Times of Oman - January 28, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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WEDNESDAY, January 28, 2015 / 7 Rabia II 1436 AH

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Team set to study ﬂood impact on Al Nahda Hospital

UAE carriers halt Baghdad ﬂights; Muscat unaffected REJIMON K

Employers told to call a halt to a ‘fee for NOC’ OCCI vice-chairman says that though it’s not a common practice in the private sector to charge employees for NOC, companies must abide by the rules that are in place

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Employers in Oman have been told not to charge their employees for the issuance of a no objection certiﬁcate (NOC), which allows the individual to join a new company. The Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) had earlier clariﬁed that according to Article 11 in the Passport and Residence Act, expatriate workers in Oman who leave their jobs, will not be able to return to the country on work visa for two years unless they secure an NOC from their previous sponsors. However, according to the law, an NOC is not required if the expatriate wants to rejoin his or her previous employer. There have been reports that some employers ask their employees to pay a certain amount of money in return for an NOC. A senior official at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said that charging employees for an NOC does not

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seem to be a common practice in the private sector but advised the companies to follow the rules and regulations that are in place. There may have been some individual cases but it cannot be generalised, Redha Juma

Mohammed Ali Al Saleh, vicechairman for administration and finance affairs at the OCCI, told Times of Oman. “It is not a right practice, and I do not think the private sector is doing this,” he said, adding that the OCCI has not received any complaint from workers on this issue so far. The companies are expected to obey the rules as these regulations have been introduced to benefit the companies themselves, said the official. The authorities had earlier stated that the NOC regulations are being enforced to protect the rights of employers and organise the labour market. Blackmail In addition, Ahmed Al Hooti, an OCCI member, said that they are always against blackmail as it is against the human rights. “However, the worker should abide by the contract signed between him and the employer,” said Al Hooti. He added that the worker can file a case against the employer in case the company or the employer violates the terms of the contract. According to Al Hooti, the government decided to activate the two-year ban to combat hidden trade. “Most of the unskilled expatriates join companies to get an experience for two years and then they come to Oman again and establish their hidden companies and compete with citizens.” >A7

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

MARKET

Real estate index to regulate deals

Call to reconsider tax on NRI service charge

Sohar-based firms seek gas price hike

In an attempt to strengthen regulations for the property sector, the official real estate index is expected to start functioning in the ﬁrst quarter of this year, according to Mohammed Al Busaidi, chairman of the Oman Real Estate Association and Majlis Al Shura member. >A2

Money exchange houses in Oman also feel that the Indian government should reconsider the decision to impose tax on service charge paid by expatriates to remit money home after 57 money exchanges in the UAE came together to petition the Indian government to scrap the move. >A3

Sohar-based industries, which are using natural gas, have asked the government to consider the recent doubling of natural gas price in a phased manner over a ﬁve-year period. The government has doubled natural gas price to 41 baisas per standard cubic metre. >B1

Staff Reporter

reji@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: A specialised team has been constituted to study the implications of rainwater entering Al Nahda Hospital premises and the consequent damage to the infrastructure in the future. The team was formed by a ministerial decision of Minister of Health Dr Ahmed Al Sa’eedi. The team will offer solutions to avoid such an occurrence in the future. The decision came after Al Sa’eedi paid a visit to the hospital on Monday along with other senior officials. The proposals will be forwarded to the minister within a timeframe not exceeding two weeks. Al Sa’eedi lauded the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA), the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the hos-

MUSCAT: Flight operations at Muscat International Airport were unaffected even though the UAE carriers suspended operations after a flydubai passenger jet was hit by bullets while landing at Baghdad airport, an official from the Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC) said. “First of all, there are no direct flights from Muscat to Baghdad. Moreover, suspension of UAE-based Emirates flights has not resulted in any rescheduling or disruption of Muscat International Airport’s flight operations,” Abdullah Al Busaidi, head of media at OAMC, told Times of Oman. flydubai, Emirates Airlines, Sharjah’s Air Arabia and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways suspended flights following the incident, in line with a directive from the United Arab Emirates’ civil aviation authority. “We have suspended our services to Baghdad until further notice due to operational reasons,” Emirates tweeted to Times of Oman. Etihad and Air Arabia had an official notice posted on their websites stating the suspension of flights to Baghdad. According to a flydubai spokesperson, after landing at Baghdad International Airport (BGW) on January 26, 2015, damage was discovered to the fuselage of flight FZ 215 which was consistent with small arms fire.

pital staff for their efforts during the precautionary evacuation and for protecting the medical equipment from damage after the heavy rainfall that lashed the capital city last week. The Ministry of Health also said that work is under way for the opening of the hypnosis and operating rooms at the hospital. >A7

Eco- house on GUtech’s campus

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OMAN

The real estate index should be one official index so that the public does not get confused and provide a chance to brokers to manipulate land prices Mohammed Al Busaidi, Chairman of Oman Real Estate Association

Real estate index to regulate deals

CRUISE TOURS

The real estate sector is growing steadily but is affected by

LUXURY TOURISM: After ﬁve days of being in the waters, the ship was anchored at the Muscat port on Tuesday morning. –Photos and video by Jun Estrada/TIMES OF OMAN

issues such as

Queen Mary provides 2,500 passengers a tour of Oman

non-regulation of brokerage rates

FAHAD AL GHADANI fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: In an attempt to strengthen regulations for the property sector in the Sultanate, the official real estate index is expected to start functioning in the first quarter of this year, according to Mohammed Al Busaidi, chairman of the Oman Real Estate Association and Majlis Al Shura member. “The index has been launched by the Ministry of Housing, the Oman Real Estate Association and the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI),” said Al Busaidi. The three organisations are working hard to ensure the announcement of the index in the first quarter of the current year, he added. To ensure standardisation in the figures, the Ministry of Housing changed its mind about establishing a separate index apart from the one already functioning under the Oman Real Estate Association. “It should be one official index so that the public does not get confused and provide a chance to brokers to manipulate land prices,” said Al Busaidi. A data base would be set up on the basis of the previous real estate transactions. Playing an active role with respect to supervision and legislation in the real

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BUILDING RULES: The real estate sector in Oman, however, is growing steadily but is affected by issues such as non-regulation of brokerage.–File photo

estate market, the ministry is also establishing a directorate-general to regulate the real estate market and its properties. The real estate sector in Oman, however, is growing steadily but is affected by issues such as nonregulation of brokerage, due to the absence of appropriate legislation to regulate the sector, as well as non-implementation of the present associated laws. Real estate brokerage, as set forth in the Royal Decree No. 91/2010, involves a number of terms and conditions, such as the presence of a registered commercial activity and a registered office practicing brokerage. Also, the person practicing such a profession must be wholly devoted to the same and must have been

trained in the work. The Ministry of Housing stated earlier that the index data also involves the licenced brokerage companies providing information about deals they have transacted. There are 5,000 brokerage companies registered in the Sultanate according to the OCCI records. The accumulated experience of the staff in the Ministry of Housing made the difference in the accuracy of the index as some buyers and sellers tend to reduce the selling price to reduce tax. “The index ﬁgures will be announced in the media and on the bulletin boards of the Oman Real Estate Association headquarters,” said Al Busaidi. The index will be updated every six months, he added.

MUSCAT: One of the world’s largest cruise liners, Queen Mary 2 docked at Sultan Qaboos Port on Tuesday. The Cunard Line flagship, which is on a on a 113-night world cruise, arrived in Muscat at 7.30am and departed at around 6pm. She had left Southampton on January 10, 2015. M C Jose, CEO, projects and logistics, Khimji Ramdas, said there were around 2,500 passengers, mostly from United Kingdom and 1,200 officers and crew on board the ship. “After five days of being in the waters, the ship was anchored at the Muscat port on Tuesday morning. Soon after berthing in Muscat, all the tourists went out for a city tour and believe me they enjoyed Muscat,” he told Times of Oman on Tuesday. A large number of tourists visited Muttrah Souq while some of them took the Big Bus tour to see the major landmarks of Muscat. Queen Mary 2 is Cunard’s flagship will sail to Dubai from Muscat. “It was great to see such a big

ship anchoring at the Sultan Qaboos Port on Tuesday. By bringing Queen Mary 2, we are putting Muscat into the world cruise map,” he said. The length of the ship is 345 metres and the maximum radius of the turning basin is 300 metres. It

took nearly 30 minutes to anchor the ship into port which occupied two berths compared to a normal ship which occupies just one. In her ﬁrst 10 years of operation, the ocean liner has undertaken more than 420 voyages, including 200 transatlantic crossings.

WEDNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

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SAYYID FAHD HOLDS TALKS WITH JORDAN MINISTER His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, on Tuesday met Dr. Bassam al-Talhouni, Minister of Justice at the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. and discussed issues of common interest. — Photo by Mohamed Al Rashdi

India urged to scrap tax plan Money exchange centers in Oman have urged Indian government not to tax remittances

STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT: Money exchange houses in Oman want the Indian government to reconsider the decision to impose tax on service charge paid by expatriates to remit money home after 57 money exchanges in the UAE came together to petition the Indian government to scrap the move. “We do not have a group like they have in Dubai. But we totally agree with the stand of the UAE money exchanges asking the Indian government to reconsider the

decision,” said the country head of a money exchange house in Oman. “So far, the money exchange houses have not started to pay tax on fee/commission. We will be able to speak about the payment structure only after we start to pay. We do not want to pass it on to customers. But we do not know whether we will be able to cushion it or not,” said money exchange officials. DCCI recommendation In Dubai, the recommendation was made by a group licenced by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) which works under the aegis of the Central Bank of the UAE. “We have written to the concerned authorities in India that any tax on remittance service is not a welcome step, because it will push up the cost of remittance and tempt expatriate customers to opt for parallel money remittance services,” said Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, vice-chairman of the Dubai-based group. “While the World Bank is keen

to reduce the remittance cost, we are charging only 3 to 4 per cent of the remitted amount. High remittance cost will push customers to use illegal and parallel channels of remittance like hawala,” explained Shetty. The decision to impose service charge on the expatriate remittance fee was revoked in 2012 due to strong opposition from money exchanges and NRI associations here and back home. Even though the Indian government’s instruction was to start imposing service tax from September 15, 2014, exchange companies have not yet started charging the additional service tax from their customers. Recently, India’s Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) announced the imposition of a 12.36 per cent service tax on ‘fees or commissions’ charged by banks and ﬁnancial institutions to remit money from abroad. Foreign exchange dealers and banks are also opposing the plan, as they fear the new tax would affect the remittance business.

OMAN

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Local companies have shown a sense of creativity in their date products

ELHAM POURMOAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

Photos by Talib Al Wahaibi/TIMES OF OMAN

MUSCAT: Oman straddles modernity and traditions gracefully and this is reflected in every aspect of life, including the date industry, which is on show at the Muscat Festival. If you visit the date souq in Al Amerat Park, you will be amused to see how modernity has been infused into this traditional symbol of Omani hospitality in so many intriguing ways. Breaking the stereotype about date packaging, around 50 local companies have demonstrated a sense of creativity in their date products at an exhibition set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to promote Omani products. ‘Medyaf’ is one of these companies whose innovative date products and packages capture the eye of any visitor. If you are looking for a unique date product from Oman, you do not need to look any further than the entrance of Medyaf’s stall, where a small palm tree with dates hanging from it can be seen coming out of a round basket filled with date balls of different shapes and flavours. This packaging, which gives a modern look to a popular traditional fruit, is not the only appealing item on display and a wide variety of date products packed in silver containers and elegantly designed baskets sit shining in the stall. Khaled Khalaf Al Khuzeri, a representative of Medyaf, says that the company started its activities with producing a limited number of products but expanded the scope of its work and is now offering a diverse range of chocolate, coffee and candy products. Speaking to Times of Oman, he said that the quality of the company’s products has gained the trust of many clients, including the ministries. The company is located in Bausher and Al Khuzeri says that it plans an expansion and is considering opening new branches in other parts of the country. The success of Medyaf is just a small example of how local companies can perform and grow if they are given the chance and the support to prove themselves. The initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to promote local companies in this year’s Muscat Festival brought together some of the best local honey producers in the first week of the festival who gave their place to date producing companies in the second week. Fuad Bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, said on the first day of the exhibition that the souq would help link the consumers with producers and showcase the potential of the country. Ahmed Al Mughairi, who was getting a taste of date products in the souq, said that Omani date is very famous and given the importance of this product to the Omani tradition, the government should help local companies market their products both locally and internationally. “Date is part of our culture so it needs special attention,” he said.

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015 The light stone on the outside keeps the heat out and the heavy stone on the inside keeps the cold in Prof. Nikolaus Knebel, GUtech faculty member

OMAN BRIEFS

Bank Muscat ties up with ROP to curb fiscal crimes MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, in association with the Economic Crime Unit of the Criminal Enquires and Investigation Directorate of the Royal Oman Police (ROP), on Tuesday hosted a workshop on fraud awareness and prevention. The forum focused on spreading awareness on trends in financial crimes, such as electronic crime and money laundering and the widespread usage of forged credit cards globally. Experts highlighted measures to enhance cooperation between the government and the private sector in matters relating to prevention of financial crimes, identification of the best global practices in work environment and benefiting from the expertise of relevant bodies.

368 illegal expats deported MUSCAT: A total 309 workers were found violating the Labour Law during the period from January 18 to 24, the weekly report of the joint inspection team at the Ministry of Manpower has informed. These included 238 commercial workers, 30 farm workers and 41 housemaids and their equivalent. The inspection teams caught 295 workers, including 166 absconding workers, 127 astray workers. Meanwhile, 368 expatriate workers were deported for violating provisions of the Labour Law and ministerial decisions executing the law.

Illegal Asian held with drugs MUSCAT: A person of Asian nationality was arrested by Drug Combating Administration of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in North Batinah, on the charges of entering the country illegally and peddling in drugs. An ROP official said the accused was arrested in Faw area of the wilayat of Suwaiq and 981 capsules of morphine and heroin were recovered by the ROP from his possession. In another case, two nationals were arrested in the wilayat of Taqah of Dhofar governorate for trafficking in Qat. A total 556 bundles of Qat were seized by the ROP. Meanwhile, in Musandam, the police recovered 62,600 tablets of narcotics. An unidentiﬁed person had hidden the narcotics to sell it inside the country. -ONA

NATURE TECHNOLOGY: Graduates show students the green features of the eco-house site and right, the design centred on having a round house with some traditional Omani designs and energy-saving features.–Photos and video by Sarah MacDonald and Nikolaus Knebel

Eco-house, a model for sustainable building The eco-house, built on the GUtech campus in Halban, is the result of a competition sponsored by The Research Council FUTURE POSITIVE: GUtech’s eco-house core team of Prof Nikolaus Knebel, Rumana Al Othmani and Rowa El Zain.– TIMES OF OMAN

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: With its thick walls, furniture made from reused materials, solar panels, and other green features, GUtech’s eco-house is a model for sustainable building in Oman. The eco-house, built on the GUtech campus in Halban, is the result of a competition sponsored by The Research Council in Oman, which saw five universities design and build environmentally-friendly houses. Launched at the end of 2011, the competition recently finished, with GUtech’s eco-house placing second overall. Prof. Nikolaus Knebel, one of the faculty members who oversaw the project, said the eco-house competition was very important for a county like Oman which has an increasing demand for housing and a diminishing supply of oil. “There’s such a demand for housing and at the same time there is less supply of non-renewable energy, so a project like this very helpful to find ways to overcome the problem with these two trends,” Knebel told Times of Oman, who visited the eco-house. A number of students and several faculty members were involved in the project, with the initial design for the two-storey, three-bedroom home done by students. The project was then carried on in the faculty and two graduates who were employed

full-time, as well as hired contractors. The design centred on having a round house that incorporated some traditional Omani designs and energy-saving features. The location of the house was also very important, explained Knebel, who teaches in the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture. The location and direction of the eco-house was chosen according to the sunrise and sunset, with the front facing north and the back to the south. The front of the house, which is mainly glass windows, was set at such an angle that it wouldn’t be hit with direct sunlight. The round walls also deﬂect wind, he added. “The students wanted a protective shell for the house and by placing it here there was a chance to orient all the openings to the north and close it off to the south,” said Knebel, walking around the round house. Circular buildings have a lot of advantages, Knebel said. While they’re not ideal for cities, they are excellent models for sustainable designs because they have less surface but the same amount of space. “The less surface you have, the less heat gain you have. When the sun hits the round body there’s less impact because the exposure is not direct. With that we already save 30% of the heat gain,” noted Knebel.

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When it came to building the house, Oman’s traditional, thick mud brick walls, which keep buildings cool in the intense summer heat, came into play. The eco-house’s 600cm walls have three layers with porous pumice stone block on the outer level, the Omani mud bricks on the inside, and an insulation material called perlite, which is crushed volcanic rock, in between. “The light stone on the outside keeps the heat out and the heavy stone on the inside keeps the cold in,” said Knebel. The wall has an insulation value that is even better than international eco-house standards, Knebel said proudly. The temperature inside is also maintained with airtight windows which keep the cool air inside in warm weather. Thick walls also lessen the need for air-conditioning, and the house is equipped with a coldwater cooling system. The builtin air-conditioner only needs a 4-tonne chiller which is much less than the 20-tonne capacity required by other buildings of the same size, he said. “We drastically reduce the energy demand, and then there is

the question of where the energy comes from. We are optimistic we can cover all the energy we need throughout one year by generating it with the (solar panels) we’ve installed on the roof,” Knebel explained, adding that Oman is an ideal place for harvesting solar energy. There are many other features that reduce the house’s energy consumption, too. There is plenty of natural light, reducing the need for electric lights, and the bedrooms, which are set in a cube-like structure inside the circular walls, have windows that open into the house as well as outside allowing for more light and ventilation. Marble, slate and bathroom ceramics used in the house are all locally-sourced, too, reducing the environmental impact from international transportation. “Surprisingly a lot of material is available in Oman. You can actually get it, but people don’t demand it that much,” Knebel commented. Even the furniture is sustainable, built from wooden crates and boxes that were used to deliver building material. “At first we thought we don’t have money for furniture. Then we thought, all right, let’s use the recycling product,” said Knebel. The cushions on the dining room seats and sofas were filled with chipped sponge, again reusing material that may otherwise have been thrown away. The covering on the box seats was made by an Omani family from cloth woven from goat hair and dyed with a natural colour. Water-use in the house was taken into account, too. The washing machine, dishwasher, toilets and showers were all designed to use less water and the grey water is filtered are used to water the trees and plants outside, all of which are native to Oman. Knebel said the eco-house, which is now used as a guesthouse for visiting professors at GUtech, is an example of how future buildings in Oman can be built in a more sustainable way, using local and recycled materials and building techniques that reduce the impact on the environment.

WEDNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 During my three years plus stay in Oman, I have been particularly struck by the friendliness and affection that Omanis have for India JS Mukul, Indian ambassador

R E P U B L I C D AY

Indian ambassador applauds ﬂourishing India-Oman ties

OMAN Bait Muzna marks 15th anniversary

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As the Indian Embassy in Oman marked India’s 66th Republic Day, ambassador J S Mukul took the opportunity to talk about the flourishing relations his country has with the Sultanate. Addressing guests of honour who included Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and a crowd of several hundred who gathered at the embassy on Monday evening to mark the day on January 26, 1950 when India adopted its constitution, Mukul said this year the two countries mark their 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The relationship includes ties in defence, trade, and tourism. “At the bilateral level, the traditional civilisational relations between India and Oman have gone from strength to strength and are today in the nature of a strategic partnership,” Mukul said. In the field of defence, India and Oman have held joint military exercises, exchanges, naval visits, training courses and cooperated in anti-piracy operations. Most recently there were joint India-Oman army exercises held in Jebel Akhdhar, which the ambassador described as a “major milestone.” India and Oman have long been trading partners and over the years the bilateral trade has grown significantly, the ambassador said. In 2013-2014, trade reached more than $5.7 billion. Important ventures include the India-Oman Joint Investment Fund, the Omani-India Fertilizer

Arbilli’s exhibition, called ‘15/15’ in honour of the joint celebration, features 21 new works 15TH YEAR: Iraqi artist Sabah Arbilli’s work will open at Bait

Muzna Gallery on Wednesday. – Photo: A R Rajkumar SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com GUEST OF HONOUR: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of

Foreign Affairs, was a guest of honour to mark the Indian Republic Day on Monday. - Photo: A R Rajkumar

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Company (OMIFCO) in Sur and the Jindal-Shadeed steel plant in Sohar, among others. Omani affection “During my three years plus stay in Oman, I have been particularly struck by the friendliness and affection that Omanis have for India. To a very signiﬁcant extent, this is because of the contributions made by the Indian community for the overall growth and development of this country,” Mukul noted. There has been an increase in travel by citizens of both countries to each other’s shores, too. Mukul said more Indians are

N O O B J E C T I O N C E R T I F I C AT E

A1 ‘Hidden trade’ < FROM

He added that the government wants to regulate the private sector and cut down the number of expats to achieve the set target. “It is always the nationals’ mistakes,” Al Hooti said, adding that many company owners welcome the hidden trade offered by expatriates to run their companies in exchange for receiving a small amount of money every month. “The nationals always search for loopholes in the laws to escape from the company’s responsibilities, looking for direct income,” said the official. He also noted that the government must look for solutions to improve the current situation in the private sector. The administrator for the What’s Happening Muscat Group on Facebook, which has more than 10,000 members, told Times of Oman, “The matter has been raised on more than one occasion in the forum with some asking if it is legal after saying they were asked for payment. “The topic causes much discussion with many saying it is wrong to do so; others argue the employer should be able to recoup some costs while some say it is a price worth paying to be able to switch jobs.” When contacted by Times of Oman, an official at the ROP said that they are aware that such a practice exists but noted that it is an issue that needs to be settled between the employee and the employer. It cannot be said that it is illegal as the employer may feel the A L NA H D A H O S P I TA L

< FROM

Municipality

A1 builds wall

The ministry also said that efforts are on for the opening of emergency department, and facilities for the completion of sterilisation and infection control. Meanwhile, the Muscat Municipality has built a wall from the northern and northern sides as well as a drainage system for the rainwater that collects there. These procedures have helped to stop water entering from these two sides. Officials at the Muscat Municipality said that water had entered the hospital due to the lack of proper drainage in the hospital surroundings. This is the second time that the hospital has been ﬂooded after the heavy rainfall that lashed the country in 2011.

need to recoup the expenses that the company had incurred to hire that worker, he said. A source at the Ministry of Manpower said that they have not received any complaints about this practice. Tonia Gray, general manager at Competence HR, a human resources consultancy, believes that it is completely unreasonable for the employer to withhold an NOC, if the employee has completed two years service. Gray said that she understands the difficulties that may be faced by companies who are losing good employees but noted that it is clearly unethical that a number of people are being told that if they want an NOC, they have to pay for it. There may still be a misunderstanding by some companies that they will lose the labour clearance if they issue an NOC, but this is not the case as long as the individual exits before re-entering Oman to the new company on the new company’s own labour clearance. “I have seen several cases in the past few weeks, particularly on social media, where people with over two years service have been told “if you want to leave, then you have to pay me for an NOC”. “In some cases if the employer has treated the employee fairly then the employee would be happy to renew their contract but in some cases a better offer is made – or worse the treatment received by the employee has not been fair and reasonable – hence their request to leave.”

choosing Oman as a destination for weddings, while his country’s film industries are using Oman as a location for shooting movies and TV shows. Last year the embassy also issued a record number of visas, over 82,000, signifying a strong tourism flow from Oman to India. Medical tourism is an important part of this, and the new “Tourist Visa on Arrival through Electronic Travel Authorisation,” which includes Oman, has encouraged more Omanis to travel to India. Mukul said the relationship is strong, and he expects it to become ever stronger. “All in all, going forward we remain confident that in the months and years to come the India-Oman special relationship will attain qualitatively new heights in diverse fields flowering into an even more comprehensive partnership,” he said.

MUSCAT: Bait Muzna Gallery is celebrating its 15th anniversary with an exhibition by Iraqi artist Sabah Arbilli who is also marking his 15th year in the ﬁne arts. Arbilli’s exhibition, called “15/15” in honour of the joint celebration, will open on Wednesday evening at Bait Muzna Gallery in Old Muscat. It features 21 new works, all recently created for his ﬁrst show in Oman. Fifteen years ago Arbilli, who was an engineer, did a complete career change and gave up his job in engineering to pursue his interest in art. He found engineering limited his creativity and expression, while art allowed him to share his ideas and feelings. “Art as we know is an amazing platform to communicate with people. I realised I can talk about me, I can talk about my culture, I can talk about the stuff that I know with other people through my art,” said Arbili, who studied in England and now divides his time between the UK, Qatar and Turkey.

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Now his canvases and installations speak volumes of his passion for art and poetry, which is his main inspiration. “I’m useless without a text,” he admitted. Poetry from the GCC, with references to the desert landscape, is his primary muse. Even for those who don’t read Arabic, or in paintings where the verses are obscure, the desert comes to life in the colours, as Arbilli uses many shades of tan, yellow, orange, brown, gold and other hues that can be found in the dunes. “The deeper down meaning represents the desert or sahara or sandy colour,” he explained. The poetry and desert landscapes that are subtly reﬂected in the colours and in the curving Arabic letters that are reminiscent of wind-swept dunes take Arbilli back to his Arab origins.

“The nature of my artwork is inspired by Arabic letters. It’s really closely related to my culture no matter what I do,” he commented. The exhibition includes two installations, including one with letters made from burnt wood, which is a tribute to a building in Mosul, Iraq, that Arbilli always admired. The building, which was decorated with calligraphy, was burned down, but Arbilli has kept its memory alive with his art. There are also 19 of his paintings in which the poetry is deconstructed and reassembled in layers of letters, often circling and overlapping. Arbilli said that once he is inspired, he works quickly to complete the paintings. “It’s a chain of events I try to express through my artworks. It’s basically layers after layers after layers, so every layer represents something different,” he explained. Christine O’Donnell, Bait Muzna’s Gallery Director, said she found Arbilli’s work potent and powerful, and she was drawn to the movement in his letters which results in an almost physical experience.

TIMES O F O MAN

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

INDIA Obama voices concerns on climate change, tolerance as he ends visit Nations become successful when women do well: Obama

US president said their countries could forge ‘one of the deﬁning partnerships of this century’ but warned the war against climate change would not ‘stand a chance’ without India and also ﬁred a warning about

A BIG THANK YOU: US President Barack Obama, left, and First Lady Michelle Obama strike the traditional Indian greeting pose of ‘namaste’ as they board Air Force One prior to departing from Air Force Station Palam, in New Delhi, on Tuesday. – AFP

religious tolerance

NEW DELHI: President Barack Obama said the United States could be India’s “best partner” on Tuesday but urged his hosts to do more in the battle against climate change as he wrapped up a threeday visit to New Delhi. Speaking to an audience of mainly young people, the US president said their countries could forge “one of the defining partnerships of this century” but warned the war against climate change would not “stand a chance” without India and also fired a warning about religious tolerance. Dramatic upturn The speech was the finale of a packed visit which has seen a dramatic upturn in an often troubled relationship, including the signing of a new “friendship” pact between Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The right-wing premier was an outcast in Washington less than a year ago but has developed a close bond with Obama, with their two countries keen to counter-

balance the rise of China. “India and the United States are not just natural partners — I believe that America can be India’s best partner,” said Obama after receiving a rapturous welcome from a group of around 1,500 people. “Of course, only Indians can decide India’s role in the world. “But I’m here because I am absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and more just place when our two democracies stand together.” Both Obama and Modi have been at pains to demonstrate their personal rapport during the visit and announced a breakthrough on a long-stalled nuclear power deal on Sunday. Obama was also chief guest at Monday’s Republic Day parade — one of the biggest honours that India can bestow on a foreign leader. The US is looking to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Paciﬁc as part of Obama’s “pivot” east, and has taken note of Modi’s more assertive stance towards China. Beijing claims sovereignty over large swathes of the South China

Sea, home to maritime lanes that are vital to global trade, and is engaged in territorial disputes with a host of nations in the region. But in his speech, Obama said “the freedom of navigation must be upheld and disputes must be resolved peacefully”. Speaking after their talks on Sunday, Modi said he would not be pressured on climate by any country — comments seen in part as aimed at China after it agreed on new carbon emissions targets with the US. But Obama warned the battle against climate change was doomed unless developing countries reduce dependence on fossil fuels. “I know the argument made by some, that it’s unfair for countries like the United States to ask developing nations and emerging economies like India to reduce your dependence on the same fossil fuels that helped power our growth for more than a century,” Obama said. “But here’s the truth: even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if growing countries like India -- with soaring energy needs -- don’t also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don’t stand a

chance against climate change.” India has balked at committing itself to major cuts in carbon emissions ahead of a December climate summit, fearing they would undermine efforts to boost living standards in a country where many of the 1.2 billion population live in poverty. Applauded Arun Varma, an official in India’s environment ministry who was in the audience, applauded Obama’s comments, saying India has a lot to learn from America’s environmental policies. “Not just their efforts on reducing carbon emissions, but their protection of forests, of endangered animals, and of all of their natural resources including their waters,” he said. The speech also contained an entreaty for people to respect one another’s religion in India, where the election of nationalist Modi has given rise to fears among the country’s large Muslim minority. “India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along lines of religious faith, so long as it is not splintered along any lines,” said Obama. – AFP

NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the sight of “incredible” Indian women in the Armed forces was one of his “favourite things” on his India visit as he stressed that nations become successful when their women make progress. Obama made the remark while lauding the role played by Indian women in various spheres of life in his address to a select audience of youngsters here, many of them females. The president, who wound up this three-day visit to India with this speech, referred to the presence of women defence officers in India. “One of the favourite things on this trip for me has been to see all these incredible Indian women in the Armed forces including the person who commanded the guard that greeted me when I arrived (at Rashtrapati Bhavan).It’s remarkable. It is a sign of great strength and progress,” he said amidst a thunderous applause from the crowd and his wife Michelle who accompanied him to the venue at Siri Fort auditorium here. The defence forces, in a ﬁrst, chose women officers to lead their marching contingents during the Republic Day parade here on January 26. Wing Commander Pooja Thakur of the Indian Air Force led the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan when Obama was accorded a ceremonial welcome on Saturday. “In India, women have

PLAINSPEAK: US President Barack Obama delivers a speech at Siri Fort Auditorium, in New Delhi, on Tuesday. – AFP

shown that they can succeed in every ﬁeld including government where many of your leaders are women. “The young women, like present here, are playing their part in India’s progress. “We know from experience that nations are successful when their women are successful. When girls go to school...this is one of the most direct measures of whether a nation is going to develop perfectly...and how it treats its women,” Obama said. He urged men, in all forms of relation to a women, to ensure that the fairer sex are ensured their freedom and right. “It is as husbands and fathers and brothers that we have to step up because every girl’s life matters and every daughter deserves the same chances as our sons and every woman should be able to go about her day, to walk the street and ride the bus and be safe and treated with respect and dignity she deserves,” he said. – PTI

REPUBLICAN REACTION

McCain sees progress on realising full potential of Indo-US ties WASHINGTON: Encouraged by President Barack Obama’s visit to India and a series of agreements between the two countries especially on nuclear and defence, a top Republican leader has said that progress is being made towards achieving the full potential of India-US ties. “I am encouraged by the news over the weekend that the US and

India have taken further steps to deepen our strategic partnership, including clearing the way to achieve the beneﬁts of the 2006 civil nuclear agreement and expanding our defence cooperation,” Senator John McCain said. McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said he is looking forward to reviewing the details of these

deals. “I am pleased that progress is being made toward achieving the full potential of the US-India relationship,” said McCain, who was among the ﬁrst few American leaders to have met Modi after he was voted to power in the May general elections. “I have long said that the United States and India, two democratic great powers, can and should lead

the 21st century in sustaining a liberal, rules-based international order, supported by a favourable balance of power,” he said. “Building on the progress this weekend, our two nations can bolster security in the Indo-Paciﬁc region by enhancing and expanding our maritime exercises, pursuing joint development and production of military equipment, and build-

ing a common operating picture of the region with other partners and allies,” he added. Meanwhile, as US President Barack Obama left India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his visit has taken the bilateral relations to a new level and opened a new chapter. “Farewell @WhiteHouse! Your visit has taken India-USA ties to a

new level & opened a new chapter. Wish you a safe journey,” Modi tweeted as Obama took off for Saudi Arabia,concluding his three-day trip here. The White House also thanked Modi and the Indian people for making the visit memorable. “Thank you @NarendraModi for a memorable visit, and to the Indian people for their warm welcome,” the White House said in a tweet. – PTI

T I M E S OF OMAN

WEDNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

INDIA B ATT L I N G T E R R O R I S T S

WRECKAGE The debris of an Indian Air Force MiG-27 that crashed in Barmer district of Rajasthan on Tuesday. The pilot ejected safely, a defence spokesperson said. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties. A probe has been ordered into the crash. – PTI

Death follows medal for this army officer SRINAGAR: A commanding officer, who had won a military medal on Republic Day, was killed on Tuesday along with a policeman while battling a group of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Colonel M. M. Rai, commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Riﬂes (RR), and a policeman were killed in the gun battle at Mindora village of Tral, 36km from here, an army spokesman said. Two militants, both locals, were also killed in the operation which left a soldier seriously injured. Colonel Rai was conferred the Yudh Seva medal on the eve of Republic Day for outstanding contribution in planning and conduct of operations including a gun battle with militants in Indian-administered Kashmir last year, the spokesman said. Hailing from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, Col Rai, who belongs to the 9 Gorkha Riﬂes but was on deputation to RR, is survived by

LEGENDARY PERSONALITY

Laxman’s wish for ISRO now its tribute to him BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Tuesday paid its tributes to iconic Indian cartoonist R. K. Laxman by posting online his cartoon ‘common man’ reaching Mars, the last of his works, which he had sent to the space agency after the success of the historic Mars Mission. “Tribute to the Legendary Cartoonist R. K. Laxman. His ‘common man’ reaching Mars. R. K. Laxman sent this delightful gift to Isro a couple of weeks back,” Isro said in a post on its Facebook page with the cartoon. “When I visited him in Pune in December, I requested him to draw me a cartoon for Isro as we were about to complete 100 days of Mars Mission on January 1. “Though he was not in the best of his health I gathered courage to make this request,” S. Arunan, Project Director, Mars Orbiter Mission, said. He said, “His family promised to send me a cartoon in a few days, and on December 26 I received three cartoons from him. I didn’t expect that those will be his last cartoons. He is some one I admired a lot,” he added. Created history India made space history on September 24 when its low-cost Mars spacecraft was successfully placed in orbit around the red

tweeted Obama

planet in its very ﬁrst attempt, breaking into an elite club of three nations. The Rs45 billion MOM Mangalyaan is the cheapest interplanetary mission that, at just $74 million, cost less than the estimated $100 million budget of the sci-ﬁ blockbuster “Gravity” and a tenth of NASA’s Mars mission Maven that entered the Martian orbit on September 22. European, American and Russian probes have managed to orbit or land on the planet, but after several attempts. Laxman, who immortalised the hapless ‘Common Man’ with his swipes at politicians but without malice, died in Pune on Monday. – PTI

two daughters and a son. The encounter broke out on Tuesday when the police assisted by Rashtriya Riﬂes of the army launched an operation after getting a tip off that a local Hizbul militant along with another accomplice had come home. The slain militants have been identiﬁed as Adil Khan, a local resident of Mindora, and Shiraz Dar. – PTI

Congress uses Obama’s remark to target Modi Digvijay Singh

MASTERPIECE: One of the creations of Legendary Cartoonist R K Laxman shows his ‘common man’ reaching Mars. Laxman had sent this delightful gift to Isro a couple of weeks back. – PTI

Colonel M. M. Rai

reminds us of Article 25 of Indian Constitution of the right of every Citizen of India to

BRIEFING: AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh addressing a

progress practice and

press conference at Madhya Pradesh Congress headquarters, in Bhopal, on Tuesday. – PTI

propagate his religion

NEW DELHI: Using US President Barack Obama’s comments about religious freedom, Congress on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning whether he would “listen” to him and ask the Sangh Parivar, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, to stop justifying religious conversions. “Obama reminds us of Article 25 of Indian Constitution of the right of every Citizen of India to progress practice and propagate his

religion,” Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh tweeted. He thanked Obama for “speaking up for the Indian Citizen’s rights to profess practice and propagate his religious belief.” Religious re-conversions Targeting the prime minister, Singh wrote, “Would Modi take his friend Barack’s advice and ask his friends in VHP to shut up and request (RSS chief ) Mohan Bhagwat to stop justifying ‘Ghar Vapsi (religious re-conversions)’?” There have been some incidents of religious conversions recently

in some places of the country which the Sangh Parivar has justiﬁed as ‘Ghar Vapsi’. Digvijay advised Modi not to mind if he was at the receiving end of some unsavoury remarks on social media by religious fundamentalists.”Mr Modi are you listening?” he asked. Striking a similar note on Twitter, Youth Congress said, “We hope #Modi takes lessons from @ BarackObama speech & redirects his vision from coercion & conversion to something +ve!! #Obama”. Congress’ attack came after Obama made a strong pitch for religious tolerance contending that

every person has the right to practice one’s faith without any persecution and that India will succeed so long it is not “splintered” on religious lines. “Every person has the right to practice his faith without any persecution, fear or discrimination. India will succeed so long it is not splintered on religious lines,” Obama told the audience just before wrapping up his visit. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi Tuesday hit the campaign trail in Delhi, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to “personal PR” without delivering anything concrete in eight months and favouring only a few industrialists. Holding his ﬁrst roadshow for the February 7 Assembly polls, the Congress vice president expressed conﬁdence that the party will stage a comeback here. “NDA is in power at the centre since May but the prime minister is busy in his personal PR (Public Relations). Not a single concrete thing has taken place. The public is asking when will the talks get over and real work would begin. “There has been favouritism and work of only 3-4 industrialists is being done. Those who are poor, who are needy are being neglected,” he told reporters after the road show in the Kalkaji. – PTI

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PAKISTAN

Carrying ﬁrearms for every teacher is not obligatory, but all those who want to carry ﬁrearms to schools willingly will be provided with permits Atif Khan, Provincial education minister

Teachers get gun training in NW Authorities began training teachers in how to use guns last week in the wake of a December 16, 2014 attack on an armyrun school that killed 150 people, 134 of them children in Peshawar

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PESHAWAR: Teachers in northwest Pakistan are being given firearms training and will be allowed to take guns into the classroom in a bid to strengthen security following a Taliban massacre at a school last month. Heavily armed militants killed 150 people, 132 of them children, in a bloody December 16 attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, the main town in Pakistan’s northwest. “Carrying firearms for every teacher is not obligatory, but all those who want to carry firearms to schools willingly will be provided with permits,” Atif Khan, provincial education minister for the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told AFP on Tuesday. Unable to provide guards Provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani confirmed the decision, adding that the province was unable to provide police guards for all of its govern-

TAKING UP ARMS: Pakistani teachers handle various ﬁrearms during a weapons training session for school, college and university teachers at a police training centre in Peshawar on Tuesday. — AFP

ment-run education institutions. “The number of police in the province is not enough to guard 35,000 schools, colleges and universities — that’s why we have allowed teachers to carry ﬁrearms,” Ghani told AFP. Authorities began training teachers in how to use guns last week and the latest batch of female trainees started learning the ropes

on Tuesday. “It’s a two-day course. We are training them on gun handling and also on (the) procedure of using it,” said Mohammad Latif, a trainer at police headquarters in Peshawar. Pakistan has already strengthened security for schools across the country, including by building elevated boundary walls with steel wire fencing and increasing the

number of police. Private schools have been ordered to deploy extra security guards. Malik Khalid Khan, the president of the Private Schools Teachers Association, opposed the move to arm teachers. “How is it possible to teach students in a class... holding a gun in one hand and a pen in another?” Khan told AFP.

“It’s not our job, our job is to teach them books. Very negative affect “A teacher holding a gun in the class will have very negative affect on his students,” Khan said, adding that the government should hire more police if they are short of numbers. The government and military

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

C U M U L AT I V E R E L I E F

Fuel price adjustment set to reduce power rates ISLAMABAD: Domestic power consumers are set to receive a major relief of Rs3.20 per unit in electricity tariff on account of fuel price adjustment for December 2014. The Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA) has sought a Rs3.20 per unit reduction in power rates from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for all distribution companies (except K-Electric) because of the cheaper cost of fuel for power generation. Public hearing Admitting the CPPA’s tariff petition, Nepra has decided to hold a public hearing before passing on to the consumers a cumulative relief of around Rs20 billion in the upcoming billing month. Lifeline consumers who use 50 units a month will not enjoy the relief. In its petition on behalf of all distribution companies, the CPPA

promised a tough response to the Peshawar massacre, in which heavily armed militants scaled the school walls before going room-toroom mowing down helpless students and staff. A six-year moratorium on the death penalty was ended for terror cases after the attack, and parliament voted to set up military courts to try terror offences. — AFP

The Central Power Purchase Agency has sought a Rs3.20 per unit reduction in power rates from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority for all distribution companies (except K-Electric) because of the cheaper cost of fuel for power generation

explained that the average fuel cost during the month of December 2014 stood at Rs6.32 per unit against the reference fuel cost of Rs9.53 per unit, which was earlier ﬁxed by Nepra. This reduced the generation cost by Rs3.21 per unit. The CPPA reported to the regu-

lator that 6.57 billion units were sold to the distribution companies during December 2014. A reduction in the cost of furnace oil and diesel led to the reduction in power generation cost in that month, it said. During December, power gen-

eration through furnace oil cost Rs12.38 per unit, high-speed diesel cost Rs19 per unit, coal Rs4.49 per unit, gas Rs3.57 per unit and nuclear power Rs1.18 per unit. Also, imported electricity from Iran came at Rs10.20 per unit. Nepra officials said the regulator

had been cutting electricity tariffs under monthly fuel price adjustments for the past four months due to the weakening international oil prices. This was on the request of CPPA on behalf of distribution companies. Finalise decision They added power consumers of all companies, except K-Electric, will receive around Rs20 billion in relief in their monthly bills. Nepra will hold a public hearing on January 29 to ﬁnalise the decision in this regard. Under various acts of parliament, Nepra is required to pass on the actual impact of fuel cost to the consumers every month irrespective of the consideration of any increase or decrease in tariff. The officials added the public hearing would examine the proof and actual invoices to be provided by the CPPA for the reduction in tariff. — Express Tribune

Four injured in hate crime PESHAWAR: Hundreds of Pakistani students protesting against a French magazine for publishing cartoons stormed a Christian boys’ school demanding it close, officials and police said on Tuesday. Four students were slightly hurt in the incident in the northwestern town of Bannu on Monday, which happened as students from local colleges and schools demonstrated against the cartoons printed in French satirical weekly ‘Charlie Hebdo’. Forcibly opened gates “A group of some 200 to 300 protesting students entered Panel High School after jumping its outer walls and forcibly opened the gates,” school principal Fredrick Farhan Das said. He said the students who wanted the school to be shut damaged the property. — AFP

JA M A AT U D D AWA

Ambulance service launched by rebel group in Karachi KARACHI: Unfazed by sanctions imposed by the government, Mumbai 2008 attacks mastermind Hafeez Saeed-led extremist outﬁt Jamaatud Dawa has launched an ambulance service here in southern port city of Pakistan. The service was started by JuD controlled charity Falah-iInsaniyat Foundation (FIF) on Monday and inaugurated by none other than Saeed. Key area “The ambulance work service is our key area for (charity) for which we are known in Pakistan,” Saeed told reporters. He said his organisation did not face resistance in any welfare project from the government.

“We are not going to abandon these projects. A certain class and a certain group are targeting our organisation for a certain agenda,” he said. Saeed said his organisation was active in far ﬂung areas and have not decided to expand its charitable work in the main cities to facilitate the maximum number of people. The FIF plans to operate a ﬂeet of 15 ambulances in Karachi, a metropolis of more than 18 million people. Saeed said that already ambulance service was active in 118 cities across the country. The JuD and FIF have also set up camps in the country to collect funds for what they call “public welfare works”. — PTI

ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN CONTINUES DEFIANTLY A Pakistani health worker, background right, marks a residence after vaccinating children during a polio vaccination campaign, in Karachi, on Tuesday. Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio remains endemic. Attempts to eradicate it have been badly hit by opposition from militants and attacks on immunisation teams that have claimed 68 lives since December 2012. — AFP

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Greece needs a chance for the sake of Europe

he message from elections in Greece was unambiguous: The Greeks cannot and will not continue to abide by the austerity regime that has brought their economy to its knees. It was a message the Germans and other Europeans who continue to insist that Greece pay off its mountainous debt, no matter what the damage, must hear. Persisting on their dogmatic course is not only wrong for Greece but dangerous for the entire European Union. It is too soon to anticipate how Alexis Tsipras, the maverick politician whose leftwing Syriza party won 36.3 per cent of the popular vote and nearly gained an outright majority in Parliament, intends to deliver on the promises he made to voters to abandon the austerity programme while reducing the nation’s debt and retaining the euro. These goals are fundamentally incompatible, but the new prime minister has signalled to Europeans that he is ready to moderate his ambitions once in office. It is essential that Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who is seen by Greeks as the prime architect of the austerity programmeme, and the “troika” of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which manage the Greek bailout, demonstrate a similar readiness to ease the size and conditions of Greece’s debt burden. Some of the creditors still seem to feel that a debt is a debt to be repaid in full, and that the Greeks “deserve” punishment for their history of proﬂigate spending and habitual tax evasion. But shrinking an economy by a quarter and throwing more than half the young people out of work — policies Tsipras has likened to waterboarding — is not the way to enable a country to pay back its debts. Greece needs some breathing room, not only to give Tsipras a chance to turn the country around but also for the sake of the rest of Europe. Greece may be exceptional in the size of its debt burden, now about 177 per cent of GDP, and its systemic problems run deep. But Greeks are not unique in their feelings of alienation and anger over the economic crisis that spread to many of the poorer countries of the European Union, and Syriza is hardly the most radical of the fringe parties that have arisen across Europe in reaction to the crisis. If Greece is pushed to the limit and compelled to default on its debt payments, and even to abandon the euro, the economic repercussions would spread through all Europe. Politically, a “Grexit” — Greek exit from the euro — would shatter the assumption that there is no retreat from the euro and further destabilise Europe. And it would certainly add fuel to anti-European Union sentiments that have propelled the growth of farright parties. - The New York Times News Service

CHILLING APATHY

UK accepted only 90 Syrian refugees in 2014 DAVID HANSON

Mistreatment of Afghan refugees

oments of crisis are a time to judge a nation’s character. With respect to the treatment of Afghan refugees, the country, particularly authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), have exhibited that in their moment of crisis, they will pick on the weakest and most vulnerable in society. Allegations of mistreatment and abuse of refugees at the hands of the police continue to emerge ever since the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16. Emotions are understandably high after the school massacre, but they are being channelled in ways that are geared towards temporary, ill-thought solutions, which involve picking on easy targets, such as economically poor refugees who may have little or no means of protection. Harassment of refugees has been a problem in the past as well, but it has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. Police authorities in K-P are accused of raiding houses, hotels and businesses, and harassing even those who are properly registered as refugees and have proof of registration cards. Furthermore, arbitrary raids and deportations by the K-P government have started although the date for repatriation of all refugees was extended to December 2015 in a joint decision of the UNHCR and the federal government. What is most disturbing, however, are allegations of mistreatment of Afghan minors by the police, speciﬁcally of seminary students. Picking up underage students and subjecting them to abuse will not result in any solutions. This is akin to merely exploiting a power relationship. Pakistan hosts the largest refugee population in the world — nearly 1.6 million registered refugees and nearly half a million unregistered ones — but while the generosity shown so far is to be appreciated, it cannot in any way allow for abuse or give any authority the right to snatch away human dignity of some of the weakest members of society. It is time our society showed some character and demanded that our moment of crisis does not pave the way for more acceptability of abuse. Denying justice to refugees will not guarantee justice elsewhere or avenge the deaths of those who were lost in a decade-long conﬂict. – The Express Tribune

People with low income would be worst affected This refers to the news story, Ban on expats sharing home gets tougher (January 27). The worst affected will be those with salaries less than OMR200. These are low income workers who have families back home to support. How will they manage now? The best solution is to force companies to provide accommodation to them. Aziza Al Busaidy Dubai

Employers should now provide accommodation This refers to the news story, Ban on expats sharing home gets tougher (January 27). Now employers must provide expats free accommodation if the issue of sharing home is such a big concern. Some

people share home because of low housing allowance. We all know that the cost of living is expensive in Muscat. Everyone wants to have a nice place to stay. I am lucky to have my own ﬂat and I don’t share it with others but I hope that the government forces employers to provide free accommodation to employees and not to integrate the housing allowance with the salary because everything in Oman is expensive. Canlas Charity Muscat

Relocate bachelors away from residential areas This refers to the news story, Ban on expats sharing home gets tougher (January 27). Bachelors should be moved out of residential areas where a majority of the residents

The scale of this crisis and the suffering meted on the Syrian people is horrific: a city the size of Manchester has been destroyed, and a population bigger than London’s displaced. But the Government has only accepted 90 refugees from Syria in the last year

his Thursday marks the first anniversary of the Government finally accepting the call from Labour, and thousands of campaigners, to accept the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. The people of Britain have reacted with generosity and humanity in response to this tragedy, which is the worst humanitarian crisis since WWII. The DEC Syria Crisis Appeal raised £27m in 19 months, and there was widespread support for campaigns raising awareness of the Syrian peoples’ plight. Over 10,000 people signed Amnesty International’s petition to get the government to accept Syrian refugees. However, it wasn’t until last year — long after Ed Miliband, Yvette Cooper and myself, along with Labour backbenchers, pledged Labour’s support for the campaign — that the Prime Minister finally U-turned from his opposition to allow Syrian refugees to come to the UK. In the year since the Government made its commitment, the situation in Syria has deteriorated even further. There are over a million more refugees than this time last year, with the UNHCR registering a staggering — and heart breaking — 3.7m refugees in the region (although they acknowledge the actual number is likely to be much higher). Since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011 an estimated 9m Syrians have fled their homes and according to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), around 1.2m houses have been damaged, with 400,000 totally destroyed. The scale of this crisis and the suffering meted on the Syrian people is horrific: a city the size of Manchester has been destroyed, and a population bigger than London’s displaced. But unfortunately, despite the Secretary of State for International Development last year saying that the crisis had reached “catastrophic proportions”, and despite the Government making promises to provide support, according to the Refugee Council, the Government has only accepted 90 refugees from Syria in the last year. To make matters worse, in December the Government refused to send any Ministers to a key United Nations conference in Geneva to see if more could be done to increase the numbers of refugees countries across Europe could take. Ministers from the Foreign office and the Department for International Development have

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Where facts are few, experts are many DONALD R. GANNON

used the excuse that most refugees want to stay put, so they might be able to one day go home. It is true that many refugees do want to go back to their homeland once the war is over and it is safe to do so. And Labour has supported the work the Government is doing to fund and lend expertise to those NGOs running refugee camps in countries neighbouring Syria. But some people simply cannot survive in these camps — children who have been orphaned in the conﬂict with no one and nowhere to go, women who have been raped, people with serious medical conditions or disabilities. These are the people the UNHCR are asking some of the wealthiest countries in the world (including Britain) to give a home to. And it is unrealistic to expect countries in the region to bear the entire burden of this humanitarian crisis. Lebanon has recently closed its borders and extreme poverty exacerbated by winter conditions and electricity cuts in Jordan mean it is neither feasible or credible for Ministers to claim it is safe and possible for all refugees, including the most vulnerable, to stay in the region. Britain must do its part. The worsening crisis in the region has only served to strengthen the Labour party’s desire to ensure the UK honours its obligations and responds to this crisis. The humanitarian aid that the government has given is vital and welcome, but at a time when countries around the world are redoubling their efforts the 90 people allowed into the UK by Ministers simply isn’t enough. A Labour government is committed to increasing the numbers of Syrian refugees coming to this country to ensure we are meeting our international obligations in line with neighbouring countries like France. Yvette Cooper has also called on the Government to hold a summit with local councils across the country to see how many more places can be offered after some Council leaders have come forward saying they would like to and are able to help but have been ignored by the Home Office. The UK government represents the people of Britain on the global stage, and I think it is vital they portray the humanity and compassion so many feel in response to this crisis. I hope this week ministers will use the opportunity of the anniversary of their pledge to recognise their failure so far and commit to redoubling their efforts. – The Independent

are people with families. There are many reasons for that. Accommodation for bachelors should be arranged by the employers in other areas. This is important for the security of the families and the community as well. Talal Al-Nabulsi Muscat

and formulate laws that they themselves break with the highest degree of impunity. Also, unfortunately, India has reached such a stage where political families take it for granted that they have full rights over power. Suddapalli Bhaskara Rao Ruwi

Criminalisation of politics in India is a big problem

Laxman’s cartoons eased the pain of common man

This refers to the article, Lawbreakers at the helm as lawmakers (January 26). It offered the readers, especially the Indians, an interesting reading because its publication coincided with India’s Republic Day celebrations. the criminalisation of politics in India is a major problem. It is indeed a matter of regret that criminals continue to rule the roost in India

R K Laxman, the legendary cartoonist who gave a face to the common man, is no more. Every day, over years, he eased the pain of the common man with wit and humour — with courage and caution. He believed in political satire, caricature and lampooning to sustain the health of a democracy. M.L. Bhaskaran Wadi Kabir

Letters, 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), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

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PERSPEC IVE Will Syriza be able to end the nightmare of Greece? A

lexis Tsipras, leader of the left-wing Syriza coalition, is about to become prime minister of Greece. He will be the first European leader elected on an explicit promise to challenge the austerity policies that have prevailed since 2010. And there will, of course, be many people warning him to abandon that promise, to behave “responsibly.” So how has that responsibility thing worked out so far? To understand the political earthquake in Greece, it helps to look at Greece’s May 2010 “standby arrangement” with the International Monetary Fund, under which the so-called troika — the IMF, the European Central Bank and the European Commission — extended loans to the country in return for a combination of austerity and reform. It’s a remarkable document, in the worst way. The troika, while pretending to be hard-headed and realistic, was peddling an economic fantasy. And the Greek people have been paying the price for those elite delusions. You see, the economic projections that accompanied the standby arrangement assumed that Greece could impose harsh austerity with little effect on growth and employment. Greece was already in recession when the deal was reached, but the projections assumed that this downturn would end soon — that there would be only a small contraction in 2011, and that by 2012 Greece would be recovering. Unemployment, the projections conceded, would rise substantially, from 9.4 per cent in 2009 to almost 15 per cent in 2012, but would then begin coming down fairly quickly. What actually transpired was an economic and human nightmare. Far from ending in 2011, the Greek recession gathered momentum. Greece didn’t hit the bottom until 2014, and by that point it had experienced a full-fledged depression, with overall unemployment rising to 28 per cent and youth unemployment rising to almost 60 per cent. And the recovery now underway, such as it is, is barely visible, offering no prospect of returning to pre-crisis living standards for the foreseeable future. What went wrong? I fairly often encounter assertions to the effect that Greece didn’t carry through on its promises, that it failed to deliver the promised spending cuts. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, Greece imposed savage cuts in public services, wages of government workers and social benefits. Thanks to repeated further waves of austerity, public

PAUL KRUGMAN

What actually transpired was an economic and human nightmare. Far from ending in 2011, the Greek recession gathered momentum. Greece didn’t hit the bottom until 2014, and by that point it had experienced a fullfledged depression

spending was cut much more than the original programmeme envisaged, and it’s currently about 20 per cent lower than it was in 2010. Yet Greek debt troubles are if anything worse than before the programme started. One reason is that the economic plunge has reduced revenues: The Greek government is collecting a substantially higher share of GDP in taxes than it used to, but GDP has fallen so quickly that the overall tax take is down. Furthermore, the plunge in GDP has caused a key fiscal indicator, the ratio of debt to GDP to keep rising even though debt growth has slowed and Greece received some modest debt relief in 2012. Why were the original projections so wildly overoptimistic? As I said, because supposedly hard-headed officials were in reality engaged in fantasy economics. Both the European Commission and the European Central Bank decided to believe in the confidence fairy — that is, to claim that the direct job-destroying effects of spending cuts would be more than made up for by a surge in private-sector optimism. The IMF was more cautious, but it nonetheless grossly underestimated the damage austerity would do. And here’s the thing: If the troika had been truly realistic, it would have acknowledged that it was demanding the impossible. Two years after the Greek programmeme began, the IMF looked for historical examples where Greek-type programmemes, attempts to pay down debt through austerity without major debt relief or inflation, had been successful. It didn’t find any. So now that Tsipras has won, and won big, European officials would be well advised to skip the lectures calling on him to act responsibly and to go along with their programmeme. The fact is they have no credibility; the programmeme they imposed on Greece never made sense. It had no chance of working. If anything, the problem with Syriza’s plans may be that they’re not radical enough. Debt relief and an easing of austerity would reduce the economic pain, but it’s doubtful whether they are sufficient to produce a strong recovery. On the other hand, it’s not clear what more any Greek government can do unless it’s prepared to abandon the euro, and the Greek public isn’t ready for that. Still, in calling for a major change, Tsipras is being far more realistic than officials who want the beatings to continue until morale improves. The rest of Europe should give him a chance to end his country’s nightmare. – The New York Times News Service

Is it time to lose the word ‘terrorism’?

he head of BBC Arabic has advised his staff not to label anyone, or any act, as “terrorist”. So, Said Kouachi: not a terrorist. Boko Haram: not a group of terrorists. 9/11: not a terrorist atrocity. The term is “too loaded”, says the BBC’s Tarik Kafala, who prefers to call a bombing a bombing, a massacre a massacre, and a plane ﬂying into a tower… an ideologically motivated attack, I suppose. There are complications here, to be sure, but isn’t the most immediate reaction one of relief? With a small shift in editorial policy, it would seem the BBC has done more to “eradicate terrorism” than 14 years of war put together. You can say that, I think, without being utterly facetious. The world won’t be safer in a literal sense, of course; Isis and Al Qaeda will butcher regardless of the term a BBC newsroom applies. But, minus the “terrorism” tag, the threat from groups like these feels somehow less monstrous, more manageable. Tally up the achievements of the “war on terror” since 9/11, meanwhile, and you get… not a

MEMPHIS BARKER

great deal. In the failures column must go a fivefold increase in deaths from terrorism, according to the latest survey from the Global Terrorism Index. One doubt: does the refusal to say “terrorism” offer a false sense of security? No. If anything, Western citizens vastly overestimate the scale of the threat. A Briton, thankfully, has about as much chance of dying in a suicide bombing as they do through slipping on a banana skin. Lose the word “terrorism” and it might help us find some perspective, in fact. Another doubt: is it a form of self-censorship, or a shirking of the journalist’s duty to call things how they are? Again, no. The UN has struggled to agree on a hard and fast definition for “terrorism” for more than a decade. The key ingredients include death and destruction, outside the rules of international law and for a political purpose. But that remains broad, and in practice, most people go with a variant of: “I know it when I see it.” Which means that attacks carried out by non-Muslims often slip out of the “terrorism” picture:

after the Charlie Hebdo killings, a former director of the CIA tweeted that this was the “worst” attack in Europe since the 2005 London bombings. He had either forgotten that Anders Breivik murdered 77 people in Norway, or didn’t associate white men with primeval scaremongering. Two more points. We don’t report on murderers as “avengers”, even though revenge might have guided their hand. Why, then, support groups that aim to sow terror by including that term in their title? If you weren’t terrified enough by, say, the Boston bombings, to see that word flashed across television after television after newspaper might easily have finished the job. And in that nexus of fear governments also get spooked. War; CIA torture; even, less dramatically, the proposed Snooper’s Charter — the path to each is smoothed by a desire to stamp out “terrorism”. Would we react so ferociously if BBC Arabic’s calming rule was taken up more widely? Perhaps yes. But theirs is the only war on “terrorism” I wholly support. - The Independent

Middle class and the X factor

OOMMEN KURUVILLA

ndia has celebrated its 66th Republic Day with gusto. The usual pomp and pageantry associated with the R-Day celebrations have been amplified this time by the presence of the world’s most powerful man. The celebratory parade at Rajpath, Delhi, graced by US President Barack Obama, signals a giant step towards an unprecedentedly close tie-up between the world’s largest and oldest democracies. The proof, if at all it is needed, is the Chinese news agency Xinhua’s remark that the camaraderie on display was nothing short of superficial. The parade, it may be noted, has come after India and the US have signed a slew of significant deals, including one on nuke trade. In sum, the R-Day celebrations have so much as broadcast the importance of India as a rising superstar. Now, what has the R-Day parade to do with the Delhi polls? The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes that the aura of glory around the high-octane celebrations would rub off on the impending Delhi polls. The underlying national pride and patriotism could influence the youth segment, which is largely the AAP’s (Aam Aadmy Party) constituency. That apart, BJP is trying to hardsell Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger-than-life image, not least now after his successful confabulations with Obama. No wonder, his party has found a novel way to wean the youths away from Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. BJP chief Amit Shah has launched what is termed a “selfie with Modi’ campaign. Anybody can have a selfie with ‘virtual Narendra Modi’ at the booths. The party is to set up some 2,500 ‘selfie with Modi booths’ across Delhi. Youths make up around 20 per cent of the Delhi population. The question is whether the party is trying to re-focus the electorate’s attention on the prime minister after having pitch-forked former IPS officer Kiren Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate. It would seem so. The party seems to have cottoned on to the fact that, after all, Kiren Bedi, with all her alpha male nimbus, is no match for Arvind Kejriwal

who connects with the hoipolloi so easily. The ‘selfie with Modi’ plan means that the party is prepared to run the risk of a possible setback to the image of Modi in case it loses in Delhi. What is perhaps crucial in this poll is the mind of the middle class, both upper and lower. It supported AAP in the last assembly poll. The middle class, around 28 per cent of the population, wants a corruption-free government which focuses on development, jobs, uninterrupted supply of power and water with affordable rates and, of course, security for women. The talk about Hindutva or ‘ghar wapsi’ does not make much odds to it. The middle class became disillusioned with AAP when it jettisoned the government in a huff and played a series of shenanigans in the state. Small wonder, the middle class went with the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls that followed. In fact, all seven parliamentary seats in the state were bagged by the saffron party. The X factor is, without doubt, this aware middle class and nobody can predict which way this class would turn on the voting day. Team Kejriwal is trying its level best to re-convert the middle class in a ‘ghar wapsi’ moment of a different order. As far as Congress is concerned, it would be trying to claw back some amount of its lost glory. It is seen as a rudderless party though Ajay Maken, the party’s general secretary, is doing his best in the state. The fact is that the people still remain incensed about the UPA government’s saga of corruption and ineptitude. Remember, Delhiites are highly aware of the union government’s policies and practices because of the state’s proximity to the central seat of power. Delhi is the centre of the country’s political power and that’s reason enough for the ongoing scramble to capture power in the state. Incidentally, Delhi is not a full-fledged state. Its police force reports to the union home ministry; matters regarding its land come under Delhi Development Authority, which in turn, reports to the Union Urban Development Ministry; and three corporations report to the Union Home Ministry. No wonder, a union minister once dubbed any Delhi chief minister as a “glorified mayor”. Considering the kind of dependence the state has on the union government, it’s perhaps better that a party that rules the centre rules Delhi too. Otherwise, in all likelihood, there would be a saga of acrimony between the centre and the state. The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman.

New round of ﬁghting in eastern Ukraine At least seven Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and dozens wounded during clashes with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country, amid the worst violence since a ceaseﬁre was agreed last September

RUSSIA Kiev U K R A I N E Detail area Crimea Annexed LUHANSK by Russia REGION 50km Starobilsk Lysychansk

Jan 26, Debaltseve Fierce ﬁghting at town straddling highway between main rebel cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukrainian troops in danger of being encircled

U K R A I N E

Rebel attacks

1547

Henry VIII of England dies and is succeeded by his nine-year-old son Edward VI.

1757

Ahmed Shah, the ﬁrst King of Afghanistan, occupies Delhi and annexes Punjab.

Stanytsia Luhanska

Artemivsk Krasnoarmiisk

Luhansk Horlivka

Jan 22, Donetsk airport: Captured by rebels after eight-month battle

Donetsk

Izvaryne

Ilovaisk

Krasny Luch Volnovakha

Jan 24, Mariupol: Up to 30 people killed in shelling as separatists begin new offensive. Strategic city links rebel-held territory in east with Russian-occupied Crimea

The Roman Emperor Nerva names Trajan, an army general, as his successor.

Schastia

Popasna Area controlled by pro-Russian rebels

TODAY IN HISTORY

Shakhtarsk

Rebellious slaves in Santo Domingo launch an attack on the city of Cap.

1871

Surrounded by Prussian troops and suffering from famine, the French army in Paris surrenders. During the siege, balloons were used to keep contact with the outside world.

RUSSIA

Novoazovsk

Sea Of Azov Shirokyne

Source: National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, wire agencies

1792

Graphic News /

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OPINION POLL FROM OUR ARCHIVES ROWAHI REVIEWS PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE PROJECTS

MUSCAT: Dr Ahmed bin Khalfan bin Mohammed Al Rowahi, minister of agriculture and ﬁsheries, yesterday presided over the ﬁrst regular meeting of the general managers and their deputies of the ministry and general managers of agricultural regions in the presence of ministry’s undersecretary. The minister reviewed all the projects being implemented by the ministry. Rowahi said the sixth Five-Year Plan has set a number of important strategies to develop the manufacturing and marketing system of agriculture.

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The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud led an honour guard of senior Saudi princes and officials to greet the Obamas as they disembarked, which included the crown prince and deputy crown prince and the kingdom’s veteran oil minister, Ali Al Naimi

Obama arrives in Saudi, seeks close relationship The US president’s trip underscores the importance of a US-Saudi alliance that extends beyond oil interests to regional security

RIYADH: US President Barack Obama sought to cement ties with Saudi Arabia as he came to pay his respects on Tuesday after the death of late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a trip that underscores the importance of a US-Saudi alliance that extends beyond oil interests to regional security. Earlier, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters Obama wanted to discuss with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the ﬁght against IS, the volatile situation in Yemen and talks on ending a long-running dispute about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “We do believe that Saudi policy will remain quite similar to how it’s been under King Abdullah,” he said, adding Obama wanted to forge the same kind of “close relationship” with King Salman as he had with his predecessor. “They didn’t always agree, they were candid in their differences, but they were also were able to do a lot of things together,” he said. Obama’s visit comes as Washington struggles with worsening strife in the Middle East, where it counts Saudi Arabia among its few steady partners in a campaign against IS militants who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria. The US security headache worsened last week with the res-

BOOSTING TIES: US President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at the start of a bilateral meeting at Erga Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday. – Reuters

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ignation of Yemen’s government after clashes in the capital -- a setback to US efforts to contain Al Qaeda in that country. The Yemen government’s collapse is of deep concern to Saudi Arabia because of the long border they share. The Saudi role in rallying Arab support for action with Western countries against the IS, also known as ISIL or ISIS, has won praise in Washington, which along with other Western nations values the kingdom as an impor-

tant market for its defence industries. Following King Abdullah’s death last week, Obama tried to get relations off to a smooth start with King Salman. Showing how crucial the Saudi alliance is for Obama, he cut short his visit to India to lead a highranking delegation to Riyadh. King Salman led an honour guard of senior Saudi princes and officials to greet the Obamas as they disembarked, which included the crown prince and deputy crown prince and the kingdom’s veteran oil minister, Ali Al Naimi. Later, in a royal palace, the US and Saudi delegations chatted as they sat on chairs placed around the walls of a large room. Obama and King Salman appeared relaxed but formal with each other.

Obama said in an interview with CNN that the United States had to balance its pressure on Saudi Arabia and other allies over human rights with its immediate concerns about terrorism and regional stability. “With all the other countries we work with, what I have found effective is to apply steady, consistent pressure, even as we are getting business done that needs to get done,” he said. Saudi television showed new King Salman welcoming Obama and his wife Michelle at the bottom of a red-carpeted ramp before a military band played the US and Saudi national anthems. Michelle Obama wore dark slacks and a blue top with her hair uncovered. King Salman’s heir Crown

Prince Maqrin and Mohammed bin Nayef, the powerful interior minister who is second in line to the throne, were among those who greeted the American delegation. Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi was also among the delegation. Among the 29 members of Obama’s delegation are former Bush-era officials including James Baker, secretary of state during the ﬁrst Gulf War against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, and Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush. Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan and General Lloyd J. Austin III, head of US Central Command, also accompanied Obama. — Reuters and AFP

C E L E B R AT I O N S

‘Palestinians should learn from India’s resistance’ OCCUPIED RAMALLAH: In a rare gesture, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah participated in a reception here to celebrate India’s Republic Day and told his people to learn from the Indian example of peaceful resistance. Accompanied by four senior ministers, four governors, top officials and several other Palestinian dignitaries, Hamdallah joined a gathering of around 250 people assembled to celebrate India’s 66th Republic Day in occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Praising Mahatma Gandhi’s model of non-violent movement against the British to attain India’s Independence, he said that the “Palestinians could learn from the Indian example of peaceful resistance”. The Palestinian prime minister thanked India for providing ﬁnancial assistance in developing various developmental projects in the Palestinian territories and also helping in the efforts to reconstruct Gaza. “India has been consistent in its support to the Palestinians, diplomatically and politically, and has been also at the forefront of efforts towards the reconstruction of war-battered Gaza,” he told the gathering congratulating them on the occasion. India had recently provided the Palestinian Authority (PA) with an assistance of $4 million while pursuing many other programmes aimed at skill development among the Palestinian population. Expressing India’s “unconditional and unwavering” support for a just resolution of the Palestinian problem, Representative of India (ROI) to Palestine, Mahesh Kumar, outlined certain initiatives taken by the new government in India, especially the “Make in India” initiative. “Our economic engagement with Palestine, though substantial, has enormous untapped scope and potential. I, therefore, invite my Palestinian friends to avail the opportunity in India,” Kumar said. - PTI

VIDEO RELEASED

IS threatens to kill Japanese hostage, Jordan pilot in 24 hours

UNDER THREAT: People look at a large TV screen in Tokyo showing news reports about Japanese man Kenji Goto who has been kidnapped by the IS group. – AFP

BEIRUT/TOKYO: The IS militant group threatened on Tuesday to kill a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian pilot within 24 hours unless Amman frees a jailed female militant. A video released on militant websites shows a picture of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto holding a photograph of captured Jordanian pilot Maaz Al Kassasbeh. A voiceover, purportedly by Goto, warns that Jordan is blocking the Japanese journalist’s release by failing to free Sajida Al Rishawi, a would-be suicide bomber on death row since 2006. The statement says Goto and Kassasbeh will be killed within 24 hours if Rishawi is not freed, and urges the Japanese government to put pressure on Jordan. “Tell the Japanese government to put all their political pressure on Jordan,” the voice said over a still picture that appears to be of Goto holding a picture of the pilot. “Time is now running very

short,” the voice added. “It is me for her. What seems to be so difﬁcult to understand? “Any more delays by the Jordanian government will mean they are responsible for the death of their pilot, which will then be followed by mine ... The ball is now in the Jordanians’ court.” It follows a video released last week in which the group claimed to have beheaded another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa, and said Goto would be killed next if Rishawi was not freed. Rishawi was sentenced to death by a Jordanian court in September 2006 in connection with triple hotel bomb attacks in Amman the previous year that killed 60 people. Meanwhile, senior Japanese officials met late on Tuesday after the video emerged. Earlier in the day, Japan vowed to work with Jordan to secure the release of a Japanese journalist, but it reiterated that it would not

give in to terrorism. The hostage crisis has become a test for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took power in 2012 pledging to bolster Japan’s global security role. Abe on Sunday condemned the killing of Japanese citizen Haruna Yukawa by the militants as “outrageous” and called for the release of veteran correspondent Kenji Goto, captured by IS militants in Syria. “We would like to work together with the Jordanian government to secure the release of Goto,” Yasuhide Nakayama, state minister for foreign affairs, told reporters in Jordan late on Monday. Nakayama was sent to Jordan last week to deal with the crisis. The militants have dropped a ransom demand. They now say they will free Goto in exchange for the release of Sajida Al Rishawi, a convicted Iraqi suicide-bomber, from prison in Jordan. — AFP and Reuters

T E R R O R AT TA C K

Eight dead as gunmen storm Tripoli hotel TRIPOLI: At least eight people, including five foreigners, were killed when gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday, a local security official said. It was not immediately clear who staged the attack, but the SITE monitoring service said a militant group claiming affiliation with IS had claimed responsibility. IS has seized swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory. Gunfire could be heard inside the Corinthia Hotel, Tripoli’s most prominent hotel where government officials and foreign delegations often stay. There were conflicting reports about the exact number and the identity of those killed as the gunmen battled security forces. “Eight people were killed during the storming of the hotel... Five foreigners,

UNDER SIEGE: Security forces surround Corinthia Hotel after a car bomb explosion in Tripoli on Tuesday. – Reuters

two of them are women. (Also) one security man and two of the attackers,” Mahmoud Hamza of the Tripoli security force told local Al Naba television. Earlier officials said three se-

curity guards had been killed in a car bomb blast just before the gunmen stormed the hotel. It was not immediately clear whether the three were among the eight deaths reported by Hamza or were

additional casualties. Hamza did not give the nationality of the foreigners killed. Other officials gave conﬂicting accounts of whether any foreign nationals had been killed in the attack. Most foreign governments closed their embassies and pulled their staff out of Tripoli after ﬁghting between two rival factions erupted last summer. But some diplomats, business and trade delegations still visit the capital. A second official of the Tripoli security force, Omar Khadrwai, told local television the prime minister of the Tripoli-based administration as well as three foreign nationals had been evacuated from the hotel. Citing social media, the SITE monitoring service said the attack was revenge for the death of Abu Anas Al Liby, a suspected Al Qaeda member. — Reuters

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Rising temperatures in Australia all set to outpace global warming In its analysis yet of the impacts of climate change, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) painted a worst-case scenario of a rise of up to 5.1 degrees Celsius by 2090 if there are no actions taken to cut greenhouse emissions

Australia faces a rise in temperature of more than 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, the new research, using some 40 global climate models, predicts

SYDNEY: Australia faced a rise in temperature of potentially more than 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees fahrenheit) by the end of the century, an increase that would outpace global warming worldwide, the country’s national science agency said on Tuesday. In its most comprehensive analysis yet of the impacts of climate change, the Commonwealth Scientiﬁc and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) painted a worst-case scenario of a rise of up to 5.1 degrees Celsius by 2090 if

WARMER DAYS AHEAD: Burned trees line a road near Kersbrook after a bushﬁre moved through the area in the Adelaide Hills. – AFP File photo

there are no actions taken to cut greenhouse emissions. “There is a very high conﬁdence that hot days will become more frequent and hotter,” CSIRO prin-

S P L A S H E D S A F E LY

CLOSE SHAVE: The pilot of a single engine Cirrus SR-22 aircraft that ran out of fuel while enroute from California to Maui deploys his airframe parachute system 253 miles (407 kms) northeast of Maui, Hawaii, as seen in this frame grab from US Coast Guard video taken on Sunday. – Photo - Reuters

Plane runs out of fuel, safely parachutes into sea off Hawaii LOS ANGELES: Video from a US Coast Guard aircraft released on Monday captured the drama of a single-engine airplane and its pilot splashing safely onto the Pacific Ocean thanks to a parachute inside its fuselage. The factory-new Cirrus SR22 was en route to Hawaii on Sunday afternoon on a ferry flight from the San Francisco area when it “ran out of fuel,” the Coast Guard said in a press release. Video from the C-130 Hercules rescue plane showed the ill-starred aircraft deploy its airframe parachute — standard equipment on the five-seat aircraft that sells for $725,000 in its turbocharged version — an estimated 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) above the sea. Three and a half minutes later, the Cirrus hit the water with a splash, and the unidentified pilot is seen climbing into a small life raft. He was picked up about a halfhour later by a passing cruise ship, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) off the Hawaiian island of Maui. “The pilot was reported to be in good condition. The plane was last observed partially submerged,” the Coast Guard said. The pilot had reported four hours earlier that he had approximately three hours of fuel remaining, and estimated he would have to ditch 230 miles from Maui. That gave search and rescue teams valuable time to dispatch the Hercules and identify the Holland America cruise ship Veendam, sailing from San Diego, California to Maui, as a likely rescue vessel. Flight tracking website FlightAware.com indicated that the

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US-registered aircraft was flying a 2,420-mile route from Tracy airport near San Francisco to Kahului, on Maui. Tracy is a frequently used departure point for small aircraft on ferry flights from the US mainland via Hawaii to East Asia and Australia. A Cirrus SR22 can typically fly for 800 nautical miles (1,500 kilometres), but for transoceanic journeys it is fitted with extra fuel tanks in the cabin. Timely deployment Minnesota-based Cirrus says timely deployment of its Cirrus Airframe Parachute System has saved 104 lives worldwide since the debut of the original SR20 model in the 1990s. Similar airframe parachutes are available for Cessna 172 and 182 single-engine aircraft, but not as standard equipment. They can also be fitted to homebuilt planes. When deployed, the parachute will bring a Cirrus down to Earth at a rate of about 1,700 feet per minute. Seatbelts with integrated airbags add an extra degree of safety. The pilot and passenger of another Cirrus SR22 credited the parachute with saving their lives in October during a mid-air collision with a helicopter at Frederick, Maryland airport, northwest of Washington. The three people in the Robinson R44 training helicopter died; the Cirrus occupants suffered minor injuries. — AFP

cipal research scientist Kevin Hennessy said. “We also have very high conﬁdence that sea levels will rise, oceans will become more acidic, and snow depths will

decline.” The dire warning from the government-funded agency is at odds with the official line from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who in 2009 declared the

science of climate change was “crap”. Abbott last year scrapped a tax on carbon pricing and abolished the independent Climate Commission, saying recent severe

droughts that have crippled cattle farmers were “not a new thing in Australia”. As the host of the Group of 20 last year, he attempted to keep climate change off the agenda, resulting in an embarrassing backdown at the Leaders Summit in Brisbane after US President Barack Obama used a high-proﬁle speech to warn Australia that its own Great Barrier Reef was in danger. One of the world’s biggest carbon emitters, Australia has declined to join the United States, Japan, France and others in contributing to the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund. Abbott has instead committed $2.21 billion (A$2.55 billion) to a domestic initiative to reduce the country’s emissions by 5 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. The new research by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, using some 40 global climate models, has Australia warming at a greater rate than the rest of the world. The 5.1 degree Celsius projection for 2090 is at the top end of a range starting at 2.8 degrees Celsius and is dependent on how deeply, if at all, greenhouse gas emissions are cut. The world average is for an increase of between 2.6 degrees Celsius and 4.8 degrees Celsius. — Reuters

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US storm dumps one feet of snow A blizzard warning remained in effect for much of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, even as the National Weather Service lifted its blizzard warning for the

HARD HIT: A man wearing a New York Yankees cap shovels the sidewalk on Tuesday in the Bronx Borough of New York. — AFP

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BOSTON/NEW YORK: A blizzard swept across the northeastern United States on Tuesday, dropping more than a foot (30 cm) of snow across Massachusetts and Connecticut even as its impact on New York City fell short of dire predictions. The governors of New York and New Jersey lifted travel bans they had imposed a day earlier and New York City’s subway system was set to restart, though officials urged people who did not have to drive to stay off snow-covered roadways. A blizzard warning remained in effect for much of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where snow was expected to go on falling through the day at a rate as high as 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) an hour, even as the National Weather Service lifted its blizzard warning for the New York City area. Some in New York criticised the aggressive warnings of ofﬁcials including Mayor Bill de Blasio, who for the ﬁrst time in history ordered the city’s subway

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to close for a snowstorm. Officials with vivid memories of disasters including 2012’s Superstorm Sandy defended their actions. Some cab drivers in New York doubled fares and sought to pack additional passengers into their vehicles as office workers headed to their jobs. Traffic snarled On New York’s Long Island, Suffolk County Police said a teenager had died late on Monday when he crashed into a lamppost in the street where he was snow-tubing. The New York Stock Exchange, owned by Intercontinental Exchange Inc, will run as usual, said spokesman Eric Ryan. Nasdaq OMX Group, and BATS Global Markets also expected to stay open for normal operating hours on Tuesday. Travel was still snarled, with more than 4,500 ﬂights canceled at US airports, according to

FlightAware.com. New Yorkers were divided on whether officials had over-reacted in ordering dramatic shutdowns ahead of the storm. Playing safe “The mayor might have blown it this time but he was probably just playing it safe,” said Manny Martinez, 55, as he salted his driveway in New York’s Brooklyn borough. Martinez said he was glad to ﬁnd his shoveling work easier than he had expected, “This is what I was praying for, the white ﬂuffy stuff.” Others were frustrated that de Blasio had preemptively shut the subway and ordered cabs off the roads. “It’s never as bad as they say it is going to be,” said Greg Noble, 29, as he walked briskly to his maintenance job some 30 city blocks from his Manhattan home. “This made it a little difficult to go to my job. I usually take a taxi, but no taxis today.” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo defended the decisions, which had included a driving ban in New York and its surrounding counties overnight.— Reuters

V O C I F E R O U S LY O P P O S S E D

Erdogan says no to Syrian Kurdistan ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said his country opposes the idea of a Kurdish-controlled autonomous government in northern Syria. His comments came as Kurdish militia drove the IS insurgents from the Syrian town of Kobane just across the Turkish border and raised their flags on Monday, in a heavy blow to extremists after months of intensive fighting. “We do not want a new Iraq. What’s this? Northern Iraq,” Erdogan told Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper aboard a plane en route from an African tour at the weekend. He was referring to the Kurdish-controlled part of Iraq known as Iraqi Kurdistan. “A northern Syria there after northern Iraq... It is not possible for us to accept this,” he said. “Such formations will lead to grave problems in the future.” Kurdish forces gradually pushed back IS militants who have captured large chunks of territory in Iraq and Syria, with the help of the US-led air raids and a group of fighters from Iraq’s Kurdish peshmerga forces. Turkey, which has fought a 30-year insurgency against Kurdish rebels in its southeast, has hesitated to act for Kobane over fears it could embolden Kurdish forces. Erdogan has in the past said

A northern Syria there after northern Iraq... It is not possible for us (Turkey) to accept this. Such formations will lead to grave problems in the future Tayyip Erdogan Turkish President

that his country will not allow “a terrorist group to establish camps in northern Syria” and threaten Turkey. Ankara blacklists the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — which uses its safe havens in northern Iraq as a springboard for deadly attacks on its soil — as a terrorist organisation and sees the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a Syrian branch of the PKK. — AFP

L AT E L I T V I N E N K O ’ S C L A I M

‘Putin ordered death of former KGB spy’ LONDON: Ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died after drinking tea poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope, told British police beforehand that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally behind it, an inquiry into his killing heard on Tuesday. British authorities believe Litvinenko was poisoned with

green tea laced with polonium-210 at the Pine Bar of the plush Millennium hotel in central London on November 1, 2006 during a meeting with two Russians, Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun. He died three weeks later and in opening submissions, the lawyer to the inquiry, Robin Tam, said. — Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W EDN ES DAY, JAN UARY 28, 2015

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Muscat 6,591.73 - 53.19 - 0.80%

Dubai 3,720.39 - 2.82 - 0.08%

Abu Dhabi 4,530.20 - 4.31 - 0.10%

Saudi Arabia

8,661.06 + 180.96 + 2.13%

Kuwait 6,615.44 - 43.82 - 0.66%

Bahrain 1,417.40 - 11.19 - 0.78%

Qatar 11,920.48 + 84.41 + 0.71%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.28 Pound ............................................ 1.71 Indian Rs .............................159.54 Pak Rs ....................................258.13 Bangla Taka.......................199.48

Indian Rs ................................... 159.10 Pakistan Rs .............................260.70 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 343.65 Bangla Taka............................ 201.50 Phil Peso .................................... 114.25

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) ........16.15

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$46.27 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$43.89 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$48.03 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ......... $47.78 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ..........$47.91 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$45.00

Sohar-based firms seek gas price hike in a phased manner The impact will be more on natural gas

Oman Ceramics Company wins two major certiﬁcations

intensive industries like cement, ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, steel and glass manufacturing since a portion of their manufacturing cost is for fuel WELL DONE: The company’s vitreous China sanitaryware, under brand name Wave, obtains ISO: 14001 and OSHAS: 18001 certiﬁcations. — Picture by Ismail Al Farsi/Times of Oman

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com Times News Service MUSCAT: Sohar-based industries, which are using natural gas as energy, have asked Oman government to consider the recent doubling of natural gas price in a phased manner over a ﬁve-year period. Oman government has doubled natural gas price to 41 baisas per standard cubic metre from 20.5 baisas with effect from this month and an annual increase of three per cent thereafter. “We are asking the government to implement it (price increase) in a phased manner over a ﬁve year period so that the impact will be less,” Vish Natrajan, chief executive officer of Oman Ceramics Company, told Times of Oman. He said 15 major consumers of natural gas in Sohar industrial area are affected with the recent hike in natural gas price. The impact will be more on natural gas intensive industries like cement, ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, steel and glass manufacturing since a sizable portion of their manufacturing cost is for fuel. Earnings of other industries (which consume less natural gas and located within various industrial estates) will also be affected, but to a lesser extend. “We are hoping that they (Oman government) will listen to us. As of now, we are paying double the price,” Natrajan said, adding; “We have to find ways to minimise the impact, which will include improvement in operational efficiency and passing on additional cost to the consumers.” Al Maha Ceramics, another

MUSCAT: Oman Ceramics Company, manufacturers of high quality vitreous China sanitaryware under brand name Wave, has added two more feathers to their cap by obtaining ISO:14001 certificate for their environmental management system and OSHAS:18001 certificate for their occupational health and safety standards. Having already received the ISO: 9001 quality management system certificate as early as 2008, now Oman Ceramics is the only company in Oman in ceramics industry that has been certified for all the three systems.

company that use natural gas, earlier said it plans to mitigate cost escalation due to an increase in gas price by reviewing pricing across market segments and implement certain cost reduction and efficiency enhancement initiatives. The change in natural gas price may affect the projected proﬁt of Al Maha Ceramics by around ﬁve per cent in 2015. Natrajan said that Oman Ceramics has an installed capacity to produce 600,000 pieces of sanitaryware. However, the company’s capacity utilisation is 65 per cent. “Currently, our capacity is limited by availability of natural gas, we are waiting for additional natural gas and then only we can reach our full capacity.” Govern-

* Rates as of Jan. 27 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of Jan. 27 Source: Bank Muscat

In a gala ceremony and a press conference held on Tuesday, Amal Suhail Bahwan, chairperson of Oman Ceramics Company, received the certificates from Venugopal Balakrishnan, director of DAS Certification Services, Mena region, in the presence of distinguished guests, senior officials from the various ministries, consultants and architects, builders and contractors, trade partners, customers and the members of the media. DAS Certification Ltd. is a leading global provider of management systems assessment and certification services. > B4

ment is expected to allot additional natural gas in 2016. Natrajan said about 40-50 per cent of the company’s production is for domestic market and the remaining for export markets. Oman Ceramics exports its products to GCC countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Jordan and India. “We can double our exports to the United Kingdom. We have developed a couple of customers in the UK.” Referring to the impact on sales due to the recent plunging of oil prices, he said there would be some impact in the GCC market, but the company has other export markets to compensate for the slackness.

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) ....... 15.70 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............ 155.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 147.00 * Rates as of Jan. 27 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

CRUDE SUPPLIES

Crude to touch $200 if producers fail to invest LONDON: Opec’s secretary-general said oil prices as high as $200 a barrel are possible if producers fail to invest in new supply. “If you don’t invest in oil and gas, you will see more than $200,” Abdalla El-Badri said in an interview in London on Monday, without giving a timeframe. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude benchmark, erased a decline of as much as 2.7 percent following his comments. Crude prices tumbled 46 per cent last year as Saudi Arabia and

other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) said they wouldn’t curb output in response to a supply glut caused in part by surging US shale oil production. The International Energy Agency (IEA), the Paris-based adviser to 29 nations, said on January 21 that a decline in prices may deter investment in all types of energy. “He is raising a valid concern that falling investments due to the current price collapse may leave us with little oil coming out of the

ground in a few years,” Ole Sloth Hansen, an analyst at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen, said by e-mail on Monday. Prices as high as $200 probably won’t happen because “a move back above $100 will bring the shale oil drillers out in force as they can relatively quickly react to rising prices.” WTI for March delivery advanced 11 cents to $45.26 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:03pm Singapore time. Brent crude climbed 0.3 per cent to $48.30. — Bloomberg News

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

MARKET SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE

ahlibank inks pact with Sezad to ﬁnance projects in Duqm Times News Service MUSCAT: ahlibank and its Islamic counterpart ‘Al Hilal Islamic Banking Services’ have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (Sezad) to facilitate investment in Duqm. The MoU was signed by Lloyd Maddock, ahlibank’s chief executive officer; and Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, chairman of Sezad, at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM). Under the agreement, ahlibank, the Sultanate’s fastest growing bank, and its Islamic counterpart, will provide banking services and ﬁnance to investors and companies that will be establishing

business ventures in Duqm. In the corporate banking and small and medium enterprise arenas, the bank will offer working capital and term loans, lease finance, trade finance, guarantees and ‘B2B’ electronic banking. “We are pleased to support Sezad’s vision through providing the bank’s tailor made products and services to corporates and SMEs that take advantage of the unique investment platform and infrastructure in Duqm,” ahlibank’s chief executive officer said. “At ahlibank we recognise the importance of providing businesses with innovative and specialized banking solutions, designed to fulfill their specific banking requirements. Through the MoU with

Sezad, we aim to help and support investors and entrepreneurs by determining their unique ﬁnancial needs and providing them with uncomplicated ﬁnancial solutions at competitive prices,” added Maddock. ahlibank offers an automated system for commercial transactions between companies (B2B banking), which makes banking more convenient. The signing of the MoU with Sezad is in line with the bank’s aim to encourage business entities to invest at Sezad and to help overcome challenges that investors usually face. Under the MoU, Sezad will present the offers provided by ahlibank and Al Hilal Islamic Banking Services to potential investors.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS: Under the agreement, ahlibank, the Sultanate’s fastest growing bank, and its Islamic counterpart, will provide banking services and ﬁnance to investors and companies that will be establishing business ventures in Duqm. – Supplied picture

Arrival of new crane at Sohar to support growth With the new arrival, the terminal operator now boasts three mobile harbour cranes as the maximum single crane lifting capacity has increased from 80 metric tonnes to 100 metric tonnes

Times News Service MUSCAT: C. Steinweg Oman, operator of the multipurpose cargo terminal at Sohar Port and Freezone, has bolstered its ground handling capacity following the arrival of a 100 metric tonnes lifting capacity Gottwald HMK 6407 crane yesterday. With the new arrival — delivered by SAL Heavy Lift — the terminal operator now boasts three mobile harbour cranes — the maximum single crane lifting capacity has increased from 80 metric tonnes to 100 metric tonnes. “The crane is a signiﬁcant investment, and one which will support growth at Sohar, as the number of ships and the volume of cargo handled at its terminal continues to grow. Demand for project and break bulk is expected to increase in line with investment in major road and rail projects in Oman, and the additional capacity will be signiﬁcant going

forward,” said Edwin Lammers, executive commercial manager of Sohar. Gulf railway, expressway The $250 billion Gulf railway and $2.5 billion Batinah Expressway are some of the projects requiring millions of tonnes of construction materials, imported as fully-assembled project cargo, or raw materials that will feed iron and steel production at Sohar. There has been a signiﬁcant rise in demand for tower cranes in the Middle East, while many of the materials used to build the runway, terminal buildings, and surrounding infrastructure at Sohar Airport, were imported through C. Steinweg Oman’s terminal gates. Towards the end of last year, Larsen & Toubro Heavy Engineering also made the headlines when exporting the world’s largest gas plant boiler from Sohar, and with billions of dollars committed to the development of modern transport links around the logistical hub, Lammers explained how C. Steinweg has grown from being the ﬁrst operational company at the 12 year-old

port, to become an integral part of its future. “C. Steinweg was the ﬁrst operational company at Sohar. Its jetties provided the gateway for the project and construction cargo necessary to build the port and we are delighted that it has increased its ability to serve the industry within the Sultanate and across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This will boost our contribution to the domestic economy, and will create jobs in the logistics industry that will transport cargo to and from Sohar.” With long-term growth in the Oman construction industry forecasted at 6.3 per cent and the government’s ﬁve-year spending plan of $78 billion on infrastructure investment to look forward to, the crane will be operational almost immediately following its arrival and installation. GAC Oman acted as the agent.

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WE DNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

MARKET HSBC Bank Oman posts 12% growth in net profit customers in our retail banking & wealth management business, with good levels of customer acquisition, particularly in key customer segments of advance and premier, coupled with similarly strong growth in asset acquisition,” commented Andrew Long, chief executive officer of HSBC Bank Oman.

Bank posted a net proﬁt of OMR12.2m for the year ended December 2014. The board has proposed a cash dividend of 55 baisas per share

ON GROWTH PATH: HSBC Bank Oman operates an extensive network of 75 branches and over 120 ATMs across Oman. – Supplied photo

Times News Service

ﬁnancial results and dividend payout, subject to approval of the Central Bank of Oman and shareholders of the bank at the annual general meeting. The board proposed a cash dividend of 55 baisas a share, amounting to OMR11 million for the full year 2014.

MUSCAT: HSBC Bank Oman posted a net proﬁt of OMR12.2 million for the year ended December 2014, a rise of 11.9 per cent over the previous year. Net operating income before loan impairment charges increased by 3.3 per cent to OMR71 million compared to OMR68.7 million for the year ended December 2013. Net interest income increased by 1.7 per cent to OMR48.9 million, up from OMR48.1 million in 2013. Net fee income increased by 9.6 per cent to OMR12.6 million compared to OMR11.5 million for the year ended December 2013. The board of directors approved the bank’s 2014 annual

Strong foundation David Eldon, chairman of HSBC Bank Oman, said, “At our annual general meeting last year, we talked about how we had spent a lot of time and effort putting in place a stronger foundation for the future as we continue on our journey to become the leading bank in Oman.” “I am pleased that through the implementation of our strategy, we have been able to evidence this

in these results, by growth in our revenues and diligently managing our costs, along with strong growth in the balance sheet through a noticeable increase in loans and advances to our customers. This has been achieved within a framework of delivering excellence in customer service at all times,” he added. “HSBC Bank Oman is a proud local bank, and one that has a unique advantage in its ability to combine local expertise with HSBC Group’s international connectivity. Our customers have beneﬁted from this compelling proposition and this is something we will continue to exploit,” he said. “In 2014, we saw the positive results of our more focused customer-centric way of serving

P E I E I N I T I AT I V E

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ECONOMIC GROWTH

Commercial attachés briefed on Oman’s investment options Times News Service MUSCAT: Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) recently briefed representatives of commercial attachés in Oman on investment opportunities in various industrial estates across the country at a meeting. The event, attended by Eng. Musallam bin Mohammed Al Shehri, assistant chief executive officer of PEIE for operations, and director generals of the industrial estates, aimed at underlining the existing business opportunities and the value-added services provided by PEIE in collaboration with the government and private bodies in Oman. During the event, a video was screened highlighting PEIE as part of an integrated investment system in the Sultanate of Oman aiming to diversify economic models that are compatible with the business requirements of local and foreign investors. The video also underscored the signiﬁcance of creating job opportunities for the nationals, developing industrial estates, providing equipped high-tech spaces that meet the business require-

Omani talent “On the corporate side, our local expertise combined with our international capabilities enabled us to drive strong growth in new deals with customers,” he added. “In support of the national people agenda, we have strengthened our management team by appointing Omani talent in two general manager roles. We have continued to invest in further enhancements to our already comprehensive digital banking proposition and also recognised the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the future of Oman’s economy by launching our International Growth Fund, to which we committed OMR 20 million for Oman’s international and internationally aspirant SMEs,” Long said.

ments in addition to preserving an attractive investment climate. Eng. Basim bin Ali Al Nassri, director-general (Marketing and Media), stressed the importance of the strategic location of Oman combined with the prominent features of the industrial sector and the national economy. “With a total area reaching 90 million square meters of lands, PEIE today runs a line-up of industrial estates in Al Rusayl, Sohar, Al Buraimi, Raysut, Sur, Nizwa, Sumail, in addition to Knowledge Oasis Muscat, Al Mazunah Free Zone, and the recently announced Ibri Logistics Area,” he said. Al Nassri also highlighted the vision of PEIE, which is to enhance Oman’s position as a leading regional centre of manufacturing, ICT, innovation and

entrepreneurship excellence, and its mission in attracting industrial investments and providing continued support, through regionally and globally competitive strategies, good infrastructure, value adding services, and easy governmental processes. Al Nassri added that PEIE offers a package of value-added initiatives for business owners and investors in the industrial estates. These initiatives include the industrial innovation centre, human resources development centre, the national campaign of promoting Omani products, and communication and investor service centre. A presentation on Shumookh Investment and Services, the investment arm of the PEIE, was delivered by Eng Musallam Al Hudaiﬁ, general manager at Shumookh.

Poland’s growth surges ahead WARSAW: Poland’s pace of economic growth last year almost doubled from 2013, buoyed by increased investment and consumer spending as falling prices boosted their buying power. Gross domestic product rose 3.3 per cent from a year earlier, after a revised 1.7 per cent increase in 2013, the statistics office in Warsaw said on Tuesday. That matched the median estimate of 29 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Poland beneﬁted from a pickup in domesticdemand. - Bloomberg News

Q UA R T E R LY P E R F O R M A N C E

Microsoft proﬁt declines despite revenue growth SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft has reported that its quarterly proﬁt dipped but revenue increased in a sign that it is adapting to lifestyles centred on mobile devices and cloud services. Bright spots during the threemonth period ending December 31 included rising sales of Microsoft devices such as Surface tablets, Lumia smartphones, and Xbox One video game consoles. Meanwhile, money made from licensing Windows software to computer makers and businesses slipped as revenue from subscriptions in the cloud jumped. “The overall goal of having more

customers every quarter moving to the cloud is actually a structural guide post we have on a multi-year journey,” Microsoft chief ﬁnancial officer Amy Hood said. People and businesses renting Microsoft programmes as online services instead of buying software outright means less money up front but the potential to make more proﬁt over time through subscriptions and sales of premium features. The United States technology titan’s overall quarterly earnings were in line with expectations, but shares lost ground. Microsoft shares were down more than four per cent. - AFP

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

MARKET MSM index ends lower

M U S C AT B OU R S E

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,646.73 ............... 6,591.73 ....................6,591.73 ...................6,644.92................ -53.19 .................. -0.80 Financial Index ..................................... 8,111.69 .............. 8,029.44 ...................8,029.44 ................... 8,101.60................ -72.16 .................. -0.89 Industrial Index ....................................8,557.34 ...............8,537.92 ...................8,538.04 ................... 8,551.38................-13.34 .................. -0.16 Services Index .......................................3,599.17 .............. 3,572.82 ................... 3,572.82 ....................3,597.78............... -24.96 .................. -0.69 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................990.98 ..................985.83 .......................985.83 ...................... 990.63..................-4.80 .................. -0.48 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 11,523,488...................3,301,776 .....................987 ................14,871,810,177.................. 6 ......................18 ....................28 .........................52

The top gainer of the day was Al Sharqia Investments, up by 4.65 per cent, while Port

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27

Services, down by 8.99 per cent, was the 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

top loser of the day REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 1,439,871.......259,099...................134 ............0.175 ........... 0.184 ...........0.175 ........... 0.180 ............. 0.172............ 0.008............. 4.651 ................0.183 ..............0.182...................0.184...................15,573,600 .........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY .......................................................8,942 ...............3,487........................4 ........... 0.390 ...........0.390 ...........0.390........... 0.390 .............0.382 ........... 0.008.............2.094 ................0.390..............0.386...................0.394 ..................23,595,000.........0.100

MUSCAT: MSM30 Index ended the day on a negative note at 6,591.73 points, down by 0.80 per cent. MSM Sharia index declined by 0.48 per cent to close at 985.83 points. Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover. The top gainer of the day was Al Sharqia Investments, up by 4.65 per cent, while Port Services, down by 8.99 per cent, was the top loser of the day. As many as 987 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR3.3 million with more than 11.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 52 traded stocks, six advanced, 18 declined and 28 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR382,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR222,000 followed by GCC and Arab Investors for OMR159,000 worth of shares. Financial Index ended the day at 8,029.44 points, down by 0.89 per cent. Al Sharqia Investments, up by 4.65 per cent, was the only sector gainer. Al Madina Investments, Oman & Emirates Holding, Ahli Bank, Al Batinah Development and Bank Muscat decreased by 5.33 per cent, 2.31 per cent, 2.11 per cent, 2.01 per cent and 1.96 per cent respectively. Industrial Index declined by 0.16 per cent to close at 8,538.04 points. Oman Fisheries and Voltamp Energy increased by 2.99 per cent and 2.09 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Cements, Oman Flour Mills and Al Anwar Ceramics declined by 4.67 per cent, 2.30 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively. Services Sector Index closed at 3,572.82 points, down by 0.69 per cent. Sharqiyah Desalination, Al Suwadi Power and Al Batinah

Power gained 1.59 per cent, 1.12 per cent and 0.56 per cent respectively. Port Services, Renaissance Services and Omantel declined 8.99 per cent, 3.60 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively.

OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 293,500 ........... 96,086..................... 26 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.324........... 0.328 .............0.328 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.324..............0.322...................0.324 ..................32,800,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ............................................................... 1,050 .................. 625........................2 ........... 0.598 ........... 0.598 ...........0.566........... 0.596 .............0.596 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.566..............0.566...................0.596................... 27,154,603 .........0.100 OM0000001301 ............DHOFAR CATTLE FEED .......................................... 110,000.............19,800........................5 ............0.180 ........... 0.180 ...........0.180........... 0.180 .............0.180 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180.............. 0.175...................0.193...................13,860,000 .........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .......................................................... 5,873 .............10,894........................3 ............1.855 ........... 1.855............1.855 ............1.855 ............. 1.855............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.855 .............. 1.855...................1.870..................371,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 211,000 ........... 50,572......................14 ........... 0.242...........0.242 ...........0.236........... 0.240 .............0.240 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.236..............0.235...................0.236.................. 48,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ......................................................................10,000 .............. 4,300........................2 ........... 0.430 ...........0.430 ...........0.430........... 0.430 .............0.430 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.430..............0.430...................0.444 .................144,799,490........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY........................................3,500 ...............7,048........................3 ............2.010 ...........2.020 ...........2.010........... 2.010 .............2.010 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.010..............2.010...................2.020 .................180,297,000........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ...................................................................42 .....................72........................1 ............1.720 ........... 1.720 ...........1.720 ............1.655 ............. 1.655............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.720 .............. 1.725...................1.800.................... 3,310,000 ..........1.000

ADCB expansion Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is looking to increase the staff in its small-and-medium enterprise division by as much as 20 per cent this year as the United Arab Emirates government adopts policies to assist smaller companies.

“There is a clear mandate from the board that we need to grow the business,” Martin Roussel, head of the business- banking division at the UAE’s fourth-largest lender, said in an interview at his office in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. “I have the possibility to grow my staff by 20 per cent in 2015.” The division has about 136 employees, with a headcount of about 300 when external staff are included, he said. The UAE passed a law last year stipulating that government agencies give at least 10 per cent of their contracts to local smaller businesses, the Economy Ministry’s website shows. Abu Dhabi, the biggest and richest of the seven emirates, set up the Sheikh Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development in 2007 to aid small companies. The slump in oil prices shouldn’t pose a threat to lending to SMEs, including those catering to the petroleum industry, in the next 18 months, said Roussel. “Under no circumstances” is credit to the companies being curtailed, he said. Oil-industry related companies account for about 10 per cent of clients for the bank’s SME division, said Roussel. The price of oil fell almost 50 per cent last year, the most since the 2008 ﬁnancial crisis, curbing revenue for the UAE, the ﬁfth-largest member of the Opec. — United Securities/Bloomberg News

OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS................................................................... 65 .....................97........................1 ............1.485 ........... 1.485 ...........1.485 ............1.485 ............. 1.485............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.485 ............. 0.000...................1.485 ...................71,522,150 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............10,000 ...............1,900........................3 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.190........... 0.190 .............0.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190..............0.189...................0.190....................3,990,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ......................... 32,000 .............10,530........................6 ........... 0.328 ...........0.330 ...........0.328........... 0.330 .............0.330 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.330..............0.326...................0.330 ..................41,216,327 .........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 233,923 ........... 79,240..................... 23 ........... 0.340...........0.340 ...........0.338........... 0.338 .............0.338 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.338..............0.334...................0.338...................20,687,044 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR .............................................................. 15,696 ...............5,494........................3 ........... 0.350 ...........0.350 ...........0.350........... 0.350 .............0.350 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.350..............0.350...................0.360 .................470,134,775 ........0.100 OM0000002572 ...........OMAN OIL MARKETING ............................................... 300 ..................660........................1 ........... 2.200...........2.200 .......... 2.200 .......... 2.220 .............2.220 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ............... 2.200 ............ 2.200...................2.230 .................136,030,500........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING .......................................................... 162,846 ............63,184......................13 ........... 0.388 ...........0.388 ...........0.388........... 0.388 .............0.388 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.388..............0.388...................0.392...................67,288,221 .........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 162,674.............18,545........................7 ............0.114 ........... 0.114............0.114 ............0.114 ............. 0.114............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.114 ...............0.113................... 0.114 .................. 22,800,000 ........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ......................................................2,765 .................. 412........................1 ............0.149 ........... 0.149 ...........0.149 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.149 ..............0.149................... 0.151 ...................38,038,500.........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 149,500 ............27,144......................16 ............0.182 ........... 0.183 ...........0.180........... 0.182 .............0.182............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.180..............0.180...................0.182................... 47,978,615 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 169,479...........118,417.....................20 ........... 0.700 ........... 0.700 ...........0.696........... 0.700 .............0.700 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.696..............0.696...................0.700..................455,660,961........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 173,254.......... 309,071..................... 66 ............1.795 ........... 1.795............ 1.775 ............1.785 ............. 1.790............-0.005 ........... -0.279 ............... 1.775 ...............1.775...................1.780 ................1,338,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ................................... 6,850 ...............3,069........................3 ........... 0.448 ...........0.448 ...........0.448........... 0.448 .............0.450 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.444 ...............0.448..............0.444...................0.448 ................. 110,586,441 ........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 7,800 ...............4,526........................3 ........... 0.582 ...........0.582 ...........0.580........... 0.580 .............0.584 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.685 ...............0.580..............0.578...................0.580 ..................91,350,000 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,484,923 ...... 337,626...................100 ........... 0.229 ...........0.229 ...........0.226........... 0.227 .............0.229 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.873 ...............0.227..............0.227...................0.228 ..................29,623,500.........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 115,000............ 40,850......................11 ........... 0.360 ...........0.360 ...........0.350........... 0.356 .............0.360 ...........-0.004 ............-1.111 ................0.350..............0.344...................0.350................. 433,902,590 .......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 859,154.......... 197,430..................... 27 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.229........... 0.230 .............0.233 ...........-0.003 ........... -1.288 ...............0.230..............0.230...................0.231..................263,120,000 .......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 977,230 ......... 146,850......................41 ............0.152 ........... 0.152 ...........0.148 ........... 0.150 ............. 0.152............-0.002 ............-1.316................0.149 ..............0.148...................0.149....................8,826,483 ..........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ......................................................46,045 ...............6,609........................4 ............0.143 ........... 0.144 ...........0.143 ........... 0.144 .............0.146............-0.002 ........... -1.370................0.144..............0.143...................0.144................. 288,045,042 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,424,199 ......856,467..................... 97 ............0.612 ........... 0.612 ...........0.596........... 0.600 ............. 0.612............-0.012 ............-1.961................0.596..............0.594...................0.596................ 1,309,612,913 ......0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 840,100 ......... 195,087..................... 48 ........... 0.230 ........... 0.235 ...........0.230........... 0.232 .............0.237 ...........-0.005 ............-2.110................0.230..............0.229...................0.239..................300,553,078........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ...............................................................7,738 ...............3,953........................5 ............0.516 ........... 0.516 ...........0.470........... 0.510 .............0.522 ...........-0.012 ........... -2.299 ...............0.470..............0.470...................0.514..................168,745,082 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 632,350 ............80,421..................... 50 ............0.130 ........... 0.131............0.125 ............0.127 .............0.130............-0.003 ........... -2.308 ...............0.126 .............. 0.125...................0.126................... 15,478,125 .........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................34,100 ............ 16,440........................7 ........... 0.484 ...........0.484 ...........0.482........... 0.482 .............0.500 ...........-0.018 ........... -3.600 ...............0.482..............0.480...................0.482 .................135,969,527 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 274,049 ............19,576..................... 34 ........... 0.070 ........... 0.075 ...........0.068............0.071 .............0.075 ...........-0.004 ........... -5.333 ...............0.071 .............. 0.071...................0.073................... 14,707,748 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................ 43,000 .............13,956..................... 10 ........... 0.324 ...........0.328 ...........0.324........... 0.324 .............0.356 ...........-0.032 ........... -8.989 ...............0.324..............0.322...................0.330 ..................30,792,960.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,948,818 .......3,009,537 .............794 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......36........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ......................................................... 7,200 .................. 497........................2 ........... 0.069 ...........0.069 ...........0.069........... 0.069 .............0.067 ........... 0.002............. 2.985 ................0.069..............0.068...................0.070....................8,625,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION .................................11,681 .............37,368........................8 ............3.180 ...........3.200 ...........3.180 ........... 3.200 ............. 3.150............ 0.050............. 1.587 ................3.200............. 3.200...................3.300 .................. 31,296,691 .........1.000 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 180,641 ............ 32,428..................... 36 ............0.179 ........... 0.180 ...........0.179 ........... 0.180 ............. 0.178............ 0.002............. 1.124 ................0.179 .............. 0.179...................0.180.................. 128,593,141 ........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 259,067 ........... 46,363..................... 36 ............0.179 ........... 0.180 ...........0.178 ............0.179 ............. 0.178.............0.001 ............. 0.562 ................0.179 .............. 0.179...................0.180..................120,804,850 .......0.100 OM0000001855 ............MAJAN GLASS .....................................................................100 .....................24........................1 ........... 0.244...........0.244 ...........0.244 .......... 0.244 .............0.244 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.244 ............ 0.244...................0.258...................10,253,685 .........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA .................................................................. 21,130 ................1,712........................3 ............0.081 ........... 0.081 ...........0.081 ........... 0.081 ............. 0.081............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.081 ..............0.080...................0.081..................121,500,000........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.................................................. 3,565 .................. 339........................1 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.095........... 0.092 .............0.092 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.095..............0.092...................0.094 ................. 92,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 2,481 ...............5,595........................2 ........... 2.255 ...........2.255 ...........2.255........... 2.255 .............2.255 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.255............. 2.260...................2.300 .................215,255,975 ........1.000 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................. 76,783 ............44,949......................16 ........... 0.586 ........... 0.588 ...........0.582........... 0.586 .............0.586 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.582..............0.580...................0.582...................29,300,000.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................78,400 ................7,091......................13 ............0.091 ........... 0.091 ...........0.090........... 0.090 ............. 0.091............-0.001 ........... -1.099................0.090..............0.090...................0.092 ..................15,750,000 .........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 240,887 ............47,054.....................24 ............0.199 ........... 0.199 ...........0.195 ............0.195 ............. 0.199............-0.004 ........... -2.010 ...............0.195 ..............0.194...................0.195 ....................5,850,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 640,784 ............65,616..................... 46 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.105 ...........0.100........... 0.102 .............0.107............-0.005 ........... -4.673 ...............0.102..............0.102...................0.104.....................7,671,216...........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,522,719.......289,035................... 188 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......12........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

THIRD MARKET ........................................................................................................................................................................................ OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER .............................. 50,000 ...............3,000........................1 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060............. 0.000...................0.000 ................... 1,207,662 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: ................................................................................... 50,000 ...............3,000........................1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ........................................................................................................................................................................................ OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ...........................1,492 ...................157........................2 ............0.105 ........... 0.105 ...........0.105 ........... 0.107 .............0.107............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.105 ..............0.105...................0.000 ..................32,394,155 .........0.100 OM0000004628 ...........BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 ................................................325 .....................33........................1 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.102 .............0.102 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102..............0.092...................0.000 ...................7,293,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .................................................134 .....................14........................1 ............0.106 ........... 0.106 ...........0.106........... 0.106 .............0.106 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.106..............0.106...................0.108...................33,882,124 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................1,951 ..................204........................4 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 3........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

K E Y C E R T I F I C AT I O N S

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B1 ‘A milestone achievement’ Receiving the certiﬁcates, Amal Bahwan said, “I congratulate Oman Ceramics for achieving these fantastic milestones. Sustainable environment management and occupational health and safety standards in any manufacturing activity are very important management responsibilities. I am glad Oman Ceramics has proactively worked and achieved these goals to become

the ﬁrst company in the Ceramics Industry of Oman.” “Our high concern for the environment and for the safety and well-being of our employees led us to go for ISO: 14001 and OSHAS: 18001 certiﬁcations. Our focus on customers in terms of product quality, product performance, reliability and after sales service has helped us to achieve the various milestones. At Oman

Ceramics, we have a penchant for best management practices and following international standards as our products are not only sold in Oman but also exported to several countries across the globe. These certiﬁcations reassure our local and international customers of our quality and manufacturing standards,” noted Vish Natrajan, chief executive officer of Oman Ceramics.

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Toyota Fortuner TRD Sportivo now offers best of both worlds The 2015 Fortuner TRD Sportivo is a ‘reﬁned soul in a muscular body decked out for urban adventures’

MUSCAT: The all-new 2015 Fortuner TRD Sportivo is an exciting new addition to the popular Toyota range. A stunner off-the-road, it looks equally stunning at home on sleek city highways. The 2015 Fortuner TRD Sportivo is a ‘reﬁned soul in a muscular

body decked out for urban adventures’. Its excitingly new additions include a stylish front bumper spoiler, rear and roof spoiler, an imposing TRD Sportivo emblem and muffler cutter. Livening-up the entire package is a TRD side tape stripe. Interestingly, TRD means Toyota Racing Development. It is meant for Special Edition vehicles, with high-performance parts and accessories that are used by Toyota racing teams, worldwide, says a press release. The Fortuner TRD Sportivo’s splendid form is further adorned with chrome radiator grille, HID headlamps and magniﬁcent 17” alloy wheels. Engineered for the discerning driver, Fortuner TRD Sportivo’s comfortable cabin is equipped with an ergonomic interface – a horizontal-theme instrument panel set within strikingly beau-

tiful black woodgrain paneling. Abundant storage spaces and rich appointments reinforce the highclass feel of the luxurious 4WD. Everything is within easy reach the steering wheel has controls for audio, MID and Bluetooth, apart from cruise controls. The Bluetooth integrated CD/MP3 player audio system is equipped with a 6.1” display.

F U N D AY

EXPO

Commenting on how the event reinforced the company’s commitment to being a responsible and proactive corporate citizen, Anil Khimji, Director at Khimji Ramdas said, “We are honoured to play such a signiﬁcant role in organising events that showcase the talents of local communities. "More importantly, we appreciate events where families and children in the different governorates of Oman are brought together in a fun environment that fosters learning.”

He reiterated that the event formed part of the company’s focus on developing local communities and assisting them in becoming self-sustaining societies. The Izki Festival which is a tenday affair in the town of Izki gives local families the opportunity to enjoy lively entertainment and develop an appreciation for traditional Omani arts. Most of the activities feature a good blend of sports, electronic gaming and cultural performances showcasing Omani heritage.

Muscat Expo takes part in Intersec Dubai MUSCAT: Muscat Expo participated at the Intersec Exhibition in Dubai which concluded last week and was the only company from Oman at the exhibition. Intersec which is in its 17th edition, is the largest international trade exhibition for fire, safety and security in the world with over 1,200 exhibitors and more than 25,000 visitors from over 100 countries, says a press release. Muscat Expo exhibited OFSEC — Oman Fire, Safety and Security Exhibition — which will be held from the September 14 to 16, 2015, at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb. OFSEC exhibition was promoted to target visitors from the region and international domain, and to possible exhibitors. OFSEC 2015 is the only and most comprehensive exhibition on fire, safety and security in Oman. The exhibition will bring together local and international exhibitors who will showcase their avant-garde solutions, specific transverse and latest technologies, cutting edge innovations, cost-effective products and services to meet the requirements of governments, businesses, industrial & commercial entities, aviation, construction, infrastructure, transportation,

Q ATA R M O T O R S H O W

MUSCAT: Oman Shipping Company (OSC) is attending the SMEs Symposium 2015 currently being held at Sultan Qaboos University. OSC is the leading player in logistic sector at the expo, says a press release. A team from the Procurement Department is attending the SMEs Expo representing OSC. In addition, company officials are attending the associated seminars and workshops. Due to the fact that the symposium is the most prominent event in the growing SME sector in the Sultanate, OSC hopes that through its participation it will get close exposure to identify SME sector and also meet the entrepreneurs and introduce them to the company and its activities and opportunities. This it believes will contribute to the development of existing cooperation with the SME sector and also develop a framework and programme on the support of emerging and existing SMEs.

DUBAI: Porsche’s highly anticipated plans for the 2015 instalment of the Qatar Motor Show have revealed a new era of standard-setting for the brand with four regional premieres set to be unveiled. After a landmark 2014, Porsche’s showcase at the Doha event is a strong symbol of the brand’s intentions as it powers into 2015, says a press release. Set to lead the field at a regional exhibition for the first time are not one, but two of the most powerful new Porsche Cayenne models. Boasting outstanding credentials for high-performance athleticism, the Cayenne GTS and Cayenne Turbo S are standout extensions of Porsche’s commitment to developing everyday sports cars. Showcasing the depth of that promise, Qatar National Convention Centre will also be the first to host the Middle Eastern debut of the latest incarnation of a historic bloodline, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS. The car embodies the meaning of power, dynamism and exquisite style. A very special fourth regional premiere is also set to thrill audiences in the form of the Panamera Exclusive Series. Based on the Panamera Turbo S Executive the new model delivers a level of luxury and unique craftsmanship that is unrivalled in the automotive sector. The Qatar Motor Show will also allow the motoring industry and enthusiasts from across the Middle East the opportunity to examine three more of Porsche’s latest benchmarks. Embodying the spirit of Porsche, the 911 Turbo S Coupe is a car with 40 years of distinction and evolution which

manufacturing, oil and gas and utilities sectors. OFSEC is designed to meet the needs of the local, regional and international markets by linking practitioners, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers from the ﬁre, safety and security industry, with key decision makers from the government and private sectors, making it a deﬁnitive networking platform, where new projects and partnerships are initiated and visionary objectives are implemented. This event also aims to create synergy and strengthen the collaboration between the authorities and the industries.

The exhibition is organised in co-operation with Muscat Municipality. The diamond sponsor is Falcon Technical Services, gold sponsor is Williamson Dickies along with 25 conﬁrmed exhibitors from 10 countries. The official airline is Qatar Airways, providing special promotional fares to exhibitors and visitors of the exhibition. The official travel partner is Khimji’s House of Travel. The supporters of the exhibition include Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA). OFSEC media partners include Asia Paciﬁc Fire Magazine, Fire Middle East Magazine, Fire Product Search, Fire Safety Search, Fire Security Magazine, Global Security Magazine, Homeland Security Research Corporation, International Fire Fighter Magazine, International Fire Protection Magazine, Sec.ru, SourceSecurity.com, SSN Gulf, The Security Review and TheBigRedGuide.com, to name a few. Muscat Expo is headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman with alliance offices globally.

PA R T N E R S H I P AG R E E M E N T

Porsche extends heritage of excellence with new models

Oman Shipping participates in SMEs symposium

braking in difficult conditions. Driver and front passenger airbags protect the front seat passengers in case of heavy impact. Additionally, the rear parking sensors, head lamp leveling, anti-theft engine immobiliser, crash safety body with crumple zones reassure and protect occupants. All specifications listed are standard Toyota equipment. Safety kit (fire extinguisher, warning triangle, tyre pressure gauge & first aid kit) and floor mats are dealer installed non-Toyota items. Vehicle specifications may change without prior notice. Pictures and colours may differ from actual specifications of the vehicle. For further details, please visit your nearest Toyota showroom. In Oman, Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive.

F I R E , S A F E T Y, S E C U R I T Y FA I R

Khimji Ramdas Group supports Izki Festival

MUSCAT: Following the success from its active involvement in the ﬁrst Izki Festival held last May, KR Group once again led the event’s activities during its second edition held recently. The conglomerate supported the festival through its involvement in organising, hosting and planning of the Izki fest celebrations. Khimji Ramdas also brought to Izki the Sindbad Children’s Mobile Library, an initiative they have been supporting since its launch, says a press release.

The other high-end ﬂourishes include a dual auto air-conditioner, 6-way power driver seat, back view camera, head lamp cleaners, retractable outer mirrors with turn signals and a side-step. Generous cabin space can be quickly re-arranged to accommodate various combinations of people/luggage. Three rows of leather seats comfortably seat seven adults. The

third and second row seats can be folded and stowed away – freeing up even more luggage space! A genuine 4-wheel drive, the Fortuner TRD Sportivo is equipped with an advanced large displacement engine and tough chassis for an uncompromising running performance, whether on-road or off-road. At the heart of the vehicle is a V6 4.0-litre, 24-valve VVT-i engine that delivers output of 235 HP and torque of 38.3 kg-m in SAE net. The 5-speed Automatic Transmission engine, incorporating advanced electronics technology, provides optimum shift control, making the Fortuner TRD easier to drive. Advanced safety features in the Fortuner TRD Sportivo include an Antilock Braking System (Abs) that prevents wheels from locking and skidding, especially while

has continued to reach new highs and represents the ﬁrst strand of Porsche DNA from which all models stem. True to this, the uniquely powerful third generation Porsche Cayman S will display its heightened dynamics and exceptional agility along with the Macan, the leading sports car in the compact SUV segment. Speaking ahead of the Qatar Motor Show Christer Ekberg, managing director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, said: “Throughout 2014 we enjoyed many celebrations with regards to our expanding product line up and the extension of our racing heritage on some of the ﬁnest circuits around the world, including the Middle East. Now we look to a new year of fresh challenges and opportunities to develop our range of world class sports cars suitable for everyday use.” He added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming motoring enthusiasts to our stand this year where we will host an unrivalled depth of exceptional products. The new Cayenne has evolved to the highest level of performance but through the Turbo S and GTS we see our expectations exceeded once more. The same can

be said for the 911 Targa 4 GTS. A car 50 years in the making, it is a living legend which remains at the very forefront of automotive excellence. Through these models, and of course the new Panamera Exclusive Series, we aim to give everyone the opportunity to savour the Porsche experience, understand our ground breaking technology and touch our striking designs.” Porsche’s latest pioneering achievements are set to be showcased in Qatar through the standout Cayenne models, the Turbo S and GTS. The Cayenne Turbo S is the series’ top model representing exclusiveness and superlative performance. With 570 hp and a chassis that is equipped with all of the systems available in the model series as standard, the Turbo S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and combines extraordinary comfort with extreme sportiness. It recorded a sub-eight minute lap time of the Nürburgring and now holds a new record for SUVs. All four of Porsche’s regional premieres for the Qatar Motor Show will be on display in hall 5, stand N, Qatar National Convention Centre, from February 6-10.

Advanced Oilﬁeld Technology inks pact with Score Group PLC MUSCAT: Advanced Oilﬁeld Technology (AOTC), part of Al Sulaimi Group Holding, has signed a partnership agreement with Score Group for providing latest technology in Valve Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis. The event was held at AOTC, Rusayl branch recently. Shakil Hassan, general manager, AOTC signed the agreement along with Dave Anderson, Sales and Marketing Director, Score Group, says a press release. “Score Group emphasises on being able to provide the customers with a fast service, whether it’s a supply from our stock of over $500m of valves and actuators or whether it is the overhaul and test of an existing critical valve, we know how important it is for our customers to minimise downtime. We work hard to ensure the integrity of the products we supply and to continually help our customers make incremental improvements to their plant by increasing efficiency and extended valve operating lifecycles,” Dave Anderson said. Score has been expanding internationally and now the groups of companies has facilities in over 30 countries worldwide. The range of valve services offered by Score Group has evolved from valve repair and supply to the concept of Total Valve Management. The MIDAS Valve Diagnostics range of products is exclusive to Score Group, and currently includes MIDAS Meter, MIDAS Sensor and full Valve

We work hard to ensure the integrity of the products we supply and to continually help our customers make incremental improvements to their plant by increasing efficiency and extended valve operating lifecycles Dave Anderson Sales and Marketing Director, Score Group PLC

Condition Monitoring. Score Group PLC is quite impressed with AOTC marketing strategy for 2015-16 and has offered an extended support in marketing the valve conditioning range of products.

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

ROUND-UP TAC offers cash gift on ‘safety first’ Higer Star school buses Higer Star is the only school bus in Oman to have anti-lock braking system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface

MUSCAT: Safety ﬁrst is indeed the ﬁrst concern when it comes to transportation arrangements for a school. Keeping that in mind Towell Auto Centre (TAC) has introduced Higer Star school buses which now come with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and other safety features to give the driver more control over the vehicle in trying situations. To make the bargain more attractive, TAC has also announced a cash gift of OMR1,750 on purSPECIAL OCCASION

chase of Higer Star school buses. Available at a reasonable price of OMR17,500, Higer Star is the only school bus in Oman to have antilock braking system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and avoiding uncontrolled skidding. This offer is valid until February 28, on limited units only, says a press release.

“Higer Bus Company is one of the fastest developing bus manufacturers in China and is well known for its innovation and precision in research and development. It is popular globally in Europe, America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It is the only school bus in Oman to have an ABS safety feature. By offering this cash back promotion, we are doing our bit to promote road safety especially for small children,” said a senior spokesperson of TAC. “Apart from ABS, Higer buses also have a host of other enhanced safety features such as bottom ﬁxed/top sliding glass window, safety look-down mirror, school bus stop plate, camera for inside view with foldable monitor, school bus warning lamp ensuring safe transit for school children,” he added. Through their keen focus on ‘Safety and Service’, Higer buses have been winning the trust of customers since their launch in 1998.

SOHAR PORT

New crane arrives to boost capacity at cargo terminal SOHAR: C. Steinweg Oman, operator of the multipurpose cargo terminal at Sohar Port and Freezone, has bolstered its ground handling capacity following the arrival of a 100M tonne lifting capacity Gottwald HMK 6407 crane. With the new arrival, delivered by SAL Heavy Lift, the terminal operator now boasts three mobile harbour cranes; the maximum single crane lifting capacity has increased from 80M tonnes to 100M tonnes, says a press release. “The crane is a signiﬁcant investment, and one which will support growth at Sohar, as the number of ships and the volume of cargo handled at its terminal continues to grow. Demand for project and break bulk is expected to increase in line with investment in major road and rail projects in Oman,” said Sohar Port Executive Commercial Manager, Edwin Lammers.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME

ISD celebrates 66th Republic Day in style

MUSCAT: The 66th Republic Day of India was commemorated with joy, fervour and enthusiasm at Indian School Darsait (ISD). The day began with a one minute silent prayer observed to pay tribute to late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, who passed away on Friday, January 23, says a press release. The chief guest Abdul Rahim Kassim, president, School Management Committee, unfurled the Indian National Flag followed by the National Anthem of India. The other dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr Amsa Parambil, Vice President and Head, Academic Sub Committee, SMC, Ajayan Poyyara, Head, Purchase Committee, SMC, Sunil Dath Sankaran, Head, Sports Committee, SMC & Nikhila Anil Kumar, Member, SMC. Addressing the gathering, the chief guest said, “Republic Day gives us proud moments to

cherish and we should highly acknowledge the sacriﬁce of our great leaders. We should also remember to pay tribute to our ever dedicated scientists for taking our country to zenith of glory with the success of India’s Mars mission ‘Mangalyaan’ in its maiden attempt.” He also urged all to imbibe the spirit of unity in diversity and work for communal peace and harmony. The highlights of the day were melodious songs sung by the choir from both primary and senior sections of the school: Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain…. and Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja. They were indeed meaningful glimpses that aroused patriotic fervour and love in one and all. Staff, students and a good number of parents and well wishers were also present to witness the celebrations. Sweets were distributed to the students at the end of the programme.

Republic Day gives us proud moments to cherish and we should highly acknowledge the sacrifice of our great leaders. We should also remember to pay tribute to our ever dedicated scientists for taking our country to zenith of glory with the success of India’s Mars mission ‘Mangalyaan’ in its maiden attempt Abdul Rahim Kassim President, School Management Committee

Injaz signs pact with SQU for largest Sharikati team MUSCAT: Injaz Oman and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) marked their third partnership with Injaz Oman’s Sharikati programme on Monday. The agreement signing was presided over by Dr Ali Al Bimani, vice chancellor of SQU and Khalid Al Zubair, chairman of Injaz Oman, says a press release. “We have received the largest participation from a single university in the Sharikati programme and competition since it began, with 35 teams of students taking part from SQU. This is the third year in a row that we sign with SQU and our collaboration with the institute is not as just another university, it is a grounded partnership,” said, Shabib Al Maamari, executive director of Injaz Oman. The partnership between SQU and Injaz Oman aims to fulﬁl the goal of cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship between univer-

own business, market it, and develop the products and make ﬁnancial plans for it. This year’s Sharikati programme will witness the participation of over 700 students from 65 teams across 18 different colleges in all regions of the Sultanate.

EMPLOYEE FOCUSED PROGRAMME

APPOINTMENT

Reputed plastic surgeon joins Starcare MUSCAT: Eminent surgeon Dr Gacs Janos, MD has joined Starcare Hospital in the Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. The department will benefit from the immense experience and clinical skills of Dr Gacs. Dr Gacs is a famous plastic and reconstructive surgeon hailing from Europe. Having taken his medical degree from Europe he further went on to take master’s in general surgery and later became a certified plastic and aesthetic surgeon. He believes that plastic surgery is a blend of surgeon’s artistic vision and the expert knowledge in the field, combining these brings out the best in surgery, says a press release. Dr Gacs is a member of the Hungarian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (MPHEST). He is also member of the International Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS), ÁNTSZ accredited (The Hungarian National Public Health and Medical Officer Service). He has been a plastic surgeon since 1997 and performs a large number of plastic and cosmetic treatments and surgeries per year. Welcoming Dr Janos to the Starcare family, Jayan K., Vice President, Starcare Health sys-

sity and college students through the Sharikati programme. The students can create their own student companies and learn about teamwork, leadership, planning, research, negotiating, problem solving and critical thinking. The teams can also establish their

tems, remarked: “Plastic surgery is about rebuilding lives be it reconstructive or aesthetic, by trusting us and choosing us as your partner you have taken the first step in that journey to better life.” “As a plastic surgeon, I always aspire to find, highlight and show the beauty of my patients and hide the features they favour less or find disadvantageous. In order to do this, it is indispensable to work with the best available implants, filling materials, up-to-date surgical techniques and highly trained assistants. The success of our efforts is proven by our satisfied patients,” said Dr Janos. Meanwhile, the hospital is all set to introduce new aesthetic interventions which can help in softening facial features and make your whole countenance appear youth-

ful. These procedures are less complex and more patient friendly. The department has other senior consultant (visiting) specialised in plastic, craniofacial, hand and burn surgery. He is a European board certiﬁed surgeon who had taken Fellowships in General Surgery, Craniomaxillofacial Surgery & General Plastic Surgery from Royal Australian College of Surgeons, Australia. The other practising doctor is Dr C. Thomas MS, FRCS, FACS. Dr Thomas is an immensely popular plastic surgeon in Oman who recently retired as Head of Plastic Surgery from Khoula Hospital. He is credited with having performed one of the world’s largest series of cleft palate surgeries among many other accolades. Dr Thomas has his clinic in Starcare First Medical Center. “We aim to promote a balanced approach that improves patient conﬁdence and well being by enhancing the appearance and aesthetic appeal. Also plastic surgery services are useful in correcting deformities resulting from accidents and by birth,” said Dr Askar Kukkadi, the director, Starcare Hospital. Derived from the Greek word ‘Plastikos’ meaning to mould to shape, plastic surgery is one of the most advanced branches of medi-

cal science dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. Cosmetic surgeries mostly intended to improve the aesthetic appeal is another important dimension of the department of plastic surgery. Department of plastic, cosmetic, craniofacial, burn surgery at Starcare offers facial plastic surgery, cosmetic plastic surgery, cleft lip and palate, hand surgery (hand injuries and deformities), craniofacial surgery, burn surgery (post burn deformities). The clinic offers treatments like liposuction, tummy tuck, cosmetic gynaecology, mastectomy, breast augmentation, face lift and so on to suit the needs of the patient. Laser treatments, Botox and cosmetic dermatology procedures are also available with customised packages. More than unrealistic expectations of beauty, the clinic promotes a balanced approach that improves the confidence and well being by enhancing the appearance and aesthetic appeal. Patients are always counselled and educated on the course of treatment at the hospital. The hospital strives to offer personalised attention and ensuring complete confidentiality to the benefit of the patients.

GPDCo rewards top performers

MUSCAT: In its commitment to support and highlight the effective role of its employees in the company, Al Ghubrah Power and Desalination Company (GPDCo) launched an employee focused programme called ‘Tahfeez’ in 2013, which has proved to be a resounding success. The programme aims to promote the company’s employees for their initiation in providing the best effort, work and commitment, says a press release. ‘Tahfeez’ focuses on the employees and follows their productivity on a monthly basis through the supervision and nomination of their direct managers, those who have shown commitments to the value of work, positive inﬂuence on the organisation and their fellow employees will be highlighted as the most valuable employee of the month. The head of the supervising committee of the ‘Tahfeez’ programme, Ahmad Al Balushi, stated that the reason behind

the success of the programme is the responsibility of the direct managers to nominate qualifying applicants, as well as the eligibility of employees belonging to all the departments within GPDCo; through the nomination form which is handed to the evaluation committee. The committee evaluates all the nominations for each month and the most valuable employee of the month is selected through a voting system. One of the winners of the ‘Tahfeez’ programme, Salim Al Shiyadi, stated that a big part of why he felt that the programme was a success was not just the ﬁnancial reward of the programme; but the supportive nature of the programme, as it showcases the hard work, commitment and effort by the employee to beneﬁt the company. He also stated that because of the programme, he has seen the competitive and proud nature within GPDCo grow substantially.

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First SPAR supermarket opens in Oman

The global food store giant will be opening

SPAR Middle East has worked closely with Spar Oman to design customer friendly layout and ambience bringing convenient and pleasurable shopping for discerning customers in Muscat. SPAR as a brand has best global practices and strong positioning. Khimji’s Mart, the retail arm of Khimji Ramdas, being the largest chain of supermarkets in Oman with a strong retailing experience of over two decades, fits in as the right partner for SPAR in Oman

four supermarkets in Oman, providing high quality fresh foods combined with a wide selection of products, excellent service and good value

M. Sridhar

Times News Service

CEO, Spar Oman MUSCAT: People of Oman have a new place to visit for quality shopping as SPAR, one of the world’s largest food store retailer, has opened its first supermarket in Oman. Speaking exclusively to Times of Oman, M. Sridhar, CEO, SPAR Oman, said that the first supermarket is located near Taimur Mosque in Al Khuwair and will offer customers a new and rewarding experience. “The 700 square metres supermarket will deliver a wide assortment of fresh produce including fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, deli, bakery and food-to-go range

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from Kitsu. Customers can expect good value food and non-food products imported from different countries with high standards of hygiene, friendly customer service giving them a premium quality shopping environment which is truly international,” he said.

“Standing high on the pillars of service, freshness, value, range and assortment, this state-of-theart SPAR supermarket in Al Khuwair will offer customers a new and a rewarding experience like none other. SPAR Middle East has worked closely with Spar Oman to design customer friendly layout and ambience bringing convenient and pleasurable shopping for discerning customers in Muscat,” Sridhar added. Khimji Ramdas, a leading busi-

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QUOTES A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. — Richard Branson Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition – in having put forth the best within you. — Henry J. Kaiser Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. — Vince Lombardi

ness conglomerate in Oman with diversiﬁed interests in trading, distribution, retailing, restaurants and manufacturing, will be the partner for SPAR in Oman. “SPAR as a brand has best global practices and strong positioning. Khimji’s Mart, the retail arm of Khimji Ramdas, being the largest chain of supermarkets in Oman with a strong retailing experience of over two decades, ﬁts in as the right partner for SPAR in Oman,” Sridhar said, adding that they will

be opening four supermarkets in Oman, which will provide high quality fresh foods combined with a wide selection of products, excellent service and good value. Apart from Al Khuwair supermarket, another 250 square metres SPAR Express format was also launched in South Al Ghubra behind Al Asalah Towers on Tuesday. The CEO also said that the success of Khimji Ramdas and SPAR will be built on uncompromising and sustainable values that both of them share and have endured the

test of time. “We will endeavour to deliver superior products and service to our shoppers across the country,” Sridhar added. SPAR is the world’s largest food store retailer — the worldwide Spar organisation comprises 12,500 stores in 40 countries, across 4 continents and meets the needs of over 11 million consumers every day. SPAR was founded in the Netherlands in 1932, and has grown to be the largest voluntary retail chain worldwide.

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‘Customer first’ approach powers Mercedes-Benz sales in Sultanate To capitalise on the success of sales ﬁgures last year, ZTC Automotive has restructured its business model to be fully aligned with Daimler Middle East Levant 2020 Vision MUSCAT: Celebrating a successful year, Zawawi Trading Company (ZTC), the exclusive distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Oman, has announced an exceptional sales volume performance, exceeding sales by 35% in 2014 compared to the previous year. This result placed Oman second overall against other General Distributors of Mercedes-Benz in the Middle East region, says a press release. This exceeds the worldwide sales success which saw Mer-

cedes-Benz improve global sales for the fourth consecutive year, selling 1,650,010 vehicles in 2014, registering an increase of 12.9% from the previous year. With 454,854 units sold across the world, Q4 was the best ever quarter in the company’s history. “We are proud to reach yet another landmark in Mercedes-Benz history both globally and here in Oman. It is extremely important to us that we consistently deliver excellence across all aspects of

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ness model to be fully aligned with Daimler Middle East Levant (DMEL) 2020 Vision. This will guarantee that ZTC meets the demands of our customer with the aim of ensuring that MercedesBenz is number one in the market by implementing the key pillars of their strategy: customer centric approach, best product portfolio, best customer experience.

cedes S-class model whilethe new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will celebrate its market launch in 2015. Record high sales were posted across the whole SUV range of GLK, ML and GL Class vehicles, this focus and sales momentum is expected to further increase in 2015. Another highlight for the company was the introduction of the ‘Mercedes-Benz My Passion’ initiative. Launched in 2014, it aims to reﬁne and ensure customer service standards, resulting in a superior customer service delivery through employees’ development and engagement. “Customer centric approach is an integral part of our strategy, the customer is the key to success. Creating a unique customer journey is one of the crucial ways to achieve sustainable growth, turning everyday moments into delight,” Hammond added.

GET TOGETHER

ISC Salalah to celebrate Republic Day today SALALAH: Indian Social Club (ISC), Salalah will host a colourful event to celebrate 66th Indian Republic Day along with members of Indian community at Sultan Qaboos bin Said Indoor Auditorium today. Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, managing director of VPS Healthcare, will be the chief guest, says a press release. Apart from a cultural programme, magician Raj from Bangalore will present a 90-minute show of his magic to the Indian community. Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, radiologist by vocation, founded and manages the most advanced healthcare facilities in the region. He has also dedicated himself to serving the

our work, so that our customers receive exceptional service. The breakthrough sales show that we have won the hearts of our customers and we will continue to provide this impeccable service throughout 2015,” said Clive Hammond, CEO of ZTC Automotive. To capitalise on the success of sales ﬁgures last year, ZTC Automotive has restructured its busi-

In addition to milestone sales ﬁgures for last year, ZTC Automotive lays claim to yet another achievement in 2014 which saw the opening of a new facility in Sohar, adding to the success of the existing Muscat, Salalah and Haima facilities. The product offensive has put Mercedes-Benz one step ahead of their competitors with awardwinning vehicles which combine exemplary performance, classleading luxury with impeccable safety standards and outstanding environmental credentials. The C-class sedan was yet again the highest selling model, maintaining its number-one ranking from 2013. With the C-class set to have full availability of two new models and innovative new engines, sales are predicted to increase even further this year. Once again, the best-selling luxury sedan for 2014 was the Mer-

needy. Dr Shamsheer has been recognised for his continuous efforts for healthcare, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. He was recently lauded for playing a leading role in getting millions of nonresident Indians the right to vote in national polls.

McDonald’s Oman holds annual dinner MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman held its annual dinner, a special occasion that got the management and staff of McDonald’s together in a fun, memorable and enjoyable atmosphere at the Crowne Plaza Muscat. The annual event is a unique platform that recognises and awards restaurant managers and crew members for their exceptional performance in quality, service and cleanliness in restaurant operations throughout the year. The awards were Restaurant Manager of the Year, Manager of the Year and Crew of the Year, says a press release. Ali K. Daud, Development Licensee and President of McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants) handed the trophies to the awar-

Organised under the theme ‘Chapeau’ (hats), the McDonald’s annual dinner showcased various talents beyond restaurant kitchens and counters, fabulous prizes and exchange gifts amongst management and staff, making it indeed the most enjoyable and memorable event for the McFamily.

dees, saying “hats off to all of you for a job well done.” The president spiced up the night by citing the new restaurants in the offing, which will

translate to greater career growth opportunities for McDonald’s employees and more job prospects for everyone in the Sultanate of Oman.

Special awards Ahmed Al Amri, HR Manager and Benna Mendiola, Store Manager at McDonald’s Qurum, won the Male and Female Star of the Night special awards. The McFamily annual dinner tradition was an exciting platform that fostered camaraderie, friendship and teamwork which was capped with memorable photo sessions.

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STEVE SMITH WINS ALLAN BORDER MEDAL Steve Smith on Tuesday capped a remarkable season by sweeping the main awards at the annual Allan Border Medal ceremony, including Australian player of the year. >C2

Nadal crushed as Sharapova slaps down Bouchard, Murray moves up The out-of-sorts Spaniard, a 14time Grand Slam champion, was never in contention against a player he had beaten the last 17 times they met stretching back to 2006 VICTOR & THE VANQUISHED: Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, left, reacts after winning his men’s singles match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal, right. – AFP

MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open dream lay in tatters on Tuesday with the third seed crushed by Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals, but Maria Sharapova showed who’s boss by slapping down Eugenie Bouchard. The out-of-sorts Spaniard, a 14time Grand Slam champion, was never in contention against a player he had beaten the last 17 times they met stretching back to 2006. The Czech seventh seed insisted ahead of the match that the imposing statistic meant little and he came out of the blocks firing, winning 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) despite a mini Nadal revival in the third set. “I was definitely ready for it and set up my plan pretty well and I stuck with that through those three sets,” said Berdych, who also made the semis last year, losing to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka. The upset pits him against Andy Murray for a place in the final, with the experienced British sixth seed a step too far for brash Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios, who lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. Nadal had no excuses, admitting he played “a very bad” match. “I am not very happy because I didn’t compete the way I wanted to compete in the first two sets and that’s something that I don’t like,” he said. “The season is long, beginnings are tough. I need to be ready to accept all the situations that happen and try to be strong.” Murray, a three-time runner up at Melbourne Park, was too

Williams sisters look to turn back clock in quarters MELBOURNE: Serena and Venus Williams will be looking to turn back the clock almost six years when they play their quarterfinals at the Australian Open on Wednesday. The American sisters face the possibility of meeting each other in a grand slam for the first time since the 2009 Wimbledon final if they can first overcome tricky opponents on Rod Laver Arena, with Venus having the toughest challenge. The 34-year-old will have to deal with teenage compatriot Madison Keys, who is widely

considered one of the cleanest strikers of a tennis ball in both the men’s and women’s game. Keys blasted the hard-hitting two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova off the court in the third round, with the Czech stating she had been under immense pressure from the Lindsay Davenport-coached 19-year-old. “Yeah, deﬁnitely some similarities,” Venus said when asked about the inﬂuence Davenport may be having on Keys. “Madison hits a clean ball, goes for it. “Lindsay used to hit a clean

ball. She was so fun to watch play. I loved watching her play. Of course, didn’t love watching her hit those clean balls against you. “So it looks like it’s a good match.” Serena, who had a shaky start to her fourth round match with Garbine Muguruza will need to be at her best from the start against last year’s beaten ﬁnalist Dominika Cibulkova, who beat two-times champion Victoria Azarenka. Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic, will also be on court in the

last match of the day on Rod Laver Arena against Canada’s Milos Raonic. Djokovic, who is yet to drop a set during the tournament, met Raonic three times on tour last year and during the Davis Cup with the Serb winning each match. Raonic, however, has improved his ﬁtness and Djokovic said the Canadian’s big serve would be a concern. Men’s champion Stan Wawrinka will also face a stiff challenge against Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the other match. - Reuters

I am not very happy because I didn’t compete the way I wanted to compete in the first two sets. The season is long, beginnings are tough. I need to be ready to accept all the situations that happen and try to be strong Rafael Nadal Spain

composed for Kyrgios but said he was taking nothing for granted against Berdych. “Maybe I won’t play well in a couple of days; maybe I play great. I don’t know,” he said. “But I’ve given myself a good opportunity again, and hopefully I can use it to my advantage.” In contrast to Nadal’s lacklustre performance, the experienced Sharapova dominated young Canadian pretender Bouchard to set up an all-Russian semi-ﬁnal with dark horse Ekaterina Makarova.

The world number two, who could claim the top ranking from arch-rival Serena Williams if she wins the title, showed her intent by breaking the seventh seed in the ﬁrst game of the match and never looked back. Billed as a Glam Slam showdown between two of the game’s most marketable women, an intense Sharapova was all business in the crushing 6-3, 6-2 win. “She’s been playing so well at Slams, so conﬁdent and so aggressive,” said the Russian, gunning for a sixth Grand Slam crown and her

ﬁrst in Australia since 2008. “I just really tried to take that away from her a little bit. I did a great job of that today.” Sharapova, who also dumped Bouchard out of the French Open semi-ﬁnals last year, gave no quarter on Rod Laver Arena, hitting 18 winners and forcing 30 unforced errors from the 20-year-old. Stressed out She now faces Makarova, who raced through her match against third seed Simona Halep,

thrashing the more-fancied Romanian 6-4, 6-0. In the other women’s quarterﬁnals, to be played Wednesday, top seed Serena Williams meets last year’s ﬁnalist Dominika Cibulkova while her sister Venus takes on teenage American Madison Keys. Makarova, her right thigh heavily strapped, said she was trying to stay grounded and not let the pressure get to her with Sharapova looming. “I need to believe in myself. I’m trying not to really think that it’s

semis, that I’m one step from the ﬁnal, but that it’s just a normal match like always,” she said. “Just go out there and enjoy my game.” Halep came into the match as favourite but her trademark ﬁghting qualities deserted her, with the talented 23-year-old saying she felt stressed by the occasion. “I practised very well in the morning, but I was a little bit too stressed before I started the match,” she said. “I don’t know why.” - AFP

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

SPORTS Pakistan player hit for six by ghost sighting WELLINGTON: A Pakistani cricketer on tour in New Zealand was hit for six when he saw what he believed was a ghost haunting him in his hotel room, the team manager said on Tuesday. Haris Sohail was convinced a “supernatural” presence was haunting him when he awoke Saturday night to ﬁnd his bed moving, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said. Cheema told Fairfax media that Sohail called a member of the coaching staff who arrived to ﬁnd the 26-year-old allrounder “visibly shaken”. Sohail, a left-arm spinner and middle-order batsman, spent the rest of the night in the coach’s room at the Rydges Latimer hotel in Christchurch before being moved to another room. The cricketer tweeted

on Sunday, “Almighty always answers your prayers”. One of his followers tweeted back: “It’s nice to hear that you recovered from that incident in New Zealand. May Almighty protect you.” The hotel’s management declined to comment on the incident, referring enquiries to Pakistan team officials who explained that the cricketer was suffering from a fever at the time. “We think it was the fever that caused it (but) the player still believes his bed was shaken by something and it was a supernatural something,” Cheema said, adding that Sohail had been examined by the team doctor and was found to be in good health. Sohail was reportedly unable to train for two days after the incident and scored six

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when batting at number four Tuesday against a New Zealand President’s XI. The 4.5-star Rydges Latimer has been rebuilt since the 2011 earthquake that devastated Christchurch and claimed 185 lives. There have been no overnight earthquakes recorded in Christchurch since the Pakistan team arrived. It is not the ﬁrst time an international cricketer has complained of ghostly goingson in the night. In 2005 several of the Australian party complained of paranormal activity at Lumley Castle hotel, which looms over Durham county’s Riverside ground. The 600-year-old castle is rumoured to be haunted by Lily, an aristocratic lady murdered in the 14th century. - AFP

Allan Border medal for Smith The proliﬁc batsman, who was promoted to national captain in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke, also took out

Steve Smith

the one-day and Test player awards

MELBOURNE: Steve Smith on Tuesday capped a remarkable season by sweeping the main awards at the annual Allan Border Medal ceremony, including Australian player of the year. The proliﬁc batsman, who was promoted to national captain in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke, also took out the

one-day and Test player awards. He was a runaway winner for the Allan Border Medal -- judged on performances in Tests and one-dayers throughout the season -- by polling 243 votes, ahead of David Warner (175) and Mitchell Johnson (126). He is only the third player to win the trifecta in the 10 years it has been running, following in the footsteps of Ricky Ponting in 2007 and Shane Watson in 2011. Other Allan Border Medal winners include Glenn McGrath, Ste-

ve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, and Clarke. The 25-year-old smashed 1,756 runs in 22 matches last year at an average of 67.54 including eight 50s and seven hundreds. He narrowly held off Warner as Test player of the year and Aaron Finch for the one-day honour. Glenn Maxwell was rewarded for his efforts with bat and ball to win Twenty20 player of the year. The emotional high-point of the night came when Sean Abbott was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year. The New South Wales allrounder has shown courage and maturity to bounce back from the tragic death of Phillip Hughes during a Sheffield Shield match in November. Abbott bowled the ball that killed Hughes and there were initially fears that the 22-year-old may be too traumatised to continue his career. But he quickly returned to play a key role for his state team and also performed well for the Sixers’ in the domestic Big Bash Twenty20 competition. - AFP

FOR RECORD

Largest cricket bat bids for Guinness record DUBAI: As the Cricket World Cup is round the corner, a bat as tall as 10-storey building, unveiled here to promote and celebrate the quadrennial event, is bidding for the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Cricket Bat’.

The 32-metre long and fourmetre wide cricket bat, created by a leading pay TVnetwork was displayed on Monday here at the ICC Academy. As tall as an eight to 10-storey building, the bat weighs a mammoth 950 kilogrammes

and is nearly 32 times longer than a standard cricket bat. “We are celebrating the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with the Guinness World Record attempt,” said Hamad Malik, CMO of OSN. - PTI

WEDNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

SPORTS ASIAN CUP

Rough diamond Lee salutes Korea coach Stielike SYDNEY: South Korea striker Lee Jeong-Hyeop has credited coach Uli Stielike for his rapid rise to fame after helping his country reach the Asian Cup final. The 23-year-old, a shock call-up for the tournament, has gone from rough diamond to polished gem in less than a month, scoring in South Korea’s group stage win over Australia and heading the team’s first in Monday’s 2-0 semifinal victory over Iraq. Not bad for a player previously almost unknown outside South Korea, and whose inclusion raised eyebrows after Stielike picked him on the basis of his performances in a handful of KLeague games, all as a substitute. Despite the pressure on South Korea to win a first Asian Cup since 1960, on top of the need to justify his selection, Lee has flourished, celebrating his goals by snapping a salute — as befitting a player serving his mandatory service by playing for army side Sangmu Phoenix. “The coach told me to just play my game and relax when we arrived in Australia,” Lee told Korean reporters, after netting his third goal in six internationals. “(Stielike) told me that he would assume the responsibility for my performance — good or bad. He always helps me to play with a relaxed mind, which makes it easier for me to play.” With big-name forwards Lee Dong-Gook and Kim ShinWook struggling for fitness and Park Chu-young also overlooked, Lee’s cool reaction to his baptism of fire has given Stielike a huge boost after injuries ended the involvement of influential pair Lee Chung-Yong and midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol. A flu bug which swept through the squad, flooring superstar Son Heung-Min among others, also tested Stielike’s resources to the limit as he looks to return South Korea to the summit of Asian football they occupied after reaching the 2002 World Cup semifinals.. “I don’t think I necessarily have a nose for the goal,” Lee told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. “I often find myself on the end of good crosses. As a striker my job is to score goals.” - AFP FOOTBALL

We’ve won nothing yet, Son warns South Korea SYDNEY: South Korea forward Son Heung-Min has warned team-mates and an expectant nation to keep their feet on the ground after reaching their first Asian Cup final in 27 years. The Korean pin-up’s sparkling performances have put his country within touching distance of a first Asian Cup title since 1960 and after Monday’s 2-0 win over Iraq, the pressure will be on them to finish the job. With hosts Australia heavy favourites to beat the United Arab Emirates in the second semifinal, however, Son knows it will be a tough ask, despite having beaten the Socceroos in the group stages. “It’s far too early for us to be talking about the title,” the jet-heeled Bayer Leverkusen star said. — AFP

Lightning first half strikes spur Socceroos into final Quickfire goals from defenders Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson in the first 15 minutes proved enough to put the 2011 runners-up in the frame for their first Asian title

NEWCASTLE: Australia struck twice early on and then soaked up the pressure as they downed United Arab Emirates 2-0 to set up an Asian Cup final against unbeaten South Korea on Tuesday. Quickfire goals from defenders Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson in the first 15 minutes proved enough to put the 2011 runners-up in the frame for their first Asian title. “It was a dream start for us,” said Davidson of West Bromwich Albion. “I think as the game went on fatigue kicked in a little bit but we hung on and kept a clean sheet.” The Emirates’ star playmaker Omar Abdulrahman asked constant questions of the Socceroos at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium, but the visitors were unable to craft a way back. “It wasn’t the best performance but sometimes in semifinals you don’t play your best football,” said forward Robbie Kruse, a veteran of the tight final defeat to Japan four years ago. “Sometimes you have to grind out a victory and we did that. We’re happy to be there and we have the chance to create history on Saturday night.”

ON TARGET: Australia’s Jason Davidson (3) celebrates after scoring a goal against UAE during their Asian Cup semiﬁnal soccer match at the Newcastle Stadium. – Reuters

Sainsbury had promised to “choke” UAE “until they’re blue” and they barely had time to draw breath when he headed in the game’s ﬁrst corner after only three minutes. The centre-half rose unmarked to nod the ball down and past goalkeeper Majed Naser, settling any early nerves for Ange Postecoglou’s men. UAE targetman Ahmed Khalil almost hit back on 10 minutes but his low shot struck the outside of Mathew Ryan’s near post and went out for a goal-kick. And on 14 minutes Australia earned breathing space when left-back Davidson coolly passed the ball into the bottom corner for the 2-0 lead.

Rallying cry Australia’s front three of Robbie Kruse, Mathew Leckie and Tim Cahill were always dangerous but despite going two goals down, UAE refused to be cowed and they continually probed without being able to crack the home defence. The Socceroos should have had a third shortly before the break but Mark Milligan could only drag his shot wide. Khalil drilled a powerful longrange effort narrowly wide after the restart as the Gulf side sought to keep the game alive. But that was the closest they came and despite their forays forward, the second half played out scoreless for what ﬁnished as a

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

comfortable Australian victory. “In such a big game like a semifinal it’s not easy to come back after conceding two goals by mistakes in the first 15 minutes,” said UAE coach Mahdi Ali. “You have to concentrate for 90 minutes, otherwise you will lose. The goals affected us a lot. We tried our best to come back but it was not easy. Many players were tired today and we didn’t have enough power to come back into the game.” Australia will be wary of South Korea in on Saturday’s final, after they lost 1-0 to the Taeguk Warriors at the group stage. Uli Stielike’s men are also yet to concede a goal.

“Hopefully the whole nation gets behind them (the Australian team) the next few days and we’re going to need it,” said Socceroos coach Postecoglou. “Because those boys have worked tremendously hard to get to here and the difference on Saturday night might be just the extra energy the crowd can generate.” Australia came through the semi relatively unscathed although there were injury concerns over right-back Ivan Franjic. “He says he felt something in his hip or something but we’ll see how it cools down,” said Postecoglou. “It’s a ﬁnal of a major tournament and unless they chop his leg off he’ll put his hand up to play.” — AFP

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

SPORTS ISC TENNIS

H O C K E Y F E S T I VA L

Aisha lifts U-14 title MUSCAT: Aisha Al Suleimani claimed the girls under-14 singles crown and Sanjana Girish finished runner-up at the ISC-Muscat Pharmacy Open Junior Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat. In the round-robin league of four, the other two being Talullah Nieper and Anusha Ravi, Aisha proved supreme winning all her three league encounters while Sanjana suffered the only loss, to Aisha to finish second. Aisha defeated Anusha Ravi with a convincing 6-1 result but had to fight hard in the next two. In the second match against Sanjana, Aisha gained the early break in the third game but Sanjana broke back for three-games-all. The keen duel continued as Aisha broke back and served out for her second victory. The third and crucial encounter against Talullah Nieper was a thrilling affair with Tallullah showing brilliance with her ground strokes and rallied from 2-4 down to level at four-gamesall, Tallullah squandered a 40-30 advantage as Aisha broke her to

win the match and go to the top of the group. Sanjana Girish shrugged off her loss to Aisha and scored a convincing 6-1 win over Anusha Ravi and in the third match handled Talullah’s strong ground strokes to record a fine 6-3 win for the runnersup place. Anusha Ravi scored a consolation win with a hard-fought 6-5 (9-7) victory over Talullah Nieper. Anusha rallied from 1-4 down to force the tie-breaker where she again overcame a 1-4 deficit and held her nerves to win the tiebreaker 9-7. Second seed Marwan Al Khanjari advanced to the semifinals of the under-10 event after edging to a 8-6 victory over Vatsal Manikandan. Both Marawan and Vatsal started on equal ground until three-games-all before Vatsal lost his way and Marwan went all out to reel off the next three games to take the upperhand. Vatsal regained some ground but could not prevent Marwan from securing victory and a place in the last four.

FOOTBALL

Arsenal forward Campbell joins Villarreal on loan LONDON: Arsenal forward Joel Campbell has joined Villarreal on loan for the rest of the season, the Spanish club said on Tuesday. The Costa Rican’s move to Spain is part of a deal in which Arsenal are set to sign Villarreal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista, who has passed a medical in London, British media reported.

“Thanks to the whole family of Arsenal for their messages. I hope to make them proud,” Campbell said on Twitter alongside a photograph of him wearing a Villarreal scarf. The 24-year-old Paulista is poised to become Arsenal’s second signing of the January transfer window after Polish teenager Krystian Bielik. - Reuters

AMBASSADOR’S CUP WINNERS: Members of the Ambassador’s XI pose for a group photo after their title triumph. – Supplied photo

Ambassador XI, Team Coorg hog limelight MUSCAT: Indian Ambassador XI and Team Coorg hogged the limelight at the eighth Republic Day of India Hockey Festival at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. The festival was organised by Team Coorg and Friends of Naqvi Group to mark the 60th year of Indo-Oman diplomatic relations and 66th Republic Day of India under the patronage of Indian Embassy and the Oman Hockey Association (OHA). Indian Ambassador J.S. Mukul was the chief guest and OHA chairman Sheikh Mahfoodh Juma Al Juma was the guest of honour. The festival was supported by Mohammed Raﬁq & Partners LLC, Dr. Mujeeb Hussain (Amana Modern Medical Center), Sandeeep Gupta of Global Pioneer Solutions (GPS), Pocari Sweat (Muscat Pharmacy) and Quality Printing Press. The matches were played in a festive atmosphere and hockey lovers and their families turned up in large numbers to witness the keenly fought matches. In the ﬁrst match, the Indian Ambassador XI met their match in the young Indian School Al

REPUBLIC DAY CUP: Coorg Team pose with their trophy. – Supplied photo

Seeb and the full time score read 2-2. The Ambassador XI managed to retain the Ambassador Cup 2015 which they had won in 2014 also, prevailing by a 3-2 margin in thrilling penalty shootout. In the second match, Team Coorg (Muscat) faced Beatrice Sports Club in an exciting tie for the Republic Day Cup 2015. Team Coorg met a strong challenge from Beatrice Sports Club and the ﬁnal result of 3-2 in favour of the Team Coorg is an indicator of the closely contested match. The proceedings commenced with a two minute silence in memory of the departed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The choir from Indian School Al Seeb rendered the national anthems of

Oman and India and were awarded with certiﬁcates signed by the Indian Ambassador. A novel competition was organised on the occasion for young students and participants for correct recitation of the Indian National Anthem and all participants were awarded certiﬁcates by J.S. Mukul and Sheikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al-Juma. The organisers also came up with a unique gesture to honour several personalities for their contribution to promotion of hockey — Mustafa Lawati (former OHA general secretary), Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi (former member of FIH Development Committee), Abdul Rehman (former national coach and international

umpire), Belu Kuttappa (Manager, Team Coorg), Mohammed Osama Rawat (Festival Coordinator), Shakunthala Boppanna (athlete and national player) and Mohammed Irfan (Organizing Committee). Media personalities were also honoured. Inayat Naqvi, former Bombay XI player and national umpire, was presented with a memento for his admirable services as the trustee of the NGO Abhi Foundation for supporting under privileged children and providing them with free kit for hockey, football and athletics and appointing trained coaches for them. The Ambassador of India expressed his gratitude for celebrating Republic Day of India and congratulated all participants, spectators and sponsors. Sheikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al Juma also praised the organisation of the festival and congratulated the Indian Ambassador. SAS Naqvi, former technical advisor of Oman Olympic Committee and now a sports consultant, proposed vote of thanks and acknowledged the support and services rendered by the sponsors, participants and media, while thanking the special guests.

OMAN JUNIORS HEAD TO GCC TENNIS COMPETITION IN KUWAIT The junior tennis teams of Oman left for Kuwait to part in the GCC Under-18 and Under-14 Championships. The championships runs till January 29. The Oman delegation is headed by Saeed Al Barmani and comprises Ahmad Al Balushi (administrative official) and Abdallah Al Yahyaee (accompanying official). The Oman under-18 team includes Younis Al Rawahi, Abdullah Al Barwani and Amar Al Khanjari while under-14 team consists Muneer Al Rawahi, Eyad Al Khanjari, Abdullah Al Raissi and Ali Al Sarhani. — Supplied photo

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SPORTS

Jatinder and Ranpura efforts in vain as Oman suffer first defeat Singapore, batting ﬁrst, piled up 198 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs before restricting Oman to 175 for nine wickets 20 overs

JATINDER SINGH

70 runs from 36 balls 7 fours, 2 sixes

MUSCAT: Jatinder Singh’s second successive half century and a late assault by Rajeshkumar Ranpura went in vain as Oman lost by 23 runs to Singapore, their first defeat in three outings, in the ongoing ACC Twenty20 Cup in the UAE on Tuesday. According to information received here, Singapore, batting first, piled up 198 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs before restricting Oman to 175 runs for nine wickets 20 overs. After Tuesday’s defeat Oman (4 points) slipped to third in the table while Kuwait lead the standings with six points ahead of Singapore, who also have four points but are ahead of Oman on net run rate. The top team from the round robin league competition qualify for the Qualifier of the World T20 Championship. Oman play their next match against Maldives on Thursday before completing their engagements with a match against Kuwait on Friday. Chasing a total for the first time in the tournament, a big one at that, the Oman opening batsmen Ajay Lalcheta and Zeeshan Maqsood

WORLD CUP

ALL-ROUND SHOW:

Rajeshkumar Ranpura.

failed to give a rousing start as they did in the previous matches. In Oman’s victories over Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, the duo put on 62 and 45 runs respectively for the opening wicket. But against Singapore on Tuesday, both the openers returned to the pavilion with just 16 runs on the board. But Jatinder, coming in at No. 3, smashed a 36-ball 70 to put Oman on recovery path. His knock was studded with seven fours and two sixes. However, with three other

batsmen failing to reach doubles figures Oman lost the tempo though captain Sultan Ahmed later scored 32 runs off 21 balls. Towards the end Ranpura once again raised Oman’s hopes with a swashbuckling knock of 28 off just 12 balls. In the penultimate over bowled by Singapore’s Saad Janjua, he smashed 20 runs including three fours and a six. Ranpura also scored a boundary off the first ball of the 20th over bowled by Amjad Mahboob but he holed out in the very next ball with Oman still needing 27 runs. Selladore Vijaykumar was the standout bowler for Singapore claiming four wickets in four overs while Saad Janjua bagged two. Earlier, Singapore made flying start thanks to a 45-ball 79 runs while fellow opener Chaminda Kumarage make 26. Later, Kshitji Shinde and Saad Janjua contributed 33 and 24 runs respectively. For Oman, Lalcheta and Ranpura claimed three wickets each. In other matches, Kuwait defeated Maldives by nine wickets while Saudi Arabia beat Malaysia by 43 runs. Brief scores: Maldives 138 for 9 in 20 overs (M. Rishwan 31, A. Faiz 34; S. Raza 5-27) lost to Kuwait 143 for 1 in 8.5 overs (M.Irfan 63 n.o., A. Javed 55 n.o.). Man of the Match: Sibtain Raza (Kuwait). Saudi Arabia 176 for 6 in 20 overs (N. Abbasi 65, M. Afzal 34, I. Haq 30 n.o.; H. Ghulam 3/22) bt Malaysia 133 for 9 in 20 overs (S. Kumar 33; S.Ali 5/19). Man of the match: Shoaib Ali (Saudi Arabia).

SCOREBOARD

SINGAPORE A. Mutreja run out 79 Kumarage c S. Mehmood b Z. Maqsood 26 A. Paraam c Sultan Ahmed b Lalcheta 7 C. Suryawanshi c Z. Maqsood b A. Ali 8 Saad Janjua c Sultan Ahmed b Ranpura 24 K. Shinde not out 33 Abhiraj Singh b Lalcheta 2 S. Vijayakumar c A. Kaleem b Ranpura 3 Mohamed Shoib lbw Ranpura 1 Amjad Mahboob b Lalcheta 9 S. Appusamy (not out) 1 Extras (lb-1, w-4) 5 Total (9 wkts; 20 overs) 198 Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-85, 3-105, 4-146, 5-153, 6-156, 7-161, 8-164, 9-176. Bowling: A. Lalcheta 4-0-30-3; R. Ranpura 4-0-38-3; M. Ansari 2-0-25-0 (w-2); Zeeshan Maqsood 4-0-44-1; Aamir Kaleem 4-0-30-0; Aamer Ali 2-0-30-1 (w-2). OMAN A. Lalcheta c Mutreja b Vijayakumar 9 Zeeshan Maqsood c A. Singh b M. Shoib 6 Jatinder c M. Shoib b Vijayakumar 70 V. Wategaonkar lbw Vijayakumar 7 Adnan Ilyas c Mutreja b A. Singh 5 Aamir Kaleem c A. Mahboob b S. Janjua 3 S. Ahmed st Suryawanshi b Vijayakumar 32 Aamer Ali b Saad Janjua 7 R. Ranpura c Mutreja b A. Mahboob 28 Sufyan Mehmood (not out) 4 M. Ansari (not out) 1 Extras (w-2, nb-1) 3 Total (9 wkts; 20 overs) 175 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-58, 4-75, 5-85, 6-116, 7-137, 8-146, 9-171. Bowling: Mohamed Shoib 3-0-27-1 (w-1); S. Vijayakumar 4-0-20-4; Amjad Mahboob 4-0-37-1 (w-1); S. Appusamy 1-0-20-0; Abhiraj Singh 4-0-30-1; Saad Janjua 4-041-2 (nb-1).

NOT ENOUGH TIME

Narine withdraws from Windies team Contract row is no big deal: PCB official ST. JOHN’S: Off-spinner Sunil Narine has withdrawn from the West Indies World Cup squad while he continues to work on his controversial bowling action, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Tuesday. Narine was reported for a suspect action twice during the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in September and was unable to play in the ﬁnal for his team Kolkata Knight Riders. Although not banned from in-

ternational competition he was withdrawn from the West Indies squad for their tour of India and is not with the team currently playing in South Africa. He was named as part of the 15-man World Cup squad however and has been playing in regional cricket. “Narine has undergone intense remedial work on his bowling action and preliminary tests have shown him bowling all his deliveries under the 15 degrees ﬂexion allowance,” the WICB said in a state-

ment. “However, he requires more time to be able to conﬁdently bowl for a sustained period in international cricket with his new action.” Narine indicated he needed more games and practice to get fully adjusted to his new action. “Going in to the World Cup is a little too much too soon and, after consulting the WICB, for both West Indies and my sake we have decided to delay my return until I am 100 percent conﬁdent in all that I do,” Narine said.- Reuters

KARACHI: A senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that the contract row with players in the World Cup squad would be sorted out this week. “It is no big deal... The players want certain clariﬁcations and have some reservations but our representative in New Zealand is talking to them and it will not affect the performance of the team on the ongoing tour,” the senior PCB official said. Pakistani players have refused

to sign the central contracts which were extended by three months by the board before the squad departed for New Zealand last week. The existing contracts had expired on December 31, 2014 and as per practice the board is supposed to give out six month or 12-month new contracts. The official said that the board had taken the decision to give three-month contracts as some players had already announced they would be retiring from one

format of the game after the World Cup. “Plus we didn’t have enough time to review performances of all the contracted players and some upcoming players in the domestic season. So we decided to extend the existing contracts by three months as a legal requirement,” he explained. He said that the need to extend the contracts by three months was a necessity since players needed to be covered under certain clauses during the World Cup. - PTI

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

SPORTS OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

ISD Alumni to host badminton tourney MUSCAT: The Indian School Darsait (ISD) Alumni will organise their first Badminton Championship for the former students of the school in Muscat next month. The inaugural tournament, organised as part of the ISD Alumni’s initiative to bring the former students together, will be sponsored by Majan Events. According to the organisers, the qualifiers of the tournament will be held at ISD auditorium on February 13. “This is for the first time we are organising such an event. There are so many former students of ISD who are based in Muscat and

we felt by having such a tournament will bring them together for a day of fun,” Azeem Ashraf, Sports Secretary of ISD Alumni, said. Azeem informed that badminton tournament is strictly for the registered members of the Alumni and their spouses. “We have been getting overwhelming response ever since we announced the event it through our official Facebook page. For those who haven’t registered can do so through our Facebook page,” Azeem informed. The tournament will conclude on February 20 with ﬁnals and a special prize-giving ceremony.

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EFG Bank Monaco to defend SATT crown Skipper Sidney Gavignet’s new

Compared to last year, my crew is a lot more offshore oriented rather than one design biased and that gives us an advantage

look crew has been assembled with two key objectives: to win the event for the second consecutive year and give three young Omani sailors

Sidney Gavignet

an opportunity to

Skipper, EFG Bank Monaco

race alongside worldclass professionals

MUSCAT: EFG Sailing Arabia – the Tour (SATT) defending champions EFG Bank Monaco will cross the start line on February 15 in Oman with hopes of turning the heavy weight of expectation into another celebration of success. Skipper Sidney Gavignet, one of France’s most respected and wellknown offshore sailors, has cleverly combined youth and experience in his new look crew which has been assembled with two key objectives: to win the event for the second consecutive year and give three young Omani sailors an opportunity to race alongside worldclass professionals and fast track

the development of their talents and careers. The signing of Damian Foxall, Gavignet’s formidable racing partner, to EFG Bank Monaco provides the new Omani crewmembers, Abdul Rahman Al Mashari, Abdallah Al Shukaili and Nasser Al Marzuqi, with the complete package in offshore sailing know how. Foxall is Ireland’s leading offshore sailor and has completed an astonishing 350,000 nautical miles on the race track, including seven round the world races and 19 trans-Atlantics. Together with Gavignet, fellow crew members, Fahad Al Hasni, Sami Al Shukaili, Yassir Al Rahbi and Jan Dekker, they built a reputation for speed last August when

they set a remarkable new world record for sailing round Britain and Ireland in the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race as members of Oman Sail’s MOD 70 crew on Musandam Oman Sail. Spanish veteran Alex Pella also makes his debut in EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour, fresh from his Class 40 victory in the recent Route du Rhum, while French navigator Fabien Delahaye returns to guide the EFG Bank Monaco crew around a brand new 660 nm EFG Bank SATT course, which for the ﬁrst time takes the ﬂeet from Muscat to Bahrain, a reversal of previous routes. The new course will pose new challenges for all the teams, admits Gavignet. “It is good to change the route

to modify the challenge,” he said. “Compared to last year, my crew is a lot more offshore oriented rather than one design biased and that gives us an advantage. The new route, which features more upwind sailing will be more tactical and also harder physically for the teams but that should favour us because of our offshore experience. The harder the route, the better it is for us”. “As ever it is a pretty intense programme but like the Tour de France a la Voile, that is part of the challenge and perhaps an advantage for us. We have a good team and we are professionals so winning is very important.” EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour was established in 2011 to offer professional and amateur racing teams a tough but temperate racing option over the winter months. It also gives organisers the opportunity to showcase the Arabia region with stopovers in Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama and gives spectators the chance to see some top level sailing in some of the fastest racing boats in production. “The Farr 30 is a very good fleet and seeing 11 identical boats out racing offshore is a bit special,” Gavignet added. “It is also very good to have local teams from around Arabia competing and this year, there are more than usual so that will make the event even more popular.” EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour starts on February 15 and finishes with the fleet’s arrival in Manama in Bahrain on February 28 when the winners will be presented with their trophy.

JUNIOR CRICKET

Five-wicket Abhijith bowls ISM to victory over ISWK MUSCAT: Abhijith Nagarajan claimed five wickets in five overs to bowl Indian School Muscat (ISM) to a 45-run win over Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) in an Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored 25 overs-a-side Under-16 match. Opting to bat first, ISM scored 194 for the loss of six wickets in 25 stipulated overs thanks to a 108run opening partnership between skipper Wasim Ali (82) and Paritosh Bhatt (34). Hemil Maheshkumar (36) and Isaac Jonathan (25) chipped in with useful contributions. Brijesh Gandhi and Mohit Badiyani claimed two wickets each. ISG in reply scored 149 for the loss of seven wickets in 25 overs. Ivan Manjila who made a run a ball 38, Karan Koshy scored 27 and Mayukh Misra made 22. Brief scores: ISM 194 for 6 in 25 overs (Wasim Ali 82, Hemil Maheshkumar 36, Paritosh Bhatt 34, Isaac Jonathan 25; Brijesh Gandhi 2/40, Mohit Badiyani 2/43) bt ISWK 149 for 7 in 25 overs (Ivan Manjila 38, Karan Koshy 27, Mayukh Misra 22; Abhijith Nagarajan 5/23). Points: ISM - 2 (9 games, 16 pts), ISWK - Nil (9 games, 16 pts).

Khalid stars for ISAS In another Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored Junior League 25 overs-a-side Under-16 match, Mohammed Khalid returned with tantalizing bowling figures of five for 23 in three as Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS) registered an eightwicket win over Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG). Opting to bat first, ISG were bowled out for a measly 90 runs in

16 overs with only opening batsman Mohammed Salman getting into double ﬁgures scoring 25. Mohammed Sumer claimed three wickets to lent valuable support to Khalid. ISAS in their turn raced to 92 for the loss of two wickets in 9.1 overs with skipper Mohammed Feshal scoring 39 and fellow opener Mohammed Sumer making 35. Brief scores: ISG 90 in 16 overs (Mohammed Salman 25; Mohammed Khalid 5/23, Mohammed Sumer 3/13) lost to ISAS 92 for 2 in 9.1 overs (Mohammed Feshal 39, Mohammed Sumer 35 n.o). Points: ISAS - 2 (9 games, 9 pts), ISG - Nil (8 games, 5 pts).

BOC down PSM Bosher Olympic Centre (BOC) registered a 13-run win against Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) despite a brilliant unbeaten 116 off 63 balls by from Ubaid Ullah in an Al Turki Enterprises sponsored Junior League Under-16 match. Electing to bat ﬁrst, BOC piled up 217 runs for the loss of three wickets in 25 overs. Opening batsman and skipper Vikram Nabira (98) and No. 3 batsman Vivek Iyer (62) put together 118 runs for the second wicket. In reply, PSM scored 204 in 24.4 overs with Ubaid Ullah’s contribution going in vain. Harikeshav Pramod and Aswin Unnikrishnan claimed three wickets each. Brief scores: BOC 217 for 3 in 25 overs (Vikram Nabira 98, Vivek Iyer

62) bt PSM 204 in 24.4 overs (Ubaid Ullah 116 n.o., Harikeshav Pramod 3/25, Aswin Unnikrishnan 3/28). Points: BOC – 2 (8 games, 10 pts), PSM – Nil (10 games, 13 pts).

Shinde shines for ISG Skipper Aryan Shinde opening the batting scored a blistering unbeaten 166 off 70 balls to lead Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG) to a massive 184-run win against Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre B (MCCC B) in a Junior League Under-13 match. Batting ﬁrst, ISG, supported by a 192-run opening partnership between Shinde his partner Sanin Fahad (53), amassed 267 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs. MCCC B faced with a daunting target were bowled out for 83 in 18 overs. Dhruv Faraswal claimed three wickets in two overs. Brief scores: ISG 267 for 3 in 20 overs (Aryan Shinde 166 n.o., Sanin Fahad 53) bt MCCC B 83 in 18 overs (Nishant Sridhar 27; Dhruv Faraswal 4/2). Points: ISG – 2 (8 games, 9 pts), MCCC B – Nil (5 games, Nil).

Ali inspires ISM A Opening batsman Azeem Ali scored an unbeaten 75 to help Indian School Muscat A (ISM A) register a thrilling seven-run win against Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) in another Junior League Under-13 match. Batting ﬁrst, ISM A scored 152 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs. Chahel contributed useful 21 runs. ISWK in their turn were restricted to 145 for seven wickets in 20 overs. Major contributions

came from opener Joel Biju (40) and skipper Shah Nouman (22). Vrishab and Shaurya picked up two wickets each. Brief scores: ISM A 152 for 3 in 20 overs (Azeem Ali 75 n.o., Chahel 21) bt ISWK 145 for 7 in 20 overs (Joel Biju 40, Shah Nouman 22; Vrishab 2/16, Shaurya 2/27). Points: ISM A – 2 (6 games, 10 pts), ISWK – Nil (6 games, 9 pts).

Easy for BDSM In another Junior League Under-13 match, Bangladesh School Muscat (BDSM) recorded a comprehensive 79-run win against Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre A (MCCC A). BDSM, deciding to bat first, got off to a good start with openers Mohammed Ali (63) and Adnan Alam (36) scoring 63 runs for the first wicket. A further partnership of 118-runs for the third wicket between Ali and No.4 batsman Rehad Islam (70 not out) helped the score to 207 for three wickets in 20 overs. Muzahir Raza picked up two wickets. In reply, MCCC A scored 128 for five wickets in 20 overs Opening batsman Muzahir Raza made 35 and Shrivatsan Balajee scored 30. Alip Mortaza claimed two wickets. Brief scores: BDSM 207 for 3 in 20 overs (Rehad Islam 70 n.o., Mohammed Ali 63, Adnan Alam 36; Muzahir Raza 2/20) bt MCCC A 128 for 5 in 20 overs (Muzahir Raza 35, Shrivatsan Balajee 30; Alip Mortaza 2/12). Points: BDSM – 2 (9 games, 11 pts), MCCC A – Nil (6 games, 5 pts).

SECTION

hese days I don’t have much occasion to use my fight-or-flight response. That’s the automatic release of chemicals in our bodies that our barely human ancestors depended upon to keep from getting eaten by a saber-toothed tiger. Saber-toothed tigers are rather thin on the ground anymore, so we don’t need that reflex that enables us to instantly aim our pointy stick at an approaching threat or muster the quick burst of energy required to help us run to safety. And yet that response is still there, buried deep in the recesses of our brains. But about the only time I feel those hormones surging through my body is when I’m about to send an illconsidered email message or Twitter post. Someone trolling us on social media is as close as any of us get to the stress of a predator bearing down on us on the veld. Even though I’m the cuddliest sort of columnist, I occasionally write things to which readers take exception. Some frame their dissatisfaction in exactly those terms: “I take exception to what you wrote about blah blah blah.” I try to respond to them with a similarly polite note. But some readers burst out of the blocks swinging, their message thick with vitriol or an oddly entitled sense of grievance. In language they hope

LIFE & STYLE

will get my goat, they accuse me of the worst sort of calumny. Sometimes, my goat is got. My intellect rolls back in my head. My prudence climbs in the back seat. My maturity withers. Flight is an option, but my body chooses fight. I can feel my amygdala spooling up as it prepares to fire off orders to my sympathetic nervous system. My adrenal glands activate, my heart rate quickens, my senses sharpen, my fingers flick across the keyboard. I compose my retort. My witty retort. Witty, but also biting, although, frankly, I’m fine without witty as long as it’s biting. Scorched earth is what I want, something that will singe the eyelashes off the offending correspondent. If I’m writing an email, I open with the scatological. Is scatological illogical? Who cares about logic? Must destroy opponent. If I’m responding to a tweet, my brain performs little calculations: “Cretin” is shorter than “imbecile.” Is it better? I can save another character if I go with “idiot” or “moron” instead, but are they as effective? Soon I’ve fashioned my own Clovis point, a nasty piece of obsidian designed to gouge a hole in my opponent. If I’m lucky, at this point the adrenaline has started to ebb from my tissue and I haven’t hit “send.” For, really, what

Why do nasty online comments raise our blood pressure?

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W ED N ES DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

is to be gained by poking the tiger? In fact, there’s much to be lost, like my job. An ill-considered tweet might not sit well with my bosses. At first, I thought that my analogy — Twitter flames are today’s saber-toothed tigers — might be a little far-fetched. Then I talked to Johannes Eichstaedt, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. A thought-provoking paper he co-wrote was just published in the journal Psychological Science. By crunching data, Johannes and his collaborators were able to show that areas of the United States that express high levels of negative language on Twitter — tweets filled with expletives and hate — correlate with areas of the country that have high levels of heart disease. This doesn’t mean that Twitter trolls are dying of stress-induced heart attacks, rather that everyone who lives in a hotbed of negative emotion is affected by the overall angry vibe. The link between stress and heart disease is well known. “We now think of chronic stress as a chronic upregulation of the sympathetic nervous system,” Johannes said. When deployed only occasionally and as originally intended, the fightor-flight response is a good thing. It improves your odds of surviving an attack or lifting a car off a trapped child. But being repeatedly washed by

adrenaline and cortisone can damage the arteries. Twitter, angry emails, noxious online comments: These can all raise the blood pressure. Of course, humans have been arguing with one another for millennia. What’s different about the digital age is that now we do it with strangers over the Internet. We once confronted people directly, whether members of our own tribe or those of another. We could pick up on certain cues during those interactions: Oh, he’s only joking. Oh, she’s just being sarcastic. “This is speculation, but if you think about the evolutionary environment of humans, we weren’t designed to be removed from social biases in communication,” Johannes said. “This is a long way of saying, people on Twitter behave very differently with one another than if we meet in the street or in the jungle,” he added. “We have more pipeline into exposure to social threats, but at the same time we’ve removed the barriers that would keep us from being inhumane.” Johannes had some advice for me: Rather than ﬁre off an angry retort, I should take a deep, diaphragmatic breath, the kind that swells the belly. “It’s the quickest way I know to downregulate the amygdala,” he said. Got that, amygdala? -John Kelly/The Washington Post

W E D NES WE NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

EXTRA

THE ENEMY WITHIN People who hear voices in their heads are being encouraged to talk back

ne night, during her first year at the University of Sheffield, Rachel Waddingham struggled to fall asleep. She could hear three middle-aged men she didn’t know talking about her downstairs. “They were saying, ‘She’s stupid, she’s ugly, I wish she would kill herself’,” she remembers. “I was angry and went down to challenge them, but no one was there. They kept laughing and saying, ‘She’ll never find us’.” The voices became a recurring presence, providing an aggressive, unsettling commentary on her life. Waddingham came to believe that they were filming her around the clock, and became paranoid. When she had a neck ache, she assumed a tracking device had been planted under her skin. At the supermarket, the voices would ask each other questions like “Does she know what she’s buying?” – leading her to reach sinister conclusions. “I worried they might have poisoned the food,” she says. “I’d come back with orange juice, milk, bread and cheese, because it’s all I could work out was safe.” Waddingham turned to alcohol to cope,

and avoided friends because she feared that “The Three” would secretly ﬁlm them as well. Months later, she dropped out of the university and moved into a bedsit, too afraid to eat or bathe. A doctor eventually admitted her into a psychiatric hospital, where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and put on a cocktail of drugs. During her eight months in the hospital, the voices faded, but the side effects of the medication made life intolerable. Waddingham gained more than 65 pounds and developed diabetes. Her eyes would roll involuntarily, and she struggled with akathisia, an overwhelming sense of restlessness that caused her to shuffle from foot to foot. Suicide attempts followed, and she felt “like a walking zombie”. Because she was no longer hearing the voices, she was released from the hospital. And now, at 36, she is still on the meds (though she is slowly weaning herself off them). Research suggests that up to one in 25 people hears voices regularly and that up to 40 per cent of the population will hear voices at some point in their lives. But many live healthy and fulfilling lives

despite those aural spectres. Recently, Waddingham and more than 200 other voice-hearers from around the world gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the sixth annual World Hearing Voices Congress, organised by Intervoice, an international network of people who hear voices and their supporters. They reject the traditional idea that the voices are a symptom of mental illness. They recast voices as meaningful, albeit unusual, experiences, and believe that potential problems lie not in the voices themselves but in a person’s relationship with them. “If people believe their voices are omnipotent and can harm and control them, then they are less likely to cope and more likely to end up as psychiatric patients,” says Eugenie Georgaca, a senior lecturer at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the organiser of this year’s conference. “If they have explanations of voices that allow them to deal with them better, that is a ﬁrst step toward learning to live with them.” The road to this form of recovery often begins in small support groups run by the worldwide Hearing Voices Network (HVN). Founded in the Nether-

lands in 1987, it allows members to share their stories and coping mechanisms – for example, setting appointments to talk with the voices, so that the voice-hearer can function without distraction the rest of the day – and above all gives voice-hearers a sense of community, as people rather than patients. A central premise of HVN is that these voices frequently emerge following extreme stress or trauma. Research bears that out: at least 70 per cent of voice-hearers are thought to have experienced some form of trauma. The characteristics of voices vary widely from person to person, but they often mimic the sound and language of abusers or their victims: demonic and frightening, or angelic and friendly. Waddingham, for instance, now hears 13 voices. Among them are Blue, a frightened but cheeky three-year-old; Elfie, an angry adolescent; Tommy, a teenage boy who criticises her speech; the Scream, a female voice filled with pain and suffering (“When I first heard her, I felt so overwhelmed I was unable to leave the house”); and the Not Yets, a group of voices Waddingham is not yet ready to engage with fully. “They say very nasty things

about me.” When the younger voices can’t fall asleep, Waddingham reads them bedtime stories. When voices suggest that she’s going to be harmed by a stranger, she thanks them for their concern but lets them know she is being vigilant. Eleanor Longden tells a similar story. After leaving a psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia at 18, she was assigned to work with a psychiatrist familiar with the hearing voices movement. He encouraged her to overcome her fear of her voices, which included both human and demonic-sounding ones. Traditional psychiatry discourages patients from engaging with voices, and prefers to silence them through medication. But HVN members, like Longden, say that listening to voices is vital to calming them down. And by communicating back, Longden was able to test the boundaries of what these voices could actually do. One time, a voice threatened to kill her family if Longden didn’t cut off her toe, and she could hear a “phantom choir” laughing along with him. She refused to obey. Her family didn’t die, but the choir did go silent. -William Lee Adams/The Independent

WE DNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Wild Card (2D)(Action | Crime) (15+) Cast: Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Dominik García 9:30, 11:55 pm American Sniper (2D) (Act ) (15+) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller 2:45, 7:00, 9:15, 11:45 pm Mortdecai (2D)(Act | Crime) (12+) Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow 5:15, 7:15 pm Baby (2D)(Action | Crime) (12+) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, 9:00 pm Barbie in Princess Power (2D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Rebecca Husain, Britt Irvin 2:00, 3:45 pm The Book of Life (3D)(Animation) 3:30, 5:15 pm (TBC) The Book of Life (2D)(Animation) (TBC); 2:00 pm Reach Me (2D)( Drama) (15+) Cast: Lauren Cohan, Kyra Sedgwick 5:15 pm Wolf Creek 2 (2D)(Horror) (18+) Cast: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr 7:00pm Taken 3 (2D) (Action | Crime) (12+) Cast: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker 11:30 pm

Wild Card (2D): (Action/Crime) (15+) Cast: Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Dominik García 9:30 pm Barbie In Princess Power (2D) (Animation) (PG) 10:15 am & 2:45 pm

Cast: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma 3.45 pm Alone - Hindi - (Thriller) (18+) 6.45 pm Dolly Ki Dolly (Com | Drama ) (TBC) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, 9:45pm

The Book Of Life (3D) (Animation/Adventure) (PG) 11:45 am & 3:30 pm The Book Of Life (2D) (Animation/Adventure) (PG) 10:00 am Taken-3 (2D) (Action/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker 5:15 pm Mortdecai (2D) (Act/Comedy) (12+) Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, 1:30 & 7:15 pm Gold Class: 1:45 & 6:15 pm American Sniper (2D) (Act) (15+) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller 6:15 & 11:45pm Gold Class: 3:45 & 11:15 pm Baby (Hindi) (2D) (Action/Crime) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Tapsee Pannu 11:45 am & 8:45 pm Gold Class: 8:15 pm Wolf Creek (2D)(Horror) (18+) Cast: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr 4:15 & 11:45 pm

Wild Card – 2D (15+) (Action | Crime) Cast: Jason Statham, Michael Angarano 9:00, 11:30 pm Mortdecai– 2D (12+) (Act | Com) Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, 2:45, 7:15 pm American Sniper– 2D (15+) (Action ) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner 3:00, 4:45, 9:15, 11:45 pm The Book of Life– 2D (PG) (Animation | Adventure) Cast: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana 3:15 pm The Book of Life– 3D (PG) (Animation | Adventure) 5:00, 6:45pm Baby – 2D (12+) (Act | Crime) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Tapsee Pannu 8:30, 11:00 pm Taken 3 – 2D (12+) (Act | Crime) Cast: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace; 11:30 pm Barbie in Princess Power– 2D (PG) (Animation) Voice Overs: Rebecca Husain, Britt 3:15, 4:45 pm I (Tamil) – 2D (12+) (Action | Fantasy) Cast: Vikram, Amy Jackson 6:15pm Dolly Ki Doli– 2D (Com) Cast: Malaika Arora, Sonam Kapoor

SCREEN 1 Baby - Hindi - (Thriller | Act) (12+ ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati, Anupam Kher 3.30, 6.30, 9.30pm SCREEN 2 Dolly Ki Dolly (Com | Drama ) (TBC) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma 3.45, 6.45 pm Alone - Hindi - ( Horror) (18+ ) Cast: Bipasha Basu, Karan Singh Grover; 9:45 pm SCREEN 3 P. K (Comedy) (PG)

9:30 pm Wolf Creek 2– 2D (18+) (Horror) Cast: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr 7:00 pm [REC] 3: Genesis– 2D (15+)Horror Cast: Leticia Dolera, Diego Martín 5:30 pm

The Book of Life (3D) (Anim ) (TBC) Cast: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana 2:15, 4:30 pm Taken 3 (Act | Thriller) (12+) Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace 2:15, 11:30 pm I (Tamil) (Act | Fantasy | Ro) (12+) Cast: ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram, Amy Jackson, Upen Patel; 05:30 pm [REC] 3: Genesis (Horror) (15+) Cast: Leticia Dolera, Diego Martín, Ismael Martínez; 4:00 pm Mortdecai (Action | Comedy) (12+) Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, 2:30, 6:45 pm American Sniper (Action | Bio) (15+) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner 4:15, 9:00, 11:45pm Baby (Hindi) (Action | Crime) (12+) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Tapsee Pannu 6:15, 8:45, 11:15 pm Wild Card (Action | Crime) (15+) Cast: Jason Statham, Dominik García 9:15 pm

American Sniper (2D) ( Act ) (12+) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner. 4:15, 11:45 pm The Book of Life (3D)(Adv ) Cast: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana

4:30 pm I (Tamil) (Act | Fantasy) (12+) Cast: ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram, Amy Jackson 6:15 pm Wild Card (Action | Crime) (15+) Cast: Jason Statham, Dominik Garcia. 9:30 pm Baby (Hindi) ( Act / Mystery ) (12+) 8:45, 11:30 pm Mortdecai ( English ) (Act ) (12+) Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow 6:45 pm

Wild Card (2D/15+) (Action/Crime) Cast: Jason Statham, Dominik Garcia, Michael Angarano 9:15 & 11:30pm American Sniper (2D/15+) (Act/Bio) Cast: Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner 11:30 am, 9:15, 11:45 pm Barbie in Princess Power (2D) (Animation) 2:00pm The Book of Life (2D/TBC) (Animation/Adventure) 11:15 am The Book of Life (3D/TBC) (Animation/Adventure) 3:30, 5:30pm Mortdecai (2D/12+) (Act/Com) 1:00, 5:15, 7:15 pm Cast: Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor I – (Tamil) (2D/12+) (Act/Fantasy) 3:30pm Dolly Ki Doli (2D/TBC) (Com/Rom) Cast: Malaika Arora, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Sonam Kapoor 6:45 pm Baby (2D/12) (Action/Crime) 12:30, 8:40 pm Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher

American Sniper (Action) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller 3.30, 7.30, 9.30 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2015 /181 (15+) Mortdecai (Action/Comedy) Cast: Johny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow 4.00 & 10.00 pm CP No: 2015/182 (12+) Reach Me (Drama) Cast: Lawren Chan, Sylvester Stallon, 2.00 & 5.45pm CP No: 2015/180 (15+) Taken 3: (Action) Cast: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker 7.30 pm; CP No: 2015/153 (12+) Barbie in Princess Power (PG) (Animation) Voice Overs: Britt Irvin, Michael Kopsa 2.00 & 6.00pm; CP No: 2015/179 Wild Card (Crime/Drama/Thriller) Cast: Jason Statham, Soﬁa Vergara 11.55 pm (15+)

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776

“I” (Tamil) ( Action\Thriller) Cast: Vikram, Amy Jackson 3:00, 6:30 & 10:00 pm Cinema Main Baby - Hindi - (Thriller | Act) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati, Anupam Kher, Kay Kay Menon 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm Cinema 3 Mylanchi Monchulla Veedu (Mal) (Rom/Com) Cast: Jayram & Asif Ali 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm Cinema 2 Chinnadana Nee Kosam (Tel)(Com) Cast: Nitin Reddy & Misnti 3:45 pm Cinema 4 P K (Hindi) (Comedy) Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt 6:45 & 9:45pm Cinema-4 NEXT CHANGE: Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Najaan

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

Open a door, but which door?

SUDOKU

7 8 2 1 4 9 5 7 6

4 6 5

9 2 1 3 6 2

9 7 4 5

HOW TO PLAY Fill the empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area. — Seven Galaxies

3 4 5 1

5 6 2 9 8 1 7 4 3 4 9 7 6 2 3 5 1 8 8 3 1 5 7 4 2 6 9 Previous puzzle Solution

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

ACROSS 1 Send somewhere else 6 Stand in a bent position 11 Everglades waders 13 Horseback hero of a Longfellow poem 14 Size above med. 15 Gung-ho 17 — -de-sac 18 Good connections 19 Scour 20 Salt meas. 21 Traffic pylon 23 Hero sandwich 24 Equine fodder 25 Trail mix 27 Bat refuge? 29 Detective — Ventura 31 “Mona Lisa” crooner 32 Clumps 35 Restaurant handout 38 Cold duck 39 Corduroy ridge 41 Now, to Nero

43 44 46 47 48 49 50

Elev. Tobacco product Grey Cup org. Zip Therefore London lav Waver precariously 52 Pays homage 54 More conﬁdent 55 “Forget” a letter DOWN 1 Archeological ﬁnd 2 Holiday quaff 3 Raisin centre 4 MIT grad, maybe 5 66 and I-80 6 Catnip or rosemary 7 Harmful ray 8 Drink of the deities 9 Like a curmudgeon 10 Pitches in 12 Kangaroo pouches 13 Corned beef on rye 16 Root around 22 Clear the data

24 26 28 30 32 33 34 36 37

from Quite frequently Email machines Hasty escape Stranger Environment Branched horn Give autographs Where protons are Spread out

38 Consumer demands 40 Stand behind 42 Within walking distance 44 One-name entertainer 45 Magritte or Russo 51 “Tao — Ching” 53 Windy City train

Answer to previous puzzle

BILLY Wilder said, “An actor entering through the door, you’ve got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you’ve got a situation.” In this deal, South has to win 12 tricks with hearts as trumps. What should he do after West leads a trump? In the auction, four clubs is Gerber, asking for aces. When the dummy comes down, declarer’s first thought is probably that he can win 12 tricks via one spade, six hearts, three diamonds and two clubs. But that requires finding the diamond queen. If he takes the diamond finesse the wrong way, he will go down. Is there something preferable? No doubt you are unsurprised to learn that there is a better situation. South should first try to establish a third club winner. However, to do that, he needs to find clubs splitting 4-3 and to have three dummy entries: two for club ruffs and one to cash the 13th club. What are those dummy doors? They have to be one club and two diamonds. But how can declarer get those two diamond doors if East has the queen? After drawing trumps, declarer plays a club to dummy’s king, cashes the club ace and ruffs a club in his hand. If the clubs break 5-2 or worse, South must guess who holds the diamond queen, presumably playing the opponent short in clubs for that card. However, when clubs divide 4-3, declarer next runs his diamond 10. Here, East wins the trick, but now South has his necessary dummy doors: the diamond ace and jack. — By Phillip Alder

GYANADA SUBHASH

BHARAT

January 28, 2012

January 28, 2010

GEETHESH KARTHIKEYAN

SHRONIT VALTHATI

January 28, 2009

January 28, 2006

1 8 6 7 3 5 4 9 2 2 5 4 1 6 9 8 3 7 9 7 3 2 4 8 6 5 1 6 1 8 4 9 2 3 7 5 3 4 5 8 1 7 9 2 6 7 2 9 3 5 6 1 8 4

7 8 1 8 2 6 3

WITH LOVE

BORN LOSER

LIYA MARIA

AKSHATH MANU GOPAL

JESSICA GEORGE

UZMA BEGUM

January 29, 2012

January 29, 2009

January 29, 2008

January 29, 2009

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

C10

W E D NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are likely to enjoy an early start to a long and lucrative career — though this may not be entirely intentional, and the path you take not entirely of your choosing. Indeed, the role of fate in both your personal life and your professional affairs will be quite remarkable, and you may spend a great deal of time thanking your lucky stars for this unexpected opportunity or that chance encounter that will make the difference between obscurity and unimaginable success. Fortunately, you believe in preparation, and you will therefore be ready for whatever comes your way — though you will often be better equipped to handle surprises in your career than in any of your personal relationships. You are a highly expressive individual, and you’re never one to suppress your feelings or opinions out of fear that it might be inappropriate to let them out. Indeed, you read like an open book, and those around you very likely know just where you stand on all of the most important issues. Also born on this date are: Elijah Wood, actor; Alan Alda, actor; Sarah McLachlan, singersongwriter; Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president; Arthur Rubinstein, pianist; Kathryn Morris, actress; Frank Darabont, director.

W E AT H E R

WORLD

Max 27 Min 14 Max -2 Min -11

Max 19 Min 6

Max 27 Min 19 Max 11 Min 2

Max 27 Min 18

Max -2 Min -5

Max 28 Min 13

Max 27 Min 11

Max 28 Min 10

Max 26 Min 17

Max 25 Min 11

[JAN. 20-FEB. 18]

You’re likely to ﬁnd inspiration in Y ’ li the most unusual of places. Share it with others, and you can maximise its overall effect.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] You may have to scramble to get some things done early in the day so that you can make a meeting or a deadline elsewhere later on.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] A partnership of sorts is slowly forming, and you’ll realise that what you’ve been resisting is actually something very good!

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] Someone else’s thoughtlessness may get you a little hot under the collar, but expressing that anger can only work against you.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] The criticism that your work attracts will say much more about the critic than it does about your work. You’ll come out on top, surely.

Max 26 Min 20

Max 21 Min 14

Max 30 Min 21 Max 23 Min 17

—www.met.gov.om

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

23 24 22 21 23 25

15 15 11 13 15 9

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

14 20 1 5 -5 19 31 5 17 7 25 30 14 10 37 29 7 -3

9 9 -7 1 -14 6 24 0 13 5 16 23 10 4 20 24 0 -6

[JULY 23-AUG. 22] What begins as if by accident mustn’t be allowed to charge forward out of control. You must take the reins and steer toward a desired end.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] There is more than one way to say what has to be said, but only one will win you the desired result. Choose your words carefully!

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] While you’re waiting your turn patiently, you should be able to do something creative that wins you the attention of someone in charge.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You may be introduced to a whole new way of thinking. The result, of course, is that you are tempted to make many sweeping changes.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You may not be able to do things exactly as you had planned, but a few simple adjustments should allow you to proceed apace.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You should be able to integrate many inﬂuences into your overall efforts. One in particular, however, is most meaningful to you.

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00

LEO

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

5.50pm 6.49am

High tide Low tide

2:51am 10:16am

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musaﬁr Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 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:

WEDNESDAY

Min

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

[Feb. 19-March 20]

12.25pm 3.33pm 5.55pm 7.08pm 5.31am

3:32pm 8:58pm

SEA STATE: Moderate along Arabian Sea coast and Musandam governorate western coast with maximum wave height of 2.25 metres and slight to moderate along rest of Oman coasts with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres. HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog formation. THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate. Chance of low level clouds during early morning along most of Omani coasts.

Max

OMAN

PISCES

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chance of high and medium cloud advection over Musandam governorate. Chance of early morning low level clouds or fog patches over the south eastern coasts. EXPECTED WINDS: Along Oman sea coasts and Arabian Sea winds will be northerly to northeasterly light to moderate while over rest of the Sultanate it will be northerly to northwesterly light to moderate becoming light variable at night.

AQUARIUS Something that began as nothing more than a whim may take the world by storm. That kind of success is very gratifying!

PRAYER TIMINGS

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp ﬁsh market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm. National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

THURSDAY

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

ETA

WY682 WY406 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY824 4H583 WY916 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 WY638 WY902 WY686 WY658 WY668 WY644 WY692 WY674 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 NL768 WY342 FZ043 G9114 WY236 WY918 WY226 WY242 EK862 WY346 WY252 IX443 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY604 WY822 WY3922 G9841 FZ037 WY268 IX337 WY314 PA450 WY904 WY3302 WY606 WY326 WY918 WY918 WY906 WY274 WY656 WY632 FZ045 WY216 WY204 WY292 WY610 WY246 WY3304 WY284 WY232 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 G9116 WY254 WY144 FZ047 WY614 WY914 AI977 KL441 WY624 AI973 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 FZ049 AI907 QR1134 WY272 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY908 AI985 WY662 WY124 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY654 WY612 WY116 WY928 WY636 W696 WY717 WY910

RIYADH CAIRO JEDDAH KUWAIT BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR DACCA-CHITTAGONG SALALAH LAHORE ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI ABU DHABI SALALAH RIYADH BAHRAIN DOHA KUWAIT DAMMAM JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY TEHRAN LONDON HEATHROW LAHORE LAHORE DUBAI SHARJAH HYDERABAD KHASAB COCHIN DELHI DUBAI ISLAM ABBAD MADRAS COCHIN DOHA ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM TRIVANDRUM DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR DUQUM OMAN RAS AL KHAIMA DUBAI LUCKNOW CALICUT CHITTAGONG LAHORE SALALAH MUKHAIZNA DUBAI KARACHI KHASAB KHASAB SALALAH JAIPUR BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY CALICUT DUBAI DELHI MUKHAIZNA BANGALORE HYDERABAD DOHA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH MADRAS MALPENSA DUBAI DUBAI SALALAH BANGALORE-HYDERABAD AMSTERDAM-DOHA DUBAI DELHI BOMBAY AMMAN COCHIN DUBAI MADRAS DOHA JAIPUR BAHRAIN LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI ABU DHABI SALALAH AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY DOHA MUNICH ZURICH-DUBAI BOMBAY FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT SALALAH ABU DHABI DAMMAM ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM SALALAH

0005 0005 0005 0010 0015 0055 0130 0150 0215 0300 0345 0355 0405 0405 0415 0520 0630 0700 0700 0710 0715 0725 0730 0805 0815 0815 0820 0830 0835 0850 0915 0920 0930 0930 0935 0940 0940 0940 1010 1010 1015 1020 1035 1110 1115 1115 1120 1200 1210 1210 1210 1215 1215 1330 1330 1355 1440 1440 1445 1515 1530 1535 1555 1705 1710 1720 1730 1730 1730 1740 1740 1745 1745 1800 1810 1915 1920 1930 1945 2030 2035 2105 2120 2125 2125 2130 2135 2140 2145 2200 2210 2235 2240 2240 2250 2305 2310 2315 2320 2320 2325 2330 2330 2335 2345 2345 2350 2350 2355 2355

WY682 WY676 WY406 WY648 WY816 BG021 WY916 PK225 TK774 QR1132 ET624 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 MS930 WY324 4H584 WY638 WY658 WY668 WY674 WY602 WY902 WY202 WY102 NL768 WY342 FZ043 WY274 G9114 WY242 WY236 WY918 WY226 WY212 WY252 EK862 QR1128 IX443 EY382 9W530 WY282 WY604 WY372 FZ037 WY384 WY332 IX337 WY904 WY826 WY818 BG023 WY3302 WY606 PK291 IX817 WY906 WY812 WY656 SV530 FZ045 WY204 WY292 WY822 WY434 WY3922 WY246 WY3304 WY610 WY232 WY664 QR1126 WY268 EK864 GF564 WY646 G9116 WY254 TG507 FZ047 WY914 WY614 KL441 WY624 AI973 WY312 6.00E+81 WY414 9W534 FZ049 AI907 QR1134 UL205 BA073 GF566 EY388 SG061 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 WY654 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY928 WY696 WY636 WY910 WY717

RIYADH JEDDAH CAIRO KUWAIT BANGKOK DACCA-CHITTAGONG SALALAH KARACHI ISTANBUL DOHA ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI CAIRO KARACHI DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DOHA JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY BOMBAY LONDON HEATHROW LAHORE LAHORE DUBAI JAIPUR SHARJAH DELHI HYDERABAD KHASAB COCHIN TRIVANDRUM MADRAS DUBAI DOHA COCHIN ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM BANGALORE DUBAI COLOMBO DUBAI MALE KATHMANDU CALICUT SALALAH KUALA LUMPUR BANGKOK CHITTAGONG MUKHAIZNA DUBAI LAHORE-ISLAM ABBAD MANGALORE-ABU DHABI SALALAH BANGKOK BAHRAIN JEDDAH DUBAI BOMBAY CALICUT KUALA LUMPUR TEHRAN DUQUM OMAN DELHI MUKHAIZNA DUBAI HYDERABAD DOHA DOHA LUCKNOW DUBAI BAHRAIN KUWAIT SHARJAH MADRAS BANGKOK-KARACHI DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI AMSTERDAM-DOHA DUBAI DELHI CHITTAGONG BOMBAY AMMAN COCHIN DUBAI MADRAS DOHA COLOMBO LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI AHMEDABAD SALALAH AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY DOHA ZURICH-DUBAI BOMBAY BAHRAIN FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN SALALAH DAMMAM ABU DHABI SALALAH ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM

0005 0005 0005 0010 0015 0100 0150 0210 0215 0345 0350 0355 0405 0405 0415 0430 0550 0640 0650 0700 0710 0730 0805 0815 0815 0820 0830 0835 0850 0855 0915 0920 0920 0930 0930 0940 0940 0940 1010 1010 1015 1035 1100 1110 1140 1200 1205 1210 1210 1215 1230 1235 1245 1330 1330 1430 1440 1445 1525 1530 1550 1555 1710 1720 1720 1720 1730 1730 1730 1730 1740 1745 1745 1750 1800 1810 1900 1915 1920 1935 1945 1950 2030 2120 2125 2125 2125 2130 2135 2140 2145 2200 2210 2225 2240 2240 2250 2300 2305 2310 2315 2320 2325 2330 2330 2335 2335 2345 2350 2350 2355 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY345 WY341 WY431 WY241 WY151 WY643 WY313 WY637 WY657 WY115 WY667 WY123 WY143 4H584 WY691 PK230 TK777 WY267 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY617 WY3921 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY273 WY215 WY325 WY291 NL769 FZ044 WY283 WY245 WY231 WY3301 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY253 WY717 EK863 EY383 WY655 IX554 IX442 QR1129 9W533 G9842 WY631 IX350 FZ038 PA451 WY101 WY663 WY413 WY3303 WY927 WY609 WY405 WY331 WY913 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY661 WY647 WY653 WY695 EK865 WY909 G9117 WY611 WY635 FZ048 WY825 WY915 AI978 FZ050 KL442 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 WY901 EY381 WY673

BOMBAY DUBAI-ZURICH BOMBAY ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT RIYADH MADRAS BOMBAY COCHIN HYDERABAD DUBAI ISLAM ABBAD LAHORE TEHRAN DELHI ZURICH KUWAIT CHITTAGONG ABU DHABI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT DOHA MUNICH-PARIS MALPENSA DACCA DAMMAM LAHORE BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL LUCKNOW DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI KHASAB DUQUM OMAN BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI JAIPUR TRIVANDRUM KARACHI CALICUT LAHORE DUBAI BANGALORE DELHI HYDERABAD MUKHAIZNA SHARJAH BANGKOK BOMBAY SALALAH DUBAI MADRAS ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN TRIVANDRUM COCHIN DOHA COCHIN RAS AL KHAIMA ABU DHABI CALICUT DUBAI LAHORE LONDON HEATHROW DOHA AMMAN MUKHAIZNA SALALAH DUBAI CAIRO KATHMANDU SALALAH JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI DOHA RIYADH SALALAH BAHRAIN DOHA KUWAIT BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI SALALAH SHARJAH DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR SALALAH HYDERABAD-BANGALORE DUBAI DOHA-AMSTERDAM TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN SALALAH ABU DHABI JEDDAH

0005 0020 0025 0025 0050 0105 0110 0120 0125 0135 0150 0150 0150 0155 0155 0155 0200 0205 0205 0205 0215 0220 0220 0225 0230 0235 0315 0350 0355 0455 0510 0520 0525 0630 0715 0745 0800 0800 0815 0845 0920 0920 0930 0935 0940 0955 0955 1000 1005 1010 1030 1030 1030 1040 1045 1055 1105 1110 1110 1115 1115 1135 1210 1225 1310 1315 1315 1330 1330 1330 1400 1415 1420 1430 1455 1630 1630 1700 1700 1820 1845 1845 1850 1855 1900 1900 1910 1910 1915 1940 2005 2025 2030 2040 2110 2135 2200 2225 2230 2240 2245 2300 2310 2320 2325 2350 2350 2350

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 LH619 WY323 WY211 WY251 WY201 WY811 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY273 WY821 WY341 WY241 WY281 WY657 WY637 WY371 WY667 WY383 BG022 TK775 PK226 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 MS931 WY917 WY3931 4H584 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY291 NL769 FZ044 WY267 WY231 WY245 WY3301 G9115 WY815 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY311 WY253 WY717 EK863 WY433 EY383 WY655 IX442 QR1129 9W533 WY331 IX350 FZ038 WY101 WY413 WY663 WY645 WY113 WY3921 WY3303 WY927 BG024 WY609 WY121 WY405 IX818 PK292 WY675 SV531 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 WY681 QR1127 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 WY653 WY695 EK865 WY909 G9117 WY611 WY635 TG508 FZ048 WY825 WY915 FZ050 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 WY901 EY381

BOMBAY DUBAI-ZURICH BOMBAY ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT KARACHI TRIVANDRUM MADRAS BOMBAY BANGKOK COCHIN HYDERABAD DUBAI JAIPUR KUALA LUMPUR LAHORE DELHI BANGALORE BAHRAIN ABU DHABI COLOMBO DOHA MALE CHITTAGONG-DACCA ISTANBUL KARACHI ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO KHASAB SOHAR DACCA BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI CALICUT LAHORE DUBAI LUCKNOW HYDERABAD DELHI MUKHAIZNA SHARJAH BANGKOK SALALAH DUBAI BOMBAY CHITTAGONG MADRAS ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM DUBAI TEHRAN ABU DHABI BAHRAIN COCHIN DOHA COCHIN KATHMANDU CALICUT DUBAI LONDON HEATHROW AMMAN DOHA KUWAIT FRANKFURT DUQUM OMAN MUKHAIZNA SALALAH CHITTAGONG DUBAI MUNICH CAIRO MANGALORE ISLAM ABBAD JEDDAH MEDINA-JEDDAH DUBAI DUBAI SALALAH DUBAI RIYADH DOHA SALALAH BAHRAIN KUWAIT DOHA BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI SALALAH SHARJAH DUBAI ABU DHABI KARACHI-BANGKOK DUBAI KUALA LUMPUR SALALAH DUBAI DOHA-AMSTERDAM BANGKOK TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS DELHI DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO JEDDAH SALALAH ABU DHABI

0005 0020 0025 0025 0050 0105 0110 0110 0120 0120 0125 0135 0135 0140 0140 0150 0155 0200 0205 0205 0210 0220 0235 0250 0310 0310 0450 0455 0510 0520 0525 0530 0630 0715 0740 0745 0800 0800 0920 0930 0935 0935 0955 0955 1000 1005 1010 1030 1030 1030 1040 1040 1045 1055 1105 1105 1110 1115 1115 1135 1205 1310 1315 1330 1330 1330 1340 1345 1345 1400 1415 1415 1420 1425 1430 1530 1530 1630 1650 1700 1700 1810 1820 1845 1845 1850 1855 1900 1900 1910 1910 1915 1940 2005 2025 2030 2040 2040 2110 2135 2225 2230 2235 2240 2245 2300 2310 2320 2325 2335 2350 2350 2350

WEDNE SDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015

C11

EXTRA BRIEF

Scientists identify brain’s thirst switch NEUROSCIENTISTS have identiﬁed neurons that trigger our sense of thirst and the ones that turn it off. The ﬁndings could lead to new therapies for dehydration and excessive thirst. The team hypothesized that there are at least two types of neurons in the SFO. With optogenetics, researchers can control specific sets of neurons in the brain after inserting light-activated molecules into them.-IANS

LOSING APPETITE AS YOU AGE? Loss of taste, particularly the ‘umami’ ﬂavour, could be one of the key reasons why elderly people lose interest in food later in life

n inability to enjoy the “brothy” flavour of umami – one of the five basic tastes – could be linked to an overall decline in the health of elderly individuals who go off their food as they get older, a study has suggested. Japanese patients suffering from loss of appetite, weight loss and poor general health were found to have lost their taste for the flavour of umami – even though they could still detect the tastes of sweet, salty, sour and bitter food. Treating patients with tea made from seaweed tasting of umami helped them to recover their lost taste and appetite, as well as improving their weight and overall health, the scientists said. Umami, which is sometimes referred to as the “meaty” flavour of protein, was only recog-

nised as a distinct taste within the past 20 years when nerve receptors were found in the taste buds of the tongue for glutamate – a substance found in proteins as well as being the main ingredient of the food enhancer monosodium glutamate. “There is a close relationship between an individual’s perception of umami taste and that individual’s physical condition,” said Takashi Sasano, of Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. “Our newly developed umami taste-sensitivity test revealed the loss of only the umami taste sensation with preservation of the other four basic taste sensations in some elderly patients. “All such patients complained of appetite and weight loss, resulting in poor overall health. Maintenance of umami taste function contributes not only to

Enjoyment of taste should be one of the greatest pleasures in life. However, ageing is sometimes associated with decreased taste sensitivity preservation of good oral health but to general overall health in elderly people.” Dr Sasano and his colleagues, whose study is published in the online journal Flavour, reported

H E A LT H

Have oatmeal for breakfast and shed extra kilos!

SMARTEN UP DRIVE SAFE A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

MAKING oatmeal your breakfast cereal choice could help you eat less later during the day and control weight, says new research. Researchers in the US have found that having oatmeal for breakfast resulted in greater fullness, lower hunger ratings and fewer calories eaten at the next meal. The results show that despite eating the same number of calories at breakfast, satiety values were significantly greater after consuming oatmeal compared to sugared corn flakes. Consumers choose oatmeal for its great taste, well-established health benefits and convenience. “We find that eating oatmeal for breakfast may also be one of the easiest ways to improve satiety after breakfast,” said Marianne O’Shea, director of Quaker Oats’ Centre of Excellence. -IANS

that loss of taste, particularly the umami flavour, could be one of the key reasons why elderly people lose interest in food later in life. This appetite loss could be linked to the inability to produce saliva in the mouth, which lubricates food and stimulates the digestive juices of the gut, they suggested. “Enjoyment of taste should be one of the greatest pleasures in life. However, ageing is sometimes associated with decreased taste sensitivity,” Dr Sasano added. Umami means “pleasant savoury taste” in Japanese. Foods rich in umami flavour include fish, cured meats, mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, spinach, celery and green tea, as well as fermented foods such as cheese, shrimp pastes and soy sauce. - Steve Connor/The Independent

C1 2

W E D NES WE NE S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8, 2 015

EXTRA

The art star of the moment Daniel Arsham makes sculptures, drawings and installations that toy with architectural distortion, making many celebrities gravitate towards him

sher, the R&B star, discovered artist Daniel Arsham the way most people ﬁnd out about things: through friends. In this case, his friends happened to be Swizz Beatz, Jay Z and Pharrell Williams. “I was like, ‘Hmm, I have to investigate this,’” Usher said at a dinner he hosted with Arsham in the Delano Hotel during Art Basel Miami Beach last month. Arsham was in the hotel’s lobby, dressed in a leather jacket (a gift from the brand Stampd) and dropping black marbles into a giant marble run, a child’s toy that he and his conceptual architecture partner, Alex Mustonen, turned into an weeklong interactive sculpture. “Pharrell would have come, but he’s in Paris ﬁlming,” said Arsham, as he checked on Instagram and his 179,000 followers. “And I think Lil Buck is in Africa.” With his slight build, round eyeglasses and nerdy demeanour, Arsham, 34, seems an unlikely candidate for art star of the moment. But it would be an apt description. Not only is he a legitimate artist with spring exhibitions at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Centre and Galerie Perrotin in New York, but Arsham has also collaborated with a dizzying number of celebrities, like James Franco, Hedi Slimane, Merce Cunningham and Williams. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein have given him commissions.

And at Art Basel, the annual gathering of the art world’s most social and ostentatious creatures, Arsham hosted no fewer than five VIP gatherings, including a latenight dance party with the roving Parisian nightclub Le Baron and a dinner with Vice. “I couldn’t tell you how it happened,” Arsham said of his rapid, high-profile ascent. “I work with a lot of people who aren’t famous, too. And in some cases, it’s been the celebrities who gravitate toward me.” Arsham said he met Williams at a dinner given by Galerie Perrotin in Miami seven years ago. The two became friends (“because we were fascinated with each other’s art” he said) and even collaborated on an art project: a replica of Williams’ first instrument, a Casio MT-500 keyboard, made of volcanic ash, crystal and steel. “Daniel is the master of illusion and science,” Williams said in an email. “The metaphors in his work read true to humans. It’s not based upon languages. It’s based upon human reaction and response to his work.” Arsham, who grew up in Miami and graduated from Cooper Union in New York, makes sculptures, drawings and installations that toy with architectural distortion. “Taking everyday things and playing with expectations,” is how he put it. His big break came in 2004, when he was living in Miami after college, and Merce Cunningham hand-

picked him to design stage sets for the dance company. (He now lives in New York with his French wife, Stephanie Jeanroy, and their twoyear-old son, Casper.) His current obsession with outdated gadgetry, like old ﬂip phones, boomboxes and Walkman players, which he buys on eBay and casts in geological materials like ash and crystal, began about four years ago, after a trip to Easter Island, where he spent a month drawing archaeological relics for a

Louis Vuitton travel guide. At his recent show at Locust Projects in Miami, “Welcome to the Future,” Arsham used jackhammers and concrete saws to punch a 25-foot circular trench in the gallery ﬂoor and ﬁlled it with meticulous replicas of things like PlayStation controllers and Mercedes-Benz steering wheels. The eroding objects were arranged by colour gradation, with the outer ring made of black volcanic ash, the second ring a gray

obsidian and the centre of an offwhite crystal. It was Pompeii by way of “MTV Cribs” and rigorous art-school training. Arsham’s monochrome palette, which he attributes to being almost entirely colourblind, and his brand of deconstructed futurism have made him wildly popular among luxury street wear aﬁcionados, including Williams and Usher. “The notion that highbrow and lowbrow culture are two separate things is a dated concept,” said Al Moran, a founder of the Ohwow gallery, which represents Arsham in Los Angeles. “Those two things have merged into one, and Daniel’s practice reﬂects that.” Dao-Yi Chow of the fashion brand Public School agrees. “We take familiar things like herringbone and distort it, so it doesn’t feel traditional anymore,” said Chow, who has commissioned Arsham for the brand’s minimal runway set design. “Daniel works in that same language of making the past new and the future old.” His art openings, like the one at Locust Projects in December, are generally swarmed with young skateboarders and high school

hipsters. Arsham says he baits his Instagram followers with offers to autograph their cellphones with a Sharpie if they show up. His Instagram account is an artwork in itself, with photos of Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Centre Transportation Hub and Disney World’s Space Mountain all shot from Arsham’s foreboding, (mostly) black-and-white perspective that is at once playful and apocalyptic. Back at the Delano dinner, Ashram was discussing one of his ventures: Future Relic, a ninepart feature ﬁlm he wrote and directed, which explores quotidian life in a post-ecological future. It stars Franco, Juliette Lewis and Lukas Haas. Public School did the costumes. Franco’s scene, shot in black and white over four days in Ashram’s studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, has Franco in a sterile laboratory, dressed in silver safety pants, inspecting calciﬁed objects from a bygone civilisation. There is no dialogue, just Franco’s cute facial expressions and a quirky soundtrack that includes retro Hawaiian music. -Julia Chaplin/The New York Times News Service

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

*Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

OFFICES FOR RENT - Premium offices to let a very good location on the main road very close to Zakher Mall, Al Khawiar. Business Center has offices with sizes of 50m2, 110m2, 180m2, 207m2, 230m2, 437m2. - Showroom also available at Business Center, Area 500m2 with central A/c. - Offices with Central Air-conditions, Security System with CCTV cameras, and Security presence in the building.

Contact: 97377355 / 95530121, Email id: aaleem@ggcoman.com

We have 2 BHK luxury flats with 3 toilets in Ghala for rent, very spacious, building on main road, huge parking, good for families, 20 flats available. # 93782735 / 99208033 Villa, ground floor in Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569, 97004265

We have 3 BHK ﬂat in Ghubah North close to sea with balcony, very nice location. #93782735 / 99208033

1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390. #99319880

We have 3 BHK apartment in Al Khuwair 28 Muna Complex with swimming pool, gym, covered car parking, prime location, good for European & Indian Families. Contact 93782735 / 99208033 We have 2 BHK flats in Ghala, 2 BHK offices in Ghala, 100 SQM open space office in Ghala. Full furnished office in Ghala, 4 BHK villa in Al Khuwair 33. # 93782735 / 99208033 3BHK, (3 bathroom and big hall) opp. Apollo Hospital, Hamariya R/A (OMR 300/-) Contact 91181761 Flat for rent in Al Azaiba, Al Mawalah & Al Khoudh. Contact 99336639 1 BHK RO 190/-, Darsait. Contact 96760894 One BHK flat in Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Mosque, RO 190/-. Contact 95094028 Bath attached room for rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99378661 2 bedrooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. Contact 24700120, 92584715 1000 SQ Mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc. contact 24700120, 92584715 2 BHK Wadi Kabir, RO 300/-. Contact 92144045 1, 2, 3 BHK flats. Contact 92144045 1 BHK Mumtaz Area with A/C, RO 250/-. Contact 92144045 2 BHK with A/C Al Falaj, RO 425/-. Contact 92144045 1 BHK with A/C Al Ghobrah, RO 275/Contact 92144045 2 BHK commercial Al Khuwair, RO 400/-. Contact 92144045 2 BHK with A/C Al.Khuwair, RO 375/- Contact 92144045 Executive fully furnished 2 B/R Apartment @Azaiba near Zubair Showroom, executive fully furnished 2 B/R Apartment @Al Khuwair 33 near Zaker Mall, executive fully furnished 1 B/R Apartment @Al Khuwair 33, executive fully furnished 3 B/R Apartment @Al Khuwair 25. Please contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC, 99249069, 92888376, 93201688

1 BHK with attached toilet & bathroom behind Bank Muscat at Wadi Kabir.# 99373290, 24815012

Room available at Barka, near al shaikh total room space 660 sqm.width.11.7 m length.56 m. Contact: 96971777, 99015059 email:marafialwasanintl@gmail.com Office space with cassette type A/C’s with free internet at al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket. Contact 99460330 New building in Muttrah, 2 b/d room flat + setting room, 3 baths+ kitchen with split unit ac’s. Behind Khimjis main office/opposite to Oman House Call 99419712 2 BR flat for rent in Wadi Kabir next to Al Maha Petrol Pump. Rent RO 300 pm. contact 99440826 Fully furnished 1 bedroom penthouse Wadi Kabir behind Sana Hassan, monthly RO 275/-. Contact 99349990 Fully furnished rooms for rent for family. Contact 99251975, Al Khuwair Furnished room with AC for Executive, Al Khuwair. Contact 97004265, 99689315 2 bedroom flat for rent in Hamriya, RO 160/-. Contact 95401070 For rent flat and showroom in Al Khuwair, Ghala, Ghubrah and Darsait. Contact 24485240, 24485241, 93651633, 92109563 Flat Al Ghubrah near Indian School second floor without lift, 1 BHK living room, 2 bathrooms, split AC, family only, RO 280/-, kitchen, balcony. Contact 92479515 Flat new Al Athaibah near 18 Nov Street, 2 BHK hall, 2 bathrooms, split A/C, RO 350/-. Family only. Contact 92479515 Flat Al Khuwair near Badr Al Samaa, 2 BHK living room, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, split A/C, family only, RO 375/-. Contact 92479515 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 1 & 2 BHK in Rex road. Contact 99792181

I room with attached toilet in Al Hail for bachelor, rent RO 100 to RO 130/-. Contact 97661432 Industrial empty plots 1000 – 15000 sqm are available in Misfah / Jiffnain rent for long lease, RO 1.200 per sq mt. Contact 96789522 2 BHK with window A/C in Al Khoudh rent RO 250/-. Contact 97661432 Constructed warehouse 3000 sq mt with boundary wall & gate in Misfah ready for lease or rent for long term. Rent RO 3.500 per sq. mt. #96789522 Huge 2 bedrooms apartment, Al Khuwair for rent immediately. Contact 95631834 / 91335205 2 BHK in Bowsher. Contact 99792181 1 & 2 BHK in Ruwi. Contact 99792181 180 Sqr mtrs Showroom in CBD. Contact 99792181

For rent apartments: An apartment in old Muscat at Oman Arab Bank’s building. 3 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms, dining room, living room and a kitchen. Air conditioned apartments. 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room area and kitchen in an excellent location in Al Khuwair opposite the court of first instance. For further information call 97072976 2 bedrooms flats available at Ghubrah, near Grand Mall, close to Atlas Hospital, next to Diwan’s office. Contact 24562526, 99833747 For rent new flat in Wadi Adai. Contact 99345137

4 BHK Villa in Madhinat Ilham. Contact 99792181

3 bedroom residential villa in Al Khuwair near to Zakher Mall. Has shaded car park. Can be used for office or other commercial purposes. OMR 690 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

House in Darsait near the sea with 2 bedrooms, toilets & kitchen RO 350/- with E/W. Contact 94455311

Ghubrah, 2 BHK, 3 bath new building, rent RO 380/- per month. Contact 98266157

Bowsher signal Shop suitable for hotel/supermarket is available for rent.pls contact on 97749285/ 96252684

Flat deluxe in Al Amerat Mahaj 4, 3 rooms with 3 toilets. Contact 99672604

100 &190 Sqr Mtrs office space in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

Offices space available min.120 upto max. 142 sqm, with data cable, pantry, cassette AC, parking, @ RO. 4/per/sqm at Jibroo Muttrah. Contact: 93221054, 99229263, 95215289

2 BR, 2 toilets, kitchen at Al Mawaleh.# 99444786, 99747560

We have 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK ﬂats, 4, 5 bedrooms villa, open space offices & shops available in Ghala, Ghobrah, Qurum, Mabela, Ruwi, Darsait, Mumtaz, Wadi Kabir. All brand new buildings & very affordable prices. Contact 93782735 / 99208033

Luxurious ﬂat with AC’s, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with store & family hall. # 93366421 For store, workshop in Wadi Kabir Industrial Area 5/5 m. Contact 99374977

4 bedrooms Deluxe Villa available at Al Khoud-6. (2Nos.) for 450/- per month each. Contact: 93221054, 99229263, 95215289

2 bedrooms ﬂat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. Contact 24700120, 92584715

Flat for rent for family, 2 bedrooms, 1 hall, 2 bathrooms at Al Amerat. Contact 99598264 / 99329949

2 shops, store accommodation, Barka Sanayya opposite Al Khalili. Contact 92423401

1 BHK / 2 BHK ﬂats available at Darsait near Medical. Contact 24705742 / 24705639

1&2 BHK ﬂat & Shop for rent at MBD, Hamriya, Hallat sad, Al Khoudh area. Contact: 24834644, 93994401, 02, 03

Office space for rent in Ruwi, OMR 500. Contact 91120552

Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33. Contact 99003626

1 BHK flat Qurum RO.270/- with split A/C. Contact – 99358589 / 95570288 /97079146 2 BHK flat at Al Khuwair RO.370/with split A/C. Contact – 99358589 / 95570288 /97079146 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send messages through Whatsapp or call – 99376454 1 BHK at Ghobrah - Near Indian School. Contact: 99014885 Al Qurum heights Sea view. # 99249069 / 92888376/ 93201688 3 flats in Mabellah for rent. Contact 99445177 New bldg 3 BR flats located at Darsait, Muscat close to Kims Pvt Hospital. Contact 92020004 / 99800838 For rent at Al Khuwair, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sitting, dining, kitchen split A/C near Rawasco, 1st floor. Rent 480 PDC. Contact 99879939 For rent at Ruwi, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sitting, dining, kitchen with A/C near Al Falaj Hotel, Ruwi, Way 2116 building 577, rent RO 275, PDC. Contact 99879939 For rent at Al Khuwair, 1 room with bathroom (Independent), near Rawasco with split A/C, 2nd floor, rent RO 125 PDC. Contact 99879939 2 BHK Commercial, Al Khuwair, RO 375/-. Contact 92144045 Flat, shops, basement, Ruwi-MBD Area, Honda Road. Contact 96942749, 92433127 Apartments in Al Khuwair new area each apartment contains (2 bedrooms + living room) for RO 365. # 93181111 6 bedroom villas at Al Ansab (nr Express highway). Contact 99199365 Villas & flats & stores. Contact 99776071 / 99057348 Abu Adnan Tower - flat for rent available at Al Mabelah, 2 B/R, 1 hall, 2 toilets, 1 kitchen. Contact 95566475 / 99654252

Luxury 2 bed room villa at BausherAL Ansab Phase 3. Call. 99324456 2 BHK at Al Azaiba, Building No.5145 Way 4470.# 99224748, 99425665 For rent (flats), 2 bedrooms + hall +kitchen, location: South Al Mawaleh. Contact 99870020 1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390. Contact 99319880 Show room on the main road Saham center total area 450 m sq. Contact: 99366558 / 99334226 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526 Flats ground floor, 3 Rooms & AC, kitchen, hall, in Al Mabaila South. Contact 99377290 2 B/ R Fully Furnished Executive Apartment @ Al Khuwair 33 Near Zaker Mall. 3 Bedroom Furnished executive apartment @ Al Khuwair 25. 5 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished villas at Azaiba with servants, 3 Bedroom Unfurnished Villa @ Mawalah South Area 6 with Servant Quarter, 5 Bedroom Unfurnished Villa @ An Apartment that resembles a penthouse has 2 rooms with 2 toilets, living room & an elegant balcony. Fully furnished, suited for families. Final price RO.300/- Mabela 8 near German University. Contact 99888400 New Villa for Rent Two floors newly built villa in Maabillah, 8 Fullfledged Residential Area 6 Rooms, 8 Toilets, excellent finishing spacious Kitchen, Big Dining Rooms in Both Floors, Easy Access to Muscat and Sohar using Maabillah Bridge. Contact 92828303

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE For sale Professional sound system contact 99353978 Sales of Indian Schools girls uniform readymade, stitching facility, contact our showroom : Fashion park, opp. Happy Centre, Ruwi. Contact 95717201 / 95331600, Email : muscatﬁroz@gmail.com Dental clinic for sale in Sohar. Contact immediately 99705760,92625962 Well running fast food and coffee shop for sale or rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 97646492 Sale of used commercial kitchen equipment in Ghala. #99024519

FOR SALE Used Blackberry Q10 (2 Month only ) 16 GB, warranty in Oman and Dubai R.O 110 only.. Contact 95442455

WANTED Urgently Required 5000 used shuttering Jacks for Construction Company. Contact: 92867677

BUYING/SELLING I am looking for a VCR Video for a price. Please call me if you have one in stock. Contact 99291154 We are looking for construction company at any level to buy. Contact 97413496 Looking for purchase of Used Portable Compressor (350 CFM, 7 Bar Pressure) powered with Diesel run Generator. Kindly Contact 99014686 or operation@khancogroup.com Looking for commercial lands for sale in Al Ghobrah North (urgent serious buyers, commercial lands in al Ghobrah North (corners prime location). Contact 91155779

FOR RENT Industrial Land in Misfah. Contact 93009999 Flats and shops. Contact 93009999

For sale Barber Shop in good running area, Al Khuwair. Contact 99616650 A running gents tailoring shop for sale in Sur with full clothes and all type of sewing machines. Contact 99376723 Urgent sale of scrap for electronic items such as TV, Refrigerator, Freezer, Cooking Range, Washing Machines, Accessories etc. Only serious buyers kindly contact: +968 96725423 for viewing the items. Building material shop for sale. Opp Mars Hypermarket, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99881647 / 93797343 For sale carpentry workshop with labor clearance in Wadi Al Kabir. Contact 99345137 2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Tel: 97000155 or 92688692 Used ﬁrst class office furniture for immediate sale. 3 Office Tables + Side Tables, Steel cabinets, Conference Table + Chairs etc. Excellent condition. Ideal for small start ups. Contact: 92193885

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished single room with separate bathroom near al meera hypermarket, azaiba. Gsm 94288863

Deluxe 1 & 2 BHK ﬂats in Ruwi & Darsait & Mumtaz Area. Contact 99142314 Separate 2 room bathroom, kitchen in Wadi Kabir, RO 150/-. Contact 99384640 2 BHK apartment for residential use at Qurum. Contact 94057023 2 BHK apartment for residential use in Al Khuwair 33. Contact 94057023

600 sq mtrs residential land in Misfah Phase 2. OMR 25 Thousand. Tel : 99333479 or 95215360

Independent rooms in Qurum/ Al Hail. Contact 95529970

Port cabins – New & refurnished Porta cabin for sale and rent. Contact 96723468

Independent room with attached bathroom and AC near Wadi Adai signal. Contact 92148188

Sinaw Gift House & Shopping Center for sale at Sinaw in good condition, with very good business opportunities. Contact 99738014, 95652642

Room available at barka, near al shaikh total room space 660 sqm. width.11.7 m length.56 m. contact:96971777,99015059 Email : maraﬁalwasanintl@gmail.com

Good running boutique and ladies tailoring shop in MBD Area for immediate sale.# 95123679, 99885298

Brand New Villa in Al Hail. Contact 92817777

Toshiba Laptop I 3, 3 GB ram, 500 GB hard disk with graphics card, in very good condition. Contact 94412557 If you have any empty land, plot, building, villa to sell. Contact with all information : info@goldenllc.com Restaurant for leasing/sale in Al Hail. Contact 94148970, 94148972, 97820877 Beauty Salon, Wadi Kabir, Al Hassan Co. Contact 95241147, 96700192 Darsait Business Office furniture, Isuzu 4 ton brand new. Contact 91391363 Villa for sale in new Al Khoudh. Contact 99778773

Excellent 4 bedrooms house in Al Hail. Contact 92817777 Bedroom with A/c sharing kitchen for Executive bachelors at Al Khuwair. Contact 99636550 Room for rent for family & bachelor at Ghubrah. Contact 97681599 Self contained room for executive bachelor in secured villa in Ghubra, call 92595830 / 24495667 Room for rent for family & bachelor at Honda road. Contact 99040590 Sharing room with A/c and attached toilet available for non cooking bachelors for male/ Female. opp. of Al nada hospital service road, Street name- Hellat Al Saad, bldg.no. 1670. Contact no. 96913801

A newly opened Barber Shop for sale at upcoming industrial zone in Misfah. Expat leaving Oman. Genuine buyers call 93833107 (Sale Price Negotiable)

Ghubrah furnished room with attached bath, dish, wi-ﬁ available for executive person. Contact 98266157

Household items on sale. Contact 93833107

Room available in Ruwi near Badr Al Samaa for Executive bachelor or couple, RO 125/- including W/E. Contact 92196783

Sale!, all household items, like fridge, freezer, cooking range, washing machine, window/split A/Cs, LCD TV, Laptop, tab and many more for attractive prices. Location : near Toyota service Center, Honda Road. Contact - 97048983, 95293643

BUSINESS

Sharing room available for Keralite / Tamil bachelors in Ruwi RO 45/- per month. Contact 92956291

Furnished sharing one room with bath at Darsait near ISM. #95257213 Independent room, kitchen and bathroom available near Ruwi roundabout. Contact 99016562

AVAILABLE Established Restaurant for rent with sponsorship. Contact 97628242

ACC. AVAILABLE 4 bedrooms house and one bedroom attached bathroom sharing kitchen in Wadi Kabir. Contact 96639246 Spacious semi-furnished room with separate entrance, attached washroom for non-cooking Indian Bachelor near ISG. Contact 95146361, 92657598

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. www.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

MATRIMONIAL

Single room attached bathroom, kitchen, split A/C, Al Ghubrah near Mars Hypermarket, OR 180/-. Contact 95094028

Keralite Pentecostal Boy, 31(173) Working at Saud Bahwan Muscat seeks suitable alliance. Contact 99141421, 92814737

Furnished single room with attached bathroom near Mars Hypermarket, Al Ghubrah. Contact 97312111, RO 150/- per month

Keralite girl, 26 (160), BSC Nurse at South America seeks suitable alliance. Contact 94413100, 98335340

Independent room furnished Executive at Wadi Kabir. Contact 99336206 Rooms for rent in Al Hail, front of the Wave. Contact 95192927 Room with separate toilet and WiFi, Wadi Kabir near pencil building. Contact 93416854 2 Bedroom ﬂat for offices with furniture near Al Manaf Hotel, Ghala. Contact 99525743, 99439705 Excellent 3 bedrooms , 2 sitting rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen & store with A/C. 92817777

ACC.WANTED Single room or studio ﬂat required in Ruwi area. Contact : 95405033

Proposals are invited from parents of professionally qualiﬁed Nair Boys for 24 year old Upper Middle Class Nair girl hail from Trivandrum, (171 cm, Star-Bharani) employed in a reputed Company in Oman. Contact 0968-9950 2593 /99798041. (KM ID.2844689)

NOTICE Fahd & Nasser Trading & Contracting Co. (Joint Liability) listed at the Department of Trade & Commerce at South Al Sharqeyah Governorate under No. (1080080) announces that it is about to change its commercial name to Aswar Jalan Al Fedheyah Trading & Contracting Co, (Joint Liability) Anybody having an objection to such a change shall present the causes of their objection to the Department of Trade & Commerce in South Al Sharqeyah Governorate

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DOMESTIC HELPER

We are looking for a part time accountant for our office . Must have knowledge of Tally soft ware . Working hour is ﬂexible , but not after 5 pm .Please contact by email : sales@petromaroman.com / mobile + 968 99338105

Required part time house maid for Keralite family in Darsait, salary RO 150/-.Contact 99864290, 98564647

Required experienced Accountant Tally, excellent English & driving license. Contact – omanlaw.om@gmail.com / 24497762 / 92192510

Wanted driver. Contact 95112461

Wanted Accountant part time job in Company, email : anas@kenzostone.com, nabil@kenzostone.com Male Accouuntant required in Ghala. Candidates present in Oman only. Contact 99454425, Email: qamest@omantel.net.om

BEAUTY Urgently required Beautician visa available. Contact 97172334

DESIGNER Urgently required Interior Designer qualiﬁed with minimum 5 yrs experience, capable to execute internal / external decorations to work for a leading construction company. Email : alfayafy@outlook.com or fax : 24479675 Interior Design office seeking AutoCAD Draftsman, 3 yrs experience with knowledge of MEP Drawings. Send CV at tarneem.design@gmail.com, 95273166 / 24155315

DOMESTIC HELPER European Family looking for maid and or cook. Email: cv.lo.oman@gmail.com House driver for Salalah. Contact 95600011, 99081190

ELECTRIC/MECHANICAL Required experienced Technicians specialized in cold room, chiller room, freezer and fridge maintenance and repair works. Send CV to nationalhvac@ymail.com or fax: 24799442 Electrician with 2 yrs experience. Send CV to jobs@prestigeprojectsoman.com or call 00968 92341826

MEDICAL Urgently required an experienced Pharmacist with MOH License for a reputed Pharmacy in Muscat. Please send CV to newcareesr2015@gmail.com Urgently required a GP Doctor with MOH license for a leading Medical Clinic. Contact 92008272 / 96602188, email : dearnaif@hotmail.com

Sudanese with 2 yrs experience in data entry and data collection plus customer service. #95140805, email ; zeejunior010@gmail.com Sudanese resident Bachelor of IT with 2 yrs of experience in customer service plus data entry & collection. Contact 95273302 / 96446656, Email: momazoon@gmail.com 26 years Indian male BMS (Building Management System) Engineer with 4 yrs of experience in Security systems(CCTV, access control systems, ﬁre alarm systems and public addressing systems) seeking suitable placement. Kindly contact me on +91 9884277198, E-mail: yuvarajsd@ymail.com Indian male 27 years, B.Com, Graduate 2year experience in marketing, looking for good placement in any ﬁeld, since from 4year in Oman. Contact 98765838 Indian, Female, Pharmacist available with NOC and MOH License, preferably in Muscat. Contact 9439 1355.

B.E Mechanical Engineer, Indian Male, 29, 5 years experience in steel fabrication ﬁeld (piping and structural) as site engineer. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 96115463. Jijoraju085@yahoo.com. Seeking job, BTech Instrumentation, 12 years experience Design, FEED, Detailed engineering, Oil & Gas, Instrumentation systems, Oman Driving license. Email :- wilfridsjacob@gmail.com Mobile:- 00968 99048130 Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 PROCUREMENT OFFICER-Indian-33 yrs, M.Com with12Yrs (7 yrs Exp. in Oman) in ROAD, CIV, MEP & Others projects of Contg &Trdg Co llc. Work Visa will Exp in Feb-2015. Contact :92694956, Email:nagauae@gmail.com Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to ﬁnalization. Contact 9602 3965.

Indian female, 25 yrs, bachelors of businesses management, having experience of 5 years as a fund/ ﬁnancial administration, on visit visa,looking for suitable placement. Contact 94662416 Apurwaverma@gmail.com

A Energy drink wholesale Distributor in Oman, required experienced Storekeeper, Marketing Executive & Marketing Manager. Send CV at Email : cvjobsmuscat@gmail.com

Indian Accountant, Male having 7 yrs exp in Oman seeking suitable placement. NOC available. Contact 96258733

Marketing Executive with light duty driving license. Send CV to jobs@prestigeprojectsoman.com or call 00968 92341826

Indian Male looking Accounting, ﬁnance, MBA ﬁnance, 3 yrs GCC, 6 yrs India. Contact 97138592, fahimakthar@gmail.com

Urgently needed, Projects Sales Executives (3), Store Helpers (2), kitchen carpenters (2), Office Assistants/Secretary (2) (All male only) for a leading building material trading company. Candidates with right education, experience and D/L (Sales), please email CV to trend1993@yahoo.com

Chartered Accountant B.Com / CA / CIA, 10+ yrs in Audit, Accounts, Finance. Contact 94641805

Looking for outdoor salesman for heavy equipments. Contact- 93292015, 99656542

Indian male, 25 yrs, now on visit visa having 2 yrs experience in Accounts and Admin seeking suitable placement. Contact 95351570, mail2ajithpc@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

MEDICAL Required laboratory technician & 4 nurse Filipina (female) for health center in Sohar. Contact: 92369417, Email: shafii_17@hotmail.com Wanted Pharmacist (B.Pharm), Staff Nurses (female), Dental Technician (Acrylic, Ceramic & veneer experience), with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent Salary package. Contact 99006915, Email: dxbclinic@yahoo.com Required the following staffs for a medical complex in Salalah urgently 1) Female Gynecologist, Arab Nationality, 2) Male Pharmacist, Indian, 3) Lab Technician, Indian. Those interested kindly contact 97413418, 92732491. Please send your resume to careclinicsalalah@gmail.com Wanted Female Staff Nurse with MOH Licence/Prometric passed candidates (immediate placement)for a Medical Clinic in Muscat area Contact :+ 968 98185250 e mail:fizashafir@gmail.com Wanted female physiotherapist with MOH License. Send CV at Email : info@sagarpolyclinic.com Dentist required to work urgently in dreams clinic at Al Khoud and must be resident in Sultanate of Oman. Please send your CV to the following email – towershr70@gmail.com / balushi70@gmail.com / info@towersinternationalgroups.com Mobile – 99882340 / 24545914

General practitioner Doctor is required to work urgently in Dreams Clinic at Al Khoudh and must be resident in the Sultanate of Oman. Please send your CV to the following email: towershr70@gmail.com, balushi70@gmail.com & info@towersinternationalgroups.com, Mobile 99882340, Tel: 24545914

Male 24,looking for permanent job in Computer and Communication ﬁeld ,BSC in Computer and Communication Engineering. 3-month Practical training in Hayyat Communication company (subcontractor of ooredoo). Gsm:+968-92328726. Email:adilbutt102@gmail.com, Omani Man looking for a job with experience in HR/ Admin/ accounting. # 99767666 Indian Male, B.COM, ICWA, CMA Australia, 24 years experience in ﬁnance, costing, accounts, internal audit. Valid Oman driving license. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact 97917136 Manager Maintenance/Engineering/Purchase, 31 yrs. exp. in mechanical, electrical, electronics, parts fabrication, purchase deptt, oman exp. 5yrs, have NOC, looking for job. Contact - 99331289 Email: pkv2k3@yahoo.com, Post Graduate Engineer with 5+ years experience in Project Planning & Management currently on visit visa looking for a Project Co-ordinator/Planning Engineer position in reputed organizations. # 96105079 Indian female dentist with 4 year experience. Call Nazia 96488737

ADMIN/HR Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc. Holding valid Oman D/L .Contact - 99054786

MANAGER

Indian HR admin job, 22 yrs experience, 9 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 92981324, 97241168, email: sreekp7@gmail.com

Telecom / Electrical Supervisors, minimum 3 yrs exp, GCC exp & D/L preferred, Diploma in respective ﬁelds essential. Contact 96341946, email : kmmadhupal@gmail.com

Indian female, Graduate experience in Admin Customer Service operation, retail looking for suitable job. Contact 94231020

MISCELLANEOUS Required 1.Glass Partition Fixer 2. Carpenter. Contact - 93420789

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Head office waiter storekeeper required for new Indian Restaurant. Contact 96500750 Required driver with car, looking for a person with experience in making gift boxes and special packing. Send CV to abba201541@yahoo.com

Masters in Law, MBA in HR, experienced and highly qualified lady Indian nationality looking for job in Admin or as Legal Advisor in reputed firms. Contact 92595933 Indian female Graduation in computer Science having 2 yrs experience in Oman seeking for suitable job in Admin/HR, email : maluvijayan40@gmail.com or contact 92014628 Post Graduate Indian male, MBA (Hospital Administration) having 4 Years experience in hospital administration looking for suitable placement. Currently on visit. Contact: 96701543, 92945632 Indian female with excellent communication skills, confident, dedicated to work and enthusiastic. Knowledge about ms office. Has 6 years of experience in customer service, telecommunication, HR.Looking for immediate placement. Contact # 97348819

SITUATION WANTED Post Graduate Indian male having 2 year experience looking for suitable opportunities, currently on visit visa. 95356569.

Urgently required a dynamic Marketing Executive for a furniture company. Should posses a valid Omani Driving License. Contact 97164554 / aliasgar@ultimate-furniture.com

Required an experienced person who has ideas to start a new business in electrical ﬁeld or supply with minimum cost. Contact 99426421

ENGINEERS

Omani Trainers & OJT’s for Mechanical / Electrical / Instrumentation & Business with suitable qualiﬁcation and min 5 yrs experience in Oil & Gas. Very attractive salary offered. Suitable candidates send your CV to trainingjobsoman@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Highly reputed Perfume Company requires Omani Sales girl promoters. Contact 95663682, 92956876

DRIVER

Required B.E Mechanical Engineer with minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience specialized in HVAC works, good knowledge in AutoCAD. Preferred with Omani Driving License. Send CV to nationalhvac@ymail. com, fax: 24799442

SALES / MARKETING

BCA Graduate, Indian male with 1yr of exp in System Admin, IT Support, Network Admin and 1yr exp as sales Executive.CCNA,MCSE .looking for suitable job. # 95938303 email- hafsalhs@gmail.com IT Professional, 7 yrs exp in System Administration, IT Support, Networking etc. currently on visit visa. Contact 94064579, email : preejes01@gmail.com Indian male having 14 years of experience in Various dept. (stockbroking Dealing, Back Office Accounts, Dmat, Settlement, Risk management, Maintaining Books of accounts ETC).Having Good Computer Knowledge seeking suitable placement. # +91 9820240094 Email Id: vora_bharat@yahoo.com, Indian Male 25 years B.Com having 3 years of exp of Oman in Accounts/Administration.Well versed with computer knowledge looking for suitable position. Immidiately available. Contact:93207867 email: tambeazhar@gmail.com 3 Years experienced Administrative Executive seeking for Virtual Admin Opportunities. Can work for 6 hours/day from a virtual location for 100 RO/month. Call: 95811820

ARCHI./ DRAUGHTSMAN 28 yrs Indian male, M.Arch, 3.5 yrs exp in Green Building Architecture seeking placement. Contact 91540113, Email: abdulmomin.h@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accounts part time works upto finalization & finalization works. Contact 96247295 Accountant / Auditor, Srilankan male 27, having 3+ yrs experience looking for suitable placement. Contact 93556320 India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placement. Contact:93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306

Indian Male, 25 yrs currently in Oman on visit looking for suitable vacancies in accounts, B.Com completed 1 yr experience. Contact 92024380

Part time accounting & finalization. Contact 93053875 Accounts Finalization, Part Time Accounting, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Onsite Training for Accountants, Inventory Management. Contact : 94669089, email : ibfcoman@hotmail.com Indian accountant with more than 30 years experience in construction accounting (both finance and cost) with experience in material management and general administration seek part/full time assignment. Ready to work anywhere in Oman and UAE and can join immediately. Contact 98598099 Male Indian, 22 yrs, B.Sc, Computer science on visit valid upto 10/02/2015 looking for a suitable placement. Contact 92579790 Accountant, Indian Male, B.Com, MBA presently working in Oman since 9 yrs having suitable change, NOC/Release available. #94134085, email : muscatoman95@yahoo.com Indian Male, MBA, B.com Having 7 yrs of experience in finance Department (Trading & Logistics) with knowledge of ERP & Tally, and Oman valid D/L. NOC is available looking for suitable Position contact No.99279626 Email ID: magdum28@gmail.com Accounts Manager, 8 yrs experience in trade, construction and real estate looking for suitable placement. Contact 94669596 Indian male, B.Com with 2 yrs Oman exp & 4.5 yrs Accounts exp looking for suitable placement in Accounts with NOC letter. Email : parasunadkat12@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs MBA, having 2 yrs of experience in financial accounting finalization, knowledge of Tally, ERP, focus, wings, PEACHTREE, MS Excel, Payroll, currently on visit visa seeking suitable placement available immediately. Contact 91058205, email : aslammohammed10@gmail.com Pakistani male, 25 yrs, MBA Finance, 1.6 yrs exp in Accounts seeking placement in Accounts, Administration or Business Management. Contact 92651927 / 94250149 Male, 4 yrs of experience as Financial Analyst looking for suitable position. Contact 94140728 Part time Accountant with 15 yrs exp in Accounting, Auditing, Taxation Management. Contact 95857199 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting . NOC available. Contact 96209331

DESIGNER AutoCAD Interior Designer / detailer, 9 yrs GCC experience seeking for a suitable opening in a reputed company, NOC available from current employer. Contact 92110589 Indian female, 25yrs BscFASHION DESIGNING, 3yers experience in designing ﬁeld and teaching. looking for a sutable placement. Contact: 98785310. Email: vinaya.m.nair@gmail.com

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver Contact 92303692

Indian male on Visit Visa. Expert in ELV systems, Instrumentation, PID controllers, Embedded systems, Electronics CAD. 20years experience. Contact 98915066

Light driver looking for a job as house driver. Release available Contact 99206340 Pakistani driver with L/D valid Omani license. Contact #97331685 Bangladeshi male, light driver, exp 6 yrs looking for job. Contact 97460056 Oman experienced Bangladesh Driver available. Contact 96692774 Light driver & delivery boy available. Experience & Graduate. Contact 98987475 Office Executive light driver, 2 yrs exp. Contact 93408758 Light driver looking for job. Contact 94077119 Indian Driver need job with car. Contact 91254539 LV Driver- 2 yrs Exp-know English- Contact 95292064 Light Driver looking for job. Contact 92787245 6 Years experience light duty driver. Contact – 96736744 Light driver looking for job. Contact 92791678

ENGG. / TECHNICAL B. Tech Civil Eng. 3 yrs exp in Oman with driving license. Contact 93733627. Mail id : joinvisam@gmail.com, neethusprakash@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer, 15 yrs Oman experience (total 28 yrs) looking for senior position with valid D/L, NOC available. Contact 99013465 Quantity Surveyor (Civil Building) looking for Part time job Contact no:94391712 E-mail addressinayathhussain@yahoo.com Experienced female Electrical Engineer.Contact 93800906 Jordanian Engineer Electrical 7 yrs exp. Consulting, site & shop drawing works. Ready to join immediately. Worked in UAE & Saudi Arabia. Contact - 00971555594733

Indian Civil Engineer, M.Tech in Construction Management, Primavera Expert looking for suitable placement. Contact 92550987 Electrical Engineer experience 1.3 yrs in Oman, Diploma. Medc.CEP+ Oman D/L. Release available. Contact 95431009 / 96762489 Indian Male, 24, UK, graduate – MSc (Eng) Environmental Engineering and Project Management with B.E Biotechnology, Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact 91106535, pranayck90@gmail.com Russian female, Bachelors degree in economics with 3 yrs experience. Fluent in English, Arabic & Russian. Contact 95343882 Indian Male, 24, UK Graduate - MSc (Eng.) Environmental Engineering and Project Management with B.Eng. Biotechnology. Holding Valid Omani Driving License, looking for suitable placement +968 9110 6535 pranayck90@gmail.com Indian female, Electrical Engineer (family visa) M-Tech in Power System having 1 yr experience seeking suitable placement.#94306164 Project Engineer (B.E Civil) having 10 yrs experience in Interior ﬁt out industry looking for suitable opening from reputed companies (NOC available) from current employer. Contact 91403433 Indian male, BE Mechanical Engineer having 4 yrs experience seeks suitable placement. Family visit visa. Contact 95088176, touﬁkyermal@gmail.com Project Engineer / Site Engineer (Dip. Electrical) having 9 yrs exp in 400 KV/132 KV Cable Project, 11 KV indoor/outdoor Tr., DG set, light & power wiring, drafting in AutoCAD. Possess driving license. Contact 91554270, underoneroof51@gmail. com, contact 91554270 Civil Engineer (Diploma) seeking for a placement. Contact 95200650 Chemical Engr with experience in analytical instrumentation, bulk drugs and herbal production. Contact apssasif@gmail.com

Sudanese Mechanical Engineer, 3 yrs experience in HVAC ﬁre ﬁghting, NOC and driving license available. Contact 91135140

Aircraft Maintenance Technician with one year experience seeks suitable placement. Contact amaljohn2002@gmail.com

Diploma of Associate Civil Engineering, Diploma of AutoCad, having 3.5 yrs experience, 2 yrs experience of Oman in Building Construction, valid transferrable ID Card. Contact 94378581

Indian male, BE MBA PMP having 20 yrs exp in Civil Residential Commercial Infra Construction and contract management looking for role in Project / Program Management. NOC available. Contact 94634053

Indian B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, 26 yrs, 4 yrs experience in HVAC/MEP. Contact 94669629, rajeevhpd15@yahoo.com

Generator maintenance in charge with 4 yrs experience with Cummins, caterpillar, kirloskar and voltas. Contact - email: shibinmundakkal@gmail.com

26, female, B.Tech in Electronics & biomedical engineering with 1 And Half yrs experience in medical ﬁeld is seeking suitable job openings. Email : aswathiravirak@gmail.com, ph : 94652908 Telecommunication Engineer with 5 yrs experience in the Gulf. Contact 95219822 Civil Engineer with 12 years Experience Looking For Job. Contact 98162295 M. Tech Electrical Eng. Female, now in visit visa. Contact +968-94654481. Looking Part time Job in HVACContact - 93198128 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Civil Engineer B Tech, Site Engineer Experienced, Drafting on Visit Visa Ph : 91642050 Indian male, 26 yrs B-Tech (ECE) with MBA in Marketing / HR looking for a suitable placement. Currently on visit visa valid up to 30 January 2015. Contact 93754428, email : shijosirius709@gmail.com DAE (Civil) having 3.5 years Experience 2 years from Oman with driving licences, seeking for suitable position in Construction ﬁeld NOC and release available . Contact 96968554 Email: mehranahmad26@yahoo.com

Mechanical Engineer,(BE in Mechanical) with Certified quality controller - NDT level 2 qualified as per ASNT - SNT-TC-I A, having experience as quality control engineer in India, presently on visit visa, seeks suitable placement . Cont : suhylehameed@gmail.com / 95405033 Indian male, (MCA, B.Sc Maths) locally available with 4 yrs experience in Software Engineering (IOS Development) also experienced IT & Maths Teacher. Contact 93396053, 93927437, email: vishnursk@gmail.com Indian male, 28 yrs, Electrical Engineer, 5 yrs Gulf Oman experience in HV and LV Installation work seeking placement. NOC available. Contact 91391587 Diploma Civil Engineer, Indian male, 29, 4 yrs experience in building construction field, 2 yrs experience with consulting company in Oman driving license and release available from current company. Contact 93282447, cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer, 6 yrs experience in Oman with D/L. Contact 94052815 Mechanical Engineer, Indian male, 6 yrs experience, 3 yrs in GCC, seeking suitable opening in Oil & Gas Sector, have valid GCC D/L. email : msfebco@gmail.com, Contact 91228398

HOSPITALITY

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

M.Sc International Tourism & hotel management UK Graduated with Omani D/L seeking job as CRE, tour operations & marketing in hospitality & tourism industry. Contact 91640428

INFORMATION TECH Oracle certified BE (CS) Indian male with skills in OCA (DBA, SQL10g, looking for suitable placement. Contact 98436022/99848874 Email: rineel2005@yahoo.com Indian male, BE Wireless Networks, CCNA & MCSE trained, 3 years experience as IT support assistant at a leading higher education institution in Oman, seeking a position as an Network/Systems Engineer. Contact:96008737. Email: m.anas365@outlook.com Well qualified Indian female, B.Sc & Computer’s Diploma with 7 yrs experience in reputed companies as Executive Secretary excellent knowledge in MS Office and manage task independently seeks placement. Contact 95423692 MBA (Systems) with MCSA Certified having more than 10 years of experience in Computer Hardware & Networking , Specialization in Server Configuration, Windows Server 2012, Redhat Linux Enterprise 6.0, VPN Firewall, Router, & CCTV Installation and Maintenance seeks suitable placement. Now in visit visa & back to India on 26/01/15. E-mail : pkram1977@outlook.com & Mob#+968 95642554 ERP Specialist, 14 yrs exp, Indian male, (VB.NET & SQL Server) able to handle in-house development single handedly. Release/NOC available, valid D/L. Contact 93047636 M.Tech-IT professional, Indian Male specialist in Networking, Configuring maintaining and managing servers, Exp in configuring cisco products, Knowledge in SQL database. Contact:+968 98536430, +968 98743886 Indian Male 23 yrs – IT / Pre-post Sales Consultant / Business Analyst / Web Designing. 2 yrs. exp. Languages-HTML5, WebRTC, Java, CSS, C++, .Net, SQL, Oracle, ERPMicrosoft Dynamics CRM. Looking for suitable job. Contact: 98802504, email:shrihari26@gmail.com B.Tech IT Professional, Indian Male with 3 yrs of Exp. In System Admin, IT Support, Networking, Installing Active Directory, DHCP, DNS,RAS, configuring maintaining and managing servers, configuring cisco routers, Exp in handling SQL database, With Valid Driving Licence. Contact - 968 98863507 IT Prof, MCA having 6+ yrs exp, seeks suitable position. Contact 94543668 IT Professional, Indian male, B.Sc Graduate with 4+ yrs Gulf (UAE) good exp in System Administration, IT Support, Server Desktop, laptop, smartboard, datashow biometric, CCTV, currently on visit visa. Contact 98936548, Email: vaseemj@yahoo.com

MEDICAL Medical- Indian female, 27 yrs, masters in hospital administration, fellowship in HTA studied in a super specialty medical sciences and research center in India and done project in an established hospital in sultanate of Oman. Contact 93200827, 91026506 Indian Female, 28 yrs Staff Nurse, 7 yrs of experience (4 yrs in Gulf) presently working in India, Oman Prometric passed 63%, valid BLS & ACLS certiﬁcates, looking for suitable job in Muscat area. Email : anishaabrahamc@gmail.com or call 93137898 Female Pharmacist with MOH license seeking suitable job Contact 93215380 Indian male Pharmacist (B.Pharma) 5 1/2 years experience in Oman seeking suitable placement in Muscat. NOC from the present employer available. Contact +968 98525100 Indian male, B.Sc nurse with critical care specialization, 16 yrs experience including GCC Oman Prometric passed, seeking for good posting. Contact 91124083, 96132494

Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs. 5 years experience in Muscat. Immediately available for joining. Contact: 92139298

MEDICAL Female dentist with MOH license and with Noc looking for suitable placement in Muscat region Contact no. 99147426 Indian female, 26, Pharmacist with MOH license, 3.5 yrs of experience in India, seeking suitable placement. Contact 94474924, Email: suryacprasad88@gmail.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Foreman Indian Male, 11 yrs experience in building construction having Kuwaiti Driving License presently in Kerala. Contact +91 9947689894 Civil foreman maintenance D/L, 12 yrs in Oman, 2 yrs in Kuwait. Contact 96405865, 99534138, India - +91 7589248550, +91 9464255409, email: sukhwinder9@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING

Indian female Nurse, 4 yrs experience Prometric passed, seeking for good posting. Contact 92917448, 97362119

MBA with 6 yrs experience in Sales & Marketing with Omani Driving License seeks suitable placement. Contact 94685706

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Croatan Woman, 12 yrs experience in Sales. Contact 99797290

Warehouse Manager with 10+ yrs Oman experience in Building Material and construction ﬁeld with D/L, release available. Contact 99883712

MBA, 26 years male, 4 Year Experience (1year Banking experience in UAE) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 94600128 Email: hassan_imran_ch@hotmail.com

Indian male Graduate with 20+ years of Administration, Operations & Management experience in IT, Oil & Gas & Hospitality Industry. 12 years in Oman with vast contacts, very strong management, operational, communication and interpersonal skills, can handle any size of business and projects whether it’s in initial stage or established. Can join immediately. Local release available on request. Contact: 9906 4589 Indian male, having 18 yrs experience in “Automatic door opening and closing system.” From Riyadh as Manager and Department Head. Contact +97466912692 Techno Commercial Manager, Indian, well experienced in Oman. Vast knowledge in Operations, Business development, Logistic / Purchase, General administration. Looking for suitable opening. NOC Possible, Contact - 96599704 Project Manager more than 20 yrs experience, 15 yrs in Sultanate of Oman in construction ﬁeld. Contact 93385789 Qualiﬁed Manager: (12+ yrs. Oman Exp.) Vast knowledge in A/c & Admin, Costing, Banking, Credit Control, Insurance, International Purchase/Logistics & Finance, With D/L looking for suitable position. Gsm: 93826090 Email: jskanchan01@gmail.com Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel. Contact 91219787

MECHANICAL/TECH. Electrical Technician with 7 yrs experience in the ﬁeld of oil & gas. Contact 96946044 / 94682982 Indian Electronics & Communication with transmission project, embedded designing, telecommunication experience (3 yrs) having visit visa looking for suitable placement in Oman. Contact Mohammed Arshad Khan – 93398772, email : eng.mohdarshadkhan@gmail.com Indian male, 27 yrs, B.Tech Mechanical, 1 yr pipeline experience seeking job in any mechanical ﬁeld, NOC available, available in Oman till 31st Jan. Contact 95982207, rahman.taus@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS MBA Finance, 7 yrs exp in Financial & Banking Sector seeks suitable position with Driving License. Contact 98371903 Quality Assurance Officer, ISO Quality System Internal Auditor, BSc Graduate, female 27, with 4 years experience seeks suitable placement. Contact nipuni.d.silva@gmail.com Microbiologist & Quality Assurance Executive, BSc Graduate, female, 27 with 4 yrs experience in food industry looking for a suitable placement. Email : nipuni.d.silva@gmail.com Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934

18 yrs Oman experience in Building Materials seeking suitable placement, NOC available. Contact 93105775 Indian male having 6 yrs experience of working in Oman with Advertising, Interiors, Events, Purchase & Accounts valid Oman D/L looking for suitable job. Contact 98851980 Indian male, MBA 9+ yrs Oman exp in Sales & Marketing in FMCG (F & B) sector on a Supervisor / managerial role with D/L & Local NOC available. Contact 97912789 Young female, having experience of working in Oman with expertise in the field of Event Management, Advertising, Marketing and Hotel Management. Currently on a visit visa. Seeking for a suitable Job. # 96153578 Indian male, B.Com, 20 yrs experience in Sales & Marketing having UAE light D/L looking for suitable post. Contact +91 9946699062, email : sajim40@gmail.com Indian male, 26, MBA Marketing, 1 yr GCC experience Oman, license. Contact +91 9946308583, haris.hameedali@gmail.com Indian MBA-Marketing & Systems Manager having 6 yrs experience in Solar System & Inverters seeking suitable placements. Contact 97892269 / 99046313 Pakistani male, 34, College 2 yrs, 2 yrs experience as Sales Representative, 3 yrs experience as Clerk / Office Assistant, 3 yrs experience as Salesman in Oman, Computer Skills : Excel, BUSY, ERP, languages known – English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu. Contact 96763346 Indian male, 30 yrs, 8 yrs + experience in Sales & Marketing, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95601197 Indian Male having 7 yrs in experience in Oman Sales & Marketing Office Automation Printer, Copier, MFP, IT products & Stationery. Looking for Suitable Placement NOC Available Contact :97384748 Young Energetic Male, with Oman work experience in the field of Sales/ Marketing and Administration. Currently on a visit visa seeking suitable position. Contact 97832289. wakakhan.1@gmail.com 15 years experience in Business Development , marketing, purchase – UAE & Oman-staff coordination, documentation, civil & technical maintenance, -valid GCC license-looking for working partnership or management post. Contact:91568362 / Email vpj555pem@gmail.com Indian Male, 7 yrs experience in building materials trading having Oman D/L, immediate release available. Contact 98676713 Indian Male, MBA in Marketing and Finance, 10 years’ Sales & Business Development Experience with valid D/L of Oman & UAE looking for a suitable placement. NOC Available. Contact: 93969961 e-mail abhilash.pvrk@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Sales & Marketing Indian male MBA (marketing & sales) business development experience at all levels of management. Currently on visit visa. Contact – 91272819 Indian male, 32 yrs, total 8+ yrs experience with 4+ yrs experience of Sales and Marketing in Oman, seeking job. NOC available. #95731981 Indian male, 24 yrs Computer Engineering in Diploma, 3.6 yrs experience in sales looking for sales executive job. Contact 96396011 Indian male, 10 years ongoing Oman Experience in Sales / Marketing of Oilfield Equipment / Supplies, looking for mid career job opportunity with reputed firms / groups. Masters Degree. NOC available. Contact +968 94045125. Email: djoman.career@gmail.com Dynamic Indian male Graduate with experience in Sales and Marketing of luxury auto brands, having 8 yrs of Oman experience with D/L currently in Oman. Contact 93342565, 99364437, email : manojkpa@rediffmail.com US / AUS IT educated, 16 yrs experience in Business Development, Sales, Marketing, HR/Admin looking for suitable position. Contact 93649932 in Muscat Filipino Male, 26 yrs old looking for any job in restaurant or hotel or Sales or finance and having exp total of 8 yrs in all these fields. #92156753 MBA Graduate with valid Omani D/L looking for suitable job. Contact 94143683

TOUR / TRAVELS IATA Certiﬁed experienced Indian Lady looking for job. Currently on visit. Contact 94613747, 91339846

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female MCA, with 5 years 4months of exp. in oracle, sql, plsql, unix. Knowledge in c language Contact no:93234758, email id:indu.mr@gmail.com Indian female, 25 yrs, B.Com with computer Application, 1 yr experience as Accountant, looking for suitable job. Contact 98847165 Graduate, Indian, having 6 yrs experience in Sales with D/L, NOC available. Contact 93410723 Indian female, 25 yrs, M.Sc Software Engg., on visit visa having 2 yrs experience in IT & Admin seeks suitable placement. Contact 96985150, Email: anucherian15@gmail.com MBA Marketing with 10 years experience in Oman and Pakistan, sales of industrial equipment and machinery, now on visit visa looking for job. Contact 99189286 Pakistani Male Having 5 year experience Valid Omani license working in Transport Division looking for a suitable position .Salary is negotiable...naveedmuhammad037@gmail.com Mob:93363316 Indian male, B.com with tally, having 11 years experience in accounting, looking for a part time job. contact.96423671 Diploma Holder, Now working as logistic coordinator/ salesman with one year experience , Seeking for Suitable Jobs in Oman, NOC available, Trying for License , Contact 94440370 Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations, seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 B pharm, Indian female, Oman MOH License holder, seeking job. Email- shivallath@gmail.com. Contact no:99665183 Part- Time Accountant, well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact 98803439 A young, Bsc & B.Ed female graduate with 9 months of teaching experience in science subjects looking for suitable position in reputed organisation. Currently on Visit Visa. Please contact: 92282796

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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SITUATION WANTED Accountant, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as Accountant.7 years Successful experience in Accounts with Oman Driving license, seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170 Civil Engineer, B.E in civil, Experience in Oman approx in two years. Cell no : 94389853 Email: faheemdeer1986@gmail.com. 30 year Indian male MSW- HR ,with 5 yrs Professional experience in HR in Construction Oil & Gas Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact me in 93488914 Indian male 23 yrs, 4 yrs experienced in Architectural Draughtsman looking for a suitable Post GSM:96023726, Email jayan.mathew009@gmail.com

Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 Seeking for immediate placement as a manager- projects, sales, marketing, product, business development job for BEMBA, 12 years Oman experience with D/L. #96040977, kvmssn@gmail.com AutoCAD draughtsman (Arch itectural+Structural+Plumbing & HVAC) having more than 12 years Oman experience seeking work as a FREELANCER. Contact - 91620107

26 year Indian male BMS (Building Management System) Engineer with 4yrs of experience in Security systems(CCTV, access control systems, ﬁre alarm systems and public addressing systems) seeking suitable placement. Contact +91 9884277198, E-mail: yuvarajsd@yahoo.com

Indian Female, B.com, 2year Indian Exp. in Accounts, strong in Tally ERP 9,MS Office, looking for suitable position. Part time/ Full time. Contact-95939129, 99104579, mail: sreekulaparambil@gmail.com

Diploma Holder, Now working as logistic coordinator/ salesman with one year experience, seeking for Suitable Jobs in Oman, NOC available, Trying for License. Contact 94440370

Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations, seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position.Visa transfer/NOC Available. Contact : 95036410

Indian male, 4 Years experienced in Architectural & Structural Draughtsman, looking for a suitable Post GSM:96023726, Email :jayan.mathew009@gmail.com Accountant ,Indian male,24 years. Presently working in Oman as Accountant.2 years experience in Accounts with oman Driving license. NOC available..Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 93409315 Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 years experience in hardware networking. Currently on visit visa, looking for suitable job. Contact - 94359564 Post Graduate Indian male, MBA (Hospital Administration) having 4 yrs. experience in hospital administration looking for suitable placement. Currently on visit. Contact: 96701543, 92945632 PROCUREMENT OFFICER-Indian 33yrs, 7yrs Exp. in Oman in (ROAD,CIV,MEP & Others) Contg & Trdg Co. Visa will Exp in Feb-15. M: 94064650, Email:nagauae@gmail.com IT supports 6 yrs experience, male, Filipino Desktop Support, Backup administrator, Wireless Networking, server admin. Contact - +96896126502

31 years, male with Gulf Experienced Microsoft Certiﬁed Solution Associate, Have GCC driving license, looking for a suitable job as Network/System Administrator. Phone: +968 93927126, 99853614, Email: khalil837@hotmail.com 26 years male, MBA Finance & Marketing, 1 year experience in marketing. Looking for sales job. Contact: 95437921 Mechanical Engineer with 10+ years experience currently on visit visa looking for a Operation Manager/Branch Manager position in reputed organizations. #95757845 Indian female, Accountant. having +5 years experience in Oman till Nov 2014. seeking suitable placement. NOC available. currently in family visa. Contact :98447045, email: anilavandika@gmail.com Indian male, 26 yrs - MBA Graduate with 3 yrs of Experience in Banking ( Standard Chartered Bank Scope International Operations) &Coffee Vending Machine (Fresh & Honest Cafe ltd - Operations) on Visit Visa seeking placement. # 91267867

SITUATION WANTED INDIAN, B.E Mechanical Engineer, 2 years job experience in Oman in pipeline ﬁeld, ﬂuent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, with valid Omani driving license (light) searching for job. Contact 99871470 Male 28, seven & half an year experience. Worked as maintenance division co-ordinator, purchaser’s assistant, and office administration works. Valid driving license. Contact 94454847 Indian male, 25yrs, MBA in marketing from Delhi with 1 year experience in operation department, currently on visit visa seeking suitable placements. Ph 97334359 email: mshahinp1@gmail.com Civil Engineer, B.E in civil , Approx. two year experience in Oman, Pakistani age 29 years. Contact : 94389853 Email : faheemdeeer1986@gmail.com Male 28, seven & half an year experience. Worked as maintenance division co-ordinator, purchaser’s assistant, and office administration works. Valid driving license. 94454847 Indian, female, Pharmacist available with NOC and MOH License, preferably in Muscat. # 9439 1355. Indian, Female, Pharmacist available with NOC and MOH License, preferably in Muscat Contact : 9439 1355 An Indian driver with car looking for part time job. Contact 91103909

NRI

28 year Indian male with 7yrs of experience in Accounts & Finance up to ﬁnalisation in Construction Oil & Gas and also in Manufacturing industries with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 97104364 . email:moorthy_cbe@hotmail.com.

28 years Indian male with 7yrs of experience in Accounts & Finance up to ﬁnalisation in Construction Oil & Gas and also in Manufacturing industries with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact me on 97104364 .email: moorthy_cbe@hotmail.com

Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 35 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 8 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to ﬁnalization. Contact 9602 3965.

Indian female MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. Subject: English, seeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman. Contact 93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com.

Looking out for the post of Travel coordinator/Senior travel Consultant, 14 years (10 years in GCC Countries) of experience in the travel industry looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 96328687. Civil draughtsman part time work for job. Contact : 96023726 Indian, 24 years, B.Tech with Diploma in Sound Engineering & Sound Recording seeking suitable placement. Currently on Visit Visa. Contact: 95615436. Email: siddharthsadasiv@gmail.com Indian Female-Tech Electrical, from third best college, Government Engineering College Trissur. Fluent in English. Excellent presentation skill.Engineering, IT, teaching or account sector job wanted. Contact -97724630 / email: vyshnaparthan@gmail.com Indian male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Admistration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/ NOC Available. Contact 95036410 Filipino Accountant with 13 years working experience in the ﬁeld of accounting looking for a suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 94547323 Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian female staff nurse looking for placement under contract with Schools, Medical Centres, other Institutions. Contact 98140024.

Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 8+ years exp. in reputed companies, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact: +968 99276601 & 97693456. muralimahdav77@gmail.com Indian male, 26 yrs - MBA Graduate with 3 yrs of Experience in Banking (Standard Chartered Bank Scope International - Operations) & Coffee Vending Machine (Fresh & Honest Cafe ltd - , Operations) on Visit Visa seeks placement. # 91267867, Email: jai.ks1988@gmail.com

Land for sale at Trivandrum near Medical College Sreraryam, 3 cents road side. Contact 93772067, +91 9567517447 Villa for sale 2200 sq ft in 8 cent. Kottayam. Contact: 92652534 For Astrological consultation, Jathakam.Contact 99860435 / 97102599

GOOD NEWS

Tunisian women looking for job, khnows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 28 year Indian male with 7yrs(5yrs in Oman) of experience in Accounts & Finance up to ﬁnalisation in Construction Oil & Gas and also in Manufacturing industries with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact me on 97104364 email: Moorthy_cbe@hotmail.com Looking out for the post of Travel coordinator/Senior travel Consultant, 14 years (10 years in GCC Countries) of experience in the travel industry looking for a suitable placement. Contact:96328687 Female dentist with MOH license and release looking for a suitable placement in Muscat, presently residing in Muscat. Contact: 99147426

Phd – Management, specialization in management, e-marketing and online consumer behavior, 6 years of academic and research experience. Indian lady GSM 97240687 & 93463439

Indian Female. B-Tech Electrical, from third best college, Government Engineering College Thrissur. Fluent in English. Excellent presentation skill. Engineering, IT, teaching or account sector job wanted. GSM-97724630, email: vyshnaparthan@gmail.com

Indian Male having 14 years of experience in HR, Purchase Dept having Oman Driving License looking for a suitable position NOC available. Email –madhuvtk@gmail.com. Contact: 99252635, 99239498

Structural Engineer with 14 years experience in structural design and supervision ﬁelds with full knowledge of structure design programs, Omani D/L, seeking a reputed engineering consultancy office vacancy Tel. 96248598.

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 , www.siddhayur.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, ideal care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131

SIT.WANTED Indian Male, 31 years of Rich Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/NOC Available. GSM: 95036410

W E D N E S DAY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE TOURS

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

RENT A CAR

M.V. FOR SALE

DRIVING

Pajero 3.8 v6 full option, 2008 model expat driven single owner, excellent condition, accident free, 217k. Contact - 92590781 30 seater Toyota Bus, 2014, white color for sale. Contact 98888999 / 96341946 Prado 2012. Contact 99336093 Tucson V-6, 2007, automatic RO 2500/-. Contact 99384640

FOR HIRE

TRUCK FOR HIRE

L/R Discovery, 2003, KM 1,60,000. Contact 99238877 Lexus GS300, 2006. Contact 93218349

Isuzu 10 ton cargo body truck (2012 FVR) with UAE experienced driver available for long term / short term rent.

Contact: 95346950 50 seater bus with PDO speciďŹ cation for rent or lease. # 99839898

Chevrolet van model 2000 for sale, RO 1400/-. Contact 96789522

FOR HIRE Running truck wash for rent in Ouhi Sunia Sohar. Serious people can. Contact on 97864747

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available 99159277 Transportation. Contact 96538078 Transportation Available Contact 97180655 CONTD on pg 8

W E D N E S D AY, JA N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

CLASSES

WEBSITE

Al Manar Vocational pleased to announce at vocational short and long term courses in tailoring, cooking and internal design. Contact us now : 24698070 or 91144335

COMPUTER WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

BUSINESS

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. # 24793614/ 99314807 Cleaning services, carpet & sofa shampooing, marble restoration (grinding) and polishing, pest control, fogging service. Contact 99448057, 95401996

*Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815 For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric. #99002390

Civil Maintenance, Painting Electric, Plumbing, Decor, Tile Fixing, Lecithin Copra Board ﬂat stiﬂing , Carpet Cleaning and A/C Servicing.# 97897831 (Indian keralite)

A.M Trading Pest control. Contact 99067923 GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC all kind of pest control. #92326955

My client needs to buy Residential land or villa in Al Ghubra Bahar Factory area. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Window & split unit A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476

Computer service/ AMC/ Networking. Contact 93552434

Door to Door Computers repair specialist laptop software Website cartridges. Contact 99199376

We assist in new business set up local sponsorship, real estate services, assist in company formation services. Contact - 93166088

For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric. #99002390

Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Wanted dentist or investor to buy a well-running dental clinic in Sohar immediately. Contact 92625962, 95904234

Split & window unit A/C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080

Cheapest Prices, all types window, curtains and blind. #99539521

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

BUSINESS

House shifting. Contact 99557080, 96236476

Painting Interlock plumbing maintenance. Contact 92142319 Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. # 99542979 / 98855815 Split & window A/C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089

MANPOWER

We serve Oman, all kind of building maintenance & fabrication. Contact 91452233 PRO services. Contact 99368907 Fast & Right Way - For all PR related works – permanent Visa stamping, family visiting visa holders, clients contacts – with NOC letter with signed & sealed photocopy documents . Contact 91568362

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 93405941

Waterprooﬁng, light weight Screed, Antitermite and MS Fabrication. Contact 92888337 Electrical Plumbing Painting Contract and Maintenance. Contact 98456535 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir AlRizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

VIP transport 24 hrs services. Contact 92108447, 96781899 Truck transporting & shifting. Contact 99008442 We can give best price for transportation to shift the material from DUBAI to OMAN and local OMAN areas. (Less 25 ton wait Dubai To OMAN Only 170/OMR). GSM 91006589,97754600 ASIF ALI Transportation. Contact 94087276

TRANSPORTATION

For HT cable jointing and termination works 33KV/11KV. #99056438 / Email: npgoman@gmail.com

Transportation. Contact 95190627

Transportation. Contact 92306582

Labor Pick & drop. Contact 92218001

Transportation. Contact 91379976

Catering services We do industrial catering service, Canteen/ mess, 3 times packed meals, and all types of catering events. Contact 92188777/99249899

Transportation available. Contact 95570429

Pick & Drop any time.#t 97014786 Transportation. Contact 99664703

Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair. Contact 99764307

Transportation. Contact 99542393