Times of Oman - November 28, 2016

MONDAY November 28, 2016 28 Safar 1438 AH

6 085010 120010

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

At the closing session of the 15th GCC Summit in Bahrain, 1994

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ God Almighty has bestowed His copious bounties and security on our region thus enabling our countries to achieve great advances in economic and social growth.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 231 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

M AU R I TA N I A , A L B A N I A

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health and happiness to President Ould Abdel Aziz and the people of Mauritania further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also sent a cable of congratulations to President Bujar Nishani of the Republic of Albania on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Nishani and the Albanian people further progress. -ONA

T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

THE FUTURE STARTS HERE Tanfeedh is going to unveil 121 projects today that will reshape the Omani economy

Officials seek feedback on the policies from public which will impact them in the future

The exhibition will work for non-oil future and take steps to removing business hurdles

Third operator to cut cost, fibre-optic cable rolling out Times News Service MUSCAT: With more and more people using mobile technology and fixed line broadband, the Ministry of Transport & Communications is pressing ahead with plans for fibre-optic cabling and 5G services across as much of Oman as possible.

The ministry also announced a series of projects to connect remote areas of the Sultanate to the grid and revealed that a third operator entering the Omani telecoms market could help push down prices by as much as 30 per cent.

Opening up military and security frequencies to the civilian market had a “positive impact on the spread of 3G and 4G services in Oman,” according to a statement, and had “enabled the current operators

to increase coverage enhance service quality, especially in remote areas.” The ministry stated in its report that these networks would prove vital to the planned 5G roll-out – already being tested by major telecom providers.

Fibre-optic cabling in the Sultanate is also being rolled out, according to the ministry, thanks to a broadband strategy approved in 2013 by the government.

“The strategy enabled the procurement of fibre-optic network in installing a broadband network for a number of areas in Muscat by three operators in the first phase,” according to the statement. Fixed broadband services saw an increase by 47 per cent and it is expected to increase when a third operator enters the market, the statement added. >A6

MORNING MINUTE

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Call for general job visa in construction

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Contractors in Oman have urged the Ministry of Manpower to consider a general job visa for construction workers to avoid operational issues in the industry. Currently, anyone engaged in work different from that listed on the work permit is breaking Omani law and can be sent home. >A4

REGION

Big win for opposition in Kuwaiti elections

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Opposition candidates are estimated to have won around 20 seats out of 50 in Kuwaiti elections, in a vote analysts said reflects anger at austerity measures to curb a budget deficit. The results are likely to make it harder for the government to work for further reforms. >A7

MARKET

Oman-Iran trade surges ahead

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Iran is expected to emerge as a significant trading partner of the Sultanate, following lifting of trade sanctions against the former. The volume of trade between Oman and Iran is growing. >B1

Bait Al Ghasham Museum to reopen today

There are no plans for announcements on the NOC today as it is ‘under discussion’, says a top Omani official

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hasan@timesof oman.com MUSCAT: Today, 121 projects vital to the future of the Sultanate of Oman will be unveiled by Tanfeedh organisers, and senior officials say 30 per cent of the plans will be fast-tracked to ensure they are in place by next year.

The roadmap for Oman’s future is entering its feedback phase, when officials want residents to comment on a wide-ranging set of proposals that will impact everyone.

From 9am until 9pm over the next three days, thousands of residents are expected to pour through the doors of Oman’s new convention centre to give their feedback.

Talal Sulaiman Al Rahbi,

45 new projects are to be announced for the tourism sector which is going to witness a radical change

deputy secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Planning, said plans for the No Objection Certificate will not be announced today, as they are still “under discussion”.

The Tanfeedh process is Oman’s solution to issues surrounding a non-oil future for the Sultanate, bringing together private and public sector agencies to streamline doing business in

the country and to iron out problems.

Oman’s tourism industry is about to witness a radical change as 45 new projects in the sector will be announced today. Around 121 proposed projects in tourism, manufacturing, logistics, finance and labour market will be unveiled, according to organisers.

Of these, 30 per cent will be implemented as quickly as possible, in some cases by early next year.

These initiatives are the result of six weeks of discussions attended by more than 250 officials from 160 government and private institutions.

A Tanfeedh official told the Times of Oman that 31 proposed changes in the manufacturing sector, 15 in logistics, 16 in finance and 14 in labour law and employment will be revealed.

However, no amendments on the No Objection Certificate (NOC) will be announced during the threeday exhibition, according to Talal Sulaiman Al Rahbi, deputy secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Planning. >A5

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NEW IDENTITY

Mwasalat to launch 118 buses next year RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Mwasalat plans to introduce 118 new buses in 2017, a senior official has announced.

The official was speaking after Mwasalat completed one year of operating in Oman.

“We have come a long way since we started our operation with a new identity on November 22, 2015.

“Now, people of Oman know that they will get a bus if they wait for 15 minutes, from 6 in the morning to 9.30 at night.

And therein lies our success.

But a lot of things still need to be done to improve the public transportation system, as we want to link every city in Oman,” Ahmad bin Ali Al Bulushi, chief executive officer of Mwasalat, said in an interview to the Times of Oman.

“We had just eight buses in Muscat prior to November

2015. But now, we have 46 buses connecting every part of Muscat. Besides that, we created more than 200 jobs and hired bus drivers from the Philippines, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as there was a shortage of Omani bus drivers last year,” he said.

Omanisation The Omanisation rate now stands at 85 per cent in Mwasalat. He, however, refused to specify the number of passengers that the company ferried in the last year. >A5

MAIDEN EVENT

Motorsport enthusiasts gear up for Red Bull Car Park Drift final GAUTAM VISWANATHAN

gautam@timesofoman.com

ADVENTURE SPORT: The 7th edition of the tournament will held at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muttrah.

MUSCAT: Motorsport enthusiasts in Oman will be counting down the hours to December 9 to take to the streets in droves, honking their horns and waving their flags in glee as they welcome the Sultanate’s first ever Red Bull Car Park Drift final.

The seventh edition of the tournament is set to be held at the famous old Port Sultan Qaboos in Muttrah, and will be attended by His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin As’ad Al Said who was also the chief guest for Red Bull’s previous motorsports excursion in Oman, the Red Bull Formula 1 Showrun,

which featured legendary British racing driver David Coulthard.

Oman’s maiden Red Bull Car Park Drift final will feature the winners of the drift qualifiers from other Arab nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Mauritius, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan.

But what will be of particular pride to Omanis will be the three local representatives in the competition.

First-place winner Ali Al Balushi took home the local championship for the fourth consecutive year. At only 18 years of age, firsttime competitor Haitham Al Hadidi thrived under pressure to take

second place. Tarek Al Shaihani finished third and will join his countrymen at Port Sultan Qaboos the Friday after next.

One of the primary sponsors for the event will be Falken Tyres, long-time providers of highperformance tyres to the competitors who take part in the Cark Park Drift.

And Matt Hachiya, Falken’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing, is thrilled to see the final of this prestigious tournament being held in Oman.

“After such a thrilling and competitive season, we have no doubt that the final will deliver excitement and amazing drifting skills from all the drivers,” he said. >A6

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

OMAN LIVING

Muscat ranked third best city in Middle East and North Africa region in new survey SYED HAITHAM HASAN

Haitham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Muscat is the third best city to live in within the Middle

East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to a survey by Bayt. com in collaboration with YouGov. The Sultanate is also considered one of the ideal destinations to re-

side in the region, noted the survey in its results.

Dubai topped the survey with 125 points, followed by Abu Dhabi with 123, and Muscat with 116.

The ranking was based on seven parameters. The parameters including economic factors, labour rights, environmental factors, standard of living, socio-cultural

factors, sports, arts and recreation and entrepreneurship.

The survey, involving 100 respondents, also found that the residents of Muscat were among the

happiest in the MENA region, with nearly 82 per cent pleased to live in the Omani capital. Only Abu Dhabi scored higher, with 87 per cent in the ‘degree of happiness’ category.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

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TOURISM

32,000 visit Sultanate during holiday weekend REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Around 32,000 tourists entered Oman on Friday and Saturday through three border points to enjoy the beauty of the Sultanate, Ministry of Tourism statistics reveal.

In a tweet on its official twitter handle, the Ministry of Tourism revealed that 11,863 tourists entered Oman through Hafeet border, 12,427 through Jizzi border and 8,300 through Saa’ border.

According to government data, arrival numbers have increased by an average of 7.4 per cent per year over the past decade, rising from 1.1m in 2005 to nearly 2.1m last year.

In 2014 more than 70 per cent of visitors stayed for more than one night, with average stays rising from five nights in 2005 to 7.4 in 2014. Last year alone the average visit duration increased by 0.5 nights, contributing to a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in inbound tourist expenditure.

While inbound visitor numbers are on the rise, travellers’ motivations for visiting Oman have remained relatively unchanged over the past five years.

Around one-third come for leisure and recreation, 39 per cent to visit friends or relatives and the rest largely for business.

Although increasing arrivals from Asia and Europe have contributed to sector’s growth over the last decade, inbound visitors from other GCC countries continue to dominate, hitting a record 961,306 last year.

Combined with the 129,869 visitors from other Arab states, this is well over 50 per cent of all arrivals in 2014. The sector currently accounts for 2.2 per cent of Oman’s GDP, as per NCSI figures, with inbound tourism generating OMR250.9m ($651.6m) last year – nearly double the amount earned in 2005.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

OMAN

55,124

Call for general job visa in construction sector The idea is to have

according to latest government data, is the number of Omanis working in the construction sector while the number of expatriate workers is 681,590

AV I AT I O N

Oman Air to foray into China with Guangzhou flight from December 9

multi-skilled workers Staff Reporter

who can be put on different jobs as and when needed creating a muchneeded flexibility in the construction sector’s manpower

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Contractors in Oman have urged the Ministry of Manpower to consider a general job visa for construction workers to avoid operational issues in the industry.

“We have proposed [to the ministry] to have a single nomenclature job visa (general visa) for construction workers. It will ease our operations,” Shaswar Al Balushi, chief executive officer of the Oman Society of Contractors, told the Times of Oman.

“We hope that the ministry will listen to us and implement the system as early as possible,” he added.

Beneficial “If we have a single nomenclature job visa for a construction worker who knows electrical and carpentry work, then he will be able to perform both the jobs.

“It would not be a violation, according to the labour law, and companies can benefit,” he added.

Currently, anyone working in a field or occupation different from that listed on the work permit is breaking Omani law and can be sent home. Those not working for their

sponsor are also breaking the law.

There are 681,590 expatriates and 55,124 Omanis working in the construction sector, according to the latest data from the government.

Abdul Gafoor, general manager at Al Shabibi Global, welcomed the proposal, saying that it will help them in manpower recruitment, and is also financially sound.

“Due to certain bans, we are struggling to get manpower. If a general visa comes up, we will be able to cope with the current situation financially and work on the projects,” Gafoor said.

On July 1, Oman banned the issuance of visas for six months, in certain fields, especially in construction, to expatriates.

Sunil Kumar KK, a senior official at Najmat Al Fujairah Trading Construction Company, said that the proposal, if implemented, would be a blessing for the construction sector, which is struggling due to the dip in oil prices.

Hard times “This move will help us to hire multi-skilled workers and engage them in work. It will not become a violation. As we are running short of funds, hiring workers in different professions is quite hard now. Let this single nomenclature happen soon,” Sunil added. The construction sector is struggling in Oman due to payment delays caused by the economic slowdown.

Oil price dip “Due to the oil price dip, there are no new projects coming up in Oman.

“In addition, companies carrying out existing projects are facing big trouble with cash inflows, which will eventually lead to salary delays and other issues,” Al Balushi said.

Oman’s budget deficit soared by 63 per cent to OMR4,371.6 million in the first eight months of 2016 due to the slump in crude oil export revenue.

This is against a projected deficit of OMR3.3 billion for 2016, and a deficit of OMR2,681.6 million from January to August period last year.

MUSCAT: Muscat and Guangzhou in China will be connected for the first time from December 9, Oman Air said.

Guangzhou is Oman Air’s first destination in China.

“It is always exciting to open a new destination and Guangzhou is a perfect choice to Oman Air’s network. Guangzhou, the 54th destination on the WY network will be an added value meeting the demand of the traders and businessmen of the two countries, as well as to tradesmen from different neighbouring countries,” Paul Gregorowitsch, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said.

Oman Air will run flights to Guangzhou from Muscat on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using its widebody A330.

The plane will take off from Muscat International Airport, Oman, at 1015 hours and reach Guangzhou at 2100 hours. Oman Air flights will depart Guangzhou to Muscat on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0625 and land in Muscat at 1100.

Passengers on the new route can now enjoy their entire journey on our luxurious A330, configured with 196 Economy Class seats and 30 Business Class seats.

“The operation will initially offer four flights per week, and we are confident that this service will be a great success. We look forward to a long and prosperous presence within the Chinese market,” the CEO added.

Oman Air is undertaking an ambitious growth programme to expand its network and ensure international connectivity.

The airline network expan-

The operation will initially offer four flights per week, and we are confident that this service will be a great success.

Paul Gregorowitsch Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air

sion programme runs in parallel to a major fleet expansion programme that has seen the addition of Airbus A330, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the airline’s fleet strength, and will witness Oman Air operate 70 aircraft by 2020.

Tickets for the new services are bookable through www.omanair.com.

WA D I A L M A AW I L

Renovated Bait Al Ghasham Museum to reopen today

HISTORIC MONUMENT: Bait Al Ghasham is a house that dates back to the era of Said bin Sultan Al Said, who was Sultan of Muscat and Oman from March 1807 to June 4, 1856. –Supplied photo

munity, because they will have new business opportunities,” Al Fahdi added.

His Highness Sayyid Assad bin Tareq Al Said, as the representative of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, will grace the opening with his attendance.

The Bait Al Ghasham Museum, which is one of the archaeological and architectural monuments that will serve various cultural purposes. The opening ceremony includes a tour of the exhibition of the artisans and an exhibition on special artistic photography.

Times News Service MUSCAT: The new Bait Al Ghasham Museum, located in Al Shal’li village in the town of Afi in Wadi Al Maawil county, will be opened to the public after five years of renovation and remodelling.

Bait Al Ghasham is a house that dates back to the era of Said bin Sultan Al-Said, who was Sultan of Muscat and Oman from March 1807 to June 4, 1856.

Dr Saleh Al Fahdi, author and production director of the opening ceremony, believes that the museum is a testament to Oman’s rich history.

“We are used to old castles like Husn, but there are not many historical houses,” Al Fahdi said.

“It is an Omani historical house from over 200 years ago, it is a piece of the nation’s history,” he added. The house has been renovated and remodelled to imitate its original look and, according to Al Fahdi, visitors will be taken back in time.

Although the museum is 45

minutes from Muscat, visitors will be able to do much more than just observe. The facility will also conduct literary shows, art exhibits, and educational activities. Inside the museum, visitors can find stalls selling handmade goods.

“I think this is a great opportunity for those living in the com-

Operetta performance There will also be an operetta performance. More than 250 artists and a number of folklore bands, along with children from 30 states, will participate in the operetta, written and supervised

by Al Fahdi.

The ceremony will be a twoday affair. Entry will be restricted to select invitees on the first day, and will be open to the public on the second day.

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OMAN

Survey to give people a say in shaping economic future

CRIME

Arrests made after rescue of women Times News Service

GDP AND OIL PRICES

In OMR billion

Brent Spot Price

GDP by economic activity

USD per barrel

120 80

Petroleum

13.9 15.4 14.9 14.5 9.2

52

53

49

46

34

40 0

ALL SET FOR THE SHOW: Tanfeedh will start a three-day exhibition at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today. – Supplied photo

In Percentage

5 08 09 10 11

12 13 14 15

GDP of Oman

1.8

1.4

Manufacturing: Refined petroleum products

1.9

Non-petroleum

10.4 13.1 13.5 15.0 16.3

1.9 2.0

7

10

41

44

44

61

12

13

14

15

7

7

40 11

After taking the views of the public, including expatriates through the survey, Tanfeedh will announce its final report early next year

HASSAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Omanis and expatriates can take part in a national survey to plot Oman’s economic future as Tanfeedh, the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification, will unveil more than 120 projects and initiatives across five sectors.

People can take part in the survey at an exhibition, which will kick off today at Oman’s new Convention & Exhibition Centre from 9am to 9pm. The exhibition will run for three days.

They will also be able to take part in the survey online.

Participation Both Omanis and non-Omanis can participate in the survey, which will contribute to shaping the economic future of Oman, according to Talal Sulaiman Al Rahbi, deputy secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Planning.

Tanfeedh has invited the country to view the outcome of six

weeks of meetings and workshops that welcomed around 78 chief executive officers and representatives from the private sector.

Final report After taking the views of the public through the survey, Tanfeedh will announce its final report early next year. “It is an important day for all of us. We will focus on the results, projects, and initiatives,” Al Rahbi stated, adding that the three-day exhibition will be a good platform to get feedback from the community.

“Everybody who is living in Oman is welcome,” he said.

Tanfeedh started its second stage, the ‘labs phase’, in mid-September at the Institute of Public Administration in Al Khuwair.

It is part of the 9th Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) and has been launched in collaboration with the Malaysian government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) to build upon the achievements of the previous plans, with a focus on

OMR billion

30 20 10 0

08 09 10 11

8 steps for Oman’s diversification

15

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Labs

Open days

Tanfeedh handbook

KPI targets

Implementation

IPR / Audit

Annual report

Source: National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification “Tanfeedh”

targeted sectors. The targeted sectors are manufacturing, tourism, transport and logistics, mining, and fisheries.

Tanfeedh had postponed the community participation phase, which was scheduled for November 20, to November 28 as it coincided with the 46th National Day holidays. The aim of the open days is to obtain public opinion, feedback, and insights on the outcome of the labs. A spokesman also thanked everyone who supported them.

Diversification “Your collaboration has been a testimony of your effort to join and contribute to the national drive towards a diversified economy,” he said.

The Tanfeedh programme was established as part of the 9th fiveyear plan to meet Oman’s diversification aspirations through accelerating economic growth by 2020.

GOOD WORK: The collected funds will be used to furnish a house for an underprivileged family. – Supplied photo

Al Zadjali thanked the organisers for their support, as well as the sponsors of the tournament, including Khimji Ramadas, Celebrity Global Holding, Al Mirath Petrogas, Ghala Golf Club and Al Nahda Resort and Spa.

M O D E R N I S AT I O N

A1 Mwasalat to unveil plans < FROM

for the next 25 years details of the integrated financial plan for its implementation, as well as determining the future requirements in modernisation of the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

He also said Mwasalat wants to develop public transport in the Sultanate and carry out the strategy that was announced in November last year. “The last route that was implemented was the Muscat-Duqm route on November 25,” Al Bulushi said.

He added that the Madridbased public engineering services firm Ineco is currently formulating a comprehensive strategy

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Times News Service

Bulushi also said that the second phase of the company’s strategic plan, where all important cities in Oman will have a bus service, will be launched soon. “This includes Salalah, Sohar and Sur,” Al Bulushi said.

Mwasalat will also unveil plans for the next 25 years. “The master plan will include three main objectives. First, it will determine the basic requirements to provide public bus services in detail, beginning with Muscat, and then in the rest of the cities and regions of the Sultanate, as well as the routes that could be operated outside the Sultanate. Then it will include

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Strategic direction

Golf for Atta’a raises funds to help families in need

would be unnecessary,” said Niti.

Ajay Ganti and Aleo Oyedele were the first place winners, followed by Azzan Al Rumhy and Manok Mahanta in second place, leaving Gopal Jagwani and Ezwan Hakimi Arbi in third.

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The current step is Open days which aims to collect feedback from the public

CHARITY

MUSCAT: A golf tournament, entitled ‘Golf for Atta’a’, was recently held by Gopal and Niti Jagwani to raise funds for needy families.

The tournament received corporate and individual donations.

Gopal and Niti have been organising events and contributing to various causes for Dar Al Atta’a since 2010.

Regarding the tournament, Maryam Issa Al Zadjali, Chairperson of Dar Al Atta’a, said, “The organisers of this tournament were able to spread the fun of giving between the participants, and collected funds which will be used to furnish a house for an underprivileged family.”

Niti said that although businesses and the market in Oman have been experiencing difficult times, people still come together to perform good deeds for one another. “While we all continue to do good work, I truly wish that we and our future generations work towards a world in which charity

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12 13 14 15

that will chart a roadmap for Mwasalat’s “evolution into an international-class bus operator” from 2016 to 2040.

When asked how the public had responded to the new services, he said, “People’s response to the new bus services in Muscat has been very positive. Passengers are very satisfied with the new features in the bus. The buses are low-floor, air-conditioned, and equipped with cameras and information screens.”

Mwasalat operates 433 buses, including 46 in Muscat, 37 intercity buses, and 350 school and college buses.

Graphics

< FROM

A1 Funds for investment “The rule is still under discussion,” he explained.

Foreigners in Oman can expect good news as more Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITC) might open following proposals to ease the criteria for establishing one. Tanfeedh also agreed to establish investment funds in the real estate market and ease the flow of the labour market. Two firms will also be established to execute infrastructure and other government projects, a spokesman said.

More than 10,000 people

are expected to take part in plotting Oman’s non-oil future on Monday by taking part in a survey. NonOmanis can also participate in the survey, which will be also available online.

“During the labs phase, private and government sector representatives reached agreements and decisions, and now it is the time to know from the public what they think in the ‘public participation phase”, a Tanfeedh official said, stressing anyone can take part in this phase.

MUSCAT: Arrests have been made in separate cases of human trafficking and prostitution, the Royal Oman Police revealed.

One of two victims identified by police managed to escape from her captor and pleaded for help from an Omani family.

A senior official at the Royal Oman Police said: “The two cases are similar with regards to the crime but differ in execution. The first case involved the victim running away from her sponsor’s house after she was accused of stealing and not getting her salary.

“So she searched for other jobs that she could get paid daily by going from one house to another until an Asian man took advantage of her and detained her.

He invited people to sleep with her for money.”

Escaped The official explained that she was able to escape over a fence and sought refuge with an Omani family who protected her until the police arrived. In a similar case, Ruwi Police received a report about an Asian woman in her twenties who was taken to hospital for treatment.

“She revealed that she was the victim of abuse from the hotel manager she was working in a hotel for as well as her colleagues for failing to practice prostitution,” said the official. After investigations, 11 Asian women have been arrested from a hotel adjacent to the one the manager runs.

The official said that the Criminal Investigation Department found that the women arrived to the Sultanate with domestic workers visas. All suspects in both cases were sent to the public prosecution.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

OMAN PA S I

R O YA L N AV Y O F O M A N

Insurance for unemployed discussed at meeting MUSCAT: A discussion was held on insurance for unemployed and ways for tackling the condition of those uninsured. The Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI) yesterday held a meeting under the chair of Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser

Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower, PASI Board Chairman.

The meeting stressed the importance of expanding base of discussion and participation to cover a larger number of production stakeholders (the government, employers and workers). This can

be achieved through establishing a lab for funding choices to come up with appropriate recommendation to complete its issuance.

The PASI Board also reviewed situations of some employers in relation to contributions for decisions to be taken. -ONA

Sultan Qaboos Award for sailing STOCKHOLM: In coincidence with the Sultanate’s celebrations of the 46th Glorious National Day, the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) celebrated at Halmstad in Sweden handing over the Sultan Qaboos Award for Sailing in a ceremony held under the patronage of Commodore Said bin Abdullah Al Sa’edi, Senior Staff Officer at the RNO Command.

The Sail Training Association Germany won the 6th edition of the award due to its achievements in sail training.

Several naval government and private organisations, as well as those interested in global sailing competed for the award.

The winner was chosen during the annual conference of the Sail Training International (STI). The

conference addressed various developments in relation to sail training at the world level, in addition to reviewing lessons benefited from STI competitions.

The award’s handing over ceremony was attended by RNO personnel, officials at Halmstad, STI Chairman, members of the STI Board of Trustees and heads of sail organisations. -ONA

Tourism projects at 33 locations approved The pact will help increase the growth of tourism sector and diversify sources of national income TOURISM BOOST: Five usufruct agreements have been signed, including for two plots in the Wilayat of Baushar. – ONA

MUSCAT: Thirty-three locations in various governorates have been approved for establishing tourism projects through usufruct agreements by the Ministry of Housing, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. It will help increase tourism growth and diversify sources of national income.

The decision calls for allocating land,that has been made as per Royal Decree No. 76/2010, which gives the housing ministry the authority to sign usufruct agreements, for a limited period, with Omani and non-Omani natural and juristic persons for a part of the land owned by the state to set up projects that help in the economic development of Oman.

Five usufruct agreements have been signed, including for two plots in the wilayat of Baushar.

The first pact calls for setting up beach services projects (restaurant and café shop) on 150 sqm at Shati Al Qurum, while the second is for building a restaurant complex on 1,421 sqm in the wilayat of

Baushar. The third agreement is for a hotel and resort on 150,000 sqm in the wilayat of A’Seeb, and the fourth is for building a tourism resort of over 47,499 sqm, also in the wilayat of A’Seeb.

The fifth pact is for establishing a hotel and a commercial complex on over 179,590 sqm in Al Mubealah in the wilayat of A’Seeb, while the sixth calls for a hotel to be built on 2,614 sqm in the wilayat of Al A’merat.

The seventh agreement allows for construction of a hotel and a resort over 15,000 sqm in Al Khoudh in the wilayat of A’Seeb.

Five sites, spread over 5,002 sq m, have also been allocated through usufruct agreements in the industrial area in the wilayat of Salalah for setting up hotel apartments. An area of 20,000 sqm has been allocated for a tourism camp west of Najd in the wilayat of Thumrait. Land has also been allocated for a resort (10,000 sqm)

C O R P O R AT E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

Pact for disabled MUSCAT: The Ministry of Social Development on Sunday signed four agreements with Oman LNG Company as part of its corporate social responsibility programme. The signing ceremony was held under the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed bin Suayed Al Kalbani, the minister for social development.

The first agreement is to finance the purchase of standing devices for children suffering from motor disabilities at Al Wafa Centre for Rehabilitation of Disabled in the wilayat of Sur,

while the second is for the purchase of prosthetic devices and motor aids, for 2016, for the Omani Association for the Disabled, also in Sur. The third agreement allows for the purchase of seven hearing aids, alarm devices for those with hearing disabilities, and a 4x4 vehicle for Al Noor Association for the Blind in North, South Al Batinah, and Al Dhahirah governorates. The minister said that the agreements represent an impressive leap in the services rendered to the disabled. -ONA

in the wilayat of Mirbat, another resort (30,000 sqm) in the wilayat of Taqah, and a traditional restaurant project (over 5,835 sqm) in the wilayat of Salalah.

Land (9,246 sqm) has been allocated for a cultural hostel in Al Hoqain in the wilayat of A’Rustaq.

Another site, spread over 10,000 sqm, has been set aside for a hotel in Al Alaya area in the wilayat of A’Rustaq.

Agreements have also been signed for setting up a hotel (10,000 sqm) in the Redat Al Busaid area in the wilayat of Nizwa, and another hotel (31,461 sqm) in Al Turath District in the same wilayat. Land has also been allocated for a resort (78,562 sqm) in Jabal Shams in the wilayat of Al Hamra.

Usufruct rights have been granted in the governorate for a tourism complex (10,000 sqm) in Al Fulaij in the wilayat of Ibra, a tourism resort (about 30,000 sq

m) in Shajat Safa Al Wasil in the wilayat of Bidiyah, a hotel (4,123 sqm) in Al Suwaireej area in the wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, and a resort (10,000 sqm) in Najd Al Maharmah in the wilayat of Al Qabil.

The housing ministry also approved seven usufruct agreements, the most important of which is the project to develop Ras Al Hadd in the wilayat of Sur by setting up hotels, villas, shopping areas, a wild life centre, a cultural centre over 1,971,823 sqm, and a hotel spread over 12,000 sqm in the Niyabat of Ras Al Hadd in the same wilayat.

Other sites that have been approved, all through usufruct agreements, include: a tourism project (60,000 sqm) in Al Ashkharah in the wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali, another tourism resort (15,069 sqm), a rest area (10,000 sqm) in A’Suwaih, a camp (300 sqm) in the same wilayat, and a tourism aviation club project (992,000 sqm) in Al Jawabi.

The Ministry of Housing also gave its nod for tourism projects in the governorate, to include a hotel and hotel apartments in Al Aqdah area, each over 1,530 sqm, in the wilayat of Al Buraimi, and a tourism hotel and resort in Al Madam area over 50,000 sqm.

In the governorate of Al Wusta, which is a central site among many governorates, over 50,000 sqm has been allocated in Ras Madrakah in the wilayat of Duqm for a tourism resort, and over 2,500 sqm for a rest area in the wilayat of Hayma. -ONA

3RD REGULAR MEETING

Minister stresses on Omanisation MUSCAT: Stressing the importance of Sectoral Committees’ role in regularising the labour market, the Minister of Manpower called for preparing plans relevant to Omanisation, national workforce recruitment and training at the private sector .

The Supervisory Committee of the Joint Sectoral Committees for Omanisation held its 3rd regular meeting for 2016 under the chair of Sheikh Abdullah bin

R E D B U L L C A R PA R K D R I FT F I NA L

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Nasser Al Bakri. He also affirmed their keenness to follow up Omanisation plans at private establishments, as well as the Sectoral Committees’ importance in developing facilities, plans and programme for the support of entrepreneurship.

The Joint Committee for Omanisation in the Oil and Gas Sector gave a presentation on its works during the previous period. -ONA MOBILE BROADBAND

A1 Call to experience A1 ‘Roam from home’ plan thrill of car drifting “For Falken Tyres, it has been fantastic to be part of the Red Bull Car Park Drift Series 2016, and we are honoured to be a partner for the Red Bull Car Park Drift Final in Oman.

“Through our partnership of the series, we have been able to connect with so many new customers and introduce them to our high-performance tyres,” he added.

“We want our fans to be able to experience the exhilarating final too, so we are running a competition to win exclusive passes to the final on our Facebook page, FalkenMEA.” The course for the final leg of the Red Bull Car Park Drift will be designed by legendary Lebanese drifting champion Abdo Feghali, who holds the record for the world’s longest drift at 1:29:55, and has many drifting titles to his name.

In 2013, Feghali won the overall Lebanese Rally Championship. He was also crowned the Middle East’s Hill Climb Cham-

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pion from 2007 to 2010 and the Lebanese Hill Climb Champion between 2006 and 2012.

Centrestage Feghali’s track is set to take centrestage on December 9, where the Middle East’s best drifters will be judged by an expert panel of judges, on the basis of the impressiveness of their cars, how long they are able to drift, and even the length of their smoke trails.

Tickets for the final are now available, and are priced at OMR3 (standing), OMR10 (grandstand) and OMR25 (premium grandstand). For further information on tickets, visit redbull.com/cpd or contact the Oman Automobile Association.

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

A ‘roam from home’ plan has also been announced by the ministry, where it’s hoped to cut the cost of roaming so that it eventually costs the same as home use.

The ministry statement assured customers that steps were being taken to “ensure to all the benefactors that there are ongoing efforts to observe the requirement of increasing coverage, services quality, services prices and customer’s services with the operators.”

Mobile broadband services saw an increase of 85.5% of the total population in September. This increase was triggered by the spreading of the networks that supports broadband as well the increase in the use of smart devices and providing new encouraging packages and offers for subscribing in the service, the ministry statement added. A total of 312 stations covering over 410 villages in Oman governorates have been rolled out across Oman, and a great number of these stations are now completed. The 1Q and 2Q of 2017 will see the completion of the rest of these stations, the statement added.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

REGION

Kuwaiti candidate and former member of Parliament (MP) Safaa Al Hashem, centre, the only woman elected, celebrates following the announcement of her victory in the parliamentary election, in Kuwait city.

Opposition scores big win in Kuwait polls 30 new lawmakers gained seats in the 50-member parliament, including several younger men and one woman

KUWAIT: Opposition candidates are estimated to have won around 20 seats out of 50 in Kuwaiti elections that saw most parliament members replaced, in a vote analysts said reflects anger at austerity measures to curb a budget deficit.

The results of Saturday’s vote are likely to make it harder for the government to work with the new assembly to pass further reforms.

State news agency KUNA said that 30 new MPs gained seats in the 50-member parliament, including several younger men and one woman, after a turnout estimated at around 65 per cent for the Gulf’s most outspoken legislature. Analyst Ibrahim Al Hadban said the election campaign had shown that some of the decisions taken by the government were not popular among citizens, including raising gasoline prices.

“MPs who were in the assembly did not object to these decisions. So, in my view, they were blamed and punished,” Hadban, who teaches political science at

CELEBRATIONS: Kuwaiti candidate and former parliament speaker Marzouq Al Ghanem, centre, celebrates with his supporters following the announcement of his victory in the parliamentary election, in Kuwait city, on Sunday. – AFP

Kuwait University, told Reuters.

With no political parties, it was difficult to pin down precisely how many opposition MPs had been elected. But some estimates put the number at between 17 and 24. The opposition, including the Muslim Brotherhood, liberals and pan-Arabists, had boycotted the election in 2012 to protest against changes to election laws they saw as favouring pro-government candidates.

At least two cabinet members failed to win parliament seats this time, apparently an indication of popular discontent with the government’s austerity plans.

The parliament of Kuwait had been due to run until July 2017, but the Emir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sa-

bah dissolved it in October, saying “security challenges” in the region - an apparent reference to wars in Iraq and Syria - should be met by consulting the popular will.

More than 290 candidates, including 14 women, were standing in an assembly that enjoys legislative powers but has often been at odds with the government of Kuwait, thwarting attempts to strengthen fiscal discipline.

Former speaker Marzouq Al Ghanem, who retained his seat, said political stability was crucial for Kuwait to focus on economic development in what he described as a “sensitive, critical and important stage”.

“As I pointed out to all political blocs, progress or development must have a base and the base

VULNERABLE

‘Gaza risks becoming launchpad for IS militants’ DOHA: Palestinian infighting and years of an Israeli blockade could turn the impoverished Gaza Strip into an easy “launching pad” for IS recruiters, Qatar’s foreign minister says.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in an interview in Doha on Saturday that a blockade imposed on Gaza’s borders by Israel and Egypt had turned the territory into an “open-air prison”.

“If we will leave them as they are, people from Daesh (IS) can recruit them easily. They can start operations from there easily,” he told Reuters.

“It (Gaza) can transform also as a launching pad for extremism and for terrorism... That’s why we need to put an end to this,” he said.

Hamas deny the militants have a presence in the territory.

Pro-IS social media accounts have accused Hamas of arresting their supporters in Gaza. Doha has paid the salaries of Gaza public sector workers and built new homes for Palestinians.

Sheikh Mohammed said that advancing Palestinian unity efforts and easing the blockades should not be “forgotten about” because of war unfolding across the Middle East. “We believe this will be a step for having some relief for the people of Gaza. Forgetting Palestine postponing it until later - will be much riskier,” he said, referring to the Palestinian goal of creating a state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. — Reuters

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

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is political stability,” Ghanem told Reuters after polls closed on Saturday night. Campaigning had focused mainly on austerity measures adopted in the past year after officials forecast a deficit of 9.5 billion dinars ($31 billion) for the 2016/17 fiscal year. The OPEC state relies on oil for about 90 per cent of its revenues.

Although the deficit is likely to be smaller than forecast as it was based on an oil price of $25 a barrel, many Kuwaitis fear the government will try to raise prices further and cut many of the perks they have enjoyed for decades.

These include free health care, education, subsidised basic products, free housing or land plots and interest-free loans for many citizens. — Reuters

D I S TA N T F O O T H O L D S

Iran likely to seek naval bases in Yemen or Syria DUBAI: Iran may seek to set up naval bases in Yemen or Syria in the future, as distant footholds might be more valuable militarily than nuclear technology, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces said in remarks on Sunday.

“We need distant bases, and it may become possible one day to have bases on the shores of Yemen or Syria, or bases on islands or floating (bases),” said General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, quoted by the Shargh daily newspaper.

“Is having distant bases less than nuclear technology? I say it is worth dozens of times

more,” added Baqeri, who was speaking at a gathering of naval commanders.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Iran’s Defence Ministry said it plans to modernise the air force fleet but denied reports earlier that it wanted to buy Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes.

Several agencies quoted Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan as saying “the purchase of this fighter is on the agenda of the Defence Ministry” when asked about the Sukhoi aircraft, but some later said the ministry had called the reports “incorrect”. — Reuters

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

INDIA

A manhunt has been launched to trace the prisoners who escaped, Sukhbir Badal, who also holds the home portfolio, said and added that a special task force has been formed to track them.

Armed men storm Nabha Jail, take away KLF chief Mintoo certained whether the woman, who was not travelling in the car which jumped the barrier, was in some other vehicle or was walking on the road when she got hit by the bullet.

The jailbreak incident triggered sharp reactions from the opposition with Punjab Congress President Captain Amarinder Singh alleging connivance of the Badal government in the “brazen daylight” jailbreak.

Police said those who escaped from the high-security Nabha Jail include gangster Vicky Gaundar, Gurpreet Sekhon, Nita Deol, Vikramjeet, and Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Mintoo

PATIALA: In a sensational jailbreak, a group of armed men in police uniform on Sunday attacked the high-security Nabha Jail here and fled with five prisoners, including chief of Khalistan Liberation Front militant outfit Harminder Mintoo, an accused in 10 cases.

Heads started to roll soon after the incident with the Punjab Government suspending DG (Jails) and dismissing two other senior prison officials even as the opposition Congress said the incident exposed the “complete breakdown of law and order” in the state and triggered fears of revival of terrorism ahead of assembly elections.

The Centre has sought a report from the state government over the jailbreak incident. Giving details of the jailbreak, police said a group of youths dressed in police uniform stormed the jail and opened indiscriminate fire.

Five prisoners including a hardcore terrorist escaped, they said.

Those who escaped from the high-security prison include gangster Vicky Gaundar, Gurpreet Sekhon, Nita Deol, Vikramjeet,

MANHUNT LAUNCHED: Rapid Action Force personnel deployed at the Nabha Jail after its five inmates including dreaded Khalistan ultra and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Mintoo escaped, near Patiala on Sunday. - PTI

and Mintoo, police said.

Mintoo was arrested by Punjab Police from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2014. He was arrested in connection with 10 cases including the 2008 attack on Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and recovery of explosives at Halwara Air Force Station in 2010.

High alert sounded A high alert has been sounded in Punjab and Haryana after the incident with security around railway stations, airports, inter-state bus terminuses and other places of key importance stepped up.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal has summoned an emergent meeting of senior officials including State Chief Sec-

retary Sarvesh Kaushal following the incident.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said, “DG Jails has been suspended and Jail superintendent and Deputy Jail Superintendent have been dismissed”.

A manhunt has been launched to trace the prisoners who escaped, Sukhbir Badal, who also holds the home portfolio, said and added that a special task force has been formed to track them.

The deputy chief minister said a special investigation team under a ADGP rank officer has also been constituted which shall look into lapses as well as any conspiracy theories surrounding the jail break incident.

“Special Investigation team has been asked to submit report

within three days in this regard,” he said. The Home Secretary has also been asked to submit a report.

“Home Secretary will give me a report on whether any lapse has taken place. Whosoever will be found responsible in this incident, strict action will be taken against him,” he said.

In another development, a woman was killed when police opened fire at a vehicle which had jumped a barrier. The incident occurred at a ‘naka’ on Patiala-Gulha Cheeka road.

Police tried to stop the car, but its driver did not stop despite being asked to and when police opened fire, a woman who received the gunshot wounds was killed. Police sources said that it could not be immediately as-

Fears Amarinder Singh said the incident has exposed a “complete breakdown of law and order” in the state, while triggering fears of revival of terrorism ahead of the Assembly elections.

The “shocking manner” in which the gangsters walked into the high-security jail and freed a dreaded Khalistani terrorist along with other convicts clearly shows complicity at the highest levels, he told reporters during the second day of the his road show in Sangrur. Amarinder said the law and order situation in the state had “deteriorated to unprecedented levels” under the Badal regime, especially in the run-up to the Assembly polls.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the Nabha jailbreak and sought a detailed report from the state government.

The Home Minister, who was in Hyderabad, also asked the Chief Minister to take urgent steps to tighten security in all jails in Punjab, officials said. During the 15-minute telephonic conversation, Badal briefed Singh about the incident and steps taken to nab the culprits.

“I have told the Home Secretary to get a report from the Punjab government immediately. If the Punjab government needs any assistance, we will provide it,” Singh said. - PTI

O F F I C I A L D ATA

Illness, heart attacks killing more BSF men than border operations NEW DELHI: More Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have died of heart attack and other illnesses than in action on the borders and anti-Naxal operations in the past two years, according to official data.

While men and women of the country’s largest border guarding force Border Security Force face enemy bullets and mortars amid recent hostilities with Pakistan, data reveals that only 25 of total 774 deaths in the period between January 2015 and September 2016 were battle casualties.

Data showed that while a total of 25 personnel were killed in action, 316 died due to a variety of diseases and illnesses and 117 suffered fatal cardiac arrest.

While the cases of deaths due to HIV/AIDS and malaria have gone down in the paramilitary force during the period, fatal casualties of personnel in rail, road and bike accidents continue.

Officials said these remained a “cause of worry”. Amongst the other causes of death in the force during the period are: 192 deaths took place due to road or Railway accidents, 18 lost their lives due to HIV/AIDS, 38 due to cancer and five owing to malaria.

“The force lost 774 personnel during the period, out of which only 25 were battle casualties. This is a cause of worry and these numbers need to be brought down. A number of initiatives are being taken to ensure a healthy lifestyle and safe driving habits amongst the personnel,” a senior official said.

Last year, former BSF Director General D K Pathak had told PTI that the about 250,000 personnel strong force was witnessing a worrying trend in its ranks, as it was losing four times more troops in off-duty bike accidents, than at the borders or other conflict theatres in the hinterland in the recent past. - PTI

D E M O N E T I S AT I O N I S S U E

RBI committed to easing honest citizens’ pain at the earliest: Patel

CANDID: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel addressing a press conference in Mumbai recently. - PTI file photo

MUMBAI: Breaking his silence over the demonetisation issue, RBI Governor Urjit Patel on Sunday said the central bank is monitoring the situation on a daily basis and taking all necessary actions to “ease the genuine pain of citizens” with a clear intent to normalise the things as early as possible.

Patel also said the RBI has announced an incremental CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) of 100 per cent “because of the large increase in deposits of banks on account of the return of Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes” and the decision would be reviewed immediately once the government issues adequate quantum of MSS (Market Stablisation Scheme) bonds which they have promised to do.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Patel said the situation aris-

ing out of the decision to withdraw Rs500/1,000 notes is being monitored on a daily basis and the printing presses have started to rebalance the production of new notes towards Rs100 and Rs500 bills.

He also urged the people to start using cash substitutes like debit cards and digital wallets, saying it will make transactions cheaper and easier and in the long term, it will help India “leapfrog into a less cash-use economy at par with more developed nations.”

“We are also urging banks to make a big push with PoS (Point of Sale) machines with traders so that debit card use becomes more prevalent,” he said. Giving details of the steps being taken by RBI, he said, “Both RBI and government have been getting the printing presses to work at capacity to get the new

notes available to meet demand.

“The RBI is interacting with the banks every day. They are telling us that the situation is gradually easing. The queues in branches and ATMs are shorter and the markets are starting to function, and there are no reported shortages of daily items of consumption.

“Also, about 40-50,000 people were deployed to refit the ATMs. Currency is available and banks are working in a mission mode to lift currency and take them to their branches and ATMs. The staff members of all banks have worked very hard, and we all owe them our gratitude,” Patel said.

“Having said that, it is important to regularly review the situation, and taking the required decisions to ease the genuine pain of citizens who are honest and who have been

hurt. There are no precedents on this subject at this scale and we have to be reactive to the situation.

“People have asked why the new currency introduced was different in size and thickness from the old. This is because the new currency has been designed to make it hard to counterfeit. When you are going to make a change of this magnitude, you need to get the best standards in place,” Patel said.

This is the first-ever interview as RBI Governor by Patel, who is known to keep a low profile. Asked why it was necessary to have undertaken demonetisation, the governor said the prime minister in his address to the nation explained why the withdrawal of legal tender status of Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes was required. “In his speech, he explained the reasons why this was

important. He had given a commitment to the people of India that he would clamp down on black money to bring in much needed transparency and accountability and eradicate counterfeiting.

“A number of steps were taken around this, first by pushing Jan Dhan accounts, an income tax amnesty scheme and the push to get GST passed. This is part of the measures to get people to pay tax and hence expand the tax base.

“People were holding high denomination notes to keep tax unaccounted for money. Some sectors like real estate were using cash to avoid tax. It also strikes at counterfeit currency and pushes businesses and people to go cashless which greatly increases convenience. Towards the last, banks have waived debit card charges,” he said. - PTI

NOTE BAN

Modi slams Opposition for bandh call, asks people to switch to e-wallet KUSHINAGAR (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at Opposition parties for their ‘Bharat Bandh’ call against demonetisaion, saying they are organising the strike at a time when he is trying to root out corruption and black money.

“I am stopping black money and corruption and some are giving call for Bharat Bandh,” he said at BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ rally here in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Without naming any opposition party, Modi said, “We are trying to curb corruption and they are organising ‘Bharat Bandh’.

Should there be ‘Bharat Bandh’ or should the route of corruption be blocked?” Several opposition parties have given a call for ‘Akrosh Diwas’ to protest against the Centre’s demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 currency notes.

Modi said the decision on demonetisation was tough, “but (the) future will be bright”. Referring to the problems being faced by the common man including villagers in withdrawing money, he advised

RALLY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Minister Kalraj Mishra at BJP’s Parivartan Rally in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. -PTI

them to take the e-wallet route.

“Era of wallet has gone, you can use your mobile phone as your bank branch with the same ease with which you take snaps and send them to friends,” Modi said.

Modi said just as people did not have to attend classes to learn how to use mobile phones, they can now use the device in the same way to carry out monetary transactions. “I have already said problems do come. I have sought 50 days from you. Of these, 30 days

are still left and the government is taking all efforts to assuage the sufferings of people,” he said.

“Have you learnt how to charge your mobile by going to school?

You have learnt to operate WhatsApp. Technology has become easy. If you have (a) bank account, you can purchase whatever you want,” he added.

Amid the opposition parties creating uproar over poor implementation of demonetisation and stalling Parliament for days, Modi said he is aware that people are facing inconvenience.

“The NDA govt at the Centre is fully dedicated to the poor, farmers, villagers and Dalits,” he said amid applause from the crowd.

A united opposition has been attacking the Centre in Parliament over the demonetisation issue, with former prime minister Manmohan Singh terming the move a “monumental management failure” and a case of “organised loot and legalised plunder” which would lead to dip in GDP growth by at least 2 per cent. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

Six Pakistani workers of Polish oil firm kidnapped A Polish foreign ministry spokeswoman tweeted that there were no Polish citizens in the group and that the Polish embassy in Islamabad is monitoring the situation

The six Geofizyka Krakow workers were snatched from their vehicles on a road near the village of Drazinda, about 80km from the city of Dera Ismail Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Six Pakistanis working for a Polish oil and gas surveying company have been kidnapped in northwestern Pakistan, military sources said,

years after a Polish engineer from the same company was beheaded

by Pakistani militants.

The six Geofizyka Krakow workers were snatched from their vehicles on Saturday afternoon on a road near the village of Drazinda, about 80km (50 miles) from the city of Dera Ismail Khan, two officials with security forces in the area said.

One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to

media, provided Reuters with the names and national identity card numbers of the workers.

Geofizyka Krakow, a subsidiary of Poland’s state-run gas firm PGNiG, could not be immediately reached for comment. On its website, the PGNiG local unit said it had gone into liquidation in August 2016.

“They were sub-contractors providing works for Geofizyka Krakow, a company which is now in liquidation. They were not Pol-

ish,” a PGNiG spokesman said. He declined to give any more details.

A Polish foreign ministry spokeswoman tweeted that there were no Polish citizens in the group and that the Polish embassy in Islamabad is monitoring the situation. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. In the past, militants from the hardline Pakistani Taliban group have kidnapped people in the region for ransom or to bargain for the release of prisoners.

MONEY TRAIL

Panamagate: PTI set to submit ‘damning evidence’ ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf will submit “more incriminating evidence” against the ruling Sharif family to substantiate its case in the Supreme Court, Imran Khan insisted on Saturday.

“We will provide more documentary evidence in the Supreme Court to prove our stance against the Sharif family in Panamagate (scandal),” the PTI chairman told a delegation of Press Association of Supreme Court at his Bani Gala residence.

Insiders in the party said the ‘new evidence’ had been brought from London. Imran said he wanted to plead the case in the top court himself, but some of his associates believed that it would be better to engage professional lawyers. A section of the party still believes

the PTI chief should argue the case himself, using his political stature, according to a PTI leader.

Imran said his party had brought the matter before the apex court and the court should seek the relevant information from the departments concerned.

“It is not the PTI which is on trial, but the whole justice system,” he remarked. The PTI chief claimed his party had already won on the political front, as everyone was questioning the authenticity of the money trail provided by the PML-N, including the letter of the Qatari prince.

He said that if his party lost the legal battle, he would launch a public mobilisation campaign and prepare for the next general elections. The PTI leader also referred

to a TV talk-show, in which the PM’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, had claimed in 2012 that her family owned no properties abroad.

“We are fighting against the incumbent government … all institutions are busy protecting the prime minister and his family instead of doing their jobs,” he said.

“We have already declared our assets, but (even then) the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the National Accountability Bureau are attacking me and Jehangir Tareen,” he said.“The government is destroying these institutions.” Referring to a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi against him and Jehangir Tareen, Imran said the government was trying to black-

NEW APPOINTMENTS

COURTESY CALL: In this handout photograph released by the Pakistani Press Information Department (PID) on Saturday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, meets with Chief of Army Staff-Designate General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Islamabad. - AFP/PID/HO

Nawaz Sharif felicitates new four-star generals ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday appointed Lt General Zubair Mahmood Hayat as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa as Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

According to a Prime Minister House spokesperson, on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain promoted Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa to the rank of general.

Later, Gen Hayat and Gen Bajwa separately called on Premier Sharif at the Prime Minister House. Congratulating the two Generals on their promotion, the prime minister said that after assuming responsibilities they would serve the country in an excellent way and rise to the expectations of the nation.

General Hayat and General Bajwa thanked Premier Sharif and said defence of Pakistan was invincible. The armed forces of Pakistan would not hesitate from any sacrifice for defence of the motherland, they added.

In the appointment of new army chief, Premier Sharif is said to have heeded the advice of

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who on Friday told private TV channels that five not four names of three-star generals were under consideration for Geneal Raheel’ Sharif’s successor.

Sources in the ruling party said Asif had thrown his weight behind Lt Gen Bajwa during several rounds of consultations held to pick the new army chief.

The consultative sessions involved Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Unlike the past, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was not part of the huddles as he is currently recuperating in a London hospital following a surgery.

And he missed the last-minute developments leading up to Bajwa’s elevation as army chief.

“Usually, the prime minister gives due importance to Nisar’s advice on security issues,” an insider said, referring to the interior minister’s close equation with the security establishment and his general role as a bridge between civilian and military establishment.

“Consultations, advices background checks of potential con-

tenders and all that — the last few days were very crucial. Nisar’s presence might have made a difference,” he said.

This time Safron Minister Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, who also has a strong say in security matters, especially concerning military establishment, was also conspicuous by his absence from the consultative sessions.

Baloch is said to have been instrumental in General Raheel’s elevation as army chief back in November 2013.

Sources said Khawaja Asif also managed to prevail this time, primarily because of the ruling circles’ ‘level of comfort’ with the newly appointed army chief.

Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said Zubair Mehmood Hayat’s appointment as CJCSC and Qamar Javed Bajwa’s elevation as COAS was made after thoroughly reviewing the matter. “It’s the prime minister’s prerogative to select a general out of the given lot. He makes his decision after taking his time and has made the right choice,” Haq said. He added that all the candidates that were under consideration were “best of the best and brightest lights in Pakistan Army.”- Express Tribune

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mail opposition parties.

“No FIR had been lodged against any political opponent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but the Punjab government has registered a couple of cases against me,” he added.

The PTI chairman said the FBR would lose its credibility if it confined itself to clearing the names of Nawaz Sharif and his family in Panama Leaks.

He added the world over it was a settled principle that opposition parties staged protests if government institutions failed to perform adequately. According to Imran, it was not the PTI’s job to produce incriminating evidence against the ruling family.“The Sharifs should prove their innocence,” he said. - Express Tribune

The area where the workers were kidnapped is close to South Waziristan, part of the lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. Geofizyka Krakow has a long history of seismic survey work in Pakistan.

In 2008, a Polish engineer working for the firm was kidnapped by the Pakistani Taliban near the northwestern city of Attock, and beheaded several months later.

Overall security in Pakistan has improved over the last few years but many of the northwestern areas bordering Afghanistan remain volatile and dangerous, especially for foreigners and those working with foreign companies.

The frontier regions, deeply conservative and hard to access due to rough terrain, have long been the sanctuary of fighters from Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups. - Reuters

SLANDERING JUDICIARY

Licences of three channels suspended ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani TV channels have been penalised by the country’s electronic media watchdog PEMRA which suspended the licences of the two and fined the third one for slandering the judiciary.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Saturday suspended licences of Din News and Neo TV and fined them Rs1 million each for levelling “baseless allegations” against a Supreme Court judge.

It also imposed Rs1 million fine on Sach TV for airing remarks of caller Ali Nawaz.

The regulator said that three TV channels were issued notices on November 19 for airing irresponsible analysis and were asked to submit a reply on November 26 after appearance before PEMRA. On November 26, the reply was submitted and representatives of channels failed to defend themselves. - PTI

A 10

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016 Fidel put Cuba on the map, and made Cuba a paradigm for the people of the world, especially the poor and the marginalised Raul Alejandro Palmeros, University student

WORLD

TRIBUTE: Candles are being lighted in honour of Cuban leader Fidel Castro a day after his death, at the Havana University in Havana, on Saturday. – AFP

Cubans mourn for Fidel Castro Newspapers on the

Man behind Fidel Castro’s weapons-filled Granma yacht lost for words over death

island of 11 million people were printed in black ink to mourn Fidel, instead of the usual red of the official Communist Party daily Granma, and the blue of Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth), the paper of the Communist youth

HAVANA: Flag-waving Cuban students broke into a mass chant of “I am Fidel” to salute Fidel Castro as nine days of mourning began for the combative Cold War icon, who dominated the Communist island’s political life for generations.

Beverages sales were suspended, flags flew at half-staff and shows and concerts were cancelled after his younger brother and successor, President Raul Castro, told the country on Friday that Fidel had died at 10:29pm, without giving a cause of death.

Giant rallies are planned in Havana’s Revolution Square and in the eastern city of Santiago to honour Castro, who died aged 90, six decades after the brothers set out from Mexico to overthrow USbacked Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Newspapers on the island of 11 million people were printed in black ink to mourn Fidel, instead of the usual red of the official Communist Party daily Granma, and the blue of Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth), the paper of the Communist youth. “For me, it’s my mother first, my children, my father, then Fidel,” father-of-five Rafael Urbay, 60, said as he manned a government photo and printing store in downtown Havana, remembering his early years spent on a remote island off the mainland with no drinking water.

“We weren’t just poor. We were wretched,” he said.

“Then came Fidel and the revolution. He gave me my humanity. I owe him everything.”

There was no heightened military or police presence to mark the passing of the epochal revolutionary leader, and at Havana University, Castro’s alma mater, hundreds

MEXICO: The man who helped a young Fidel Castro set sail for revolution said on Saturday he was speechless over the death of his old friend, 60 years after he furnished him with a weaponsfilled yacht for his historic voyage to Cuba.

Mexico City gun dealer Antonio del Conde, nicknamed “The Friend,” met Castro in the 1950s and bought him “Granma”, the boat he used to sail from Mexico to start the insurgency that toppled US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista two years later. “I have no words,” del Conde said in an interview at his home in Mexico City.

“He changed my life, like he changed the lives of many people in different countries around the world.”

Cuban leader Raul Castro said his brother died late on Friday, exactly 60 years since Fidel and a band of armed comrades left from the port of Tuxpan on Mexico’s Gulf coast.

Fidel was 90 years old, the same age as del Conde.

“When my friend told me...

I was silent,” del Conde said, speaking from his modest apartment in southern Mexico City.

He was imprisoned for a year for helping the revolutionaries, but eventually made it to Cuba to celebrate with his friends.

A sepia-toned photograph hung on the wall of del Conde over dinner with a bearded Fidel, Raul and left-wing icon Ernesto “Che” Guevara after the revolution.

Del Conde first met Castro in 1955, when the young revolutionary walked into his arms shop in the Mexican capital say-

of students gathered to wave huge Cuban flags and shout “Viva Fidel and Viva Raul.”

“Fidel isn’t dead because the people are Fidel,” shouted a local student leader dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt. “I am Fidel,” he continued, a refrain quickly adopted by the crowd.

“Fidel put Cuba on the map, and made Cuba a paradigm for the people of the world, especially the poor and the marginalised,” said another university student, Raul Alejandro Palmeros.

Castro studied law at the university in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when it was a hotbed of leftist politics, setting him on the path that led to his toppling of Batista

THE COMMANDER: Cuban rebel leader Fidel Castro practising shooting in Mexico, during the preparations of 1956 uprising after

disembarking from the ‘Granma’ with 82 men starting the guerrilla fighting in the Sierra Maestra, eastern Cuba. – AFP/Oficina de Asuntos Historicos del Consejo de Estado/Handout

ing he wanted to buy something.

“I replied, ‘Sir, I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to help you,’” del Conde said. “It was Fidel Castro.”

Del Conde bought the Granma from an American couple for the Cubans and loaded it with weapons and fuel.

The yacht, only designed

in 1959. Under Castro, bitter diplomatic conflict with the United States followed, and Cuba quickly became a firm ally of the Soviet Union, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Yet despite years of ideological strife and increasing hardship under a US economic embargo, Castro’s Cuba became renowned for high education standards and world-class doctors.

“What Fidel did with education and free health stands out on the world stage. It was unique,” said Rene Perez, 78, a retired accountant and Communist Party member. “It’s his main legacy.”

Apart from the chanting students, Havana life went on largely as normal, only quieter and more

to hold a few people, was said to have been named after the grandmother of its original owner. It later gave its name to Cuba’s Communist Party newspaper.

The 82 insurgents, including Raul and “Che” Guevara, left Mexico in the early hours of November 25, 1956, to land in

Cuba a week later. They overthrew Batista in just over two years. This week, before news of Castro’s death was announced, a group including del Conde gathered in Tuxpan in Veracruz state to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the boat’s departure. “I asked for a round of applause for ‘The Commander’

subdued following the news of Castro’s death. Street vendors sold food and handcrafts from stalls to passers-by, while 1950s Chevrolets full of dents and held together by makeshift repairs cruised by, crammed with passengers.

Nevertheless, it was a day for reflection. “Usually we’re full, but today only tourists have come and maybe a few Cubans. Usually it’s the other way around. It seems Cubans feel funny about enjoying themselves so soon after Fidel died,” said Raul.

Tamayo, a doorman at La Roca, a popular restaurant in Havana’s central Vedado district.

Castro’s remains were cremated, and his ashes will be taken

around Cuba until a state funeral on December 4. Western diplomatic officials said foreign dignitaries will arrive by Tuesday for a memorial service to be held in Revolution Square that evening.

There will be no top level games of baseball - Castro’s passion after politics - for the nine-day period of mourning, the sport’s national federation declared.

Cuban state television, student associations and the women’s federation had organised smaller rallies to mourn Fidel Castro and pledge their support to the revolution. Standing well over 6 feet (1.8m) tall, the bearded Castro was for years a cigar-chomping bulwark of ideological resistance to

Fidel Castro; we all stood up and clapped,” del Conde said.

The original yacht now sits inside a glass case outside the Museum of the Revolution in the Cuban capital, Havana.

“We have to keep his image alive, as if he were with us, very close to us,” del Conde said. — Reuters

the United States, decked out in green military fatigues and cap.

But the man long known as Cuba’s “Maximo Lider” (Maximum Leader) largely disappeared from the public eye after a 2006 intestinal illness that almost killed him.

Formally handing over power to Raul in 2008, he remained a major presence on the island, and regularly warned the Cuban population about the perils of giving in to the United States. “Everyone here is sad. Everyone is a Fidelista,” said Anaida Gonzales, a retired nursing professor in central Camaguey province. “People are just going about their business, but sad. Me, I’m very sad for my Comandante, it really took me by surprise.” — Reuters

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

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Mosul offensive personal battle for top Iraqi general Two mass graves of Yazidi minority found near Mosul

Last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi asked Major General Najm Al Jubbouri to return home from the United States to help lead the fight against IS

DETERMINED: Nineveh Operations Commander Major General Najm Al Jubbouri uses a handheld radio during an operation against IS militants southeast of Mosul, Iraq, on Saturday. - Reuters

JULUKHAN (IRAQ): Major General Najm Al Jubbouri, a top commander in the offensive against IS in the Iraqi city of Mosul, peered through binoculars at flames after his men shot dead an IS suicide bomber.

It was a small victory for a man whose war against militants is deeply personal.

“You are heroes,” he said through a walkie talkie as Iraqi forces cleared another village, hoping to open a new route to the militants’ stronghold of Mosul.

“You are heroes”.

Last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi asked Jubbouri to return home from the United States to help lead the fight against IS, which swept through Mosul and other parts of northern Iraq in 2014 and imposed a reign of terror.

Jubbouri is upbeat as he paces on the rooftop of a house that serves as a makeshift command centre, surveying the battlefield and tightly managing advances.

But he is acutely aware of what IS is capable of.

Last year, he watched an IS video broadcast on social media which showed the drowning of prisoners who are locked inside a

steel cage and slowly lowered to their deaths in a pool.

Some of the victims were Jubbouri’s cousins, he said.

“My relatives and citizens suffered a lot from Al Qaeda and ISIS (IS). I decided to return back here. In Mosul, ISIS (IS) killed a lot from my tribe and from my friends,” he told Reuters in an interview.

Avenge deaths Jubbouri left his family behind and his job at the National Defence University in the United States and put on his military fatigues again at home.

Eager to avenge the deaths of his relatives and help stabilise Iraq, Jubbouri is trying to figure out ways to overcome the complex challenges of fighting IS in Mosul, home to about one million people.

Iraqi forces can’t move heavy weapons and tanks through Mosul’s narrow streets, and IS is using civilians as human shields to slow government advances, said Jubbouri, who served in Saddam Hussein’s army for decades.

In the desert just beyond Jubbouri are two army trucks mounted with machineguns, primed to attack any suicide bombers

in vehicles who try to approach the makeshift command centre, which is surrounded by bodyguards.

“We want to remove the cancer (of IS) from the body and this is a very difficult mission inside Mosul,” said Jubbouri.

Jubbouri, who moved to the United States in 2008, is acutely aware of the dangers posed by IS militants, and the sectarian animosities which have destablised Iraq.

As mayor of Tel Afar from 2005-2008, he cleared out Al Qaeda fighters from the town and promoted reconciliation among the majority and minority communities.

Stability Iraq has been struggling to find a formula for stability since a USled invasion in 2003.

Even if IS is defeated in Mosul, Iraqi leaders must ensure that the same ethnic and sectarian hostilities which helped IS establish a widespread presence in the country do not creep up again.

The group initially won over supporters from the minority community because that they felt marginalised by the major-

A11

ERBIL: Two mass graves of at least 18 members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority, thousands of whom have been killed and kidnapped by IS, have been discovered as security forces fight to dislodge the militants from Mosul, a local official said.

Kurdish peshmerga forces found the grave near the Shababit junction in northwestern Iraq while scouting the area. It contained bones and identity cards that appeared to have been covered over with sandy earth by a bulldozer. IS systematically killed, captured and enslaved thousands of Yazidis in the summer of 2014 as they overran the Sinjar area, where many of them lived.

United Nations investigators have said that constitutes genocide. The mayor of Sinjar, Mahma Xelil, said the latest discovery brought the number of Yazidi mass graves found so far to 29,

ity community-led government in Baghdad.

Jubbouri called for an end to a governing system which allocates top posts based on sects.

“It won’t be rosy. Many difficulties,” he said. “Some politicians will not like to change because many of them would lose their positions.”

For now, he is focused on the fight against IS. Jubbouri said Iraqi forces had set a six-month timetable for the Mosul campaign. But he is confident of victory by the

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE: A woman holds up a white flag as she runs to greet her relative in Mosul, Iraq on Saturday. - Reuters

estimating the total would rise to more than 40 as the militants are driven back further.

The Office of Kidnapped Affairs in Duhok, a department backed by the Kurdistan regional government, says about 3,500 Yazidis are believed to still live in areas controlled by IS, many of them women and children.

Last Wednesday, 18 escaped from the town of Tal Afar in northern Iraq as paramilitaries cut it off from the south and west. — Reuters

end of this year, predicting the group will collapse.

So far, Iraqi forces have captured about 60 per cent of eastern Mosul, and the western part of Iraq’s second biggest city could prove far more dangerous.

“In beginning, everyday we faced between 60 and 70 car bombs. Now we are facing about two or three,” said Jubbouri, as his forces fired mortar bombs and rockets at an asphalt factory where militants strapped with explosives were positioned. —Reuters

UNDER FIRE

Malaysia PM cools snap election talk KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Sunday that he will “not necessarily” call a snap election next year, amid talk that he would seek an early vote as splits in the opposition have hobbled efforts to oust him over a long-running financial scandal.

The multi-ethnic Southeast Asian country is due to hold an election by August 2018, and a government official has told Reuters that Najib could call for a poll in the second half of 2017.

But in an interview published in The Star daily on Sunday, Najib, who has led the country since 2009, suggested he was in no hurry to call for a vote, and remarked on the current lack of a “feel good factor” among Malaysians.

“Not necessarily... it can be later,” Najib replied when asked whether an election could be called sometime next year.

“With today’s economic situation, it’s going to be a challenge because you don’t see the world economy on a rising trend. It’s going to be much more the same next year, as the year before,” Najib said.

Najib has been battling calls to step down over a scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The US Justice Department filed lawsuits in July alleging misappropriation of over $3.5 billion from the fund and that some of those flowed into the accounts of “Malaysian Official 1”, whom US and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib. Najib has denied wrongdoing and has consolidated power by sacking critics within his ruling party and cracking down on dissent.

His fiercest critic is premier Mahathir Mohamad. Mahathir joined hands with Najib’s sacked former deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to form a new party. But the main harldine party’s failure to join efforts by other opposition parties campaigning against Najib, has made it hard for them to whip up more support among ethnic Malays. — Reuters

WA R W I T H I N C O U N T RY

Hundreds displaced in east Aleppo as Syrian army advances

CONFLICT: Men ride on a vehicle amidst dust after a strike on the rebel held besieged Al Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday. - Reuters

BEIRUT: Hundreds of residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo fled shifting frontlines, sources said on Sunday, after an advance by the Syrian army and allied forces that rebels fear could split their most important urban stronghold in two.

The army and its allies took control on Saturday of the large Hanano housing district, on the northeast frontline of the besieged eastern part of Aleppo.

On Sunday they said they had captured the neighbouring district, Jabal Badro.

Neither area was heavily populated but the advance, accompanied by Russian and Syrian air strikes, has raised fears among the insurgents that the northern part of east Aleppo could be cut off from

MAUTE GROUP

11 IS sympathisers killed in southern Philippines clashes MANILA: Government troops have killed at least 11 members of a rebel group in the southern Philippines that has pledged allegiance to IS, the military said, sending local communities fleeing as a battle raged on Sunday.

The Maute Group, one of a handful of small militant groups behind years of unrest in the south, had since Saturday occupied parts of a municipality in Lanao del Sur and were holed up in an abandoned town hall.

At least four soldiers were wounded in the clashes and there were unconfirmed reports that the group had raised the black IS flag in the hall, said Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, a military spokesman.

“This was expected since they have long been professing allegiance to the foreign terror group,” he said.

“This is still part of the Maute Group’s agenda in courting support and encouraging similarminded individuals to support ISIS (IS),” he said.

FIGHT AGAINST MILITANTS: Philippine troops fire their 105mm howitzer cannons towards enemy positions from their base near Butig town in Lanao del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao on Sunday. - AFP

The military has not given an estimate for the number of displaced but local media reported an exodus of as many as 16,000 people.

Duterte hometown The government has blamed the Maute Group for a September 2 bombing at a street market in the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte,

which killed 14 people and wounded dozens.

Several suspected group members were arrested a month later and, according to the defence minister, video clips were found of them pledging loyalty to the IS cause. Duterte has recently been warning about IS taking root in the Philippines and said his country needed to avoid “contamination”. — Reuters

the southern part. That would weaken their control over the east and bring more residents closer to frontlines.

Capturing all of Aleppo would be a major victory for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad after five and a half years of fighting that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced 11 million others.

Travelled into Hanano The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said about 400 people travelled into government-controlled Hanano from neighbouring rebel-held districts, from where some were transferred to government-held western Aleppo.

Some are also crossing into an

Aleppo district held by the Kurdish YPG militia, which has largely avoided fighting the Syrian government and has been spared air attacks. The Observatory said about 30 families entered this district, Sheikh Maqsoud.

Chlorine gas Russian news agencies, citing the Defence Ministry, said on Sunday more than 900 civilians, including 119 children, had left Jabal Badro in the last 24 hours.

“We left Hanano because of the bombardment from the Syrian army during their advance, and the chlorine gas,” Muhammad, who declined to use his full name out of fear for his safety, told Reuters.

He was waiting with his wife, mother and three children at a

minibus stop, hoping to travel on to government-held west Aleppo.

He said Hanano had contained about 200-300 families, but they had come and gone throughout the war depending on the intensity of strikes.

A 13-month inquiry by the global chemical weapons watchdog and the United Nations concluded that Syrian government forces, including helicopter squadrons, were responsible for the use of chlorine barrel bombs against civilians. Syrian authorities deny having used chemical weapons in the conflict.

Aleppo, which was Syria’s biggest city before the war began in 2011, is divided between the government-held west and rebel-held east. — Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM Allowing teachers to beat students will cause hatred This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). No one lays a finger on my children, except me. Allowing teachers to beat students will only lead to hatred and resentment in the students in the end. What makes one think that they will not want to make them miss classes? This is absurd.

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Children need discipline, not corporal punishment This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). Beating children can cause trauma and a resentment for the beater, which may cause them to react in a worse manner. There are more humane ways to reprimand children. Beating kids is just not ok. Children need discipline,not corporal punishment. — Imran Hossain , via Facebook

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

The populist governments coming to power need to deliver economic growth and benefits to the disenchanted workers who have brought them to power. One way to do it in a way everyone would understand would be to abolish the corporate tax. Once a major power does that, other countries would quickly follow

Beating a child is never right This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). To beat a child is never the right solution. If any teacher would ever touched my daughter, he would be in jail now. — Birgit Wright, via Facebook

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FLIP WILSON

Cuba reforms now depend on Trump F

idel Castro’s death could give his younger brother, President Raul Castro, more space to pursue economic reforms, but change will also depend on whether U.S. President-elect Donald Trump decides to work with or challenge Cuba’s communist government.

Raul Castro has introduced market-oriented reforms in recent years, but the pace of change has been slowed, many Cubans say, by Fidel Castro’s continued influence over an old guard that mistrusts both markets and warming ties with Washington. Two years ago, the more pragmatic, younger Castro engineered a detente with the old enemy that has seen commercial flights, dollar remittances and American tourists all flow into the cashstrapped Caribbean island.

Those advances could easily be reversed if Trump sticks to the harder line he took at the end of his election campaign, when he vowed to close the US embassy, opened last year after half a century, and to renegotiate President Barack Obama’s agreement to normalize relations with Cuba.

But Castro’s death could also be an opportunity for Trump to keep up an engagement with Cuba that is popular with voters and US businesses. With Fidel Castro now dead at 90 and the 85-year-old Raul Castro promising to retire in early 2018, working with Cuba becomes easier on a symbolic level.

Trump had not mentioned Cuba since his election and in his first responses to the overnight news from Cuba, he gave little sense of which way he will go. “Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused

by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty,” Trump said in a statement.

Richard Feinberg, a former national security adviser to U.S. President Bill Clinton, said it is now less likely that Trump will reverse Obama’s opening to the island.

“The passing of Fidel Castro removes the object of hatred, fear and revenge of many Cuban-Americans, bringing to an end what has been one of history’s longest grudge matches, opening the gates for the reconciliation of the deeply divided Cuban family,” he said. “It is in the U.S. national interest to compete with China and Russia for influence in Cuba and the broader Caribbean, and to see Cuba as a natural ally in counterterrorism,” said Feinberg,

author of a book on the Cuban economy. In the short term, Cuba may see from its government an orchestrated outpouring of support for Castro’s undiluted idea of communism.

The first sign of that was a government campaign launched on Saturday to have millions of Cubans sign a pledge to be faithful to Castro’s revolution, “as an expression of the will to perpetuate his ideas and our socialism”.

Even years after stepping down from the presidency, Castro remained a buttress for the old guard among Cuba’s political hierarchy and bureaucracy who are not convinced by Raul Castro’s measures leading Cuba slowly toward a socialist economy with a strong role for private businesses.

Over time that influence will fade, potentially making it easier for reformers in Raul Castro’s government and in the future.

“It removes a court of final appeal for the conservatives while giving hope to the usually younger reformers in the party for more rapid future economic change,” said David Jessop, a UK-based business consultant on Caribbean affairs.

The inner workings of the Cuban power structure have always been tough to read, and not everyone believes Fidel Castro was behind a recent backtracking on market reforms, such as allowing farmers to sell products at market prices or permitting private imports and exports.

Mid-level bureaucrats fearful of losing power in the system are often seen as a major reason economic reforms have not been rolled out at the pace announced by Raul Castro in a 2011 policy paper.

“He was fully retired, so his passing is not likely to alter the course of Raul’s economic modernization program,” said William LeoGrande, co-author of a book on U.S.-Cuba relations.

“Of course, there are bureaucrats still in office who share Fidel’s ideological hostility to markets. They have been and will continue to be an obstacle to change.”

Trump may decide that Castro’s demise is an opportunity to pressure the communist government into making concessions, such as freeing political dissidents or preferential access for U.S. products and services.- Reuters

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New school opened in Liwa LIWA: Sheikh Saif bin Hamyar Al Malik Al Shuhi, wali of Liwa, presided over the opening of Imam Rabie bin Habib Boys Secondary School in the wilayat of Liwa yesterday. The opening ceremony was attended by walis, members of Majlis Al Shura, government officials, sheikhs and citizens of North Batinah. The construction of the school cost RO0.5 million.

It comprises 25 classrooms, labs administrative rooms, computer room and other facilities. It is expected to provide schooling for a total of 882 students.

(in million Omani Rials) Total end of August 2015

2016

16,002.9

14,618.3

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

1520: Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, having discovered a strait at the tip of South America, enters the Pacific.

1919: Lady Astor is elected the first woman in Britain’s Parliament.

1939: The Soviet Union scraps its nonaggression pact with Finland.

0

1975: East Timor declares independence from Portugal.

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

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READERS’ FORUM Allowing teachers to beat students will cause hatred This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). No one lays a finger on my children, except me. Allowing teachers to beat students will only lead to hatred and resentment in the students in the end. What makes one think that they will not want to make them miss classes? This is absurd.

— Maria Al-ghafri , via Facebook

Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Children need discipline, not corporal punishment This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). Beating children can cause trauma and a resentment for the beater, which may cause them to react in a worse manner. There are more humane ways to reprimand children. Beating kids is just not ok. Children need discipline,not corporal punishment. — Imran Hossain , via Facebook

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

The populist governments coming to power need to deliver economic growth and benefits to the disenchanted workers who have brought them to power. One way to do it in a way everyone would understand would be to abolish the corporate tax. Once a major power does that, other countries would quickly follow

Beating a child is never right This refers to the report, No need to ban disciplinary beatings in schools, says Shura panel (November 26). To beat a child is never the right solution. If any teacher would ever touched my daughter, he would be in jail now. — Birgit Wright, via Facebook

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Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down.

FLIP WILSON

Cuba reforms now depend on Trump F

idel Castro’s death could give his younger brother, President Raul Castro, more space to pursue economic reforms, but change will also depend on whether U.S. President-elect Donald Trump decides to work with or challenge Cuba’s communist government.

Raul Castro has introduced market-oriented reforms in recent years, but the pace of change has been slowed, many Cubans say, by Fidel Castro’s continued influence over an old guard that mistrusts both markets and warming ties with Washington. Two years ago, the more pragmatic, younger Castro engineered a detente with the old enemy that has seen commercial flights, dollar remittances and American tourists all flow into the cashstrapped Caribbean island.

Those advances could easily be reversed if Trump sticks to the harder line he took at the end of his election campaign, when he vowed to close the US embassy, opened last year after half a century, and to renegotiate President Barack Obama’s agreement to normalize relations with Cuba.

But Castro’s death could also be an opportunity for Trump to keep up an engagement with Cuba that is popular with voters and US businesses. With Fidel Castro now dead at 90 and the 85-year-old Raul Castro promising to retire in early 2018, working with Cuba becomes easier on a symbolic level.

Trump had not mentioned Cuba since his election and in his first responses to the overnight news from Cuba, he gave little sense of which way he will go. “Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused

by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty,” Trump said in a statement.

Richard Feinberg, a former national security adviser to U.S. President Bill Clinton, said it is now less likely that Trump will reverse Obama’s opening to the island.

“The passing of Fidel Castro removes the object of hatred, fear and revenge of many Cuban-Americans, bringing to an end what has been one of history’s longest grudge matches, opening the gates for the reconciliation of the deeply divided Cuban family,” he said. “It is in the U.S. national interest to compete with China and Russia for influence in Cuba and the broader Caribbean, and to see Cuba as a natural ally in counterterrorism,” said Feinberg,

author of a book on the Cuban economy. In the short term, Cuba may see from its government an orchestrated outpouring of support for Castro’s undiluted idea of communism.

The first sign of that was a government campaign launched on Saturday to have millions of Cubans sign a pledge to be faithful to Castro’s revolution, “as an expression of the will to perpetuate his ideas and our socialism”.

Even years after stepping down from the presidency, Castro remained a buttress for the old guard among Cuba’s political hierarchy and bureaucracy who are not convinced by Raul Castro’s measures leading Cuba slowly toward a socialist economy with a strong role for private businesses.

Over time that influence will fade, potentially making it easier for reformers in Raul Castro’s government and in the future.

“It removes a court of final appeal for the conservatives while giving hope to the usually younger reformers in the party for more rapid future economic change,” said David Jessop, a UK-based business consultant on Caribbean affairs.

The inner workings of the Cuban power structure have always been tough to read, and not everyone believes Fidel Castro was behind a recent backtracking on market reforms, such as allowing farmers to sell products at market prices or permitting private imports and exports.

Mid-level bureaucrats fearful of losing power in the system are often seen as a major reason economic reforms have not been rolled out at the pace announced by Raul Castro in a 2011 policy paper.

“He was fully retired, so his passing is not likely to alter the course of Raul’s economic modernization program,” said William LeoGrande, co-author of a book on U.S.-Cuba relations.

“Of course, there are bureaucrats still in office who share Fidel’s ideological hostility to markets. They have been and will continue to be an obstacle to change.”

Trump may decide that Castro’s demise is an opportunity to pressure the communist government into making concessions, such as freeing political dissidents or preferential access for U.S. products and services.- Reuters

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MONEY & BANKING

NOVEMBER 2001

BROAD MONEY SUPPLY

New school opened in Liwa LIWA: Sheikh Saif bin Hamyar Al Malik Al Shuhi, wali of Liwa, presided over the opening of Imam Rabie bin Habib Boys Secondary School in the wilayat of Liwa yesterday. The opening ceremony was attended by walis, members of Majlis Al Shura, government officials, sheikhs and citizens of North Batinah. The construction of the school cost RO0.5 million.

It comprises 25 classrooms, labs administrative rooms, computer room and other facilities. It is expected to provide schooling for a total of 882 students.

(in million Omani Rials) Total end of August 2015

2016

16,002.9

14,618.3

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

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

1520: Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, having discovered a strait at the tip of South America, enters the Pacific.

1919: Lady Astor is elected the first woman in Britain’s Parliament.

1939: The Soviet Union scraps its nonaggression pact with Finland.

0

1975: East Timor declares independence from Portugal.

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

A14

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

LIFESTYLE GEAR

A DAY WITH SEVEN PORSCHES Story Mobin Mathew Blesson

Photography Dawood Al Dhoubi

A

day with seven Porsche vehicles. Sounds great, isn’t it?

Recently, the Porsche Centre Oman organised a media test drive event to showcase and experience their 718 Boxster S, 911 Carrera, Macan S, Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Diesel, and Cayenne GTS. I was really excited to drive the vehicles as it was my first experience on a Porsche.

I, along with my fellow journalists, began our day with the German vehicle from the Porsche Centre Oman in Al Ghubra and our destination was Sifawy Boutique Hotel in Jebel Sifah.

Our journey had regular stops with drivers switching from car to car so that each one of us could get a chance to test drive all the models.

Cayenne S I started my ride in the Cayenne S. The 2016 Porsche Cayenne lives up to its performance heritage and sets the standard by which all other luxury performance SUVs are judged.

The Cayenne S has a more powerful engine, a power sunroof, and front and rear parking assist. It didn’t show any lag to climb up the hills in the old Hamriya- Yiti road.

Cayenne’s interior is another strong point. It’s roomy and comfortable. The back has generous knee and leg room, even with tall people sitting in front. The interior has got all the things that you expect in a luxury SUV. Cayenne’s interior materials feel gorgeous, and most people would be quite happy with the textured leather upholstery. Its firmly put together, with a great combination of metal and dense, textured materials around the cabin. The steering wheel also looks and feels classy.

Cayenne Soon I and my photographer colleague were switched to the Cayenne in our first stop. After driving the Cayenne S model, I felt Cayenne wasn’t that robust to climb the hills compared to Cayenne S. The Cayenne comes with active all-wheel drive, an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels, bi-xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers with heated washer nozzles, heated side mirrors, dual-zone auto-

matic climate control, a power rear lift gate, 10-speaker audio with a 7-in touch screen display, Bluetooth, fog lights, and 8-way power front seats.

Cayenne Diesel Cayenne Diesel is propelled by an engine that pumps out 245hp and it has got an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox that is quick and smooth. The car is already fast, but if you want to go faster still, there’s the customary Sport button. The handling is impressively stable, whether in comfort or sport setting that I shuffled while in the car.

The Cayenne Diesel features the same equipment as the base Cayenne.

Cayenne GTS Cayenne GTS has a 3.6-litre engine that’s tuned to produce 440hp. The engine gets boost from twin turbochargers, and is hooked up to an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.

The rear wheels are driven all the time, with power distributed to the front wheels as needed. It goes without saying that the 2016 Porsche Cayenne GTS is aimed at driving enthusiasts. Inside the all-German cockpit, the sport seats are more generously bolstered and the steering wheel is classy and sporty. Material selection and build quality deserve serious praise, as well. The rest of the interior is pretty stylish and spacious.

Macan S The Porsche Macan S has all the performance and handling you could want from a sporty SUV. Macan S is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6 engine which produce 340hp, mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The interior of the Macan S has got all the elements of luxury. The interior of the car is very comfortable and supportive.

911 Carrera The Porsche 911 is now turbocharged. The addition of turbos has brought even more usable performance and greater efficiency to the new Carrera. The racy soundtrack might not be quite as noticeable at the top end, but it still sounds like a

Porsche should, and with even more tech underneath the 911’s chassis offers even more grip, poise and comfort. The new engine produces 370hp which is still located at the back, but under the newly styled engine cover.

Carrera can sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds if you opt for the Porsche Doppelkuppling (PDK) box.

When it comes to the interior, Carrera has one of the most stylish dashboards and the material quality is excellent and it feels firmly screwed together. One of the major attractions is the updated PCM (Porsche Communication Management) system.

The new seven-inch touch screen recognises swipe gestures just like a smartphone, so you can swish side to side from menu to menu.

As with all 911s, the car’s clever 2+2 layout remains. This means there are two small seats for young children – the back rests can be folded down to create a larger luggage space as well, complementing the 145-litre boot in the car’s nose. Legroom in the back is limited, but this is not meant to be a full four-seater — those occasional rear seats are a bonus.

718 Boxster S Porsche has made a significant change in their new Boxster. They switch to four cylinder turbocharged from six-cylinder engines.

The new 2.5 litre engine delivers 345bhp with PDK. With good storage space between the two boots, a high quality cabin and a fast-operating power hood, the 718 is as usable and fuss-free as two-seater sports cars get. The rotary switch which is on the steering wheel, allows you to choose between the Normal, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual drive modes. In either of the Sport modes the 718 is a deeply impressive sports car. After testing all the Porsche’s pride vehicles in the mountains and highway, we came back to the Porsche Oman Centre by evening. While each model has its own specialty I enjoyed driving the Cayenne GTS and 911 Carrera the most.

–mobinmathew@timesofoman.com Local dealer Porsche Oman Centre, Al Ghubra Phone +968 2449 2544

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

WEATHER TEMPERATURE

HUMIDITY

29 - 18 69-32% 0

T E C H TA L K

0

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.00pm 3.04pm 5.24pm 6.39pm 5.11am

A15

LIFESTYLE

D I G I TA L R E V O LU T I O N

Internet of Things (IoT) This thin foam keeps vehicles, buildings cooler, quieter Indian-origin researchers from Singapore have developed a new material that will make vehicles and buildings cooler and quieter as compared to the current insulation materials in the market.

Known as aerogel composites, this new foam insulates against heat 2.6 times better than a conventional insulation foam.

The foam is made from silica aerogels with a few other additives. The details of the new material were published in peer-reviewed Scientific Journals.

Writing, accessing data made easy with new material In a first, scientists from Switzerland have developed a new perovskite material with unique magnetic properties that can be used to build nextgeneration hard drives, making writing and accessing data on them easy.

Due to generation of more and more data, storage systems like hard drives with higher density and efficiency are required.

To fulfil this requirement, materials whose magnetic properties can be quickly and easily manipulated in order to write and access data on them are needed.

-IANS

Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that was coined by Kevin Ashton and appeared in 1999 to describe systems connected to the physical world via the internet by using Radio-Frequency Identification Technology (RFID). Since then, IoT had many definitions but in general it is about all the smart devices, vehicles, and even buildings embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data.

IoT starts from the object that uses a sensor or remote to send a command or data through the internet network to an IoT device. It can serve users in different ways.

For example, smartwatch allows remote health monitoring for the loved ones. It can track steps taken as well as other kinds of daily activities, plus it provides an emergency assistance button that alerts to call in and check.

IoT devices are not only for human, houses, industries, or healthcare; they are even used for animals. The device from Fitbark allows the user to have their own Fitbit account. It allows users to measure their dog’s activity and quality of sleep, providing theoretically useful data about their behaviour.

People who are away from their parents and need to check on their

health, food shortage in the fridge, and keep a tab on the visitors can benefit from this. Creating a smart home connects everything to the internet network. Starting from the kitchen, a smart fridge can take photos from inside the refrigerator and the user, connected to

the fridge database, can access the photos from anywhere to see what is missing and communicate with supermarket. A smart watch can measure the blood pressure, quality of sleep, heartbeat, type of food they need, and remind about the exercises. With a smart door, the user and his/her parents can see who’s at the door and open it by an app in the mobile phone through the internet network.

IoT has huge benefits and is the main player in the next industrial revolution. But it is also considered a double-edged weapon if misused. The main drawback of IoT is the breach of privacy and excessive reliance on technology

causing loss of jobs. The use of IoT gives greater opportunity for attackers and hackers to access the personal data of the clients and use it against them. Linking technology in all our daily practices can have a dangerous impact on our life. To sum up, IoT is giving people a new and better technology, yet it is important to consider the drawbacks of it before using it.

-lifestyle@timesofoman.com The authors, Mariam Juma, Hager Saleh, Manal Suhail, Marwa Khalifa, are students from Information Systems Department, College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University.

A16

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

LIFESTYLE

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM M ON DAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

CHINA INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

MARKE

Profit growth in China’s industrial sector picked up in October, aided by strong sales and higher prices, suggesting further strengthening of the economy, though growth was skewed towards high-polluting heavy industry. - Reuters

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Muscat 5,519.20 - 2.17 - 0.04%

Dubai 3,338.23 + 14.16 + 0.43%

Abu Dhabi 4,298.34 + 25.30 + 0.59%

Saudi Arabia

6,846.08 + 49.33 + 0.73%

Kuwait 5,534.99 + 17.61 + 0.32%

Bahrain 1,186.21 - 1.43 - 0.12%

Qatar 9,705.03 - 9.90 - 0.10%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.42 Pound ..........................................2.06 Indian Rs ..............................177.24 Pakistan Rs ........................ 267.74 Bangla Taka......................203.05

Indian Rs ................................... 177.60 Pakistan Rs ............................. 271.90 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka............................ 204.10 Phil Peso ................................... 129.40

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) ........15.15

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$44.28 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$44.46 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$48.88 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........ $44.72 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$48.28 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$46.06

* Rates are as of November 27 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of November 27 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.60 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............143.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 134.75 * Rates as of November 27 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Oman-Iran trade surges ahead after lifting of trade sanctions Oman’s imports from Iran shot up by 396.2% to OMR183.1m in the first half of this year, from OMR36.9m for the same period last year, the latest data released by NCSI shows.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Iran is expected to emerge as a significant trading partner of the Sultanate, following lifting of trade sanctions against the former.

The volume of trade between Oman and Iran is growing and the Sultanate is in a better position to benefit from opening of Iranian market after the recent

lifting of sanctions.

The Sultanate’s imports from Iran shot up by 396.2 per cent to OMR183.1 million in the first half of this year, from OMR36.9 million in the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Also, re-exports from Oman soared by 23 per cent to OMR63.2 million in the first half of 2016, against OMR51.4 million in the corre-

ASTECO REPORT

MINIMUM CHANGE: Sharjah apartment rents saw minimal changes in third quarter, down by only 1%, while RAK recorded a 1% rise, compared to the previous quarter. - Supplied picture

Rents in Sharjah still low on better supply Times News Service MUSCAT: Average rents in Sharjah remain 38 per cent below rates from 2008, as additional supplies keeps rates from increasing rapidly, according to the UAE Property Review for the third quarter of 2016 published by leading real estate consultancy Asteco.

Further, the report revealed that the Northern Emirates property market remains stable.

Sharjah apartment rents saw minimal changes in the third quarter, down by only 1 per cent, while RAK recorded a 1 per cent rise, compared to the previous quarter. Ajman also witnessed an increase of 1 per cent, bringingprices close to their 2008 peak levels, beingonly 9 per cent lower.

“The stabilisation of the market was a knock-on effect, in part, due to rental rates in Dubai also balancing out. As a result, there were a minimal number of re-

locations taking place between Dubai and the Northern Emirates,” said John Stevens, managing director of Asteco.

New developments in Sharjah attracting investors include Sahara Tower 6 by Al Thuriah, which was announced during Cityscape 2016.

Construction of the residential twin tower has already started andwill provide 376 residential units, which are now on sale and due for handover in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Ras Al Khaimah was the star performer, albeit relatively, with a strong tourism and hospitality offering. “The Emirate currently has 3,600 hotel rooms, and its occupancy rate has risen to 71 per cent, with more than 40 per cent of the guests from the UAE. Furthermore, the RAK Free Zone, popular with many small and medium-sized businesses, has created both residential and office demand,” Stevens added.

B I L AT E R A L T R A D E

Pakistan stops import of cotton from India ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has suspended the import of cotton and other agriculture commodities, including vegetables, from India due to rising tensions between the two countries along the line of control (LoC), a media report here said.

Officials of Department of Plant Protection said that import of agri items from India through

the Wagah border crossing and Karachi port and issuing permits for future imports has been halted, the Dawn reported.

Cotton importers and customs clearing agents claimed that the department had stopped the import of agriculture commodities from India without a warning or written order because of increase in tensions across the LoC. — PTI

sponding period last year.

Iran is expected to emerge as a significant trading partner of the Sultanate following the end of trade sanctions. According to experts, bilateral trade between Oman and Iran is likely to touch US$5 billion within five years, from the current $1 billion.

Omani companies are in a strong position to benefit from opportunities in the Iranian market and are now involved in a number of high-profile projects, Dr Amir Kordvani, head of the Iran desk and projects for the Middle East, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, said recently at a conference on investment opportunities in Iran.

Several projects, including the Iran-Oman gas pipeline, the Iran-Oman shipping line, and a $250-million shopping mall in Iran, to be developed by Omani investors, are expected to further strengthen economic cooperation

between the two countries.

Following the lifting of sanctions, Iran offers ample investment opportunities for foreign investors in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, energy, tourism, hospitality, transport, automobiles, infrastructure, and information and communication technology. Iran has 136 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, which is equivalent to 10 per cent of the world’s total reserves.

Moreover, the cost of oil production in Iran is one of the lowest in the world. Several projects are waiting to be re-initiated. Some 62 per cent of the country’s natural gas reserves are located in fields that are not yet developed.

Further, Iran has deposits of more than 68 minerals worth nearly $700 billion. It also has the world’s fifth largest reserves of zinc and the seventh largest reserves of copper.

Natural gas production grows Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s natural gas production and imports grew by 3.9 per cent to 34,151 million cubic metres (MNCM) for the first nine months of 2016, compared to 32,875 MNCM during the same period last year.

Of this, while non-associated gas and imports showed a growth of 4.7 per cent at 28,306 MNCM, associated gas production edged up 0.2 per cent to 5,845 MNCM, according to the lates data revealed by the NCSI.

A sizeable portion of natural gas in Oman is used by various mega-industrial projects, which stood at 19,093 MNCM in the January-September period of 2016, against 17,942 MNCM for the same period last year. Natural gas is also used in oilfields, either as fuel or for re-injection.

For instance, in the first nine months ending in September this year, as much as 7,609 MNCM of natural gas was used in oil fields, against 7,206 MNCM units consumed for the same period in 2015.

B2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

MARKET MSM index ends lower

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,525.94 ............... 5,518.12 ....................5,519.12 ................... 5,521.29.................. -2.17 .................. -0.04 Financial Index .....................................7,271.98 ...............7,255.43 ....................7,258.75 ................... 7,263.63..................-4.88 .................. -0.07 Industrial Index ....................................7,201.26 ............... 7,192.18 ....................7,194.91 ....................7,192.81....................2.10 ...................0.03 Services Index .......................................3,015.05 ...............3,010.60 ....................3,010.78 ...................3,014.94.................. -4.16 .................. -0.14 MSM SHARIAH INDEX...................... 850.20 .................. 847.89 ...................... 848.80 ......................850.20.................. -1.40 .................. -0.16 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 5,332,284 ....................1,188,207 .....................252 ...............17,258,330,520 .................. 5 ..................... 10 .................... 18 .........................33

Voltamp Energy, up by 1.33 per cent, was Sunday’s top gainer while Oman National

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

Engineering was the top loser.

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

MUSCAT: Weak sentiments affected trading activity and the MSM30 Index ended lower at 5,519.12 points, down by 0.04 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index retreated 0.16 per cent to close at 848.80 points. HSBC Bank was the most active in terms of volume, while Ooredoo led in turnover. Voltamp Energy, up by 1.33 per cent was the day’s top gainer while Oman National Engineering was the top loser, down by 4.38 per cent.

As many as 252 trades were executed on Sunday, generating a turnover of OMR1.19 million with 5.33 million shares changing hands. Out of 33 traded securities, five advanced, 10 declined and 18 remained unchanged.

Omani investors were net buyers for OMR312,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR188,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR124,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index ended at 7,258.75 points, down by 0.07 per cent. Taageer Finance, Bank Sohar and Ominvest gained 0.85 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively. Al Batinah Development and Investment, Al Izz Bank, Al Sharqia Investment, Al Madina Takaful and Oman & Emirates Holding fell by 3.37 per cent, 2.90 per cent, 1.52 per cent, 1.37 per cent and 0.81 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index was stable at 7,194.91 points, up by 0.03 per cent. Voltamp Energy and Raysut Cement gained 1.33 per cent and 0.33 per cent, respectively. Galfar Engineering, down by 1.10 per

cent, was the only loser.

Services Index declined by 0.14 per cent to close at 3,010.78 points. Oman National Engineering, Al Batinah Power, Port Services and Oman Telecommunications Company declined by 4.38 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 0.43 per cent and 0.34 per cent, respectively.

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

OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY .....................................................23,502 .............10,694..................... 10 ........... 0.450 ........... 0.456 ...........0.450........... 0.456 .............0.450 ........... 0.006............. 1.333 ................0.456..............0.456...................0.470...................27,588,000 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 562,804 ............81,740......................17 ............0.146 ........... 0.146 ...........0.145 ............0.145 .............0.144 ............0.001 ............. 0.694 ................0.145 ..............0.144...................0.145................. 232,652,404 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 270,709 ..........131,343......................14 ........... 0.488 ...........0.488 ...........0.484........... 0.486 .............0.484 ........... 0.002............. 0.413 ................0.484..............0.482...................0.484 ................ 308,994,372 .......0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................10,000 .............15,350........................2 ............1.535 ........... 1.535............1.535 ............1.535 ............. 1.530............ 0.005............. 0.327 ................1.535 .............. 1.510...................1.535 ................. 307,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 224,500............53,431........................3 ........... 0.238 ...........0.238 ...........0.238........... 0.238 .............0.238 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.238..............0.233...................0.238..................350,997,943........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE............... 42,400 ...............8,089........................4 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.189 ............0.191 ............. 0.191 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190..............0.189...................0.190...................38,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .............................................................. 1,000 ..................448........................1 ........... 0.448 ...........0.448 ...........0.448........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.448..............0.444...................0.448 .................148,892,720........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ...................................5,000 .................. 845........................2 ............0.169 ........... 0.169 ...........0.169 ............0.171 ............. 0.171 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.169 ..............0.168...................0.169...................50,652,540.........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 415,000 .........174,300......................14 ........... 0.420 ...........0.420 ...........0.420........... 0.420 .............0.420 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.420..............0.420...................0.424 ............... 1,048,425,108 ......0.100

Other Gulf stocks rise Most Gulf stocks rose as investors weighed the prospect of a deal between oil producers to cut supply, potentially shoring up prices of the region’s biggest export. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index led gains, climbing a fourth day. Dubai’s DFM General Index, Kuwait’s SE Price Index and Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index also advanced.

While Brent crude slumped on Friday after planned talks between producers inside and outside the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries were canceled, the group gathers on November 30 in Vienna in a bid to agree a deal to drag the market out of a 2 1/2-year downturn.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council is home to about 30 per cent of the world’s proven crude reserves. “All eyes are on Opec and markets will move in tandem with the news that we hear from them,” said Joice Mathew, the head of equity research for the Gulf region at United Securities in Muscat, Oman. “It’s not very positive news that we hear at the start of the week, but in the case of Opec anything can happen.”

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES .............................5,000 .................. 560........................1 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.115 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 ...............0.111................... 0.112 .................... 6,766,970 ..........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 285,860 ..........178,375........................8 ........... 0.624 ...........0.624 ...........0.620........... 0.624 .............0.624 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.624..............0.620...................0.624 .................406,189,200 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................. 50,000 ............23,400........................2 ........... 0.468 ...........0.468 ...........0.468........... 0.468 .............0.468 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.468..............0.450...................0.468...................24,570,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 249,076 ............34,871.....................20 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.140 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.140.............. 0.139...................0.140................. 204,764,204 .......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 111,697 .......... 163,078.....................20 ............1.460 ........... 1.470 ...........1.460........... 1.460 ............. 1.465............-0.005 ........... -0.341 ...............1.470 ..............1.460...................1.470................1,095,000,000......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................41,900 ............... 9,794........................8 ........... 0.235 ........... 0.235 ...........0.232........... 0.234 .............0.235 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.426 ...............0.232..............0.230...................0.234 ..................22,239,360.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL.............................................. 44,800 ...............3,234........................5 ........... 0.073 ........... 0.073 ...........0.072........... 0.072 .............0.073 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.370................0.073..............0.072...................0.073...................12,600,000.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 140,576.............26,761........................7 ............0.190 ........... 0.192 ...........0.190........... 0.190 ............. 0.195............-0.005 ........... -2.564 ...............0.192 ..............0.192...................0.195 ..................128,228,612........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,483,824.......916,313................... 138 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 17........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ...................................................95,300 .............11,235......................11 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............ 0.117 ............0.118 ............. 0.117 .............0.001 ............. 0.855 ................0.117 ...............0.115................... 0.117 ...................29,923,620.........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 1,000 .................. 688........................1 ........... 0.688 ........... 0.688 ...........0.688........... 0.700 .............0.700 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.688..............0.680...................0.696..................110,250,000........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 750,000 ........... 85,400......................14 ............0.114 ........... 0.114............0.113 ............0.114 ............. 0.114............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.114 .............. 0.112................... 0.114 ..................228,035,658........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 541,601............ 32,529..................... 30 ........... 0.060 ........... 0.061 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.059...................0.061....................7,500,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................. 50,000 .............10,700........................1 ............0.214 ........... 0.214 ...........0.214........... 0.214 .............0.214 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.214..............0.214...................0.220 .................406,429,100 .......0.100 OM0000002671............GULF STONES.................................................................. 1,000 ...................105........................1 ............0.105 ........... 0.105 ...........0.105 ............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.105 ..............0.100................... 0.121 ....................3,993,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 485,000 ............ 39,115........................8 ........... 0.080 ........... 0.081 ...........0.080........... 0.081 ............. 0.081............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.081 ..............0.080...................0.081..................121,500,000........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 187,453 .............35,241........................8 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.188 ........... 0.188 ............. 0.188............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.188 ..............0.188...................0.190..................134,308,392........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING..............15,951 ...............1,962........................4 ............0.123 ........... 0.123 ...........0.123 ............0.123 .............0.124 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.806 ...............0.123 ..............0.122...................0.124...................14,990,625 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 164,913............ 14,842........................9 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.090........... 0.090 ............. 0.091............-0.001 ........... -1.099................0.090..............0.090...................0.092 ..................26,098,257.........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............. 21,750 ...............2,824........................6 ............0.131 ........... 0.131............0.129........... 0.130 .............0.132............-0.002 ............-1.515 ................0.129 ..............0.129...................0.132...................11,700,000 .........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 465,670 ............31,215......................12 ........... 0.068 ...........0.068 ...........0.067........... 0.067 .............0.069 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.899 ...............0.068..............0.067...................0.068...................67,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ....................... 40,000 ...............3,440........................4 ........... 0.086 ...........0.086 ...........0.086........... 0.086 .............0.089 ...........-0.003 ............-3.371................0.086..............0.085...................0.087....................2,580,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001152 ............OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. ........................9,000 ............... 1,377........................1 ............0.153 ........... 0.153 ...........0.153 ............0.153 .............0.160 ...........-0.007 ........... -4.375 ...............0.153 .............. 0.155...................0.170...................15,300,000.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,828,638......270,673................... 110 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......14........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

-United Securities/Bloomberg News

ECONOMY

Cuba’s economic woes expected to continue NEW YORK: For all of my adult life I have been hearing that Cuba will blossom economically when Fidel Castro passes away. Now that time has come, and it seems Cuba will continue to struggle.

At a superficial glance, the case for Cuban optimism is obvious.

So many Cuban-Americans have impressed the world with their business skills and entrepreneurial drive. If comparable talents were let loose in Cuba itself, one might expect similar results, just as China, after dismantling the most inefficient parts of its communism, began to catch up to the overseas Chinese.

Regional problems One way to approach Cuba’s economic fate is to consider the Caribbean region as a whole. For the most part, it has seen mediocre results since the financial crisis of 2008. Economic problems have plagued Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti and Barbados, with only Jamaica seeing a real turnaround.

The core problems of the region include high debt, weak commodity prices, lack of economies of scale and an inability to upgrade tourist facilities to compete with the US, Mexico and further-flung locales. Cuba cannot service its foreign debt, and losing most of

its support from Venezuela has been a massive fiscal problem.

Perhaps the country most like Cuba in the Caribbean, in terms of history, heritage and ethnic composition, is the Dominican Republic. Currently, it has a nominal gross domestic product of somewhat over $6,000 per capita, depending which source you prefer. That’s far from the bottom tier of developing economies, but it’s hardly a shining star. And Cuba will take a long time to attract a comparable level of multinational investment, or to develop its tourist facilities to a comparable level of sophistication. Wellfunctioning electricity and air conditioning cannot be taken for granted in Cuba, especially after the major decline in energy supplies from Venezuela.

Per capita income The most optimistic forecast for Cuba is that, after a few decades of struggle and reorientation, it will end up at the income level of the Dominican Republic.

If you are wondering, the World Bank measures Cuban GDP at over $6,000 per capita, but that is based on a planned economy and an unrealistic exchange rate.

In reality, Cuba probably is richer than Nicaragua, where GDP per capital is approximately $2,000,

but we don’t know by how much.

Cuba does have relatively high levels of health care and education, but we’ve learned from postSoviet reform experiences that it is easy for a nation to lose those advantages. There are already shortages of many basic health care items, including medical technology and antibiotics.

Exports Alternatively, to better understand Cuba’s future, look at its exports. Medical services are about 40 per cent of exports, but some of the main buyers, such as Brazil, Algeria and Angola, are expected to reduce their demand.

Sugar prices surged in 2016, but they are still well below their 2012 levels, and commodity prices do not seem to be on the verge of a major comeback. Other Cuban agricultural exports include citrus, fish, cigars and coffee, but those are rarely paths to riches.

The reality is worse yet, namely that Cuba has to import 70 per cent of its food.

Cuba is simply not in a good position to ramp up production.

Still, there are more countries making quality coffee than ever before, and it’s hard to see Cuba’s corrupt framework, even after Castro, allowing them to capture markets. -TYLER COWEN/Bloomberg News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

B3

MARKET Indian central bank takes steps to curtail rising liquidity in banks Liquidity is likely to rise. The RBI has decided to absorb it by applying ‘an incremental cash reserve ratio’ as a temporary measure.

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India told lenders to set aside more deposits as reserves to curtail surging banking system liquidity that risks stoking inflation.

Banking system funds have surged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned Rs500 ($7.30) and Rs1,000 notes in a bid to curb graft and ordered people to deposit the money in banks. That has led to lenders accumulating Rs5.1 trillion in deposits as citizens in Asia’s third-largest economy rush to submit the now defunct bills.

The RBI said banking-system

liquidity is likely to increase further in the weeks ahead and it has decided to absorb a part of it by “applying an incremental cash reserve ratio (CRR) as a purely temporary measure,” it said in a statement on Saturday.

A banking system awash with unused cash could cause borrowing costs to crash and lead to inflation, threatening to hurt financial stability in the $2 trillion economy. Indian sovereign bonds, which have rallied in November, may react negatively to the news, according to South African lender

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

FirstRand Ltd. “Excess liquidity could be inflationary and the RBI couldn’t have let this continue,” said Paresh Nayar, Mumbai-based head of currency and money markets at the local unit of FirstRand.

“It’s a harsh measure and bonds will fall in reaction to this news on Monday.”

India’s benchmark 10-year sovereign yield fell 20 basis points in the week to November 25. It has plummeted 56 basis points this month, on course for the biggest drop since April 2009, as a banking system awash with cash boosts

demand for debt.

“On the increase in net demand and time liabilities, between September 16, 2016 and November 11, 2016, scheduled banks shall maintain an incremental cash-reserve ratio (CRR) of 100 per cent, effective the fortnight beginning Nov. 26, 2016,” the RBI said. “As the incremental CRR is intended to be a temporary measure within the Reserve Bank’s liquidity management framework to drain excess liquidity in the system, it shall be reviewed on December 9, 2016 or even earlier.” — Bloomberg News

– Bloomberg file picture

B4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

FEATURE

Google does not disclose the performance of its cloud business.

But its “other revenue” line, which includes this unit along with the Google app store and hardware sales, saw revenue grow 39 per cent to $2.4 billion in the third quarter.

A

lphabet will focus its biggest bets next year on the staid world of business software and cloud computing, a marked departure from lofty “moonshots” of recent years, such as burrito-carrying drones and super-fast internet service.

Alphabet was formed last year, in part, to insulate the lucrative online advertising business of its Google division from riskier, more capital-intensive projects now called 'Other Bets.'

The strategy was on display in the company’s third-quarter results. The technology giant culled investment in Other Bets and doubled down on Google’s cloud and artificial-intelligence initiatives.

Those investments will only accelerate next year, executives told analysts during a conference call that followed a strong third-

quarter report, driven largely by growth in Google’s main digital ad business.

Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said the cloud business is building a team focused on machine learning, an important branch of AI, and is hiring aggressively.

“As we head into 2017,” he said on the earnings call, “I expect cloud to be one of our largest areas of investment and growth.”

Cloud growth Google is racing against Amazon. com, Microsoft and other big technology companies to provide AIpowered services over the Internet from remote data centres. The combination of these technologies may produce powerful and lucrative new products for consumers and business customers.

Google doesn’t disclose the

performance of its cloud business. But its “other revenue” line, which includes this unit along with the Google app store and hardware sales, saw revenue grow 39 per cent to $2.4 billion in the third quarter.

Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said the cloud division is “generating substantial revenue growth.” Cloud chief Diane Greene has helped win new corporate customers for its dataprocessing, analysis and storage services this year.

Google is still behind market leader Amazon.com which posted a 55 per cent gain in cloud revenue, reaching $3.2 billion for the third quarter.

However, Google executives’ rhetoric suggests Alphabet is plaughing money into businesses capable of generating strong returns, and cutting investment

from projects with more questionable financial potential. Porat also cautioned investors that marketing spending will rise in the fourth quarter to promote new Google hardware like its Pixel smartphones.

Pichai and Porat have told investors before that Alphabet’s biggest bets are inside Google. Pichai oversees most of the company’s AI and virtual reality efforts, along with its costly data centres.

Yet shout-outs for the cloud business came amid a pullback from Alphabet’s Other Bets, particularly its Google Fiber internet service and Nest connecteddevice subsidiary.

Other Bets trimmed The Other Bets segment, which also includes the autonomous vehicle project and two biotech research initiatives, lost $865

million in the third quarter, narrowing from a $980 million loss a year ago. Growth in capital expenditures on these businesses also slowed down from the prior two quarters.

Porat stressed that Other Best are on a “longer time horizon,” but also said Alphabet is resetting some of them as they strive to find business models. Earlier in the week, the Fiber Internet service announced a retreat from eight major proposed markets as well as jobs cuts and the loss of its top executive. That followed a string of high-level departures from Other Bets companies.

“News that Fiber has been ‘paused’ should be welcomed by investors concerned over rising CapEx,” Daniel Salmon, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a note to investors.

Porat said Fiber had made

“important breakthroughs” in wireless technology, but is reevaluating expansion plans. “We wanted to focus on the potential with these efforts before we reaccelerate deployment,” she said.

Pichai shrugged off the executive exits. He also dismissed concern about other notable departures from Alphabet, including a team of veteran engineers from its self-driving car project, who were recently acquired by Uber, and Niantic Labs, the company behind the viral mobile game Pokemon Go. “We generally want to create a culture of innovation, and that’s what we focus on and it is fine that some of them happen outside,” he said.

The CEO also noted “worldclass products” from Alphabet that serve over one billion users.

All of them come from Google.

— MARK BERGEN /Bloomberg News

B

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

SECTION

END CALL SAVE LIVES

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A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

IMES TECH STUFF

Shopping for a Geek updated its MacBook Pro lineup for the first time in a couple of years. The new machines are zippy, with faster processors and chips, and some even have a touchscreen strip built into the keyboard.

IAN KING

T E C H U P D AT E S

Lego and iPad drive record online sales on Black Friday

Twitter pays Noto millions to take on new operating role

I

f you’re looking for a collection of trendy gizmos that go well with a pair of Chuck Taylors and a plaid shirt, this isn’t it. Our tech gift guide emphasises practicality, price and specs over style. You won’t find any Snapchat Spectacles here. As we head into the shopping season, consider something more functional for your geeky loved ones.

Fitness A Fitbit or Apple Watch will surely be popular gifts this year, but let’s face it: Fitness trackers are for fit people. For the rest of us, they’re drawer clutter once the novelty wears off. Those already motivated enough to get up before work to go for a run should check out Oakley’s Radar Pace. It can read the wearer’s heart rate, stride length and calories burned when connected with other body sensors. When I tried them out, they were useful, if not the most fashionable, with a robotic voice whispering in my ear about how slow I am as I struggled along. One of my colleagues

IBM is tripling the number of data centres it has in the UK, bolstering one of the businesses it is counting on for growth and giving the British economy a vote of confidence after the country elected to leave the EU. IBM currently operates two UK data centres. The fourthe one comes on top of a previous commitment from 2014 in which the company said it would spend $1.2 billion on 15 such facilities around the world. — Bloomberg News

US consumers spent a record $3.3 billion online on Black Friday, scooping up everything from Lego sets to Apple iPads, according to Adobe Systems. Two-day sales starting on Thanksgiving totalled $5.3 billion, marking an 18 per cent increase from a year earlier, Adobe said on Saturday in a statement.

Spending via mobile devices on Friday increased 33 per cent to an alltime high of $1.2 billion. The surge in online shopping has taken a toll on brick-and-mortar stores. In-store visits dropped a combined 1 per cent during the two days from a year earlier, said ShopperTrak, a retail data provider, in a separate statement. Adobe, the design software company based in San Jose, California, said the most popular items include Lego A/S building sets, Razor electric scooters, flying drones, Mattel Inc. Barbie dolls, Samsung Electronics Co. 4K television sets and Apple Inc. iPads and MacBooks. “Shoppers hit the buy button at unprecedented levels as conversion rates were up nearly a full percent across all devices in the evening hours on Black Friday,” Tamara Gaffney, an analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said in the statement.

Adobe said it tracks 80 per cent of all online transactions at the top 100 US retailers. The National Retail Federation has projected that about 137.4 million consumers will make purchases in stores or online over the four-day weekend that started on Thanksgiving, marking the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. — Bloomberg News

Apple recently

Laptop Apple recently updated its MacBook Pro lineup for the first time in a couple of years. The new machines are zippy, with faster processors and graphics chips, and some even have a touchscreen strip built into the keyboard. It looks great on a live-edge wooden table at a third-wave coffee shop.

But here’s an idea: Get yourself a Microsoft Surface Book instead. No, seriously. If, like me, you switched to a Mac a decade ago after wrestling with the bugs, security flaws and clunky interface of Windows Vista, there’s no way you’re going back to that madness, right? What you’ll actually find in the Surface Book is something that probably looks closer to the future of computing than an Apple laptop.

Get one with the Intel i7 processor: It’s a very powerful machine capable of playing most of the latest PC games. It’s easier to type on and has a huge, conveniently placed touch pad and a pen for the touch screen.

And one more thing: It’s a surprisingly capable tablet computer when you unhook it from the keyboard.

IBM PLANS TO ADD 4 DATA CENTRES IN UK

is a big advocate for the Under Armour Record system, which she said has helped her with diet choices as well as fitness.

But really, most people would be better off spending their cash on a gym or pool membership. Owning a Fitbit will not give you the inner fortitude to get off the couch and go out on a winter evening to run in the snow. There are several free running apps, such as Nike+ Run Club, MapMyFitness and Runkeeper, that can send mobile notifications encouraging users to fulfill their New Year’s resolution. One of the best things about running is it gives you an hour (or 10 minutes) to catch up on podcasts or unwind with some Interpol. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit wireless headphones are waterproof and sit securely in your ears, eliminating the excuse to stop every five minutes to readjust the headphones and catch your breath in the process.

Smart-home appliances Smart-home appliances sound cool, but they’re mostly dumb.

Getting out of a chair to flip a light switch isn’t any less onerous than pulling out a phone, opening an app and pressing a button. Many smart appliances are overpriced and could lock customers into proprietary technology that’s hard to

escape later. And security on these devices is rudimentary or nonexistent. For those who might want to experiment with automating home life, try the iHome Smart Plug, which can make your dumb products a little smarter.

The device most in need of an update in many people’s homes is one they only pay attention to when it makes them miserable: the Wi-Fi router. People frequently stick with whatever their internet company gave them. But Wi-Fi technology is evolving. Spend as little as $80 on a TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750, and place it somewhere central, away from cordless phones, microwaves or other things that might cause interference. It makes a huge difference. Whatever model you choose—and it’s possible to go as high as $350—make sure it has “AC” on the box. That’s the latest and fastest standard.

Photography The absolute pinnacle of any hipster’s stable of accouterments is a Leica M series camera. It has everything: chic retro styling, quality lenses, a black-and-white-only model and the ability to accessorize in such photographic essentials as orange leather. Starting price: at least $5,000 (no lens included). If you’re really serious about photog-

raphy and have that kind of money, get a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. The product was recently updated with just about all the functions a pro could ever want and access to a huge range of lenses.

But really, most people already have a fantastic camera in their pockets. A new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S7 contains a highquality lens and big screen to view the pictures on. In most situations, the results are as good as most point-and-shoot cameras. But if you’re shopping for a klutz like me, you might want to pick up a Nikon Coolpix waterproof camera. Since most of those photos will disappear forever into storage on your phone or a backup server array owned

by Facebook, MyPix2 or another printing service can create a gift that really means something to the people you care about.

Video games With Microsoft rolling out an updated version of the Xbox One and Sony doing the same with the PlayStation 4 along with a virtualreality headset, there are plenty of choices for gamers. But there’s a more accessible option for about a 10th of the price of a PlayStation VR bundle.

The Nintendo NES Classic will let you zone out without having to learn spell-casting key combinations or which type of missile will breach the defenses of your enemy’s giant killer robot in the ten seconds before yours gets incinerated. The Classic lets players delve back into the kinder, gentler world of Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda.

The remake of the 1985 original is smaller and more powerful, making those old, pixelated games look crisply retro on your flat-panel television. The only catch is trying to get hold of one. They’re pretty much sold out everywhere. It turns out that hipsters like this one, too.

— Bloomberg News

Twitter is giving Chief Financial Officer Anthony Noto a hefty raise in return for taking on greater responsibilities at the struggling social media company. At a meeting this week, directors awarded Noto 940,000 restricted stock units and 325,000 performance-based restricted stock units, with a total compensation target of $12 million per year, the company said in a regulatory filing Wednesday. The equity awards vest over four years. The former Goldman Sachs banker is assuming the role of chief operating officer after the departure of Adam Bain. Twitter’s looking for a new CFO but, in the meantime, Noto will oversee the books while running global advertising sales, data and revenue products, partnerships and business development. Twitter paid Noto $73 million in 2014, the year he joined the company from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. That was mostly stock awards that vest over several years. In 2015, Noto’s total compensation was just over $400,000, according to a regulatory filing. Noto’s increased pay reflects his increasing control over Twitter’s fundamental strategy, unusual for your typical CFO. In particular, he’s championed a live-video approach, making deals with sports and news companies to stream their content. It’s now a key plank of Twitter’s plan to revive growth.

— Bloomberg News

Japan Display close to raising as much as $886 million Japan Display jumped to a 9-month high after people familiar with the matter said the company may raise as much as 100 billion yen ($886 million) from a governmentbacked fund, a deal that amounts to a bailout of the struggling display maker. The Tokyo-based supplier of screens to Apple has explored ways to win a cash injection from Innovation Network Corp. of Japan (INCJ), its largest shareholder. Both sides are now leaning toward a sale of preferred stock to avoid diluting common stock owners, the people said. The capital raised would go toward the development of displays for cars and next-generation smartphone screens, according to the people, who asked to not be identified because the discussions are private. Japan Display remains one of the largest suppliers of liquid crystal displays used in current smartphones but is headed toward its third straight year of losses, as global mobile demand sputters and competitors from Korea and China undercut prices to grab market share. The company and rival Sharp Corp. now need massive amounts of capital to invest in organic light-emitting diode displays, considered the future standard for iPhones and other mobile devices. Apple is struggling to find enough OLED supply for its new iPhones, expected next year, Bloomberg News reported this month. Initial costs for screen suppliers however could reach $2 billion, stretching their finances even before they get any firm orders. — Bloomberg News

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

ROUND-UP Exclusive National Day offer from Sohar Islamic Sohar Islamic offers its clients Shari’ah compliant auto financing solutions for new and used cars for up to 80% of the value; and does so without the need for salary transfers

MUSCAT: Sohar Islamic, Bank Sohar’s dedicated Islamic Banking Window, in commemoration of the Sultanate’s 46th National Day is offering attractive Auto Finance and Construction and Housing Finance solutions with special competitive rates starting from 5.69 per cent and for a tenure of up to seven years for Auto Financing and 25 years for Construction and Housing Finance, with flexibility on salary transfer requirements.

Valid until December 21, Sohar Islamic’s Auto Finance and Construction and Housing Finance offers are the perfect solution for purchasing your dream car or home, says a press release.

Highlighting Sohar Islamic’s Shari’ah compliant Finance Solutions, Salim Khamis Al Maskari, DGM and head of Sohar Islamic said, “To commemorate the Sul-

tanate’s 46th National Day, we wanted to offer something special to our customers, which is why we introduced distinctive financing offers with flexible features and grace periods for both home finance and vehicle finance. Offers like these also reiterate our commitment to providing our customers with the best options and services at profit rates considered amongst the best in the market.”

Auto financing Sohar Islamic offers its clients Shari’ah compliant auto financing solutions for new and used cars for up to 80% of the value; and does so without the need for salary transfers. Furthermore, if the salary is transferred to the bank, joint registration or mortgage is no longer required. Finance is available for a period of up to seven years for

QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

new vehicles and up to five years for used vehicles. The programme prides itself on offering quick processing with initial approvals available within one hour. The programme also offers higher financing limits and very competitive profit rates for both Omanis and Non Omanis starting with 5.69%.

Sohar Islamic’s Construction and Home Finance programme, as with all its other products, is also fully compatible with Islamic Shariah law and provides a comprehensive Islamic finance solution. This product is distinguished with its affordability and flexible terms which offer financing for up to 80% of the property value, with a repayment period of up to 25 years at very competitive profit rates and quick processing time. In addition, preferential profit rates are also provided to customers for the first and second year along with the facility to takeover. If required, instalment deferment options are also available for the convenience of the customer.

“For those looking to invest in a house and purchase a vehicle, we also offer a special bundled solution where, on obtaining approval for the Construction and Home Finance, a pre-approved Auto Finance limit is also provided to the customer. This way, the customer

can take complete advantage of this limited time offer,” added Salim Khamis Al Maskari.

Launched in 2013, Sohar Islamic has a comprehensive range of banking solutions that cover a wide array of retail and corporate financing needs. These include SME banking, auto finance, term deposits, savings accounts, current accounts and construction and housing finance for the bank’s retail customers. For its corporate clients, Sohar Islamic offers construction finance, asset finance, working capital finance, project finance, trade finance, treasury and investment products.

All products and services offered by Sohar Islamic adhere to the highest level of Shari’ah compliance and are specifically designed to meet certain key criteria including a complete segregation of funds, stand alone and independent branches, separate sales staff, a strong Shari’ah Supervisory Board and Shari’ah Audit and Compliance unit, committed management, and the application of the world’s best Islamic banking software.

Sohar Islamic assures compliance with the standards of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI).

C E L E B R AT I O N

Badr Al Samaa Healthcare group marks National Day MUSCAT: Badr Al Samaa Healthcare group celebrated 46th Oman’s National Day at Crystal Suites Hotel recently. The board of directors P.A.Mohammed, V.T.Vinod and Abdul Latheef, senior heads, doctors and staff were present during the function.

The Omani National anthem was played during the occasion. Followed by a cake cutting ceremony, several cultural programmes and the venue were draped with flags and banners to mark the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion directors, Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals, V.T.Vinod, Abdul Latheef and P.A.Mohammed expressed their sincere gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and extended their ear-

G R A D UAT I O N

nest wishes for Almighty’s blessing in granting him good health, happiness and long life, says a press release.

“His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has successfully created a balance in the country where religious, business leaders, along with other members have common interests. Today, Oman is a quiet and peaceful country that maintains friendly ties with all the countries and the nation is proud of the Sultan’s diplomatic efforts,” said Saleh Obaid Humaid Al Rashdi, personnel manager, Badr Al Samaa Badr Al Samaa Healthcare group lauded His Majesty efforts to modernise the country, focusing on building infrastructure and brought connectivity.

ESTEEMED ROLE

KTI holds convocation of ExPGDBM seventh batch

Bank Nizwa shares insight during Ministry of Civil Service training programme MUSCAT: With its successful track-record in delivering worldclass customer service, Bank Nizwa was invited to take part in the recent Quality Management System programme organised by the Ministry of Civil Service.

Talib Al Yarubi, senior manager of Head Office branch at Bank Nizwa delivered a presentation outlining the bank’s expertise in the field of quality management.

The session was attended by customer service specialists representing the public sector, says a press release.

Al Yarubi emphasised the critical role of effective quality management systems in ensuring high levels of customer service.

He went on to explain how Bank

Nizwa’s responsiveness to the needs of its growing customer base is two-fold. On one hand, the bank’s customer service departments are diverse in their service portfolio and include strategically located branches, a mobile branch, a customer care department and a 24/7 call centre service. On the other hand, Al Yarubi explained the importance of digital services in providing customers with efficiency and accessibility through progressive tools.

He also shed light on the importance of not only providing high levels of customer service and satisfaction, but also sustaining them by training employees on raising awareness on the benefits of Islamic finance.

MUSCAT: The seventh batch students of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management - Khimji Training Institute (SIBMKTI) successfully completed their Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (ExPGDBM), an 18-month weekend programme.

A convocation ceremony for the 45 graduating students working with various corporate houses and ministries was held at Crowne Plaza Muscat, recently, says a press release.

Congratulating the graduating students on their achievement, Seema Singh, director, Symbiosis Center for Corporate Education, Pune said, “In today’s competitive world, it is a must to continuously upgrade one’s skills to stay abreast with the rapidly changing business environment. The fructifying partnership of SIBM-KTI has established its consistent track record for being among the best quality management education in the entire region.”

The dream to create a top-end management programme that is tailor-made for working professionals was realized in 2009 with the launch of KTI+SIBM ExPGDBM first batch. Today this course has catapulted the best of management education from India

ISG student to chair MMUN fourth committee

into Oman, a reality. Symbiosis Institute of Business Management at Pune, India is recognised world over as one of the best hubs for management education.

Pankaj Khimji, director of Khimji Ramdas said, “It is heartening to see budding talent reintegrate into the Corporate Mainstream with new educational qualifications that will enable them to lead from the front. On behalf of the entire team, I congratulate the graduates on their great achievement and wish them success in all their future endeavors.”

Nadeem Ahmed, general manager, Khimji Training Institute, “Over the last twenty years KTI has been in the forefront of empowering 20000+ profession-

als transforming individuals through quality education. The vision to bring International management education to Oman was realised with the collaborative efforts of Dr Majumdar, founder of Symbiosis Society and Pankaj Khimji. It is heartening to see SIBM-KTI success story reaping positive results at our student’s work place, making this courses a must-do for middle and top management executives.”

The graduation ceremony evening was graced by Anil Khimji, director of Khimji Ramdas along with Sachin Malhotra, COO, Khimji Ramdas Lifestyle Group, along with Nadeem Ahmed general manager and SIBM-KTI team.

MUSCAT: Anushree Gupte student of Grade 11 Science at Indian School Al Ghubra CBSE International has yet again brought glory to her alma mater having been chosen to Chair the Fourth Committee: Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (SPECPOL) at the Montessori Model United Nations to be held in New York in March 2017. This august event will be held in Mariott Marque, Times Square.

This year MMUN will be simulating the six Committees of the General Assembly and the Security Council rather than UN Agencies such as UNICEF and UNEP. This conference holds special importance as this includes every one of the 193 UN member states as participants.

As the chair of the Fourth Committee, Anushree will head a delegation of 193 members from across the UN member countries.

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ROUND-UP

Bank Sohar lauded for road safety campaign The award, which marks the bank’s 12th award of 2016, was presented to the bank in recognition of the originality, effectiveness and overall success of its ongoing ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ road safety initiative campaign

MUSCAT: Bank Sohar announced that it has recently been awarded the ‘Best Public Awareness Campaign Middle East Road Safety’ award on a regional level and across the banking sector at the recently held IQPC Middle East – Qatar Transport Safety Awards which took place recently at the St. Regis Hotel Doha, Qatar. The award, which marks the bank’s

12th award of 2016, was presented to the bank in recognition of the originality, effectiveness and overall success of its ongoing ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ road safety initiative campaign, says a press release.

The Transport Safety Awards is one of the key highlights of the 5th edition of the Qatar Transport Safety Forum, organised by IQPC and endorsed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Qatar. It was a two-day forum, including the award ceremony, and saw the attendance of a large number of influencers in the area, government entities, municipalities, transport authorities, police, advisories and consultants, and solution providers. Representing Bank Sohar at the event was Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of HR and Corporate Support.

On receiving the award, Munira Abdulnabi Macki commented, “Bank Sohar has always been a

strong supporter of spreading awareness and promoting safer roads within the Sultanate. Our road safety ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ campaign is our most recent one that has been designed to build awareness on the dangers of texting and driving through a catchy jingle. Through it we aim to further educate children on road safety in order for them to influence the driving habits of adults. In addition to further educating them, we also wish to instil safe road habits into these children right from an early age. I am pleased to see that our efforts are being recognised at such a prestigious international forum. It is a clear indication that our campaign is already having a positive impact on the community and its message is successfully being spread across the country and beyond.”

In addition to the road safety jingle and its accompanying video,

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the ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ campaign this year involves numerous activities including road shows, various school visits, and participation in exhibitions, including the recently conducted Traffic Safety Exhibition organised by Royal Oman Police in association with Oman Exhibition Center.

“On behalf of the bank I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Oman Road Safety Association, the Royal Oman Police, and Shabab FM for their continued support of the campaign; which has been an invaluable contribution towards its success,” concluded Munira Abdulnabi Macki.

The Transport Safety Awards was organised to recognise excellence in the field of transport safety in the Middle East region. The awards were presented in nine categories, with entry open to government and private organisations that operate in the Middle East and North Africa region. The awards were independently judged by an expert panel of industry judges.

Following the judging process, Bank Sohar received praise for the originality and effectiveness of the ‘Road Safety ‘Rakiz Wa Sooq’ campaign and accompanying jingle; and was subsequently presented with the ‘Best Road Safety Awareness Campaign’ award.

BRIEFS

Pakistan School Buraimi celebrates National Day

BURAIMI: Pakistan School Buraimi celebrated the 46th National day Oman with great devotion. The school decoration conveyed a message of veneration for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said and love for Oman. The special guests of the day Dr Musa Ali Muhammad Al Hinai and Dr Sultan Khamis Al Yahyai from the Ministry of Education, Al Buraimi were received by the school principal Samina Khan. In her welcome address, the principal Samina Khan expressed her profound love and respect for this peaceful, heavenly and cordial land. She applauded the sagacious leadership of His Majesty. The enchanting and appealing performances of the students of different classes made the celebration astounding and worth remembering.

Haya Water celebrates 46th Oman National Day

D A I LY P R I Z E D R AW

Ahlibank announces MyHassad daily winners of OMR1000 MUSCAT: ahlibank announced the names of the MyHassad daily prize draw winners, Rana Ahmed Redha Said from Seeb branch, Khalid Mohammed Abdullah Al Araimi from Sur branch and Ali Mohammed Ali Al Qasimi, were

the lucky winners of OMR1,000 each for the week.

MyHassad savings account continues to successfully satisfy the existing customers and attract new ones. MyHassad Saving Scheme was introduced in July

RECRUIT QUOTES If you can dream it, you can do it.

— Walt Disney A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.

— Sidney Greenberg If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done — Thomas Jefferson Dont stop until you are proud — Anonymous

2008 as an extension of the bank’s tradition of product innovation.

Opening MyHassad Saving account is simple and easy. Customers need only to open their MyHassad account with OMR100 for their chance to win OMR1000 in

the next working day’s draw.

Further enhancements in March 2009 allows customers to participate in the OMR10,000 monthly draw, by maintaining a minimum OMR250 during the month.

MUSCAT: Haya Water celebrated National Day at the headquarter of the company in the presence of the leadership team, staff and guests. Everyone have expressed their love and loyalty towards their country and their leader. Eng. Hussain bin Hassan Abdul Hussain, CEO of Haya Water congratulated all staff on this occasion and presented the great achievements in the prosperous era of the Oman’s Renaissance leader. We pray to God to return this occasion and other similar occasions and His Majesty enjoying health and wellness and Omani people enjoying pride, success and glory.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

ROUND-UP

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Bank Muscat bags Best Private Bank award

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BUSINESS EXPOSURE

The Private Banking services include conventional accounts, term deposits, currency exchange, domestic and international transfers, online banking and regular asset monitoring

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat has won the Best Private Bank in Oman award. The prestigious award was announced by leading global finance magazine Global Finance.

The selection of the world’s best private banks awards for 2017 was done on the basis of market research, input from industry analysts, executives and other users of private banking services, says a press release.

Abdulnasir Al Raisi, DGM – Premier Banking, said, “Bank Muscat Private is proud to win the Best Private bank in Oman award. We acknowledge and dedicate this unique achievement to Bank Muscat Private clients for their valuable patronage in helping win this honour in recognition of excellence in private banking service.”

Al Raisi added, “Bank Muscat is proud to have taken private

banking to new levels, offering end-to-end wealth management solutions by identifying global opportunities, providing prudent investments and implementing insightful strategies to deliver global expertise to high net worth clients.

We remain committed to preserve, secure and grow wealth, offering an exceptional breadth and depth of wealth management solutions and investment options across geographies and asset classes, directly as well as through tie-ups with global partners of repute.”

With global financial expertise and experience, the bank’s team of wealth experts serve as trusted advisors to provide investment solutions that are tailored to meet the present and future needs of clients. The strategy reflects the bank’s commitment to expand innovative services to Premier Banking clients and provide a distinct banking experience.

Dedicated wealth advisors work closely with each Bank Muscat Private client to evaluate personal financial objectives.

The process begins by outlining goals and shortlisting innovative instruments to achieve the best long-term growth on assets. Right through the various phases of the journey through wealth, the bank ensures that innovative strategies accommodate the changing needs of clients.

Bank Muscat Private provides a wide range of wealth management solutions, including investment, wealth structuring, advisory and banking across multiple jurisdictions around the globe and diverse asset classes. The wealth management strategy is built on the key pillars of relationship, a wide array of investment products and niche banking services.

The global reach offers Private banking clients the advantage of investing in different geographies and across different asset classes like mutual funds, equity, fixed income, real estate and commodities. Dedicated experts analyse the list of identified investments in detail and monitor activity in each asset class and sector.

Structured investment solutions are customised according to personalised needs of clients.

For discretionary portfolio management services, wealth advisors work with clients to define a wealth management model that respects individual risk profile while a dedicated portfolio manager delivers a tailor-made solution for regional and global markets.

The referral services offered by Bank Muscat Private stem from tie-ups with global partners of repute for offshore banking, direct real estate and insurance services.

The Private Banking services include conventional accounts, term

deposits, currency exchange, domestic and international transfers, online banking and regular asset monitoring. Bank Muscat Private clients have access to exclusive credit card, debit card and cheque books. Luxury car and yacht finance is also available exclusively for Private clients who are also eligible for competitive rates for deposits, loans and foreign exchange.

Private banking clients enjoy 1 per cent cash back rewards on all transactions made through Private Banking Visa Infinite credit card.

The card also facilitates exclusive Harrods Black Card membership and Hilton Honors Gold Membership, and an unlimited access to 500+ airport lounges globally, multi-trip travel insurance and 24 hours concierge service.

The exclusive rewards and benefits lined up for Private Banking customers include high value al Mazyona prizes. The bank understands customer expectations as al Mazyona 2016 scheme offering OMR10 million in prize money is an incredible incentive for maintaining a healthy savings habit.

Private Banking customers are eligible to participate in all al Mazyona prize draws, especially the upcoming year-end draw offering OMR1 million to be shared by two customers who will receive OMR500,000 each.

Zubair SEC members attend The Owners Forum Middle East MUSCAT: A number of Zubair Small Enterprises Centre (Zubair SEC) members were invited to attend a part of the daytwo proceedings of The Owners Forum Middle East 2016 which was hosted by Al Zubair family at Bait Al Zubair in Muscat.

The Owners Forum is a trusted circle of leading family enterprises committed to sharing their expertise and global networks. It connects leading family enterprises in economic cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Early on in the day, Zubair SEC made a presentation on social entrepreneurship in Oman, featuring three social enterprises and socially-responsible businesses - members of Zubair SEC - that stood out for their social impact in the Sultanate: The White Hands Centre for Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation, founded by Aisha Ba’aboud; The Capoera Training Centre founded by Mahmoud Al Oraimi; and Meshan Date Sweets founded by Wafa and Shatha Al Jabri.

The event provided Zubair SEC members a platform to gain exposure to industry insights, ac-

cess to global expertise, and opportunity to make international business connections.

Four international social entrepreneurs from United States of America, Canada and France, were featured at the forum, introducing their projects and the social impact they are achieving in various countries.

Commenting on the event, Paul Dietze, Co-Founder of The Owners Forum, said “we were very impressed with the Zubair SEC members who we interacted with during the event and congratulate Al Zubair family for their very important Zubair SEC initiative.

Abdullah Al Zubair said, “We were delighted to host The Owners Forum on the second day of their agenda. Featuring some of Zubair SEC members, especially social entrepreneurs, echoed very well amongst the audience who were very interested in the social impact of business, and were impressed by the effort that The Zubair Corporation has been putting towards the development of small enterprises in the Sultanate.”

NOBEL CAUSE

Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group distributes financial aid to needy MUSCAT Reaching out to the needy, Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group, one of the most trusted names in healthcare in the Middle East, handed out financial aid to various community organisations at a glittering function held at the Qurum amphitheatre last week.

K.T.Rabeeullah, chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group, distributed 20 per cent of the net profit from Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Centre-Al Khuwair (for the month of October) in the presence of Indramani Pandey, the ambassador of India to the Sultanate, on the sidelines of a mega musical evening held at the Qurum amphitheatre, says a press release.

Beneficiaries included an orphanage, an underprivileged family and a poor village girl, all in Kerala. Muscat based social activist Khalid Kunnummal received INR500,000 on behalf of the

orphanage, while another community worker Noushad Kakeri received financial packages of INR400,000 and INR24,000 on behalf of the poor family and the girl respectively.

Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group is all set to establish itself as a key player in the Sultanate’s healthcare sector with multiple projects underway across wilayats. These include hospitals in Al Khoud,

Ruwi, Amerat, Bausher and Barka, and a visa medical centre and lab in Ghubrah, scheduled to be opened during 2016 to 2018. These hospitals are expected to bring about a healthcare revolution in

the Sultanate in terms of quality medical care, affordability and social commitment.

Beyond these, the group will also be entering the retail shopping and travel and tours sectors with two hypermarkets in Al Khuwair and Ghobra; and travel and tours offices in Ruwi, Ghobra, Amerat, Barka and Al Hail over the next two years.

A restaurant is also planned in Ruwi, and is set to open shortly.

Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group has already launched the Shifa Al Jazeera Privilege Medical Card project, under which as many as 200,000 privilege healthcare cards are to be distributed among Omanis and expatriates.

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AUSTRALIA STOP ROT WITH CONVINCING VICTORY >C2

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ROSBERG RULES AS HAMILTOBN WINS Germany’s Nico Rosberg celebrated his first Formula One world championship on Sunday after finishing runner-up in a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix won by Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton amid accusations of ‘dirty tricks’. >C3

India recover after England fightback

TENNIS

Ashwin enhanced IN THE FINAL: Fatma Al Nabhani, left, and Sara Al Balushi.

Oman enter final at Arab Tennis Championships

his new-found batting reputation with an unbeaten 57 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja

MUSCAT: Oman, led by Fatma Al Nabhani, entered the final of the team event at the ongoing Arab Tennis Championships in Rabat, Morocco on Sunday.

In a closely-contested semifinal tie, Oman overcame hosts Morocco for 2-1 to book a place in the final, where the Sultanate squad were scheduled play Tunisia. The result assured Oman of a medal in the team championship to add to the women’s singles gold and women’s doubles bronze earlier.

Oman began their semifinal against Morocco in style with

Fatma Al Nabhani defeating Lilia Hadab 6-1, 6-4 in the first singles.

In the second singles, though, Oman suffered a reverse as young Mariam Al Balushi was handed a 6-1, 6-0 defeat by Lamia Aziz.

In the deciding doubles rubber, Fatma combined well with Sara Al Balushi to subdue the challenge of Diae El Jerdi and Salma Ziouti for a 6-4, 4-6, 10-4 victory and a place in the gold medal match.

Fatma had earlier won the singles gold medal while she also won the women’s doubles bronze in the company of Sara Al Balushi.

HM’S CUP HOCKEY

Ahli-Sidab, Seeb on top MUSCAT: Defending champions Ahli-Sidab joined arch-rivals Seeb on top of Muscat Group after a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Saham in His Majesty’s Cup Hockey Championship on Saturday.

The victory helps Ahli-Sidab take their tally to seven points from three outings. Seeb, who were beaten 3-2 by Bausher, are also on seven points but have played one match more than title holders.

Bausher, who won two of the three matches they have played so far, are in third place on six points. They are followed by Sohar (3 from 3), Saham (3 from 4) and Quriyat (3 from 3) in that order based on the goals difference.

The action in the Muscat Group resumes on December 1 when Quriyat face Bausher and Sohar take on Ahli-Sidab.

Al Nasr lead Meanwhile, Al Nasr, who thumped Al Ittihad 5-0 on Saturday, are leading the Salalah Group with nine points earned from four matches.

Salalah Club are currently in second place with seven points from three matches. They are followed by Dhofar (4 from 3) and winless Al Ittihad.

In a crucial match of the group scheduled for Monday, Al Nasr take on Dhofar.

was batting on 31 at stumps with India trailing by 12 runs.

MOHALI: Half-centuries by Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin kept India on course for a first innings lead after England made a spirited comeback on day two of the third Test on Sunday.

Having bowled out England for 283 earlier in the morning, India looked in charge at 148-2 at tea before Adil Rashid’s double strike jolted the hosts who lost three wickets in 19 balls to slump to 156-5.

Ashwin enhanced his new-found batting reputation with an unbeaten 57 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 31 at stumps with India trailing by 12 runs.

“I’d say we’ve recovered really well and we’ve an advantage because two of our all-rounders are playing,” Pujara told reporters.

“We’d be looking to get a lead of around 75-100 runs... As you saw in the last game, (number nine) Jayant Yadav can also bat.

“Our lower order has been contributing in all Test matches and we expect them to contribute tomorrow as well,” Pujara added.

Paceman Mohammed Shami claimed the last two English wickets earlier in the morning as the tourists added 15 runs to their

SPIRITED KNOCK: Indian batsmen Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja walk off the field after the end of the second day’s play of third Test match in Mohali. – PTI

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings A. Cook c P. Patel b R. Ashwin 27 H. Hameed c Rahane b U. Yadav 9 J. Root lbw b Yadav 15 M. Ali c Vijay b Shami 16 J. Bairstow lbw b Yadav 89 B. Stokes st P. Patel b Jadeja 29 J. Buttler c Kohli b Jadeja 43 C. Woakes b U. Yadav 25 A. Rashid c P. Patel b Shami 4 G. Batty lbw b Shami 1 J. Anderson not out 13 Extras (b-8, lb-3, nb-1) 12 Total (all out, 93.5 overs) 283 Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-51, 3-51, 4-87, 5-144, 6-213, 7-258, 8-266, 9-268, 10-283 Bowling: M. Shami 21.5-5-63-3, U. Yadav 16-4-58-2, J. Yadav 15-5-49-2, R. Ashwin 18-1-43-1, R. Jadeja 23-4-59-2 (nb-1) India 1st innings: M. Vijay c Bairstow b Stokes 12

overnight score before being dismissed for 283.

Murali Vijay walked out with Parthiv Patel, his third opening partner of the series, to lead India’s reply and it turned out to be an eventful yet brief stay for the right-hander. Vijay survived an obstructing-the-field appeal, was dropped by Jos Buttler and the batsman eventually walked off, nicking a harmless Ben Stokes delivery even though umpire Chris

P. Patel lbw b Rashid 42 C. Pujara c Woakes b Rashid 51 V. Kohli c Bairstow b Stokes 62 A. Rahane lbw b Rashid 0 K.Nair run out (Buttler) 4 R. Ashwin not out 57 R. Jadeja not out 31 Extras (b-8, lb-3, nb-1) 12 Total: (for 6 wkts; 84 overs) 271 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-73, 3-148, 4-152, 5-156, 6-204.

Bowling: Anderson 16-3-36-0, Woakes 15-547-0, Ali 9-1-19-0, Rashid 24-4-81-3, Stokes 15-2-48-2, Batty 5-0-29-0.

To bat: J. Yadav, M. Shami, U. Yadav Bowling: J. Anderson 16-3-36-0, C. Woakes 15-5-47-0, M. Ali 9-1-19-0 (nb-1), A. Rashid 24-4-81-3, B. Stokes 15-2-48-2, G. Batty 5-0-29-0 Umpires: M. Erasmus & C. Gaffaney TV umpire: K. Dharmasena

Gaffaney did not spot the nick. Patel, by contrast, looked determined to make the most of his chance return to the Indian side after eight years in the wilderness.

Middle order collapse The diminutive 31-year-old, replacing injured regular wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, smacked six boundaries in his 42 before Adil Rashid dismissed him leg-before. Pujara and Kohli then

joined forces to frustrate the tourists with the steady accumulation of 75 runs for the third wicket.

Dropped on 35 by Jonny Bairstow, Pujara went on to make 51 before falling to a Rashid longhop and his dismissal sparked off a middle order collapse.

Rashid, in his next over, trapped the scoreless Ajinkya Rahane legbefore with a googly and Karun Nair’s test debut was soured after his almighty mix-up with Kohli.

Buttler was outstanding at backward point, diving to stop the ball and then throwing down the stumps to send back Nair for four.

Kohli showed tremendous restraint for major part of his knock, especially as England attacked him with a heavily-packed offside, but he eventually fell to a soft dismissal, edging Stokes behind the wicket. Kohli’s 62 included nine boundaries.

Ashwin hit eight boundaries in his unbeaten knock, having raised 67 runs with Jadeja for the seventh wicket. “271 for six, we’ll take that at the end of the day. We bowled exceptionally well as a team,” leg-spinner Rashid, who claimed 3-81, said.

“We stuck to our plans and we got rewards at the end session.

They got a little partnership but you know it happens in cricket.

But we come back tomorrow and knock them over.”. - Reuters

C2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

SPORTS

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TEST SERIES

New Zealand ahead after rainy day against Pakistan HAMILTON: Heavy rain washed out much of the third day’s play of the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand on Sunday, with the hosts facing just one ball in their second innings before bad light ended proceedings.

Mohammed Amir sent down one delivery to Jeet Raval before umpires Sundaram Ravi and Si-

mon Fry took the players off the field with two scheduled hours of play remaining at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Heavy rain then swept across the ground.

New Zealand had a 55-run lead on the first innings after Pakistan’s Babar Azam had come agonisingly close to a first Test century, stranded on 90 not out when Imran Khan

became Tim Southee’s sixth victim of the innings. The visitors had resurrected their reply in what little play was available, resuming on 76 for five before Babar combined with Sarfraz Ahmed in a 74-run partnership and for 67 runs with Sohail Khan to get up to 216.

They had initially slumped to 51 for five late on Saturday.

Rain had earlier forced the players off 10 minutes before lunch but they were able to return after the break for one over before a heavy downpour swept across the ground and washed out the rest of the middle session with Pakistan 201 for eight. That they were able to get anywhere near New Zealand’s total of 271 was down to

the counter-attacking approach adopted by Sarfraz and Sohail.

Sohail, also refused to take a backwards step and made a brisk 37, which included two sixes from successive Wagner deliveries.

Sohail was caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Southee before Wahab Riaz was trapped in front by Colin de Grandhomme for

a five-ball duck. Southee quickly wrapped up the final two wickets when they returned in the final session to give the 27-year-old figures of six for 80, his fifth fivewicket haul in Tests.

Brief scores: New Zealand 1st innings 271. Pakistan 1st innings 216 (B. Azam 90 not out, Southee 6 for 80). - Reuters

PINK-BALL TEST

Australia stop rot with convincing victory ADELAIDE: Australia cruised to a seven-wicket consolation victory in the day-night third Test on Sunday after dismissing South Africa for 250 and knocking off the 127 runs for victory for the loss of three wickets before dinner on day four.

There was a minor scare when, with 63 runs still required, Dave Warner was run-out for 47 and Usman Khawaja dismissed for a duck inside one over but there was never any real doubt that Australia would avoid a first ever 3-0 sweep on home soil.

Opener Matt Renshaw, one of three new caps brought into the Australia side after heavy defeats in the first two Tests, scored 34 not out and brought the hosts level after his captain Steve Smith was dismissed for 40 with only two runs required.

It was left to another of the debutants, Peter Handscomb, to score the winning run with a single to midwicket.

It was Australia’s second pink ball victory after they beat New Zealand in the inaugural test in Adelaide last year but more importantly ended a run of five de-

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st innings: 259 for 9 decl (F. du Plessis 118no; J. Hazlewood 4-68) Australia 1st innings: 383 (U. Khawaja 145, S. Smith 59, P. Handscomb 54, M. Starc 53) South Africa 2nd innings: S. Cook b Starc 104 D. Elgar c Smith b Starc 0 H. Amla c Wade b Hazlewood 45 J. Duminy b Lyon 26 F. du Plessis c Handscomb b Starc 12 T. Bavuma c Smith b Lyon 21 K. Abbott lbw b Lyon 0 Q. de Kock lbw b Bird 5 V. Philander lbw b Starc 17 K. Rabada c Wade b Hazlewood 7 T. Shamsi not out 0 Extras (lb-10, nb-3) 13 Total (all out, 85.2 overs) 250 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-82, 3-131, 4-154, 5-190, 6-194, 7-201, 8-235, 9-250,10-250

feats. “I’m very pleased,” Smith said. “It was obviously a disappointing way to start the series, we’ve been outplayed by South Africa, but I’m proud of the way the boys came out and turned things around and showed a bit of fight, resilience and character. It was a long time coming.”

Bowling: M. Starc 23.2-5-80-4 (nb-1), J. Hazlewood 20-8-41-2, J. Bird 20-3-54-1 (nb-2), N. Lyon 21-4-60-3, D. Warner 1-0-5-0 Australia 2nd innings: M. Renshaw not out 34 D. Warner run out (Bavuma, de Kock) 47 U. Khawaja lbw b Shamsi 0 S. Smith c de Kock b Abbott 40 P. Handscomb not out 1 Extras (lb-4, nb-1) 5 Total (for 3 wickets, 40.5 overs) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-64, 3-125 Did not bat: N. Maddinson, M. Wade, M. Starc, J. Hazlewood, N. Lyon, J. Bird Bowling: K. Abbott 10-2-26-1, V. Philander 7-2-20-0, K. Rabada 9-4-28-0 (nb-1), T. Shamsi 14.5-4-49-1 Umpires: R. Kettleborough & N. Llong TV umpire: Aleem Dar Match referee: Andy Pycroft

While the success of the overhaul of the batting line-up remains largely moot ahead of the visit of Pakistan, the strength of Australian pace bowling is not in doubt. Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc earlier finished with figures of 4-80 as Australia removed the last four South African batsmen

for the addition of 56 runs to their overnight tally.

South Africa had resumed on 194-6 but lost Quinton de Kock in the third over of the day before the new ball accounted for Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and finally opener Stephen Cook.

Cook, under pressure after making a minor contribution to the wins in the first two tests, eked out his second test century off 235 balls, bringing up the milestone by pulling Josh Hazlewood to the square leg for his eighth four.

He was unable to add any more in the five further deliveries he faced before Starc got one to nip back in and bowl him for 104 to bring an end to the innings.

“It’s pretty disappointing to lose the Test match but it’s hard to look past the fact that we’ve played great cricket,” said South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who has overseen a third successive series triumph for the Proteas in Australia.

“You don’t just come here and beat them, you have to play some really good cricket, so to have done that over the majority of the tour makes me a really satisfied captain.” — Reuters FOOTBALL

Sanchez’s double lifts Arsenal LONDON: Two goals from Alexis Sanchez and another from Theo Walcott ended Bournemouth’s brave resistance at the Emirates as Arsenal won 3-1 to stay in touch with the Premier League leaders on Sunday.

The visitors endured a horrific start with two players booked inside seven minutes and a goal conceded after 12 when Steve Cook botched a back pass to his keeper to let in Sanchez for the easiest of openers.

Callum Wilson equalised from the penalty spot after being bundled over by Nacho Monreal for Bournemouth’s first-ever goal against Arsenal.

Arsenal regained the ascendancy after the break when Monreal made amends by returning Sanchez’s pass across goal for Walcott to head his sixth league goal of the season.

Sanchez completed the victory with a close-range shot in injury time. - Reuters

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

C3

SPORTS TRI-SERIES

Sri Lanka thump Zimbabwe to win title BULAWAYO: Upal Tharanga scored an unbeaten half century to steer Sri Lanka to a comfortable six wicket win over Zimbabwe in the final of the triangular one-day series on Sunday.

Sri Lanka finished 166 for four, with 75 balls remaining, in reply to Zimbabwe’s lowly total of 160. The home side were skittled out in just 36.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Tharanga, together with Kusal Mendis, steadied the Sri Lanka innings after they lost their first three wickets for 42, including opener Dhananjaya de Silva, trapped leg before wicket with the first ball of their innings.

Tharanga, who hit a four to tie the game and then a six to win it, finished 57 not out off 98 balls.

Mendis, caught at deep square leg, also made 57 off 72 balls.

Zimbabwe had changed their opening pairing in a bid for victory but Hamilton Masakadza and Peter Moor make no impact and wickets fell at regular intervals after a brief interruption for rain. Tarisai Musakanda top scored with 36 on his ODI debut.

Asela Gunaratne took three wickets for just 10 runs to wrap up Zimbabwe’s tail.

Zimbabwe had upset the West Indies on Friday to book their place in the final. - Reuters SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE Masakadza lbw b N. Kulasekara 10 Moor c Pathirana b Lakmal 1 Musakanda c de Silva b Vandersay 36 Ervine c & b Vandersay 25 Raza lbw b Pathirana 5 Williams c D. de Silva b Gunaratne 35 Waller c & b Pathirana 14 Cremer c K. Mendis b Vandersay 9 Tiripano not out 10 Chisoro c Dickwella b Gunaratne 5 Vitori lbw b Gunaratne 0 Extras (lb-3, nb-1, w-6) 10 Total (all out, 36.3 overs) 160 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-19, 3-72, 4-85, 5-89, 6-108, 7-133, 8-155, 9-160,10-160 Bowling: N. Kulasekara 7-0-30-1 (w-4), S. Lakmal 6-0-23-1 (w-1), S. Pathirana 7-0-26-2, D. Shanaka 2-0-180, J. Vandersay 10-0-50-3 (nb-1, w-1), A. Gunaratne 4.3-0-10-3 SRI LANKA D. de Silva lbw b Vitori 0 K. Perera c Waller b Vitori 14 N. Dickwella b Vitori 16 K. Mendis c Williams b Cremer 57 U. Tharanga not out 57 A. Gunaratne not out 16 Extras (lb-2, w-4) 6 Total (for 4 wickets, 37.3 overs) 166 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-29, 3-42, 4-117 Did not bat: D. Shanaka, S. Pathirana, N. Kulasekara, J. Vandersay, S. Lakmal Bowling: B. Vitori 9-0-52-3 (w-1), D. Tiripano 2-0-14-0, T. Chisoro 8-0-31-0 (w-2), G. Cremer 10-2-32-1, S. Williams 6-1-22-0 (w-1), S. Raza 2.3-0-13-0 Umpires: R. Illingworth & J. Matibiri TV umpire: Michael Gough Match referee: Javagal Srinath Result: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets

Rosberg rules as Hamilton wins up his 10th win of the season, and fourth in a row, but was powerless to the championship

TIME TO CELEBRATE: Mercedes’ Formula One driver and world champion Nico Rosberg, left, of Germany shakes hands with Lewis Hamilton of Britain, who won in Abu Dhabi. – Reuters

outcome

ABU DHABI: Germany’s Nico Rosberg celebrated his first Formula One world championship on Sunday after finishing runnerup in a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix won by Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton amid accusations of ‘dirty tricks’.

After all the suspense and expectation, Hamilton chalked up his 10th win of the season, and fourth in a row, but was powerless to do anything about the championship outcome despite making every effort. His attempt to push Rosberg into the clutches of those behind him, by deliberately slowing the pace in the closing laps to the concern of team bosses, produced a nail-biting finish with the top four separated by just 1.6 seconds.

“Lewis, this is Paddy we need you to pick up the pace to win this race,” the team’s technical head Paddy Lowe told the Briton over the team radio. “Right now, I’m

OSA all set for board elections MUSCAT: The Oman Swimming Association (OSA) will host the the board elections for the 2016-20 term at City Seasons from 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

List of candidates: Chairman: Taha Al Kishry (Ahli-Sidab), Nasser Al Alawi (Al Talee’a). Vice-chairman: Khalid Al Shuhi (Kasab), Tariq Al Hashmi (Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi). General Secretary: Qais Al Zakwani (Al Khabourah), Khalid Al Dahli (Ahli-Sid-

Hamilton chalked

do anything about

SWIMMING

losing the world championship so I’m not bothered if I’m going to lose the race,” replied Hamilton, who crossed the line 0.4 seconds ahead of Rosberg with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel third and a further 0.4 behind.

The frosty atmosphere between the pair as they waited for the podium ceremony spoke volumes, with Rosberg hoisting the sport’s 86-year-old commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone into the air but ignoring Hamilton.

There was minimal eye contact between them, let alone a handshake. The hug, the handshakes and a word of congratulation, eventually came on the podium.

“That was definitely not the most enjoyable race I’ve ever had... really not very enjoyable those last laps,” said Rosberg in podium interviews conducted by former F1 racer David Coulthard.

“I’m glad it’s over, and I am ecstatic. It was really intense and tough out there.”

Rosberg, who had needed only

to finish in the top three to be sure of the title, settled into second at the start as Hamilton streaked clear but the Briton’s strategy was immediately apparent.

He made little effort to build up a commanding lead, knowing that his only hope of becoming Britain’s first four-times champion depended on denying Rosberg clear air and allowing rivals to get close enough to pass. “It was tricky at the end there with Lewis playing some dirty tricks,” commented Vettel over the radio.

Rosberg, who becomes his country’s third champion after Michael Schumacher and Vettel, held his nerve and position just as he has throughout a season in which he has insisted on taking one race at a time.

As he crossed the line, the son of 1982 title-winner Keke Rosberg let out a whoop of relief and joy as he became only the second son of a world champion, after Britain’s Damon Hill, to take the crown. — Reuters

ab). Treasurer: Ahmed Mubarak (Suwaiq), Ashraf Al Harbi (Quriyat), Mumtaz Al Balushi (Oman). Members: Abdulmunim Al Alawi (Jalan), Mohammed Salim (Baushere), Salim Al Alawi (Al Kamil Wa Al Wafi), Sami Al Riyami (Nizwa), Dr Nasser Al Aufi (Bahla), Ahmed Sulaiman (Samayil), Said Masoud (Al Musannah), Salim Al Balushi (Bidiya), Qasim Al Ajmi (Sohar), Ali Al Sheedi (Saham), Malallah Al Busaidi (Oman) and Ahmed Abdulhakim (Al Nasr).

C4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016

SPORTS TENNIS

Vivek wins U-12 crown at ISC tennis tourney MUSCAT: Indomitable Vivek Kolluru bagged the boys under-12 singles title at the Falcon Insurance Company-sponsored Annual Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC).

The top seeded left-hander dominated the final from start to finish to wrap up the title in style with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Vatsal Manikandan.

Much was expected of Vatsal after his heroics in the semifinal where he had edged past the second seed.

Vivek was confidence personified and hardly gave anything away. The hard-work put in by Vatsal was overshadowed by the resolute and composed manner in which Vivek went about accumulating his points.

Vatsal did challenge Vivek’s serves on a couple of occasions but Vivek always found a way of getting out of trouble.

On the winning side Vatsal however was on the winning side when he made it to the semifinals of the boys under-10 singles competition.

In the quarterfinal, the top seed demolished R. Abhinav 6-0.

In other quarterfinal matches of the boys under-10 singles, second seed Praneeth Raj showed no mer-

Al Turki, Enhance win In Premier Division T20, Al Turki defeated Raha CT by

ENHANCE STARS: Fayas Bhatt, Sanuth Ismail, Mehran Khan and Babar.

seven wickets while Enhance accounted for Passage to India in a six-wicket win

FINALISTS: Vivek Kolluru, right, and Vatsal Manikandan.

cy in his 6-0 victory over Advit Kapil while third seed Rohan Sebastian was put in an impressive 6-0 win over Mikhail Sair but fourth seed R. Rohit had to fight hard for

his place in the semifinal.

Rohit defeated Shantanu Sriram 6-4. At one stage, Shantanu rallied from 1-4 down to level at four-all before Rohit raced away to victory.

MUSCAT: Al Turki recorded a seven-wicket victory over Raha CT in a Muscat Pharmacy and Stores-sponsored Premier Division T20 match on Saturday.

Batting first, Raha were restricted to 98 for eight in 20 overs.

Khurram Khan top scored with 48. Rohit Malik and Jay Odedara claimed three wickets each for Al Turki. In reply, Al Turki scored 99 for three in 18.3 overs. Gulam Shaikh top scored with an unbeaten 41.

C DIVISION: OCT Al Hail A after their win over Attic Outdoors.

D DIVISION: Carillion Alawi celebrate their win over Sayarti.

G DIVISION: OCT Mabellah players pose for a group photo.

Brief scores: Raha 98 for 8 in 20 overs (Khurram Khan 48; Jay Odedera 3/13) lost to Al Turki 99 for 3 in 18.1 overs (Gulam Shaikh 41 n.o). Points: Raha CT – 0, Al Turki – 4.

Passage to India lose In another Premier Division T20 match, Enhance Oman defeated Passage to India (PTI) by six wickets. Batting first, PTI put on 109/10 in 18.5 overs. Shoaib Shabbir top scored with 37. Ahmad Fayas Bhatt claimed three wickets for Enhance. In reply, Enhance Oman scored 112 for four in 17.4 overs. Sanuth Ismail top scored with 44.

Brief scores: Passage to India 109 in 18.5 overs (Shoaib Shabbir 37; Fayas Bhatt 3/21) lost to Enhance Oman 112 for four in 17.4 overs (Sanuth Ismail 44).

Points: PTI CT – 0, Enhance Oman – 4.

Easy for OCT Al Hail A In a C Division match, OCT Al Hail A defeated Attic Outdoors by 92 runs. Batting first, OCT Al Hail A scored a 201 for three in 20 overs.

Khalid Moosa, Abdul Ghani and Shuaib Al Balushi scored 52, 53 and 58 respectively. In reply, Attic Outdoors were restricted to 110 for nine in 20 overs. Mohammed Shahid top scored with 51. Shoaib claimed four wickets for Al Hail A. Brief scores: OCT Al Hail A 201 for 3 in 20 overs (Khalid Moosa 52, Abdul Ghani 53, Shuaib 58) bt Attic Outdoors 110 for 9 in 20 overs (Mohammed Shahid 51; Shuaib 4/18). Points: Attic Outdoors – 0, OCT Al Hail A – 3.

Carillion Alawi win In a D Division match, Carillion Alawi defeated Sayarti by four wickets. Batting first, Sayarti were 140 all out in 18.2 overs. Balachandran top scored with 46.

Issam Al Balushi claimed three wickets for Carillion. In reply, Carillion scored 141 for six in 15.1 overs. Yousuf Rahim top scored with 39. Ruwan Rupasinhe claimed three wickets for Sayarti.

Brief scores: Sayarti 140 in 18.2 overs (Issam Al Balushi 3/20) lost to Carillion Alawi 141 for 6 in 15.1 overs (Yousuf Rahim 39; Ruwan 3/28).

Points: Sayarti – 0, Carillion Alawi – 3.

Mott MacDonald win thriller In another D Division match, Mott MacDonald overcame Bab Al Rayan for a two-run victory.

Batting first, Mott MacDonald put on 160 for nine in 20 overs. Sagar Ingle top scored with 41. Syed Arfan claimed three wickets for Bab. In reply, Bab Al Rayan were bowled out for 158 in 19.3 overs.

Savinraj and Kazi claimed three wickets for Mott MacDonald.

Brief scores: Mott MacDonald 160 for 9 in 20 overs (Sagar Ingle 41; Syed Arfan 3/32) bt Bab Al Rayan 158 in 19.3 overs (Karim Qader 39; Kazi Muzammil 3/17). Points: Mott Macdonald – 2, Bab Al Rayan – 0.

H DIVISION: Douglas OHI after their win over NBO Munz.

HEROES: Murad and Ahok.

TOP PERFORMER: Ruban Durai.

Bahihi beat Abu Maather In an E Division match, Bahihi registered a 17-run win over Abu Maather. Batting first, Bahihi scored 171 all out in 19 overs. Ashok Patel top scored with 54. Rafique and Sohail claimed three wickets each for Abu Maather. In reply, Abu Maather were bowled out for 154 in 18.3 overs. Murad Khan claimed four wickets for Bahihi.

Brief scores: Ahli Bank 148 for 9 in 20 overs (Essa Al Balushi 33; Lijo 3/20) lost to Majees 154 for 8 in 20 overs (Manumon 46; Haris Alam 4/32).

Points: Ahli Bank – 0, Majees – 2.

Brief scores: Bahihi 171 in 19 overs (Ashok Patel 54) bt Abu Maather 154 in 18.3 overs (Murad Khan 4/21). Points: Bahihi – 2, Abu Maather – 0.

RAY International shine In an F Division match, RAY International defeated Mecamac Royals by eight wickets. Batting first, Mecamac Royals were 146 all out in 19.1 overs. Ruban Durai and Muni Raj claimed two wickets each for RAY. In reply, RAY raced to 148 for the loss of just two wickets in 11 overs. Ruban Durai top scored with an unbeaten 97.

Brief scores: Mecamac Royals 146 in 19.1 overs lost to RAY 148 for 2 in 11 overs (Ruban Durai 97 n.o). Points: Mecamac Royals – 0, RAY – 3.

OCT Mabellah down QBG In a G Division match, OCT Mabellah defeated QBG by 17 runs.

Batting first, OCT Mabellah scored 142 for nine in 20 overs.

Salim Ismail top scored with 50. In reply, QBG put on 125 for nine in 18.2 overs. Aditya Dalvi top scored with 35. Younis Murad claimed five wickets for OCT Mabellah.

Brief scores: OCT Mabellah 142 for 9 in 20 overs (Salim Ismail 50) bt QBG 125 for 9 in 18.2 overs (Aditya Dalvi 35; Younis Murad 5/21). Points: QBG – 0, OCT Mabellah – 2.

Majees defeat Ahli Bank In an H Division match, Majees defeated Ahli Bank by six wickets. Batting first, Ahli Bank scored 148 for nine in 20 overs. Essa Al Balushi top scored with 33. Lijo Johnson claimed three wickets for Majees. In reply, Majees scored 154 for eight in 20 overs.

Manumon top scored with 46.

Haris Alam claimed four wickets for Ahli Bank.

Douglas OHI humble NBO In another H Division match, Douglas OHI defeated NBO Munz by 168 runs. Batting first, Douglas OHI scored 225 for six in 20 overs.

Abhishek Pai top scored with 62. In reply, NBO Munz were bowled out for 57 in 11.5 overs. Viplav Kumar and Vinod Kumar claimed three wickets each for Douglas OHI. Brief scores: Douglas OHI 225 for 6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Pai 62) bt NBO Munz 57 in 11.5 overs (Vinod Kumar 2/2, Viplav Kumar 3/12). Points: Douglas OHI – 3, NBO Munz – 0.

HFP edge Shanfari Group In a thrilling I Division match, Hussain Fahdil Partners (HFP) overcame Shanfari Group by just one run. Batting first, Hussain Fahdil Partners scored 201 for seven in 20 overs. Elson Samson top scored with 76. In reply, Shanfari Group scored 200 for nine in 20 overs.

Shahid Mahmood and Tajamal Zahoor scored 42 and 41 respectively.

Brief scores: Hussain Fahdil Partners 201 for 7 in 20 overs (Elson Samson 76) beat Shanfari Group 200 for 9 in 20 overs (Shahid Mahmood 42, Tajamal Zahoor 41). Points: Hussain Fahdil Partners – 2, Shanfari Group – 0.

Muscat Masters cruise In a J Division match, Muscat Masters defeated Aster Hospital by six wickets. Batting first Aster Hospital scored 153 for eight in 20 overs. Noushad and Vikram Vishwas scored 55 and 40 respectively. Michael Bose claimed four wickets for Muscat Masters.

In reply, Muscat Masters put on 154 for four in 18.2 overs with Michael Bose and Gaurav V. scoring 64 and 59 not out respectively.

Brief scores: Aster Hospital 153 for 8 in 20 overs (Noushad 55, Vikram Vishwas 40; Michael Bose 4/32) lost to Muscat Masters 154 for 4 in 18.2 overs (Michael Bose 64, Gaurav V. 59 n.o). Points: Aster Hospital – 0, Muscat Masters – 2.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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Contact: 99389989 after 5 O’clock PM Flats sand shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area and Honda road. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 / 94579531

SANTINI A3 TYPE 2 STOREY VILLA WITH 4 BEDROOMS PLUS MAID ROOM AT AL MOUJ PHASE 4.

GREAT LOCATION WITH CUL DE SAC FOR PARKING. PURCHASE OPEN TO NON-OMANIS AS WELL.

CONTACT NO. 91257475 Fully furnished room for executive bachelor in CBD area, WiFi internet free, advance deposit.

Contact: 90631572 Villa for Rent behind mazoon mousqe 7 bedroom, living room, dining room . Contact 95150809 for 750 R.O nogotiable 3 bedroom ground floor house for rent in South Al Hail behind Al Hail Hypermarket.

Contact: 95047657 6 Bedroom villas available for rent at North Al Hail, near Wave, complex with swimming pool and Gym. Contact: 99833747 Room in Azaiba. Contact: 99555843

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 /93203778

M O N DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE 1. Porta Cabin 2. Book Loader (New Holland) 3. Water Tanker (Hino 2000 Gallon) 4. Roller (JCB 3 Ton) 5. Roller (JCB & Wacker, 1 Ton) 6. Scaffoldings 7. HDPE Duct Pipes (300 mm to 1800mm) 8. Tower Hoist

Contact 93990154 FOR SALE Good Condition Sanyo washing machine, semi automatic, RO 30 for sale in MBD Contact; 99737812 Twin Villa for sale in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Each side has three floors, five bedroom plus maid room.

Each room has it’s own bathroom and one extra toilet between dining and sitting room. The villas are now about 5 years old and very clean and well maintained. It has split A/C’s.

OMR 215,000 each villa. Contact : 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Building material shop in Al Amerat for sale with stock, serious buyers please Contact: 92066764

MV SALE Kia optima model 2008, automatic. Contact: 99612197 Toyota corolla, 2009 model, 1800 CC, full automatic. Contact: 97692959

Mercedes C155, 2008, white, 130000 KM, 10100/- R.O. Contact: 92857111

Digital printing shop near ROP building backside of Honda road opposite light house.

Contact: 99338568

Ford explorer for sale, 2011, under warranty, showroom condition expecting price 6500/- OMR. Contact: 92689529

BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALEWell-furnished running building material-electrical shop (4 shutter / 200sqm) in Al- Khoudh- 6, for immediate sale- shop with stock or stock only. Serious buyers may please Contact: 94320909

Dihatsu Terrios Trend 4WD, 2012 Registration, dealer service registration up to August 2017.

Contact No: 92812144

Containers for sale Total 40 feet & quantity 70 Nos for more details, please Contact: +968 95068854

Buying cars for cash.

Contact 90202090

Land for sale in the village of Bimmah on the coastal road Qurayat/ Sur with a space of 604 square meters for an attractive price.

Contact 92905222 Beauty parlour for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 92430239 RESTAURANT for sale in Ruwi.

Contact: 99378964

MANPOWER

Mercedes C 230, 6 cyl 2006, 252000 km, R.O 1700/-.

Contact: 97312774

3BHK Flat, Ghubra, Close to ISG, Indian Family, 99319880

Industrial land in Rusail.4000 sqm.

Contact 99323957 / 95490842.

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS

FJ Cruiser 2009 GCC, yellow, 210000 KM, 6300/- R.O. Contact: 92857111

Honda Accord 2008 model, 4 cylinder, number 1 full options with navigation/ camera, full insurance. No accident history, 1640000 km, well maintained.

OMR 3300/-. Contact – 95919059

Villa for sale in Al Amerat 8/1 upscale finishes. Contact: 91153933

A well Known Insurance Broker willing to sell its Branch in Sohar, situated in the center of Insurance market, with good portfolio.

Interested parties (Insurance companies and Brokers only) can contact on mobile no. 99324218 for further details.

BUYING

SITUATION WANTGOOD NEWS ED Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic clinic, 18th November Street Al Ghubra (North).

Contact 99639695 / 97397320

Required parties who can make curtains in large scale especially curtain manufacturing companies.

Contact: 92891888

AVAILABLE Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished room sep / entrance Wadi Kabir Executives.

Contact: 99336206 Room for rent available at Al Khuwair. Contact: 91512037 Furnished room for non cooking bachelor near Softy Ice cream, Ruwi. # 91107383 / 93120054 Sharing accommodation available at honda road Ruwi, #99040590

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 99664703

Sharing accommodation available with W/E at Al Khuwair 33. For a small family or non-cooking bachelors. Contact - 92834145

Al Khuwair, Qurum, Ghubra & Azaiba. Contact: 95937789 / 94501264

Furnished rooms available at Ruwi. Contact: 98049288

Transportation. Contact 94510847

Furnished room in ruwi and azaiba for rent for executive bachelors. Gsm 99058344

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Transportation. Contact: 94510847

Pick & drop available 24 Hrs. Contact: 98522914

NOTICE I, Shimon Mohandas (holder of Indian Passport No. G4299684) s/o Yesodharan Mohandas having permanent residence in TC 11/1598, Charachira, Nanthancode, Trivandrum, PIN: 695003 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in PO BOX 3229, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman (complete postal address in Oman) intend to marry Ms. Archana Anil (holder of Indian Passport No. KO737306) d/o Thenginal Mannil Kochu Anil at EMBASSY OF INDIA, MUSCAT. I swear that I am marrying her at my own free will and not under any duress and intimidation. Any Objection towards this marriage may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P.BOX No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman within 30 (thirty) days of publication of this newspaper advertisement.

Announces the company throughout the popular commerce (solidarity) and restricted the commercial register are under number (1065853).

It’s in the process of converting the legal form of the company (collectively) to (company recommendation) in accordance with article No. (13) bis (2) of the commercial companies law No. (74/4), as amended.

For all of his objection to it he has to submit the reasons for his objection to the Department of Trade and Industry Al Sharqiyah South within a period of two months for the date of publication of the announcement.

LOST

Transportation. Contact: 94087276 Picking & drop (Ruwi to Rusayl).

Contact: 98957524

Boopathy Jayanthi has lost Indian Passport No. L 9738943. Finder please handover to ROP

Sajan Kumar Saseendrakurup has lost Indian Passport No. M 2383637.

Finder please handover to ROP

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M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SITUATION WANTED

JOB OPPORTUNITY

ACCOUNTS

Wanted 1No. Junior Civil Engineer With minimum 3 years experience in building construction. Currently available in Oman with NOC is highly appreciated. &

MBA Finance Indian 25 Male 2 years experience seeking opportunities in Finance sector. Immediately available.contact:92498840 sachu_0318@yahoo.com

1No. IT and networking Technician With 5 years experience, good practical knowledge in networking, database management and good understanding of ERP/SAP software for a reputed construction company.

Indian male MBA finance 31 years working as Admin Manager in Muscat since 2012, total 8 years experience in administration and accounts valid Omani driving license.

NOC is available.

Contact : 94030054

Contact: 95739143 Email: admin@omanihome.com

Reputed mineral water company required the following HEAVY/LIGHT DUTY DRIVERS VAN SALESMAN

ACCOUNTS A reputed interior and kitchen (domestic & commercial) company urgently required Accountant having minimum 2-3 years experience in accounts.

Email: suresh@saharaintl.net An Omani Audit firm looking for Graduates in finance & accounting, Diploma in Accounting & high School passed Omani candidates with good communication skills in Arabic & English.

Preferably having knowledge in Microsoft Excel & word. Email: muscataudit@gmail.com A construction company urgently requires Accounts Assistant.

Send C.V to kabnair@gmail.com Contact: 99344279 Accountant 2-3 years experience.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh@ bearingcitysc.com. Fax: 24509312

DRIVER Required light duty driver.

Send C.V to kabnair@gmail.com Contact: 99344279 Urgently required a gulf experienced heavy vehicle driver, currently available in Oman with NOC and valid GCC driving license.

Contact: 94201258 Email: ho@ddtoman.com Heavy driver with GCC license 1 Nos , Heavy driver without license 1 Nos + JCB operator with operator with GCC license . Heavy machinery mechanic with electrician knowledge 1 nos. Contact: 99454425 Wanted Driver for heavy (sewage vehicle) and light vehicle with valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 97991654 / 97991652 Kindly send CV at Email: construction@remasalseeb.com / remaschandran2020@gmail.com

with Omani driving license

SALES SUPERVISOR/SALES CO ORDINATOR with Omani driving license HELPERS Experience 3 to5 years

Contact - 90372638 URGENTLY REQUIRED SALES AND MARKETING EXCECUTIVES For a reputed travel agency in muscat.

Candidates with excellent communication skills and having 2+ years experience with valid driving license shall apply and sent their cv’s to:

jobsttc2016@gmail.com SITUATION VACANT

FOR CIVIL & MEP DIVISION 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

Project Engineer (D/L) Structural Engineer (D/L) Planning Engineer (D/L) HSE Inspector (D/L) Draftsman Inventory controller Accounts Assistant Office assistant Receptionist (Male/Female) 5 years GCC experience with good communication skills Send Your CV to

surcivilmep@surunited.com

MEDICAL Require well Exp Gynecologist (partnership basis) pediatrician lab technician, exp dentist Endo Dontist pedodontist, Ophtalmologist, lab Assistant for medical Centre in Mabela.

Contact -Email amanammc@gmail.com Ph 95200180./ 24452070 Wanted female & Male Nurse with or without license (good salary, food & accommodation with other benefits. Contact 92989109, Email: medicoport@gmail.com

DESIGNER MISCELLANEOUS A reputed Interior Company urgently required interior designer having well experience for self design, AutoCAD, 3D max, Photoshop & V-ray.

Email: suresh@saharaintl.net Required Graphic designer for a digital printing company in Al- Khoud. Candidate must have experience of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & CorelDraw. Experience in print machine operating preferable. Send CV to Email: magicfingerprint1@gmail.com, Contact: 94221420 / 94216866/ 94216836

ENGINEER SURVEYOR /DRAFTSMAN ITI Surveyor with 2 years experience in Oman in OHL transmission lines with valid D/L and knowledge in drafting preferred Contact: 93339586 Email: hromancv@gmail.com Required Civil Engineers / Foreman. Contact 92481447, email: r.m.unnithna@outlook.com

MEDICAL Fusion Medicare Polyclinic, Muscat wants GP, staff Nurse holding MOH license & Receptionist (Omani) Contact 97698004 email: medicare@fusionlogicoman.com

An excellent grade building Construction Company requires the following staff for their ongoing projects Operations Manager 10 yrs exp & Project Manager 7 yrs exp, Project Engineer 5 yrs exp, Site Engineer 3 yrs exp & Quantity Surveyor 5 yrs exp. Send CV to amad6859@gmail.com Urgent required : Store labors.

Candidate should be Indian, English speakers. NOC is a must.

Email: mohammad.jwabreh @bearingcitysc.com, Fax: 24509312 Candidates with the following should apply: Previous experience in a similar, working for a security company Proven experience of designing and estimating large integrated CCTV, Access Control, and Perimeter detection systems.

Detailed technical knowledge of database and operating security systems associated with CCTV, access Control, with Oman license.

Send CV by mail info@sahabit.com

SKILLED LABOUR Required Experienced Auto Electrician and Automobile Mechanic for a reputed service station.

Contact : 91232638 hashim@ramainvestment.com

SECRETARIAL / OFFICE

Physiotherapist (bachelor in Physiotherapist) experience 2 years in Oman, Nurse Experience 2 years. Fax: 24602206 Email: fayad.mohamed@gmail.com

Required Office Assistant with driving license present in Oman on contract basis only, Salary: RO 175 + food + Accommodation.

Contact: 99454425

Required Optometrist for a leading Optical group in Oman.

Email : albasilopticals@gmail.com Contact 93822557

Wanted Office clerk having two years experience.

Contact: 92891888

Wanted dentist for a leave vacancy for 3 weeks clinic at Ruwi. Contact: 92520054 Email: zayanmohd2375@gmail.com

Indian Male 29 years MBA, B. Com having 8 years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement. # :97914340.

Email: kvraj30@gmail.com

Excellent Grade Construction Company Requires the following:-

Indian (M), 25 yrs, B Com, 2 yrs procurement experience in Oman for a Real Estate Maintenance Division and 18 month accounts experience in India, Very strong in Advanced Microsoft Excel M: 91511923, Email Id: aruns9145@gmail.com.

Site Engineers (Civil), Senior MEP Engineer, MEP Engineers, QA/QC Civil, HSE Supervisor, Foreman (Civil), Foremen Electrical, Foremen Plumbing.

Draft Man - Civil, Draft Man - Mechanical, Draft Man - Electrical, QS - Civil, QS - MEP, Experienced Purchaser, Store Keepers, Experienced person in Water Proofing Combo System.

Accountant (M. Com) having 7 years of exp with knowledge of Tally & Focus looking for a suitable job with valid D/L - (NOC/Release available). Contact: 93864278

Interested Candidates to send CV to below email.

Email: info@durat.om

IMMEDIATE VACANCY A reputed distributor of Tyres and Lubricants Require Result Oriented Candidates

1. General Manager.

Proven Experience in Growth strategy, Turnover, Develop and Uplift overall business, Manage sales/market team, Enhance Market Share.

2. Sales/ Marketing Executives (2Nos) Proven track record/customer expansion, boost sales/collection Targets.

Preference will be given experience in similar industry, candidates shall send CV to.

icebergbusinessconsultancy@gmail.com SALES / MARKETING A reputed interior & kitchen (domestic & commercial) company urgently required well experienced Sales & Marketing Executive having minimum 3 years of experience at the related job with valid Omani driving license. Send CV to suresh@saharaint.net Required well experienced dynamic candidate in Real Estate Evaluation Field beside Building Management Techniques. #91246444, Email: rescooman@gmail.com Wanted Salesman (tyres wholesale) with driving license having 2 years experience & Accountant who knows the rules and regulations of Oman having 2 years experience. Contact: 92891888 Required sales and marketing executive for a 4-star hotel in muscat. candidate with excellent communication skills and having 3+ years experience need apply. driving license will be an advantage. email: hoteljobsmuscat@gmail.com

Required Sales/Marketing Executive for a digital printing company in Al Khoud. Candidate (Indian or Philippine nationality preferred) must have valid Oman driving license.

Send CV to Email: magicfingerprint1@gmail.com, Contact: 94221420/ 94216866/ 94216836 Position - Regional Coordinator we are looking for a business development cum Projects Coordinator for an Engineering and Project Management organization, qualification, B.E (Civil) / MEP experience – 10 yrs work experience in Oman is essential.

Email: hr@syconepmc.com Urgently required Sales executive for an electrical & building material co, in Muscat. Excellent communication skill and 2+ years experience with valid Oman D/L. Contact: 99886386/ 99881647 Email: thejacs2002@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Mechanical/Production Engineer, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B. Tech in Mech Engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified. Contact arn9895@ gmail.com, Mob 00919895233155

Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures, Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech engg.

Contact Mob-00917741032368, rahulkunnath23@gmail.com

9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job.

Contact 93790601

Indian Male, 27 Yrs Age, MSW (HR) looking for Job any reputed organization. Having more than 1.5 years in India in the area of HR & Admin seeks suitable position.

Contact : 93353912

28, male, ACCA finalist, BSc Honours, have 4 years of professional experience in Finance of different industries independently. NOC available, seeking for permanent replacement at a Senior Position.

Contact -97654769,email idabdullah.nooralam@gmail.com 3 yrs exp. in accounts field in construction and contracting trading co Muscat Oman, looking for suitable placement. Release available and immediately ready to join.

Contact: +968 94574596.

B.COM Graduate, Indian-Kerala, 4 Years of experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license.

Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Sales & Admin. email:jobhuntmuscat@gmail.com .

Indian male Sr. Sales / Marketing Executive, with thorough knowledge of Oman market in trading as well as in procurement for about 10 years seek suitable position.

Contact: 99045512

Highly Qualified male wanted decent driving job. # 91243132

Indian male, 10 years experience looking for part time Accounts/ Data Entry job Contact: 93884951

Indian Male Wood Designer & Wood works 7 Years good working experience searching for suitable job. +919698637279, GSM 91894487

Physiotherapist Indian with valid MOH license looking for suitable placement. Contact : 91556011

BE-Diploma Mechanical Engineering with 4 years experience in Oman as QA/QC in production, looking for valuable offer, with valid driving license. #99335742 Indian male, Engineer, Procurement Officer, Construction. 23 years experience in Automobile Supply Chain, Production Planning, IT - Delivery Management, Business Analysis and Operations set-up. Contact: 90215985.

Petrochemicals specialist, MBA 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN OIL FIELDS COM/plastics /Automobile/ construction/Polymer/Packaging, e-procurement /COMMERCIAL/ PURCHASE / LOGISTICS / SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT . NOC available . Contact: vved76@gmail.com cell:97813849 Indian male, Accountant looking for part time accounting job / data entry / office job. #93884951 Email: mehreenraiz@gmail.com

Indian male with NOC , 12 yrs Oman experience in Operations, facility management banking project coordination with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98183667 Indian, Kerala, CMA-USA, ICWA, Mcom10+Years Experience Budgeting Planning MIS Accounts&finance.Cont.94064931shijupnarayanan@gmail.com Accounts Graduate (f) 2 yrs experience looking for suitable position.

Contact: 90924337, Email: jobsk1617@gmail.com Translator, 20 yrs in Oman seeking placement, exp includes banking, financial, economic, commercial, legal & journalistic, IT, publishing & newspaper articles. Contact: 92052591 Email: abbaskhalifa@gmail.com Female ACCA, Bachelors in Commerce 5+ years experience in finance management & analysis, currently available for immediate joining in Muscat.

Contact: 90162949 Indian male, Accountant, 22 yrs, BBM, Diploma in E- Office & Office & E-Finance, experience 1 year under CA as Accounts Assistant looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95268346, Email : ms6678379@gmail.com Indian male B.Com with Tally, 7 yrs experience in Accounts & Sales (IT) with Oman driving license.

Contact 96470171 Accountant 8 Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact 99284193 Indian male, Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah.

More than 20 yrs experience in Accounting job (upto the finalization of accounts), 8 yrs working experience in Middle East in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah. Contact 91325029 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis, finalization works.

Contact: 96247295 Part time accountant FRI & also work, preference to construction accounts all pending works also clear off. Contact: 97895741 Indian Male-B.com/ ICWAI (Inter)18years experience in Accounts & Finance SAP/Oracle/Xpedeon with valid Omani DL/NOC-seek suitable position-91014980/ royarun1974@yahoo.com Syed Tousiff,B.Com,7 years Experience India, Currently in Oman seeking suitable job.

Contact:+968 90846557.

Email :syedtou23@gmail.com Accountant Sri Lankan National Inter CA 3 yrs exp in finance, ready to join immediately.

Contact: 79049355 Email: ahamedfiham777@gmail.com Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing. Contact: 96976240 Indian male MBA (fin) 5 years experienced looking job on visit visa. Contact: 97127584

Indian chartered Accountant 17+ years experience in Accounts , Finance and Business management working in reputed group in Muscat looking for suitable change. Oman Driving Licence and NOC available 95562708 pandukp2016@gmail.com Indian male 30 yrs, B.Com 4 years experience in GCC, Sales / Accounts looking for suitable vacancy, currently on visit. Contact: 99727595 Email: samie61@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, MBA in Finance, 4 yrs in Larsen & Tourbo, 26 yrs in Oman, English/ Arabic speaking with driving license.

NOC available. Contact 95588565 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Indian (m) MBA (F), more than 6 years of experience in accounts, proficiency in various A/C software SAP (F1/CO) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95920740 mail: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact :94743790 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients.

On visit visa in Muscat.

Contact 90191628 / 96175780 8 yrs exp. in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, exp. in Tally ERP 9, Indian (F) seeks placement.

Contact 97243806 Indian female, 26 years,brought up in oman,M.COM(FINANCE) CA Foundation(CPT),CA , INTER (DOING) presently on family visa seeking for immediate and suitable placement. #-97174201/99663957 Email-anishasasi@gmail.com Accountant & Administrator, 18 years experience (7 yrs in UAE) Accounting software’s knowledge.

Contact: 91729724 Manager Accounts / finance professional, 15 years Oman experience looking for a opening.

Contact: 92168401 Post Graduate M.Com (finance) having 20 years experience in Accounts in seeking suitable placement, NOC available.

Contact: 96275019 Email Id: vjkmr9583@gmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. #90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Accountant B.com Indian male 12 yrs exp seeks suitable job.NOC available . Contact : 91212471 Email: rennyj6@gmail.com Omani female Accountant, 32 years, having 10 years exp in admin/accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93295953 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94879615, Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Certified Public Accountant (Filipino, Male, 27-yrs-old) with four years experience, seeking suitable placement in accounting/ audit, currently on visit.

Contact 94959606, email: czesar.42@gmail.com Indian (M), 31 yrs, M Com 9 yrs experience in Oman, looking for Manager or Executive position in Fin & Accounts, NOC Available.

Contact 968 96166178/ +919768537435: mohammednajeem@yahoo.com

M O N DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED B.COM GRADUATE With 30 years Oman experience in various fields like Accounts, Administration, Operation, Credit control etc. worked in reputed companies as Manager with Oman driving license and knowledge of basic Arabic language.

Contact - 98185350

Indian male, 33 yrs, M.Com, Having 7 yrs experience in Accounting with knowledge of Tally & focus ability of finalization of account, financial reports looking for a suitable job, with valid D/L, NOC available.

Experienced IT Professional

Contact - 93864278

Contact # 96654216 ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

ARCH./ INTERIOR DEC.

ACCOUNTS Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: anishkhan991867@gmail. com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Finance Manager, 17 + years Gulf exp. in Accounts, MIS, budgets, strategic planning, cost control, cash flow management, seeks job.

Contact 99489784, E mail :- vijay.564@hotmail.com Indian male B.com, MBA, 12+ years experience in finalization looking for better opportunities.

Contact: 95710936 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394

ADMIN 8 years experience in administration and guest relations department in Oman With valid omani driving licence. Seeking suitable jobs. Ph: 98145825 email: getcb@rediffmail.com Omani, male, 26 yrs experience looking for job in reputed Companies as PR, having experience at airport / Emigration, Ministries/ Manpower with Oman D/L. Contact 95445779

Architect 3 years experience in consultant office proficient in 3D Max – Photoshop, AutoCAD. Contact: 98245746

Sri Lankan female, 31 years 7 years experience in administration & secretarial currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in finance / Admin / secretary. Contact: 94767990 Indian Male 15 years gulf experience in HR / Admin Assistant, Purchase, Office Coordinator with good computer skills seeking employment for suitable position. Holding valid Oman Driving license.

Contact 99709336 MSW Postgraduate currently working in Muscat 5 years experience in office operations, administration, customer service & counseling, NOC available. Contact: 90652428 MBA with 11 yrs experience in Admin & HR for banking, medical clinic & hospital and construction industry 4 yrs experience as Asst Manager, Admin & HR in Oman.

Contact: 95761982 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have vocational M.B.A diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288 Indian male 28 MBA excellent communication vast multitasking with experience of 6 years in administrative, customer support operation, office coordinator good computer skills now on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact: 90493973 Email: varunsagar21@gmail.com Egyptian woman resident, considerable experience in the Administration and Secretarial Executive for company. Contact : 97221126 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa, looking for suitable position.Contact 90196235 Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817

Indian male 26 years Mechanical Engineer with 2 yrs exp in Oman.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 91328079

DESIGNER/ DRAUGHTSMAN

AutoCAD draughtsman 12 year experience AutoCAD draughtsman 9 years gulf experience looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93528255 Tunisian girl looking for job in media field, has 8years experience in publishing Contact 97816917 Free lance / part time autocad works / make boq 2d /3d arch , structural, shop drawings interior drawings. Contact 97103168 mkgroupoman@gmail.com Auto CAD Draftsman (Civil & Joinery) with 5 years experience in India & Oman, looking for suitable position.NOC available.

Contact:-93319082, Email:-rashidabdu786@gmail.com Interior designer, India.

Contact: 95216455 Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR. PH : 92279784 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman.Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

DRIVER Indian male M.SW (HR) 2 years exp in India, 27 years age.

Contact: 93353912

Indian Male 22, BE Civil Engineer with few site and internship experiences looking for a suitable position in your firm. Got knowledge in (Primavera, Autocad, Staad pro).

Currently In visit visa. 98327644 or shakib842@gmail.com

Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

Free lance Autocad works experienced (arch, struct, MEP, shop drw) rate a0/a1 sheet ( 10-17 OMR) ph : 97103168

Looking for driving job Executive education speak good English and Arabic 5 years experience in G.C.C and 3 years in Oman.

Contact 90981030 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 95396905 Light duty driver, 1 yr exp seeks placement. Contact: 94397006 Pakistani driver seeks job, with 4 years experience.

Contact: 94565993 Light duty driver, 4 yrs. exp seeks placement. Contact: 93251872 Driver with license looking for suitable job. Contact: 93502627 Bangladeshi light driver 16 years exp, looking for job.

Contact: 99165961 2 Yr experience in Oman, seeking job (D/L). Contact: 94338977 Looking for driving job 3 yrs exp.

Contact: 91659265 Indian light driver need job.

Contact: 96693613 Light driver looking for job exp.

Oman 13 years.

Contact: 93940319 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 97418036 Looking job for driving (with car).

Contact: 92005311 Looking for job exp having driving license. Contact: 97363138 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 95892363 Bangladeshi, light driver looking for job, 4 yrs exp. Contact: 92681457 Experienced driver available with 4WD willing to work fulltime / part-time, familiar with all tourist destinations in Oman.

Contact: 24814231 / 91941545

DOMESTIC HELPER South Indian lady looking for housemaid job. Contact: 91487124

with over 20 years in Oman.

Can manage ERP systems, Hardware, Network, Wi-Fi and Biometric Devices.

NOC available.

DOMESTIC HELPER Indian (F), maid for cooking and all types of household work, 7AM to 3 PM, Ruwi areas & capital areas part time. Contact: 92115082

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer with 6 years gulf exp, having D/L & NOC, GSM: 92730137 Structural Engineer with NOC available for immediate joining.

Salary RO.400 Call 71121392 HSE Engineer having 10+ years experience in both Construction and Oil & Gas (PDO). Looking for suitable position, NOC & valid driving license available.

Contact: 97717468 B.Tech Mechanical 23 yrs, Indian 1 year experience, on visit visa. Contact: 91484023 / 92035104 Mechatronics Engineer with NEBOSH and three years experience in Oman with license.

Contact: +968-94180383, khalid_khogli@hotmail.com HSE Engineer 8 year’s experience, having engineering degree, Nebosh, Oman driving license seeking good opportunity. NOC available. Contact: 968 99602415 / 91 9995348452 Email: syamjithalp@gmail.com BE MECH Engr, Indian male, 23 yrs having 2 yrs experience in Mechanical Engg on visit visa seeks suitable position. Contact: 98827544 Email: sibi.a.b.varghese@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer having 9 yrs exp with valid Omani driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact : +968 97841963 Keralite male (25 years) on visit visa, Instrumentation Engineer (BTECH) with 3 years experience in oil & gas industry seeks suitable placement immediately.

Contact : 93363410 bibinbhaskar05@gmail.com Male Civil Engineer B.Tech & 4 years U.A.E experience looking for suitable position Id transferable.

Contact: 99635754 B.T.S microwave link installation & commissioning Engineer B.Sc (Hons), B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineer ( 2.7 years exp) currently on visit visa.

Contact: 96756964 Email: qayamzaidi8@gmail.com B.S.c Civil Engineer with 7 years experience in managing & supervising of construction & oil & gas fields (NOC) Available.

Contact: 96086214 Email: engmohamedosaman@outlook. com 29 years male Civil Engineer (B.Tech) roads / highways and buildings 08 years experience in Oman only having valid GCC driving license Oman available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 95994968 Email: engr.aamir04@gmail.com Indian male 25 years Civil Engineer (B.Tech) 04 years experience in bridges / structures and buildings working in a reputable company in Oman since 1.6 years available to join with NOC. Contact: 95495797 Email: sarfarazahmad30@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, 24 yrs, Indian Male, Fresher, Training Undertaken in Electrical Draughtsman, Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting and Industrial Automation. Contact: 94989767, Email: Junaiz987@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. #92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available. Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Indian (male) B. Tech. Mechanical/ HVAC Engineer, 4 years experience in design consultancy NOC available, holding valid Oman driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact 93965156 Mechanical Engineer with a bachelor degree honors seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact: 94957250 Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 32 years male senior land surveyor roads/ building / pipelines, PDO , 11 years experience in Oman / Dubai.

Working in reputable company and available to join immediately with NOC. Contact: 97640625 Email: qasiryasir@gmail.com Indian male site supervisor (Air conditioning) 25 years experience in Oman driving license seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97498809, 93391910, Email-marysimon04@gmail.com HSE Supervisor, Indian male, 2 yrs experience in relevant field with M.Sc Env Science, Industrial Safety, NEBOSH, ISOH, first Aid, IT, MS Word, Excel, PPt looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact 97047859 Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 6 years exp in Gulf HVAC fire protection plumbing with D/L. Contact: 90609377 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973 Indian female Civil Engineer having experience as quantity surveyor and having knowledge in Primavera, 3DSMAX, AutoCAD Seeking for a suitable job.

Contact: 95737185 Diploma in Civil Engineer having 8 years experience quantity surveyor civil in Oman locking for a job around 21 years experience in civil works. Contact: 97829710 Young Indian B.Tech Computer Science Engineering seeking suitable job, express visit visa.

Contact 91311003 Indian Graduate with 15 years of consumer electronic exp with NOC looking for suitable vacancy.

Contact: 96473121 Indian male 24 B.E Mechanical Engineer, 1 year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 98530806 / 99362006 Senior Project Engineer with 15 years experience in the field of ELV Engineering (Security Systems, Specialized Airports Systems) with sound knowledge in Project Management, Project Execution/Procurement.

Contact : 98117213 Mechanical/ Piping Engineer (B.Tech.) on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 94703350 Email: nadeembcoolboy@gmail.com Indian male 25 B.Tech Electrical, 3 years experience in industrial automation & supervision.

Contact: 97207570 / 90481773

Electronics & Telecom Engineer (MSC, B-tech), 7 Years’ experience in Aviation Industry, seeking for suitable placement, on visit visa.

Contact: 96565797, 98372393 Email: inampatriot@yahoo.com Civil Engineer with 8 years experience performs multi- task job to structural work , building construction , infrastructure , planning , site development & architectural finishing works, NOC available valid Oman D/L. Contact:97474593 Email: a.baraka.om@gmail.com Electrical Engineer (BSc) 8 Yrs Exp in Telecom Industry looking for Job Cell: 93872547 email: daniyal.badar@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrs exp seeks suitable position in a reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com B. Tech Mechanical HVAC site Engineer 4 years experience, currently on visit. Contact 92837696 / mdabdulather@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022 Civil Engineer seeks a suitable senior position, 9 years experience in projects management planning, coordination, quantity survey, structural design AutoCAD. (NOC Available). Contact : 79097475 Email: a-shaqfa@hotmail.com Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact: 94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Electrical Engineer having 16 years experience in switchgear / Transformer / over head lines & trading for Sales / Procurement & Project Execution with valid Omani D/L, also available on contracts basis. Contact: 968 - 95994727 Email: qurm340@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283 Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact - 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com A computer aided Mechanical Engineer with a bachelor’s degree honors well trained in designing programs & mechanical manufacturing processes. Contact: 98003627 Graduate Civil Engineer 20 yrs GCC experience with Omani D/L, seeking job NOC available.

Contact: 98621645 Email: imtiazcv@gmail.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Ph number: 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail.com

An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male, B.E Mechanical with 2 years experience as Maintenance Engineer in Cochin Refinery and 1 year experience in Chevrolet seeking job. Contact : 97964862, Email:jossyabraham20@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male, 30yrs. Experienced in Steam turbines and Thermal Power house seek employment.

Contact - +91 8130553668 or mohamedshah7@gmail.com Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Electrical Engineer: Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email:akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact 99739415 / 92091528 Indian female 24. Masters in Computer science engineering, seeking job in colleges, schools and institutes. Having in good skill in teaching and advanced technologies. Contact : 93356858 Email id : annielino11@gmail.com Indian male Biology / Science teacher M.Sc, B.Ed from a University with 8 years teaching experience in School seeking placement.

Contact: 91190636 Mathematics Lecturer , Indian Female, M Sc Mathematics from a Prestigious University, B.Ed qualified, distinction holder with 6 yrs teaching experience in colleges.

Contact : 91360147.

Maths Teacher 30 years experience IGCSE bilingual I.B, A& AS levels. Contact: 98016336 Indian Female, Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact – 99675828, Email anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree,03 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler. Has oman driving license.

Contact No 99859150.

Indian male, 24 yrs , Diploma in Hotel management, 2 years experience front office management in 4 star hotel Dubai, currently on visit visa. Contact: 97937504 Email: febinpalathingal01@gmail.com Indian male BBA & hotel management 2 yrs exp in hotel industry correction express visa seeking suitable job. Contact: 95883258 Email: ksreekumar1988@gmail.com

D6

M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED IT Experienced Indian female 23 B.Com with computer application on visit looking for suitable position. Contact: 94964860 / 92436404 IT Engineer male, 28 yrs, over 7 yrs experience with NOC, D/L available seeking placement in IT / Network / Telecom field.

Contact 93563297 Email: monuzv24@gmail.com Indian male 23 yrs B.Tech (IT) having 1 yr experience in computer operating, hardware, networking looking for IT sales office admin, store keeper or any suitable position, currently on visit visa.

Contact: 91124306 Email Id: Irfanmd@gmail.com Indian male, B.Tech (CSE), MCSE, 25, with two years’ experience in IT support and system administration in a multinational firm, on visit visa seeks suitable opportunity. Contact 92655401, e-mail tonysamthomas@gmail.com Egyptian male on visit visa, diploma in Computer Software hardware, Networking, Installation of CCTV cameras, IT support, install and configure finger print machines. Contact: 90203139 IT Support Engineer Indian male 5 years experience seeking suitable jobs in Oman. Contact 90117664 27, Indian male: Software Developer having 5years+ experience in oracle forms & reports 10 g, BI publisher. Contact:91156571 IT Support Eng seeks placement 1 year exp, networking hardware software. Contact: 94988634 Email: sajid.ullah100@yahoo.com CFA level 1 cleared (pursuing level 2) MBA operations research, female, 5 yrs experience as Analyst, have a valid Oman driving license, looking for related openings.Contact 95818892 IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact 94672759 Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available.

Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male (B.Com) with 15 years experience in procurement and logistics on visit seeking suitable openings. Contact: 96086290 9 year experienced industrial painter and sand blaster with Oman driving licence. NOC available. Seeks suitable placement.

Contact ZakeerHussain 96681934.

MEDICAL Indian male with 5 years experience including 2 years Oman working experience, MOH license seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 94116459 Email: sayedmabecl@yahoo.com Indian female dentist with 3 years of experience looking for a suitable placement well versed with tooth extraction and RCT, cleared Pro metric exam. #95981802 Email: jyotsnasandeepk@gmail.com Indian female assistant pharmacist 4 years experience in Oman seeking suitable placement in Muscat area.

Contact 97498809/ 93391910.

Email-ishitasimon12@gmail.com Pakistani male MBBS, 1 year exp.

Contact: 0092345 4557131, Email: drluqman101@gmail.com B.sc Physician assistant in emergently and trauma care from India looking for job, exp 1 yrs.

Contact: 94171305

Sales man, Office Staff, language English, Hindi, Arabic & Bengali.

Contact: 71140846 Sales Marketing Executive Indian male, with Gulf experience & G.C.C driving license.

Contact: 0091 8527888597 Email: kchetan3@gmail.com Indian male 25, MBA in marketing 9 years of experience, looking for sales & marketing professional / BDM on visit visa.

Contact: 94540209 Email: sadar.myle@gmail.com Indian male Sales experience in building material, 8 years in Gulf country looking for suitable job.

Contact: 90110515

Marketing Executive with 10 years experience in Gulf on visit visa. Contact: 90116693

Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96906534 /99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com

12 years experienced Indian male in sales & service of construction equipment with Oman driving license. Contact: 94691005

Filipino male Medical / Sales representative with 3 yrs experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: 92610394

Indian male (B.Com) with 15 years experience in sales of Medical/ Surgical item, currently on visit visa, seeking suitable openings.

Ph: 96086290

Dr.Ayman Abduljalil Ali, E.N.T Specialist (Otolaryngologist), Yemeni-male, looking for job.

Mobile: 00201096542706, Email: aymanjalilorl@gmail.com

MANAGER / SUPERVISOR

General Manager - Business Development, Advertising and Marketing, Brand Building, Facility Management, Operations, Client Servicing, +968 93031168.

Manager FMCG distribution / Supermarket expert 15 years Oman experience looking for a opening.

Contact: 92787747

MISCELLANEOUS

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

Indian, MBA - om pursuer & BCA Graduate seeking suitable immediate placements. sap software, complete computer knowledge with management skills, presently in Muscat. Contact +96895414876.

India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office administration independently, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in hallenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license. Contact 99120500

21, Indian female B.com graduate on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Holds valid Omani Driver’s license.

Contact: 97208869

Secretarial & Office: Indian(F), MBA in Finance, 2 years experience as Associate in Branch Operations (Record Keeping, Desk job)on family visa. Ph: 93186865 ; email: ddthoppil@gmail.com

Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523

Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

B.Com,IICL Certified Container Inspector(No.150850),Visit Visa, Six months experience, need placement. Phone 90880935, 99023279, Email solexyesudas@gmail.com

Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. # 95244761

STOREKEEPER

BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

Experienced business development and investment consultant with 10 years experience in the financial management field. Holds a masters degree in finance and management from the UK. Tel: 90157073

Experience Indian male Doctor available for locum.

Contact: 92506636

Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com

Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation. Contact 92956848

Indian 38 yrs, male MBA marketing on visit. Building materials sales experience in Oman and India with reputed companies ready to join immediately. Contact: 91214958

FMCG / Construction experienced marketing professional looking for Asst. Manager / Supervisor positions. Contact: 92508527

Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact 98660672

Omani male, 21 years graduate, (bachelor in management studies) seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97904200

Egyptian male experienced sales executive with 12 years sales experience in Egypt, KSA and Oman with leading FMCG companies.

Holds Omani driving license.

Tel: 96202040, Email: ahmedghoniem618@gmail.com

Indian male, Nurse with more 7 years experience MOH license, P.D.O license, dataflow, NOC available looking for job in Oman. #93604827 Email: subinraj37@gmail.com

General Manager Indian National With 20 yr Experience In managing Civil Construction Business Seek Opening in reputed Civil Company.

Contact-97464650.

Female, master in mass communication, B.Ed, experience in media channel and teaching PH : 99362024

SALES / MARKETING

Store keeper field more than 10 years experience in Gulf country looking for suitable job. #90198237 Working as Senior Storekeeper in a reputed company since January 2008, looking for suitable opportunity. Contact:93865679

Sales Executive 3+ experience in GCC / having GCC D/L post Graduate seeks job as Sales Executive & business development Executive.

Contact: 93887916 , Email : shamji3851@gmail.com Looking for a part time job, having Oman driving license fluent in English, Arabic & Hindi, and Marketing experience. Contact: 91460280 Indian male, MBA in Marketing and PGDM in HR, looking for suitable job knows English, Hindi & Malayalam, on family visiting visa.

Contact: 97127799 Email: vijinviji00@gmail.com Looking for job as purchaser / storekeeper have bachelors degree with more than 8 years experience in procurement field, knowledge in MS Office, JDE (ERP software).

Contact: 71234389 / 93403540 India PG diploma in Business Administration, 24 year experiences (22 years in Oman) in diverse field handling office independently administration, Sales and Marketing, highly motivated, hard working skillful and willing to work in challenging environments seeks suitable placement. Having valid Omani driving license.

Contact 99120500 Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95337665 BBA Bachelor of business administration exp in custom clearance procedure, also done international logistics management & Nimb National Institute business management (US) certification all documentation work related logistics. contact – 91949050 / akram.chaush001@gmail.com Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Marketing Manager 29 years professional experience in GCC / Oman in marketing in building materials / High tech products.

Contact: 92284066 / 98559317

MCA Graduate with 1.6 years experience Indian female looking for any suitable job currently on visit visa.

Contact 97993250 / 91447261 Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity.

NOC available. Conatct 96001877 Indian male around 7.5yrs technical product sales, new agency development experience in Oman B.E mechanical PGP.MKT , IB , Oman D/L urgent placement (m). # 91536968 Resident in Oman 18 years, 10 years experience in setup marketing plans and strategies, sales, import & logistics, procurement, Omani government tenders, organizing projects & events, import fireworks for festivals, NOC available, have car. Contact 94123939.

Email: 002015r@gmail.com Sales professional (Graduate) additional qualification CCNA & MCSE having more 10 years experience in handling IT hardware, Networking & security products (project based) and experience in Education and training Industry in Oman, seeking employment in relevant IT companies. Contact: 99354209, Email: sandy6673@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India. +918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com Oil & gas experienced Indian lady with 6 years in sales & marketing to PDO and having valid Omani driving license. Contact:96143430 / 99875919 Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact# 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820 Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 /95774854 Indian male age 24, B.Com. having 2 year experience and currently in visit visa. Looking for suitable placement in Sales, Marketing & finance. Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian male MBA and Diploma in management from Australia. On visit visa, looking for a suitable job in sales & marketing.

Contact: 71189884 Indian male with 6 years experience in sales in oman. NOC available, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95364128 Client Relations and Sales Professional with 8 years in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, looking for suitable opportunity in Muscat. Contact +96879050752

SKILLED LABOUR Watch repair and service looking for job, 24 yrs experience.

Contact: 99530405

TOURS/TRAVELS Indian male 29 years old on visit looking for a suitable position in air ticketing and tours, overall 10 years of experience, 6 years experience in gulf. On visit, ready to join immediately. Contact – 97189669/ info.awaiz2015@gmail.com Indian male 27 years IATA diploma currently on visit visa Hindi, English fluent good communication skill looking job in travels / sales experience 6 months Galielo & abacus.

Contact: 98679664 Emil: junaidcraze@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male Executive Secretary (To Top Management) having 10 years experience in Oman. Also well experience in HR Executive & Admin related jobs. Local release & Oman driving license available, seeking for immediate suitable placement. Contact 92215110; email: hellosajans@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female B.E (I.T) : Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills. Seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India. Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

5.5 years Experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills, B.A Graduate, 28 yrs old, is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.(In Visiting visa). Contact No:90146616 Indian male Nurse, with well experience in Oman. Seeking for a suitable placement. (Preferring opportunity in as Rig Medic). Has BLS and ACLS. GSM: 97236545 Filipino, Female, 37 year old, having 9 year experience in Office Administration, looking for Admin/HR related jobs, on visit visa. Contact@96209384. Email: rechie.labandria@gmail.com Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com Male with 3 years exp in Oman construction co. looking for a job in admin / accounts on urgent joining release NOC available.

Contact: +968 94574596.

Internal auditor/Accountant : B.Com /CA Inter having 7 years experience under chartered accountant in India and 10 years as internal auditor/ accounts manager in Oman, well versed with tally and MS Office, seeks suitable placement. Contact 0091 9611751081, email id kotianmukhesh@yahoo.co.in, whatsapp : 00968 91358384.

Indian male 48 years, B.Sc., MBAoperations management with total 25+ yrs of exp inclusive of 10 yrs in oil & gas sector in oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC, seeks challenging senior position in logistics/procurement/supply chain management. Contact 94236414. mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com

Indian Male 39 Years- Executive Secretary (To the Top Management), having 10 years experience in Oman. Also well experience in HR Executive & Admin related jobs. Local release & Oman driving license available. Seeking for immediate suitable placement. #92215110; email: hellosajans@gmail.com An Indian female, B.Tech teacher having an experience of 6 y in college on visit visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact 99083475 Indian male (44), MBA, 19 yrs experience in Oman. Present Industry: Natural stones for construction. Responsibilities: Production, Business development and overall management, looking for an immediate opening. Contact : 90992631 Pakistani male, looking for a suitable placement as Document Controller, Computer Operator.

Contact 93919064 25/Male/Sales Executive 5 years of experience working in Oman with driving license and NOC, Can communicate fluently in multiple languages.

Contact 92756031 Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5+ years’ experience in Muscat.

Current visa status: Family joining. Contact: 92139298 Bangladeshi Male, University M. Com, working as an Administrator cum Accountant in Oman since last year; Tally ERP9, searching better job. Phone: 94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com Internal auditor/Accountant : B.Com /CA Inter having 7 years experience under chartered accountant in India and 10 years as internal auditor/ accounts manager in Oman, well versed with tally and MS Office, seeks suitable placement. Contact 0091 9611751081, kotianmukhesh@yahoo.co.in

22 years, B.Com, graduate male ‘fresher’ well versed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam with Oman Driving license looking for a suitable job.contact:96799287

33year Indian Male MBA-HR, MSC having 8.9yrs Exp (HR-operation / SAP/ Admin) with Oman Driving License. Seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/backend jobs.

Contact:+968 99322978

5.5 years experience in Hospitality and Hotel Industry with Good English communication skills, B.A Graduate, 28 yrs old, is looking for a suitable job in Muscat.(In Visiting visa). Contact :90146616

B.A Graduate, 28 yrs old, with Good English communication skills,5.5 years Experience in hospitality and hotel industry is looking for a suitable job in Muscat. (In Visiting visa). Contact No:90146616.

Looking for a land surveyor job fully know latest instrument of Survey GPS and Total station 5 year OMAN experience.NOC Available. Contact +968 94144052, wasifnaz 313@yahoo.com

Accountant Indian, 13 years experience can handle accounts up to finalization, tally, busy accounting, smart accounting, NOC/release available. Contact 96133146.

Email: kkcjob786@gmail.com

Indian Female Nurse with MOH License, looking for suitable placement in Muscat.

Contact: 95537685.

Expat with 13 yrs experience in sales and marketing, seeking suitable placement. Contact 92100116

Pakistani experienced male NOC available, masters in economics with valid omani DRIVING LICENCE fluent in english, needs any suitable job like accounting, teaching, management, marketing or decent driving. Contact: 91243132 B.Com, 2 yrs experience in Oman, Indian Male, 25 yrs with Driving License. Handling day today accounts activities up to finalization.

Proficient in Tally. Looking for suitable placement. Ph. 91470665 Indian male having 3 years of experience in Oman in contracting & trading co. in accounts field and seeking job for admin, accounts release/NOC available. To join immediately please cont +968 94574596 Indian male, Network cabling technician (19 years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement. Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail. com PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs work Exp.( 8 yrs in Oman) working in Construction Co LLC( for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects ) and having valid LT D/L, NOC/ Local release available M:+96 94064650 / 919440810180 Email: nagauae@gmail.com HSE Engineer, 3+years of experience, bachelor of engineering(EEE), Nebosh, IOSH, DHSE, first aid.

Contact :+97474018995, email: midhunmich@gmail.com, skype: midhunmike

Indian male 23 yrs, Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com Indian male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech engg. Contactrahulkunnath23@gmail.com Indian Male (25), BSc Electronics, M.B.A seeking suitable openings, Having 3 years’ experience in, sales and Marketing of financial products with Oman Driving License. Contact 94774550 B.A Graduate, 28 yrs, with Good English communication skills, 5.5 years Experience in hospitality and hotel industry is looking for a suitable job in Muscat (on Visiting visa). Contact : 90146616.

Indian male civil Engineer 8 years good working experience searching for suitable job. barathidasancivil@gmail.com, +91- 9176451772, +91-955157008 Indian male, BBA and Diploma in logistics, looking for a suitable position. Contact 92267276 Indian male, 24 years, B.Com, MBA(Finance) with overall 3 years experience in accounts/finance field.

On Visit Visa. Contact: 90115058/ safwanmeadows@gmail.com Indian female, BBA Graduate seeking for suitable job in Sales and Marketing, HR, Administration. Contact: 96463881

M O N DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Filipino, Female, 37 years old having 9 years’ experience in office administration. Looking for Admin/HR related jobs, on visit visa. Contact 96209384. Email: rechie.labandria@gmail.com

Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs.

5+ years’ experience in Muscat.

Current visa status: Family joining. Contact: 92139298.

Bangladeshi Male, University M. Com, Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in Oman since last year; Tally ERP9, searching better job. Phone:94864966, Email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com

Job wanted as admin/clerk/office Bank, and money exchange ,I have 7 years of banking experience in Pakistan and have two years visa with Noc . Nawab khan 9497640

Indian male 24 MBA, having 2 years of experience in accounting and admin field, looking for job.

Contact no- 91626565 Indian male, completed BBA and diploma in logistics and transportation, fresher. Visa type: visit visa.

Contact :92267276 Indian male 23 Mechanical Engineer looking for job in Mechanical field special interest in HVAC & MEP will be happy to hear from you. Contact : 9586 1251, Email : zufarajaib@yahoo.com

Indian male B. Com Graduate, 1.5 Year exp. in various office works, Valid Oman driving license Looking for any suitable post.

Contact: 95322175 / 91987965 Indian female B.E (I.T) : Good experience in documentation and CRM. Having good communication skills. Seeking for job from reputed organization. Previous experience in Oman and India.

Contact - 97301058, 97136975.

Indian female Nurse with MOH License, looking for suitable placement in Muscat. #95537685

IT Systems and network Administrator with 8 years of experience in Qatar & Bahrain , Holding MCITP & CCNA certified professional. With GCC D/L .Currently in Oman in Visit Visa, looking for a suitable placement .Kindly contact 91765841. (NOC NOT REQUIRED) Pak. (Male), M.B.A (Management) having 2 years experience Admin + Accountant. Good Knowledge of Tally and M.S office in Oman on visit visa looking for job.

Contact 97094221, Email: mubinbrw@gmail.com Indian male, 27 Yrs Age, MSW (HR) looking for Job any reputed organization. Having more than 1.5 years in India in the area of HR & Admin seeks suitable position.

Contact : 93353912 Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian Male, Expert in AutoCad, Revit Arch, Staad, Primavera seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact : 90198202, nanduchandran94@gmail.com

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

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact 99839898

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M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED TOURS

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDU./CLASSES

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898 Enjoy Camping in Wahiba desert & all over Oman & tour.

Contact: 92226866

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WE SERVE OMAN Installation & maintenance for Modular Kitchen, UPVC Doors & Windows, Furniture, Electrical & Air-conditions Contact @ 92383882/91443786 We undertake new construction & maintenance & gypsum works.

Contact 92711506, ammarayyub@gmail.com A/C maintenance & Servicing, Fridge / Washing Machine / dish washer repairing, 2) Painting and cleaning service, Electrical & Plumbing. Contact 94147874 / 24504281, Email : globalaccessunited@gmail.com Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551

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

Window unit & split unit A.C servicing & repairing Barka, Mabela , Ruwi area. Contact: 99557080 House shifting with carpenter and transport. Contact: 96737158

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130 Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance Barka, Mabela, Ruwi area. Contact: 96236476 General cleaning new villas cleaning Barka , Mabela, Hail area.

Contact: 99557080 / 95323517

House shifting packing. Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

DRIVING

SITUATION WANTFOR LADIES Special packages, Facial, Pedicure, Eyebrow, only 10 RO. Al doom Beauty Parlour # 99619409

DRIVING Muscat Driving School.

Contact 94085688

Specialist for road test drum and slope. Contact 94022250