurant opened recently and is set to become the snazziest venue in Ruwi and for good reason.

With a contemporary and stylish design the restaurant is situated on Al Jami Road, on the same street with Muscat Securities Market and Home Centre.

Mansoor Mohsin Al Lawati, managing director of Al Rosha Group, had this to say about the venue: “Ramsa Cafe also has a menu that goes far beyond your typical Arabic continental restaurant and lounge. We recruited and worked very closely with a former

Hard Rock Cafe Chef from India to develop items that span the traditional to the more adventurous with fusion elements in much of our menu, we strongly recommend our unique twist to the ever famous dynamite shrimps, not to mention our selected Omani cuisine and a unique mocktail

beverages menu. We’ve taken everything into account ... Ramsa also boasts an exclusive woman and family section.

“The entire lounge is fitted to the rim with high definition televisions, free WIFI and power banks for the more busier white collar executives in the area who can’t

do without their phones. Few establishments offer live entertainment, this is something we are certainly planning for and we will soon surprise patrons as we’ve invested heavily in our entertainment infrastructure. Ramsa also offers free delivery and corporate catering for the business strata in the area.’’

Mansoor and Al Rosha Group is an innovative entrepreneurial group focused in hospitality, food and beverages established in 1984 known for their unique approach to bespoke hospitality brands such as Al Rosha Restaurants, Chowpatty and Spaloon; Oman’s only male grooming centre situated in Qurum.

L AT E S T I N F O R M AT I O N O N E Y E C A R E

Preparation is underway for the event. A choir of singers is busy practising Jamia ‘Tarana’ which will be sung with live music on the stage. Bollywood songs and Ghazals will also be sung with live music by Jamia Alumni Tariq, Imtiyaz and others. Entry to the event is by invitation only.

MELC doctors participate in Spain forum TO ADVERTISE Call: 24726666

MUSCAT: Doctors from Muscat Eye Laser Centre (MELC) were invited to present and share the latest information and techniques in ophthalmology at the XXXIII Congress of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) recently held in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr Maria Clara Arbelaez, Medical Director, MELC along with Dr Juan Guillermo Arbelaez, Cornea and Refractive Surgeon, actively participated in the four-day Congress presenting papers and scientific posters related to new treatments for keratoconus and presbyopia as well as latest advances in refractive surgery, says a press release.

The ESCRS Congress is Europe’s leading organisation for cataract and refractive surgeons and is at the forefront of developments in anterior segment surgery.

Dr Maria Arbelaez’s inclusion in a roster of top-flight present-

ers from around the world attests to her standing as a recognised expert in the field of cornea and refractive eye surgery. Significantly, the ESCRS offered yet another platform for Dr Maria to showcase her research work on the cutting-edge of refractive eye surgery. Over a career spanning two decades, the highly respected surgeon has undertaken a number of research initiatives that have contributed to a better understanding and development of advanced surgical techniques.

On the other hand, Dr Juan Arbelaez came into the limelight

for conducting ground breaking corneal transplant procedure – DMEK, in Muscat earlier this year that very few doctors around the world can undertake.

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty is a revolutionary procedure that involves precise replacement of the diseased part of the cornea (instead of the entire cornea) that is nonintrusive and offers perfect to near perfect vision post surgery with a reduced recovery period.

“Like all medical fields, it is extremely important for doctors in the ophthalmology field to be in touch with the latest in technology and stay abreast of developments in the industry. ESCRS provides the perfect platform for professionals in the field to showcase their work, share knowledge and gain understanding from other doctors’ perspectives that will ultimately help us pass on the benefit to our patients,” Dr Arbelaez said.

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Pakistan snatch victory in Dubai

TEST SERIES

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up in the threegame series and maintains their CONVINCING WIN: Sri Lankan cricketers pose with West Indian cricket legend Garfield Sobers, centre, and former Sri Lanka cricket captain Michael Tissera after their victory in the Test series against West Indies at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo. – AFP

record of never having lost a series in their adopted home

Herath spins Sri Lanka to series win against Windies COLOMBO: Rangana Herath picked up four wickets while spin partner Milinda Siriwardana took three as Sri Lanka defeated West Indies by 72 runs on the fifth day of the second and final Test on Monday to win the series 2-0.

West Indies, who lost the first Test in Galle by an innings and six runs, were all out for 171 in the second session as their wait for a first win in the format in Sri Lanka continues.

The tourists made a bright start in their chase of 244 but their hopes of a series-levelling win dimmed after losing three quick wickets to the spinners in the morning, with batting mainstay Darren Bravo (61) the only one to offer some resistance.

“It was a hard-fought win, our bowlers were under constant pressure because our batsmen didn’t deliver,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said at the presentation. “I never had doubts about my bowlers. Rangana Herath has enough experience... He showed his masterclass at the end.”

West Indies resumed on 20-1 after rain washed away the final session on the third day and the entire fourth day’s play and looked in firm control of their chase. Shai Hope, who was unbeaten during the weather disruption, and Bravo started positively, taking the attack to the spinners, and added 60 for the second wicket.

Mathews turned to all-rounder Siriwardana to break the stand and the left-arm spinner did exactly that by dismissing Hope in his fifth delivery.

Hope danced down the wicket to the bowler but the ball spun enough to beat his bat and resulted in an easy stumping for wicketkeeper Kusal Perera.

Out-of-form Marlon Samuels (six) survived several nervous moments before falling to Dilruwan Perera with Mathews completing a sharp catch at slip.

Siriwardana, who was adjudged man of the match for his all-round performance, claimed his second wicket when Jermaine Blackwood (four) was out leg before with West Indies quickly slumping from 80-1 to 102-4.

Blackwood challenged the umpire’s decision but failed to over-

RICH HAUL: Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath celebrates one of his four wickets on the final day. – Reuters

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings 200 (M. Siriwardana 68; J. Warrican 4-67) West Indies 1st innings 163 (D. Prasad 4-34) Sri Lanka 2nd innings 206 (K. Brathwaite 6-29) West Indies 2nd innings: K. Brathwaite lbw b Prasad 3 S. Hope st K. Perera b Siriwardana 35 D. Bravo c Mathews b Herath 61 M. Samuels c Mathews b D. Perera 6 J. Blackwood lbw b Siriwardana 4 D. Ramdin c Mathews b Herath 10 J. Holder lbw b Siriwardana 7 K. Roach lbw b Herath 13

turn the decision. Left-hander Bravo handled the spinners well with some positive footwork and completed his 13th fifty in Tests with three fours and two sixes.

Herath, who was targeted by Bravo and hit for two consecutive sixes, got in on the act after lunch by dismissing wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (10) and Bravo in the same over to banish any hopes of a West Indies victory.

“As a spinner and a bowler, we got to take responsibility,” Herath said after being adjudged the man of the series for his 15 wickets in

J. Taylor c Siriwardana b Herath 1 D. Bishoo run out 0 J. Warrican not out 20 Extras (b-3, lb-1, nb-6, w-1) 11 Total (all out, 65.5 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-80, 3-97, 4-102, 5-124, 6-125, 7-133, 8-136, 9-138, 10-171 Bowling: D. Prasad 10-2-38-1 (nb-1, w-1), N. Pradeep 3-0-11-0 (nb-1), R. Herath 19.53-56-4, D. Perera 20-4-37-1, M. Siriwardana 13-1-25-3 Umpires: Simon Fry and Rod Tucker TV umpire: Marais Erasmus Match referee: David Boon Result: Sri Lanka won by 72 runs

two Tests. “As a bowler you might get hit for three or four sixes. I don’t mind. At the end we took them out.” The wily left-arm spinner also dismissed Jerome Taylor (1) and then returned to take the final wicket of Kemar Roach (13).

West Indies captain Jason Holder rued the lack of patience from the team’s batsmen.

“We got to look at our games.

We just got to be a bit more patient,” Holder said. “Everytime we came under little pressure from the Sri Lanka bowlers, we succumbed to it.” - Reuters

of the United Arab Emirates

DUBAI: Pakistan overcame belligerent resistance from England’s tail-enders to win the second test by 178 runs on Monday after bowling out Alastair Cook’s men for 312 with just 6.3 overs remaining.

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up in the three-game series and maintains their record of never having lost a series in their adopted home of the United Arab Emirates.

Starting the final day on 130 for three and chasing an unlikely 491 for victory, England slumped to 193 for seven after lunch.

Adil Rashid (61) and Stuart Broad (30) then added 60 in 90 balls before the latter was bowled by an inswinging Wahab Riaz yorker.

Undeterred, Rashid and Mark Wood (29) were adroit in defence as Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq switched between pace and spin to try to end their resistance.

His team’s appeals grew more desperate as the overs ticked by and the game entered the final hour with two wickets remaining.

Seven fielders crowded the batsmen and the pressure told when Wood edged Zulfiqar Babar’s turning ball to Mohammad Hafeez in the gully. Five overs later Rashid was last man out, caught attempting a drive through the covers off Yasir Shah.

Earlier, Joe Root and Jonny

JUBILANT: Pakistan’s cricket players celebrate after dismissing England’s Adil Rashid to win the second Test in Dubai. – AFP

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: 354 for 6 decl. (Y. Khan 118, Misbah-ul-Haq 87, A. Shafiq 79, M. Hafeez 51) 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 c Y. Khan b Babar 71 J. Bairstow b Shah 22 B. Stokes c Misbah b I. Khan 13 J. Buttler c Y. Khan b Shah 7

Bairstow extended their overnight partnership, repelling the threat of paceman Wahab who had engineered England’s match-defining collapse in the first innings.

However, the England pair proved less able to deal with the spin of Zulfiqar (3-53) and Yasir (487). Root (71) was first to fall after edging Zulfiqar to Younus Khan.

The slip snaffled the ball a fraction above the turf to reduce England to 157 for four. Misbah turned up the heat by positioning helmet-clad fielders at silly point and short-leg to accompany two slips.

Bairstow initially read the spin

A. Rashid c Babar b Shah 61 S. Broad b Riaz 30 M. Wood c Hafeez b Babar 29 J. Anderson not out 0 Extras (b-12, lb-4, nb-5, w-1) 22 Total (all out, 137.3 overs) 312 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-19, 3-121, 4-157, 5-163, 6-178, 7-193, 8-253, 9-308, 10-312 Bowling: I. Khan 14-4-41-2 (nb-1, w-1), W. Riaz 25-4-78-1 (nb-4), Y. Shah 41.3-15-87-4, S. Malik 10-2-37-0, Z. Babar 47-23-53-3 Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney Match referee: Andy Pycroft Result: Pakistan won by 178 runs

well, lurching forward to pad the ball away and getting on his heels to defend, before he was clean bowled for 22 by a Yasir googly.

Jos Buttler continued his poor form, edging Yasir Shah to Younis Khan at slip on seven, and Ben Stokes was removed for 13 when his wayward drive off paceman Imran Khan went to Misbah-ul Haq at slip. That brought Rashid and Broad together and they scored freely.

Rashid brought up his maiden Test half-century with a scrambled single but ultimately it proved in vain. Sharjah will host the final Test from November 1. - Reuters

STUBBORN RESISTANCE IN VAIN: England’s Adil Rashid played a stubborn innings but failed to save

the day for his team. – Reuters

MENA GOLF TOUR

Scotland’s Ker goes two clear at Ghala Open MUSCAT: Ted Innes Ker rode on a flawless front nine to seize the early momentum on the opening day of the MENA Golf Tour’s Ghala Open on Monday. The Scotsman made a solid start, going four under after his first seven holes.

He bogeyed the 11th but rebounded with two more birdies to end the day a good two shots ahead of a four-man group, which included Morocco’s Faycal Serghini, as Karim El Hali, also of Morocco, hit the front along with England’s James Allan in the amateur division at two-under.

One of the early starters, Serghini mixed four birdies, including three coming home, with two bogeys en route to a threeunder 69 where he was joined by Scotland’s Clarke Lutton, Stuart Archibald of England and Spain’s

Sixto Casabona-navarro. England’s Lee Corfield, a three-time winner on the MENA Golf Tour, led the six-man chasing pack three shots off the pace as seven players, including Spain’s Gabriel Canizares, shared 12th place on one under.

“I had a good day with my long game. I hit a lot of fairways and greens in regulation, creating a plenty of scoring opportunities.

On front nine, I couldn’t capitalise on them, but made most of them coming home,” said Serghini, who made the turn at level par.

“Overall, it was a good day.

Just hope to keep the momentum going all the way through,” said the 38-year-old from Casablanca, who, however, has taken an outright lead in the MENA Division, two clear of his compatriot El Hali.

England’s Archibald was equally

pleased. “I am hitting the ball great, but didn’t make many putts. I was four under on front nine, but had just one birdie against two bogeys on back nine. When I putt well, I score well,” he said.

Lutton played pretty steady golf most of the day. “It feels nice to turn in a good score in the end,” said Scotsman, whose round was highlighted by an ‘off-the-road’ eagle on the par-5, fourth,” said Lutton, the winner of the Golf Citizen Classic at The Els Club.

El Hali picked up three shots on his last two holes, including an eagle on the 17th, to join Allan atop the amateur division leaderboard at two-under, one clear of England’s Elliott Oxlade. Allan, who turned 21 last week, made five birdies and three bogeys, playing the last three holes at two over. “It

was quite a mixed round, but very pleased with the way I finished,” said the Englishman, who currently leads the Order of Merit.

Elsewhere, Zane Scotland returned a 76 after playing outward nine holes at one over to slip well down the leaderboard while Sweden’s Christofer Blomstrand, who won the last week’s event at Muscat Hills, returned a 75.

Azzan posts decent 75 Top-ranked Omani golfer Azzan Al Rumhy led the home challenge with a decent 75. Fresh from competing in the Nomura Cup in Abu Dhabi, Azzan started with a flourish, going two under after his first three holes, but five bogeys thereafter he meant he finished the day at three over, five off the pace in MENA Division for amateurs.

GOOD START: Karim El Hali of Morocco in action on the opening day of the Ghala Open. He emerged joint leader in the amateur division along with England’s James Allan. – Supplied photo

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TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

SPORTS

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Stars launch preparations for Road to Oman in Dubai The stars of the Challenge Tour will be using Jumeirah Golf Estates European Tour Performance Institute facilities ahead of next week’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final

MUSCAT: The stars of the European Challenge Tour are in Dubai this week making use of the world class facilities at the Jumeirah Golf Estates European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) as they prepare for a final push on the 2015 Road to Oman Rankings ahead of next week’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat.

In addition to competing on Fire course in the one-day ICAEW

GEARING UP: From left, Mark Gregson-Walters, Director of Instruction at ETPI, Ricardo Gouveia, currently first on the 2015 Road to Oman Rankings, European Tour player Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Michael Armstrong FCA, Regional Director of ICAEW Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Julian Small, Managing Director of Club Operations at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Nick Tarratt, Director of European Tour International Dubai Office, at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. – Supplied photo

Challenge Tour Pro-Am on Wednesday, players including Ricardo Gouveia, currently first on the 2015 Road to Oman Rankings, Borja Virto Astudillo (third), Gary Boyd (sixth), Jens Fahrbring (seventh) and Rhys Davies (eighth) will be working hard at the ETPI and benefiting from some expert advice from special guest, swing bio-

mechanics expert Jean-Jacques Rivet, who will also be passing on some of his knowledge to Director of Instruction Mark Gregson-Walters and his team at the ETPI. Rivet, who is based at the only other European Tour Performance Institute in Terre Blanche, France, and recently hosted the UAE National Team on a week-

long training camp, commented: “I will be biomechanically screening the Challenge Tour players and working with them throughout the week and at the same time sharing the techniques we use at Terre Blanche — and on The European Tour — with Mark Gregson-Walters and his team at the ETPI. “We’ve worked with The Eu-

ropean Tour frequently over the years but this will be the first time we’ve worked with the next generation of stars from the Challenge Tour so I’m very much looking forward what promises to be a great programme with these excellent players and coaches.”

Gregson-Walters added: “I’m looking forward to working closer with Jean-Jacques and keen to learn the biomechanics techniques that he has pioneered.”

Julian Small, Managing Director, Club Operations, Jumeirah Golf Estates, said: “We’re very proud of our European Tour Performance Institute and we hope the players will benefit from preparing for next week’s seasonending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final with us.

“We’re also delighted to have Jean-Jacques Rivet here this week, his knowledge and expertise in the field of biomechanics will prove invaluable, both to the players and to our ETPI team.”

Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International Dubai Office, concluded: “This initiative will be an incredibly positive experience for all involved and will give the players a chance to utilise some of the best facilities in the world as well as benefiting from JeanJacques Rivet’s expertise as they prepare for next week’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.”

BIGGER PICTURE

Pink ball can revive Test cricket: Waugh MELBOURNE: Former Australia captain Steve Waugh says cricketers need to look at the bigger picture when it comes to day-night Test cricket, believing the format could be the saving grace of the longer form of the game worldwide.

Players including Adam Voges, Peter Siddle and Tom Latham expressed concerns over the deterioration of the pink ball in last Friday’s Prime Minister’s XI versus New Zealand clash on an abrasive pitch at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

But Waugh believes the potential for day-night scheduling to transform Test cricket, particularly in countries where crowds and interest are flagging, is too great to ignore.

“I think it’s a great initiative for cricket. Test cricket is withering away in a lot of countries.

“Australia and England are the only two places where people come to watch Tests, so we have to stimulate excitement and get people watching again.

People want to see a little bit of change. Sometimes it’s hard for players to understand that, but sometimes you’ve got to see the bigger picture for the good of Test cricket Steve Waugh Former Australia captain

“Once we play one (day-night) Test people will go, ‘What were we worried about?’,” Waugh was quoted as saying by cricket.com. au on Monday. “People want to see a little bit of change.

“Sometimes it’s hard for players to understand that, but sometimes you’ve got to see the bigger picture for the good of Test cricket,” the batting great added. “It might not be a perfect ball, it might discol-

our a bit and it might be tough for batsmen for some portion of the match, but it’s been that way for one-day cricket since it started.

“There’s always been that twilight area after tea where the

lights are not quite perfect, but you just get on with it.”

Waugh, 50, has been a long-time supporter of day-night Tests, saying the idea had been discussed during his eight years on the Marylebone Cricket Club’s World Cricket Committee.

“That was one of the things we were pushing for probably 10 years ago.

“I think it’s needed. Not so much in Australia, where we have good crowds, but in a lot of other countries where the Test match crowds are basically non-existent, you need to ignite the interest and the passion and I think day-night cricket will do that,” Waugh, who played 168 Tests and 325 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1985 and 2004, said.

“I remember when World Series cricket started, I was a young kid and I was that excited to go and see a day-night game with a white ball.

“We need that sort of thing happening in Tests.” - IANS

CRICKET

‘It’s about time cricket comes to Pakistan stadiums’ ISLAMABAD: It is about time cricket is revived in Pakistan, said a daily which noted that India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral Test series after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

An editorial “All is not lost” in The Nation on Monday said that a meeting between India and Pakistan’s cricket board chiefs in Mumbai was recently cancelled after Shiv Sena stormed the Indian board (BCCI) office.

“The cricket arch-rivals have yet to agree the first of six proposed series between 2015 and 2023, and luck is not on their side. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral Test series since 2007, after the Mumbai attacks,” said the daily.

India was due to play two Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals this year in the UAE, where Pakistan play their home Tests because of security concerns.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan has recently threatened to boycott the World T20 matches which would surely devastate many fans.

The editorial said that cricket witnessed a ‘comeback’ with the Zimbabwe series and “your average fan dared to hope that there would be more cricket at home”.

“But sadly the Pakistani people can only enjoy the great moments witnessed in these matches through television, whereas the stadiums in UAE stand empty.

When Pakistan and England opened their Test series in Abu Dhabi last week, only 54 people watched the first day at the 20,000-capacity Sheikh Zayed Stadium, while numbers picked up towards the end of the match.”

It, however, added that “all is not lost as the Pakistan-England series has been an adrenaline fueled event so far”.

The first match was written off because it looked destined to be a draw on a super flat pitch, but became a desperate effort to stay alive in the dying stages.

After 1,121 runs and 17 wickets in the first two innings of an extraordinarily slow-burning contest, the first Test in Abu Dhabi all but exploded into a fireworks finish, as England fell agonisingly short of glory.”

Younis Khan broke Javed Miandad’s record of 8,832 runs in Test matches, becoming the first Pakistani batsman to reach 9,000 runs.

“Overall the team effort and performance is commendable. It is about time cricket comes home to the stadiums and fields so that the sport may be revived in the country where so many avid fans are waiting,” said the daily. - IANS

OMAN WIN TWO MORE MEDALS AS SECOND GCC GAMES CONCLUDE Omani athletes won two medals, a silver and a bronze, as curtains came down the second GCC Games in the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam on Monday. According to the information received here, the Sultanate’s 4x400m relay squad bagged the silver medal while Ahmed Al Awaisi won a bronze medal in the decathlon competition. The two medals helped Oman to complete their engagements with a total of 29 medals. — ONA

T UE SDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

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SPORTS We have to look at ‘process’ to get results, says Indian captain Dhoni Indian skipper climbs two places in latest ODI rankings

After allowing South Africa to post 438

I think there’s a bit of difference between top first class cricket and international cricket. Overall we are off and on

for four, the highest conceded ever by India in ODIs, the hosts were shot out for 224 in 36 overs and Dhoni admitted the team is in

M.S. Dhoni

a tough spot

MUMBAI: Once again harping on the “process” after India’s embarrassing 214-run loss against South Africa in the fifth and final ODI, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insisted that issues need to be addressed soon to get the national cricket team in order.

After allowing South Africa to post 438 for four, the highest conceded ever by India in ODIs, the hosts were shot out for 224 in 36 overs and Dhoni admitted the team is in a tough spot.

“I know India is more about result, but at the same time you won’t always get the results if you are not looking into the process.

It’s a tough situation,” Dhoni said in the post-match press conference here last night.

“But at the same time we are looking for solution. We have to try a few other things, because if you are doing the same thing, you will get the same result,” he explained further.

Clinching the five-match rubber 3-2, Proteas registered their firstever bilateral ODI series in India, which comes straight after their 2-0 triumph in the three T20s.

“We have to look at the larger (longer) picture. (Otherwise) may be you will win a series here and there. But to be consistent you have to have a settled team. To a lot of extent our team does not look to be that settled,” Dhoni said candidly.

The Ranchi star has been criticised for making quite a few changes in the batting order, but defended his strategy and said he had done it to find out the best solution to different situations the team would be facing.

“You have to look at the venue, what kind of wicket is provided and accordingly you have to make changes. I have made a few changes in the batting order to see what

India captain

gives more strength to our batting order, what looks like a very good composition when you are chasing. All these things you have to study.”

He also declared that Stuart Binny, who figured in only one game of the 50-over rubber, remained the best seam-bowling all-rounder while left-handers Axar Patel, who played in four out of five, and the axed Ravindra Jadeja were the country’s best bets as spin bowling all rounders.

“We will keep talking we don’t have seaming all rounders.

We have tried Stuart. People have criticised that also, but if you look at all-rounders in India, who is your best seaming bowling allrounder — it’s Stuart Binny and the two best spinning all rounders Ravinder Jadeja and Axar Patel.

“Whether you like it or not these are our best seaming and spinning all-rounders and we have to make the best out of them,” he emphasised.

Lighter side “We have been struggling with the seaming all rounder. We feel our lower order batting is slightly on the lighter side when we play against good fast bowlers. Actually it puts lot of pressure on the top six batsmen, if you lose one or two early wickets then you have only three or four batsmen to play with as you can’t rely too much on your lower order.

“We have to find ways to see the best bowling composition for us, but at the same time not at the cost of being too light when it comes to bating. We have to address these problems,” Dhoni noted.

“The good thing is we have time in our hand, but we have to find individuals who can fit into those slots and they have to start doing well. There are a few areas of con-

cern. We have to find individuals who can handle playing pressure of international cricket. And once they are successful the job will become slightly easier,” the limitedovers skipper added.

He also defended the move to have medium pacers Mohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who conceded 84 and 106 runs yesterday, in the playing eleven.

“We have tried going for fast bowlers who can bowl quick, but realised they are giving away more runs and we are better off playing with people who are more into their line and length. Ideally Mohit should be your third seamer, but you have to mix and match as to who is your death bowler, who can bowl middle overs and who is your new ball bowler.

“We have tried a lot of different fast bowlers, who have not done really well for us. But at the same time when they go back and play Duleep Trophy or Deodhar Trophy or IPL, they are the ones who have done well.

“I think there’s a bit of difference between top first class cricket and international cricket. Overall we are off and on. We are lacking a bit of consistency when it comes to death bowling. There are days where we have done really well and there have been matches when we had given away lot of runs in the last ten.”

He also joked that the performance by the bowlers yesterday was so pathetic that he would not count it as “bad” even.

“Today they had good partnerships and the wicket was on a flatter side. I thought may be with spinners, with that extra fielder outside, we can exploit it, but the wicket was a bit too true to stop the opposition, who were scoring

at a very brisk pace. So it was a difficult one especially today. I don t count it as a bad performance. It was so bad that I would not count it as bad.”

Asked what went wrong in the series decider, he replied “Yeh sawal aaj mat poocho match me galti kahan hui. Sade charso run ke aaspaas bane hai aur aap poochte hain galti kahan hui (Don’t ask me today what went wrong. Close to 450 runs had been scored by South Africa, and you are asking this),” to peals of laughter from the media persons.

“Kuch catches choote hain (some catches were dropped), we bowled a bit short in the beginning and gave width to the batsmen. Up to 20-25 overs we were in some control but once they accelerated 10-12-15 runs an over were scored.

438 or 440 is a very difficult target to chase.

“We have chased up to 350, but even ten runs above that and pressure builds up. I remember at Rajkot we made 413 (414) after Sri Lanka made 413 (411) and won by 1 or 2 runs) (in December, 2009), but the ground was different and the attacks were similar.

“They batted very well here. We wanted to go for it and decided to give ourselves some time to build up partnerships and the overall plan was to bat 50 overs. Sometimes it happens and at other times it does not,” he added.

He also felt that the wicket was very good for batting while agreeing to a suggestion that in India even in ODIs tracks with some turn should be prepared.

“The wicket was true and it was a very good batting wicket, no turn on offer for spinners. Our fast bowlers, yes they can swing the ball, but when it is flat they are not

CRICKET

Enjoyed bowling to Dhoni: Rabada MUMBAI: Looking back at the five-match ODI cricket rubber, rising South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada termed his oneon-one battle with Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the of opening contest in Kanpur as his best display of the series.

South Africa clinched the series 3-2 after humbling India by 214 runs in Mumbai yesterday, but it all started at Green Park, where the visitors sneaked past Dhoni’s side by 5 runs.

Sharing the new ball with pace spearhead Dale Steyn, Rabada bagged two wickets and got the dangerous Dhoni caught and bowled for 31 in the final over to deny India victory in Kanpur.

“The one that I really enjoyed was the first game (at Kanpur on October 11). It was pressure situation against MSD. I had not bowled to him (before), but I knew what he was capable of doing and the amazing things he had done in the past. That gave me quite a bit of confidence, pulling that one (victory) out in that type of situation,” said Rabada after the conclusion of the fifth and final ODI at the Wankhede Stadium.

Rabada was brought on to bowl against World Cup winning captain Dhoni in the last over of the game when India were within smelling distance of overhauling South Africa’s 303 and sent him back with a return catch before dismissing Stuart Binny off the next ball to halt the hosts’ charge

SENSATIONAL PACER: South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada said the moment he cherished a lot was bowling to Dhoni under pressure situation in Kanpur. – AFP

at 298. The victory allowed the visitors an early lead and made India do catch-up over the first four games.

The 20-year-old fast bowler, seen by many as the future of SA’s fast bowling lot in future grabbed

a superb 4 for 41 yesterday, said team effort helped his country notch up its first-ever victory in a bilateral series in India.

“It was great team effort in all the games. It was tough coming to play in India. We had not won

a series here and made history today. India bounced back in Chennai. We knew today was a game of great magnitude. We came out with great intent,” he said.

“It was a great series and it was great playing against experienced and magnificent players. It was a titanic battle.”

Rabada, who matched senior fast bowling partner Steyn in pace, aggression and wicket haul (10) in the series, said that on the flat deck with some bounce he tried to bend his back to extract some life. “I thought all the seamers bowled very well. There was a bit of bounce. I tried to bend my back a bit more, put extra pace.

It looked a pretty flat wicket and needed to generate energy to the ball.”

He said currently his thoughts were not towards participating in the cash-rich Indian Premier League which, though he did not rule out the possibility in the future.

“My mind is not on IPL, mind is on winning series. It will be great to play IPL, something I want to do in future when it comes,” said the youngster, who admires the skills of Steyn, Australians Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and England’s Jimmy Anderson.

“I have a long way to go in my career. I am going to keep preparing well and make sure I can do better. I will push myself and will also be asking questions (to other bowlers),” he added. - PTI

DUBAI: India might have lost the One-Day international (ODI) series against South Africa but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has climbed up two rungs to the sixth place in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) batsmen rankings released on Monday. Dhoni now holds an 11-point advantage over his teammate Shikhar Dhawan.

The jump for India’s limited overs skipper was due to some of his scores which included an unbeaten 92 runs and an innings of 47.

There were also gains for Rohit Sharma (up three places to 12th) and careerhigh gains for Ajinkya Rahane (up 11 to 27th). Right-handed batsman Rahane scored 247 runs during the lost series.

A number of Proteas batsmen have improved their rankings. Skipper AB de Villiers retains his number one ranking, and is now 96 points clear of India vice-captain Virat Kohli in second place, after scoring three centuries (104 not out, 112 and 119) in five matches. Hashim Amla has dropped three places to fifth.

There is a career high jump of seven places for Faf du Plessis who is in joint 10th place with wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock who has vaulted 13 places after scoring 318 runs in the series, including 103 and a matchwinning 109 in the decider.

South African Farhaan Behardien moved up 12 places to 76th. In the bowlers rankings, Australia’s Mitchell Starc has returned to the top spot as Imran Tahir has slipped four places in the top 10.

Dale Steyn has dropped

ones who can push the opposing batsmen on the back foot and even when they are fast they don’t have the bounce as they don’t hit the deck hard.

“Our strength is entirely different.

If you look on this wicket, everyone has gone for runs, which is rare.

There was not really much on offer for our spinners or fast bowlers.

That was the reason once the partnerships (two century stands)

one place to sixth, although Morne Morkel has climbed three places to eighth, and is now six points behind Mitchell Johnson, after claiming seven wickets for 132 runs in three matches.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dropped a place to 10th, while a number of other bowlers have made significant gains across both series including Axar Patel (up 19 to 28th), Amit Mishra (up 13 to 32nd), Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran (up 69 to a career-high 34th), Mohit Sharma (up four to 44th). Young Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada has risen 58 places to a career high 49th after being the joint leading wicket-taker in the series alongside Steyn with 10.

There were career high placements for Afghanistan duo Mirwais Ashraf (up 10 to 56th) and Hamza Hotak (up 56 to 84th).The all-rounder list is unchanged with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan continuing to lead the way on 418 points.

The ODI series win has helped South Africa retain their third position but has reduced second ranked India’s advantage to two points.

The Proteas went into the series on 110 points, five adrift of Dhoni’s men, but AB de Villiers’ side fought back after conceding early ground to clinch the series in a dramatic final game on Sunday in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, as a consequence of the 2-3 home series defeat against Afghanistan, Zimbabwe have stayed in 10th place, a fraction ahead of Ireland, with Afghanistan one more point behind following their historic series victory. - IANS

happened and they looked to accelerate, it was very difficult to stop the boundaries.

“They (centurions Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and A B de Villiers) were playing the big shots.

All strategies were used by us but there are days when it does not work. When the wicket is so true and if you have that kind of partnership, it is very difficult to stop the opposition.” - PTI

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SPORTS Loving life in the fast lane

ewis Hamilton’s life has changed gear just as fast as the Mercedes he drives on the Formula One racetrack. This time last year he had only one world championship to his name and now he has three, a career dream come true as he pulls level with his boyhood idol, the late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna.

The first Briton to take back-to-back titles, and only his country’s second triple champion after Jackie Stewart in 1973, Hamilton is living life in the fast lane like never before and loving it. “It’s hard to get the balance of life right but I’ve got a mega balance now,” says the 30-year-old.

“It’s awesome and it couldn’t be better. I’m having the most fun outside (Formula One) and the most fun inside.”

The United States, where Hamilton spends much of his downtime with friends from the music industry and Hollywood, was a fitting place for the first black world champion to clinch his triple crown. The multi-racial boy from an underprivileged background is now a man who keeps up with the Kardashians, hangs out with Rihanna and attends fashion shows with other regulars of the celebrity gossip pages. Happy to flaunt his millions and the trappings of success, he is also reaching out to new audiences.

Only he, when asked how the sport could create more enthusiasm in urban black America, could talk about karting with black kids and describe being overtaken as “like seeing myself come by”.

The fierce and sometimes bitter rivalry with German team mate Nico Rosberg, who took last year’s title battle right down to the final race, has been replaced by something close to dominance. Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Hamilton’s 84-year-old compatriot who has known most of the sport’s world champions since the 1950s, could not have asked for more.

Fantastic job “He does a fantastic job, a better job in my opinion outside the car than inside the car,”

The first Briton to take back-to-back titles, and only his country’s second triple champion after Jackie Stewart in 1973, Hamilton is living life in the fast lane like never before and loving it

said Ecclestone, who has criticised champions in the past for not selling the sport sufficiently to a wider public. “What he does for us, for the sport, is incredible.”

Hamilton, by his own admission, sticks out like a sore thumb in Formula One. He may rub shoulders with the rich and powerful, Russian President Vladimir Putin handing him a winner’s trophy only two weeks ago, but nothing in his background suggested he was destined for such fame and fortune.

The private jet, the garage full of luxury sportscars, the clunky gold chains and diamond ear studs are the visible rewards.

But Hamilton never forgets that he grew up in social housing, sleeping on his father’s sofa on a Stevenage council estate.

With money tight, and his parents divorcing when he was two, father Anthony held down multiple jobs to fuel the passion for karting that his son first discovered on a lowcost family holiday to Spain.

When Hamilton came home from school, he would put on a video of Senna and dream.

“I wanted to be like him. I aspired to one day drive the way he drove, and achieve something similar to what he achieved,” he recalled last month before equalling Senna’s tally of 41 race wins.

“At the time, I felt that if I could get anywhere close to doing anything similar to him I would be super-proud of myself. That is what I set my sights on all those years ago.”

The grandson of a Grenadian who emigrated from the West Indies to work on the London underground rail system, Hamilton owes everything to his talent -- even if Mercedes and McLaren spotted it early on and bankrolled his progress.

Most successful “Who would ever have thought it of us Hamiltons turning up at the track in the first year in karting, the only black family there?” Hamilton recalled last year when he became the most successful British driver in terms of race wins.

“It was almost like everyone thought ‘what are they doing here?’ It was so funny.

We had the crappiest little box trailer. I feel very proud.”

Hamilton could have taken the crown in his sensational 2007 debut season, losing out to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen by a single point after a stormy year at McLaren, but he did it the next year to become the youngest ever champion at 23. Five seasons of frustration, albeit with plenty of wins, followed as compatriot Jenson Button triumphed for Brawn and then Sebastian Vettel took four titles in a row for Red Bull.

He was once seen as over-controlled by McLaren group boss Ron Dennis, but Hamilton’s move to Mercedes allowed him to become his own man, even if not everyone is a fan of his fashion sense.

“Until this year, I cared what people thought and tried to live to people’s own expectations rather than my own,” he said in September after sporting a new dyed blond look. “But I turned 30 over the winter and I have really got to a point in my life where I am comfortable in myself...I am more at ease within my job, within my skin and with how I drive and where I stand.”

Emulates Senna An ‘overwhelmed’ Hamilton hoped to inspire others with his achievements, just as Ayrton Senna has fired his imagination as a boy, after celebrating the greatest day of his career with a third Formula One world title on Sunday.

“I’m just overwhelmed at the moment,” the Briton told reporters after equalling the number of titles won by the late Brazilian. “It’s difficult really to find the words. I remember my first British championship where my dad and I drove home singing ‘We are the Champions’... and you know it’s just crazy to think that now I’m a three-time Formula One world champion.”

Emulating the great Brazilian, who died in 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix, has been an ambition ever since he watched him racing on television as a boy. The young Hamilton would come home from school and put on a tape of Senna’s finest moments, dreaming of one day doing something similar. - Reuters

FA C T B O X

Born: Stevenage, England. January 7, 1985 (29-years-old) Hamilton’s paternal grandfather emigrated to England from the Caribbean island of Grenada and worked for the London Underground transport system. His full name is Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton. The name Davidson was taken from his grandfather, who drove a school bus in Grenada.

His parents divorced when he was two. Father Anthony worked for the railways while mother Carmen worked for the local council. He first sat in a go-kart on a family holiday in Ibiza when he was three. He started karting seriously when he was eight years old.

Hamilton was a winner in every category of karting, taking his first British title by the age of 10, and joined McLaren’s young driver programme in 1998. He was European Formula A kart champion in 2000, with current Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg runner-up.

The Briton won the 2003 Formula Renault UK title with 10 race wins, the 2005 Formula Three Euro series with 15 wins and the 2006 GP2 championship, following on from Rosberg.

Hamilton made a sensational F1 debut with McLaren in 2007, aged 22. In his opening race in Australia he finished third, was second in the next four races and then won the sixth and seventh races in Canada and the United States.

His run of 2007 podiums ended after nine in a row and he ended the season second overall with four wins, one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen.

In 2008, Hamilton won the title, aged 23 years and 301 days. At the time he was the youngest ever world champion and he took the title in thrilling style with an overtaking move on the last corner of the last lap of the last race in Brazil.

In 2009, Hamilton finished fifth overall. He was fourth in 2010, fifth in 2011 and fourth in 2012.

He then moved to Mercedes for the 2013 season on a three-year contract.

Hamilton won 11 races in 2014 to Rosberg’s five, becoming the most successful British driver of all time in terms of race wins.

In 2015, he won the opening race in Australia and has led ever since. Along the way, he passed his boyhood hero Ayrton Senna’s career tally of 41 wins and has now equalled the late Brazilian’s haul of three titles. He is the first British driver to win back-to-back F1 titles.

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SPORTS DELIGHTED

HI inducts Coorg Hockey as 28th associate member

UNDER-13 B DIVISION: GCC team after their victory over MCCC C. – Supplid photos

ISM cruise to 76-run victory over ISWK two in just 10.1 overs. Arhan Ranjan tops scored with 43.

Brief scores: MCCC B 116 for 8 in 20 overs (Jeet Oalal 35 n.o.; M.H. Wajiullah 2/26) lost to MCCC A 120 for 2 in 10.1 overs (Arhan Ranjan – 43).

Points: MCCC A - 2, MCCC B - 0.

Batting first, ISM put on 262 for seven in 40 overs. ISM then bowled out ISWK for 186 in 34.4 overs

MUSCAT: Indian School Muscat (ISM) eased to a 76-run victory over Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) in a Khimji Ramdas-sponsored Under-19 match at the Municipality Ground I here on Saturday.

Winning the toss and batting first, ISM put on 262 for seven in 40 overs with Prathyush Sivakumar top scoring with 111 runs. Issac Jonathan contributed with 55. For ISWK, Brijesh took two wickets.

ISM then bowled out ISWK for 186 in 34.4 overs. Ivan Manjila top scored for ISWK with 93. Tejesh claimed four scalps for ISM. Brief scores: ISM 262 for 7 in 40 overs (Prathyush Sivakumar 111, Issac Johnathan 55; Brijesh 2/32) bt ISWK 186 in 34.4 overs (Ivan Manjila 93, Tejesh B. 4/31). Points: ISM - 2, ISWK - 0.

SLSM breeze past ISD In an Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored Under-16 B Division match, Sri Lanka School Muscat (SLSM) defeated Indian School Darsait (ISD) by 79 runs.

Batting first, SLSM posted a

UNBEATEN 150: Rohan Koshy.

GOOD SHOW: Rayyan Ghani.

mammoth 214 for five in 25 overs.

Hashan played a good knock of 46 while Yoshitha, Yazid and Pathum scored 31, 34 and 32 respectively.

SLSM completed their bonus point victory by restricting ISD to 135 for eight in 24 overs. Mohammed Moin top scored for ISD with a steady 58. Yasid Makoon was the best SLSM bowler on the day with figures of three for 23.

nus point win by restricting ISN for 145 for nine in 20 overs. Shofiullah Fahad top scored for ISN with 25.

Vishu Gopalakrishnan and Rohan Koshy were the best ISWK bowlers on the day taking three and two wickets respectively.

Brief scores: SLSM 214 for 5 in 25 overs (Hashan Saranga 46) bt ISD 135 for 8 in 24 overs (Mohammed Moin 58; Yasid Makoon 3/23). Points: SLSM - 3, ISD - 0.

ISWK down ISN In an Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored Under-16 Division match, ISWK defeated ISN by 77 runs.

Batting first, ISWK posted a mammoth 271 for six in 25 overs.

Rohan Koshy smashed an unbeaten 150. ISWK then completed the bo-

Brief scores: ISWK 271 for 6 in 25 overs (Rohan Koshy 150 n.o.) bt ISN 145 for 9 in 20 overs (Shofiullah Fahad 25; Vishnu Gopalakrishnan 3/15, Rohan Koshy 4/26). Points: ISWK - 3, ISN - 0.

MCCC A beat MCCC B In an Under-13 Division match, MCCC A defeated MCCC B by eight wickets.

Batting first, MCCC B posted 116 for eight in 20 overs. Jeet Oalal top scored with an unbeaten 35. M. H. Wajiullah was the best MCCC A bowler with figures of two for 26.

MCCC A completed their bonus point victory by scoring 120 for

FOOTBALL

Cruyff thanks emotional support since lung cancer diagnosis AMSTERDAM: Johan Cruyff says the outpouring of support since he confirmed he was suffering from lung cancer have been emotional and heart warming but the leaking of the news disappointed him.

“I’m enormously proud of the appreciation that has been evident from all the reaction to the news,” the Netherlands’ most famous footballer wrote in his weekly newspaper column on Monday.

He cited the orchestrated applause for him in the 14th minute of matches across the Dutch league this weekend while at his old club Barcelona players wore special t-shirts ahead of Sunday’s league game against Eibar, bearing the words ‘Anims Johan’ — Catalan for ‘Get well soon Johan’.

Cruyff famously wore the No. 14 jersey throughout his colourful career with Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Feyenoord and the Dutch national team.

Spanish media broke news of the 68-year-old Cruyff ’s condi-

ORCHESTRATED APPLAUSE: Barcelona’s Neymar, right, and Luis Suarez wear T-shirts supporting Dutch football great Johan Cruyff before their La Liga match against Eibar at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on Sunday. – AFP

tion on Thursday, not long after he had consulted doctor in Barcelona, where he lives. He was forced to confirm his diagnosis hours later.

“Now comes the waiting,” he

wrote of the next step in the fight against the disease. “It was really disappointing that it leaked out because the only thing that I know right now is that I have lung cancer. Nothing more.” - Reuters

GCC down MCCC C In an Under-13 B Division match, GCC defeated MCCC C 104 runs.

Batting first, GCC posted 246 for three in 20 overs. Rayyan Ghani played a fantastic knock of 134.

GCC completed their bonus point victory by restricting MCCC C to score 142 for seven in 18 overs.

Kamlesh Reddy top scored for MCCC C with 49. Rayyan chipped in with two wickets for GCC. Brief scores: GCC 246 for 3 in 20 overs (Rayyan Ghani 134) bt MCCC C 142 for 7 in 18 overs (Kamlesh Reddy 49; Rayyan Ghani 2/33). Points: GCC – 3, MCCC C - 0.

SLSM win against BOC In an Under-13 Division match, SLSM defeated BOC 57 runs.

Batting first, SLSM posted 210 for two in 20 overs. Opening partners, Devin and Dian, scored with 58 not out and 76 respectively.

SLSM completed their bonus point victory by restricting BOC to 153 for eight in 20 overs. Rajan K.K. top scored for BOC with 60. Ravindra Sanjaya was the best SLSM bowler with figures of three for 24.

Brief scores: SLSM 210 for 2 in 20 overs (Devin Geemeth 58 n.o., Dian Shanuka 76) bt BOC 153 for 8 in 20 overs (Rajan K.K. 60; Ravindra Sanjaya 3/24). Points: SLSM – 3, BOC - 0.

BANGALORE: Hockey India on Monday introduced Hockey Coorg as an associate member from Karnataka.

Karnataka will now boast of two units, as Hockey Karnataka is a permanent member, according to a release.

P.E. Kalaiah will be the president of Hockey Coorg, which becomes the 28th associate member of HI. Karnataka has traditionally been a major contributor to the sport and Hockey Coorg’s primary functionality will be to manage the large talent pool in its area that has produced some great players like B.P. Govinda, Arjun Halappa, A.B. Subbaiah and M.P. Ganesh.

A few of the current players donning the national cap from Coorg are V.R. Raghunath, S.V. Sunil, S.K. Utthappa, Nikin Thimmiah and Nithin Thimmaiah.

With the formation of Hockey Coorg, the region can now participate in the National Championships as a separate team.

“I am delighted to welcome Hockey Coorg as an associate member of Hockey India,” HI Secretary-General Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmad said.

“With the formation of this new unit, I am confident that we will be moving towards a formidable talent pool who only are going to help us carry forward the legacy and honour of the sport.” - IANS

T H R E E - D AY E V E N T

TAISM to organise SAISA swimming championships MUSCAT: The American International School of Muscat ( TAISM) is gearing up to organise the South Asian International Sports Association (SAISA) Swimming Championships at their school event this weekend.

Druing the three-day event, which will start on Thursday, the school will be hosting 200 talented swimmers from the international schools from South Asain nations.

Each of the seven participating

schools, including hosts TAISM, will be fielding 30 swimmers in the age group of 14 to 19.

Besides the hosts, the other participating schools are American International School of Chennai (India), American International School of Dhaka (Bangladesh), American School of Bombay (India), Karachi American School (Pakistan), Lincoln School Kathmandu (Nepal) and Overseas Schools of Colombo (Sri Lanka).

T W O - D AY S E S S I O N

OOC officials to attend ANOC meeting in US MUSCAT: The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) will take part in the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) scheduled to be organised in Washington D.C.

from October 29 to 30. The Sultanate’s delegation to the meeting will comprise OOC chief Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair and Secretary-General Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry.

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RUGBY WORLD CUP

Barbs fly across ‘the ditch’ before Wallabies-All Blacks final MELBOURNE: Australia’s advance to a first World Cup final matchup against the All Blacks triggered an exchange of verbal barrages from salivating fans and pundits on both sides of the Tasman Sea on Monday.

The Antipodean nations have long shared a passionate rivalry across various sports, with New Zealand generally the underdogs and keen to show up ‘big brother’ across ‘the ditch’.

In rugby, however, the All Blacks have dominated in all but a few of their matches against the Wallabies over the past decade.

Often ranked one and two in the world, the teams’ failure to meet in

the final of the global showpiece has been one of the more curious anomalies of the game.

So the prospect of the ultimate clash for four years of bragging rights whipped the media in both countries into a frenzy.

“Motivation can’t possibly be a problem for the All Blacks this week. A World Cup final should be more than enough in itself,” New Zealand Herald columnist Gregor Paul wrote. “But it’s against Australia — who in rugby terms at least are little brother. It’s against Australia — who at times in the past decade have been a nauseating mix of over confidence and under performance.”

The Antipodean nations have long shared a passionate rivalry across various sports, with New Zealand generally the underdogs and keen to show up ‘big brother’ across ‘the ditch’

Hot favourites Bookmakers have installed the defending champion All Blacks as hot favourites to go back-to-back, and the Wallabies will have grim

memories of their last encounter, a thrashing at New Zealand’s Eden Park fortress.

But Australia’s past World Cup winners were convinced Michael

UEFA’s Infantino, AFC’s Salman enter FIFA race While UEFA executive committee revealed their backing for Infantino ahead of the midnight deadline for candidates to register

Gianni Infantino

Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa

scheduled to take place in Zurich on February 26.

FIFA is embroiled in the worst scandal of its 111-year history, the United States having indicted several FIFA officials for bribery, money laundering and wire fraud in May. Swiss authorities are also investigating the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Earlier this month, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini, who had been favourite to succeed him, were suspended for 90 days pending a full investigation by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.

Platini would not be able to be officially named a candidate while under suspension but FIFA has left the door ajar for him to run should he later win an appeal against his ban.

In the meantime, UEFA has opt-

ed to make sure they have a candidate in the race.

“We are delighted that Gianni has agreed to stand and he knows that he has our full support in his campaign to become FIFA President,” said UEFA in a statement.

“We believe that Gianni Infantino has all of the qualities required to tackle the major challenges ahead and to lead the organisation on a path of reform to restore FIFA’s integrity and credibility.”

A multilingual lawyer, shavenheaded Infantino joined UEFA in 2000 and has been general secretary since 2009.

nominations, AFC chief Sheikh Salman also declared he had put himself forward

ZURICH: UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino entered the race for FIFA president on Monday as Asian soccer chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain declared he had also put himself forward.

The surprise announcement from the executive committee of the European soccer authority that it was backing Infantino came ahead of the midnight CET deadline for candidates to register nominations for the presidency of world soccer’s crisis-torn governing body. The FIFA election is

Scramble for nominations The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement it had offered overwhelming support to Sheikh Salman who had assured it “that his campaign will be entirely self-financed”.

The Bahraini, closely allied to Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, one of the most powerful men in the Olympic movement, canvassed opinion from Asian associations last week.

On Saturday, South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale, a former Apartheid-era political prisoner turned businessman, announced he would stand. A spokesman confirmed Sexwale had the necessary five nominations.

Former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid says he has submitted his papers to FIFA, along with former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne and Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

Liberia’s Musa Bility has said he wants to run. His chances suffered a setback when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) refused to back him, but on Monday the BBC reported that he had the five nominations necessary to stand.

Former Brazil international Zico has been campaigning but has admitted he is struggling to get the backing of five FAs. Another candidate, South Korea’s Chung Mong-Joon, pulled out of the race on Monday.

A scion of South Korea’s Hyundai industrial conglomerate, Chung was banned from the sport for six years by FIFA, after an investigation into the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar. - Reuters

Cheika’s side could tear up the form guide.

“Argentina’s scrum put us through the wringer, but Australia’s defence was outstanding,” Wallabies great Michael Lynagh said in quotes published by The Australian newspaper on Monday.

“Australia is one of the few teams (that can win), Australia can beat New Zealand, this is a huge opportunity.”

John Eales, captain of Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning side, was also backing an upset.

“They’ve peaked at the right time,” the former Wallabies lock told Fox Sports. “This team’s got one song sheet and they’re all singW TA F I NA L S

Muguruza beats Safarova, Kerber downs Kvitova SINGAPORE: Heavy-hitting baseliners Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber brushed aside Czech challengers to make a winning start to their WTA Finals campaign on Monday.

Spaniard Muguruza dispatched Lucie Safarova 6-3, 7-6 (4) before Germany’s Kerber overcame an error-strewn and unwell Petra Kvitova 6-2, 7-6 (3) in a battle of the lefties in another White Group encounter.

The 22-year-old Muguruza served confidently, raining down 10 aces, and controlled the baseline exchanges with aggressive strokes on the slower indoor hardcourt at the Singapore National Stadium.

The world No. 3 from Spain has been in strong form since she lost to Safarova in the quarterfinals of the French Open, “I think I’m making better choices...wait for the perfect ball to really attack,” Muguruza told reporters. “You have to be aggressive, but in a good way, making good choices.”

Wimbledon runner-up Muguruza broke French Open finalist Safarova in the third game of the first set and pressurised her serve throughout a one-sided opening salvo. Safarova broke at the start of the second set but the Spaniard,

ISL

who won the biggest title of her career at the China Open earlier this month, broke back in the sixth game as she regained her rhythm.

The Venezuelan-born Muguruza broke the world number nine to love in the sixth game thanks to her heavy groundstrokes and dominated the tiebreak from the start.

Revenge run It was a revenge win after she and compatriot Carla Suarez Navarro lost to Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in their doubles opener on Sunday.

The day’s second singles lacked the same quality with twice Wimbledon champion Kvitova all at sea, offering up 44 unforced errors.

A lethargic Kvitova, diagnosed with mononucleosis in August, rallied at the start of the second set to go 3-0 up, only to lose the momentum as world number seven Kerber raced 5-4 ahead with a booming forehand down the line.

The German showed nerves as she faltered and lost her serve when trying to close out the match but Kvitova wasted set points at 6-5 as Kerber forced a tiebreak. A wild service return then handed Kerber a winning start to the eightplayer championships. - Reuters FOOTBALL

Kerala Blasters under pressure against Pune PUNE: Kerala Blasters FC will be under huge pressure to arrest their slide as they take on FC Pune City in a Hero Indian Super League (ISL) clash here on Tuesday.

Kerala have lost three successive matches and picked up just a point from their last four matches. They started well with a win against NorthEast United FC but since then have spiralled downwards. Coach Peter Taylor believes his team has the wherewithal to spring back into contention for a place in the semifinals.

“It’s disappointing but things like that happen. You have to stay strong because nobody is going to give you the next result,” Taylor said in a release.

“I am very disappointed with our recent run. It’s not good enough to lose three matches on the trot. We have to look now to win the next game and that’s what we have to do,” Taylor said.

Kerala appeared to have enjoyed an upper hand against Zico’s FC Goa at the Nehru Stadium in Goa and even took the lead. But defen-

ing from it. They’ve been singing from it all year.”

Australia are one of only a few sides to deny the All Blacks complete dominance of world rugby in recent years and though most New Zealand scribes tipped a win for the champions, there were signs of a grudging respect.

“The final will be a better contest for Australia’s presence,” Chris Rattue wrote in the New Zealand Herald.

“They specialise in guile, whereas Argentina are still too gullible to match it with the All Blacks.

“But the All Blacks are ready to pounce on the mouse which is roaring.” - Reuters

sive mistakes meant Goa punished them with goals from set-pieces.

Despite the goals, Kerala Blasters created enough chances to take away something from the game but the absence of a genuine goal-scorer hurt last year’s ISL finalists.

They will surely not have an easy run against Pune, who are eager to comeback strong after a 1-2 away defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin FC. “Kerala are a good side and we now have to think about that game, and how we are going to take three points from there,” said Pune coach David Platt.

Platt feels there is no home advantage in the ISL and the advantage is the number of days rest a team gets between matches.

Pune’s rivals, Kerala, would have enjoyed a day’s extra rest, but Platt did not have any complaints.

“Fixture list is the fixture list.

Sometimes you have five days, six days, seven days and sometimes just three days. It’s the same for every club,” said Platt. - IANS

Arsenal fined £60,000 over Chambers deal LONDON: Arsenal have been fined £60,000 ($92,052) and warned about their future conduct for breaching agent regulations when signing Calum Chambers from Southampton in July 2014.

The FA said in a statement on Monday that authorised agent Alan Middleton and unlicensed agent Philip Ercolano were both involved in the deal.

The transfer fee was undisclosed by the clubs but media reports at the time put it at £15 million for defender Chambers who now has three England caps.

“Alan Middleton has also been warned as to his future conduct and sanctioned for breaching the FA’s football agent regulations in relation to the same matter,” the FA added.

Middleton has been fined £30,000 and given a suspended ban of three months. Arsenal travel to Sheffield Wednesday for a Capital One Cup fourthround tie on Tuesday. - Reuters

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SECTION

LIFESTYLE

Dining WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

S T O R Y PA L L AV I N I G A M | P H O T O S B Y A L I J A N I

When it comes to corn we always stick to the usual corn on the cob or have a few scoops of steaming corn kernels seasoned with butter, salt, and a dash of lemon.

Be it tinned or fresh from the market, there are plenty of creative ways to turn them into mouthwatering dishes. Let’s find some new ways to cook sweet corn.

T U ES DAY, O CTO B ER 27, 2 0 1 5

TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

LIFESTYLE BRIEFS

SWEET CORN FRITTERS WITH REFRESHING DIP This crispy sweet corn fritters is easy to make and can be served as a snack. It’s quite popular with children.

Ingredients • 3/4 cup all purpose flour • 1/2 tsp baking powder • Salt and pepper • 1 egg beaten • 1/4 cup whole milk • 1 tsp vegetable oil • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced • 1 red Thai chilli, chopped • 2 tbsp, chopped cilantro • 250g of sweet corn For the dip • Few mint leaves • Few coriander leaves

• Few parsley leaves • 2 garlic cloves • 1 green chilli • Juice of 1/2 lime • Salt and pepper

Screening of Bradley Cooper’s ‘Burnt’ for Chefs

Preparation • Sift flour and baking powder together in a bowl.

• Make a well in between and add salt and pepper, whisked egg and milk.

• Mix together till everything comes together.

• Add oil, spring onion, chilli, cilantro, and sweet corn.

• Make small round cakes of it. Heat oil in a pan, shallow fry, till golden brown.

• For the dip: put everything together in a blender and blend till smooth.

The makers of Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper’s forthcoming comedy-drama film Burnt have planned a special screening of the film for the chefs and food bloggers of Mumbai.

In the John Wells directorial, Cooper plays the role of Adam Jones, who is a chef and has destroyed his career with drugs and diva behaviour. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.

The makers feel such type of subjects don’t come very often and hence thought of holding a special screening for all the chefs in Mumbai, as it will be a perfect treat for all the gastronomical magicians.

“Burnt is a film about a passionate chef, who loves his craft. Holding a special screening for chefs will be like a celebration of talent and craft, of which each of them is equally passionate about,” the spokesperson of the film said in a statement.

“Every chef will be able to relate to the film,” the spokesperson added.

The special screening will happen sometime before the release of the film on October 30 in India.

Apart from Cooper, the film also stars Sienna Miller, Omar Sy, Uma Thurman, and Jamie Dornan.

I Spoke With PM On Food and Spices: Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

SWEET CORN AVOCADO SALSA Lime juice combined with avocado and corn makes this salsa go well with plain tortilla chips or spicy chicken tacos. Make just before serving for the best result.

Ingredients • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and chopped • 2 cups sweet corn, boiled • 1 onion finely sliced • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped • 1 tomato, deseeded and chopped • 1 tbsp chopped coriander • 1 tsp ground cumin • Salt and pepper • Lime juice • Olive oil Preparation • To make the best salsa, just mix everything together in a bowl, and adjust the seasoning.

Pallavi Nigam

Pallavi Nigam completed her culinary education at ICIF in Italy and worked as a chef for Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. She is now based in Muscat where she writes recipes and takes cooking classes.

Contact her: pallavi_nigam@hotmail.com twitter @pallavizza pallavizza.com

SWEET CORN SOUP You won’t order for this soup from a Chinese restaurant anymore if you follow this recipe. It is easy to make and delicious too.

Ingredients • 2tbsp butter • 1tbsp onion chopped • 1 garlic clove, chopped • 3/4 cups corn kernels • 1 1/2 cup creamed sweet corn • 1 cup milk • 3 cups of water • Salt and pepper

Preparation • Heat butter in a pan, add onion, garlic sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add fresh corn and water, sauté till corn is soft.

• Add creamed sweet corn, milk, water, salt and pepper.

Simmer for 10 minutes.

• Serve hot.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALI JANI

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Cliched as it may seem for chefs to love their spices, for Sanjeev Kapoor, one of the most celebrated ones on television, that was the topic of an “interesting” discussion when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and whipped a meal up for him in Abu Dhabi.

During Modi’s trip to Abu Dhabi in August, Kapoor was flown in specially to prepare a vegetarian meal for the strictly vegetarian prime minister. “I spent over an hour with the prime minister and we were only talking about food and spices and the treatment through spices. It was interesting to discuss with the PM the correct use of spices and the miracles they can do when used correctly,” Kapoor said.

Chef Kapoor also eagerly shared an anecdote Modi had related to him. “The PM told me the story of someone he knows, who had a heart issue and doctors said nothing could be done to correct it. Then he was advised to empty a capsule and fill it with freshly ground red chilli. He (Modi) said the man never had a problem after that,” said the chef, recalling his hour-long conversation.-IANS

KITCHEN CALAMITIES

Fried Chicken

Who doesn’t do love to eat fried chicken? After all there’s someth something very special in those hot, crispy deep fried pieces.

But before bef you start frying them, keep these pointers in mind

1 When it comes to fried chicken we all love to eat the drumsticks. But slices of chicken breasts if properly breaded and fried can be equally flavourful.

2 Don’t start breading the chicken straight from the fridge. When you do that the temperature of the oil drops and the chicken doesn’t get cook properly. Keep it at room temperature for 30 minutes before frying.

5 Use tongs to flip the chicken a few times.

Sometimes if the oil is too hot only the outer layer gets cooked while the inside remains raw. Also do not overcrowd the pan as the breading will become greasy and the pieces wouldn’t turn crispy.

6 Don’t put the fried chicken on a paper towel.

It gets soggy after a while. Instead drain the chicken on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.

Serve hot.

3 If you do not have a deep fryer don’t worry.

Use a heavy-bottomed iron skillet as it retains heat better.

4 Never use olive oil for frying as deep frying with olive oil leaves a bitter taste. Go for any vegetable or canola oil.

Struggling with a kitchen calamity of your own? Want advice? Share your horror stories and your cooking tips with swati@timesofoman.com

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LIFESTYLE

MOOD FOR MOMOS W

hat better way to start your meal than with a basket full of hot steamed momos along with a soup of your choice? These dumplings have grown in popularity over the years and the mushrooming of restaurants having them in their menu proves the growing love for these small white pouches.

Steamed or fried, momos come in many forms and are mostly served with a fiery red sauce. While on a personal note there are several momo memories, the ones that I had in the standalone roadside kiosks back in my home town in India, mostly owned by immigrant Nepalese, which remain special even today. It used to be an alltime favourite snack on busy days when there was hardly any time to have a proper sit-down meal.

That’s when I learnt in details about momos and what made them the most favoured cuisine in Nepal. Tending the huge steamer in front of us, the Nepalese young man at the counter, in all pride, would talk endlessly about momos and share some of his secrets too.

It was from him that I got to know some interesting facts on momos which was unheard of till then. He disclosed that momos were not just filled with vegetables and meat but could also be made as a dessert by filling them with chocolate. And not just that, there were something called momo sizzlers too. While I never got a chance to taste either of them, I knew my love for momos was here to stay.

Years later in Muscat, the search for momos continued and I did find them, not in any roadside shops, but in few select restaurants in town, mostly the specialty Chinese restaurants where they served wontons or dumplings similar to momos. The original steamed momos have been modified over the years, and now can be found in various options including fried ones with Schezwan and chilli flavours.

So let’s make a meal out of momos.

They are steaming ahead. swati@timesofoman.com

STO RY S WAT I DA S G U P TA

NEPALESE MOMO Servings 4-6 Ingredients Dough for wrappers • 4 cups all-purpose flour • 1tbsp oil • Water, as required • 1 pinch salt Filling • 1kg lean ground meat (lamb or chicken) • 1 cup red onion, finely chopped • 1/2 cup green onion, finely chopped • 1 cup ripe tomatoes, finely chopped • 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced • 1/4 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1 tbsp curry powder, or momo masala if available •3 fresh red chillies, minced (or to taste) • 3 tbsp cooking oil • Salt and pepper Preparation • In a large bowl combine flour, oil, salt and water.

• Mix well, knead until the dough becomes homogeneous in texture, about 8-10 minute.

• Cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes.

• Knead well again before making wrappers.

• For the filling in a large bowl combine all filling ingredients.

• Mix well; adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.

• Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow all ingredients to impart their unique flavours.

• This also improves the consistency of the filling.

• Give the dough a final knead.

• Prepare 1-inch dough balls.

• Take a ball, roll between your palms to spherical shape.

• Dust working board with dry flour.

• On the board gently flatten the ball with your palm to about 2-inch circle.

• Make a few semi-flattened circles, cover with a bowl.

• Use a rolling pin to roll out each flattened circle into a wrapper.

• It is essential that the middle portion of the wrapper be slightly thicker than the edges to ensure the structural integrity of dumplings during packing and steaming.

• Hold the edges of the semi-flattened dough with one hand and with the other hand begin rolling the edges of the dough out, swirling a bit at a time.

• Continue until the wrapper attains 3-inch diameter circular shape.

• Repeat with the remaining semiflattened dough circles.

• Cover with bowl to prevent from drying.

• For packing hold wrapper on one palm, put one tablespoon of filling mixture and with the other hand bring all edges together to the centre, making the pleats.

• Pinch and twist the pleats to ensure the absolute closure of the stuffed dumpling.

• This holds the key to good tasting, juicy dumplings.

• Heat up a steamer, oil the steamer rack well. This is critical because it will prevent dumplings from sticking.

• Arrange uncooked dumplings in the steamer.

• Close the lid, and allow steaming until the dumplings are cooked through, about 10 minutes.

• Take dumplings off the steamer and serve immediately.

• Alternatively, you can place uncooked dumplings directly in slightly salted boiling water and cook until done, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to over boil the dumplings.

• You may also slightly sauté cooked dumplings in butter before serving.

• To serve, arrange the cooked dumplings on a serving plate with hot tomato chutney or any other dip. -Food.com

MUSCAT MOMO BITES Royal China, Qurum; +968 2457 1339 China Town, MBD; +968 2482 6521/22/23. Qurum +968 2456 7974 Hot Pot, Darsait; +968 2470 0691 Zaika Delhi Ka, MBD; +968 2481 7746/9377 7823/9377 7824 The Asian, Ghubra; +968 2450 2640 Golden Oryx, Rex Road; +968 2470 2266 Mamasan, Ghubra; +968 2421 0452 Noodle House, Muscat City Centre; +968 2455 8377, +968 2455 8488 Shuwa Diners, Jawaharat Shatti (For Chicken Shuwa Momos); +968 2469 9976

FOOD NOTE

BRIEFS

With Eggs, the Choices are Many Cage-free? Organic? Local? When purchasing eggs, many people read the carton to help understand how the hens were housed when producing those eggs. But is the label on the egg carton a good indicator of the hens’ well-being?

The variety of options can make determining the eggs best for you and your family difficult.

To help support consumer choice and provide information to sort through the confusion, the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply in the US recently completed a three-year research study. Researchers assessed hens’ well-being, egg safety and quality, affordability, worker health and safety, and environmental impact as elements of sustainability in cagefree, conventional and enriched colony hen housing.

What the researchers found might be surprising, with positive and negative aspects associated with each housing system. For instance, while conventional cage housing limits the ability of hens to exhibit natural behaviours, it also has the lowest mortality rate. Conversely, cage-free housing allows hens to nest, perch and even attempt flying, though hen

mortality was more than double that of the other housing options researched. By understanding which findings are most important to them, shoppers can be confident in choosing eggs that are right for them.

“Hen well-being is an important aspect of producing eggs, but it should be considered along with many other elements of egg production,” said Darrin Karcher, Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University and CSES Project Director. “This research allows us to better understand how each housing system affects not only the well-being of the hens, but a variety of other factors. This is a valuable tool consumers, restaurants and retailers can use to make more informed decisions about which eggs are best for them.”

When choosing what’s best for you and your family, whether you prioritise egg cost, hens being able to exhibit natural behaviours, environmental impact or another element of sustainability, making an informed choice begins with understanding which eggs best meet your needs. -Family Features

McDonald’s Denies Boycotting Thai Fish Fastfood giant McDonald’s Thai franchise denied that the company is boycotting fish from Thailand over the use of slave labour, a media report said on Monday. An image showing a McDonald’s sign with the symbolic yellow arch and words, “We don’t use fish caught in Thailand by slave labour in our fish sandwiches”, has gone viral on social media, The Bangkok Post reported. McThai Co., the local operator of the fastfood chain, said in a statement that the image is false and it was created through a parody website which allowed people to use official logos and create images with messages of their own.

Three Quick Dishes to Prepare this Diwali No time to prepare elaborate dishes due to busy schedules this Diwali? Offer easy and quick to make paneer tikka or aloo vada to your stream of guests, says an expert. *Paneer tikka: The wholesomeness of paneer satiates the palate and is healthy as well. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare the tasty delight. * Matar chola: The spicy dish gives one a much-needed break from the regular sweet dishes that are a must-have in any festival. Quick to make, it takes just 10 minutes to cook and at the same time is the perfect accompaniment to your laddoos and jalebis. * Aloo vada: Stuffed with potato, the fried food item is a perfect snack to munch on. It takes not more than 30 minutes to prepare it. -IANS

TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

C10

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

PRAYER TIMINGS

@MGM

@SOHAR

@RUWI

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

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

Shandaar 2D (Romance| Comedy) PG 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 Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 2:45, 5:00, 9:30, 11:45 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, Neeraj Kabi and Sohum Shah 6.45 pm

Shandaar : 2D (Romance| Comedy) PG Cast : Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant Timing : 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 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

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

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

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

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

32 28 Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

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

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

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

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 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 lifestyle@timesofoman.com

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

STEVE JOSEPH SEBASTIAN October 27, 2008

65-80%

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Programmes are subject to change

K.KEERTHI SIVANI October 27

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

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)

0

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 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

STAR CINEMA

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36) Quriyat Sur Jaalan

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)

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)

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

SUR The Last Witch Hunter (Action) (PG12) Cast: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood 7:00, 9:00 PM Soldier of the Damned (Action) (15+) Cast: Gil Darnell, Miriam Cooke, Lucas Hansen 3:30, 5:15, 11:30 PM War Pigs (Action | War) (12+) Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Luke Goss 4:00 PM Shandaar (Hindi) (Romance | Comedy) (PG) Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kumud Pant 6:00, 8:45 PM Ennu Ninte Moideen (Mal) (Romance | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon, Saikumar 11:00 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

BAHJA CINEMA

Ennu Ninte Moideen – 2D (Romantic | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathi Menon 6:45, 8:30PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

Destination

11.56pm 3.12pm 5.37pm 6.48pm 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)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital 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

T UESDAY, O CTO BER 27, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE FOOD TRAIL

OW KN UR O Y ICE SP

Food Lovers Flock to the Asian Hawkers Market in Delhi

NUTMEG If you want to add a little more warmth to your usual dish, a pinch of nutmeg can do wonders. This fragrant spice has a strong flavour so be very cautious while seasoning. swati@timesofoman.com

What’s It? Nutmeg is oval shaped and is lightly wrinkled with dark brown colour on the outside, and lighter brown on the inside. It is very similar to mace and has a warm, spicy sweet flavour.

History Nutmeg was known to be one of the most valuable spices.

The nutmeg tree is native to Indonesia but is also grown in the Caribbean, especially in Grenada. It produces two spices — mace and nutmeg.

Earlier the Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe. Grenada is also known as the Nutmeg Island, and their flag has a graphic image of nutmeg in one corner.

Cooking With It

Select and Store Be it ground or whole, nutmeg should be stored away from sunlight in airtight containers. Keeping them away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight helps in retaining their freshness. Do not store them in the freezer as the aroma gets spoilt.

Nutmeg should be used in moderation, a pinch or two is safe. It can be used in various sweet dishes like pies, puddings, custards, cookies, and soufflés. It is an important spice that is used while making Ras Al Hanout. It goes well while making broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, pasta, potatoes, pumpkin, sausages, and spinach.

With the festive season on full throttle, food lovers found a reason to gorge on delicious food, and go bonkers over cuisine from the Far East to Southeast Asia at The Asian Hawkers Market in Delhi.

Besides food, there was live music, concerts by Indian bands and DJs. To add more fervour to the festival games like a special martial arts game, hoolas, chopsticks, arm wrestling and even dance-offs were organised.

With 26 restaurants like Mamagoto, Neung Roi, Sampan, Guppy by ai, Chi Ni and Yum Yum Cha participating, foodies had a gala time without much pressure on the pocket as the price ranged just from Rs100 to Rs500. With the portions comparatively small, visitors could sample different cuisines without feeling uncomfortably full.

The Market was an initiative of four food impresarios - Siddharth Mathur, Director and Head of ‘Social’ and food consultant for ‘My Square’, Select Citywalk’s food court; Atul Sikand, creator and curator of Facebook’s Indian recipe-sharing group, Sikandalous Cuisine; Tanveer Kwatra, Executive Chef, Le Meridien Gurgaon; and acclaimed restaurant critic and food blogger Sourish Bhattacharyya.

“We wanted to do a very focused food festival and luckily all four of us had the same thought in mind. Suddenly it just so happened that we met each other, and we decided that why not work together... So we all wanted to bring entertainment, good food together in one place,” Bhattacharyya told IANS. With five-star and stand-alone restaurants coming together at one location to present the cuisine of China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore

and Indonesia, Bhattacharya said that knowing “Delhi has huge appetite for food festivals, on a working day we were not expecting many people till the evening but on weekend we were expecting around 10,000 to 15,000 visitors.”

The stalls were flanked by wooden carts on the sides, with restaurants and chains like ‘Social’, ‘Yum Yum Cha’, The Pho Kart (Vietnamese cuisine) and ‘Chi’ Asian Cookhouse.

One tried Yum Yum Cha’s Thai Orange drink to start with, followed by octopus in cheese balls and although very sceptical at first, it was no doubt worth a first time try on a friend’s recommendation. Wasabi Prawns from the ‘Chi Ni’ house was another dish that made the visit to the Market successful.

The other participating restaurants include the Royal China, Pan Asian (Sheraton New Delhi), Jade (The Claridges), Dimsumbros, Asia 7, The Fatty Bao, Wow Momo and Artful Baker.

“We at Wai Wai are delighted to be part of the first Asian Hawkers Market. A concept that is completely in sync with our brand of exploring the varied flavours of Asian cuisine. Through this forum we are treating food lovers with an innovative avatar,” Varun Chaudhary, Executive Director, CG Corp Global, the makers of Wai Wai said. -IANS

TUE S DAY, OCTOBER 27, 2 015

LIFESTYLE 1 Replace the usual chicken pattice in your burger with a salmon one. Mix chopped salmon, chopped onion, an egg, and herbs of choice. Make into pattice and grill or fry. Tuck it in your burger buns.

ING ONE RED IEN T

FIV EW AYS

2 Combine cooked salmon with mayonnaise, cream cheese or yoghurt and make a spread.

Have with crackers or bread slices.

3 Add grilled salmon to your regular salad or roast salmon chunks marinated in lemon and add them. It accentuates the flavours.

4 Grill smoked salmon, add your cheese of choice, roasted peppers or tomatoes, and top with another slice of bread.

5 Coat a salmon fillet with herbs of your choice and olive oil. Place them in a flat pan and cook for approximately 6-10 minutes.

Sprinkle lemon juice and serve over brown rice or sautéed vegetables.

A delicious and versatile choice of fish

C1 2

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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

D4

CARGO

D8

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

D2

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

D3

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

D4

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

Your

job search ends here...

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

D5

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

D6

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